DISCLAIMER: All recognisable characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
Sitting there, staring at him, Narcissa Malfoy felt a pang of regret. Her life as the youngest Black sister came crashing back as her ice-blue eyes stared at the man she once loved.
She had been young then; they both were. He had been full of ideas of becoming famous, of 'saving the world', and being widely acknowledged for it. That had been his life's ambition then, while hers had been to become the ideal pureblood wife. She hadn't wanted to be like her sister Andromeda, who broke their parents' hearts when she married a Muggle-born. But she hadn't wanted to be like Bella, either, without plan or hope or dream of a family.
When they had met at her coming-out ball, he had been instantly attracted to her, and she to him. Their conversations had included similar favourites, including the number nine. It was then that he promised her nine books, all dedicated to her. She had teased him, knowing full-well that he was no genius in Defense Against the Dark Arts—after all, she had been Head Girl at the time, and had slightly assisted with the setting up of younger years' Duelling Practices. She had stayed to watch a few, including his; needless to say that he hadn't been the best. But he had insisted he'd write her the nine books, and she had acquiesced, simply to make him happy.
Narcissa smiled a little sadly. How would her life had turned out if she had married him, instead of Lucius? It had been her original plan, her original hope. He had made her laugh, made her feel complete. With Lucius, she felt claustrophobic, as if he was suffocating her with his rigidity. For sure, she would not be caught in with the Dark Lord's company and taint. That much, she was sure of: he had wanted nothing with the Death Eaters. Her only son would never have been embroiled in the war.
But if she thought about it, would she really have had a child with him? He had been wanting to travel all around the world in search of dangerous creatures to rid of. What were the chanced that he'd give up his dream for her? She wanted a stable life at home with her family, but she couldn't achieve that, not with him.
A tear slowly dripped down her cheek as she pulled Travel With Trolls from the shelf. It had been his eighth book, published a year after Draco had started Hogwarts. Her long, pale fingers ghosted over the dedication on the second page.
To the angel of my life
who I will never forget
despite time passing
and life moving
for
Love can't tell time
The lone tear fell, and the angel bled out.
"Hey, are you okay?" a nearby voice asked her.
Hurriedly, Narcissa snapped the book shut, and replaced it, before turning to face the speaker.
She smiled a watery smile as she said, "I'm fine."
The beaming smile on his face faltered as he stared at her. "Don't I know you?"
She let out a small chuckle, safe in the knowledge that he had no idea who she was. "Can you remember my name?"
He nodded, his blond hair flopping. "You're Narcissy."
She froze for a moment, before laughing at the nickname. "It's Narcissa," she corrected gently, silently reveling in the fact that he had remembered her name.
He nodded again. He eyed her, before saying quite abruptly, "I love you."
That stopped Narcissa cold. She stared at him with wide eyes, unbelieving. "How—what—"
The blond man shrugged. He didn't know why he had said it, either. He just knew he had to say it to this woman. His heart was bursting to tell her. Nonchalantly, he pulled another photograph towards him, and signed Gilderoy Lockhart with a flourish.
He looked up, before passing the signed photograph to her. "Love can't tell time."
.
.
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AN:
For homework.
Dedicated the one of the most awesomest people of all time: Ellie!
I can't believe you're leaving us ="[
I'll miss you, Ellie!
Review your thoughts and opinions.
