The Harry Potter universe and its characters are the sole property of J. K. Rowling. By using them below, I am in no way claiming them as my own.


The spirit left a blue mist in its wake, a sort of glittering fog which dissipated into nothingness within seconds. It was long enough for Lucius to follow the ghost's path through the Manor and out into the grounds. Narcissa was gasping for air at the exertion, Lucius' hand warm in hers. He came wordlessly to a halt in the gardens, causing her to barrel into his shoulder. Without a word he caught her fall, holding her in place against him as they stared out from the bushes. The ghost was hovering over the lake, its feet just touching the water surface. Worried that they might spook it, both tried to remain completely still.

'Lucius,' she whispered, unsure what his plan was. He held a finger up to his lips to ask for silence and returned his gaze to his grandfather.

They watched in silence as the spectre floated over the water, looking at its depths with confusion. Nathaniel's eyes looked up towards the house mournfully as he drifted to the edge of the lake, moving to sit down at the water's edge. Lucius seemed enraptured beside her, but she didn't understand his interest.

'Lucius?' He realised that his grip around her waist had tightened and with an apologetic look, he released her.

Nathaniel began to sob at the lakeside, his wails sending shivers up Narcissa's spine.

'Stay here,' Lucius commanded. He pushed his way through the bushes and Narcissa watched as he tentatively approached the spectre. Lucius knelt down next to Nathaniel and they appeared to be having a whispered conversation, although she could hear none of it. She desperately longed to leave the shrubbery and find out what was going on, but had a sense that she should remain hidden.

The conversation was brief, ending with the ghostly Nathaniel getting up and returning to the house. Lucius brushed himself off and gestured for Narcissa to join him by the water. He smiled wistfully, holding a hand out to her.

'Lucius,' she asked, placing her hand in his. 'What's going on?'

'I think there's something else I need to show you.' Narcissa glanced around at the darkness which was seeping onto the grounds as the sun dropped below the hill line.

'Now?' He nodded. She let herself be led away from the lake and the house, moving to a section of garden she had never seen before. In a clearing between the trees stood a tall, white mausoleum. The Malfoy family crypt. Stone steps led up to a thick, iron door, which was bordered by chalky-white columns. The door was slightly ajar, most likely from Allesandria's grave robbing earlier in the evening. Lucius took a seat on the stone steps, gesturing for Narcissa to sit with him.

'There's a reason why I thought my grandfather would be more sympathetic to our plight,' he admitted, his look distant. 'It was family myth, but I think he confirmed it tonight.' Narcissa shivered and without a word, Lucius extended his robes out to cover her shoulder. 'Nathaniel Malfoy had an arranged marriage to a second cousin who he didn't love. He would often travel far and wide, to many exotic places, just so he might escape his wife. Something happened in Siam which made him come home suddenly. And he wasn't alone.'

Narcissa looked up at him, her shoulder pressed against his. His skin was on fire, a heat so close, just within her reach.

'He commissioned the digging of the lake, and brought the first siren. It was suspected he was in love with her.'

'In love with a siren?' Narcissa repeated, horrified. How could anyone love creatures so cruel and heartless?

'Sirens are not born,' his eyes turned to hers. 'They are made through suffering and heartbreak. The myth was that she was his first love, but upon finding out that she could never had him, she became a siren. Still in love with her, he brought her back to this country.' Narcissa frowned.

'But she'd have to be dead by now...'

'Sirens live exceptionally long lives. It's possible she is still within the waters here.'

'What about the others?' Lucius shrugged,

'I'm not entirely sure. I think, sometimes, sirens are attracted to one another, and tend to follow one anothers' calls so they might not be as lonely.'

'So it's not the Malfoy men leaving a string of heartbroken women in their wake.'

'Well, I can't be sure about that either.' He smirked.

'It's not funny.' She pushed herself up from the steps, pulling herself free from his robes. 'You don't care about anyone but yourself, do you?'

'It's a cut-throat world, Narcissa,' he stood up, his robes billowing behind him in the breeze. 'You seem awfully naïve for somebody in the same situation as me.'

'We are nothing alike,' she spat, offended by the thought. She turned on her heel, determined to return to the house and forget the entire evening's events.

'Narcissa,' Lucius pleaded, chasing after her. He caught up with her just out of the trees. 'Come on,' he grabbed her arm, pulling her back to face him. 'You're living in some kind of dream-land if you don't think people's feelings get hurt every day.'

'That's one thing, but it's not fine to gain amusement from it. Let me guess, your grandfather was mourning his lost love at that lake earlier? You've brought him back to prolong his torment, because you're selfish.'

'You wanted out of this marriage as much as I did!'

'Not if it meant hurting others.'

'He's dead,' Lucius replied in disbelief. Narcissa shook her head, scowling.

'You've never been in love, have you?' Lucius didn't answer. 'You have no idea.' She pulled her arm free. 'Good night, Lucius.'


'How did it go?' Bellatrix asked. She had expected her sisters to be asleep by the time she returned to her chamber, but instead found them both awake. A candle flickered on the bedside table, with Andromeda attempting to read her book in the poor light. Bellatrix, it seemed, had done nothing but wait for Narcissa's return. Her question was enough confirmation that she had been working alongside Druella. Narcissa felt betrayed.

'I don't know what you're talking about,' she replied, trying to sound innocent. The blush on her cheeks and messy hair from the cold breeze outside made it seem like more of a lie. She moved over to the vanity in an attempt to neaten it.

'I know what mother asked you to do,' Bellatrix continued. Intrigued, Andromeda put her book down against the night-stand. 'We can't afford to be innocent in these situations.'

'What?' Andromeda frowned, glancing from Bellatrix to Narcissa. 'What are we talking about?'

'Narcissa gave herself to Lucius this evening,' Bellatrix answered with a frown. 'You might as well tell us both, mother will only ask you about it tomorrow.'

'It's none of your business,' Narcissa snapped, shouting at her sister. She gave up on taming her hair and moved over to the trunk, beginning to unlace her dress. Her hands fumbled at the cords behind her back. With a roll of her eyes, Bellatrix got up to assist her sister, batting her hands away so that she could undo the corset.

'Did he hurt you?' She asked, tentatively.

'We'll hurt him right back for you, sister,' Andromeda suggested, slipping out from underneath the covers. She placed her feet in a pair of slippers and moved across to Narcissa, her hands moving up to loosen Narcissa's messy up-do.

'Don't be silly, Andromeda,' Bellatrix chastisised, although her tone was sympathetic. 'That's not our place.'

'No man will ever hurt me,' she declared proudly, moving Narcissa's dark hair into a thick mass. Her fingers moved adeptly over the scalp, uniting the hair in a French plait.

'No man will ever want you,' Bellatrix agreed. The usual banter between her sisters made Narcissa smile.

'He's just so self-centred,' she admitted, disentangling herself from the upper dress.

'They often are,' Bellatrix replied. Narcissa turned to face her two sisters.

'But shouldn't he a bit more considerate of me, if we are meant to be wed? Would he not want me to be happy here?'

'He has everything he wants,' Andromeda shrugged, 'he probably thinks that's enough for you, too.'