The Sirius Effect

A New Day [Epilogue]

Narcissa frowned as she heard a thump from the kitchen of their home. The house-elf, Dobby, rushed from the pantry, breathing heavily.

"Missus, come quick! Missus has fallen!" He exclaimed as Narcissa gasped before rushing past him.

"Lucius! Lucius! It's Saphira!" Narcissa screeched when she found Saphira strewn across the stone floor. Lucius slammed the door open and felt his heart stop. The Daily Prophecy fluttered to the ground in the chaos.

"Saphira!" Lucius bent down next to his sister and quickly lifted her into his arms. Dobby reentered the kitchen, carrying a small blonde boy.

"Take her to St. Mungo's, dear. I'll follow with Draco," Narcissa ordered as she easily took the child away from the house-elf. Lucius nodded as he apparated. Narcissa carried her son to the fireplace. Draco was too young to accompany her in her apparation.

"St. Mungo's!" She remarked as she flung the Floo powder into the flames. When Narcissa found her husband, Saphira had been taken from him. He looked ashen. He feared for his sister. She had taken Regulus's death in the worse possible way. He had managed to talk her into living with him and Narcissa until she had the child.

"Mr. Malfoy?" A healer approached the couple as Draco giggled from his mother's arms. Lucius turned to the man as he frowned.

"Are you Mrs. Black's family?" The healer asked as the blondes nodded.

"I'm her brother," Lucius answered as the healer nodded. He pulled a clipboard from behind his back and flipped through the information.

"Mrs. Black is fine," The healer announced as Narcissa sighed in relief. However, Lucius could see the frown on the healer's face.

"What of her child?" He asked as the healer shook his head.

"I'm afraid Mrs. Black has suffered a miscarriage," he replied before leaving the couple alone. Narcissa gasped as she pulled Draco close to her chest. Lucius sat down heavily on a nearby chair.

"This will destroy her," Narcissa commented quietly as she sat next to her husband. Lucius nodded. Regulus was dead. Saphira suffered a miscarriage. The Dark Lord had fallen. Sirius Black was going to Askaban. Lucius was facing persecution because he was a Deatheater. All because of a child.

**

"How are you?" Narcissa asked as Lucius held Draco. Saphira didn't answer her as she pulled her knees to her chest.

"Phira, we know you're hurting," Narcissa continued. Lucius cleared his throat, stopping his wife's lecture. He placed his son on the bed in front of Saphira.

"Love him, love Draco like he was yours, sister," Lucius remarked as Saphira looked down to the small boy. Draco's grey eyes met hers and tears welled in her eyes before she pulled the boy close to her chest in a tight hug. Draco giggled as he held her back. Twelve years passed before anyone ever mentioned Sirius Black to Saphira.

"Have you read the Daily Prophet, Phira?" Narcissa asked one day when she was visiting her sister in law. Draco scowled as he sat between the two women. His father had left him with them for the day and he resented it.

"Mother, can't I go do something?" He asked with a groan as Narcissa frowned at him.

"Draco, no," she answered. Saphira smiled as she handed the teenage boy a chocolate frog.

"Draco, why don't you go practice quidditch in the back yard? I owled Mrs. Zabini and she said Blaise would be right over," Saphira informed the boy as Draco smiled and climbed to his feet. He quickly hugged his aunt and disappeared out of the parlor.