A Fight and a Change

The sense of normalcy at Hogwarts was only blown off by the constant staring from the other students that seemed to think everything Lucy did was either a sign that she was becoming dark like her husband or a sign that she was utterly suffering, and the occasional dark comment towards her.

Beyond that was also the oddity of the new found respect of all the Slytherins towards her, what made her embarrassed most of the time, and would make Ron rather angry, Hermione and Ginny though did seem to enjoy their new company, since Draco and Blaise especially would always be around them.

Three weeks after the start of term on a very hot Saturday morning Lucy was found by the quidditch pitch with the rest of the Gryffindor team, she was the new captain and had to choose two chasers to replace Angelina and Katie that had graduated last year. She was surprised to find that almost everyone from Gryffindor up from the second year (even though a few of the first years tried) had signed up to do the tests.

"Man… This will take the whole morning!" – Ron moaned watching the huge line that had formed.

"We have no choice but to test them all though…" - Lucy sighed. – "Come on guys, everyone to the air, we'll test them in a team first, three at a time, and once we narrow the options down we'll test them individually." – She ordered.

Most of the people who tried were just helpless, only a few could actually hold themselves on a broom, and among those, even a more limited number was capable of handling the quaffle without dropping it…

It was almost lunchtime and everyone was dead tired when Hermione came by bringing pumpkin juice for everybody.

"Isn't it over yet? You've been here all morning!" – She exclaimed as she watched the last four competitors passed the quaffle to one another.

"Yeah… You won't believe how many people tried out, it was tiresome." – Lucy said grabbing a bottle of pumpkin juice.

"I've just ran into Sirius… I mean, Professor Black, and he invited us to have lunch with him." – Hermione said while handing some juice to the rest of the team.

"Sounds nice… Let us just finish it here…"

A few minutes more and the team managed to reach a conclusion, the new chasers would be Seamus Finnigan and, surprisingly enough, Lavender Brown, who was amazingly good in the air.

That done, Lucy and Ron head to the showers and followed Hermione to the third floor to Sirius office. They didn't bother knocking since he was already expecting them, they were surprised though to see that Sirius was not alone, Rabastan Lestrange was sitting across from him and the two were talking in hushed tones, stopping their conversation as soon as the three walked in.

"Oh! There you are, I was expecting you guys. Uhn… Professor Lestrange was…" - Sirius seemed at a loss of words, but just them Rabastan stood up.

"I'm just leaving, we'll finished this conversation another time, okay Sirius?" – The death eater said as he walked out of the door, but not before bowing to Lucy.

"What did this guy wanted here?" – Ron asked frowning.

"AH… Nothing serious, just school stuff, nothing you should worry about." – Sirius answered and Lucy wondered why he was so flushed. – "But come here cub! I've missed you!" – He said giving her a bear hug.

"I've missed you too Sirius." – She said smiling.

"Come on, sit! I've brought some butterbeer to us, tell me, how have you been your school year so far?" – He asked as he summoned a few bottles.

They spent a very fun afternoon with Sirius, talking about school and hearing his stories about the Marauders, Lucy couldn't remember the last time she had been so carefree. The sun was already setting when she noticed the time.

"Jeez! It's late already! I have to go home!" – She exclaimed as she looked outside the window, not noticing the weird look Ron sent her way.

She said goodbye to everyone, hugged Sirius again and whispered "home" in parseltongue to find herself back at the Slytherin castle, all the way down on the foyer. Sighing she started to climb the entire nine floors till she reached the entrance for the North Tower and to her Bedroom.

She was feeling rather tired, she was no longer used to all this exercise, the little flying she did during summer couldn't compare at all, and she was also rather pleased with her choice, Lavender was really good, who would have known… She only wished Ron and Seamus hadn't been mad at her for not picking Dean, but he was just not as good as Lavender.

She was halfway through taking her clothes off and already heading to the bathroom when she felt her scar burning with pain, Voldemort seemed to be furious, she could only wonder what could be wrong. Soon he burst into the room throwing the door open.

"What…" - She stated turning around to look at him, to see him glaring at her with a face that could only remind her of the time he was seeking to murder her.

"Do you think I'm a fool my bride? Do you think it's wise to mock me this way?" – He said in parseltongue, his voice dangerously low as he stalked towards her, Lucy walked backwards.

"What are you talking about?" – She asked on a small voice, this was possibly the first time since the wedding that she felt trully scared of him.

"Where have you been today? Do you think you can just disappear to do as you please? You've stayed away from home the entire day, when you were supposed to be here by lunch!" – He screamed, Lucy had backed away into a wall now, and he was standing right in front of her, his face very close to hers, her scar hurting like hell, she closed her eyes. – "Look at me when I'm speaking to you!" – He screamed, holding her arm forcefully and shaking her furiously, causing her to cry out and look back up to him. – "Now answer, where have you been?"

"I… I've told you… I was at Hogwarts! I had to hold trials for the quidditch team." – She answered trying to keep her voice steady, he seemed more angered by her answer.

"The trials should be over by noon!" – He snarled tightening his grip on her arm causing her to whimper a little. – "Now answer me, why did you keep me waiting for you the entire afternoon!" –He bellowed.

"How could I know you would be waiting for me? You're never home for lunch! I was having fun with my friends. Next time you want me with you, you should let me know Voldemort!" – She answered narrowing her eyes to him and switching to parseltongue without even noticing.

After her outburst she waited for his reaction with dread, a slap perhaps, the increase of the pain on her forehead for sure, but she was surprised when instead of getting angrier he seemed to calm down, the pain on her scar subdued and he let go of her arm.

They were both breathing hard and looking intently into each other's eyes. Lucy couldn't tell who initiated it, but soon they were kissing, a kiss that was not like the others they shared that have always been initiated by him and to which she barely responded, this time she was kissing back, her hands found their way into his hair, and she knew he was pleased by the change, so much that she could swear she heard him purr into the kiss.

The kisses progressed so that Voldemort started kissing her neck and collarbone causing Lucy to moan a little, even as she felt him trying to take off the clothes she still had on.

"I… I need a bath." – She mubled through ragged breaths, causing him to chuckle, and nip playfully at her neck.

"We shall have to solve this, hun?" – He whispered before picking her up and leading her to the bathroom.

Lucy couldn't really tell what made her act the way she did, but this time she didn't simply let him do what he wanted, she wanted it too, she helped him undress, actually enjoying the view of his lean body and the touch of his hands on her skin, she delivered herself completely to him this time, and she could tell that he knew.

They made love in the bathtub, taking their sweet time to reach completion, it was the first time Lucy reached the orgasm, and she came calling his name. After, Voldemort took her to the bed, they were still soaking wet, they made love again, and again, and again, till Lucy could no longer count, or think, or anything.

It was only much later that they were finally too exhausted to do anything else, and yet they lay together in bed holding each other and feeling contented.

"I'm hungry…" - Lucy said after some time, sitting up a bit to look into Voldemort's eyes, he seemed so relaxed that he hardly looked like himself, there were no worry or angry lines around his forehead and eyes, no scowl on his mouth, he looked young and careless.

Without moving he snapped his fingers and called to an elf, ordering some dinner for both of them, to be served in the room. Lucy was left blushing furiously, he chuckled when he noticed this.

"Why are you're so embarrassed my beloved?" – He asked running a hand through her unruly hair.

"Well I'm not comfortable with Bobby seeing us like this…" - She mumbled, causing him to laugh and summon a pair of robes for them.

After they ate, they made love yet another time, and fell asleep in each other's arms, and for the first time since the wedding Lucy didn't cry herself to sleep. She didn't want to think on the reason why she accepted him so freely that night, or why she felt so good, or what it could mean, or even if it was the right thing to happen. She only knew that she was happy with things like that, and knew that things would never be the same for them again.

Things had changed, and she wanted to keep those changes.