Blood Debt

1

June 30th, 1992

Caroline plucked the guitar strings to a melody as Narcissa watched in adoration. It was something she grew to love after years of practice, calloused fingertips, and useless arguments. She found a sense of belonging and peace within the instrument, a sense of ambition and desire. But she hated it, those feelings. They just weren't her.

"Your dress is riding up a bit too much, dear," Caroline finished the string of notes before carefully fixing her dress, her hand brushing against her smooth legs. "And at least try to look presentable for dinner today, we have guests," her mother stood, glancing back at her and offering a small smile, before leaving.

Draco walked in not too long after Narcissa left, he had been waiting around the corner listening to Caroline play, and he wished he could save her from the things he was put through. He wished she could have a choice. He hugged her, letting her cry into his chest, not caring how stained his shirt got from the tears. "It's okay, Lin. Dinner, then we can go outside with Georgia," she nodded against him, his hand running gently up and down her back.

****

"Come on, just climb up! It's not that hard, really, " Georgia said. "You have pants on, I don't!" Caroline screamed back. Georgia smiled, jumping off of the tree branch, putting her hand out for her friend to take. Caroline looked at the girl and raised an eyebrow. Georgia just rolled her eyes and grabbed her hand, pulling her up the hill. Draco, still sat in the tree, smiled. Georgia may not stick around for long, but she sure was a good friend for them. She made them both less alone.

"Wait for me!" Draco yelled, jumping off the branch he was sitting in. The girls only ran faster from him, causing him to laugh. "You idiots, get back here!"

" I would like her to leave, " Lucius said as if only his opinion mattered. Narcissa glared at him, pursing her lips together in a thin line. He sighed. "I want her home by nine, Narcissa. Should you or I floo her home?"

"Oh, leave them, Lucius, they're having fun, " Narcissa sat by the bay window, just as Draco and Caroline had as they ate when they were younger. She watched as Draco hoisted the two girls up onto the ledge of the wall surrounding the garden. She smiled, taking another sip of the wine her husband had the elves bring up.

"I told you she was to leave right after dinner. I don't like those friends of yours, they're bad influences on our children, " Lucius said, resting his hand on her back, which Narcissa promptly shoved off. Lucius sighed and walked off, not paying attention to how Narcissa gulped down the rest of the wine straight from the bottle.

She looked down at the letter from Hogwarts sitting on the table. Lucius didn't want Caroline to go to the same school Draco does ("you chose where our son went, I get to choose where our daughter goes!"), but Narcissa was very stern about her choice ("Hogwarts is a wonderful school, Lucius, "), so Caroline was being sent to Hogwarts as well.

It seemed to Draco- who heard the whole conversation- that neither cared if he and his sister had each other, as long as they kept a good family reputation, unlike his aunt and cousin. Narcissa didn't agree with her sister's opinions, but she thought it only appropriate that Andromeda and her children met. Caroline seemed almost frightened by the woman but warmed up to her. Draco, however, immediately loved her.

As much as Narcissa hoped Caroline would be placed in Slytherin, she knew she wouldn't be. Gryffindor or Ravenclaw were the houses she was most like. She wasn't surprised when Draco was placed in Slytherin. That boy was always causing trouble and never gave up on anything. She wouldn't admit to how many arguments she had lost to a child.