Disclaimer: The characters are not mine and I'm not profiting any by playing with them. All the knuts and kudos go to J K Rowling , etc.
A/N This was begun for the WIKTT 2nd person challenge a long long long time ago and never ever fulfilled all the requirements.
You couldn't believe your eyes?
Certainly not! That was a thought you'd never had. Your lifelong behavioral conditioning as well as your prominent role in social circles precluded such reactions. You were the daughter of a powerful family and the wife of a powerful man. A man that had publicly walked the darkest road prior to pulling out of the penumbra into the glare of polite wizarding society through the influence of his money and his name. Your husband's politics as well as his past and present associates mandated constant wariness. Life as the wife of a (former) Death Eater and the mother of another (potential) Death Eater didn't allow for you to publicly or privately show true feelings.
Your success and sometimes your life and liberty depended on your skill at telling not only the human mind but also the human heart. Not that as the wife of Lucius Malfoy you were surrounded by people of particularly tender sentiment or open affections. People's affectations covered deceptions, masking ambitions, hiding their fears and their desires. Lucius' contemporaries were nothing if not complex studies.
Severus Snape had always been your favorite study. He was the most artless Death Eater you'd ever met, truly deferent only to the Dark Lord himself. He succeeded in society without ever currying favor because he was useful to the Master. Voldemort surrounded himself with a preponderance of toadies and bullies and not many truly great minds. It was the unintelligent sort that you had heard clearly leveling their casual contempt and criticism at Snape. You knew what most would never admit to themselves, that the Potion's Master was feared.
Even in your days as a Slytherin two years his junior, Severus had been subject to your observation. The fact that you were Sirius Black's cousin had certainly never recommended you to him and had prevented you from exchanging anything but necessary speech with him. He acknowledged you only because you were promised to his closest ally. Lucius employed both you and Snape equally back then to be his eyes and ears in the Snake's Den and Hogwart's at large.
The antipathy between Sirius and Severus in school had been palpable. To then throw James Potter into the mix had made a lethal combination, almost. Severus' regard for Lily Evans, her mind as well as her physical attributes (after all he had been a teenage boy!), had put extra strain on what little restraint those rash young men had possessed. In truth you had always known that Severus' feelings for Lily had been light. It had been too ingrained in every Slytherin mind in your generation that muggleborns, Gryffindor's particularly, were lower life forms. You had not been surprised to hear him call her "mudblood" to her face.
Nor had you been surprised at James and Sirius' retaliation. Potter you had come to calmly despise. It had been made clear over the years that he was above the rules. You were Slytherin enough to accept that rules did not apply to all equally. Yet with Sirius it had been personal. Sirius had been ignoring his blood ties, his duty to family and heritage. It had been with great satisfaction that you related the particulars of his treatment of Severus to your Auntie Eurydice. She had banned Sirius from the house shortly thereafter. Since that day you pondered many times whether it would be a kindness or curse to tell Severus the final circumstances of Sirius disinheritance.
Those bonds of blood and alliance kept Snape close to you over the years. Lucius and Severus had a relationship as near to friendship as two Slytherins could come. He was even your son's Godfather and a frequent dinner guest in your home. As such Snape was the witness to the only time you ever dared disagree with your husband.
It was Lucius' announcement one evening after dinner that he intended to send Draco to Durmstrang that sent your crystal glass of Malmsey to shatter into sharp splinters in a puddle of dark amber on the black and white marble and the Tabriz rug that adorned the floor in Lucius' study.
Your husband's confused attention focused on you but before he had the chance to inquire as to your welfare and sanity his mind was diverted.
"Really, Lucius, Durmstrang? Do you not trust me? I am his Godfather and surely will be his Head of House. Should I be insulted by your lack of confidence in my abilities to properly guide a young mind? Or is it that you fear Draco will be sorted into Hufflepuff?" You heard the daggers sheathed in silk in Severus' voice and felt your pulse slow a measure. Only Snape and the Dark Lord ever made your husband back down.
Lucius sniffed and raised his nose a notch, "Hufflepuff, indeed." But he had agreed. Even as close as they were, your husband knew Severus Snape was no wizard to cross. Lucius' wry smile contrasted with his gentle voice, "You win Narcissa." He snarled at the house elf that had begun to clean the floor before turning and stalking to the Adam fireplace to glare into the flames. You chanced a glance at Severus, surprised to see him incline his head a tiny bit in your direction as he lifted his snifter of Armangnac to you in silent salute. You broke eye contact with him then, not sure what his motives were but sure there was more to Snape than even you had imagined.
It was November of Draco's first year at Hogwart's before you saw the Potions Master again. The Head of Slytherin had cautious praise for the academic abilities of one of his newest house members. Praise did not come easily from Snape even for his godson. Your husband's steel grey eyes shined with pride. "Darling, it seems you and Severus may have been in the right." You couldn't stop the sad little smile that graced your lips. Not because that was the closest to an apology Lucius would ever give but because that was the first time he'd looked at you much less spoken to you since the night he'd 'decided' to send Draco to Hogwart's.
You were certain that not even Dumbledore knew how much time Professor Snape really spent at Malfoy Manor. Of course Snape kept you updated on Draco's progress by owl but it wasn't the same as hearing those terse accounts of your son's deeds and accomplishments from the man himself
If there was one consistent thing you noticed regarding all of Severus' visits it was the regular mention of Potter, Weasley, and Granger. Their names passed his lips with as much if not more frequency than Draco's. Your husband was always more than amused to hear the newest complaints about The Boy That Refused to Die, the youngest Weasley boy and that mudblood girl.
Severus said gravely without menace, "She is too smart for her own good by far."
You caught his gaze, inquiring, "Perhaps it is only her choice of loyalties that is not smart?" For a second sparks leapt in the black vortex of his eyes. You noted the moment but refrained from comment.
Lucius was predictable as ever, "Ahhhh, Severus, if she were only pureblood and in your house you could guide her…. education…. and her loyalties."
You saw one more mask than was normal descend over Severus' face. "She would still be an annoying know-it-all Lucius. Are you certain you'd rather have her that close to Draco?" You smiled. One again, only Severus and the Master ever got the better of your husband in a verbal battle.
As often as not Lucius would be away on 'business' when Professor Snape joined you for dinner, even more so after the Dark Lord's graveyard resurrection at the close of Draco's fourth year,. The fact that the two of you were alone did not change the topic of conversation. "Bloody Gryffindors." You dared not laugh.
You knew part of Severus' animosity towards James Potter had been transferred to Harry and then…. Sirius…. Had the two of you not been alone you'd have never heard the story of Sirius' escape. At the conclusion of the tale all you could ask was, "Severus, why do you not go to the ministry and let them know?"
He sneered at you and the cold black fire of his eyes snapped, "As if Fudge would believe that. The Boy Who Lived, a 13 year-old muggleborn witch, McNair's escaped condemned deranged hippogriff, and a time turner facilitated Sirius Black's escape. They'd have me in St. Mungo's inside of an hour."
You laughed. "I know my Draco and he probably deserved the Hippogriff bite!"
Severus tried to scowl, failed miserably, and ended up with one abrupt bark of laughter that was music to your ears. As soon as it had come his mirth was gone, "For the sake of that maniacal cousin of yours three students attacked me."
Your breath shook, " Severus, I want you to know that I always believed the manner in which Sirius treated you was shameful. So shameful in fact… " You faltered, not sure whether to continue. You could feel the waves of bitterness rolling off of him and took a deep breath to continue. " I told Auntie Eurydice after your OWLS. That was the last straw for me. And for her too I suppose. She always respected your family so much. She never forgave him."
You watched the light of comprehension cross his face followed by a sad smile, "Bittersweet revenge after all these years, my dear."