It all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling!
Hello to all my readers and reviewers. I love you so much! Here is my next chapter. I think it's pretty good actually. A little Hermione Draco bonding and alot of Lucius' ponderings.The way Narcissa and Lucius' relationship is shaping kinda makes me sad, and you would think being the writter It wouldn't faze me. Let me give you a littleidea of what I'm trying to do with their relationship. We know Narcissa is crazy for her husband and always has been,right now Lucius is still completely hung up on Selena. Don't worry I will not leave Narcissa as abandoned, but understand that no matter what Selena will always be Lucius' first and most passonite 'love'. He will care for Narcissa deeply and even love her, but understand that nothing can ever top or equal his first high of Selena Snape. I'm sorry if that upsets anyone, but I just want you to understand that he will love Narcissa but it will be different from the love he held for Selena. Well now that I've wasted everyone's time with my ramblings on with the story! P.S. I tried to make Lucius seem a little more human please tell me if you think I over did it into OCness.
Chapter 9: In which there is water
He was going at this all wrong and Lucius knew it. His last link to Selena had been under had been living under his roof for nearly a week and he had done little if anything to bond with his own daughter. Bond with his daughter, how the hell was he supposed to do that. The girl was wary and suspicious of him as it was. He needed help and right now was not the time to be prideful when asking for it.
"NARCISSA!" Lucius bellowed from the bottom of the grand staircase looking for signs of his blonde wife. Of anyone in the house Narcissa seemed to be the only one Accalia would open up to. She seemed the most logical choice to ask for advice on this subject.
"You rang dearest?" Narcissa gave a silvery laugh as she descended the stairs. Lucius couldn't help, but admire her beauty. She was tall and slim as a willow branch with delicate curves and baby fine pale blonde hair that was twisted in a french not. Her teeth were perfect; straight and white surrounded by lips so dark it caused the red-red rose to envy. High cheeks that constantly appeared to be flushed and dark eyes the color of beryl. But there seemed to be something missing about his wife. A sense of unreality surrounded her. Her perfection seemed stifling.
She and Selena were night and day. And he had basked in the difference of the two women. Selena had been voluptuous with generous curves built to satisfy a man. How he had loved to kiss the swell of her breasts. The memory made him shudder with desire as his eyes closed in remembrance. Narcissa was submissive while Lena had hardly ever allowed him to command anything of her. She was a free, intoxicating vivacious spirit that completed his. Her unruly curls had been inky black that contrasted starkly with the cream silk sheets they had always shared. Her voice had always been husky during their lovemaking while Narcissa's stayed clear and silvery hurting his ears slightly when they were in the throws of passion. Selena had never hurt his ears, her voice had unlocked something inhuman inside of him something wild that begged for release. A thing which she welcomed.
Her eyes, Merlin her dark indigo eye that seemed to be able to see into his tainted soul, they haunted him now, in his dreams, just out of reach. Those beautiful eyes surrounded by think long lashes that had tickled his chest when she blinked as they had simply lain together holding each other. Gods he missed her so much it hurt. Lucius opened his eyes at the feeling of Narcissa's light touch, his spell broken. Dammit. His daughter would have to wait, right now he Lucius needed a good tumble.
"I want you darling," he hissed next to Narcissa's ear feeling her shiver under his hands as he kissed the corner of her mouth teasingly. She was not Selena, but she would do.
"Draco!" Hermione screeched spraying water out of her mouth as her brother rolled with laughter. He had just tossed her fully clothed in to the heated pool. The room which housed the pool had been charmed to change to the person's preference like the room of requirement. Right now the room looked like a muggle spa with a giant sunken swimming pool in the middle of the black and white tiled floor. When her brother had gone to a muggle spa she had no idea, but it had been designed for him.
"Help me out you great prat," she allowed a grudging smile to appear while reaching up to him. He grinned accepting her hand getting ready to pull her out. At the last moment she cut her eyes toward her Uncle who was watching her with an amusement dancing in his coal back eyes just before she jerked her hand back causing Draco to topple into the water head first.
"Oh that's how it is huh?" Draco scowled playfully brushing his dripping hair out of his eyes before advancing on his sister who was frantically trying to climb out of the pool though her wet cloths were holding her down.
"No! Draco no!" she squealed laughing as she tried to get away. He caught her quickly dunking her under the water in a swift motion, releasing her when she needed to breathe. She gulped air into her lungs before splashing her brother and beaming triumphantly as he caught a mouthful.
"You're incorrigible!" she sighed exasperated finally pulling herself out of the water though a smile played around her lips.
"But you still love me," he grinned flipping onto his back to float. She studied him for a moment as if trying to figure him out.
"Your just lucky we're related," she huffed though still not able to hide her grin. She kicked some water at his still floating form causing him to grimace before grabbing a towel off the nearby bench and wrapping it around her shoulders after wringing out her hair. They had seemed to drop into sibling mode rather effortlessly Severus acknowledged. It hadn't taken them long at all and Severus wondered if draco at times forgot that his sister had once been his worst enemy and that he had only learned of their relation a short time ago. He supposed the urge to be brotherly had been lying dormant in his Godson since his birth.
She was good for Draco Severus realized. Selena had always been good for himself. Keeping him just toeing the line that he would have crossed had she not been there. Just toeing the line of disaster that would have consumed Severus had she not been there to stop him. Yes, this brother and sister were good for each other. Draco seemed to give his niece a sense of normalcy and it was helping her adapt to her new life. They would make it through this yet.
"I believe we have an appoint Hermione," Severus broke his train of thought by speaking.
The girl in question looked at the clock hanging on the far wall.
"Now look what you've done, you made me late!" she scolded Draco who was doing lazy circles in the water.
"Well don't just stand there making yourself later do something about it," he smirked. Hermione stamped her foot in aggravation before leaving to go change.
"Draco," the potion master said softly startling the young man.
"Yes, Severus?" He questioned righting himself so he could clearly see his Godfather.
"When you and your sister return to school. It will be...difficult for Hermione. I want you to look out for her." He paused choosing his words carefully, "Make sure no one takes any...liberties with her feelings." Draco nodded before speaking as Severus made to leave.
"I'm her brother, it's my job to take care of her. I would have done so with or without your request." It took all of Severus well honed skills from spying to keep his pride of the boy from showing on his face.
"Narcissa?"
"Yes, Lucius?" His wife snuggled deeper into his bare chest as he folded his arms beneath his head. His body had been satisfied, but it left him with a deep set feeling of loss.
"Does Accalia ever talk to you?" His words were soft and unguarded making her heart lurch at his worried tone. Perhaps his the sharpness of his loss would dull if he associated himself with the part of Selena that was left. He owed it to his former mistress and his daughter to at least try to make some progress with his relationship with Hermione.
"Sometimes, but not much." There was a long silence before she spoke again
"What is troubling you love?" she asked brushing his long hair away from his face with gentle hands. Lucius seemed to be deciding how much to tell her. Finally throwing caution to the wind as well as pride he fully confided in his wife for the first time since they had been married.
"I'm not sure. I just feel like– like I don't know her at all. My own daughter is a stranger to me for Merlin's sake. I can't reach her. How can I get her to talk to me? She only knows the Lucius that the public sees."
Rarely did Narcissa ever see Lucius' weakness. It was truly a novelty for him to confide in her at all. Usually he was in the bed with her for the shortest time possible. This time he had stuck around afterward to talk with her. Narcissa felt tears burn in her eyes, before she pushed them back. This was her chance to show him that she was worthy of him. That he needn't go looking for someone else to fulfill his needs. That she could help him. That she was enough. She took a trembling breathe before speaking.
"I think she would be more willing to open up to you if you did so with her first. You need to gain her trust, you can't do that without giving her some leverage," Narcissa sighed trying to think of a way to help Lucius connect with his newly discovered daughter, "Just talk to her Lucius, let her know that she is more than an obligation to you."
"I shall try Narcissa," he kissed her forehead in thanks. No she was not Selena, but she was his wife and right now that would have to be enough.
That's it for now. NOW PLEASE REVIEW! I love your comments and ideas.
