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[Narcissa Malfoy's POV]
The ballroom of Malfoy Manor sparkled like a jewel beneath the glow of floating chandeliers. The soft light of the candles reflected off polished marble walls, and the air was thick with a sweet fragrance and the delicate clinking of crystal glasses.
It was Cassius's birthday—an occasion that demanded nothing short of perfection. I moved among the guests with the grace instilled in me since childhood, a carefully calibrated smile on my lips as I greeted each one with the deference our status required.
But my mind was elsewhere. On my children. On Draco and Cassius—so different, like day and night.
Draco, at five years old, already displayed Lucius's arrogance, strutting among the other pure-blood children.
I watched him from afar, a mixture of pride and concern tightening in my chest. Draco absorbed every lesson from Lucius and me like a sponge. It was what I wanted, wasn't it? An heir who would carry our name with strength and conviction. But sometimes, when he echoed Lucius's ideals with near-blind fervor, I wondered if he would ever find his own voice—or if he would simply be his father's echo.
Cassius, on the other hand, was a mystery I had yet to unravel. He didn't seek approval or the spotlight like Draco. He was quiet—not shy, far from it—but reserved, preferring to observe everything and everyone before deciding what to say. When he played, he seemed more interested in understanding how the toys worked than in showing them off.
Lucius believed Cassius would be the perfect complement to Draco—a strategist to balance his brother's boldness. "Draco will lead, and Cassius will plan," he had said one evening, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
But I wasn't so sure. Cassius seemed to resist our ideals—not openly, but in subtle gestures that only I, as his mother, noticed. Like when Draco used the word "Mudblood," I saw a flicker of disdain in Cassius's eyes—not aimed at the impure, but at Draco himself, as if he found the very idea foolish.
"What a lovely boy, that Draco," said Lady Parkinson, pulling me from my thoughts. "He'll be a great wizard, Narcissa. And little Cassius? How is he doing?"
I smiled, adjusting the sleeve of my gown. "Cassius is… special," I replied, choosing my words carefully. "He has a curious mind. A bit more introspective than Draco, but no less promising." She nodded, satisfied with the answer, but I knew my words were only half the truth. Cassius wasn't merely introspective. There was something in him I couldn't quite name—a certain coldness that stood in sharp contrast to the moments he would curl up in my arms.
As I moved to greet the Greengrasses, I noticed Draco playing with Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. He was clearly leading the trio, pointing at the floating sweets and laughing loudly whenever he managed to catch one.
I smiled inwardly, pleased to see my eldest son enjoying himself. When I turned my gaze forward again, I saw my youngest entering the hall. Cassius looked perfect in his robes, standing tall, shoulders straight just as I had taught him.
Lucius noticed him as well and walked over while the guests began to approach to congratulate the birthday boy.
***
[Pov Cassius Malfoy]
After getting chewed out by Lucius for arriving late and spending several minutes receiving false congratulations from the guests, I now stood in a corner of the hall, slowly sipping a glass of juice. The liquid was far too sweet for my taste, but it gave me something to do while I observed the room.
My mind, however, wasn't on the guests. It was on that list. Nicolas Flamel. Tom Marvolo Riddle. Herpo the Foul. Three people who defy death, three targets I'm supposed to hunt.
I knew I couldn't do anything for now. No wand, no training, not enough information—I was about as dangerous as an empty cartridge.
Still, I already know I'm completely screwed. Especially because of the second name—Voldemort. From everything I'd heard, he was defeated by a kid named Harry Potter.
I assumed he was dead from the way people talked. But apparently not, which means the man my parents—and nearly everyone in this hall—once followed is still out there.
Maybe they didn't know. Which would mean Voldemort is hiding for some reason. Possibly because of an injury. Even so, if he were to return, Lucius wouldn't hesitate to drag me and Draco into becoming his followers, pawns in his twisted crusade for power.
That made my mission even more dangerous. Besides having a direct connection to him, I don't know if there's any sort of magical contract between that man and his followers—but if there is, my hunt for Voldemort could become impossible.
I mean… what if he walked through that door right now, and Lucius forced me to swear loyalty to him? And what if, to do that, I had to make an unbreakable pact—something that would make it impossible for me to ever betray Voldemort, no matter what?
'...I need to get into the library somehow and learn more about magic.'
Voldemort being one of my targets also meant betraying my family—and possibly putting them in danger—because I doubt he'd let them live if he knew I was trying to kill him.
'Couldn't Death have put me in a family not connected to someone I'm supposed to kill?' At first, I wouldn't have seen any reason to care about them, but after four years, it's impossible to deny I've grown attached—even if they are lunatics.
A movement to my left pulled me from my thoughts. Pansy Parkinson was approaching, along with Daphne Greengrass.
They stopped in front of me, their dresses shimmering under the chandelier light. Pansy, with her shoulder-length black hair, wore that saccharine smile that reminded me of the corrupt officials from my past life—fake, always wanting something.
Daphne, on the other hand, seemed more reserved. Her blonde hair was pinned into an elegant bun, and her blue eyes studied me with a curiosity that wasn't overt, but definitely present. Both were slightly older than me, daughters of pure-blood families.
"Cassius, happy birthday!" Pansy said, her voice overly sweet. "You shouldn't be standing in the corner, you know? It's your party!" She tilted her head, as if scolding me was some sort of amusing game. Daphne merely nodded, a slight smile on her lips, but said nothing, letting Pansy take the lead.
I took another sip of the juice, using the motion to buy time as I considered how to respond. Pansy wanted attention, maybe to show off in front of Daphne or the others. Daphne, however, was harder to read. Her eyes didn't linger on me too long, more interested in watching the crowd.
"Thanks," I replied, my voice calm, almost monotone. "I like the corner. It's more… peaceful." A half-truth. The corner gave me a clear view of the hall—Lucius moving among his 'associates', Narcissa gliding between guests, Draco playing with Crabbe and Goyle. From here, I could analyze without being the center of attention.
Pansy scrunched her nose. "Peaceful? Why would you want that?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but Daphne spoke first. "Not everyone needs to be in the spotlight, Pansy. Cassius might prefer… observing." She glanced at me for a moment, and there was something in her eyes—not pity, but a kind of understanding. Or maybe I was projecting. Either way, she was more dangerous than Pansy. The quiet ones always were.
I shrugged, keeping my expression neutral. "Observing is useful. You see things others don't."
Pansy tilted her head. "Like what?" she asked, and there was a genuine curiosity there—the kind that could be an opportunity.
"Come stand over here," I gestured for them to stand on my right, facing the hall.
Pansy was the first to move and stand beside me. Daphne followed more slowly, hesitating for a second before joining her.
"Well?" Pansy asked, crossing her arms and looking at me with a mix of impatience and curiosity.
I took another sip of juice, letting the pause stretch just enough to keep them in suspense. "Look over there." I pointed subtly to a corner of the hall, where a fat man, wearing a robe far too tight for his body, was talking to a young witch with brown hair. "That guy's wearing a wedding ring. But he's hitting on that witch like he's single. They probably work together or have known each other for a while, judging by how often he touches her."
Pansy made a face. "That's disgusting!"
"He's not even trying to hide it," Daphne said, her voice laced with disdain—not just for the man, but for his audacity.
"True..." Pansy murmured, glancing at me and then at Daphne. "Do you think she likes it? I mean, she's smiling..."
"It's fake," I replied, nodding toward them. "Look at her tense shoulders. She wants to pull away but doesn't want to offend him. Which only reinforces the idea that they probably work together."
Pansy's eyes widened. "You... how did you figure all that out just by looking?"
Daphne, on the other hand, simply nodded. "You're good at this."
"Thanks, it's practice," I said, taking another sip of juice. "You just need to stay quiet and watch."
"Huh," Pansy groaned, as if the idea of staying quiet was personally offensive. "That's cool and all, but I'd rather be in the middle of things, where the action really is."
'I figured as much...'
At that moment, Draco walked over with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. "Cassius, still standing here?" He stopped in front of me and looked at the girls. "Pansy, Daphne, don't waste your time on him. My brother would rather lurk in the corner than actually have fun."
Pansy laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, while Daphne remained silent.
"If fun means being loud and drawing attention, I think I'll pass," I replied, waving him off.
"You're weird, Cassius," Draco said, narrowing his eyes. "But fine. Stay in your little corner. Just don't complain when I'm the center of your party." He turned to Pansy and Daphne, as if I no longer existed. "Come on, let's have some fun."
Pansy followed Draco immediately, excited by the promise of entertainment. Daphne hesitated, glancing at me for a second longer before joining the others.
Alone again, I leaned back against the wall, the juice glass nearly empty in my hand. 'Are all of you going to be my enemies in the future?... that really sucks.'
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.