October 2020

The bed chamber was biting with a frigid chill in the air, drying his throat- coughing for some relief

"I've thrown another log onto the fire Master...will there be anything else?"

"No, Fitz"- he rasped, "That will be all this evening"

Quietly, the little house elf nodded his head, backing slowly away towards to door

Some days were harder than others, Narcissa would always be there by his side, mindlessly working away on her needlework next to her husband. Each dawn fading into dusk however, grew more and more tiresome.

A wincing ache captured his chest, as he began hacking and sputtering, reaching for his handkerchief to press to his lips.

Blood.

It was only a reminder of what he had left, and how much of it had to remedy at least one ailment in his family.

"Darling", he heard her needles drop, "Please, shall I send for a physician?"

"Narcissa" he inhaled deeply, "Promise me"

She took a hand to his arm, "Anything Darling"

"When I am-" coughing fits interrupting him, "...When I am gone...you must promise me, That our son will remarry"

"Sweetheart don't talk of such things, our boys will be fine" she looked to him, her eyes slightly glistening

"...The sun is setting on my golden years, Narcissa" he began, "The namesake

Of our family must not be threatened by the girls curse"

"It wasn't her fault dear, Scorpius will be fine, and so won't his children! As well as thier-"

"We cannot afford that chance Narcissa!" Lucius wheezed, "Draco must remarry, we mustn't have our lineage poisoned with any cursings, don't you see?"

"Sweetheart..." she crept closer to bring her hands towards his face, "You mustn't excite yourself so"

He paused for a moment, a wheeze escaping his breath before he spoke, "I've already set my sights on (Y/N) Crowe"

Narcissa's face drew itself into question, "Draco needs time, surely...He's only just lost Astoria last year darling..."

"The girl could be well on her way making ties elsewhere by then" his breathing was becoming labored, "No...she must be considered seriously"

He began to sputter and cough again, blood sprinkling his once white handkerchief, "Promise me this Narcissa...See to it our Son does this"

Her eyes began to well, no words could possibly escape her to describe the agony she held watching the love of her life suffer so. She was lost.

Lucius shifted himself in his bed, bringing his handkerchief to his chest, "Narcissa" he began gently, "The girl...Is exponentially crucial to bringing our namesake out of this mess. You must rest assured my dear...she is the right choice"

"How can we know he will be happy?" She barely whimpered, "How will we know he will truly manage to love again?"

"He will learn to" he coughed once more, before stifling himself to composure. "She is singlehandedly the wealthiest and most philanthropic woman in the Wizarding World- suitable enough- Narcissa"

"Love cannot be bought darling" she took her hand and stroked the side of his head delicately, "Im sure you know better than I, Draco would give anything, including that, to have Astoria back"

Lucius looked down with a grievous sigh, Draco was a fine man- he still needed reason though, "The girl will make a fine match, Narcissa. I'm sure she has held enough constitution in her time to earn herself a name in the community. Her estate would become part of the Malfoy line and ergo our children...our children's children...This means so much more to them"

"What price can you put on such a thing like that?" a lonely tear began to form in the corner of her glistening eyes

"For our family" he said, "...She would contribute 441 Million galleons to its worth"

Narcissa looked up to him, jaw loosening into complete astonishment. Lucius gazed back at her, confirming himself with a slight nod that needed no question, "Promise Me, Darling..."

Hesitantly, she knew her husband only wanted what was best for the love of his family "Yes, Lucius...I'll do what I can Love"

He sighed, almost wheezing before a fit of coughing had corrupted him once again.

He looked out the grand window, filled with the deep velvets of the night sky, cradling stars amongst the moon.

He only hoped his final wishes would be carried out as he had hoped.

Lest the Malfoy family cease.