Disclaimer: characters and places belong to J. K. Rowling, not me unfortunately.

Beta: Sam

Rating: M for sexual content, you have been warned.

A/N: I've had this in my head for a while, and it has taken me ages to write, I just kept starting and stopping, so I hope it doesn't sound too disjointed because it wasn't all written at once.


Severus was sat on his sofa in the dark living room of Spinners end, when the fire suddenly burst into life in a shower of green flames, a tall hooded figure stepped out. Severus rose at once and greeted his guest,

"What brings you here at this hour?" he asked politely

The hood of the velvet black cloak was lowered to reveal tear stained cheeks, a large purpling bruise above the right eye and a split lip. He couldn't suppress the gasp that escaped his lips as trembling hands reached out to him and Narcissa Malfoy collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably,

"Cissy what happened?" Severus asked in what he hoped was a soothing voice as he led her over to the sofa and poured her a generous glass of wine from the recently uncorked bottle sitting on the table. She took it gratefully and brought the glass shakily to her lips, taking a large swig, before setting it down on the coffee table.

It took her a few minutes to compose herself and stop the stream of tears, her breathing was still not fully under control as she tried to explain

"L-Lucius, he tried t-to – I- I …uh … imperius – he –he hit m-me… Oh Severus" She wailed as her arms flew around his neck and she buried her face in his shoulder.

To say Severus was shocked was a major understatement. He just sat there, he couldn't really comprehend what was happening, this display of emotion and openness was something he had never seen in Narcissa.

Finally she pulled back and removed her cloak, keeping her hands busy and now avoiding his eyes. Severus took her hands in his and tried to get her to explain more rationally,

"Are you saying that Lucius did this to you?" He asked gesturing to the bruises

"Yes" she answered quietly, looking at their interlocked hands.

"Why?" he asked with a perplexed look on his face. Now Lucius has never seemed the caring type, but to beat his wife was a different matter entirely.

"He wanted to… to control me" She barely whispered. Severus' frown deepened and he tried to catch her eye.

"What do you mean?" She looked into his eyes then, a look of sorrow and hurt that pulled at his heart in ways he couldn't believe. This woman, this beautiful, intelligent woman that he had longed for, for years, that he had envied Lucius for, was looking at him with a vulnerability that a Black should never show and it was because of a man who claimed to love her. In that instant Severus wanted nothing more than to kiss her. As if he deserved someone as perfect as she, with all the propriety he possessed he restrained himself and listened.

"He used the imperius curse on me" Her grip on his hands tightened slightly "for years, he kept me as a trophy wife, he used my name and family connection to manipulate people. He used me to breed him a pure-blood son who is as arrogant and materialistic as his father. Then what does he do? He discards me, keeps me locked away" tears were brimming in her eyes again, but he knew she needed this, she needed to tell somebody after all this time, it would help her heal.

"Lucius wouldn't let me do anything; he told me it was for my own good. He told me that joining the death eaters was worth it, for a good cause and she helped. That wretched sister of mine helped him, she told me it was for a great purpose, a great dream! 'The perfect world!' she called it" Narcissa gave a small, shrill, almost hysterical, laugh at that.

"Bellatrix! She knew? She knew what Lucius was doing to you?" She broke eye contact and looked back at their hands, giving a small nod of confirmation.

"But I did it" she said suddenly, a slightly manic glint in her eye, "I got away, he had become more careless with the charms lately, he's getting in too deep, and I told him I was leaving him. Oh he didn't take to well to that, he hit me and threw me against the wall, attempting to strangle me. He seemed too shocked at my action to even think of going for his wand. I managed to steal it and stun him so he couldn't follow me. Then I came here, I didn't know what else to do, I didn't know who to go to" She picked up the wine glass again and drained it, letting out a long sigh of relief at finally finishing.

Severus sat thinking over this for several minutes, she left him? She actually left him? And she is here, with me. He couldn't get his mind around it, there was so much he wanted to say, so many feelings and emotions swirling behind the composed almost stoic exterior.

"That bastard!" He heard the words even before he realised he had spoken them, anger boiled inside him quickly, that foul, slimy, pompous, git had hurt her. Severus stood quickly with every intention to go and kill the Malfoy who would even dream of harming such a beautiful creature. He would gladly embrace the consequences, he wanted to show everyone exactly what that monster had done. People worshiped Lucius, and why? Because he had money, and a reputation. Well Severus could do nothing about his money, but he could ruin his reputation.

Narcissa must have noticed the murderous glint in his eye as he strode past her toward the fireplace, she grabbed his arm and turned him to face her

"Severus, don't!" she pleaded "Whatever it is that you are thinking, don't!" she cupped his face in her hands and looked him in the eyes "he's not worth it"

"He hurt you" Was all Severus could manage to say through gritted teeth. Then she did something completely unexpected, she kissed him. She just brought her lips up and pressed them tenderly to his.

"Don't do it Sev, I need you right now" she whispered, her head tilted up, her breath ghosting over his lips. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her body closer and he kissed her. His mind spun and his hands trembled as they rested on her lower back. Her tongue gently, cautiously stroked across his bottom lip and he opened to her. Their tongues met, tangling together in a warm embrace as the kiss deepened.

His dreams were coming true; Narcissa Black is finally kissing me! He let out a soft moan and tangled one hand into her soft blonde locks and her arms circled his neck.

They pulled apart and as oxygen filled Severus' brain in sharp gasps he started to come to his senses. What am I doing? Stepping back a few feet he turned and looked away.

"I-I can't do this to you Cissy"

"W-what?" confusion clouded her voice, he knew there would be a look of hurt in her eyes, but he couldn't turn around, he couldn't look. If he did he wouldn't be able to resist those red kiss stained lips,

"It-it wouldn't be... fair. You-you're vulnerable right now" he fumbled his words, trying to clear his head of the feel of her against his body, he rubbed a hand roughly over his face before continuing "I don't want to take advantage. I don't want you to want me because it's convenient and I'm here for you, I want you to actually want me, and at present I do not feel that you are in a state of mind to be making decisions like that." He glanced at her quickly, "I'm sorry" he added

Narcissa looked down at her hands and asked softly,

"May I please use your washroom" taken by surprise Severus just curtly nodded and she walked stiffly out of the room. When he was alone he dropped himself onto the sofa once more, and rested his head in his hands, what am I saying? This was Narcissa! I am turning down Narcissa Mal- no Narcissa Black! Me, of all people, was saying no to Narcissa Black! Why? He let out a groan of frustration. I know why, because I am not the selfish, heartless, cold, death eater that people like to think I am. I care about her, and I can't ruin our friendship, our trust, for something as menial as sex. She needed support, she has just left her husband, she is not looking for another one yet you fool! And even if she was, why would she even consider picking a half-blood school teacher like me?

Narcissa entered the room again; Severus lifted his head and gave a small smile. She had freshened herself up; her cheeks were no longer tear-tracked and she looked a lot less flustered than when she had left the room. She sat next to him and half-filled her glass of wine, taking a sip, before breathing deep and clearing her throat. Narcissa looked at Severus with a sobriety that made him sit up a little straighter and pay attention, this was serious.

"Severus, I understand why you would want to put this off, you feel that I am too emotional and that my grief has clouded my judgement some what. You are mistaken" Severus opened his mouth to speak, to contradict, but her fingers rested on his lips to stop him.

"Do not tell me that I am being irrational Severus, I want this, I want you!" all he could do was stare in wonder, and maybe a glimmer of hope, "look" Narcissa took his hand in hers, "the only reason I married Malfoy was because it is what my parents had wanted, he was eligible, pure-blood and rich, everything I Should have wanted in a husband. So they never asked my opinion, it was all arranged for us, and we managed. For a while" she took another sip of wine, "But I never wanted him, not really. I wanted you Severus" This was the second time she had said that in as many minutes, and even a man with such self-control as him couldn't just ignore that, especially when it came to Narcissa.

He leant forward cupped her face and kisser her, she gave a whimper and then opened to him. The passion was intense and you could practically feel the temperature in the room rise. Narcissas' arms circled his thin waist and she leant him back onto the sofa, lips still locked. He let her take the lead as he knew that she needed this, needed some control back in her life after what Lucius had put her through, so he let her go as slow or as fact as she wanted.

They pulled apart through need of air, panting desperately, and then breathlessly Narcissa whispered,

"Make love to me Severus" How could he say no?


A/N: Hope that was ok, it is rated M for the second chapter. Thanks for reading, reviews would be much appreciated! :)