The Importance of Roses
Written, as many of my Cissa/Luce fics, for my fanfic100 challenge www DOT vratsababe DOT livejournal DOT com. :D
Light filtered through the large windows of the conservatory. Brand new curtains were pulled back from their visage and tied with golden ropes. The squares of white light fell upon the white piano in the center of the room, warming its delicate keys of ivory and ebony. The previous room of deep mahogany woods and heavy green drapes was no more and had made way for the birth of a sunnier space.
Narcissa Malfoy strolled into the room and placed a crystal vase of yellow roses on the piano. She arranged the blossoms in their container and breathed in their fragrant aroma. They fit in nicely with the new white linen curtains and ivory sofas. The heavy bookshelves and their dusty volumes had been removed from the walls and an easel and fish tank had been erected in their stead. The purging of her old darkness had been replaced with light.
Lucius passed the open door before retreating his steps. He stood in the door watching his wife as she magically dusted the glimmering chandelier. He cleared his throat loudly and she turned to him. She smiled and threw her arms back, "What do you think of my newly renovated conservatory?"
"You did this all yourself, Cissa?" Lucius mused, impressed at his wife's handywork.
"Certainly," She replied, setting her arms akimbo. "I thought it was time for a change. I felt like we were still hiding behind all this dark magic and furniture. I want to be free in my space." She caught herself and smiled coyly, "That sounds silly, doesn't it?"
Lucius pulled a solemn, yet soft, expression, "Of course not, my dear. I think it's beautiful."
"Really?" She smiled at her husband. "I really like it as well. The room seems so much bigger with all this light."
Lucius stepped over to the piano and touched the soft petals of the roses. "I'm sorry, Narcissa."
She knew what he was talking about. Ever since the Dark Lord had taken residence in their house and tortured them regularly he had apologized to her every day. She stepped to him and pulled him into her embrace. "Don't you ever think for a single minute that I blame you for anything, Lucius. You did what you thought was best to protect your family and that's all I could have ever asked from you."
"You were almost killed, Narcissa," He muttered sadly into her shoulder. "Our only son was almost killed."
"But we're here with you now," She kissed his head softly. "We are healing, dearest. Our family is healing slowly and we'll be okay."
Lucius pulled away slowly from his wife and looked at the roses once again. Their sunny faces looked at him and his eyebrow raised ever so slightly at them. "I like the flowers," He said softly. He turned to her, kissed her on the cheek, and left the room.
"You'll heal, Lucius," Narcissa said in almost a whisper after her husband's departure. "You'll heal."