word count: 1103

The words hit Narcissa with such force that she can almost imagine them physically slamming into her and knocking the breath from her. For several moments, all she can do is stare at her father, wondering if she's somehow heard him wrong, if somehow he will tell that he's only joking.

Of course, that doesn't happen. Blacks don't joke about important matters like the future and ensuring their bloodline remains pure. Still, she can't help but pray.

Narcissa will do what she must because she's the good daughter, the obedient one who always wants to make her parents proud. Even so, it hurts. The idea of an arranged marriage is painful, and she wishes she could choose for herself like Andie had. In the end, it had cost Andromeda everything, but Narcissa wonders if maybe it would be worth it. After all, Andromeda's marriage seems much happier than Bellatrix's, and Bellatrix had willingly allowed their parents to arrange hers.

"Lucius Malfoy, Father?" she dares to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He's a good man from a good family," her father replies with a tone of finality that means Narcissa had better not argue.

So Naricssa bows her head, knowing she's defeated. "Of course," she says. "Thank you for ensuring such a noble match."

She doesn't tell him that she can barely stand the blond idiot, or that she thinks the Malfoys are a bunch of pretentious morons with more gold than brains. Her father doesn't want to know what she thinks. She is a Black, and a woman, and that means she is supposed to be quiet as a mouse and only speak to agree with the family patriarch.

"Your wedding will happen this July," he continues, ignoring her completely. "I want you wed as soon as you are finished with school."

She notices the way his nose wrinkles at the word. Her father is stuck in his old ways, believing witches aren't supposed to learn proper magic. He had pressed for all his daughters to stay home and learn domestic magic, but her mother had refused. It's one of the few times she's ever seen her mother stand up to him, and she's more than a little proud of that.

…

"A Malfoy," Bellatrix says, nodding her approval. "An excellent match, I would say."

"More like a tragedy," Narcissa groans.

Her sister is quick, lunging and gripping Narcissa by the shoulders with surprising force, her slender fingers digging bruises into Narcissa's skin. "Don't you dare speak like that aloud," she warns, her tone low and dangerous, dark eyes shifting around like someone might be there to overhear. "You know the part you must play. Whatever feelings you may have about Lucius Malfoy or your upcoming wedding, keep them to yourself. No one wants a woman with opinions, Cissy."

Narcissa resists the urge to roll her eyes. She's seen the way Rodolphus behaves around her, and she suspects Bellatrix has put her husband in his place more than once. Still, she shouldn't be surprised that her eldest sister is urging her to play by the rules. Bellatrix knows how important it is to keep their father happy.

"I understand," Narcissa says quietly.

Bellatrix lets go of Narcissa's shoulder and reaches up, lightly patting Narcissa's cheek a few times. "Good girl."

…

Lucius finds her in the garden at her parents' next ball. Narcissa scowls, continuing her trek among the flowers, pointedly refusing to acknowledge him.

"Come now, am I really that awful?" he asks, amusement heavy in his drawl.

Narcissa keeps her lips pressed together, pausing to smell the fragrant red roses her mother imported from Paris. It's all Lucius needs to close the distance between them and appear at her side. Before Narcissa can move, he takes her hand, holding it firmly.

"Let go!"

"What? Afraid I'm going to abduct you?" he snorts.

This is a very different Lucius than the one she's used to. This is not the arrogant boy she's seen countless times at school. There's something softer, more human about the boy who stands before her.

"I'm not afraid of you," she grumbles.

He smiles at that, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. "I'm glad to hear it. I would hate for my future wife to fear me."

She flinches at that. Future wife. Try as she might to ignore it, the reminders are everywhere, and summer is swiftly approaching. Any hope she'd once had of the wedding being cancelled have faded, but she still isn't quite ready to accept her fate.

"I'm not sure what you think of me," he says, "but, judging by your reactions, I can guess. I just want you to know that you're wrong."

"Am I?" she asks. "I highly doubt that."

"For starters, I would never dare to ask you to be submissive. I know so many purebloods expect their wives to shut up and obey. My father is like that."

Narcissa frowns. It's what she's been taught since as long as she can remember. Be quiet; do as you're told. She's never dared to question, to rebel. If she's obedient, the good daughter, she will be loved, and that's all that's ever mattered.

"I will cherish you and take care of you, but I am not looking for a subordinate, Narcissa," he adds. "I am looking for a partner, an equal."

Equal. Narcissa has never had anyone look at her as an equal before. The thought of it makes her stomach flutter excitedly.

"Perhaps you are not as terrible as I originally believed," she admits.

…

Narcissa has never dreamt of her wedding because she's always known it would be something completely out of her control. That is the way of her family and those like them. Still, she doesn't think she could have ever anticipated this amount of giddiness and excitement as she stands before Lucius, exchanging her vows.

She had dreaded this day for so long, but Lucius has proven again and again that he will be a good husband.

"You may kiss the bride."

And then Lucius' lips are on hers, and it feels like everything in the universe has been leading her to this point in time. Gone are her fears of being stuck in a marriage with someone she hates. Gone are the worries that arranged marriages are a needless, archaic thing.

"Here's to a happy future, Mrs. Malfoy," Lucius says before kissing her cheek.

All that matters now is she is married to a man who is perfect for her, and she is so sure that everything will be beautiful.