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Lady Dracona Weasley gripped her husband’s hand tighter as she passed through the wards.
It had been five years since she had been in Malfoy Manor. The family Magic greeted her; cocooning her core like a mother nestling her newborn to her bosom. She shivered and her love gave her a gentle smile.
She was aware that he felt some of the Dark Malfoy Magic, too. As a bonded couple, they shared everything: their hearts, their lives and their Magic.
An elf popped the moment they crossed the last layer of protection surrounding her family’s stronghold, made by her Great grandfather Lord Alvex Scorpius Malfoy.
Tilly’s eyes widened as she recognized her Mistress’ child. ”Mistress Dracona…” she wheezed and Dracona’s pale lips twitched with a faint smile.
“How have you been Tilly? I hope Mother was treating you well,” she offered and the large, brown eyes looking at her with reverence filled with tears.
“Mistress Narcissa is been sad and heartbroken. She thinks Mistress Dracona will not come back,” Tilly said brokenly and her heart squeezed with regret.
She never wanted to hurt her Mother. Narcissa’s love never faltered, she never failed to supply her needs and shield her from the cruelty of their world.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t invincible. She worked hard to save her from the danger and strife that darkened their door nine years ago, she begged and tricked and fought, alas she was by the end of the day a mere witch standing to a monster.
She swallowed thickly, hating the tears that clotted her throat and asked. ”Is Mother home?”
Tilly nodded. ”Mistress Narcissa barely leaves the Manor now. She knows that Mistress Dracona will come back someday.”
Her husband must have guessed her distress, for he put his arm around her shoulders and his potent magic soothed her troubled heart.
“Everything will be fine my love, I promise. Do not be hard on yourself, it’s not good for your health,” his deep voice caressed her ear and she took a deep breath and followed Tilly, his protective arm still around her.
The house elf showed them to the sitting room, where Lady Narcissa Black Malfoy was playing a soulful tune on her piano.
The room was the same: the white plasterwork ceiling adorned with mythological figures, the beige walls softened with an abundance of rich Persian tapestries and the French vases filled with bursts of fresh cut flowers.
Judging from what she saw, nothing changed.
The moment her mother caught sight of them, she halted her preferred leisure and stilled.
Even after all these years, Dracona’s heart still skipped a beat upon seeing her dear mother.
The magnificent witch never failed to overwhelm her with a presence that both intimidated and dazzled.
She heard from her Aunt Andromeda, that since a young age, she possessed a veneer of dignity that befitted a real Queen.
However, she could not look into those remarkable light blue eyes, alive with glints of fire and ice, without recalling what this witch did for her.
Mother Magic had treated her lovingly, and always would, for she was her faithful child. She was as beautiful as she remembered her, lean and elegant, her golden hair now lightly brushed with silver.
A real Lady through and through, that no one would cross except at their peril.
Age, and what indescribable things they went through, had given her a look of cool, incisive authority, the sense of a woman who had seen and experienced enough that she could rarely if ever, be outmanoeuvred.
“Dracona…” her name left the tight lips like a prayer.
“Mother.” She replied in a hushed tone.
Narcissa rose carefully from her piano stool as if she feared that the vision of her child would disintegrate and disappear if she hastened.
She walked gracefully toward her, eyes never steering from her face and the two women faced each other at last.
Her husband took her dainty hand in his much larger one and pecked her cold, pale knuckles.
He tried to give her some space, but she shook her head.
“Mother, this is my husband Lord William Weasley.” She said, inserting as much pride as she could summon in her voice.
Narcissa’s eyes widened for a fleeting moment. She would have missed the action if she didn’t know her mother so well.
“Yes. We’ve been married for five years now,” she answered, hiding her fears and hopes behind an impassive face. A face she was taught to give the world from the young age of five.
“But…” Narcissa started and Bill cut her gently.
He bowed deeply, and took his mother-in-law’s hand in his, greeting her the only way befitting her high standing.
Despite the shame Lord Lucius Malfoy brought to his family’s name, Narcissa was still Black, basically Royalty.
“Lady Narcissa Malfoy, I do apologize for the circumstances and it would be our pleasure to explain everything. But can we take a seat somewhere first? I fear for Dracona’s health.’’
There was no judgment in her mother’s eyes as she scrutinized her husband’s face.
Even the scar he acquired thanks to Fenrir Greyback’s brutality didn’t seem to bother her.
“I apologize Lord Weasley for my lack of manners. Please do follow me.”
They took their seats in the elegant, velvet green armchairs and Bill made sure that his wife was comfortable before he sat to her right, his fingers intertwined with hers.
Her husband smiled, his glowing blue eyes moving gently over her face. He smoothed her back and she inhaled deeply and faced her mother.
Narcissa’s attentive gaze chased every exchange and she fought the impulse to laugh.
Her mother would never change, nothing escaped her notice.
“So, how did this happen?” Her mother started with a pensive look. She was probably looking for hints she missed in the past.
Dracona smiled. ”I met Bill for the first time in my fourth year. He came with his mother to cheer Lord Potter-Black. I had to be blind not to notice his good looks and charming smile. But he was a Weasley and I was a Malfoy.”
Narcissa nodded and she knew that her mother heard what she left unsaid.
She had been desperate for her father’s attention then. She needed his approval as she needed her next breath.
“Bill was bewitched by a beautiful Veela at that time and I was betrothed to Heir Nott,” Dracona added ruefully, recalling how Theodore Nott was thrown at her without warning.
She sent her husband a playful look and he lowered his eyes sheepishly.
Narcissa looked between them bewildered, her eyes sharp and piercing. ’’Then how have you managed to know each other and get married?”
She continued grimly. ’’We met for the second time in my sixth year when…’’, she faltered. “when Dumbledore was killed and the Death Eaters infiltrated Hogwarts.”
Bill’s fingers came to smooth a stray silver lock that fled her immaculate hair knot and she looked at him thankfully.
She knew what he was doing. He was trying to soothe her pain and take away the sadness these memories brought.
His grip on her hand became stronger, but not painful. It was meant to make her feel safe, not to harm.
As shadow crossed over Narcissa’s face and she knew that her mother was remembering the dark times too.
She had to witness her child being branded like a beast and entrusted with a suicidal mission.
For a man who didn’t deserve their devotion, a man who ruined their lives.
“I came across Bill as Greyback was over him, in the process of taking his life force and turning him into one of his kind,” she continued. “I don’t know what came over me, but I couldn’t stand the sight. So, I threw a Full Body Bind Curse and saved his life in the process.”
“She wouldn’t even let me thank her after, she fled the moment I was safe,” Bill said in an exasperated voice and she dropped her gaze.
“He owns you a Life Debt,” Narcissa concluded and she froze.
“Which had been paid five years ago,” Dracona stressed, making sure that her mother understood.
What linked her to Bill was more intense than Life Debts and simple gratitude.
It was a love that passed the trial of fire. A love so deep, it mended their inner wounds, chased away the darkness that invaded their minds and the fear that ripped their faith to shreds.
She remembered her talks with her best friend, Heiress Blaise Zabin , years ago as she told her about the charismatic Wesley she noticed.
“You don’t know what you are missing,’’ Blaise insisted.” Love is…”
“Love is not for me,” she said firmly. She knew by then what she was missing and she was grateful for it.
She didn’t want to have another thing stolen from her.
“But you’ve never been in love. Nott is…’’ Blaise was stubborn.
“And I don’t want to. Don’t go badgering me about love and dreams. We’re different; you won’t catch me putting my fortune and my future in the hands of a wizard just because I fancy him,” She snapped indignantly.
At the time, she was wearing her mask dutifully. Not a scratch marred the icy exterior she offered to the world.
She was stupid. She didn’t mind if the rest of the world thought her calculating, cold-blooded and ambitious.
She knew who she was, she was A Malfoy.
A marriage was made between two people, and if she and the Nott were content with a lukewarm pragmatic arrangement, it was nobody’s business but theirs.
She watched her friend suffer longing for years, while the Golden Boy ignored her and didn’t want to experience the same.
“Then…” Narcissa's inquiring voice woke her up from her musings and she looked at Bill.
“Bill became engaged to Miss Fleur Delacour in my fourth year. However, after he was infected with Lycanthropy, everything changed.”
Her eyes searched her husband’s face lovingly, siphoning pleasure from the way he was looking at her.
Like she was his stars and moon.
Bill cleared his throat and continued. ’’My core changed. I was no longer a Light Wizard and you know that House Weasley had been Light for centuries. Nothing changed with my family, they treated me the same bar…my mother.”
He took a break and she knew he was reliving the dark times he suffered then.
“As for my fiancée, Veela are creatures of the sun while werewolves are Children of The Moon. Any link we shared before was broken and Fleur didn’t think twice before leaving me. I knew I had to go away and start anew, but the war was raging and I couldn’t abandon my family, hence I waited,”
Bill’s lips twitched with a sad smile, so different from the one he had when he was amused, incandescent and irresistible.
“I told my father that after the war, I will go back to Egypt. He decided to give me his Title as a gift, a way to show me that to him I will always be his beloved eldest. And then...”
Narcissa’s eyes glinted as she tilted her head and Dracona knew that her resourceful mother managed to form some hypotheses by that time.
She dropped her head, looking at their joined fingers as she started her tale. ’’After Hogwarts’ Battle, I was…broken. The way I behaved, my cowardice, how my father dared to sit among the mourning fighters as if nothing was amiss. I was overwhelmed with shame and self-hatred,”
she shook her head to fight the tears that wanted to slide down her ivory cheeks and Bill continued, giving her all the time she needed to collect herself.
“I admit that we had different reasons for wanting to flee the crowd, yet we were much the same in some way or another. I found Dracona sitting by the Black Lake. Her face had the most sorrowful look I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t stop myself from joining her. The truth is, your daughter never left my thoughts since the day she saved my life. I was always thinking about the fair maiden that risked everything to rescue, simple, poor me.”
“There’s nothing simple or poor about you, my love,” Dracona retorted vehemently and he grinned.
She remembered that night as well.
She was thinking about her next course of action when the wizard that teased her heart three years ago and stood by her side as if it was alright.
She felt unworthy and…filthy.
Pride lashed out before he could realize the nature of her thoughts and she hissed through stiff lips. ’’What are you doing here, Mr Weasley?’’
His understanding, regretful smile fanned the fire of her self-deprecation and she spun swiftly intending to leave, or more accurately, to flee.
He took a step forward and blocked her retreat.
“What are you…” She gasped.
A muscle in his jaw flickered as he answered. ’’You are too hard on yourself Heiress Malfoy. I heard from my brother, his best friend and yours what you went through and let me assure you that no one blames you. We know what kind of father yours is.’’
Dracona froze, her heart almost bursting with fear. ”My best friend?”
He tilted his head in a manner so reminiscent of a wolf. ’’The new Lady Potter, previously known as Blaise Zabini. It seems by the end of the sixth year, she and Harry connected deeply. She hid it from you as she feared it would add to your sadness and open your old wounds. She never forgot about you, quite the opposite, she sings your praises daily.’’
Blaise and…Harry Potter.
“When?’’ the words were wrenched from her throat.
’’She joined him as he set to accomplish his mission. She’s very protective of Harry, she wouldn’t leave his side no matter the danger they were facing. She managed to flee when Harry and his friends were brought to your Manor. She came looking for help and you know what happened after.’’
Dracona reeled back as if she had been slapped.
Blaise was with…when they were caught by Greyback and the snatchers.
Her best friend could have been tortured by her crazy aunt.
As if reading her thoughts, he closed the distance between them with one last stride and clutched her arm before she could move.
“Come with me,’’ he whispered and her eyes widened.
His grip was firm but only by struggling would she hurt herself.
The concept that he could both render her helpless and want to be in control of her fate was maddening.
She was tempted to stand silent and wait him out, but with one look into the deep blue depths, she knew that despite her stubbornness, he would win the battle.
He would wait for her.
“But why?” hhe breathed, stripped as she was of her haughty demeanour.
‘’I know you felt it too, this pull between us since the first time we crossed paths. Now, my wolf and my human half yearn for your closeness. Can’t you feel the way our magicks tease each other? I am going back to Egypt and you can start a new life there, with me. As for your social standing, fear not. I am Lord Weasley, so you won’t lose your Ladyship,’’ he promised and she heard the longing in his voice.
She closed her eyes and immediately he let go, knowing her pride would bind her to give him an answer more than any shackles he could produce.
Dracona was afraid. Until now, she had not realized how much the idea of marriage frightened her.
Gone was the snippy female who verbally attacked whenever possible.
In her place was a panic-filled young woman who kept looking at him with large silver eyes that begged him to change his mind.
Bill was about to pull her into his arms and whisper it would be all right, that she had nothing to fear when she tried one last plea for a reprieve. “If you marry me, you will grow to hate this witch you now claim to want. I'm telling you the truth,” she said, stepping backwards until she bumped into a tree. “I will make a horrible wife for any man. I was raised as a trophy, a boon. I was Father’s weapon and his biggest regret. Nothing is good or whole about me,” Dracona had barely spoken the last words when she found herself pinned between his two hands and the tree.
“Don’t say that you’re wrong. Nothing is wrong with you. You saved me even though we were enemies at the time. I see your heart and it shines brighter than any star, more so in the darkness. Be my forever star and I’ll be your moon. Together, nothing can tear us apart.’’
A single tear left her eye, giving him the answer her lips couldn’t confess.
Bill brushed their lips together, taking her first kiss and her heart at once.
The second his lips touched hers, Dracona felt herself responding.
His mouth was warm and soft, silently urging her to comply.
Half her mind waited for the feeling of wrongness to take over and end this insanity.
But it didn’t feel wrong.
Bill Weasley was teaching her what it was like to be a woman, to kiss like a woman, to feel like a woman.
It was incredible, unexpected and powerful.
And Dracona wanted more.
Narcissa cleared her throat and she blushed faintly.
Her mother smirked as if reading her thoughts.
“After we travelled to Egypt, I started my self-discovery journey. Bill took his previous position at the Egyptian branch of Gringotts and I enjoyed my free time. We bonded in Luxor, at Amon’s temple. It is said that the Ancient God experienced rebirth there with every Blood Moon. I started my Potions Mastery as it was something I enjoyed, and my life was never better.”
Narcissa seemed downcast, so she hurried to add. ”I am sorry for leaving you waiting Mother, but I couldn’t let you see me like that. I want you to always see me at my best, your proud, perfect daughter Dracona, whom you raised with your blood and tears. I hope that one day, you will find it in your heart to forgive me.’’
By then, hot tears were running down her face and Bill kept caressing her cold hand.
“Dracona…” Narcissa lost her composure as she stood.
She opened her arms hesitantly and Dracona didn’t wait for another moment before she launched herself at her mother.
The two women hugged tightly. Dracona buried her head in her mother’s hair. Taking sniffs of the familiar Juliet Rose perfume she would never forget.
After a long moment, mother and daughter disentangled.
Narcissa smoothed her daughter's hair as she asked worriedly. ’’Lord Weasley mentioned earlier that you were ailing. Are you alright, my dear? We can ask for the family healer.’’
Dracona smiled widely, a smile she reserved for her most trusted ones and took her mother’s elegant hand.
She put it above her slightly larger stomach and Narcissa gasped. ’’You…’’
She nodded tearfully. ’’Yes. I just found out days ago and we knew it was time to come back. I can’t raise my child alone; I need you with me, Mother. I want him to be raised like me. I want him to feel loved as I did. I need you, Mother.”
Narcissa’s hand was shaking as she caressed her stomach gently and her mask was cracked for the first time as she vowed. ’’By Mother Magic’s Will, your child will be loved, my heart.”