Action Scene: Narcissa taking inventory of Malfoy Manor
Narcissa strode through the halls, a parchment in her hand as Chester and Jinx trailed after her. They had just returned to the manor from the mausoleum where Bella's body rested. She knew Lucius wasn't pleased to have her sister encased in the Malfoy family tomb, but she was family. Unlike Andromeda. "What a waste of potential," she murmured. "I wonder if she's even alive." She should check on that. Not that she'd ever bury Andromeda's corpse in the mausoleum, but Andromeda was her sister. Barely.
She checked off something on her list with a long white feathered quill. "Chester, make sure all the windows are scrubbed and the furniture polished in every room. Jinx, toss any articles from the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord." She paused, tapping the feathery portion of her quill against her chin. "If you find any interesting artifacts, leave it in Lucius' study on his desk. He may wish to keep it."
Jinx nodded her large head, wringing her hands. "Yes, Mistress Narcissa!"
They came across the large bay windows that looked out into the front gardens and Narcissa could see a white peacock preening its feathers. "The gardens need to be trimmed of dead or decaying flowers and branches. Don't forget to feed and groom Lucius' peacocks as well. He wouldn't be very pleased to have them die on us."
Narcissa muttered as they passed the dining room. The last time the room was used was for one of the Dark Lord's meetings. She should have the table burned. "Please tell me the fine china hasn't been destroyed by one of their frenzies." She glanced back at the house elves.
Chester shook his head. He wasn't much for speaking but she always liked that about him.
"Good. If there is time, I want that table burned and a new one ordered and shipped here. Though that particular item may have to be postponed until Lucius and I figure out where we stand in the Wizarding World." She made a note on her parchment to owl various officials to call in favors owed. Whatever it took to keep her family out of Azkaban, especially Draco. He was her only son and she loved him. Despite her threats to have another child and replace him as heir, they were nothing but empty words.
Narcissa and the house elves headed upstairs and down the corridor, last door on the left. There were other rooms that needed her tender care, but first things first. As she unlocked the door, she noticed there was a fine coat of dust over the mahogany furniture. She had locked this room during the Dark Lord's stay and had Draco sleep in a guest room for protection. She did not want one of the Death Eaters or the Dark Lord himself to use what they gleaned from Draco's room to use against him.
She motioned for Chester and Jinx to stand outside the door as she entered the room. Her eyes gazed at Draco's stuffed dragon sitting on the Egyptian cotton sheets of his bed affectionately called Doir. Severus gave Draco the dragon for his first birthday and her son cherished the toy. McNair wouldn't have hesitated in ripping apart Doir in front of Draco's eyes, to say the least.
"Chester," she said softly. "Before you start on any task, clean this room first. Draco will be home soon. Leave a vase of freshly cut flowers of Eucharis lilies on the nightstand for his return." She turned on her heel on the thick green carpet and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.