Invisible String | TVD x WIZARDING WORLD

NOVA

Narcissa gave a slow nod. "She was powerful. Too powerful for a Muggle-born, Regulus used to say. The plan was to bring her over to our side... and later use her to bear pureblood children."

I stood up instantly. Rage, violent and alive, clawed its way up my throat. "That son of a bitch! I swear I'll kill him—kill him—"

She huffed out a breath. "So did Regulus. When he found out the truth—about the horcrux—he wanted to end it. Thought if he destroyed it, he'll die. Katherine found out about his plan. Idiots were so in love, even if it started in all the wrong ways. But Regulus's loyalty... it always stood between them."

I already knew the end. But hearing it?

"She followed him, didn't she?" I whispered.

Narcissa nodded. "She followed him to the cave. Tried to help. She died there. Protecting him."

My lungs stopped working.

"He's never forgiven himself," she said softly. "The world believes the Dark Lord killed them both for the sin of love. But you know the truth now."

"I wanted to come to you, Diana," she said softly, voice barely above the hush of wind curling through Stockbridge.

"As soon as I knew you were..."

"Alive?" I offered, the word like iron on my tongue.

She nodded. Slowly. Like it hurt.

"The only thought that kept me back was this world." She looked at the cobbled street like it had betrayed her. "And I'm sorry you're stuck in it now. I didn't want that for you. I didn't want you to go through... everything we did."

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I didn't have words. Just a raw, dull ache settling into my bones.

"I know you're strong," she continued. "Stronger than most, I imagine. I mean, look at you. Tribrid. Survivor. Chaos in your blood and magic under your skin."

She gave a little laugh, the kind that meant nothing was funny. "But this? This war, these shadows? It was never meant for you. This was our burden. Our curse. A mess we—purebloods, Death Eaters, followers, defectors—all dragged into the world. And the world paid for it in blood."

I stayed quiet, letting her speak. Letting her unravel.

"I used to dream of you, you know," she said, staring out across the empty road. "When everything felt too dark, too hopeless. I'd picture you somewhere safe. Warm. Laughing. Maybe running through a garden with someone you loved. Maybe learning to braid spells into sunlight."
Her voice caught, just for a moment. "Anything but this."

She turned to me then, and I saw it—the pain. The grief. The guilt. Not sharp like a blade, but worn down like a stone that's been rubbed raw over years.

"I should've come for you. I should've found a way. But I was scared. Scared that if you knew the truth, if you ever saw what we'd done... you'd run from us too. And I couldn't bear it. Not again. Not after Sirius. Not after Regulus."

Something in my chest cracked—just a little.

She reached out, gently brushing a piece of hair behind my ear like it was instinct. "But here you are. And gods, Diana, you're still standing. Even after everything."

I swallowed hard. "Maybe not for long."

She smiled then, soft and tired. "You'll last. Because you're not like us. You're not twisted by their war. Not yet. You still believe in something. That's why you're dangerous to him. And why you matter to us."

I turned my face away for a second. Just one. Because if I looked at her too long, I might cry. And crying in front of Narcissa Malfoy? That felt like cracking open in front of the moon.

"Maybe it's not my war," I said finally. "But I'm in it now."

She nodded. "Then we'll make damn sure you survive it."

After ten minutes of utter silence—no birds, no breeze, just the weight of what had been said—I stood.

Started walking.

I had this whole dramatic moment planned in my head, down to the footsteps and everything. And I swear to every cosmic being above and below, I'd hex the universe sideways if it didn't play out exactly how I imagined.

I didn't look back at first. Just kept walking, slow and steady, like I wasn't shaking on the inside.

I knew Narcissa was watching. Could feel it. The way the air shifted slightly behind me told me she'd stood—just like I knew she would. Some things are predictable. Some things are poetry.

I stopped after a few steps and finally turned, just enough to meet her eyes.

"Hey, Malfoy Woman?" I called out.

She tilted her head, elegant as always, and hummed in response, already stepping toward me.

I waited until she was close enough to really hear it—close enough to make it count.

"You can call me Nova."

a/n: okay, fine this was quite short. compared to last one? hell lot short. but well it was nice introducing you to katherine, i'm sure whenever her story comes out...it's gonna kill you in every tragically beautiful way possible. also, could you check out 'Please Don't Follow The Script' on my account too? It's a sequel to this one, but starts in third year.

i won't be posting much chapters rn under that, not until diana reaches third year at least.