Story Two: Narcissa's thoughts and decision after signing her life away in an arranged marriage.

Arranged Marriage!AU

The cemetery was covered in a thick blanket of white, tombstones peeked out under their new whitecaps, footsteps and paw prints criss-crossed each other around the maze of paths. Aside from the brown of the denuded trees, the only other color was the vivid red staining around the base of each light, tree, and shrub.

Narcissa admired the look of it, the natural beauty that it gave through the snow storm. It was much like herself, all cold yet very much beautiful. She'd have to maintain that beauty in order to make her husband look good.

Ah yes, her husband who she said 'I do' to only moments prior in St. Jerome's Church. Granted, the entire village itself was less than stellar for her tastes, it was the only suitable place for her to wed Rodolphus Lestrange due to the impending dangers that surrounded her own home.

Narcissa questioned her parents' logic due to the current inhabitants of Godric's Hollow. It was named Godric for Merlin's sake! Yet it seemed logical for her to be 'right under their nose.' The whole situation was preposterous, honestly.

No matter, Narcissa did what she was supposed to do as a dutiful daughter and married the insufferable, pathetic excuse of a man. He was too drab for her liking, and he was very unruly. It was a wonder how he managed to survive this long in the community.

Now Narcissa had to attach herself to him. The thought of having to be touched by that mongrel's rough, dirty hands...it made Narcissa internally shudder.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of her name being called in the distance. She knew that she wouldn't have gotten away from him long enough, and the excuse to see the sights would only hold for a short amount of time.

It appeared that her time was up. Taking a deep breath, Narcissa squared her shoulders and tightened her robes around her dress. She walked back in the direction that she came, and mentally prepared herself for the rest of her life.

Bringing a smile to her face, Narcissa met Rodolphus at the doors. He roughly grabbed her arm before taking the two of them to the place that Narcissa would call home til the end of her days. It wasn't the most lavish of manors, but it would have to do.

Once they were safely inside, Narcissa shrugged off her robes and neatly folded it on her arm. Rodolphus ordered a House Elf to take it from her and began recited spells that Narcissa assumed were wards.

As he did so, Narcissa walked along the polished floors. Rodolphus had some sense it seemed. With pursed lips, Narcissa looked around, making herself familiar with her surroundings. She would be the Lady of the house, so she must know her way around should they have guests.

It was also to get the thought of consummating the marriage out of her mind; he had the galls to not give her a proper honeymoon as he was too eager to have her. Giving this man an heir was going to be more trouble than it was worth, she was sure of it. She didn't get to go as far as she hoped, but Rodolphus was eagerly approaching her and taking her to what had to be the bedroom.

Once they arrived to the destination Rodolphus was leading them, Narcissa couldn't help but sneer. The leery expression on his face was a complete stomach churner, and his dark hair matted to his neck was in desperate need of a wash.

At the very least from his lean physique, he wasn't weak in the physical sense. Narcissa wasn't sure if that was a positive or a negative yet, but he would handle everything that a man should. Before he could get any farther, Narcissa raised her hand. It would be the first time she would boldly make her statement, but not the last time that she'd express it.

"Just so we're clear," Narcissa said, "I know my duties, and I shall commit to them as I am supposed to do." She placed a hand on the door. "But I will never love you." With that, Narcissa went inside the bedroom, leaving her husband at the door.

No doubt, he would be following right behind her. He didn't care about love; Rodolphus cared about what he would be getting out of this marriage that didn't require love. Narcissa could live with that; but she had to make it known where she stood.

She will never love him.

A/N: Written for HSWW (Challenges and Assignments)

Restriction of the Month: (location) Godric's Hollow

Liza's Loves: write about a start

Jewel Challenge: Agate Ring (word: Bold) and Necklace (weather: Stormy *snow*)

Word Count: 765