"You're too young," Narcissa said quietly as she stood, reaching for the nearby
dresser for a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "That's the only reason they haven't done it
yet. Don't you see, cousin?" She turned to look at him sadly. "This is our life; obey or die."
"Like you almost did? He Imperiused you, didn't he?"
Narcissa did not deny it. She just stood there, her eyes blank of all emotion.
"Didn't he?!"
"I wasn't listening like a good wife," she conceded. "I told you; obey, or die."
"I saved you. And for what?"
"You shouldn't have," Narcissa said with a sigh. "I would have been better off as
some grave memorial plaque on the back of the Quidditch stands at Hogwarts. As it is, I'm
the future Lady Malfoy." Sirius blanched at the words. "And you're the Black heir. You
need to forget about me, and start worrying about yourself, Sirius."
At the sound of footsteps, Mia scooted into the room, pulling the Cloak off to
reveal herself. "Sirius! Someone's coming."
Narcissa's eyes widened in horror. "You brought a Potter to my wedding? Salazar!
Sirius, are you not planning on surviving the year?" She shook her head and moved behind
her young cousin, shoving at his back. "Get out, both of you!"
"Cissa, come with me," Sirius said with one last plea.
"Get out!"
An hour later, Sirius and Mia stood at the back of the gardens outside Malfoy Manor
beside the hired servants and house-elves. Sirius had used the Invisibility Cloak to find
Abraxas Malfoy's stash of firewhisky, and he had drained nearly half of a bottle already.
They remained quiet and unobserved, looking oddly in place with the "commoners" who
watched from the back of the gathered crowd.
At the front of the garden, Cygnus Black placed Narcissa's hand into Lucius's, and
the presiding wizard tied their hands together with two cords; one black, the other silver
to represent each House in the marriage. General introductions were made where the
presiding wizard spoke of duty and honour but never love.