AN: There is abuse in the form of bullying in this chapter.
It was nearly three months into the school year, and Narcissa's life was kicking her arse, even though a proper lady would never describe it in that manner. N.E.W.T. level classes were challenging, wedding planning was stressing, Head Girl duties were aggravating at times, and following her Healer's instructions were frustrating with each passing month without a cycle. Nothing seemed to be going her way. Druella and Eleanor were way too enthusiastic to make their opinions known on how her and Lucius's own wedding should go, as if she and her fiancé had no say in the matter. Black witches do this; Malfoy tradition is that. Never mind her or Lucius's feelings on the matter.
As for her physical issues, she sure as hell wasn't letting anyone in her personal life know about them, less Druella and Lucius. With Bellatrix choosing to remain childless and Andromeda running off and having a half-blooded child with a Mudblood, it was now Narcissa's sole responsibility to give her parents as well as the Malfoys a pure-blooded grandchild, preferably a boy to keep the family name alive. Thank Merlin Sirius and Regulus could keep the Black name alive, even if Sirius tainted it with his inadequate sorting. The only positive thing in Narcissa's life currently was the fact that the first Hogsmeade trip was this upcoming weekend, so Narcissa would get to see Lucius face-to-face and touch him, kiss him, discuss wedding plans with him without their mothers butting into the conversation, and enjoy his company.
One afternoon, Narcissa was studying for a Charms exam, though her mind was far from the material. That morning, she had received a letter from Druella, and as usual, the first half of the message included Druella's latest ideas about the wedding, and the second half was Druella hounding Narcissa about her physical issues since there was a possibility she would be unable to "do her job" as a future pure-blood wife. Not that Druella cared about how taxing these circumstances were for Narcissa.
Narcissa glanced at the time, and since it was nearing dinnertime, she gathered her supplies and swung her bag up over her shoulder before leaving the library. As she made her way to the Great Hall, she heard what sounded like a fight in the distance. She turned to investigate the source of the noise, and when she arrived, she found Sirius with his gang of Gryffindor hooligans physically beating Severus. Or at least Sirius and James Potter were. Lily Evans was attempting to defend Severus from the group, but it was four against one, as Severus wasn't in a place to defend himself. "Hey," Narcissa shouted as she ran over to the group. Sirius, James, and Peter all looked up, and the other Gryffindor, the one with the scar on his face, attempted to run, but Narcissa pulled out her wand and said, "Stop right there." The four young wizards turned around, and Narcissa put her wand back into her skirt pocket. "What seems to be the problem?"
"He started it." James pointed to Severus.
"What did he do?"
"Aaahhh," James and Sirius both stuttered. Narcissa noticed Peter and Remus sneak away, but since they hadn't really done any of the fighting, she decided to dismiss it for now.
"I don't care how popular you Gryffindor blokes think you are; you aren't the best House just because Dumbledore favors your House. Thankfully, since Winthrop didn't catch you, you will be rightfully punished. One-hundred points from Gryffindor for each of you for fighting, and fifty points from Gryffindor for your two mates for being bystanders."
"But he started it!" shouted James.
"Do you want me to take more points away from Gryffindor for arguing with the Head Girl?" James closed his mouth.
"Come on, James, we'll give Adam our side of the story. No sense of arguing with a Slytherin, and Black at that. I speak from experience." Sirius led James away from the group.
Narcissa held out her hand for Severus and helped him up. "Are you all right, Severus?" asked Lily.
"I'm fine. I'm used to it."
"Doesn't make it right. Hating someone for no reason," said Narcissa. "Do you need me to escort you to the Hospital Wing?"
"No, I'm fine," said Severus, though he was holding his arm.
"Severus, you should have Madam Pomfrey examine your arm," said Lily.
"I can do it; no need to give those hooligans an excuse to bully you too," said Narcissa. Lily nodded and turned to leave.
As Narcissa and Severus walked to the Hospital Wing, Severus said, "Thank you for stopping them."
"Sirius has always been an annoying prat. My blood traitor sister is his favorite cousin out of the three of us, so what does that tell you?"
"Why is your sister considered a blood traitor?"
"Because she married a Mudblood."
"What's a Mudblood?"
"A nickname for a fake wizard or witch who's Muggle-born instead of being born into a pure Wizard family. People who think Muggle-borns are real wizards or witches find the word 'Mudblood' offensive, but such is life when pure-bloods speak the truth."
"My father is a Muggle. I hate him. And my best mate has Muggle parents and a Muggle sister. Her sister is a jealous prat. Called Lily a freak because she has magic."
"Wait? Lily Evans is Muggle-born?" asked Narcissa, her view of the second year witch suddenly shifting.
"Yes," confirmed Severus. "Narcissa?"
"Hmm?"
"I miss having Lucius around. He was a good mate who protected me.
"I know; so do I."
"But you're marrying him."
"Doesn't mean I don't miss having him around school."
Narcissa and Severus didn't say anything more as the two Slytherins walked to the Hospital Wing. After Narcissa explained the situation to Madam Pomfrey, the Head Girl made her way to the Great Hall for dinner.
After dinner, Narcissa found Sirius alone for once; a surprise given the fact that the Marauders as they called themselves seemed to have a string running through the inseparable group. "Sirius," Narcissa called.
Sirius turned to face his cousin and gave her an arrogant grin. "Coming to give Gryffindor our points back?"
"If you think I'm giving your House the bloody points back, you're sorely mistaken," said Narcissa. "I actually wanted to warn you that if you lay a finger on Severus again, I will make you and Gryffindor sorry for it."
"You'll be gone next year; what are you going to do then?"
"I'm sure Auntie Walburga will straighten you out. But honestly, Sirius—bullying people for no reason just because you don't like them?"
"You do. The entire family except for Dromeda bullies people who aren't wealthy pure-bloods."
"You act like being a Slytherin is the worst thing that could happen to someone, even though everyone in our family expect you is a Slytherin. You and all of your fellow Gryffindors act like you're so much better than everyone else because that incompetent wizard we call a Headmaster sides with you."
"He made you Head Girl, so I agree that Dumbledore has a certain amount of incompetence." Narcissa went to say something, but Sirius said, "You think you're so wonderful because you're Head Girl and because Lucius Malfoy is your fiancé. No one outside of the witches from pure-blood families would want to marry him. You're not flaunting anything just because you consider your life perfect. You have no struggles whatsoever."
"Look, I don't know why you're in such a rebellious phase, but if you think my life is perfect, you're wrong."
"Is it because Auntie Druella and Mrs. Malfoy keep taking over your wedding planning?"
"Sirius, you can't even begin to imagine what I'm going through right now, okay. Now get back to your dormitory before I take points away from Gryffindor for you being out after curfew." Narcissa sharply turned and headed toward the dungeons. When she arrived to her room, Victoria wasn't there. Narcissa hadn't noticed if Victoria was in the common room or not. Narcissa changed for bed and discreetly checked her underwear for any sign of a period. Still nothing. It had been four months now. It's just stress, Narcissa thought. Once you graduate and once you're married, everything will be fine. It has to be fine. Otherwise, you will be wrong. You won't be the envy of everyone; you'll be a failure. It doesn't matter how many N.E.W.T.s you obtain. It doesn't matter that you'll probably graduate valedictorian and have spent your seventh year as Head Girl. Mother and Father might claim they're proud of you, same with Lucius and his parents, but in the end, you have one job as a pure-blood witch: to produce an heir. And if you can't produce an heir, then what's your worth? Narcissa didn't really want to know the answer.