'No, not a vampire-related child, it seems to be for the purpose of granting vampires immortality'
'But is holding vampire blood indeed ok? Even if we were to accept it, would it be okay? After all, we still have Draco in our family?'
Even as a baby, imagining Draco being attacked and having his blood sucked made Narcissa uneasy.
'There seems to be no problem in that regard. I was told that the child has not had the urge to draw blood in the week since he was born. They say giving some small amounts of blood occasionally is enough.'
'Yes, that's good.'
The unease and doubt didn't go away. Subhuman things Narcissa didn't know much about, that was Narcissa's true sentiment, but more than all that Narcissa still had trouble adjusting to the status quo.
Yet somehow even though Narcissa said all the uneasiness and doubts she could think of, what came up again afterwards was the anticipation from before.
'Is it still unacceptable?'
Narcissa was overly uneasy to the point that Lucius could feel worried, he came over to Narcissa and said.
Since it was his master's order, Lucius had to comply.
As a noble, Narcissa had to follow this order with determination, even to her family.
However, his otherwise gentle nature towards his family had been revealed.
Although Narcissa knew that even asking wouldn't change the decision, when Lucius started to frown
'Lucius.'
Narcissa softly began to speak
In fact, at first Narcissa wasn't quite sure why she said what she did. It should have felt more confused, or more than that, harboured resentment.
But stronger than that was a sense of foreboding.
If she missed this opportunity Narcissa would regret it.
So without realising it, Narcissa had begun to confide. Though she had just been complaining and upset, Narcissa used these as an excuse.
'I, for one, am really happy to have had Draco. Our lovely child. When he was born, I thought he was the fruit of our family. So, I wanted it even more. But.'
It was something that had always been rooted in the heart, something that still felt like a thorn between small bones despite the creation of a happy family.
Narcissa's body was slightly weaker than average. So when Narcissa gave birth to her first child, her health was much worse.
Then came the therapist's pronouncement.
'The second one is hopeless.'
That was Narcissa's dissatisfaction with herself. Narcissa thought it would be a lifelong burden.
'It is true that I can no longer bear your child and mine. Though I had hoped for a daughter.'
At the time, my husband said we already had an heir son and that was enough. But Narcissa knew. Lucius actually wanted a daughter as well.
Lucius was born as the only heir to the Malfoy house. He had pursued the love of the Malfoys with all his heart, especially wealth and honour, but when they had just been married for a short time and their love had finally taken root, he had said to Narcissa in secret.
'I wish I had a sister or sisters like you.'
His next of kin had been female. But that was just close relatives, not family.
When such a man married and was ready to have children, though it might have been only imagination, it would be nice to have a sister by his son's side if he produced an heir, and he might have wished to give himself something he had never had and had longed for.
Yet Narcissa had failed to bear him a daughter. Narcissa herself wished for a daughter, a girl to share the joys of female bonding with.
Narcissa simply longed for the love of a family.
Since she was a child, Narcissa had pursued it deep within her heart as a tool to keep her purebloodedness alive in a purebloodist environment.
However, Narcissa had to give it up.
Although her husband said that just having a son was enough, that gentle lie instead sealed the self-doubt deep inside and corrupted Narcissa.
Against this backdrop, the husband brought her, our daughter.
Indeed, the blood ties were not strong. Vampire blood was involved. However, she possesses the bloodline that inherits the great Slytherin, the bloodline of Voldemort.
In that case, could she be seen as a pureblood like herself?
The more Narcissa expressed her thoughts, the more she made excuses in her mind. All this time, Narcissa had been making excuses in her beliefs of purebloodism. The purebloodism that had been instilled in her since birth.
Narcissa was indeed a pureblood, but perhaps not as fanatical as a Death Eater.
Narcissa's inner purebloodism is dominated by the desire to have children, to have daughters within the couple.
Therefore, after expressing her inner thoughts, Narcissa simply spoke softly:
'Thank you, Lucius. Bring her here and let us raise her. As our new family member.'
Narcissa smiled, and said so.
Lucius also gave a look of relief. Although he wouldn't disobey orders, he wanted his beloved wife to live a life free of discontent if he could.
One year and three months had passed since the artificial Death Eater human named 'Daria' was adopted by the Malfoy family.
A year has passed, the war has become more and more intense, and the wizarding world is shrouded in a heavy and dark atmosphere.
Some come home with 'dark marks' on their doors.
Others go out to work and return without a word.
Others are forced by obedience spells to kill those they love with their own hands.
With such countless tragedies, suspicion and fear crept into people's ordinary lives.
Each day people felt despair and almost gave up.
Such days will continue.
Everyone understood that.
As long as the mighty Voldemort, the one with the terrifying name, existed, this horror would not go away.
And everyone thought that such despair would continue, today, tomorrow, and in the future.
Yes, and so it was on this fateful day
31st October 1981. Somewhere in the house.
On this day, in order to create countless tragedies, dominate the wizarding world, and burn everything associated with lowly muggles, Voldemort gathered two Death Eaters.
'And now I shall be the perfect, never dying being.'
Voldemort continued solemnly as if chewing on this fact as he sat in his high chair.
To his right sat a man who looked like a bat that had been bred too large. He couldn't quite hide the unease that welled up inside him.
It stemmed from the opening line that Voldemort had just spoken:
'The man who betrayed Dumbledore brought this lord the whereabouts of the Potters.'
From the moment those words had reached his ears, he had begun to feel uneasy.
'What is it, Severus? Is there something disturbing? That's very rare for you.'
Was Voldemort in a good mood? Normally, if he sensed a hint of unease, he would reprimand, or in the worst case scenario, even cast an Avada Sorcery to sanction it. But this time, in a way, a hint of tenderness was felt.
Instead, this tenderness incited Severus' anxiety even more.
'No, my honourable lord. There is nothing that disturbs me.'
Severus tried to return to his usual cool expression, and
'There is no need to hide it, Severus. As my loyal servant, the information you have provided, though only partial, is vital to the information I need to truly become an immortal being today. Consider it a reward. I am in a good mood today. Try to get your inner turmoil out.'
Voldemort's encouragement forced Severus to open his mouth. Though somewhat helpless, he carefully began to speak.
'Only one, then. Really the Potter girl, will you let her live?'
It was a promise Severus had made with Voldemort earlier, when Severus had learnt that the woman he loved was the mother of the child of prophecy.
Voldemort showed a moment of surprise, followed by a laugh in a horrible voice. The two Death Eaters sitting in front of him tried desperately to hold their expressions from contorting with fear.
Unbiasedly, Voldemort laughed for a moment before
'Severus, what is it, so this is it! Do not worry. I will keep the woman you desire alive. The infant is, of course, deserved, and as for the male, I will let him die. He has dared to defy my lord three times already and is not worth keeping.'
And so it was said.
Severus bowed his head at the words, but no matter what, he could not remove the uneasiness from his heart.
Voldemort would not hesitate to kill, whether it was necessary or not, not even his minions, who to him were merely his pawns.
He would not hesitate to break a promise and kill without hesitation if it was necessary.
It was for this reason that he was working as a double agent.
Severus tried to keep his inner turmoil hidden once more.
The desperate message he had received at the beginning of the funeral. Who the hell was the betrayer?
No, there was only one. Abhorrence welled up inside Severus.
The one who was now guarding the Potters' secrets was that shameful Sirius Black.
As long as he did not betray it, this information would not reach Voldemort.
Dumbledore had to be told the news as soon as possible to get Lillian to safety, but with Voldemort right in front of him at the moment, that simply wasn't possible.