ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 32

The chandelier moved slightly to the left, an elf's hands with it. "There" Narcissa spoke, nodding at the final look of her ceiling. With a soft, pleased exhale she observed the elves move some tables a little closer to make way for others. Every single guest had confirmed, to a point where her forty-something tables were not enough for her more than two hundred visits.

"That's a lot of crystal" Draco commented by the entrance, a bitten green apple in his grip. His mother turned to him with a smile, "It's working darling" she told him excitedly. Two days after the party, she was making a list of good-enough events to host soon, it had been his idea to host a Summer Solstice Gala. A good few years the manor had gone without it, so not overdone, tasteful, traditional, lavish, it checked all the boxes.

"So I see" He said, taking another bite of his apple. "Do you have your suit ready?" His mother worried, remembering to check on the elf who was retouching her gown's embroidery. The boy nodded, watching the set-up be halfway done, five hours before any guests arrive.

The wooden floor had been polished carefully on both the grand salon and the adjoining ballroom, able now to reflect every single shimmer the huge chandeliers held. Narcissa had ordered it be altered, more ice crystals dangling the same height as the gold and silver threads, arranged to simulate constellation shapes.

"Tibby" She called softly as his son retreated. Tibby was her most trusted elf, brought from the Black family as part of her marriage contract. With a pop, the small elf appeared, bowing lightly, "Inventory is ready Mistress, tableware inspected and cleaned". Narcissa nodded approvingly, walking along the room.

"And the goblets? I want the Silesian set on the main tables" The witch explained, hearing a soft "Tibby will fetch them right away, Mistress" right after. Another elf sat tenderly dusting the vases she chose for centrepieces, a box of the selected flowers ready to be arranged next to him.

In the ballroom, paintings were being hung. Not the rude or scowling ones that adorned the halls. They may upset the guests, these were artistic ones, featuring vines and dusklight shimmer. A few displayed ancestral rituals, runes, one was a woven tree of the Malfoy family from three centuries ago.

At the edge of the room, a raised dais was being filled with instruments. Harps, flutes, strings, a piano were being levitated to stand at the centre. That gave her an idea, she could host a recital next.

Tables dressed in soft dark blue fabric with silver lining. She inspected the porcelain plates arranged as rows of taper candelabras floated to their places between pillars. Smaller ones for the tables, there should not be too many, shadows were just as vital as light.

The main table, for her and her son, worried her the most. The oak was not bare, the places were there, but not the seating banners. She could not figure out exactly who to have beside them, who was best. Whatever she chose, it could work both ways.

Bimley appeared beside her, "Mistress, we have the wine choices ready in the kitchen". Narcissa gracefully inclined her head, that could also work both ways, everything could. "Serve only the elf-wine from Silvanus at the banquet, Bordeaux for the amenities, we don't need them drunk too early" the elf nooded, "Actually, switch to the sauvignon at the fourth course" she rethought, "Get some bottles from the cellar, and some champagne and firewhisky" I know my crowd.

A sonorous laugh echoed behind her, "You'd think this is war council". The witch turned her head, Draco stood by a column, now in his formal robes, "How's this?" he asked. Narcissa smiled, proud steps clicking as she approached her son, patting away a crease in his shoulder and fixing his crooked tie.

She looked him up and down, reflecting, "How about the ruby amulet? The one your great-grandfather used to wear" she suggested. Draco's eyes squinted, "I don't wear necklaces".