House: Slytherin
Category: theme
Prompt: [Speech] "Well, you are certainly nothing like your Mother."
Word Count: 2009
A/N: Thank you Daisy Duck and Lorax for your help!
oO0Oo
"I daren't ask," Narcissa said, wringing the hem of her dress robes. "I almost do not want to know with whom I shall be sitting."
Her elder sister smirked. "Really, Cissy, you cannot hide forever. One day, you will marry one of those men."
Narcissa pursed her lips. "I am well aware of that." She turned in the mirror, eyeing how her dark, silky hair cascaded down her back. "However, I wish mother were not so blatant in her attempts to marry me off to Rodolphus. I quite detest him." She sighed. "If I am placed beside him again, my wand may 'slip'. He is revolting."
"It may be simpler to feign sickness," Bellatrix replied. "Mother would certainly disprove if you were to curse him. He is your suitor."
"Don't remind me," Narcissa groaned, turning to glare at her older sister. "He's certainly not my type, though. He's almost ten years older than me!"
"That he is." Bellatrix smirked. "Yet he is perfect for me."
"Then you may have him. I certainly do not wish to touch him, even with—" A draught of cold air blew through the room, signalling that someone had opened the door. In the mirror, Narcissa spied her mother's most ornate dress robes. "Hello, mother."
"I was just coming to check up on you two. The dinner party begins in half an hour, and I want everything to be perfect. Including you." Druella glanced at her youngest daughter, her eyes lingering over her delicate form for a moment before she addressed her. "Narcissa, are you ready?"
Narcissa looked into the mirror one last time, taking in her black velvet dress robes which just hinted her figure. "I suppose I am as ready as I shall ever be," she answered.
"Good, then come with me." She turned to her other daughter. "You shall be seated next to Rodolphus, Bella. Do not disappoint me."
Bellatrix broke into a maniacal grin, her eyes glinting as she answered, "I won't."
"I do not doubt either of you. You are, after all, my only daughters," Druella said silkily.
Narcissa swallowed hard and concentrated intently on the mahogany floorboards, most definitely not thinking about her missing older sister and the choices Andromeda had made. Andromeda had married for love. She hadn't let mother arrange some absurd marriage for her, even though she had had suitors from the best of families. No wonder she had been blasted from the tapestry.
Bellatrix must have noticed Narcissa's sudden silence. "Mother, whom have you placed besides Cissy?" she asked, cutting through the sudden tension that had engulfed the room.
"Lucius Malfoy," Druella answered shortly. "He wished to be placed beside her. Now we must be going. The guests will be here soon." She strode from the room, her two daughters following.
Narcissa glanced at her sister, but Bella ignored her, seeming inordinately pleased. Knowing Bellatrix, she would doubtlessly have slipped Rodolphus a love potion or at least have cast a subtle Imperio on the man before the canapes were finished. She sighed. At least her sister was happy. She, in turn, could be happy for Bellatrix's happiness. However, she was to sit beside Lucius Malfoy. He was coldly polite, and she had heard that he was already engaged to Porphyria Parkinson. She shuddered at the thought. She would have to tolerate his conversation, even though it brought her nowhere. It was almost worse than Rodolphus.
The Blacks swept into the room. Already there was a crowd of people standing and sitting around on the various dark furniture and making idle small talk. Yet Druella made a beeline straight to where Rodolphus Lestrange stood, conversing in low tones with Tarquin Nott.
"Rodolphus," she said in way of greeting. "I am certain you remember my daughters, Bellatrix and Narcissa?"
Rodolphus's eyes glinted in a manner that was practically feral. "Of course," he leered, licking his lips.
Bellatrix smiled, baring her pearly white teeth. "Have you tried the smoked salmon on mustard-chive toasts? They are simply exquisite."
"I do not believe I have."
"Allow me," she said, the look in her eyes mirroring his as she deftly picked a canape off a passing. She held it to his lips, a wicked smirk on her face.
Rodolphus placed one hand around her wrist, steadying it. Then his tongue darted out to graze the palm of her hand before he swallowed the canape in one bite.
Narcissa looked away, her cheeks flushed. She could not believe how brazen Bellatrix was acting. Perhaps Rodolphus was closer to her sister's age, but that was no excuse for their behaviour. "I am cold," Narcissa said shortly. She did not dare stay. Bellatrix was acting erratically, but her tactics seemed to be working. "Mother, come with me." If Druella saw how successful her eldest daughter was, she would no doubt press her youngest into doing the same, and Narcissa refused to lower herself to that level.
Narcissa hurried away, dragging her mother behind her and making a beeline for the settee which sat before the roaring fireplace; however, before she could reach its safety, Druella called out, "Mister Malfoy! Why do you stand in the shadows? My Narcissa was just speaking of you!"
"Mother," Narcissa hissed, trying to wrench her arm out of her mother's grip. Yet Druella dug her nails into her daughter's arm, and so Narcissa stood there helplessly as Lucius Malfoy sauntered over.
"Good evening," he said.
"Good evening," Narcissa replied tightly, heartily wishing she were anywhere but there.
"How have you been?"
"She's been feeling rather cold," Druella interjected.
Narcissa's pale cheeks flushed deep red. "Mother!" she hissed.
"Then she should have worn a warmer cloak," Lucius said, seeming bemused.
"Ah, but there is a lovely settee by the fireplace."
Lucius held out his arm. "Then I shall have to accompany the lady to this wondrous settee."
Narcissa took his arm, clutching onto it like a lifeline saving her from the ocean of embarrassment that was her mother.
A few moments later, she sunk into the settee, no longer caring if she appeared graceful or ladylike to her supposed suitor. It was only ten o'clock, and her feet already hurt. Perhaps Andy had a spare bedroom she could use. Fighting the urge to rub away the dark makeup on her eyes, Narcissa surveyed the room when she noticed Rodolphus and Bellatrix in a dark corner. Her interest captured, she focused on the couple when she noticed Rodolphus's wand levelled at her sister's neck. Alarmed, she gripped her wand, trying to think of something, anything, that could save her sister; then she noticed Bellatrix was laughing, her deep violet eyes shining maniacally as Rodolphus whispered what were surely death threats into her ear.
Narcissa sunk her head into her hands. "Bloody hell," she muttered.
Lucius coughed gently, and Narcissa cursed her slip. "Do you not approve of your sister's match?" he enquired. "The Lestranges are certainly well connected, and their pure heritage is beyond reproach."
"But their sanity is not," Narcissa whispered under her breath.
Lucius laughed heartily. "Well, you are certainly nothing like your Mother."
Narcissa raised one eyebrow. "Is that meant to be a compliment?" she asked.
Lucius paused, choosing his words with care. "It is merely an observation."
"Then I shall make an observation as well." Narcissa looked up at him, realizing that from where she was sitting, the dark, sunken bags beneath his eyes stood in stark relief. He must have cast a glamour over them; however, up close, the charm was easy to see through. "After your mother's death, your father has been relentless. I heard that you have… given in. I have heard that you… pledged yourself."
He smiled mirthlessly. "You would be correct in that. I am my father's son, after all."
"You are nothing like your Father. For one, I assume you are opposed to marrying Porphyria, no matter the political benefits." She raised her hand to silence him as he opened his mouth to protest. "You would not have given me so much as the time of day had you had the slightest interest in that harpy."
A shadow of a frown swept across his face before it broke out into a smile. "You are, of course, correct," Lucius said. "It would seem we have more than our repulsion for insanity in common."
"Great minds think alike, you know," she said softly, leaning closer to him until mere inches separated them.
Seemingly thrown off by her forwardness, Lucius gulped. "Uh - yes."
"I am a woman who knows what she want. I am not my sister, and if I am mistaken in my assumptions, then I shall not pursue you further, but I believe only a fool could deny what a fortuitous opportunity this could be for the both of us: I avoid whatever fool Mother picks for me next, and you will escape Parkinson's clutches. What say you, Lucius?"
Lucius's face broke into another slow smile. "I am no fool, Narcissa."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
After the dinner party, Narcissa went to her mother's drawing room. She rapped on the door.
"Who is it?" Her mother's voice carried through the heavy oak door.
"Narcissa," she answered, shifting her weight from foot to foot. She had momentous news, but she was uncertain how her mother would take it… but she had to tell her.
"What is it?"
"May I come in?"
"You may, the door is unlocked."
Narcissa opened the door and slipped inside. "Mother, Lucius Malfoy has asked my hand in marriage."
Druella spun. "He did what?"
"He asked my hand in marriage."
"That is marvellous!" Druella got to her feet and embraced her youngest daughter. When she pulled back, she said, "The Malfoys are a new family and seek the veneer of respectability which only marrying into an Ancient and Noble House can provide. Meanwhile, Lucius Malfoy's Galleons will certainly help keep the House of Black as noble as it has always been." She smiled at Narcissa. "I am proud of you, Narcissa."
"Thank you," Narcissa said, ducking her head, a faint blush on her cheeks. She had not expected her mother to be so… common in her assessment of Lucius Malfoy. A Gringotts vault was not all that mattered; if it were, there were certainly better ways to earn money.
"I must tell your father, he will be ecstatic to stop worrying about the finances and upkeep of the House of Black, he must know immediately—" Druella pressed her daughter's hands. "I must go, Narcissa, but you tell your sister. I'm sure Bellatrix would love to know."
"Oh, okay." Druella hurried from the room, leaving Narcissa standing there alone.
After staring at her mother's room for a second, Narcissa gathered herself and slowly walked towards Bellatrix's rooms. She told Bellatrix the news, but to her surprise, Bella didn't even blink; instead, she only smirked and said, "With two Dark sisters, the House of Black will surely benefit from the new order."
Unsure what her sister meant, Narcissa had only smiled weakly and excused herself. She returned to her own room and lay on her bed… so far, everyone seemed happy for her impending marriage, but she wanted to know what the last member of her family thought. Sitting up, she summoned a quill and parchment and set about writing a letter. When she was finished, she wrote To Andromeda, on the envelope's exterior and attached it to the owl's leg.
The next morning, she received an owl in return.
Congratulations! Mother and Father must be so pleased. Though the pretentious world of pureblood princesses was not for me, I do wish you all the happiness you can draw from it.
All of my love. Andromeda.
Narcissa smiled as she read the letter. She had managed to please everybody in her family with her choice of husband — even herself. For once, the future did not seem so dull. After all, she may not love Lucius, but it was possible that she could, and that was all one could ever hope for, was it not?