Written for the Star Challenge - Bellatrix / The Duct Tape Competition - Silver / One Million Added Words Competition / Represent That Character Challenge / Numerology Challenge - Nine.
Words Minus A/N - 531
Manipulative Mistake
Narcissa walked into the ballroom and the occupants hushed. She looked stunningly beautiful, her ballgown spun by hand made with the finest materials available. She watched as he turned to see what the fuss was all about. She watched as his jaw dropped slightly. She watched as his eyes narrowed. She watched as he straightened his back, and smiled charming. She watched, and she knew the very moment Lucius Malfoy decided she would be his. Internally she smiled. She would let him woo her. He would never need to know he had been skillfully manipulated. He would never need to know that he had played right into her intentions.
As the Betrothal process began, Lucius showered her with beautiful gifts, jewels, trinkets, expensive clothing. She appreciated them of course, but what she wanted, far more than any of these things she could buy herself, was his attention. She wanted his company. She wanted him to cherish her, to adore her, to love her. She knew he saw her as an acquisition. She knew he wanted her, because she was the prettiest, because she came from one of the Noble Houses, she knew he wanted her because of who she was and what she looked like. She wanted more than that.
Their first date rolled around, and he arrived ten minutes early, as was custom, to talk with her father. As he escorted her out, with the promise of a timely return to her parents, she felt excitement. Finally, she could show him who she was, could make him see her for real, could make his fall for her. He took her to the most expensive wizarding restaurant in wizarding britain. He secured them the best table, in full view of all the others. He acted like a perfect gentleman. Yet, when he dropped her back home, with a kiss to her hand, she knew that he didn't care about her thoughts, feelings or opinions. She would be arm candy, she would be the perfect mother for his child, she would be a society wife.
Narcissa paid for her mistake in full. The betrothal in place, there was nothing she could do to stop the wedding, nothing she could say would talk her father around. He was happy about the union, happy that two such influential families could form a bond. Narcissa married Lucius. She bore a son for him. She kept herself beautiful, and she smiled as she attended balls on his arm. Narcissa lost herself over the years. She forgot about the things she once cared about, forgot that she had opinions on matters that sometimes disagreed with her husband. She took the Malfoy name, and with it, became an extension of her husband.
Narcissa walked into the ballroom, and the occupants hushed. She had no way of knowing, as she watched Lucius Malfoy, that she had just signed her life over to the devil. She had no idea that Narcissa Black ceased to matter on that day. She had no idea, as she felt smugness well up inside her at her triumph, that Narcissa Black would die shortly after. She had no idea. And that was her last mistake.