The Moon Among the Stars

Narcissa didn’t know what to make of the girl before her. She seemed almost feral as they sat across from one another. She watched as she ate, adding copious amounts of sugar to her tea and taking biscuit after biscuit into her mouth. Yet there was a familiarity about her. As Narcissa watched the girl, she kept her wand still at the ready, not entirely at ease with her guest. 

“You can slow down. The food isn’t going anywhere.” 

“Sorry.” She said, swallowing a biscuit. 

“When I came from meals a few and far between. Sweets even less so.”

“You say when? You belong to a different time, then?”

“I have this for you!” Narcissa gripped her wand again as the girl reached for her bag. 

“Accio letter.” Narcissa realized she wasn’t holding a wand, which was unnerving. Wandless magic was rare, and anyone who could use it was powerful. 

“I need you to read this, " the girl said, sliding the envelope toward her. 

Narcissa took the letter nervously and opened it. Narcissa was shocked to find the words inside were in Lucius's elegant handwriting. 

“Cissa, 

The seventeen years that have gone by have changed me in ways I could never explain. The Dark Lord rules the wizarding world without mercy. While in the past I might have rejoiced in that knowledge, it has cost me almost all of my family. The girl, who I’m sure is breaking every rule of etiquette that you hold dear, is our darling, intelligent, powerful granddaughter. 

Selena Estella Malfoy.

My choices have cost her not only her parents but also any chance of knowing the miraculous woman you are. My darling love, the Dark Lord can not succeed. Find a way to undermine my efforts in any way, contact your sister, or join the order. But do whatever it takes. Selena has a few more letters and a vile of my memories to verify everything.

Take care of our girl; she is truly precious. La lune parmi les étoiles. 

 With a love that transcends time, Lucius.”

Narcissa wiped the tears that threatened to spill at Lucius's words. She had so many questions for Selena. Although they loved Draco, they had always wanted a girl. If they had ever had one, they would have chosen Selena as the name, because she would be the moon among the stars in the Black family tree. 

“Selena,” Narcissa whispered, attempting to control her emotions. The girl smiled softly, somewhat understanding that she needed a moment to collect herself. 

“You have a vial of memories?” 

Selena nodded at her, going to the small beaded bag again. 

“Accio vial.” Again, wandless magic, Narcissa hadn’t seen her hold a wand. 

“Where is your wand, Selena?” 

Handing over the vial, Selena shrugged her shoulders. 

“I don’t have one. Olivander isn’t alive, and most witches and wizards my age either can't control their magic or learn to cast wandless.” 

Narcissa didn’t know how to respond, and no wand meant magic in her time was wild and uncontrollable. 

“Come, Lucius has a pensive in his study, and then we’ll go to Diagon Alley to get you a wand.” 

Just as they began to walk towards the study, the wards let her know Lucius and Draco were back. The floo parlor was far enough from the study that Narcissa knew they had time before Draco or Lucius found them. 

“Come, Draco will want to go flying after spending all day at the Ministry.” 

Walking in, Selena sat in one of the study chairs while Narcissa paced. 

“Cissa, you’re in here?” Lucius didn’t notice the girl right away. 

“We have a matter to discuss. Draco?” 

When he spotted her, he narrowed his eyes at Selena yet didn’t say anything immediately.

“Flying. Our guest?” 

“Close the door, dear.” 

Selena watched Lucius as he entered the room. This was not the grandfather she had grown up with. He looked younger, unburdened by death in a way that made him both innocent and terrifying.

“You are?” His voice had an edge to it, startling Selena. 

“I’m here to ensure Voldemort's failure.” 

It didn’t take more than a second for Lucius to pull out his wand, pointing it at her. 

“How dare you! Cru-” 

“Expelliarmus!”  Narcissa's voice was firm as she cast quickly. Selena watched, surprised, as Narcissa took hold of Lucius’s wand. 

“Cissa!” 

“Honestly, child, why be so crass? " Narcissa looks at Selena, releasing an exasperated sigh, yet her tone sounds more amused than upset. 

“You dare speak his name! In my home!” 

“Yes, because I need your help, or else Narcissa and Draco will die in a few years!” 

She knew the timeline; it had been drilled into her after her grandfather decided to find a time-turner. The Quidditch World Cup was soon, and Draco and the Golden Trio were due to start their fourth year after. They didn’t have much time before the wheels of war began turning. 

“We need a pensive. I know you have one here.” 

She opened her beaded bag, summoning the small vial containing a memory, the only one she was allowed to show at this moment. 

“Wandless and nonverbal. You truly are a wonder”

 Narcissa’s proud voice took her by surprise. Yet Selena understood the wonder. Wands were few and hard to find in her time. Wandless magic was unpredictable; the fact that she could do it without a problem made others afraid of her. 

Lucius placed the Pensive on his desk. Selena approached it hesitantly. She didn’t know the vial's memory; it was just the first one she was allowed to show. Placing the silver strand in, she quickly took Narcissa and Lucius hands, falling into the memory.

Lucius watched the curly-haired witch as she paced back and forth. It was almost nightfall, only two days since Harry Potter's fall and his beloved Cissa's death. Yet nothing could take away the joy he felt with the impending arrival of his grandchildren. 

“How much longer.” She cried out in frustration. Draco was at her side immediately, pressing on her back. 

“You should sit and relax.” 

“Tell your children to come out already.” 

Lucius smiled at the young couple. 

It took Selena too long to realize this was the night she was born, the night her parents died. She wanted to run away from this, it was unfair that this was the memory her grandfather used to convince himself that what Selena was saying was true. 

“Any word from the order?” Draco asked, rubbing her back as she groaned through another contraction. 

“No, everything is chaos right now. We will only have the floo connection for a few more hours.”

“Should we try to go then?” Asked Hermione trying to breath through another contraction. 

“Are you joking love, you’re in no condition to travel right now.” 

Lucius wasn’t truly paying attention, he had noticed movement out side the window getting up worlessly to investigate. Keeping to the shadows, he looked outside and saw Dolohov approaching the Manor. Lucius  took out  his wand and added a few more wards to this wing. 

It wouldn’t take Dolohov long to take them down. 

“Pip!” 

“Master Lucius has called Pip?” 

“How much longer?” 

“Not long before the first babe arrives.” 

“Can we move her?” 

The house elf shook its head as another cry echoed through the Manor. 

“Pip!” Draco’s voice was frightened. 

Lucius took a breath before heading back; if the worst came to pass, he would defend his family. 

“The first babe will be here soon, mistress. You push when you feel pain again.” Pip helped her on the bed and into the birthing position. 

“Oh, I hate this; we should be at a hospital.” She cried out again. “My parents should be here, Draco, your mother.” 

“I know love. This is the safest place for our babies. The Manor protects its heirs.” 

“Mistress, I helped Mistress Narcissa with Master Draco, now I help yous.” 

Draco kissed her forehead. Another cry came from her as Pip instructed her to bare down. 

“I can’t; I’m so tired, Draco, please.” 

Lucius looked to the door again; the floo wasn’t far; they could make it if they had to run. He could sense the arrival of more people. Walking over to the bed, he knelt beside her, taking the younger girl's hand. 

“I know you are tired, my girl. You must be strong; there isn’t enough time; once you deliver the first baby, we must go.” 

“I want my mum.” She whimpered 

“I know, but the child needs you. You are now the mum.” 

She nodded, seeming to gather her strength before bearing down again. 

Selena wanted to cry out to them. She knew her grip on Narcissa and Lucius's hands was becoming painful. Neither had said a word while watching the memory play out. Selena wondered if Lucius recognized her mother or if she had been of such little consequence until now. 

Selena was jolted by the cry of herself as a baby, knowing what would be happening soon. 

“You did it, love.” Draco kissed her, his joy palpable. The baby was laid on Hermione's chest, her tiny cries filling the room with joy in the face of darkness.

“So so beautiful, Draco. Look at what we made.” 

She held the baby close, its cries settling. 

“A girl.” There was a wonder in Lucius' voice 

A crash startled the family; the Death Eaters were in the Manor. 

“We have to go. The floo down the hall is open and the order is waiting for us. 

“Father, take her; I’ll help Hermione.” 

Lucius was handed the tiny baby, who had fallen asleep. With his wand in hand, he led them out of the room. 

“Lucius!! We know you’re here!! You and that blood traitor son of yours!” Dolohov's voice echoed in the manor. 

“Oh no!” Hermione stumbled to the ground as her legs gave out. She groaned and tried to steady her breathing, panting through the pain.

“Is it the other one?” Draco asked, catching her before she hit the ground too hard. 

“I think the next one won’t wait.” Lucius could feel the wards on the wing coming down. 

They looked at each other silently, communicating what no one wanted to say aloud. 

“Father.” 

Lucius saw the change in his son; this was Draco Malfoy, the father, asking Lucius for the impossible. 

“Draco, I can’t.” How could Lucius do it, leave them? He couldn't; Draco was his son. 

“Lucius, please take her to where it is safe.” Now Hermione was begging, her curls sticking to her face with sweat.

“I’ll go ahead, bring the order.” This was the only way he could walk away without the guilt eating him alive. 

“Let me take her for a second,” Draco asked, taking her in his arms. 

“I love you, little Dove, Mione. We don’t have a name for her.” Draco kissed the baby's forehead, passing her over to Hermione. 

“I’m sure your father will have suggestions. You are so beautiful; I love you, my girl. Let Ronald know he is her godfather, Draco, and I agree.”

“More like you agreed.” His tone was teasing. Lucius tried to ignore the bit of sadness mixed in there as well.

“Here, take her, go.” Draco brought her back into Lucius' arms. He made it to the floo just as the next baby's cry filled the Manor. Taking a fist full of floo, he yelled out his destination. 

Falling out of the memory, Selena sat shaking. She had never known what that night was like. Narcissa and Lucius looked at her, waiting for an explanation, as a painful realization hit her. 

“They didn’t know my name.” Her voice was soft as she tried to fight the tears that threatened to pour out of her. 

“What?” Narcissa asked as she knelt in front of her, taking a hand and wiping the tears on her face. 

“He named me, and they didn’t know. The order went in and found the bodies, the next baby missing.” 

When Lucius stepped out, Kingsley, Arthur, and Bill went to the Manor. It had been too late. Her parents' bodies had been found along with Pip a little further away.

“It’s not true.” Lucius, who hadn’t said anything until now, sounded angry. 

“It is. Something happened at the final battle; he murdered my grandmother and branded you a traitor.” 

Selena was getting frustrated. She knew she had a letter for him, but he was so blinded by his current life, the idea that it could go wrong wouldn’t cross his mind. She pulled out the letter and left it on his desk. 

“If you won’t listen to me, what about yourself?” 

Lucius picked up the letter and recognized the writing as his own. 

“I know we don’t care for pleasantries so I won’t waste time with silly and sentimental words. Listen to her, you fool. Listen to our granddaughter and save your family. You believe in the purity of our blood, yet you follow a half-blood! Power: true power lies in knowledge. Now you have more than the dark lord, Dumbledore, and his Order.

Use it. Make sure the Malfoy family comes out of this still powerful. 

Lucius looked at the younger girl. If she was here to save them, he knew she would need help.

“Alright, girl. What do we do now?” 

“Now, I live here. I ensure my parents don’t die and help Harry Potter win. You continue to be a good Death Eater.”

 “So it's that simple?” he asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice. 

“I could go to the order now, like they told me to do in my time. I’m here only because I don’t need things to change that much. I also need to make sure my parents get together. So you can continue to carry on as if you know nothing.” 

Just as Lucius was about to argue back, Narcissa cut him off. 

“Well, now that we have that settled. Let's get you a wand and a letter to Dumbledore so that you can attend school. Also, a visit to Madam Malkin for some robes.” 

Narcissa's excitement warmed Lucius. She was ready to care for the girl, knowing who she was. 

“Cissa, I’ll take care of Dumbledore. What will we tell Draco.”

She waved her hand dismissively. 

“We tell him whatever we want. He trusts us, you more so. A cousin from France that will finish her education here.” 

“I do speak French,” Selena added, smirking 

“You do?” Lucius questioned. 

“Oui, je le fais. Vous ne pouvez rien attendre de moins d'une Malfoy.” (Yes, I do. You can’t expect less from a Malfoy.)

“Well then. I’ll speak to Draco and write to the Headmaster. Off with you both, get your shopping done.” 

Just as he was about to leave the study, he stopped and looked at Selena again. 

“Your mother. She’s the Mudblood friend of Harry Potter?” His tone gave nothing away, making Selena nervous. 

“What will you do about it?” 

He didn’t respond.  He just nodded as he walked out of the study, searching for Draco.

“Alright, my moon, let’s get going.”Narcissa led her towards the floo so that they could reach their destinations.