The Minister's Wife
Chapter One: The Head of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
One the arm of her powerful and rich husband, Narcissa Malfoy entered the room with little knowing the party that Lucius had been speaking about all week was the appointment a stranger who had come to the Ministry a year after he graduated Hogwarts. This stranger was supposed to be a good man, according to Lucius, and whether or not this person could do his job would be known in a year after he was evaluated. It was a vague description, Narcissa knew, because what little she knew was somehow better than if she knew everything that was done in her husband's line of business. Narcissa knew her lover was a corrupted business man, but he brought in the wealth, he cared for his family, he brought up his son like the rest of his ancestors, and as long as he still did those three things, Narcissa cared less what happened behind her back.
Narcissa was used to the Ministry parties, the bashes, the festivals; it was almost a monthly thing, and after a few years of these reoccurring events, she visited and chatted with the local officials who were worked close with Lucius. It was the same thing every time, but Narcissa still enjoyed the attention of being Lady Malfoy.
The party was in preparations, but it looked like the same guests had come to the event early; the early birds were the the richest folks. Narcissa smiled when she saw the dresses on the women: indeed, she had once more battered the unknown contest to wear the best ball gown to the feast. Narcissa's image was impeccable: her long blonde hair was braided and wrapped around a pale scalp; her blue eyes didn't need the use of make-up, though it appeared that always she was adorned with some kind of expensive cosmetics. And her brilliant smile was the envy of the ladies. If Narcissa smiled, she was the prettiest woman on the face of the earth; many just didn't see that outside of the house or unwrapped around her husband's arm.
Narcissa glanced at the men that the ladies were paired with and once more had to let a smug smirk reach her fine cheek bones. Though it might have been subjective (though she was sure that the women fancied her beau) Narcissa judged that Lucius Malfoy was the most handsome in the room. He was adorned in a sleek red and black combination of a suit; his robes were that of a velvet black, and he wore similair accessories that would label him as a former student of Slytherin. Narcissa grasped his arm inconspiciously; how proud she was.
The preparations were mildly different this night; the stringents along the atrium walls were not made up of the recent Hogwarts' colors, but were crystallized chrome, almost snow-like. The long line of a buffet table was ever more delicate and quite refined rather than the more modern food that was provided by the House Elves in the Ministry. The Atrium's signature banner that beheld the moving image of Cornelius Fudge as Minister read the words "Welcome, Broderick" which most likely was the name of the man whom was appointed into the Ministry.
The party was to begin within a few hours.
Lucius leaned his head to one side and subtly kissed Narcissa on the cheek; she smiled and he led her to the middle of the room. There, he was greeted by a few officials.
"Mr. Malfoy, so wonderful to see you again."
"Mr. Malfoy, I knew you'd be here; ah, Mrs. Malfoy, pleasant day?"
"Oh, it's such a honor!"
The officials shook Narcissa's hand first then shook Lucius's. She didn't recognize them, but it seemed that Lucius did. He turned to her after he returned less enthusiastic greetings.
"Darling, will you excuse me?" he asked of her; as he did so, the ladies from earlier came up to Narcissa. Narcissa smiled at Lucius with an understanding nod (ministry business). The girls glanced at Lucius empathically; he nodded to the women with disinterest; Narcissa smirked at his reaction then followed the ladies to a nearby bar line where one of the biddies handed her a glass of wine. She accepted it and turned to one of them. The names jumbled together, but she recognized each by the color of their hair: the one she spoke to was the oldest of the three with light blonde hair and green eyes; she appeared to be some sort of a wanna-be "escort". She had seen way too many winters to try to pull off the look.
"Oh, Narcissa, you always looks so brilliant every time we see you," said the elder prostitute. She grasped Narcissa's manicured fingers. "It's like you're some kind of model."
"But your husband's looking quite tasteful," said the second woman, a redhead who looked a bit younger than the blonde, a bit more attractive, though the reputation she held was one of a tease and intended to seduce the entire male population. Narcissa grinned widely.
"Lucius is a fashionable man," said the blonde. "He pulls off anything and everything under the sun. Surely, Delrina," she aimed this at the second woman; Narcissa recalled the redhead to be in fact named Delrina. She continued: "You should try targeting the randy boys; married men aren't likely to succumb to your advances."
Delrina shrugged and looked Narcissa.
"I mean nothing by it, of course, Narcissa. I call them as I see him."
"And jump their bones the moment you have a chance," commented the third lady, who was the youngest of the three, beautiful even with matching eyes. Narcissa looked at her. This woman was married to one of the Quidditch players for the Ireland team. The blonde was dating a well-known editor of the Daily Prophet. And the redhead was the touch of gossip. Narcissa laughed at the brunette's comment.
"Oh Della," said Delrina toward the brunette, "I'm merely help the the men understand self-confidence! I won't stand for your intolerable slander."
Narcissa sipped her wine and said nonchalantly,
"But you'll take it while lying down, I'm sure."
Though the comment was more vulgar than Narcissa's usual retorts, this made all three women laugh. It was not in Narcissa's vocabulary to regularly insult a lady's sexual activities, though she's thought of making them many times. The ladies cooed at Narcissa's brilliance. Thirty minutes after a discussion of fashion in clothes and new furniture, Narcissa was paired again with Lucius who politely excused his wife from them with a smile. They gladly excused her with each a blush on their faces.
Narcissa was on his arm again.
"It seems that there is a new teacher being made in Hogwarts this year, like usual, Naricssa. I wonder how long this man will stay, my dear."
"What's his name?"
"His name is familiarly famous, perhaps you've heard of his achievements. He goes by the name of Gilderoy Lockhart, supposedly single-handedly performed magical feats, though I highly doubt that he is true to his name." Lucius remarked.
"Perhaps he'll surprise the public. After all, a famous wizard is something to proud of if he is teaching at Hogwarts this year. Our Draco needs a professional, Lucius. And at least Severus is there to teach him Potions. The last that the school needs is some oaf trying to teach Draco some foolishness."
"No need to worry about that, Narcissa; if there was, I'd take care of it." Lucius replied with a smile.
The party started; the atrium was filled with people in tuxedos and party gowns. The conversations were illuminating, it was probably the best of all parties to come. In a few moments, Lucius met up with Narcissa after they parted for her to gaggle with friends.
"Narcissa," he said excitedly, "there's someone I want you to meet."
"You're ecstatic," said Narcissa, amused.
Lucius brought her to the bar line where Cornelius Fudge stood in glamorous green robes; he wore a green bowler hat. Narcissa wanted to question why the urgency but Lucius insisted her for to wait. When they approached the Minister, Narcissa saw better that there was a lady on the arm of Cornelius Fudge. Narcissa's smirk was wider than ever.
The lady was dressed in yellow and black; a blonde woman with long hair that fell to her elbows; light emerald green eyes with a decadent smile. She was beautiful, slender, and tall. Lucius introduced Narcissa to Cornelius like the usual greetings; Cornelius gushed when he met Mrs. Malfoy, the lucky lady is what he called her. Lucius glanced at his wife then to the lady on Fudge's arm; he admitted that she was very attractive, though the yellow and black put him off slightly. If Fudge dressed in Slytherin colors, it was likely that she dressed in the House she had been ordained in, which of course was Hufflepuff. Lucius caught her eye; she looked him up and down then smiled.
"Lucius, Narcissa, I want you to meet my wife. Celexia, these people are the Malfoys," Cornelius Fudge said enthusiastically. Celexia grinned cheerfully; she shook Narcissa's hand and then Lucius's. Celexia's eyes glanced at Lucius several times before she turned back to her husband.
"Cornelius," she said in a low perfection, "you host a wonderful party with interesting guests, but I'm surprised you haven't told me who this Boderick is. Is he appointed into the Auror Office as one of the Wizard Neutralists, as an Obliviator in the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, or is he in that Invisibility Task Force, or perhaps you put him in my division without my acknowledgment?"
Lucius and Narcissa looked at her with some surprise. She was well-versed in the Ministry's business; she wasn't some kind of bimbo who didn't know anything. Narcissa's lips spread with a delightful grin: she was an excellent person already. She knew about the Ministry which meant she had some insight. Lucius was stumped at the last bit.
"You have a division, Celexia?" asked Lucius, interested in why he had never noticed her before.
"Why, yes," said Celexia matter-of-factly. "I'm the Department Head of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
How nonchalant she replied made Narcissa wonder if she had been inducted into such a responsible position through her connection with Cornelius Fudge or if she worked her way into the program. It was a rather impressive standing in the Ministry; the department she headed was the second largest right behind the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Lucius was intrigued. Why didn't he recognize her?
"I graduated Hogwarts and followed extensive studies over Magical Creatures," stated Celexia, realizing that her occupation seemed to have a rather more of a "Whoa" factor after the regular courses in school. "During school I took courses in Magical Creatures; then afterwards specialized in Beasts while doing some abroad learning in Romania with dragons. I studied Spirits in New Forest, Asia for spirits and vampires, then worked in Gringotts to observe Goblins. As I child I went to the Forbidden Forest with the gatekeeper to visit the Centaurs then turned to world travel to study the beings."
The explanation was easy to follow.
The dinners were ready to start and Lucius offered the seating of the minister and the minister's wife; the Fudges agreed and sat down at a rather fancy dining table. Lucius observed Celexia; though the Hufflepuff had at first appeared to be nothing but a pretty woman, it looked like she was something to get to know. She seemed to have interests in the animal kingdom, but it was hard to relate to her. Creatures weren't ever something he took an interest in. Even in his House-Elf, Dobby, he could care less what the servant wanted or needed in order to survive.
Narcissa was rather impressed that Celexia knew many things about the Ministry. She still wondered if Cornelius Fudge had entered her into the Ministry by test or by the judgment of her skill in his bed.
Dinner was served by the House-Elves. When they came upon the table, Narcissa and Lucius merely looked at them. Celexia looked at one with a smile. Cornelius looked suddenly uncomfortable. Narcissa watched with some uncertainty as Celexia lowered her head to meet the Elf's view.
The Elf seemed to look at her with confusion.
"Did Dancer do something wrong, my lady?" he inquired her, fidgeting.
With some disgust, Lucius watched her lower her lips onto the bald head of the Elf named Dancer and kissed his forehead.
The Elf stared, but he smiled.
"Thank you," she said.
The Elf grinned underneath his long nose then disappeared with a snap.
"Celexia is fond of almost every creature alive, Lucius," explained Cornelius when Celexia sat straight again. He took her hand on the table. "She's got a soft spot for them."
Lucius looked at her.
"You think they're people?"
"They are beings," stated Celexia confidently, not at all offended by her company's negative reaction. "It's not in the normal to acknowlege a House Elf's good deeds; they merely serve on habit or do what they're told. I have a few back at the home. we do," she said pointedly toward Cornelius Fudge.
"So do we," interjected Narcissa, bringing the tension from the air. "We call him Dobby."
Lucius glanced at the minister who seemed to have trouble trying to recompose himself from the discomfort he had experienced during Celexia's expression of appreciation. In order to rear the conversation away from the latter, Lucius inquired Celexia's tenure.
"How long have you worked at the Ministry? Surely I'd have recognized you since you work such a highly irate position." Lucius said as they started in on the food.
Celexia made a small laugh, though the Malfoys weren't sure whether it was mockery or sincere. Nevertheless she continued.
"I look different when I'm working here, Mr. Malfoy." Celexia explained.
"I have to compliment your dress, Celexia," said Narcissa as a side comment, "I have to admit that I thought I was the only fashionable woman in the state."
"I don't usually dress like this," said Celexia with a wave of her hand.
"No, usually she's in jeans and a jumper," Cornelius remarked, though his tone seemed undermining.
"You don't come to work looking prestine, Celexia?" asked Narcissa. "Wouldn't you and I enjoy having a day at Diagon Alley." She smiled at Celexia who returned it half-heartedly.
"I work with creatures who don't mind getting filthy all day, Narcissa," she said.
Lucius quirked an eyebrow.
"Didn't you say you were the Department Head; I was under the impression that you sat hours in an office."
"I work on the field," said Celexia.
"Something I've been trying to persuade her to do for a while now," said Cornelius. He winced slightly at his wife's glance but continued politely. "It's dangerous to work with dragons, as you know. They're a high level of Ministry Classification, not to mention they've got tempers. And working with werewolves..."
"Werewolves!" Narcissa exclaimed, looking at Celexia.
"Well, yes," said Celexia, but Lucius intervened.
"Darling," he said to Narcissa, "the Beast Division communicates with the werewolves who are in their untransformed state. They have a werewolf control unit to hunt the ones that are causing trouble in a community, though I highly doubt there's a tame werewolf."
"Actually," said Celexia, "I communicate with werewolves in their transformed state as well."
Cornelius once more winced, though this once was definitely visible.
"She's a werewolf Animagus."
Lucius and Narcissa stared.
"There a more ways to become a werewolf than being bitten or being born as a one," rebuffed Celexia. "It takes years to learn how to become a werewolf Animagus, but I assure you. I am one. The only reason I did it was to do my job, nothing else."
"But I thought werewolves weren't able to understand anyone except their own kind," Narcissa questioned.
"Animagi animals can communicate with a werewolf. And a werewolf can't tell the difference between Animagus werewolf or a born one," said Celexia technically, then she sat back in her chair. "I wouldn't transform if it meant terrorizing a group of people...that would be wrong."
"That whole situation seems wrong," Narcissa reproached.
"And dangerous," added Lucius. "You're very brave...or very foolish." He raised a glass to his lips.
"Mr. Malfoy, if I were foolish, would I be alive today?"
He lowered it: "That's true too." Then he sipped it.
Narcissa glanced at him. Then she grinned widely at Cornelius.
"You've got an interesting First Lady, Minister."
Cornelius grinned slightly.
"Who works with you, Celexia?" asked Lucius.
"Well, several, but you might know Amos Diggory."
"Diggory?" said Lucius with interest. "His son's rather popular at the school."
"Ah, Cedric," recalled Narcissa. "Isn't he a fourth year?"
"Seeker and the Head of the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team," remarked Celexia proudly. "I've met his boy; he's a respectful child. Amos has difficulty performing his duties, though," she said with some detest. "He dislikes non-human beings, or at least House-Elves. Though you can tell he's all about Cedric's fame."
"A boastful man?" asked Narcissa.
"Very," remarked Celexia, bringing the glass to her lips. After she sipped it, she placed it on the table and continued. "Don't think me impolite; I am all for being proud of our children, but there is a limit. Amos gets a little carried away. He always discusses Harry Potter's growing fame."
Narcissa and Lucius automatically siezed conversaton. Celexia smiled slightly.
"You don't like him," she pinpointed.
"Well, the boy rivals their son," said Cornelius. "Draco's also a Slytherin, and Harry Potter's a Gryffindor."
This was welcomed to a cynical look from his wife.
"Love, you were a Slytherin and I was a Hufflepuff. I hardly think that matters. Besides, half my friends were all in Slytherin anyway."
"Really?" Narcissa said with obvious interest.
Lucius didn't react, still apparently stripped of the zest due to the mention of Potter.
Cornelius and Lucius met each other's eyes.
"I knew your sister," said Celexia to Narcissa. A pause. "Bella."
The tension seemed to grow at the whole table. Bellatrix Lestrange was in Azkaban as of today and for the rest of her life. Lucius hadn't thought much about it until this moment. Cornelius Fudge looked rather uncomfortable; he almost fell out of his chair when his wife mentioned the pet name that only good friends of Bellatrix adopted.
Narcissa seemed stumped.
"You knew Bella?" she said slowly.
"We were best friends."
"She didn't mention you to me..."
"We lost contact after my sixth year..." said Celexia.
Lucius could only think of one thing that would separate good friends. Bellatrix must have told Celexia about her Dark Mark and tried to persuade her to come to the Dark Lord's side. Celexia might have rejected it. Lucius could only think that's how it ended. That, or maybe Celexia was a Death Eater and she had lost contact after Bellatrix was apprehended; their relationship might have staggered when Celexia didn't come forth to take the heat of finding the Dark Lord. After all, that's why Bellatrix was caught; she accepted her fate due to her loyalty to a Lord who wouldn't come to rescue her.
"And I knew Severus," added Celexia, recognizing the united tension of everyone at the table.
"Ah, Severus!" Lucius said comfortably. "He's a good man."
"Yes, quite the teacher," agreed Narcissa.
"We knew him through school as well," said Lucius when Celexia gave them a questionable smile.
"How did you and Cornelius meet?" questioned Narcissa with interest, indicating the both of them with a finger.
"We met in my sixth year. We dated for many years, then he proposed to me. When he replaced Ganwold, he asked me if I wanted to be the head of the Werewolf Capture Unit; I was in that office for about 10 years. After the Head was drowned in a miscommunication with the Merpeople along the coast of Cape Cod, the departments agreed that I should take charge. After about a week, the paper was filled out and here I am."
The dinner went for hours. When the party gatherers were returning home, Lucius approached Cornelius.
"Minister Fudge, my wife seems rather taken to Celexia. I think that it would do Narcissa some good if Celexia could come to the manor from time to time on days when her work aren't so demanding. You, of course, would always be welcome in our home."
Cornelius nodded.
"Of course, I agree with you, Mr. Malfoy. Celexia needs friends outside her work. She's a workaholic, though she a good one at that. Very dutiful." Cornelius and Lucius shook hands. "It was pleasant to see you again, Lucius."
"The same," Lucius returned.
Celexia returned to Cornelius with Narcissa. Celexia looked at Lucius and smiled.
"If ever I happen to be in my office, stop by and we'll catch up." She turned to Narcissa; they surprised the men by sharing an acquainted hug.
Narcissa grinned.
"Stop by anytime."
Celexia nodded.
Cornelius and Celexia Disapparated. Then Lucius and Narcissa exited the Atrium via Floo Network.