#sb:c9

Narcissa, much as she might try to deny it, was a creature of habit. She had her routines and rituals and liked everything in her life to be exactly as she wanted it. Letting things go was not something that she did easily. Even her out of fashion clothes were stashed away in a forgotten corner of the Manor. She might not have cared for them any longer, but that did not mean that she would not find a use for them at some future date.

The first week back at Hogwarts she walked past the classroom at the time she would have formerly met Sirius for an evening game of poker. He was not there, and so she continued on. The next week she lingered a little longer, but still she did not see him.  

By the third week she settled in with her homework and a magazine or two. The room was evidently not in use for tutoring or any other activity, and it was a more productive environment than the Common Room after dinner with the first and second years running about or the library where she found it difficult to focus under the watchful eye of the librarian. And yet, a deck of gilded cards sat on the edge of the table. Old habits died hard.

She wasn't studying when the door opened. She was flipping through Witch Weekly Weddings. It wasn't yet curfew, so she had no reason for concern. Her brow arched when she saw who it was. A range of possible openers flitted through her mind, some far too personal and emotive. Instead she settled on a simple question.

"Do you know how to play the harmonica?"