Chapter Thirty-Five
Narcissa opened her eyes slowly, wondering vaguely how she'd gotten to the bed she was currently in… She'd fallen asleep on the boat… Lucius must have taken her in here. Lucius. She looked over beside her, and though it was cold by now, the pillow had a dent in the middle, and the blankets were messed up. The other bed in the room was neat and hotel-maid made. She heard a slight rustling across the room, and Narcissa spotted the back of his head, bent over the morning's paper. She watched as it moved slowly from side to side as he read, and she noted that he frequently rubbed the back of his neck and shoulders as if they were sore. She stood up quietly, and slipped across the room to stand behind him.
"Good morning, Lucius!" She chirped brightly, assuming the task of massaging him. He leaned against her, eyes closed, smiling lazily.
"'Morning."
"Any plans for today?"
"Mmm… Stay in here?" Her kneading hands stilled, and Lucius sat up immediately. "You stopped. Why did you stop?" Narcissa smiled.
"I need to take a shower. And change my robes." He grabbed her arm as she began move away, pulling her back.
"Not yet." He commanded, and placed her hands back on his shoulders.
"Lucius! I'm all… salty!" He took her arm again, and lightly flicked his tongue over the underside of her wrist, ignoring her small gasp as a chill shot up to her shoulder.
"Yes, definitely salt." He turned his attention back to the Daily Prophet. "Go, if you must." Silently, she slipped into the bathroom, unsure what to make of his strange behaviour.
About ten minutes after she closed the door, a tapping against the glass made him look up. Two owls waited impatiently, one sleek and black, the other brown and fluffy. He didn't recognise the second one, but the first was very familiar: Severus. He opened the door, and they flew in. Severus's bird simply dropped the note and flew off, but the second one refused to give him the letter attached to its leg. Something told him he knew who owned this one. It flew around the room, hooting cheerfully, but stayed well out of his reach. Just as bloody annoying as its owner… He opened the note from Severus.
Lucius,
Having fun vacationing in the tropics? I assume Narcissa's still with you. You need to reply when you get back; I can't tell you in the post. You may be interested.
Severus
Nothing terribly abnormal; his letters were always concise and unrevealing. He slipped it into his pocket, and tried to return to reading. But the other owl seemed to find it amusing to fly over to Lucius's head, peck him on the head, then fly off as soon as he tried to swat it away. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
"Stop it you damned-" He pulled out his wand, and with a flash of green, the bird fell. He swore quietly, and then picked up the creature by the wing. "She's going to kill me…" The door opened, and Narcissa's head poked out.
"Did you say something Lucius?"
"No, nothing. You can just go…"
"Is that a dead bird?" Narcissa asked, aghast. "Is there a dead… Is that Ari's owl? Sugar Puff?"
"I-I don't know. It came in here and just… Died." Narcissa disappeared inside the bathroom again, and emerged seconds later fully dressed. She rushed over and picked up the owl.
"Enervate." Nothing happened. "Oh no! She's going to be devastated! Sugar Puff was just a baby! She loves this owl!" She cradled the bird's limp form against her, on the edge of hysteria. "How am I going to tell her that she's dead?"
"I'm sure Ari can get a new owl." Narcissa looked up at him, horrorstruck.
"A new owl? Lucius this wasn't just any owl, this was her pet! She'll be absolutely devastated!" Again, Lucius swore under his breath.
"Well… maybe it was sick." Narcissa shook her head, frowning.
"She was perfectly healthy at the end of the school year. She must have been for Ari to send her on such a long trip. This is awful…" She carefully removed the letter from Sugar Puff's leg, but set it aside. "Poor darling… Lucius, how will I tell her?" She repeated, staring at him tearfully. "Oh, she'll think I killed Sugar Puff!"
"She won't think anyone killed it," He said, a bit too quickly. Fortunately, Narcissa, in her state of distress, didn't notice.
"Even so… I feel terrible." Lucius gave her a moment to wallow, before:
"I'll get rid of it." He plucked the dead animal from her arms, and took it out side, and within moments assured that no one would ever even guess its existence. Char marks were very easy to cover on sand. When he returned inside, Narcissa was writing furiously.
"I really hope she's not too mad," she muttered as she scribbled her apology note. "There. Finished. Diaphanous!" Her own, quite alive, owl flew over to her. "Take this to Ari," She said as she tied the note to her leg.
"And try to fly out before she opens it." Lucius added. Narcissa turned to glare at him.
"That wasn't funny."
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They spent the rest of the week on the beach, which Narcissa never seemed to grow tired of, and curled up together at night. Occasionally Jahzara would join them during the days, which delighted Narcissa. The little girl appeared to love the water as much as she did, and the child amazed them both by diving into the ocean and swimming like a fish. Narcissa could honestly say, once the week was over, that she was sad to go.
"I'll miss you," Narcissa whispered as they stood before the doors to her own home. They had come only to drop her off, and would be returning to the island to spend the rest of the summer. Lucius smirked at her words.
"I know you will. Don't get yourself killed, alright? Stay away from Bella too, I'll bet my right hand that she'll be in a foul mood. Be good."
"Aren't I always?" He kissed her forehead without replying.
"See you September first."
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Lucius was right. Bellatrix was horrible, totally and completely vile, the entire summer. Narcissa was so happy when school started again that she felt she hurt her mother's feelings. Serena had become withdrawn, quiet, and clearly lonely. She'd never be able to recover from her husbands death completely, of course, as Narcissa would always miss her father, but anyone meeting her would have thought the man died two days ago, not almost two years. And she seemed to have entirely forgotten her turbulent, albeit brief, second marriage to… What had his name been again? Narcissa couldn't remember.
One September first, Narcissa and Bellatrix had gotten in to a particularly nasty argument, though most certainly not the first that summer. They bickered terribly until Serena finally couldn't take it any more.
"Will you girls just stop it? Is it not bad enough that I only see you two months of the year? Must you quarrel so the whole time? I can't stand to see my daughters at one another's throat constantly! Have I taught you nothing? Get your trunks." They each, rather uncomfortably, pick up the handle of their trunks. Fuming, Serena grabbed the free are of each girl and with an angry crack Apparated them to Platform and 9¾. "I hope you two have a good year." She snapped, and Dissapparated with a second pop. Bellatrix turned to her sister.
"Come along little Cissy. We mustn't keep our public waiting. And I'm sure there's someone you're dying to see." She marched through to barrier, and Narcissa followed glumly behind.
"Bella, we shouldn't make mum upset like that…" Bellatrix ignored her, and joined the throng boarding the train. Narcissa rolled her eyes and trudged after her. "'Scuse me, pardon, excuse me," She muttered, trying unsuccessfully to edge her way through the crowd.
"Well," A voice drawled behind her. "You'll never get it done that way," Lucius grabbed her trunk and pulled her up to the train door. Somehow, everyone seemed to step aside for him.
"Hi Lucius," She said, rather breathlessly. He shot her a crooked grin, but said nothing until they reached an empty carriage.
"Hey." He swung her trunk and his up into the overhead compartment with fluid grace. "How was," He sat. "The rest of," He reached up and pulled Narcissa down beside him. "Your summer?"
"Fine, you were right, I suppose you may keep your hand, Bella was dreadful. Even mum was getting tired of-"
"That's right Snivellus, go hide, run away, coward…" Narcissa heard James Potter's jeering before she saw Severus slip inside. Narcissa's eyes widened slightly in surprise when she saw him; he didn't look well at all. He had dark circles under his eyes, his hair, desperately in need of a cut, obscured his vision, and he looked terribly thin. She noticed also, he'd grown at least three inches while he'd been away.
"I swear, I'm going to kill him. Both of them. I-"
"I call my cousin. I want to see the lights face from his eyes." Narcissa sighed at her sister's appearance.
"Let's not be gruesome, Bella."
"Oh no, Cissy, that's not gruesome, that's the truth. I hate that boy." She took in the compartment with a sweeping glance before flouncing away. But there was no opportunity for someone to even shut the door before
"Cissy! Ocissyowaryou? Didjuavagoosummr?" Lucius rolled his eyes.
"I'm good Ari, my summer was fine." Narcissa smiled.
"You know, I've always been surprised you can understand her." Ari ignored this comment and pushed her way into the compartment.
"And how was your summer, Severus?"
"I've had worse." She nodded and sat down next to him.
"Well, my summer was incredible…"
The good and bad thing about Ari was that she could talk, nonstop, for hours. It proved during this particular train ride to be helpful, for no one else had much to say. At least, not in the company of everyone else there.
"And then, after that, we all decided that we didn't want- Oh look! The castle! We must almost be there! That seemed so quick, didn't it?" There were mumbles that could have been agreement or disagreement; Ari didn't really care. "Well, c'mon everyone! Hurry up!" Narcissa blinked sleepily and stood up, stretching. Lucius quickly stood as well, muttering "and it's about bloody time," and Severus carefully marked his page and slipped the book into his pocket.
"What, here already?" Ari didn't notice the dry sarcasm in his voice.
They congregated in the Great Hall and watched, with only mild interest, the Sorting of the new students. There were, of course, new faces at the Slytherin table, but they were little interest to the older students, and they grouped together in a fearful, huddled knot and whispered among themselves.
Later that night, after all the festivities were over, and the school had settled into their appropriate Houses, Lucius approached Narcissa who'd been trying unsuccessfully to read one of Severus's books on Ancient Dark Arts and Their Correlation to Modern Societies and Inverse Values of the Wizarding World Today ("Severus, are you sure this is English?").
"Narcissa?" He held out his hand to her and she took it, eagerly. Severus shot them a quick grin.
"Don't worry Narcissa; I'll mark your place. You've been reading for an hour and you're on…" He checked the book. "Page two of the prologue." She rolled her eyes and followed Lucius out of the common room.
"So did you do anything interesting after I left?" Narcissa asked as they quietly ascended the first flight of many stairs. A string of possible replies came to Lucius, none even close to the truth, but his answer was simply
"No. Not really. Did you?"
"Seeing as it was impossible to be in the same room with Bella for more than twenty minutes, my Mum still is horribly depressed…" A loud clap of thunder interrupted her, and she jumped. Lucius chuckled softly and pulled her close. "Oh… It's raining…" The disappointment was evident in her voice. "I 'spose we should go back…"
"Why?" Lucius asked, genuinely surprised. "Why don't we just stay…here?" They stopped in front of a small alcove, if it could be called that. It was little more than a recessed niche three feet above the floor, two feet deep, ending in a window through which lightning could be seen flashing brilliantly. Without further ado, he picked her up, and set her lightly on the sill. She expected him to sit beside her, but instead, he placed a hand on either side of her, so they were eye to eye. "Now… May I have a proper hello?" Narcissa blinked uncertainly.
"Erm…he-hello…" Lucius gave her shadow of a smile as her brushed hair out of her face.
"That's not what I meant." He said softly, but he didn't give her anymore time to be confused. But when he kissed her, it was different. It wasn't light, playful kiss, it was… Deeper. His tongue slipped between her lips, not hesitant, completely confidant that she would react as she ought to. He explored the contours of her mouth, teasing her tongue with his, drawing back to nibble on her lower lip, then tilted her head back for easier access to her deliciously inviting, tempting neck…
Narcissa was no longer conscious of the pounding rain, rather of the pounding of her heart in her ears, completely unaware of her blazing lightning, only of the heat of his lips on her throat, kissing, tasting, suckling lightly… She was so involved with the alien thoughts and feelings traveling through her, she was barely aware when he carefully pulled the hem of her shirt out of the waistband of her skirt. She was, however, very aware when he slid his hand beneath the fabric, and he ran his fingers along her side. He could feel the gentle dip between each rib, the rapid rise and fall of her chest… He lowered his hands, slowly, back to her waist, and finally rested his hands on her knees and pulled away.
"That's what I meant by a proper hello."
"I- weh-ah…" Narcissa found she was unable to formulate any comprehensible words. Lucius just smirked that infuriating, delightful, unique smirk that seem reserved only for a-
"Malfoy!" Lucius spun around, only to see a furious, thin-lipped Professor McGonagall. "What are you doing out, wondering the halls, on you first day back? And- Miss Black?" Narcissa had, very foolishly, poked her head out from around his shoulder at that moment. "Miss Black," She said, rather distractedly, "Go back to your common room." Narcissa looked at her in surprise, then turned uncertainly to Lucius, as if to as permission. He nodded and stepped aside so she could hop down, and, with one last frightened glance, darted off towards the Slytherin common room. McGonagall rounded on Lucius.
I suppose you're wondering why I allowed her to go?" Lucius leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, looking not afraid, or apologetic, or even angry. Simply bored.
"Oh, undoubtedly something along the lines of that I'm corrupting the young girls in my House, dragging them away for a tête-à-tête late at night in the corridors, debasing the naïve, stealing their innocence… Am I right?" McGonagall narrowed her eyes.
"I have no doubts that Miss Black would be asleep in her bed if it weren't for your… persistence." Lucius shrugged.
"Well, maybe not her bed… And maybe not asleep… But yes, I suppose so." She glared at him furiously.
"Detention, tomorrow night, eight o'clock, my office. Now go back to your common room." Lucius sighed.
"Yes mum, so sorry I've been bad, mum… You won't ground me, will you?" He asked with false apprehension.
"Now, Malfoy! Now!"
When Lucius got back to the common room, Narcissa was still awake, and pacing. The second he entered to room, she shot across the room to him.
"Lucius, I'm so sorry, I swear, I just went because she told me to, I deserve to be in trouble too… You aren't in too much trouble are you? I'll go tell her, I'll ask for detention or what ever-" She was hysterical, but he was… "Why are you smiling? Stop it, this isn't funny, I feel awful!" But Lucius was still grinning.
"You're funny. I don't want you to be stuck in detention, Narcissa; I'm not angry. Now be a good girl and go to bed." She blinked.
"I really am-"
"I know, Narcissa." He interrupted. "And tomorrow is the first day of classes, and you wouldn't want to make a bad first impression because you're tired. Go-"
"But I'm not tired." Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Fine." He crossed the room and sat in his regular seat, and began to talk with Severus. Narcissa lowered herself to sit beside him and, even though he was considerably irritated that she wouldn't go to bed and he couldn't talk openly to his friend, he reached immediately for her hair.
"You wrote." Lucius began.
"He's here."
"School?"
"London."
"How long?"
"Not sure."
"Date?"
"Ask Bella."
"Soon?"
"Fairly."
"Why?
"We're waiting."
"Muggles?"
"Perhaps."
"Mudbloods?"
"More likely."
"Where?"
"Not here."
"Too much attention?"
"And Dumbledore."
"Right. Everyone?"
"I think."
"Brilliant."
"Thought you might be interested." Severus finished. Narcissa stared at them both in utter confusion. Then, she carefully unwound Lucius's fingers from her hair and stood.
"I think I'll go to sleep now."
The next morning, Narcissa woke at the sound of Ari's alarm, and dressed within her bed, not wanting to get up. She'd had the most wonderful dream last night… Reluctantly, she clambered out of bed and plopped down in front of the vanity the girls shared, and began brushing her hair. Ari came over beside her and started applying lip gloss.
"Morning Cissy! How'd you sleep last night?" She said brightly. "Ready for classes?"
"Mmhm…" She shrugged noncommittally, and Ari continued.
"Well, we've got Hogsmeade to look forward to this year, which ought to be fun and- what's that?" Narcissa paused in the middle of pulling her hair back into a ponytail.
"What's what?" She asked, rather alarmed at Ari's sudden change of tone.
"That! Right there, on your neck! Oh Cissy, that's not…" She studied the mark just below Narcissa's ear. "It is! It is! Cissy! You naughty, naughty girl!" Narcissa leaned closer to the mirror to examine he bruise, horrorstruck.
"Oh no, it's not, it's not what you think it is! I… fell. On my neck." Ari burst into laughter.
"Of course you did! Please Cissy, I'm not an idiot. So last night, you and Lucius…?" Narcissa dropped her hair back down.
"Yes, last night me and Lucius." She replied irritably. "And please don't mention, alright?" Ari grinned wickedly.
"To who?"
"Anyone!" She cried in exasperation. Ari started giggling again.
"But you can't possibly expect Lucius not to find out. And what about Nalini? And I'm sure your sister will be interested, and Severus will know it anyway." Narcissa stubbornly shook her head.
"Not a word to anyone!" She spat between gritted teeth.
(A/N: Um… Okay, really short, kinda pointless chapter… I'm kind of having writers block, not sure what to do… Thus my excuse for a short chapter… Any kind of inspiring review would be very helpful, any ideas or whatever… Please? Thanks!
Clara Clog: Ahem. Yeah, Lucius's summer was a bit more interesting then he let on… He may have, ah… Learned some new things, things you can't learn at school… So expect fireworks fairly soon! And I'm glad you like my writing style, but oxymorons make simple writers like me confuzzled! And I'll try not to leave you so long without a chapter again, but I'm going on vacation soon… But more reviews inspire quicker updates!
Whisperer-of-the-shadow-people: Yep, an update!
Narcy: First of all, I'm very glad you love the story. I feel all warm and fuzzy! And I know this story will be very (maybe insanely) long, at least past HBP, but since I've already planned the ending, it may not follow along the lines of the seventh book, depending on what JKR chooses as the fate of our beloved Malfoys. So just in advance, I warn you I may not follow the next book! Don't be mad!
ElfLuver13: Ack! We don't want to be affecting your grades now! (Or do we…? ;), JK! I'm glad you like it! Really truly! Getting a review just makes my whole day happy! Thanks!
SeraphAngel: But the keys are a secret! But I promise, you WILL find out their meaning, and they WILL be explained, but if I tell you, then it will ruin the 'gasp OMG!' moment!
Horseluver13: Thank you for the birthday wishes! And of course, life would just be so much easier for Lucius if he could hate Cissy, but life would be easier for all of us if we could control our emotions, wouldn't it? And on the topic of Narcissa's innocence: Narcissa is the youngest of three daughters. By the laws of nature, all youngest children have an innocent sweetness that comes from being the baby. Also, we take into consideration that Andromada didn't think so highly of the whole 'pureblood hierarchy' deal, and was a disappointment to her parents, practically disowned when she was eleven and sorted into Hufflepuff. Bella was the strong-willed one and, since he had no sons, was really the one their father would have taught what he'd have taught his boys, given her books on the Dark Arts, etc., since she had the personality for it. And then is born this little girl who becomes her mother's pet, the one who she pours the ancient, pureblood rules for wives on, the one she'd pass all her lessons on to. So Narcissa would be raised hearing that women should be seen, not heard, that wives must obey their husbands, never voice their opinion, and pureblood girls were there solely for the purpose of marrying pureblood men when the grew up, serving their husband, producing healthy children (male, of course), and running the household in their husband's absence. It's for these reason Narcissa feels inclined to do whatever Lucius asks or expects of her, since it's been ingrained in her since childhood that men would only be happy with subservient, docile women, and she's never learned anything else. Bellatrix, on the other hand, never swallowed her mother's words, and, with the materials given to her by her father, was able to shape her own opinion on the world. The difference, as we see, is huge. But you'll also notice that Narcissa feels no affection towards her cousin Sirius, and thinks he's as much of a blood traitor as the rest of the family. Because, while she was being taught that she was below her future husband, Muggles, Mudbloods, and blood traitors were beneath her. So poor Cissa's in a rather confused state, but is trying as hard as anyone else to do what she thinks is the right thing to do.
GentleRaven: Due to the decreasing infant mortality rate, one tear is good, but I hope for longer (! And oh yes, bad of Abraxas, wasn't it, to torture his son like that while poor Cissa was there? Not the best father, eh? That's why Lucius was using 'Muffliato', just in case he cracked. And about those voices… Well see…