"Mistress," Mippy began in her high-pitched, tremulous voice, "Mippy is sorry to disturb you."
The elf was supposed to be gathering news outside, but it's just been less than a day, "What is it, Mippy?" She asked.
The elf raised her head just enough, and her eyes widened with worry. "Mippy brings news, Mistress. Troubling news."
Narcissa's hand clenched on the edge of her desk. "Go on."
"Mippy has heard whispers. Miss Bellatrix… she has… she has left the Dark Lord's side."
Narcissa's eyes widened. "What do you mean? Bellatrix would never betray Voldemort."
Mippy's hands wrung, and her ears drooped further. "Mippy doesn't know all the details, but there is talk among the other elves. They say Miss Bellatrix has gone against the Dark Lord's wishes and has disappeared. There is much confusion and anger among the followers."
A shiver ran down Narcissa's spine. Bellatrix, ever the unthinkingly faithful toady of Voldemort, walking out on him? This couldn't be real. And yet, why would Mippy lie or keep anything from her?
"But Lucius?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is there any news of him?"
Mippy nodded sadly. "Yes, Mistress. Mippy has heard that Master Lucius is in a difficult situation. He has failed in a task given to him by the Dark Lord. Mippy does not know the task or where Master Lucius is now, but the other elves say he is in trouble. There is much fear that the Dark Lord's wrath will be severe."
Narcissa could not breathe. The words of Mippy recanting the betrayal of Bellatrix and the foiling of Lucius were such blows she had not been prepared to face. She got up from her seat and staggered towards the window. Looking out towards the darkening sky, her mind was racing and trying to understand what he meant.
"Thank you, Mippy," she said after a long silence. "You may go."
The elf bowed again and vanished from the room with a soft pop. Narcissa stayed near the window, her thoughts like a whirlwind of fear and insecurity; the world she had known was cracking up, and she felt powerless to stop it. She pressed her forehead to the cool glass, her breath fogging it over.
The betrayal of Bellatrix could mean almost anything and nothing good. If Lucius was in trouble with Voldemort—a wave of shivers coursed through her, not wanting to think of those consequences.
For a moment, she allowed herself to cry out the tears, let them flow freely over her cheeks. She felt like a puppet, strings under control by all the powers far away from her. The tall facade of Malfoy Manor loomed larger over her than ever; the opulence became grotesque against the turmoil inside her.
As she did so, something coldly determined began to curdle in her heart. Despair would not crush her; she must be strong—herself and for the people of her territory, whom she could not let down when she had already come so far. She needed to think clearly, to find a way to make sure that she retains control of the situation, should things get complicated. If something goes wrong with Lucius, the Malfoy family could fall into ruins, and other families will attempt to take over.
...
The day had broken, throwing a pale gray light on the extensive grounds of Malfoy Manor. Narcissa had lain awake all night, her mind a turbulent whirl of worry and fear. With resolve hardening in her veins, she decided to see for herself what happened in the world outside her gilded prison.
The grand staircase, majestic in its vast dimensions, was descended by Narcissa, her tread firm, though her mind was otherwise occupied. She had, of course, prepared the vial of Polyjuice Potion for just such an occurrence: brewed meticulously over the last month. As she entered the little, hidden chamber behind the library, she found the vial there waiting for her: filled with a murky liquid and a single hair from one of her maids.
She grimaced and swallowed the potion, feeling the familiar and unpleasant sensation of transformation as her features contorted and reshaped. Her blonde, elegant hair darkened and shortened, she shrank slightly in height, and her aristocratic features softened into those of her maid, Eliza. Checking her reflection in the nearby mirror, another woman looked back at her. Pleased that her disguise would hold, she threw on a simple cloak and slipped out of the manor.
The grounds were silent in a way only broken by the rustling of the leaves, the distant cries of birds, and the general hush of spring. She pushed open the gate and stepped onto the road leading toward the small village.
The village was big and was going through some big changes and development, its cobbled streets wending their way between quaint thatched houses. Narcissa walked on, noting every sign of war: the tight boarding of windows, the closing of shops, an atmosphere of tension heavily over the townsfolk. They shuffled by, muttering suspiciously to each other, peering with watchfulness at strangers and whispering furtively.
Even though they are purebloods, just like the muggles, they are also affected by the war. Living each day in fear, thinking a mudblood might just kill them in an alley or in a suicide attack.
Narcissa went to the market square with downcast eyes but open ears and eyes. She strained hard to catch portions of the conversation that might hint at current affairs. Wandering words: 'skirmishes,' 'disappearances,' and 'fearsome creatures' in the woods nearby are always in connection with the influence of the Dark Lord. She feared that Lucius's failure might have brought these disturbances into the territory.
It was then that she overheard an alarming part of a discussion between two old wizards on the same bench outside a pub.
"Heard about the Stoneback Dugbogs?" one of them asked, his voice low and gravelly.
The other nodded, face pale. "Aye, nasty creatures. They say they've been seen near the forest's edge, picking off anyone going too close. Never seen them this far north before."
"Ha. could only be those beasts. Last night, I swear I saw a couple of skeletons wandering around the streets," chimed in one young witch.
Narcissa listened intently to the hushed voices around her. The mention of Stoneback Dugbogs was troubling enough, but these sightings of skeletons were far more sinister. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to piece together the fragments of information she was gathering.
The elderly wizard spoke after hearing the girl's words, his voice filled with unease, "The skeletons weren't just wandering aimlessly. Some folks say they were looking for something—or someone."
"Aye," agreed his companion, "and some swear they saw the skeletons casting spells, just like a live wizard would. How can that be possible? Unless there's dark magic at play."
The young witch chimed in again, her voice trembling with fear, "I overheard some saying it could be illusion magic. Maybe mudbloods are trying to create chaos among us purebloods. Afterall, it's a war between them and superior blood. They must be getting desperate."
Narcissa's mind was racing. The presence of skeletons could not just be pushed away, perhaps animated by the dark magic or under the dominion of some too-powerful wizard. If it were true, they marked a change in the balance of power, if not the emergence of a new threat.
Meanwhile, the idea that some form of illusion magic was used to set people at odds was equally chilling. The wizarding world was already so full of tension, and with that kind of ploy in play, things couldn't do anything but blow up even more.
As she pondered the possibilities, Narcissa decided she needed more concrete information. She couldn't afford to rely solely on rumors and hearsay. She needed to see the skeletons for herself and be clear about the nature of the threat they posed. And so it was that the last known location of the skeletons became her focus.
With a steely glint in her eyes, Narcissa approached one of the old wizards with a guarded voice so as not to threaten any. "Excuse me, sirs," she began. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation—could you tell me where these skeletons were last seen?"
The wizards exchanged wary glances, but the one with the gravelly voice finally spoke up. "Near the old mill at the edge of the village. Folks say they came from there and, after their search, went back there. You better stay clear of that area, young lady. We were thinking of taking this matter to Mrs. Malfoy. Let's see a day or two. If nothing improves, we might have to ask her for support."
Narcissa thanked them and quickly made her way toward the old mill. Thickened by fear and suspicion, the village atmosphere grew even tenser around her with each step. She held her head low and became part of the great mass, though her mind worked with a flurry of calculations and strategies.
The path to the old mill was overgrown and less traveled compared to the bustling village square. As Narcissa advanced, she felt an early chill wash through her shawl, and her skin crawled. In front of her stood the mill; the old building barely held back the first beams of light, and from every nook and cranny, its shadow fell on another.
'What's this suffocating feeling?! It's like I'm standing before the Dark Lord, yet, there's no one in sight!' She thought as she gripped her wand tightly.
Narcissa scrutinized around her with the greatest care, looking for traces of any motion. She found that in many places, the ground looked like it had been probed, as if something, or someone, had been digging around or searching.
Suddenly, a rustling sound caught her attention. Narcissa spun around, her wand raised, prepared to defend herself. But what she saw made her blood run cold. Out of the darkness of the building, came three skeletal figures, the hollows of their eye sockets alight with an eerie, green glow.
Their skeletal fingers clutched wands that crackled with dark energy. Narcissa held her ground even though she was alone. Her hand was clutching onto a Portkey that would teleport right back into her mansion, should things get dangerous. They were no ordinary skeletons; they were animated by something very potent in magic, probably the work of a very proficient dark wizard.
****
💎GIVE ME THOSE POWER STONES💎 & REVIEWS> For faster release.
Support Link: www.patr eon.com/XcaliburXc
[18 advance chapters]
[No double billing. You will get 1 month regardless of the date you join.] [15% discount on annual billing.]