Lucius prepared to head to the Parkinsons house for their party, annoyed that Bellatrix wasn't by his side. The couple had planned to attend the party together but at the last minute Lucius had received an owl from Bellatrix informing him that she had something important to attend to and she would join him at the party. Lucius wasn't at all impressed with his fiancée's decision, but since she'd left him so little time to find her and change her mind, he was forced to head to the party alone and hope that she wasn't long in joining him.
Arriving at the Parkinsons, Lucius slipped into the party and hoped that Bellatrix arrived before anyone noticed she was late. Unfortunately for Lucius one of the first people he ran into was his father, who immediately inquired after Bellatrix. Lucius was forced to admit she wasn't with him and was meeting him there, and from the arch of his father's eyebrow it was clear Abraxas wasn't impressed with the arrangement.
"It's not seemly for a wife to keep her husband waiting at a public event," Abraxas murmured quietly to his son.
"Bellatrix isn't my wife yet," Lucius replied.
"Don't get technical on me Lucius," Abraxas warned in a low voice. "Wife or fiancée, it's the same thing. The pair of you should have arrived together."
"Bella will be here shortly," Lucius insisted, hoping that he was right and his fiancée didn't embarrass him further.
"I hope so," Abraxas remarked. "And in future I would suggest you take a firmer line with Bellatrix. I won't have her disgracing the family name, Lucius."
With that, Abraxas turned and stalked away from his son, leaving Lucius to silently curse his fiancée. Hoping to avoid further embarrassment, Lucius grabbed a drink from a passing waiter and searched for any sign of his friends. The first person he spotted was Horatio, but he had a stunning looking Narcissa at his side and Lucius was in no mood to converse with the happy couple.
Not that Narcissa looked overly thrilled to be in Horatio's presence. Even from across the room, Lucius could see the smile on Narcissa's face with fake and at every opportunity she broke the physical contact Horatio seemed keen to initiate. To those who didn't know her, she was the picture of the happy fiancée-to-be, but Lucius could see that she wasn't happy. That realisation should have made him happy, but instead it just made him sadder and it broke his heart to think of Narcissa enduring a loveless marriage like the one he was about to embark on. Just because he couldn't have love, didn't mean he wanted Narcissa to suffer the same fate and he would have been happier if she'd found someone she loved to marry.
Avoiding Horatio and Narcissa wasn't easy but Lucius managed it for nearly an hour. Unfortunately in that time Bellatrix still failed to put in an appearance and Lucius's temper was growing as he knocked back several drinks. Bellatrix still hadn't appeared when luck turned against him and he found himself cornered by Horatio, who was dragging Narcissa along behind him like she was some sort of pet dog.
"There you are Lucius," Horatio said with a beaming grin. "Anyone would think you were avoiding us."
"Not avoiding you, just busy socialising," Lucius lied.
"With your fiancée?" Horatio questioned, making a show of looking around for Bellatrix even though he knew full well she hadn't been seen that evening. "I have to say, I haven't seen your lovely wife-to-be tonight."
"Bella's running a bit late, but she'll be here any minute," Lucius replied, garnering a sympathetic smile from Narcissa who was fully aware of how unreliable her older sister could be.
"It seems I'm the lucky one, getting the sister who believes in good time keeping," Horatio bragged, slipping an arm around Narcissa's slender waist and pulling her closer to him.
"I'm sure Bella will be here any moment," Narcissa said loyally as she slid out of Horatio's grasp to grab a glass of wine off a passing waiter.
"I'm sure she will," Horatio muttered, his attention already wandering from his friend. "Oh look, there's Edward Flint, let's go and say hello Narcissa."
"Why don't you go and I'll stay and keep Lucius company," Narcissa suggested. "I promise I'll be right behind you," she added hastily when Horatio opened his mouth to protest.
"Fine, but don't be long," Horatio said with a pout. The making sure he had Lucius's full attention, he darted forward and pressed his lips against Narcissa's.
Lucius's hands curled into fists at his side as he watched his friend kiss the witch he loved. The only consolation was that Narcissa didn't kiss him back and she seemed just as keen as Lucius for the kiss to end. Fortunately Horatio didn't push his luck as they were in public and the kiss was only a brief one. However, he swaggered away with a smug smirk on his face and Lucius was left with the strong urge to knock out one of his oldest friends.
"I see you two are already love's young dream," Lucius sneered as he made his way to a nearby doorway which led out onto a small balcony.
"I wouldn't say that," Narcissa said with a sigh, following Lucius and leaning against the rail of the balcony which overlooked the Parkinsons garden which was illuminated by moonlight.
"Are you really going to marry him?" Lucius asked.
"It appears so," Narcissa replied, gazing out over the garden and avoiding Lucius's keen stare. "Father thinks it's a good match."
"Then your father is blind," Lucius snorted. "You can do so much better than Horatio Parkinson."
"I thought he was one of your best friends," Narcissa said, turning her head so she was finally facing Lucius.
"He is, and that's how I know he isn't right for you," Lucius replied earnestly. "Trust me Narcissa, marrying Horatio will be the worst mistake of your life."
"And marrying my sister will be yours," Narcissa returned in a whisper.
"I'm well aware of that, but I'm already in too deep," Lucius said softly. "You're not even engaged, Narcissa, so please take the time to think things through. Don't rush into marrying Horatio because it's what your father wants."
"How do you know it's not what I want?" Narcissa questioned. "Maybe I asked him to find me a husband."
"Did you?" Lucius asked with a frown.
"It doesn't matter if I did, or didn't," Narcissa answered with an elegant shrug of her shoulders. "I can't avoid getting a husband of my own just because I desire my sister's. You're getting married, Lucius, and I deserve to be able to do the same."
"I don't deny your right to get married, I'm merely questioning if Horatio is the right wizard for you," Lucius said. "You deserve someone who will truly love you, Narcissa. Horatio will see you as nothing more than a trophy. Don't you want to marry someone you love?"
"It's not going to happen," Narcissa said softly. "I'm already in love, but I can't marry him. I can't be with the wizard I want to be with, so I'll have to settle for second best. Horatio might not love me, and I certainly don't love him, but we could have a good life together. I'd rather take the chance with him, then live the rest of my life pining after my brother-in-law. You need to accept this, Lucius, just as I've accepted you're going to marry my sister."
Narcissa gave Lucius a sad smile, before turning and heading back into the party. Lucius remained on the balcony for a while longer, taking in what Narcissa had said. Everything she'd said was true, but that didn't mean that Lucius had to like it. How could he possibly be happy knowing that he and Narcissa loved each other but could never be together? Unless of course Lucius was prepared to risk losing everything to be with her, and as much as he loved Narcissa, he wasn't sure if it was a risk he was willing to take. Could he really destroy his life for one woman, and if he did would he end up resenting her for everything he had lost?
Contemplating his limited options, Lucius also returned to the party. There was still no sign of his fiancée, so he settled himself at the bar and ordered the barman to keep his glass topped up. For the next hour, Lucius watched the party as he continued to drink. Several times his father shot him an unimpressed glare, but even Abraxas's cold disdain did nothing to dent Lucius's drinking. Nor did it stop him watching in disgust the way Horatio trotted around the party, showing Narcissa off as though she was some prize he'd won.
By the time his errant fiancée put in an appearance, Lucius was well and truly on his way to being roaring drunk. His temper began to flare the second he spotted Bellatrix waltzing into the party as though she wasn't several hours late, and it grew as she flirted with every handsome wizard on her way over to the bar.
"You're late," Lucius snapped at her as she greeted him with a peck on the cheek.
"And you're drunk," Bellatrix retorted, wrinkling her nose at the smell of firewhisky on Lucius's breath.
"You've made me look like a fool," Lucius seethed.
"The only one making you look like a fool is you," Bellatrix shot back, shaking her head in disgust at her fiancé as she turned to walk away from him.
"Don't walk away from me, Bella," Lucius warned, grabbing Bellatrix's left wrist and yanking her back towards him.
With a hiss of pain, Bellatrix yanked her arm out of Lucius's grip. As she rubbed her forearm, Lucius realised for the first time that she was wearing a long sleeved dress. Even though it was autumn and starting to get colder, Lucius was still surprised by the style of dress as his fiancée tended to favour dresses which showed off as much of her skin as was possible without being indecent.
"What's wrong?" Lucius asked. "I didn't grab you that hard."
"It's nothing," Bellatrix said dismissively.
"No, it's something," Lucius argued as he reached for his fiancée. Before she could argue, he pulled up the sleeve of her dress, revealing a disgusting jet black tattoo. The tattoo was shaped like a skull and a snake was entwined around the skull. "What is that?" he hissed in disdain.
"Not here," Bellatrix said firmly, pulling her sleeve back down to cover her arm.
"Yes, here," Lucius snarled, unconcerned that people nearby were giving them strange looks. "What is that thing on your arm, Bella?"
"It's The Dark Mark," Bellatrix whispered. "I received it tonight. The Dark Lord is branding his followers, and he's going to use the mark to communicate with us."
"I might have known he would be involved in this madness," Lucius snapped.
"It's not madness, it's a calling," Bellatrix argued. "We're raising an army, and he wants you to join us, Lucius."
"No way," Lucius insisted with a firm shake of his head. "I will not get involved with that mad man, and neither will you. I forbid you to see him again."
"You forbid me?" Bellatrix laughed spitefully as she glared angrily at her fiancé. "Just who do you think you are to forbid me to do anything?"
"I'm going to be your husband, and you will learn to obey me, Bellatrix," Lucius said in a low voice.
"If it's obedience you want, you're marrying the wrong witch," Bellatrix sneered. "I'm my own person and no-one, not even you, can tell me what to do. Get used to it Lucius, because it won't change when we're married. You can't stop me getting involved with The Dark Lord."
"You just watch me, Bellatrix," Lucius snarled. "I won't stand back and let you ruin our lives."
"The only one ruining our lives is you," Bellatrix spat. "This could be the best thing that will ever happen to us Lucius. Don't miss out on the golden opportunity The Dark Lord is offering you."
"I want nothing he's offering me," Lucius spat. "And if you continue to see him there's going to be trouble."
"Just what is going on here?" Abraxas's angry voice hissed as Lucius's father appeared behind Bellatrix before she got a chance to reply to Lucius. "Everyone is watching the pair of you, it's downright humiliating."
"Don't worry Abraxas, I'm leaving," Bellatrix muttered. "Your son is drunk, and I'm not going to take care of him."
"I am not drunk," Lucius hissed as Bellatrix darted around his father and strode out of the room with her head held high.
"I can smell it from here," Abraxas snarled, glaring at his only son. "Go home and sober up, Lucius. We'll discuss your behaviour in the morning."
"You can't send me home like some naughty schoolboy," Lucius retorted.
"Then stop acting like one and grow up," Abraxas growled. "You're making a show of the pair of us. Go home now, before I really lose my temper."
Lucius opened his mouth to tell his father that he was old enough to look after himself when he felt a gentle hand on his arm. Looking to the side, he found Narcissa had approached them in the midst of the argument. Although how long she'd been at his side, Lucius had no idea.
"I'll take care of him, Mr Malfoy," she offered kindly.
"Thank you Narcissa, you're a good girl," Abraxas said, bestowing the pretty young witch with a rare smile.
"A good girl who can be very bad," Lucius whispered in Narcissa's ear as his father stalked away, satisfied that Narcissa had everything under control.
"Stop that," Narcissa hissed, blushing slightly at the suggestive tone of Lucius's voice. "Come on, let me take you home."
"Fine," Lucius sighed, conceding defeat as he was more than ready to leave the party and pretend the night had never happened.
Lucius put himself entirely in Narcissa's hands, and he was only vaguely aware of her ushering him through the floo connection in the Parkinsons front room. When they arrived at the manor they were on the ground floor, and Lucius gave her directions to his wing of the manor. He continued to give her directions until they entered his bedroom.
"How very Slytherin," Narcissa remarked with a smirk as she took in the emerald green and black bedding and the silver and green decorations in the room.
"It's been like this for years," Lucius answered with a shrug. It had never occurred to him to decorate his bedroom once he'd left Hogwarts.
"It suits you," Narcissa replied. "I think you're one of those people who'll be a Slytherin until the day you die."
"I was a proud Slytherin," Lucius replied, weaving his way over to the bed and almost collapsing onto the floor as he tried to sit down. "Were you not?" he asked as Narcissa steadied him and sat him on the bed.
"I was," Narcissa answered. "I was honoured to be a Slytherin. However, on another day I might have been sorted into another house. The hat did seriously consider putting me in Ravenclaw. However, you're a complete and utter Slytherin, and I couldn't imagine you any other way."
"Thank you," Lucius replied, beaming at Narcissa as though she'd paid him the best compliment he'd ever received.
"Do you have any sobering potion?" Narcissa asked, glancing around the room. "Otherwise you're going to wake up in the morning with one hell of a hangover."
"Try the bathroom," Lucius said, pointing out his adjoining bathroom. He had no idea if he had a sobering potion, but if he did, it would be in his bathroom cabinet.
Narcissa headed off into the bathroom but when she emerged a few minutes later she was empty handed. Shaking her head she informed Lucius that he didn't have any sobering potion, nor could she find any hangover potion. He would just have to deal with his excessive drinking, and its consequences, without magic.
"You might feel better if you got into bed," Narcissa suggested.
"I might feel better if you joined me," Lucius replied, reaching out and pulling Narcissa down on the bed beside him. Before she could protest, he'd pressed his lips against hers in a searing kiss.
"Lucius, you're drunk," Narcissa insisted as she ended the kiss.
"Not that drunk," Lucius retorted, moving in for a second kiss.
Despite knowing she shouldn't be kissing Lucius, Narcissa couldn't help but respond. Tangling her hands through his long blond hair, she eagerly kissed him back and pressed herself as close to him as she could get. As their hands began to wander they fell back on the bed and they lay together for several minutes, kissing and fondling each other.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Narcissa whispered, even though she made no move to remove herself from where she was lying half under Lucius.
"I'm sick of doing what's right," Lucius murmured against Narcissa's neck. "Stay with me, Narcissa."
Narcissa ran through all the reason she should say no and get up and leave Lucius to his drunken stupor, but when she opened her mouth she agreed to stay with him. Even when Lucius passed out too drunk to do anything ten minutes later, Narcissa didn't leave. She just removed their shoes and pulling the sheets over them, she snuggled down beside him and drifted off to sleep in Lucius's bed.