A/N: I do not own any HP characters. This little one-shot inspired by: "All I Want" by Ahn Trio. Some lyrics:
Deep inside you can't provide
What I need from you anyway
Do you know it doesn't change
The way I feel about you at the end of the day
Cause I know that all I want is what you got
All I want is what you got
Tell you that I wanna go, but I wanna stay
I tell you that I wanna go, but I wanna stay
I tell you that I wanna go, but I wanna stay
I wanna stay
I wanna stay
I wanna stay
But I know I'm gonna lose myself this way
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She shook with sobs, the letter crumpled in her hand. The words were smeared from her tears, the edges ripped from when she balled it into her fist and then tore it back open.
My Darling Narcissa,
I'm so happy to tell you that Lucius accepted our proposal. You're getting married, darling! It's time you get rid of that filth you've been seeing. He's no good for you, Narcissa. Marrying Lucius is what's best for you. Trust me, dear, Lucius is perfect.
I can't wait to see you home!
Signed,
Your loving mother
Pangs of agony tore at her heart, blinding her with pain. All she could see was his face. His beautiful, devastated face.
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She walked toward him, steeling her heart for what was to come.
Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot.
This was for the best… wasn't it?
Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot.
Why did she have to do this? She loved him, not Lucius!
Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot. Almost there…
Tears fell freely down her face. This isn't the right thing, she decided. But I'm going to do it anyway, aren't I?
He was facing away from her, talking to someone else. She tapped his shoulder with a finger and he turned around, smiling at her with enough beauty to take her breath away. Her heart burned already.
"I-I need to talk to you."
The pair walked toward a shop, away from any eavesdroppers. Narcissa took a deep breath, closing her eyes, willing this all to be a bad dream. Just a bad dream…
Alas, when she opened her eyes, she was met with his expectant face. Life was so cruel.
"I'm getting married." She said this as if she were telling him she was dying.
His face fell. "What?"
Narcissa nodded. "Mother and father have arranged a marriage for me. With Lucius Malfoy."
One tear leaked out of her sky blue eyes. She didn't want to make this any harder for him than it had to be. As far as she knew, Narcissa was the only true friend he had since… she died.
"I- no Narcissa… no!" He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in a kiss. She kissed him back passionately, never wanting to let go. Too soon, she pulled away.
"I have to," she whispered, untangling herself from his arms. "Besides, you still have… her. I know you still love her, no matter how much you deny it. I love you, Severus."
"You have my love, Narcissa."
She smiled. "Only half of it. You don't love me, at least… not as much as you loved Lily."
"I still love Lily," he said, more to himself than to her.
"Good-bye, Severus."
"Good-bye, Narcissa."
He watched as she walked away, completely heartbroken. Halfway down the street she stopped and turned around. She put her hand in the air, waiting for him to do the same. It was something they often did instead of embracing, so as not to give her family another reason to hate him. This time, though, Narcissa broke the "embrace" first, something she had never done before.
