Chapter 1
It was the end of June 1983; laughter of children filled the Potter manor. Kids were playing hide and seek, Sirius being the seeker. The Weasley family were good friends of the Potter; often, Harry and the redhead’s children were having playdates while the adults were catching up on their most recent activities, but one of their members was missing, Peter Pettigrew had been found a traitor by the Order, spying for the Dark Lord. Suddenly, a cracking sound could be heard outside of the house, someone had apparated on the Potter’s porch. All the adults jumped into action to make sure all the children were safe before making sure the person outside was not a treat.
Remus saw her first, there, a woman was standing, she had a cloak to cover herself, hiding her face, but an abnormal bump could be seen, she was transporting something in her arm. The mysterious woman heard the sound coming from the inside. She removed the cloak. Sirius could not believe his eyes. Right before him was standing his cousin that disappeared not long before the death of her horrid husband. Narcissa Malfoy was a gorgeous woman, Sirius remember her as a thin 25 years old with black hair with white streaks in it, he always found her beautiful and elegant, she was polite and well-mannered. But the woman before him was nothing like in his memory, she was thinner and her hair were frizzy, not as well kept. She also had bags under her eyes, her smile pulled into a frown. Her clothes were clearly hand-me-down, compared to the expensive dresses she always wore when she was younger. But the most obvious thing was the thing she held in her arms. It was a sleeping young child, about as old as little Harry, he had platinum blonde hair and grey eyes. He looked very peaceful, his eyes gently closed, dressed in shabby pajamas. The Potters in the doorway were gaping at her and the child while Harry was hiding behind his dad’s legs. Everyone was speechless, they did not know why she had come to them, but one thing was sure, Narcissa Malfoy looked like she needed help.
After some seconds (or was it minutes?) Sirius finally spoke.
“Cissy? What the hell are you doing here, why are you here?”
Narcissa did not speak for a second, seeming to think about how to answer his question. She looked tensed and anxious, holding her little boy close to her chest.
“I came here because I thought that you could help me. Please, can we talk inside?”
The Potters looked at each other for a moment, like they had a mental conversation before Lily decided to speak out loud.
“Yes, of course… Come in, we’ll get you comfortable and put the little one in bed, he looks exhausted.”
Ms. Malfoy gave her thanks before following the little family inside the Manor. When inside, they immediately went upstairs to put Narcissa’s child to bed, reassuring the stressed mother that everything would be okay, and that Molly Weasley could keep an eye on him if it would calm her nerves. They then went downstairs, sitting down at the table, ready to finally hear an explication.
“Tea?” Lily offered the worn-down woman before her.
“If it wouldn’t be of any trouble, thank you.” Lily went to prepare some tea and came back with five mugs. They got comfortable at the table, all attention on the intruder. Narcissa took a deep breath, opening her mouth to finally tell her story.
“I have been wanting to flee my horrid husband long before I disappeared, but I never had somewhere to live, and I have a son that I needed to raise and feed, I did not want to raise him in despair, that’s why I stayed with Lucius for so long…” She stayed silent for a moment. “But he announced to me that the Dark Lord was going to take residence in our manor, and I knew, I knew I had to go away before he arrived. I did not risk my Draco like this, I did not want to live in fear of him killing my son.” Narcissa continued.
All the adults around the table were silent, actively paying attention to what the poor woman was telling them.
“I packed my bags when Lucius was gone in a death eaters meeting, I silently flew that night. Draco was crying all night and that’s when I appeared on my sister Andromeda doorstep. She helped me raise some money in the muggle world, I rented an apartment in the muggle London, I had some difficulty, but I survived and kept my son alive. But my crazy sister found my location, and I’m scared, and I need help, please.”
James and Lily looked at each other, debating whether to let the Black cousin stay within the walls of Potter’s Manor. Reaching an agreement James spoke “Of course, Narcissa, you’re welcome to stay in one of our rooms, we’ll protect you and your son.”
“Harry will love a new playmate with who he could constantly play quidditch with.” Sirius said.
Narcissa thanked them and they continued to arrange how they will proceed for the future, they also agreed to get Narcissa and Draco some new clothes tomorrow in Diagon alley. They continued to talk for some time, Narcissa asking about Sirius whereabout since he went away when they where younger.