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Ladies of the Sacred Twenty-Eight did not outwardly express their feelings very often. That did not mean they did not have them. Narcissa Black, hours away from becoming Narcissa Malfoy, had an extraordinarily large and varying amount of emotions on her wedding day.
The prevailing thoughts were mostly positive. Love and admiration for Lucius Malfoy. Excitement for the life they would be starting together. Anticipation for their wedding night and honeymoon.
All of this was tinged with melancholy as there was one emotion and thought that played in the background of her mind all day.
Narcissa desperately missed her sister Andromeda and wished she was there at her side for this occasion.
Empathy had grown over her relationship with Lucius for Andromeda’s choice to break from their family. Narcissa loved Lucius with her entire heart. She would walk through fire for him and to be with him and may have to given all that he is involved with. If Andromeda felt half as strongly about Edward Tonks as Narcissa did about Lucius, leaving was clearly the only choice.
Bella was somewhere on the grounds of Malfoy Manor, likely cozying up to the Dark Lord instead of supporting Narcissa. Unless violence was involved Bella was not interested, even if the event involved her sister. Narcissa knew that if things had been different, Andromeda would be there to help her into her dress or calm her nerves. Instead, all she could do was ponder “Where are you now?”. Tears streamed down Narcissa’s face, partially in anger and in sadness over the absence.
A quiet “pop” sounded to her right and Narcissa turned to face her elf, Whimsy. Whimsy had been the nanny elf to the Black girls and was following Narcissa to her new life with Lucius.
“Whimsy is here to let Mistress Narcissa know that she must be ready in thirty minutes.” The elf said, with a look of concern in its tiny face. Whimsy said nothing about Narcissa’s tears, but handed her a handkerchief and gave a small smile.
“Thank you Whimsy. I will touch up my make up quickly. Will you let Father know that I will meet him in the entrance hall?” Narcissa said as she daintily dabbed her face clear of her tears.
Whimsy nodded and then popped away. When Narcissa turned back to her vanity, she noticed an envelope with her name on it that had not been there previously. Recognizing the handwriting, she tore it open with less finesse than etiquette usually required.
My Dearest Cissy,
There is a piece of you in every single second of every single day. I miss you more than words can say.
I wish more than anything that circumstances were different and I could be there to see you walk down the aisle. I know you look beautiful.
You were my best friend, my favorite sister, and I wish such a wonderful life for you. I hope Lucius loves you in all the ways you deserve.
I hope when you see my constellation at night you think of me just as I think of you when the Narcissus flowers I planted in my garden are in bloom.
I will always love you and I will always be here if you need me. My greatest desire is that there will be a day when we can love eachother out loud again.
Your Sister,
Dromeda
With a new found warmth and happiness, feeling lighter than she had in ages, Narcissa carefully folded the letter. She picked her wand up off the vanity and charmed one of the drawers to open only for her, sliding the note from her sister inside. A quick touch up to her makeup, and Narcissa left her suite.
Hope rang in heart as she walked down the aisle toward Lucius. Hope for her future with Lucius. Hope that someday her sister will be back in her life.
In a well kept room in Malfoy Manor overlooking the gardens where the reception for the new Lord and Lady Malfoy was taking place, Andromeda Tonks stood disillusioned. She gazed longingly out the window as Lucius spun Narcissa around the dance floor, tears shining in her eyes.
Their eyes were full of love even if their demeanor was of the stiff and haughty nature required by their status. All Andromeda could think was how lovely a bride her sister made.
“Whimsy?” Andromeda called. The elf popped up next to her a second later and Andromeda dropped her disillusionment.
“Is Missy Dromeda ready to go now?” Whimsy inquired.
“Yes, I think it would be too risky to stay longer. Thank you for sneaking me in past the wards to leave Cissy her letter.” Andromeda told the elf, hoping to convey as much gratitude as possible.
“Of course. Take Whimsy’s hand please Missy Dromeda,” the elf replied.
Andromeda took one last look out the window. The last thing she saw before being apparated away by the elf was her sister’s glowing smile in a private moment with her new husband.
That look of joy on Cissy’s face would carry Andromeda through the pain of missing her for years to come.