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HP - Chapter 163: Narcissa Invitation
🕑 Added 2024-07-02 16:57:47 +0000 UTCEuphemia walked through the Potter mansion. She walked up the stairs, turned two corners, and stopped in front of two large wooden doors with silver doorknobs. She knocked gently on the door and waited.
There was no answer. She knocked a little harder, but it was the same as before. So she opened the door and entered the room, which was almost dark. The window blinds were closed, and the only thing illuminated was a magic lamp above the solid wood desk.
'The same thing again...' thought Euphemia, sighing internally. With a slight wave of her wand, the blinds opened allowing sunlight to enter the room illuminating it completely.
With his head lying on the desk amongst hundreds of papers and parchments lay James sleeping soundly. His closed eyes were slightly bothered by the sudden sunlight, but he slept on.
Euphemia looked at her beloved son with concern. Since becoming Lord and returning from Hogwarts her son's routine had completely changed from the previous years.
She always noticed that James was different from other children. He liked to read, study, and practice magic with his father or grandfather early on, but he didn't show an obsession like he did now.
He liked to spend time with his friends, and that reassured Euphemia, but now he had changed and had become more demanding and obsessive than ever.
He even took on responsibilities as Lord Potter taking on many tasks that would be difficult even for adults.
Euphemia stroked James' hair affectionately, although she was worried, she couldn't deny that she felt enormous pride in her son. What boy showed such abilities at that age?
"Mom?" murmured James, opening his eyes slowly. It was hard to get used to the light, but after a few seconds, he opened them fully.
"What time is it?" asked James, rubbing his eyes and putting on his circular glasses.
"Almost ten o'clock. Two friends came to visit you,” said Euphemia.
"Two friends?" asked James with a raised eyebrow. He didn't remember having a meeting today.
"The Black sisters. Andromeda and Narcissa," Euphemia replied with a slight smile and a different twinkle in her eye.
'Did they get what I asked for...?' thought James standing up. He stretched out his hand, and his wand flew to him. Then with a slight movement, he made his clothes completely straighten out of their wrinkled state.
"That Narcissa girl is very elegant and polite. I am amazed at your ability to attract supremacist girls," Euphemia commented with a giggle. To her Narcissa reminded her of Gwen, although their personalities were very different, they both came from old pureblood families and had supremacist ideals, but ended up becoming close to their son whom they call a blood traitor.
"Mom..." said James not knowing how to respond to it. He also didn't understand why he ended up befriending girls with ideals so opposite to his own. It would be easier to befriend girls like Andromeda or Lily. Much more bearable girls.
"Tell me, are you interested in her? I'm sure she is, otherwise, she wouldn't come to all the meetings you do," asked Euphemia with a slight smile.
"Mom she's in sixth grade, and I'm in third grade... She only comes because she gets to see her sister, who was kicked out of her family," replied James in a roundabout way.
"I doubt she would be bothered by your age. You are much more mature than boys your age and even older than you. As for her older sister, she indeed got along with her and she can't see her because of her parents who expelled her, but she always talks and practices with you. I've seen it," said Euphemia.
"Mm..." said James, who again didn't know how to answer.
"She's a good candidate," commented Euphemia.
"Candidate?" asked James with a raised eyebrow.
"To be your wife," Euphemia replied, and James almost choked on his tongue.
He forgot that in this day and age and being wizards who look like they are from the middle ages the age to get married pro usually is when you finish Hogwarts or shortly after. Many wizarding families arranged marriages for their children while they were at Hogwarts.
His mother was, after all, still from a pureblood wizarding family. She was very interested in who her future daughter-in-law would be. She didn't care about the girl's family background, she just said that Narcissa was a good candidate because of the relationship she saw she had with James. She also felt that James got along well with the girl named Lily Evans.
As for Gwen, Euphemia hadn't seen her in a long time. She knew James got along well with her, but she hadn't seen their relationship up close either so she couldn't give her opinion.
"She's a supremacist. You saw her parents at Andromeda's wedding. Do you want to deal with those freaks?" asked James with a slight grimace.
"James!" exclaimed Euphemia, raising her tone slightly.
"Don't talk like that. You'll do the same thing they do to us or muggle-borns. You're better than that," added Euphemia.
"Sorry..." said James, scratching his head. He was still thinking the same thing though. Most likely such a marriage would cause a lot of trouble just because of the difference in ideals and that her family is pureblood.
"Your friend Gwen is in the same situation, and you get along very well with her," commented Euphemia.
'Gwen...' thought James with a slightly downcast expression. Since the vacations started he hadn't communicated with her. Rather, she didn't answer any of his letters.
He asked Emily his new 'sister' if she knew anything, but she said she didn't know why she didn't answer his letters.
James stopped thinking about this topic. He had no more desire to think about this extraneous family drama. His goal is clear. The war against Voldemort. He has no time for topics like this or his future marriage.
"They'll be waiting a long time..." said James, winding up the subject and leaving his office.
James arrived in the guest room. The room had a high ceiling and large windows with multi-colored stained glass windows. Hand-carved dark oak paneling, along with gold-veined black marble floors, created an opulent setting. Velvet sofas in rich hues, mahogany tables with precious inlays, and antique tapestries adorned the room while floating chandeliers and fairy lights illuminated the place.
Narcissa and Andromeda were seated on a double sofa drinking tea that was served by Puddle, the house elf who follows the Potter family's orders.
Both sisters wore luxurious robes and drank tea with great poise. When they heard footsteps they turned their heads, and James' gaze met theirs.
"Sorry I'm late," said James, giving a slight nod of his head.
"No problem. Your house elf took very good care of us and he's very funny" said Andromeda with a slight smile.
"Puddle is very innocent and energetic. I hope he didn't make any mistakes," said James with a slight smile.
"What brings you two here?" asked James, sitting down across from both of them.
"I brought the book you asked for," said Narcissa, pointing to the mahogany table there was a thick black book. Its letters were barely discernible.
James took the book which had the following title: [First Steps in the Art of Legilimency].
'She brought it to me...' thought James, surprised to get a book on Legilimency.
In the Forbidden Section of Hogwarts, there was no book on this art used to navigate people's minds by reading memories and thoughts. There were only books on Occlumency, the art of countering Legilimency and protecting your mind from outsiders.
Books on Legilimency were almost nowhere to be found. Not even in the stores of dark objects. It is an art considered obscure and very restricted. The older families and the ministry will not like wizards having access to this art.
The Potter Family has no books on these arts considered dark. For James, it is a mistake. It is considered dark by people who want to control this type of magic. It will be dark depending on how you use it. In a war, it can be very useful as the Protego Diabolica.
James to get a book on this art resorted to House Black, a very old house and expert in the dark arts. First, he asked Sirius, but his mother wouldn't let him check out books from the library and they had a lot of defensive charms, so he couldn't bring him a book on Legilimency.
Andromeda had been expelled so he couldn't ask her. So he asked Narcissa, but he never thought the girl would manage to bring such a valuable book and lend it to him.
"Surprised?" asked Narcissa with a slight smile. It was rare that you saw James with an incredulous expression.
"Yes... How long can you have it? And what do you want in return?" asked James.
"In a week, I have to return it to the family library. As for payment, here," said Narcissa, pulling a small letter out of her sleeve she tossed it to James.
James uncomprehendingly took the letter and opened it.
"A birthday invitation?" asked James with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. There's the day," Narcissa said without another word.
Narcissa's birthday. Ten days from now. Shortly before school starts in September.
"Fine, I'll go," said James. Although he didn't like having to be in a place surrounded by supremacists he had to pay for the loan of this book. A very low price compared to the book.
Besides, at the birthday Sirius and Regulus were sure to be there, so he wouldn't be alone, and he would be able to chat with his best friend.
"Sorry for not being able to attend your birthday, Narcissa," Andromeda said with a sad expression.
"It's not your fault, sister," Narcissa said with a slight gentle smile. James in the past would never believe that Narcissa could smile like that, but with his sister, she is very close. She always seems conflicted with her ideals and the opposite path her sister took by marrying a muggle-born.
James stopped paying attention to the conversation of close sisters and opened the book Narcissa brought him.
"James," Narcissa said after a few seconds.
"What is it?" asked James without lifting his head from the book.
"Will our host ignore us and read a book?" asked Narcissa.
"Sorry..." said James, closing the book and putting it aside. He then called Puddle over and asked to bring some snacks to eat. As a basic courtesy, he chatted with the Black sisters for almost an hour until they left Potter Manor.
'Now yes,' thought James, picking up the book and beginning to read it.
