Godric's Hollow
The weather seemed to have conspired in agreement that this day was one of deep sorrow for some. The grey sky did nothing to help the people gathered there. Six people, together in shared grief, overwhelmed by the same sense of loss.
It was incredible how everything could end in just a few seconds. Only days ago, they had all been together—laughing, talking, simply existing alongside one another. Now they were gathered again, but not to laugh, not to talk.
"Lily and James Potter."
Seeing those names engraved on the tombstone, the weight of loss settled firmly in the woman's heart. She knew she would never again see her dearest friend.
Everyone had noticed the sudden change in Lily's behavior just days after returning to Hogwarts. No one knew why it had happened, and though some tried to ask, no one came away from those conversations with any real answers.
Narcissa watched as Lily gradually began spending less time with everyone. At first, she didn't think much of it. But when she noticed Lily spending less time with Severus, curiosity bloomed—especially when she discovered that the redhead had started spending more and more time with a girl from Gryffindor.
Narcissa had to admit that more than one person was curious about what Lily was up to. With Marlene pushing insistently to find out, most of the group agreed to investigate.
They tried to follow her, but were quickly distracted when Potter and Black showed up.
Realizing that going as a group drew too much attention, they decided it would be better to follow her one by one.
Marlene, ever the enthusiastic one, volunteered to go first. She followed Lily patiently until a loud argument between a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw caught her attention, making her lose track of her target.
Alice, the second to try, promised herself she wouldn't get distracted like Marlene. Unfortunately, her mission ended abruptly when she stepped on a small ball and fell.
When Alice got back up, she grabbed the ball and threw it out of one of the windows. She decided to follow Lily again, but by then, the redhead was no longer in sight.
At the girls' request, Frank agreed to take his turn following her. Along the way, he saw a little girl fall down a couple of steps. His sense of duty kicked in, and he took her straight to the infirmary—losing his target in the process.
Narcissa watched Sirius walk by with a black eye and a ball in his hand. She frowned at the sight, but quickly brushed it aside.
She walked calmly to the library, where she found the others already gathered.
Everyone looked a bit discouraged—defeated, even.
Her gaze drifted over the group before landing on Severus. - "Where's Lily?" - She asked.
Severus, who had been reading a book while pretending the group around him didn't exist, looked up and met the blonde's eyes. - "I don't know."
Narcissa stared at him for a few seconds before turning to the others. They either shook their heads or made vague, unimpressed noises.
- "You should ask her what she's been up to." - She said to Severus as she sat down with the rest of them.
- "Why don't you ask her?" - He shot back, eyes still fixed on his potions book.
- "You're her best friend." - She replied, giving him one of her signature piercing looks.
Severus let out a low growl, slammed the book shut, and got up without saying another word.
A tiny, satisfied smile crept onto Narcissa's lips as she watched him go off to do exactly what she wanted.
Alice popped a candy that Marlene had handed her into her mouth, silently observing the entire exchange—just like everyone else.