Sirius ran out of his bedroom, jumped up on the banister and slid down. Once he reached the bottom, he leapt off, landed on his feet and swept into the drawing room. He was whistling a cheerful tune and carried a bunch of freshly-picked daffodils. Clytemnestra and Cassiopeia exchanged an amused glance. Their young great-nephew had seemed unusually cheerful of late.
'Where are you off to with those lovely flowers, Sirius?' Clytemnestra asked with a wry smile.
'Ought the House of Black to expect the arrival of a new mistress in the near future?' Cassiopeia teased.
Sirius looked confused for a moment, then laughed.
'These? Oh no, there are for Cissy,' he explained. 'They're her flowers, you know. Narcissuses.'
Clytemnestra chuckled. 'You've been spending a lot of time at Malfoy Manor lately,' she said. 'I'm pleased that you and Narcissa have been enjoying one another's company.'
'Well, our sons are best friends, so it's easy enough for us to share war stories,' Sirius replied.
'Do you give flowers to the mothers of all your son's friends?' Cassiopeia asked innocently.
Sirius growled. 'Considering that the only other one I know is that Weasley woman, I should think not!' He stepped over to the fireplace. 'Anyway, I need to be going. Please tell Mopsy I most likely shan't be home until after dinner.'
'Have a good time,' Clytemnestra said, forcing herself to look down at her needlepoint.
Sirius looked at his aunts strangely. 'What's come over you two lately?'
'Nothing,' Cassiopeia retorted. She looked as though she was trying very hard to keep from laughing. 'It's just been very lovely weather this year.'
'Indeed,' Clytemnestra agreed. 'Perfect weather for...daffodils.'
The two old women could contain themselves no longer and burst into hearty laughter. Sirius was worried that they might have gone mad.
'Will you two be all right if I go?' he asked cautiously.
'Go, you idiot boy,' Cassiopeia snapped, waving him on. Sirius took this as sufficient confirmation that his great-aunt was still herself, and promptly Flooed over to Malfoy Manor before he could be subjected to any more of their curious insinuations.
Sirius stepped out of the fireplace to find Malfoy Manor in complete chaos. A table lay toppled over on its side, bits of glass were dispersed across the marble floor and a dented bronze Apollo had fallen near the fireplace. Dobby stood snivelling in the midst of the disorder.
'What's happened here?' Sirius demanded of the elf. 'Where's your Mistress?'
'Dobby's old Master Lucius was taking Dobby's Mistress, sir,' Dobby sobbed. 'Dobby is not hearing where he is taking her.'
'Lucius?' Sirius frowned. 'But how? I thought your Master removed him from the wards.'
'Dobby is not knowing how his old Master Lucius was coming through the wards,' the elf replied. 'But he is not triggering any alarms, sir.'
Sirius's eyes narrowed as he looked around the room. 'It looks like there was a struggle. Narcissa is a powerful witch, Dobby. How did Lucius overpower her?'
'Dobby doesn't know, sir,' the elf muttered apologetically.
'Where was she when Lucius arrived?'
'Dobby can't be sure, sir, but Dobby is thinking that Mistress was sitting on the terrace.'
Sirius darted through the open doors onto the stone terrace. He sighed when he saw Narcissa's wand lying on a table alongside the book she had been reading. He collected it promptly and placed it in his pocket.
'Dobby!' he barked, and the elf appeared, ready to do his bidding. 'Secure the house against all intruders,' Sirius commanded. 'No one is to be allowed in without the express authorisation of either myself or your Master.'
'Dobby understands, sir,' the elf replied with a bow. 'Dobby will carry out his orders.'
Sirius thanked his lucky stars that Abraxas had ordered the elf to obey him without question. He disconnected the fireplace from the Floo network and Apparated back to Windermere Court. Cassiopeia and Clytemnestra were startled to see him appear.
'You're back quickly,' Clytemnestra observed. 'What's the matter?'
'Narcissa's been kidnapped,' Sirius replied. His aunts gasped.
'But who would dare to raise their wand against a daughter of the House of Black?' Cassiopeia demanded.
Sirius raised an eyebrow. 'Lucius.'
'Good Lord,' Clytemnestra whispered. 'Surely not.'
'She is his wife,' Cassiopeia pointed out. 'Are you sure she didn't go willingly?'
Sirius showed them Narcissa's wand. 'If she had gone voluntarily she would hardly have left her wand behind,' he said. 'Besides, I've seen the house. Tables were turned over and vases shattered. There was clearly a struggle.'
'But why would he do such a horrible thing?' Clytemnestra asked.
'Who knows?' Sirius replied. 'The question is how we're going to respond.'
'This vile assault on our family must not be tolerated,' Cassiopeia snapped.
Sirius's grey eyes flashed dangerously.
'I assure you, Aunt Cassie,' he said in a low voice. 'Toleration is the very last thing on my mind.'
'What are you going to do?' Clytemnestra asked.