The Female of the Species

Introduction & Disclaimer

This story is a sequel to Cho's Chic, and you are strongly recommended to read that first in order to understand what is happening. I could summarise the plot of Cho's Chic here so you don't have to, but then that would spoil it if you haven't read it yet...

I was not given an option of indicating three named characters in a fic, which is slightly misleading as far as this story is concerned. It continues the tale of Cho Chang and Lucius Malfoy, but Narcissa Malfoy also has a very large role. Narcissa is very much a background character in the Harry Potter books, so I have felt free to develop her in my own way.

All Harry Potter characters are the property of JK Rowling, with influences from the Warner Brothers films. Lucius Malfoy is based primarily on Jason Isaacs' delicious interpretation of the character, and it is entirely Mr Isaacs' fault that this story was written.

Chapter 1

Narcissa Malfoy was at home, relaxing in the morning room at Malfoy Manor with a cup of her favourite raspberry tisane at her elbow, perusing a copy of Witch Weekly. The magazine was her secret vice - in public she pretended that it was far beneath her intelligence, but at home, she loved to read the gossip and latest fashions, and best of all, the problem page, where she could shake her head condescendingly over the ridiculous situations some people got themselves into. Honestly, what did it matter if one's lover was married, or even if one was married oneself? Narcissa had never let such considerations stop her from doing exactly what she wanted.

She raised her elegant blonde head and listened as she heard what sounded like a commotion from the entrance hall. This was followed by heavy footsteps coming towards the morning room. The door opened, and a house elf came in, followed by two Chinese wizards, one of whom was very large and solid looking. The house elf, looking even more cowed than usual, said, "I'm sorry, Mistress, these wizards asked to see the Master. When I told them he was not at home, they wanted to see you. I tried to stop them until I asked you, but they came in anyway."

Narcissa nodded her dismissal to the house elf, who was obviously no match for the more muscular visitor, and looked haughtily at the men without rising from her seat. She raised her eyebrows, and said icily, "I expect you have an explanation as to why you found it necessary to break the usual rules of hospitality, where it is expected that uninvited guests wait until they are asked inside?"

The slimmer of the two men said, "Good morning, Mrs Malfoy," and presented Narcissa with an ornate visiting card. In flowing green script on pale green vellum, it pronounced that the bearer was Mark Chang from Chang Jade Holdings. Narcissa frowned. "Good morning, Mr Chang," she said, "I'm sorry, this does not explain your presence or your lack of manners."

Mark Chang exchanged a meaningful glance with his companion. "It appears that your husband does not keep you fully informed about his business affairs, Mrs Malfoy," he said smoothly. "Would I be right in assuming that you are unaware that Lucius Malfoy has recently purchased a considerable quantity of jade? I see that I am. I take it that he has also not told you that he bought the jade under very strict credit terms. Now, I know that families such as the Malfoys," and here he gave a slight sneer, "are accustomed to extended credit, and not paying their bills. However, Chang Jade Holdings does not operate in this fashion. We expect our bills to be paid on time. Mr Malfoy is two weeks late with his latest instalment. We have given him these two weeks' grace, but now we wish to be paid. As Mr Malfoy has broken the terms of his agreement, all further credit is now withdrawn, and the whole amount is now due. If you settle it here and now, no further interest will be added. If not, regrettably we will be forced to add a fine for late payment, plus extra interest. If the amount remains unpaid after another two weeks, my colleague Mr Tan will pay Mr Malfoy another personal visit."

Mark Chang looked significantly at the solid and burly Tan, who drew himself up to his full height, and cracked his knuckles together ostentatiously, all the while smiling in a menacing manner. The threat was unspoken, but nonetheless real enough. Narcissa did not doubt that it would be carried out, and she knew that Tan would have a full store of Chinese magic to call on as well as his fists. Nobody ever crossed a Chinese wizard more than once. Narcissa swallowed, her languid manner gone, her mind racing, but she had had years of perfecting an expressionless face, and did not permit the visitors to see how astonished and angry she was. One step at a time, she told herself.

"Firstly of course, I shall require details of how much my husband owes, and some kind of proof that the amount is correct," she told Chang calmly. In reply, Chang produced a long parchment, which he handed over to her. Narcissa made herself maintain her blank face as she carefully perused the account, and finally looked at the amount Lucius owed, even though her head began to swim when she saw the total amount. Her mind raced. There was no time now to wonder what Lucius wanted with so much jade, she had to work out how she was going to pay Chang. She would not allow the Malfoys and the Blacks to be disgraced.

Narcissa smiled at Mark Chang, forcing some warmth into her expression. "Please sit down, Mr Chang, Mr Tan. Would you like some tea? I'm sure we can come to some arrangement that will suit us both."

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Narcissa apparated in the spacious entrance hall of Glen Moy Castle. As soon as she arrived, a house elf also magically appeared, awaiting her instructions. Narcissa turned to him, and demanded, "Where is your Master?"

The house elf looked worried, and although his mouth opened and shut, no sound came out. Narcissa nodded at him: "I see. You've been sworn to secrecy?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"Tell me the exact words the Master used to tell you to keep it secret."

"He said, 'You will not tell or show anyone where I am if they ask, whoever they are. If you do, you know what to expect.' "

Narcissa nodded again. "I see. Then you may just nod or shake your head in answer to my questions. Firstly, do you know where he is?" The house elf nodded. "Is he in the castle?" Another nod. Narcissa then worked her way through the rooms where Lucius was most likely to be found, and each time the elf shook his head. She watched him carefully as she began on the less likely places, hoping that his demeanour may give her a clue if she was getting warm with her guesses. Finally, she said the word "dungeon". The house elf nodded, but instead of looking relieved that his mistress had finally guessed correctly, he looked very afraid indeed.

"What's wrong?" demanded Narcissa, but the response was merely a pair of enormous bulbous frightened eyes. Narcissa thought carefully about how to phrase her questions, guessing that the silence involved more instructions to maintain Lucius' secrecy. "Is your Master in danger?" The elf nodded eagerly, still terrified. "Do you know what the danger is?" A nod. "Is it in the dungeons?" More nodding. "Have you seen the danger?" The house elf's eyes bulged in fear, and tears began to flow from them as he nodded again. "Will I be in danger too if I go there?" The nodding continued, and the elf said, "Please, Mistress, do not go there. It is terrible, terrible."

A sudden thought occurred to Narcissa. Lucius had been away from Malfoy Manor for far longer than usual. She had assumed he was busy with his latest mistress, the Chinese witch who was so clever with her needle and tape measure. Narcissa had bought two outfits from her, and had grudgingly admired the girl's skill. Lucius always had impeccable taste in all things, and that included his women. But perhaps, instead of sleeping in her bed, he had been here at the castle all the time? Had he been exposed to danger all this time too? She turned once more to the trembling elf.

"How long has your Master been in the dungeons?" she demanded. The cowering servant hesitated, then, realising that by answering this question he was not disobeying Malfoy, he replied in a whisper, "Ten days."

"What?" demanded Narcissa. "Why has none of you been to see if he is safe?" But as she glared at the house elf, she could see that he was so terrified of whatever was hiding in the dungeons, that he would never have gone there unless directly ordered to do so. It was safe to assume that the same was true for all the Glen Moy Castle elves. She would have to investigate herself.

Deciding that a frightened house elf would be a nigh on useless companion, Narcissa went to the head of the dungeon stairs. She peered down, and listened carefully, but saw and heard nothing out of the ordinary. She took one of the flaming torches from its sconce, and holding it aloft, with her wand also illuminating the stairs as she held it ready before her, she made her way slowly downwards, eyes and ears alert for any sign of danger. She reached the bottom of the stairs, and still everything seemed normal. Narcissa edged forwards, every sense alert for any indication of whatever the house elves feared so much. The air was much cooler here, and she shivered involuntarily.

Then, at the edge of her illuminated field of vision, Narcissa suddenly caught sight of something on the ground. Cautiously, she stepped forward, holding the torch higher, and gripping her wand for reassurance. Then she gasped, as the shape resolved itself into a familiar form, and the yellow light reflected back from a tousled mane of gold hair: it was Lucius, lying awkwardly on the floor, apparently unconscious. Maintaining her caution, Narcissa walked to Lucius, and knelt beside him. Her heart gave a lurch as she saw his face: it was twisted in agony.

Looking down on that familiar face with its unfamiliar expression of profound suffering, she felt an almost overwhelming surge of emotion: relief, anger, fear, a grim satisfaction - these almost paralysed her for a few moments, until the logical part of her mind began to take over again. Lucius must be removed upstairs as quickly as possible: he was likely suffering from dehydration if he had been here in the dungeon for as long as the house elf had said, and he was cold to the touch. Also, the expression he bore awoke dreadful memories in Narcissa's mind of the times she had seen the Crucio curse inflicted on some poor unfortunate victim. Further investigation of the dungeons must take second place to caring for Lucius.