Disclaimer: I just own the plot.
Review Responses: Woah! Lots of reviews! You people make my day!
Mugz83 - Thanks for reviewing and being so flattering! Lucius is an evil prat! I didn't want to kill the girl in that chapter but the darned thing just wrote itself! It ended up being the only thing to do but believe me I didn't want to do it! Draco is a sweetheart, but did you not find his mudblood comment a trifle disturbing? I adore Draco but we have a love/hate relationship, I mean mocking the golden trio is one thing but sometimes he goes to far with the things he says. Damn Lucy, it's all his fault! Yay! You put me on your favourite stories list!
Professor Charlotte Snape - Ah, my immense powers of deduction tell me you are a Snape lover, well who isn't? I'm glad you were touched by this, I'm working hard on the sequel. I've read a couple of your stories actually, one about Neville turning them all into two year olds and another about the house elves going on strike and they were so funny! What have you been drawing? Wish I could see your pictures, glad to have provided a source of inspiration.
Usako3000 - Yay! You have now left four reviews which makes you my most dedicated reviewer! Narc does need a friend and Sev is a good one to not blow her head off after her whole trying to kill him episode. Reformed Lucy? No. Not a chance I'm afraid, in my fic he is pretty irredeemable though I do at times wonder what made him the way he is but I'm unlikely to ever explore that as Narcissa is beyond caring why he is the way he is. I will admit though in the fics I've read where he is reformed he is just adorable! I wish I could accept your commendations about updating quickly but as this whole story was written before I even posted the first chapter I'm really being pretty evil and holding out on you!
Claudine - Thank you for reviewing and I am so glad you like this story. As for killing Lucius well I'm faced by a bit of a pressure group on that front as honest_iago is determined that I should do just that. As to whether I will or not I'm not certain but it doesn't happen in this fic I'll tell you that much, but then it couldn't as all of this takes place before the part of the second book where he is very much alive and kicking. However, I am writing a sequel and I may write on after the events of book four and if I do then I have to admit it would be highly tempting to see Lucy get what he so richly deserves!
honest_iago - I love that line too! And I know you care, I don't mind them being constructively critical it helps my writing skills, what there is of them! Thanks for the defence anyway. I always worry about Sev, it's so difficult to get him dead on and still show him as a human being with feelings. Oh, and of course I don't hate you, my hatred is reserved for the evil Lucy!
Serepidia - Thanks for reviewing, I'm so pleased people like this story. I don't know why I decided to tell Narcissa's story I guess it's because we never really hear anything about her but Draco appears more willing to defend her than Lucius, he draws his wand when she's insulted but not when Lucius is. Also I think we can safely say she isn't a deatheater or she would have been at Lucius' side in the fourth book and surely Voldie would then have mentioned her. Of course then that leads us to question where was she during the quidditch world cup if she's not a deatheater? Well I have the answer in the sequel to this story, sorry I've taken to shameless self-promotion. Here's the next part!
Wedding Bells Just Turned to Rust
Chapter 17
Narcissa was sat in the library at the manor reading peacefully, until her peace was disturbed by an excited cry.
"Mum! MUM!" Draco burst into the library, waving a piece of parchment madly in the air.
"Yes dear, and don't yell you know your father doesn't like it."
As if on queue a shout came from the study, "Stop making so much noise Draco!"
"Sorry."
Narcissa smiled sympathetically at the downcast look on her son's face, "What is it sweetheart?"
"My Hogwarts letter, it's come. Look!" He shoved the letter into her hand.
"Darling, that's wonderful!" Narcissa threw her arms around her son. "Let's go and tell your father, eh?"
Lucius did not like being disturbed and reacted with little enthusiasm. "Hogwarts is not the only wizarding school. I was thinking of sending him to Durmstrang," he said as if Draco wasn't there.
"Durmstrang!" Narcissa exclaimed. "But that's so far away!"
"The headmaster, Karkaroff, is an old friend of mine. Draco will be better off there. This is not up for discussion."
"But Dad, I want to go to Hogwarts!"
"I said this is not up for discussion," Lucius said his voice soft and deadly, "now go to your room."
Draco knew better than to argue and complied with his father's wishes without question.
"Do you want something else?" Lucius asked his wife, still in that same deadly tone of voice.
"No." Narcissa cursed herself for being unable to stand up to him, telling herself she needed to go after her son and see if he was alright.
*******
Narcissa found her son sobbing, curled up on his bed, hugging a battered old teddy bear. She sat down next to him and he curled up on her lap with the bear. "It's not fair," he sobbed. I really wanted to go to Hogwarts."
"I know sweetheart, but you know what daddy's like when he's made his mind up about something."
The little bundle on her lap just sniffed loudly in reply and its grip on the bear tightened.
"Don't cry darling, if it means that much to you then I'll have a talk with Daddy about it. Ok?"
The child lifted a tearful face, "Really?"
"Yes. Now come on, you're upsetting Mr. Bear, he doesn't like seeing you cry." She lifted the teddy bear from her son's hands and positioned its paws over its eyes, "See, he's upset too now."
Draco giggled through his tears and his mother smiled lovingly at the small boy. She handed back the bear, "Now you stay here and dry your eyes and give Mr. Bear a hug while I go and talk to your father."
She lifted him off her lap and stroked his soft blond hair before leaving the room determined that her husband was going to listen this time, whether he liked it or not.
*******
Narcissa took a deep breath and knocked on the study door.
"What?" Lucius snapped and, taking this as an invitation, she walked in.
"Lucius, I don't want Draco to go to Durmstrang."
"Well he is."
"I'm sorry dear," she said, attempting a soft but deadly tone of her own, "but what I meant was Draco is not going to Durmstrang."
"I beg your pardon."
She smirked, "You're pardoned. Now we'll have to take him to Diagon Alley sometime next week to get his school things."
"What?! He is my son..."
"Funny I don't remember you giving birth to him! Actually I don't remember you coming within ten miles of the hospital while I was in there giving birth! He's my son Lucius and he is going to Hogwarts! You went there, why can't he?"
"That Dumbledore is a fool! He's the worst thing that ever happened to that school!"
"Really?! Funny how he has now managed to topple two Dark Lords then isn't it?" The glint in Lucius' eyes made her realise that she might have gone too far. "He's not a good person to be on the wrong side of Lucius, you must see that. Besides, Harry Potter's going to be there next year, it would certainly be useful were Draco to ingratiate himself with someone who could well grow into the next real power in the wizarding world."
As Lucius mulled this information over Narcissa prayed to all the gods she could think of that she knew her husband as well as she thought she did. If she'd blown this there wouldn't be another chance and she might well lose Draco forever.
"You have a point," he finally said, causing relief to flood over her. "Very well, send him to Hogwarts, it may prove useful to have an informant there."
Narcissa nodded and left before Lucius could change his mind.
*******
A/N: I like the idea of Draco being attached to a battered old teddy for sentimental reasons because he always has the best of everything so it's nice to see him looking beyond a monetary or aesthetic value, even if he doesn't realise he's doing it.
I also love seeing Narc get one over on Lucy!
Review Responses: Woah! Lots of reviews! You people make my day!
Mugz83 - Thanks for reviewing and being so flattering! Lucius is an evil prat! I didn't want to kill the girl in that chapter but the darned thing just wrote itself! It ended up being the only thing to do but believe me I didn't want to do it! Draco is a sweetheart, but did you not find his mudblood comment a trifle disturbing? I adore Draco but we have a love/hate relationship, I mean mocking the golden trio is one thing but sometimes he goes to far with the things he says. Damn Lucy, it's all his fault! Yay! You put me on your favourite stories list!
Professor Charlotte Snape - Ah, my immense powers of deduction tell me you are a Snape lover, well who isn't? I'm glad you were touched by this, I'm working hard on the sequel. I've read a couple of your stories actually, one about Neville turning them all into two year olds and another about the house elves going on strike and they were so funny! What have you been drawing? Wish I could see your pictures, glad to have provided a source of inspiration.
Usako3000 - Yay! You have now left four reviews which makes you my most dedicated reviewer! Narc does need a friend and Sev is a good one to not blow her head off after her whole trying to kill him episode. Reformed Lucy? No. Not a chance I'm afraid, in my fic he is pretty irredeemable though I do at times wonder what made him the way he is but I'm unlikely to ever explore that as Narcissa is beyond caring why he is the way he is. I will admit though in the fics I've read where he is reformed he is just adorable! I wish I could accept your commendations about updating quickly but as this whole story was written before I even posted the first chapter I'm really being pretty evil and holding out on you!
Claudine - Thank you for reviewing and I am so glad you like this story. As for killing Lucius well I'm faced by a bit of a pressure group on that front as honest_iago is determined that I should do just that. As to whether I will or not I'm not certain but it doesn't happen in this fic I'll tell you that much, but then it couldn't as all of this takes place before the part of the second book where he is very much alive and kicking. However, I am writing a sequel and I may write on after the events of book four and if I do then I have to admit it would be highly tempting to see Lucy get what he so richly deserves!
honest_iago - I love that line too! And I know you care, I don't mind them being constructively critical it helps my writing skills, what there is of them! Thanks for the defence anyway. I always worry about Sev, it's so difficult to get him dead on and still show him as a human being with feelings. Oh, and of course I don't hate you, my hatred is reserved for the evil Lucy!
Serepidia - Thanks for reviewing, I'm so pleased people like this story. I don't know why I decided to tell Narcissa's story I guess it's because we never really hear anything about her but Draco appears more willing to defend her than Lucius, he draws his wand when she's insulted but not when Lucius is. Also I think we can safely say she isn't a deatheater or she would have been at Lucius' side in the fourth book and surely Voldie would then have mentioned her. Of course then that leads us to question where was she during the quidditch world cup if she's not a deatheater? Well I have the answer in the sequel to this story, sorry I've taken to shameless self-promotion. Here's the next part!
Wedding Bells Just Turned to Rust
Chapter 17
Narcissa was sat in the library at the manor reading peacefully, until her peace was disturbed by an excited cry.
"Mum! MUM!" Draco burst into the library, waving a piece of parchment madly in the air.
"Yes dear, and don't yell you know your father doesn't like it."
As if on queue a shout came from the study, "Stop making so much noise Draco!"
"Sorry."
Narcissa smiled sympathetically at the downcast look on her son's face, "What is it sweetheart?"
"My Hogwarts letter, it's come. Look!" He shoved the letter into her hand.
"Darling, that's wonderful!" Narcissa threw her arms around her son. "Let's go and tell your father, eh?"
Lucius did not like being disturbed and reacted with little enthusiasm. "Hogwarts is not the only wizarding school. I was thinking of sending him to Durmstrang," he said as if Draco wasn't there.
"Durmstrang!" Narcissa exclaimed. "But that's so far away!"
"The headmaster, Karkaroff, is an old friend of mine. Draco will be better off there. This is not up for discussion."
"But Dad, I want to go to Hogwarts!"
"I said this is not up for discussion," Lucius said his voice soft and deadly, "now go to your room."
Draco knew better than to argue and complied with his father's wishes without question.
"Do you want something else?" Lucius asked his wife, still in that same deadly tone of voice.
"No." Narcissa cursed herself for being unable to stand up to him, telling herself she needed to go after her son and see if he was alright.
*******
Narcissa found her son sobbing, curled up on his bed, hugging a battered old teddy bear. She sat down next to him and he curled up on her lap with the bear. "It's not fair," he sobbed. I really wanted to go to Hogwarts."
"I know sweetheart, but you know what daddy's like when he's made his mind up about something."
The little bundle on her lap just sniffed loudly in reply and its grip on the bear tightened.
"Don't cry darling, if it means that much to you then I'll have a talk with Daddy about it. Ok?"
The child lifted a tearful face, "Really?"
"Yes. Now come on, you're upsetting Mr. Bear, he doesn't like seeing you cry." She lifted the teddy bear from her son's hands and positioned its paws over its eyes, "See, he's upset too now."
Draco giggled through his tears and his mother smiled lovingly at the small boy. She handed back the bear, "Now you stay here and dry your eyes and give Mr. Bear a hug while I go and talk to your father."
She lifted him off her lap and stroked his soft blond hair before leaving the room determined that her husband was going to listen this time, whether he liked it or not.
*******
Narcissa took a deep breath and knocked on the study door.
"What?" Lucius snapped and, taking this as an invitation, she walked in.
"Lucius, I don't want Draco to go to Durmstrang."
"Well he is."
"I'm sorry dear," she said, attempting a soft but deadly tone of her own, "but what I meant was Draco is not going to Durmstrang."
"I beg your pardon."
She smirked, "You're pardoned. Now we'll have to take him to Diagon Alley sometime next week to get his school things."
"What?! He is my son..."
"Funny I don't remember you giving birth to him! Actually I don't remember you coming within ten miles of the hospital while I was in there giving birth! He's my son Lucius and he is going to Hogwarts! You went there, why can't he?"
"That Dumbledore is a fool! He's the worst thing that ever happened to that school!"
"Really?! Funny how he has now managed to topple two Dark Lords then isn't it?" The glint in Lucius' eyes made her realise that she might have gone too far. "He's not a good person to be on the wrong side of Lucius, you must see that. Besides, Harry Potter's going to be there next year, it would certainly be useful were Draco to ingratiate himself with someone who could well grow into the next real power in the wizarding world."
As Lucius mulled this information over Narcissa prayed to all the gods she could think of that she knew her husband as well as she thought she did. If she'd blown this there wouldn't be another chance and she might well lose Draco forever.
"You have a point," he finally said, causing relief to flood over her. "Very well, send him to Hogwarts, it may prove useful to have an informant there."
Narcissa nodded and left before Lucius could change his mind.
*******
A/N: I like the idea of Draco being attached to a battered old teddy for sentimental reasons because he always has the best of everything so it's nice to see him looking beyond a monetary or aesthetic value, even if he doesn't realise he's doing it.
I also love seeing Narc get one over on Lucy!