Verin stepped through the parlor door Draco held open for her, before he guided her across the room to the large fireplace. Nothing had changed. The front of the gigantic fireplace was still occupied by a large, black chesterfield sofa and two matching armchairs. The painting of Lucius' parents looked disapprovingly down at them, some expensive silver candle holders and carefully selected figurines placed on the mantlepiece beneath them.
Narcissa Malfoy sat on the sofa, her legs crossed at the ankles and back perfectly straight as she read a book, a glass of sherry in her hand. She looked strained, jumpy even, and noticed her son immediately despite their effort to be quiet. "Oh, Draco, Darling, you are home. How wonderful," She placed her sherry and the book on the side table, straightening the fabric of her dress as she got up. Verin knew Draco had an owl ahead, but Narcissa still looked taken aback when she caught sight of younger girl. She quickly hugged Draco, who had strolled past Verin to give his mother a quick kiss on the cheek. He towered her now and she sank into his touch for a moment, clearly glad he was home safe again.
Whatever one could hold against Narcissa, her love for Draco was beyond anything. It had almost torn her apart when he had become a Death Eater and had paid for the mistakes Lucius' had done. Verin still remembered how frantic she was before the battle of Hogwarts, not knowing how her son was or if he even was alive. The pain and terror of the older woman had rushed straight through her, leaving her frantic and scared as well. They had hugged, deeply hidden in the servant's hallway, holding onto each other until Narcissa had regained her composure. "He is fine, Cis. He will be unharmed; he is clever and so well trained. Do calm down, please. I know Draco is fine." It was the only time she had put up a fight with her husband, had even dared to cross the Dark Lord and her abomination of a sister.
Verin was surprised that after everything, she was still married to Lucius. She had hated him for what happened. And with them again in the crossfires, Verin was sure she prayed everyday for Draco to come home unharmed. It must be the same nightmare over and over.
"Mother," Draco said gently, prying his mother gently out of his arms and turning to Verin, who stood there awkwardly, hands folded in front of her like a schoolgirl. "I am sure you remember..." Narcissa did not let him finish, she practically pushed herself out of Draco's arms and quickly closed the distance between the women. "Verin! Oh Verin, my dear girl!" she pulled Verin into a hard hug the younger witch had not expected. Narcissa had always been so aloof and distant to any one other than Draco.
Sure, with her friends she had warmed a little, but the women of her elite circle where all the same. Restraint, elegant, soft-spoken, always in control of themselves, most of the times in control of their children and husbands. When Verin's mother had died, Narcissa had tried to be there for her friend's daughter and after she graduated and at the height of the Dark Lord's reign, they had seen each other every day. She was easy company, Verin supposed. Like Draco, Verin knew how to function in the way she was expected to. Following the pattern of what was considered proper came easy to her and no matter what had happened these days at Malfoy Manor, Narcissa and Verin had always fallen back into the rhythm together. Tea-time, dinner preparations, overlooking the housework and gardening, entertaining the Dark Lord and their "guests", tending to their wishes. It had gotten them through the day. And the next day. And the next. Narcissa's reaction was still unexpected.
In her arms, Narcissa suddenly sobbed. Verin froze up as she heard the sound, looking over the woman's shoulders towards Draco for help. He looked just as stunned as her, stepping forward to rest a hand on his mother's shoulder. Narcissa didn't let go of Verin, instead reaching for Draco's arm as well and pulling him closer. He lifted an arm around his mother's shoulders as he rested his other on the small of Verin's back. They looked at each other a little helplessly. Neither of them could remember ever being in a Malfoy group hug. Or any long hug for that matter. It was nothing they did.
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A Memory Of Shadows
FanfictionA young witch has been dragged into the life of a Death Eater, putting her in the front lines of the Battle of Hogwarts and then into the depths of Azkaban. Now, five years later, she is being released into a world she does not understand and that...
