Invisible String | TVD x WIZARDING WORLD

NOVA

"You could never hurt anyone, Diana," she said gently.

"Er... kay? Thanks. Storytime, please?" I asked, full-on puppy eyes activated.
Weapon of mass destruction: deployed.

She exhaled, eyes flicking toward the door, then back to me. "Accompany me for a walk?"

Ugh.

"Fine," I groaned, dragging myself up. "But only if there's emotional devastation and coffee at the end."

~~~

We stepped out into the crisp air, the kind that smelled like rain even when the skies were clear. Stockbridge was quiet, wrapped in that sleepy sort of charm that made you think nothing bad could ever happen here.

Lies.

The cobbled streets glistened faintly under the streetlamps, and I stuffed my hands into my coat pockets as Narcissa walked beside me, heels tapping gently like a metronome counting down to heartbreak.

Across the street was a small Muggle café, the kind that had fairy lights dangling from the roof and a handwritten sign that said "Hot Chocs & Cinnamon Rolls - Half Off!"
Elena would've liked it. I thought.

"You're stalling," I said, side-eyeing Narcissa.

She didn't deny it. Just kept walking until we reached the bench outside the café. She sat down like she was older than time itself.

I joined her.

"It started with a girl," Narcissa finally said.

"Of course it did. Love is doomed," I muttered.

She gave a faint smile. "It wasn't love. Not at first, at least."

She paused, her eyes fixed on the dark sky above Stockbridge. "We were born to serve the Dark Lord, Diana. The Blacks. The Malfoys too. We've always been pawns in his game."

She tugged up her sleeve, just enough for me to see the tattoo. I'd seen it before—on Reg's arm. Burned into his skin like a brand.

"A Death Eater," I whispered.

She nodded. "That's what we were. Bellatrix—Bella—was the first among us cousins. She was... obsessed. Madly in love with the Dark Lord. Did anything he asked."

I gagged. "How can anyone love that guy? Ew."

Narcissa laughed, low and bitter. "He wasn't always that ugly. He was quite handsome back then."

"Nahh. I refuse to believe that," I said, shaking my head like I could rattle the image out.

"What happened next?" I asked, quieter now.

"After Bella, the rest of us were pulled in—slowly. One by one. Except Sirius. He ran. Said he was better off without the Blacks. And he was right."

She looked at me—really looked at me.

"Regulus was sixteen when he joined the Dark Lord's ranks. But his tasks—his real assignments—started earlier. Starting with... seducing a girl."

My chest tightened. "Kat?"

She nodded. "Katherine."

"Oh no." I froze. "Shit. Shit. Katherine. I should've known!"

"Yep. That."

I exhaled sharply, rubbing my hands down my face. "My whole family called her a bitch. I mean, obviously Reg's Katherine and our Katherine are different people, but..."

"Don't worry about that. It would've hurt him, yes—but Katherine Deverux taught him something no one else could. Acceptance. She was... great."

"Was?" My voice cracked.