The order of the phoenix meeting
Narcissa had somehow convinced Regulus to let her pretend to be on Dumbledore's side, well she wasn't the one to convince him, that was James. Narcissa knows there's something unspoken between the two of them, but she hasn't quite figured it out yet, and she won't figure it out for quite a while. Narcissa was focusing on Alice or pretending to be on Dumbledore's side.
The plan was this: Narcissa would come with James, Sirius, Remus, Marlene, Mary, Lily, and Dorcas to the order meeting. Then she would go with James, Sirius and Remus so she could convince Dumbledore to let her become a member of the order. Then once she became a member, she was supposed to follow all orders given to her (as much as she wouldn't want to listen to that ugly ass old man) and find Alice while James and Sirius find Frank.
They arrived at a safe house that was in the middle of nowhere. The house wasn't big but wasn't small either, it was a reasonable sized house. Narcissa, Marlene, Mary, Dorcas, Lily, Remus, James and Sirius all went into the safe house, Narcissa followed James, Remus and Sirius while the others went to different parts of the house.
Narcissa is usually a very calm person and doesn't get nervous easily, unless it has something to do with her family, or Alice. This whole situation is making Narcissa nervous because it has to do with both her family and Alice. She's finally going to see Alice after years, and she has misses her so much. She's missed Alices comforting words and touch, she's missed being the one that made Alice blush, and she's missed the beautiful smell of marigold flowers that Alice smelt like. And she's scared that if she makes one mistake, she could put the people she loves so much in danger. She could be the reason that Regulus and Sirius die, and she'll be fucking damned if she's going to let that happen.
So she followed James, Sirius and Remus down the hall and into a bland office with a desk and a statue of a phoenix. Dumbledore was sitting at the desk and Sirius, Narcissa, James and Remus all stood in front of the desk. "Oh, Mrs. Malfoy what an honor to see you, but I must ask, what is the reason you are here?"
Narcissa hates this man with every molecule in her body, she's hated him the second she made eye contact with him. She saw right through him, and she knew he was evil. "It's Black" Narcissa said with her usual cold demeanor, she knows she should be nice to him, but she physically can't.
"My apologies-" Dumbledore started but Narcissa interrupted him.
"Don't start with all that fake bullshit" Narcissa's tone could cut through skin, and she doesn't care, if it's Dumbledore's skin she's cutting she couldn't care less.
"Take a seat" He said and snapped, once he snapped four chairs appeared in front of the desk.
Narcissa snapped and the chairs disappeared. "This will only be a few minutes"
Dumbledore looked at her and smiled, it was the fake smile he has given Narcissa ever since she was eleven. "Where did you learn such powerful magic Narcissa?"
"I could ask the same thing to you" Narcissa retorted. She has always hated how fake this man is, she's always hated how he has the audacity to be fake to her when he knows damn well she can see right through him.
"You've always been quick on your feet, both in reflexes and witty remarks" Dumbledore said with a fake look of respect.
"Don't indulge in flattery on me Dumbledore it won't work. Now, to the point. I am here because I want to join the order of the phoenix, you might be thinking it's some elaborate plan to trick you or figure out secrets about the order for my husband's benefits, well I'd like to inform you that I couldn't care less about my husband or his wishes. I am here because I want to be here, and before you ask why a member of the Black family would join the order, then ask yourself, why did you let Sirius in?" Narcissa had been given a script to say or at least a general idea of what to say, but of course she only said the parts she had to say to make this believable.
Dumbledore nodded. "Welcome to the order of the phoenix Narcissa Black, your presence is much appreciated" Narcissa bit her tongue to hold her scoff in and immediately walked out of that bland office. All Regulus said was that she had to convince him to let her into the order and follow his instructions, he never said she had to be kind while doing it.
Narcissa is waking through a house she knows nothing about and suddenly she's pulled away. She's pulled into a memory. She's a little girl again, both of her sisters left to go to Hogwarts the day before and Narcissa forgot, she roams the halls of her house searching for Bella and Andy, but they aren't anywhere. And suddenly she's pulled back. She doesn't remember what she was doing while she was in the memory, but she comes back into present time and is being held up by James and Sirius. She looks around, she sees James and Sirius. She sees Lily with a girl Narcissa does not know, she sees two boys who look like twins and look eerily similar to the girl who's talking to Lily. She looks around at spots Frank, if Frank is here that means that- Narcissa continues looking around and there she is, there is Narcissa's beautiful Alice. Narcissa stands on her own again and both Narcissa and Alice slowly walk to each other. Time for Narcissa stops, and she knows Alice enough to know that time stopped for her as well, and then as quickly as time stopped it resumed again and Alice and Narcissa are hugging. It was like performing magic after not doing anything magical for such a long time, you could never forget what it feels like and then you're doing it again and everything is perfect again, everything is how it should be because the magic is back.
Narcissa can smell the smell she's missed so much, marigold flowers, the smell of bitter herbs, ripe apples, and green leaves. It was Alice. She has missed Alice for so long and now she finally has her, and she doesn't want to let go. So, she doesn't, at least not for a while. Narcissa and Alice finally pull away and Alice pats Narcissa's arms, as if making sure she's really there. Narcissa grabs her hands, so she doesn't wince, Alice was patting on some bruises Narcissa had gotten from Lucius a couple hours before Regulus, Evan and Barty saved her. "My marigold, I'm here, I promise I'm here" Narcissa says in what she hopes is a reassuring tone.
Alice nodded slowly. "Holy, fuck, you're actually here" Alice smiled. "You're actually here"
Narcissa nodded. "I am, I really am. And you're safe, you're actually safe"
Alice nodded. "I am, I really am" Alice echoed Narcissa's words. Narcissa hugged Alice again and smelled the marigold scent again, oh how she missed that smell. Alice immediately melted into the hug and hugged back. After another few minutes of comfortable silence and a warm embrace they both pulled away and looked into each other's eyes. Narcissa looked into Alices fiery brown eyes, and she swears she fell in love again. Narcissa used all of her strength not to lean down and kiss Alice. "Come with me" Alice whispered and Narcissa followed, of course she did, it's Alice that asked and she would follow her anywhere. Alice led her outside to an enclosed backyard and brought her over to a beautiful willow tree, pulling her down, making her sit down. "I know you're planning something Cissa. You are too loyal to your family to turn onto the side your family hates the most, so tell me, why?"
And that's the thing, isn't it? Narcissa has always let her family loyalty come in the way of what she wants. She let it get in the way of her and Alices relationship. But the Black family has much loyalty, mostly to the wrong things, but they also have a great deal of loyalty to their family, at least those who matter do. "Exactly, I'm loyal to my family" Narcissa said looking straight into the fire starting in Alices eyes, but it wasn't an out-of-control fire, it was a calm and warming fire.
"What are you doing Narcissa?" Alice asked with a desperation to her voice.
"You said I'm loyal to my family and you're right, but I'm turning my loyalty to the family that's good. Theres a plan in action and I'm here because we- I needed you for it. But I need to know I can trust you with this information" Alice nodded so Narcissa continued. "Regulus went on a mission recently, he found out something about Voldemort and found the light. He's not turning to Dumbledore's side, he isn't turning to any side of the war. The smart little shit is creating his own side of the war. Our whole family has been death eaters or associated with Voldemort is some way or the other, Regulus knows better than anyone how they are treated because he was one of the most powerful ones. His side of the war creates a happiness for members of the phoenix and death eaters who won't be death eaters once he joins the war. He has created a strong group of people that would be even stronger with you and Frank. If you accept that means you will meet the others on Regulus's side of war and will probably be instructed by him to continue to pretend like you are on Dumbledore's side to not make anything look suspicious"
Alice froze in shock and confusion. After a few moments she nodded, "Okay so, your cousin has created his own side of war with you on it and you want me to join" Narcissa nodded. "And you're asking Frank to join as well?" Narcissa nodded again. "I'm in" That was easier than Narcissa thought it would be, but she has Alice on her side of war now, so a win is a win.