His peacocks, Lucius often thought, were rather like angels.
He had bought them as a birthday gift for Narcissa, but she hadn't seemed to appreciate them as much as he had. She had been stunned by their beauty, of course – who wouldn't be? – but that was only initially. After a while she began to complain about them wandering the halls at the Malfoy Manor, shedding feathers and leaving droppings.
"It's nothing the house elf can't clear up," said Lucius, trying to make her see sense (though he was admittedly wrinkling his nose). "Aren't they magnificent, darling?"
"Hmm," said Narcissa vaguely, and left, mumbling something about writing a letter to a cousin.
"You are," said Lucius, to the nearest peacock, who was tilting its head and looking up at him somewhat expectantly, as though it thought he might give it some food. It wailed. It was somewhat ethereal. "Oh, you are just gorgeous." Lucius knelt down and stretched out a hand to rub the peacock's neck, but it shied away, wings slightly outstretched, and the sunlight from the window filtering through the feather – "As though from the heavens," murmured Lucius, shaking his head in wonder. "You know, I can't quite understand why Narcissa doesn't see the beauty I see in you. But then, Narcissa and I don't always see eye-to-eye. I don't love her any less, you understand, but she can be a difficult woman to please. I often wish she would just agree with me, and not make her displeasure known – but then, I suppose, she wouldn't be Narcissa. But a marriage can get difficult after years together. She doesn't listen, you see – and it is awfully nice to have someone who will listen, for a change," he added.
"Father," said a voice from the doorway. "Are you... talking to a peacock?"
Lucius stiffened, and turned to face his son. He straightened the front of his robes, and sniffed. "One day, you may fall in love, Draco. And then you will understand. If anybody needs me, I shall be in the study," he said, and strode out, leaving Draco to stare at the peacock with some confusion, and the peacock to stare back with the hope of something to eat.
Dedicated to Gamma Orionis.
