Narcissa Malfoy was an Occlumens.

She knew very well how to seal off her thoughts from being read and that was exactly what she did each time she was around Lord Voldemort. She was aware that he could read minds and she didn't want him to know that she felt compassion for his prisoner.

So that night when she was called by the Dark Lord to tell him about Eleanor's state, she sealed off her thoughts before stepping close to him.

"How is she doing now?" He asked the woman standing respectfully in front of her.

"Much better, My Lord. I have healed her wounds and her fever has lessened too," she replied, "she will get better soon."

"Good... Very good," he mumbled but it seemed as if his thoughts were elsewhere, "and did she say anything to you?"

Narcissa knew if she paused to reply, he would guess something was up, so she answered without hesitation, "no, My Lord. She doesn't speak at all."

"Very well then. You may leave," he dismissed her but then added as if just recalling something, "your task from now on would be to look after her. Make sure that she recovers."

She nodded in reply, leaving the room once he dismissed her.

Stepping out of the room, she was stopped by her sister Bellatrix. And seeing the cold look in her dark eyes unsettled her.

"Where are you going, Cissy?" She asked in her fake sweet voice.

"The Dark Lord has ordered me to look after Eleanor. I'm going to follow my tasks," she replied but Bellatrix's dark eyes pierced through her in uncertainty.

"Alright. Don't get too fond of her though," she remarked, "she is a prisoner and whatever punishment she receives, she deserves it."

Narcissa didn't say anything in reply, wanting Bellatrix to stop interrogating her. She might never admit it but sometimes she got scared of her own sister.

She and Bellatrix were close but there were times when she got terrified of how unnaturally devoted the woman was to Lord Voldemort. Upon Voldemort's orders, her elder sister had killed and tortured people, earning herself the title of the most dangerous Death Eater. Taking human lives was no longer something that she would object to.

If the Dark Lord ordered her to do so, she would follow that order without any questions. And it wasn't just to the point of her inflicting harm on others, if she was ordered to hurt herself, that too she would willingly oblige with, much to Narcissa's discomfort.

She knew that if Bella was ordered to throw herself into a blazing fire, she would do so without a second's hesitation. And that thought made her worried for her sister due to the power Lord Voldemort held over her.

"And one more thing, Cissy, I'll be keeping watch over you," her words shook Narcissa out of her worrisome thoughts, "I know you are still adjusting to us and get swayed too easily by emotions. Don't try to help Eleanor any more than you're ordered to. Or else you'll regret it."

"I understand, Bella. You don't have to worry about that," she kept her voice steady as she replied, her thoughts as usual sealed off from being read.

"Alright," she remarked breezily, stepping out of her way at last, "go then and carry out your task."

Narcissa went to Eleanor's room, knocking gently before entering. She saw that Eleanor wasn't lying down exhausted like earlier, instead, she was sitting up in her bed and looked much relieved to see her.

She had brought food for her and that once the woman made no qualms as she ate, realizing that she had been starving for days and eating something at last gave her strength.

"I take it that you're feeling much better now," Narcissa asked, sitting on the chair beside her bed.

Eleanor nodded, green eyes flickering in gratitude towards her.

"And your bruises aren't hurting anymore I assume?" She asked, taking her arm to remove the bandage and check for herself.

"No, I'm fine now," she replied and her voice was still low, "thank you, Cissy."

Hearing her address her like that made a smile play upon her lips. Bella was right in warning her that she was perhaps getting too fond of the prisoner.

But how could she not when that poor prisoner was someone so captivating as Eleanor?

She could see why Regulus had fallen in love with her and considering the current circumstances, it stung slightly to think that those two might never be able to get together like they wanted to.

"You must take a bath then and it will make you feel even better," Narcissa suggested, covering the healing bruises with the bandage again. "I'll help you with it, don't worry."

Eleanor on the other hand was thinking how strikingly different the two sisters were from one another. If Bellatrix was a scorching fire then Narcissa was the calm water stream that would put out the flames.

They were complete opposites of one another and the only thing common between them was the blood and the noble family lineage they shared.

Other than that, there was nothing in appearance or personality that could hint at them being related to each other.

"Cissy," she called out making the woman turn to face her again, "you're not like your sister at all."

She nodded, clasping her hand gently, "I get to hear that a lot."

Hearing that from her, Eleanor's grip tightened slightly on Narcissa's hand, and she finally asked a very dangerous question for herself and for Narcissa.

"Since you aren't like your sister and you've just been so kind to me, will you help me get out of here? Please?"

Her hands were clasping hers tightly and those wide green eyes were focused on her in a pleading look.

"I die each day from having to live as his wretched possession, every single time he is with me, he tears me apart," her eyes were welling up with tears, "I want to go to Regulus. Please... Help me."

Narcissa wanted to say yes but couldn't.

Because the door flew open and Bellatrix stormed in, her coal-black eyes burning in rage.

"How dare you try and coerce my sister like that!" She fumed, her wand brandished in front of her threateningly.

Eleanor had drawn back in alarm, letting go of Narcissa's hands. The younger Black sister came in between, trying to shield Eleanor from the elder's wrath.

"Bella calm down, just because she said something doesn't mean I would agree," Narcissa spoke up, worried that in her anger Bellatrix would fire a curse at Eleanor and that would put her in trouble with the Dark Lord.

"I told you not to be too kind to her," the elder woman turned her rage to Narcissa who was still trying to calm her down, "this is exactly what I had warned you about."

Narcissa had managed to take Bellatrix out of the room but the woman was furious still and it didn't prevent her from shooting a curse at Eleanor.

Shortly after her limbs were bound tightly to the bed and she couldn't break free from those chains.

"If you ever think about escaping again, these chains will be the least of your worries," Bellatrix warned, pushing Narcissa away as well and storming off.

***