The Serpent and the Spark

Chapter 7

The familiar iron gates of Malfoy Manor loomed in front of Elena, cold and imposing against the pale sky. As the carriage rolled to a stop, her heart thudded in her chest, the air around her thick with tension. Draco was the first to step out, his expression unreadable as he strode toward the entrance, but Elena hesitated for a moment.The house—her home—had never felt more like a cage."Miss Elena, welcome back," a familiar, smooth voice greeted her. Narcissa Malfoy stood at the top of the grand staircase leading to the entrance. Her pale face was serene, but there was a tightness around her mouth that told Elena everything she needed to know. Narcissa had been expecting her.

"Elena," her mother said softly. "It's good to have you back."The words hung in the air like a thin veil over an unspoken truth. *Good to have you back*—because you belong here, because this is where you're supposed to be, because running won't change your fate.Elena forced herself to step out of the carriage. The moment her feet touched the gravel of the driveway, she felt the full weight of her decision settle on her shoulders. She was home, but it didn't feel like a homecoming. It felt like she was walking into a lion's den.Narcissa's eyes softened slightly as Elena approached, but she didn't embrace her. That wasn't the Malfoy way. Instead, she nodded, as if acknowledging an agreement that had been silently forged.

"Your father is waiting for you in his study," Narcissa said quietly.Elena's stomach twisted into knots. *Of course, he is.* There was no avoiding it. Lucius had called her home, and now she had to face him. The letter had been clear—this was her final chance to prove her loyalty to the family.Without another word, Elena followed her mother through the grand entrance hall. The dark marble floors echoed beneath their feet, the coldness of the manor settling into her bones. Everything about this place reminded her of the expectations she had spent her entire life trying to meet. The portraits of stern-faced Malfoy ancestors seemed to watch her as she walked, judging her with every step.When they reached the door to Lucius's study, Narcissa paused, her hand resting on the polished doorknob. She looked at Elena, her eyes filled with something Elena couldn't quite place—concern, perhaps, or regret."Be careful what you say," Narcissa whispered, her voice barely audible. "He's not in a forgiving mood."

Elena nodded, though she wasn't sure how careful she could be anymore. The lines between right and wrong, loyalty and betrayal, had become so blurred that she wasn't even sure what her father wanted from her.Narcissa pushed the door open, and Elena stepped inside.The study was dimly lit, with thick curtains drawn over the windows, casting long shadows across the room. Her father sat behind his massive desk, his fingers steepled in front of him. Lucius Malfoy was as intimidating as ever, his sharp features etched in stone as he regarded her with cold, calculating eyes."Elena," he said, his voice low and even. "I trust your journey was uneventful."Elena stood still, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yes, Father."Lucius gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "Sit."She obeyed, lowering herself into the chair, her back straight, her hands folded in her lap. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating."I won't mince words," Lucius began, his tone sharp. "Your recent behavior has raised... concerns. You've been seen with people who are beneath our family, associating with those who would undermine the values we stand for."

Elena felt the blood drain from her face, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. "I know.""You've always been the dutiful daughter, Elena," Lucius continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But lately, it seems you've forgotten your place. I called you back because I believe you need reminding."Her throat tightened. "I haven't forgotten. I just—""Silence," Lucius snapped, his voice cold and commanding. "You will speak when I am finished."Elena clenched her fists in her lap, fighting the urge to argue. She had expected this—expected him to remind her of her role, of the family's legacy, of everything she was supposed to uphold. But the defiance that had been growing inside her during her time at Hogwarts was still there, simmering just beneath the surface."Do you understand what's at stake here?" Lucius asked, his tone deadly calm. "Our family's name. Our influence. Everything we have built over generations. And you would risk it all for what? A dalliance with a Weasley?"Her heart clenched at the mention of Fred's name, but she kept her face neutral. She couldn't afford to show weakness now. "I wasn't risking the family name," she said carefully. "I was just—""Just what?" Lucius interrupted, his eyes flashing with anger. "Foolishly indulging in some fleeting rebellion? Or worse, believing you could escape the responsibilities that come with being a Malfoy?"Elena swallowed hard, her mind racing for a response that wouldn't dig her deeper into trouble. But there was no escaping this. Lucius Malfoy had never been the type to allow disobedience to go unpunished."You've been given everything," he continued, his voice rising slightly. "A place of privilege, power, and respect. And you would throw it all away for the sake of a schoolboy infatuation?""I wasn't—" Elena tried to protest, but her father's icy glare silenced her."This ends now," Lucius said, his voice like steel. "You will not see him again. You will not speak to him. You will not so much as acknowledge his existence. From this moment on, you will return to the life you were meant to lead. You will fulfill your duties to this family, and you will forget whatever foolish notions have been planted in your mind."

Elena's pulse raced, her throat tight with unshed tears. She had known this confrontation would come, but hearing the finality in her father's words made it feel real in a way it hadn't before. He was demanding her loyalty, her submission. And if she refused..."Do you understand me, Elena?" Lucius asked, his voice dangerously low.She looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest. For a moment, the words that had been building up inside her for weeks threatened to spill out—to tell him that she wasn't just a pawn in the Malfoy legacy, that she had her own thoughts, her own desires, her own dreams. But she knew what would happen if she did. The consequences would be far-reaching, not just for her but for Draco, for her mother, for everyone.So she swallowed her pride, her fear, and her anger, and nodded."Yes, Father," she whispered, her voice barely audible.Lucius studied her for a long moment, his sharp eyes searching her face for any sign of defiance. When he finally spoke, his tone was softer, but no less commanding. "Good. Remember, Elena, your loyalty to this family is everything. Don't forget that again."

He turned his attention back to the papers on his desk, dismissing her without another word. Elena stood, her legs feeling weak beneath her, and left the study, closing the door behind her.

The moment she was alone in the hallway, the walls of the manor seemed to close in around her. Her chest felt tight, and the weight of everything—her father's expectations, the loss of Fred, the suffocating reality of her life—crashed down on her all at once.She leaned against the wall, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She had done what she had to do. She had chosen her family, her duty, her survival.But at what cost?

---Elena felt like a shadow as she walked through the halls of Malfoy Manor that evening. The grand chandeliers, the polished marble, the ornate tapestries—all of it felt like part of a life she no longer belonged to. The weight of her decision bore down on her as she climbed the stairs to her room, each step heavier than the last.Inside her room, the air was still, untouched by the world outside. Everything was in its place, just as it had been before she left for Hogwarts. The bookshelves, the elegant desk, the bed with its dark green velvet canopy—all pristine, all reminders of the life she had always been expected to live.As she sank onto the bed, her eyes landed on the open window, where a soft breeze fluttered the curtains. For a fleeting moment, she imagined what it would be like to run, to leave it all behind. But that life—Fred, the possibilities of freedom—felt distant now, like a dream fading into the morning light.She curled up on the bed, hugging her knees to her chest, and for the first time in weeks, she allowed herself to cry.---