Chapter Four
Virginia waited in the drawing room, never even shifting positions, completely numb with shock, until Narcissa came back a few minutes later and escorted her to the room which was to be hers. It took Virginia a few minutes once she'd been left alone in the large space to realize that she could still be in this room forty years from now. And that was when she began to cry.
She couldn't bring herself to lie on the king-sized bed just yet - the ample supply of cushions had been arranged so neatly that she couldn't bear to disturb them. It struck her that the Malfoys must have either assumed that she would be their choice for Draco before she arrived, or have been seeing other girls before her, to have this room already set up for someone to move in. Although her mother seemed to think that she should have been honored to have been chosen, she couldn't feel that way about it.
The truth was, despite her tears, Virginia was angry. Angry that her parents had done this to her, without even prior warning. Angry that she'd left her childhood home this morning and wouldn't be returning for Merlin-knew how long, if at all. Angry that she was expected to live with people who might have well have been total strangers, only hours after meeting them. Angry that she would be married, and soon, judging by what Narcissa had said.
And she was scared. She couldn't help it, although she knew she should be stronger than that. She was scared of what her life was becoming, scared about how she would be expected to live. Scared about her upcoming...marriage. And, she had to admit, if not scared, certainly intimidated by Lucius Malfoy. The way he'd been watching her, it felt as if all evening...She'd tried to avert her gaze, not meet his stares, but she had felt his cold eyes on her. At first she'd thought she was imagining it, but by the end of the evening she'd been certain. It was unnerving and set her hairs on edge, although now, in light of the true purpose of their dinner, she hoped he was only assessing her as a bride for his son.
Growing slightly warm from the exertion of crying, Virginia kicked off the heels Narcissa had leant her, and tugged on the fastening of the cape. With her high emotions, she was tempted to toss the thing across the room, but it wasn't hers to mistreat, so she laid it carefully across the back of a chair. Besides, she liked Narcissa, despite herself, and she needed to have at least one ally in this house.
Glancing at the excessively grand clock standing in the corner of the room, Virginia decided to take herself to bed, as it was pushing eleven, and frankly she was exhausted. She knew it would be hard to turn her mind off and sleep, but she was determined to try; all she wanted after the day she'd had was forget about it, and drift off to some place better.
She washed her face in the pristine, white marble ensuite bathroom, before pulling back the top two layers of the bed sheets and crawling in, resting her head on the nest of cushions. It wasn't hard to get comfortable, and despite her distress and anxiety, Virginia soon found herself slipping into troubled sleep.
*.*.*.*.*
Narcissa paced the corridor outside Virginia's room, trying to decide what she would say to the girl. She was normally good with words, but this was different. She had read the girl's face the night before as she took her to her room, and although she had maintained a dignified composure worthy of her pureblood status, she had recognized in her the same fear and distress that she had felt all those years earlier, when her parents had told her that she was to be married to a perfect stranger.
She had waited a few hours since she'd woken, but considering she was accustomed to rising at dawn this still rendered it relatively early for most other people, and at nearly nine, she was still concerned about disturbing Virginia in a state of undress, or perhaps even still asleep after the drama of the night before.
Taking a deep breath, she knocked lightly on the solid oak door, and leaned in to hear a response. "Virginia?" she called after a minute of silence had passed, "It's Narcissa. May I come in?"
She heard a slight shuffling noise from within, and the door opened. Virginia stood before her, wrapped in a cream coloured blanket, her feet bare. Narcissa's eyes widened a fraction as she slipped into the room and shut the door behind her quickly. "I'm sorry-" Virginia stuttered, acutely embarrassed by her lack of suitable attire, "I overslept, and I didn't have anything to wear. My dress from last night has gone..."
"Not at all, darling," Narcissa reassured, her voice liquid sugar, but genuinely eager to comfort Virginia's pained expression. "It's my fault, I told the house-elves to take your dress to be washed. And I didn't think to stock your wardrobe before your trunk came. Wait here a minute-" she ordered, and disappeared out of the room, leaving Virginia once again surprised at her kindness. One would have been forgiven for mistaking the air of aristocratic sophistication in her voice for snobbery, but Virginia was familiar with her own mother's sneering tones, and Narcissa's were distinctly kinder.
Narcissa returned a minute later, carrying a black tea dress, patterned with white flowers, and showed it to Virginia: "Do you like it? You can always change later, when your trunk arrives..."
"Thank you," Virginia said, grateful at the older woman's thoughtfulness. The dress wasn't something she'd normally have worn; her mother disapproved of young women wearing dark colours, other than for serious occasions, believing pastels to be more fitting and attractive. After all, attracting a man of status had always been Antoinette's primary aim.
"I'll give you a minute to change, and then I'd like to talk to you, if I may?"
"Of course," Virginia nodded, and hurried into the bathroom. She slipped the dress over her head, and found that where it was a tad big, by tying the fabric belt more tightly she could maintain some of its shape. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, and tried to flatten her hair as best she could. She normally used a charm to sort her hair, but her wand was in the main bedroom, and she didn't fancy having to perform the charm in front of Narcissa. Resigning herself to her rather disheveled appearance, she made her way back into the bedroom area, where Narcissa had taken a seat on one of the love seats by the end of the bed.
"Come and sit," she invited, smiling in approval at the dress. It was cinched in at the middle, and accentuated Virginia's slim waist perfectly. "You really are very pretty," she commented lightly, and Virginia smiled weakly in thanks.
"How did you sleep?" Narcissa enquired, turning to face Virginia head on.
Virginia nodded, forcing a small smile. "Well, thank you."
"And you're happy with this room?"
"Oh yes, it's lovely. Thank you again."
"Good." Narcissa tilted her head to the side, and regarded Virginia closely. "You've been crying..."
"No, I-"
"Darling, it wasn't an accusation," she reassured softly, and Virginia's gaze fell downwards. She looked as if she was holding back tears. Narcissa sighed. "I haven't always been known as the...nicest, or kindest of women. I know what my reputation is, whether you've heard of it or not. There are many things I can't refute. But, if there's one thing I am, it's devoted to my family. And, although I doubt you see it this way yet, you're soon to be part of my family. I've never had a daughter..." She paused, and Virginia detected a hint of sadness in her voice before she continued: "I don't want you to be unhappy here." She reached over and took Virginia's hand in hers. "I'm here if you need anything. You must have questions...?"
Virginia's eyes finally met hers, and she swallowed back the tears that had been threatening to fall. "I...It's all happened so quickly..."
"I know." Narcissa nodded sympathetically. "May I take it that your parents hadn't told you?"
Virginia nodded. "They just said we'd been invited to dinner here - I didn't know why. I didn't even know there was a marriage law..."
"The new Law took even Lucius by surprise, actually."
The two sat in an amicable silence for a moment. "When did you say the wedding would be, Narcissa?"
"Next week. It has to be soon under the Ministry Regulations. Lucius has suggested Monday, unless you'd rather another day...?"
"No, Monday's fine." Virginia answered quickly, swallowing the lump in her throat. "And I'm to stay here until then?"
"Yes. Which reminds me - your parents have sent along your house-elves. Your trunk should arrive any time now." Virginia smiled at this - she was very fond of Mimi, who'd been with her family since she was a child.
"Until the wedding," Narcissa continued, "We want to get to know you. And for you to get to know us. You didn't have much to do with Draco at Hogwarts?"
"I didn't," Virginia agreed, thinking back to their only moment of interaction, when he'd shouted at her to move. "What would you have me do until Monday?"
Narcissa thought about it. "We could start with a tour of the house today? Lucius doesn't like to be disturbed in the mornings, and he is often away from the Manor in the afternoons. With this morning as an exception, we'll expect to see you at breakfast, and we dine formally at eight in the evening. I doubt that you'll see my husband at any other time most days. As for Draco...I don't think it would be fair to say that he's got used to the idea of this marriage quite yet. I'd like to give you two some time to get to know one another."
"What does Draco do during the day?" Virginia asked, hoping it wasn't too impertinent a question.
"Lucius is training Draco in the family business. He often goes out to meet with the less...important clients, and inspect property for his father. Honestly, Virginia, I barely see them aside from meals." Virginia nodded in understanding. She knew that her mother barely saw her father most days. It was the way it was. "I find ways to keep myself busy, and I hope you won't become too bored. I know that you've been studying since leaving school - we have a large library here. I also have various friends who visit, and whom I pay visits to. I must admit, in recent months I've become quite the patron of Diagon Alley." She smiled at Virginia. "I really do want you to be happy here. If there's anything you'd like to do...?"
"You're very kind, Narcissa, but I'm used to spending time alone. You really don't need to worry about entertaining me. The things you've mentioned sound lovely."
"You must feel welcome to invite friends to visit you. Who were you close with at Hogwarts?"
Virginia looked down, and shifted uncomfortably. She hated to admit that her two years at Hogwarts had been lonely ones. "I haven't kept in touch with friends from Hogwarts," she answered. "My closest friend still attends Beauxbatons, I write to her regularly..."
Narcissa smiled in sympathy. It was easy to forget how relatively little time Virginia had spent at Hogwarts. "Well, some of my friends have daughters, similar to your age. Many of them were tutored by governesses. I'm sure you'd get on very well with some of them."
Virginia smiled gratefully. "May I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"When you married Lucius..."
"I was eighteen."
"And was it...?"
Narcissa nodded. "Yes, it was arranged by our parents." She sighed. "It was frightening. Lucius was a stranger to me - well, I'm sure you can relate to that...I remember feeling so...vulnerable. Powerless, even."
"But everything was...OK?" Virginia finished lamely. Narcissa merely smiled.
"I think it was easier for us than it is for young people today - we always expected an arranged marriage. I don't know if you did..."
"Not really."
"Draco certainly didn't. Until a couple of days ago, that is."
"Is Lucius much older than you?"
"Four years." Virginia nodded. "After the marriage, what will I be expected to do?"
"What I do," Narcissa laughed, and it almost sounded bitter. "Keep out of the men's way. Look pretty when they want to see you. Obey them. Only speak when spoken to. Bear their children. Of course, they think we do nothing all day. But we won't. We'll make the best of it." Virginia was strangely comforted by Narcissa's use of "we".
"I'm looking forward to having you around, Virginia."
*.*.*.*.*
"These are the House-Elf quarters-" Narcissa broke off, and both she and Virginia stood still, as Lucius' voice was heard coming from within. It was now nearly eleven o'clock, and Narcissa had assumed her husband to be in his study as she guided Virginia around the Manor. The House-Elf quarters were their last stop on the tour.
She put a firm hand on Virginia's arm and began to lead her away, but stopped again as Lucius' voice grew louder - he was clearly angry. Narcissa audibly swallowed. If Lucius was in one of his rages, Virginia certainly needed to be kept away. She began to walk away, trusting that Virginia would follow her lead, but the girl didn't move. She was leaning toward the direction of the shouting, and suddenly made for the door leading into the quarters.
"Virginia!" Narcissa called after her, but the girl didn't stop, and she was forced to follow her.
"I can hear Mimi," Virginia explained over her shoulder, following the sound of her cries. "Mimi? Mimi?!" She stopped short and gasped when she found her, cowering behind a table leg. Her eyes darted up, and she found Lucius glowering down at her house-elf, his lip curled in a cruel, sadistic sneer. He turned suddenly to face Narcissa and Virginia, noting how Narcissa had grabbed Virginia's arm to hold her back: the girl looked like she would throw herself between her elf and his cane if it came to it.
"What did you do to her?" Virginia practically screeched, spotting the cut on Mimi's brow, and shocking even herself with her tone. She tried to wriggle free of Narcissa's firm hold, but the older woman was surprisingly strong. Lucius slammed his cane against the table leg, making both Virginia and the elf jump, and effectively blocking them off from one another.
"Your elf, Virginia," he spat, "Needed to be punished. I took the liberty myself. I'm certain you don't object to that?" It wasn't a question.
Virginia opened her mouth to protest, but felt Narcissa tighten her grip on her arm, as if in warning, and she remembered what she had told her earlier. The pure anger in Lucius' cold eyes terrified her. She shook her head mutely, cursing her own cowardice. "Excellent," Lucius sneered. "I would hate to for you to think badly of me - I was merely doing what was necessary." His gaze shot up to his wife. "Narcissa, take Virginia someplace else, please. Her trunk has just arrived. This creature can assist her with it when I'm finished with her."
"Come, Virginia," Narcissa commanded, tugging on her arm. Virginia's eyes welled with tears as she met the petrified eyes of Mimi. Her parents were hardly House-Elf activists, but they rarely 'punished' the elves, and Mimi had never been abused in such a way.
"Please, please stop," she begged as Narcissa pulled her away. "Please!" Lucius muttered a spell and the door slammed in the two women's faces.
*.*.*.*.*
Virginia could barely look at Mimi when she was finally allowed to help her mistress unpack. She had begged Narcissa to ask Lucius to stop, but the older woman told her it was useless, and refused to go back. Seeing that Virginia was angry, she decided to give her some time alone, and sent Bron up with her trunk. It was now nearly dinner time, and Virginia knew that in only a few minutes she'd be forced to face the Malfoys once again. This time, all at once.
She had changed, at Narcissa's suggestion, in a vanilla coloured bateau-neck dress, which stopped just above the knee. She stood before the floor length mirror, and brushed her hair methodically, trying to calm her breathing as she faced her reflection. Her eye lids were a little swollen from her tears earlier, and her face was pale. She pinched her cheeks to bring some colour into them, a trick her mother had taught her before she was allowed to wear make-up, or learn beauty-charms.
Her mother had spent many years trying to teach her daughter l'art de la séduction, but the majority of her tips had been wasted on Virginia, who could think of nothing more vain or foolish than learning how to, for instance, lower one's eyes in a certain manner to charm a man, or how to style one's hair parting to best attract a wealthy husband. She had never seen eye-to-eye with her mother.
Glancing at the clock, Virginia decided to make her way down to the dining hall, albeit reluctantly. She didn't want to risk angering Lucius further after the incident earlier, and Narcissa had said that they dined "formally" in the evenings.
When she reached the entrance hall, it struck her that she'd been in this Manor for twenty-four hours now. A draught of cold air hit her and she crossed her arms, rubbing her upper arms as she carried on walking towards the dining room. She couldn't remember ever having been in a colder house.
*.*.*.*.*