I remember seeing Eleanor Troy for the first time as clearly as if it was just yesterday.

We were gathered for Aunt Walburga's Christmas dinner which Bella had told me that she was arranging in honor of her future daughter-in-law. However, that information wasn't revealed to any of the guests back then.

I remember watching Eleanor step into the ballroom that night and steal all the attention with her wide green eyes, cherry-red lips, and enchanting demeanor. She felt like a princess to me at first sight.

Delicate, graceful, and absolutely charming.

Someone perfect for a young brilliant boy like Regulus.

And that day, I would have never thought that the next time I would meet her would be in such drastic conditions.

Instead of the beautiful princess, the second time I met her was when she was held captive by the Dark Lord.

Not just any prisoner but a prisoner who was put through torture again and again, torn from the inside out mercilessly for goodness knows what sins. It was as if she was a doll whose fate was to be put together and torn apart repeatedly.

Seeing her in such a pitiful state made my heart ache for her. There was no remedy I had to lessen her pain and yet I wanted to do something to help her.

She was too young and yet too unfortunate to be stuck in that situation.

If I could, I would set her free so that she would return to being the lovely princess I initially envisioned her as. Instead of staying in this prison and functioning like a clockwork doll being made to live the worst time of her life on repeat.

Being a woman myself I could understand the pain she had to go through each day in captivity. For me, she was an unfortunate young woman stuck in a serpent's lair and she was also the fiance of my closest cousin.

If I could, I would definitely help her out. The only thing stopping me was the fear of what the Dark Lord could do to me if he found out I was behind her escape.

_Narcissa Malfoy

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