ALLURING || D.M.

Chapter 34

Dawn had not yet warmed the sky as her feet left the bed, the day before she had paced all over the place, but even then her eyes had not closed for more than a mere blink. Narcissa didn't know what else to do, her doubts chased her like hounds, so she walked. Along the depths of her property like a ghost in the early hours of the morning when not even the elves were awake.

She ended up in her rose garden, picking up her utensils to tend to the plants herself for a change, she used to do that a lot during the first war. She trimmed dead heads with slow precision, digging the soil for new bushes. Almost as if feeling the earth beneath her fingernails steadied her, gave her something to do.

With the sky paling she went to the library, made sure to hide the more dangerous books. The only place that had not been stripped of the house's infamous, controversial items was Lucius's study, strategic or dumb, she thought it was the best choice.

Pitter patter sounded after hours of solitude when she looked at the fresh sunlight illuminating the glass. "Mistress?" An elf asked carefully at her quiet demeanor, she turned her head, fixing her eyes on the creature, nodding as a salute.

"Would Mistress like something to eat?" He asked, clutching the broom he intended to use to clean the drawing room. She shook her head, "No" her voice was empty, "What time is it?" she questioned at the lack of a clock in the room.

"Just past six in the morning, Mistress" Her head nodded, accepting the information with a sigh, she stood, her bare feet getting colder from the temperature of the wood under them. Even the portraits were still asleep as she heard the elves cleaning and cooking in the distance, she laid back down on her bed, just contemplating the ceiling as her hands twitched for another hour.

At seven she gave up, her attempt at rest futile for she had merely closed her eyes for ten minutes at a time. Dark, formal robes were picked, opal clip held the front of her hair, comb brushed the rest of it as soon as she dried it with her wand. She had to use a revitalizing cream to hide the dark circles under her eyes, her face youthful and smooth seconds after the cream absorbed.

A dark red colour for her lips and light peach on her cheeks, jewelry, high heeled shoes and she walked toward the door as Tilli appeared with a bag of cleaning items, bowing her head before assessing the room. Her son was already in the dining room, sitting on a singular couch with a book in his lap. "Morning" She said delicately, walking towards him to kiss his cheek, eyes hovering over the orange book he had not let go of for days now.

Draco kissed hers back, "Morning mother" he said mechanically. "Did you arrange with Blaise for today?" She asked him calmly as she placed a modest amount of eggs on her plate, the boy shrugged, "I owled him".

Her eyes froze, fork halting mid-air, "Draco, I told you to make arrangements for today" she did not care if it was suspicious, it was extremely important he was not there that day. "And I did, I'm going over to his house" He sighed with a flicker of annoyance, his brows slightly furrowed, "Now, can I ask why is it that I cannot be here today?" he was well aware his mother was hiding something from him.

"Don't be ridiculous, this is your home. You can be here as long as you please, it's just today I am dealing with some errands" The woman excused sipping some tea. "Errands that require me to be gone" He stated in slight bother. "No, I will get some furniture from one of the basements, it will be ruckus. I don't want you to be here for that" He took in a breath but chose to let it go.

"Alright" Draco took a bite off his toast, "We agreed to share the important stuff" he reminded her before she thought he was ignorant to the whole ordeal. "Of course we did, darling" Narcissa smiled, brushing over his hand momentarily as a tinge of guilt crossed her features. "Very well then" He finished the toast and juice in front of him.