A/N: Thank you for all the positive reviews. It really is inspiring to see people wanting me to write more. As such, I actually wrote two chapters in my notebook last night…I am going to apologize ahead of time for the moments when I'm not able to update so quickly. I work about 38 hours a week and spend time with my son. So, naturally, I write when he's sleeping or napping. Or my 30 minute breaks at work. Thank you to those that added this story to your list in some way. I'll not bore you any longer.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the characters, I'm merely playing with them like they're my Polly Pockets. I promise to put them up when I'm done.
Previously: Minerva barged in, informing Severus of Lucius' petition, Severus decided that marriage really isn't that bad of a deal, and he gets his results in this chapter…
CHAPTER TWO: WHITE MEANS HOPE.
I stared at my official letter from the Ministry of Magic's new Department, overseeing the Marriage Law-and instead of three names, I had only two. One was a former classmate of mine, Selena Van Buren. She was a decent witch with brains. But the number one match in compatibility, was that insufferable know it all, who had been right when she had said she could be the best thing that never happened to me. Well, she'd better be warned that I would happen to her and she to me, if all went well this morning.
I gathered my cloak and my finest black attire and prepared myself for a trip to the Malfoy manor, to pay an old friend a visit.
Lucius Abraxas Malfoy had always gotten what he wanted, well, almost everything he had wanted. When we were at Hogwarts, Lucius was a fifth year my first. At that time, he was chasing Bellatrix Black-and found the wonders of Muggle Poetry (though his father, Abraxas was just as resolute in the anti-muggle movement) by Shakespeare, who really wasn't a muggle at all-realistically, a muggle couldn't dream up as amorous poetry or plays than a wizard who is always surrounded by magic-and had recited lines from 'Romeo and Juliet'…Bellatrix had then handed him off on her younger sister, the then second year, Narcissa Black.
Though Narcissa had seen right through the literature-she was no idiot, after all, her parents approved of Lucius-and that-was what truly mattered.
He hadn't gotten Bellatrix, but he had gotten Narcissa Belladonna Black, nonetheless.
But this time, by Merlin's good graces, it would be in the best interest if I got what I wanted for once. As I swiftly marched up the Malfoy drive, past the fountain that had been erected with an M in the center, I raised my hand to knock the silver knocker on the front door. Before I touched my hand to the knocker though, I realized instantly that my hopes the previous night of Draco taking care of things for me hadn't fallen on deaf ears. I knocked anyway.
Narcissa Malfoy, bless her, opened the door and quickly slid out of the Manor. "Severus, what a pleasant surprise. I would let you in to see Lucius, but I do fear he's right livid with my only son." She sighed and turned to look to the door again. "However, what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
I smirked a little bit, it was common for Narcissa to greet me. She and I had a mutual understanding. Though trust was something which hadn't been a strong point in many Death Eater's lives, Narcissa wasn't a Death Eater, on the contrary, she was just an extremely intelligent witch who played her cards correctly. She had a hell of a poker face.
"I'm unsure whether or not I should share my intentions of being here, Narcissa. Why is Lucius livid with my godson?" I stood facing her, squinting in the light. Narcissa's blond hair was quite simply radiant in the sun, she smiled at me, kindly, as she had always done. I'm sure if anyone would've seen the sight that was currently in the open for anyone to see would've had to do a double-take. A beautiful blond witch standing on the front steps of a grand mansion, facing me-an overgrown looking bat with black hair. Though I had to admit, with the war over, I did take much better care of myself.
"Ah, Severus," She turned facing the paths off the drive, and looked to the rose gardens. "Why not take a stroll with me, I highly doubt that Lucius will miss my presence…he's expressing himself so articulately he doesn't need me there, correcting him." I nodded, and held my arm out.
There were a few things which a few people did know about me. One, I was quite chivalrous, I kissed the back of women's hands, I held my arm out, I cast umbrella charms in the rain, I had every intention of getting on one knee when the time came, and I would provide not only for myself, but also for my significant other if there ever came the opportunity to have one. My old nickname, The Half-Blood Prince was also a reference to those things, I was the Dark Prince.
"Well, as you've heard, I'm sure, Lucius petitioned for that incredulously pathetic Marriage Law on Draco's behalf. Draco, being the independent little dragon he is, full of fire, reacted-as you would only expect. His father nor the Ministry of Magic was going to tell him who he could marry. So, he ran off with Astoria Greengrass and eloped. Now, don't get me wrong, I think the Marriage Law is the wrong solution-but I'm far more confident that Draco could probably do with someone with a bit more brains than Astoria has. She's pretty, of course, but lacks in intelligence. I suppose I can't be too picky. Lucius was trying to win Hermione Granger for Draco." Narcissa's nose suddenly turned up.
Of course, I had not been short of saying Narcissa values intelligence. But she also values beauty. The last time she'd seen Granger, the girl still had bushy hair. She wasn't above conversing with the intelligent, but Narcissa was a mother, and no one, in her opinion was good enough for her son. Her steel gray eyes sparkled in my direction suddenly, and she noted the smirk on my face.
"Severus, it appears as though this news is good, for you?" She added quietly, as we walked among the begonias reaching the front of the rose walk. "She's not bad, don't get me wrong, but she's just not what I want for Draco to marry, Granger isn't. She's going to be a very valuable catch for some intelligent wizard though." Sometimes, I often wondered if Narcissa had the same sense which Albus Dumbledore had seemed to have possessed. "But you knew that…didn't you, Severus. In fact, you were willing to bet everything in your Gringott's account that Draco wouldn't allow that petition to carry."
Narcissa Belladonna Black-Malfoy had always been observant. She took note when certain names were mentioned how people reacted. It was part of her upbringing-that a woman shouldn't speak unless spoken to, that they should observe and support their husbands no matter how terribly wrong they were. Narcissa knew though, that she could get absolutely nothing out of life unless she knew which people which to share her thoughts, her observances with. Lucius wasn't one of them.
"How do you do that?" I asked her, finally gathering the nerve after all those years, to ask her how she sensed these things. She looked over at me smiling, one elegant brow arched above the silver eye.
"Whatever are you talking about, Severus?" She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I know things, that's all. I am a woman. I observe things-like how she looked at you. How you're captivated by her like she's a shiny new cauldron. Like I look at a new dress-" Narcissa nudged my arm, "You'll get her without a doubt, of this I'm positive."
"You know, if I didn't think Divination was a load of rubbish, Narcissa, I'd call you a seer." We both let a little laughter out for a moment. She was first to regain composure. "Yes, well, actually, funny thing, Narcissa." I debated over whether or not I should truly share this story with her. "Before the train left after Graduation, I got a visit from Granger. The residential know-it-all of Hogwarts."
"Oh?" Narcissa's interest was peaked. "And, what pray tell did the little Lioness have to say?"
"That she was grateful for everything I had done." Narcissa nodded and urged me to continue, "That she was madly in love with me-she stood so defiant and strong-willed and when I rejected her after a rough kiss and ordered her out of my office, she got the last word in, telling me I would regret that day that she was the best thing that never happened to me, that I would realize it one day."
"Do you think she's right?" Narcissa asked, a thoughtful look on her face. "Severus, don't lie to me, but do you honestly think she's right?"
"Sometimes, I am so intrigued by the articles that have been written about her intelligence, her advancements in the Potions field, that I wonder. Sometimes, I hate myself because I think inappropriately about her-asking myself what if. Narcissa, I've never asked anyone what if." I finished, looking to my feet. Narcissa gently placed her hand under my chin.
"Severus." She began, silver eyes boring into my obsidian ones. "if there's one thing I'm positive of, it's you haven't been as intrigued by anyone than this girl since Lily. Lily, was brilliant. Like Lily, she's a Muggleborn. You don't think you're embodying Lily in Granger, do you? Because if you are, then you need to look at this from all angles. She's a completely different individual. She's not your best friend. Nor will she ever be, she might be your best friend in time, if you allow it, but she's not the same girl you told about Hogwarts."
Yes, I had never told anyone as much about my life as I had told Narcissa Malfoy. In some sense, Narcissa was my Secret Keeper. "I realize she's not Lily. No one will ever be Lily."
"You're right. And it appears to me as though you've finally let that go. Severus," Narcissa took a seat on one of the benches in the middle of the garden by one of the several fountains, "you won't let anyone who has intelligence fail. I know that you wouldn't allow anyone to take Granger and abuse her. I also know how possessive you are over those who show any remote talent in Potions. I know you came here to tell Lucius to withdraw from the Petition. But I knew above all else, that Draco would never allow it. I know, being a woman, based on the statement you made about kissing her and sending her off, and the statement she made back to you-that you hurt her. That kind of hurt takes a while to fix." She took a deep breath and leaned over and plucked a single white rose.
"Do you really think I hurt her?" I asked. I knew the answer to this, of course, mainly because I had intended to shove Granger away. I didn't want to ruin her life. I wanted her to succeed, amount to everything which her potential had shown. I used my distance to nurture all my students into the harsh realities of the world. I would never sugar-coat anything.
"Severus…" Narcissa tilted her head and smiled. "You know the answer to that."
"She wanted me, Narcissa! She had it written all in her mind. She had it all over her eyes. Though she said she had no expectations, her eyes spoke entirely different volumes." I sat down beside Narcissa, and placed my head in my hands. "I've never been wanted by anyone, she wanted me."
"Severus." Narcissa sat up a bit more rigidly. "Are you sure it wasn't just weird hormones or this crazy teacher student fantasy she had?" Narcissa was a brilliant woman-dangerous because of her intelligence and beauty. She also knew this and used it to her advantage.
"She looked directly into my eyes, knowing I have the ability to look into her thoughts, and she allowed me right on in. Boldly, in Gryffindor fashion. Why, Narcissa, is it that every time I speak with you I divulge something private and vulnerable to you?"
Narcissa smiled and stood up, holding her hand out to me, kindly and openly. "Because, Severus, I listen to you, and challenge you to think, as I'm sure Granger will. Allow yourself to open up to her like you do to me, like you did to Lily…Severus," She looked into my eyes as I stood up, "don't forget to bring her to dinner one day."
I looked at Narcissa curiously. Sometimes, that woman was absolutely unnerving, sometimes, she knew what to do. Then, there were sometimes, when she could come up with an answer that would leave you dumbfounded. Narcissa should've been a Ravenclaw. She handed me the white rose, and as we began to walk back to the manor, she turned to me and spoke one last parting message.
"White means hope, Severus. Perhaps this will help in your cause." And with that, she gave me a friendly peck on the cheek and opened the door, where the screaming hadn't stopped one bit, she was right, Lucius wouldn't have missed her while she took a walk and listened to my problems.