Chapter 10

Lucius didn't know why he couldn't stay away. It was agony to watch the Black Mansion bustling with business as the spur-of-the-moment wedding was arranged. They had intended to have only family, but the Lestranges had to come, and the Rookwood relatives, and slowly the guest list had expanded. Many of the attendees of the Rhys-Boomslang party had heard about the scandal, and curiosity drew them by droves, so that the house was in an uproar as chairs and tables were commandeered from every corner of the house and transfigured into something vaguely passable.

It was all the Lucius could manage to keep from being underfoot. Even under the protection of his invisibility cloak, he wasn't beyond detection. If an elf barreled into him, the ruse would be up, and he didn't doubt how Mr. Black would react.

It would be safer in Narcissa's room.

Lucius turned his eyes automatically upward, as if he could see through the heavy plaster ceiling and imagine her walking around her room, being cleaned and painted and polished into the perfect bride. He wanted to go to her, but he didn't trust himself. It really was better this way. He and Narcissa would both be disowned if they eloped. He arrogance was complete enough to believe that he could scramble his way back to the top- but he couldn't bear the thought of Narcissa struggling with him and on his account. His memories had to be enough. This was for the best, after all- a perfect example of why falling in love was dangerous. He would make himself watch the end, and then try to get on with the rest of his life.

Lucius took a quick step backwards to avoid an elf carrying a stack of plates, his back colliding softly with a wall. He felt the outline of something in his pocked pressing into his leg.

The potion. He thought with a scowl. He knew that it was selfish to take it away. Narcissa was only attempting the spell to dull her own pain, but he couldn't bear the thought of her forgetting what they had. He wasn't willing to suffer alone. He ought to be, but he wasn't. He wanted to be rid of it…but how? He couldn't very well dump it on the carpet.

Lucius spied an abandoned teacup on the table. He knew it couldn't be Narcissa's. She was still closeted in her room. Acting quickly, he unstoppered the vial and drained it into the cup, and then he darted away as a huge voice thundered into the room.

"VILE, WRETCHED LITTLE RODENTS. A BEHEADING IS TOO GOOD FOR YOU!"

He barely escaped before the angry footsteps entered the hall. When he looked up, he saw that he was in a conservatory, and he moved on outside to the garden where the chairs had been sat in even rows. It was a cool, crisp day, but the air within the high stone walls had been charmed to a pleasant temperature, and a few of the dormant flowers had been coaxed to bloom. It wasn't the beautiful setting Narcissa deserved, but it was more of an effort than he had expected from the Blacks.

He watched the musicians tune their instruments, and then the guests began to arrive. He tried to feign interest, but all he could think about was how close Narcissa was- and yet, how soon she would be forever beyond his reach. He wished that he could slow down time- or, even better, reverse it- but he didn't have a time turner, or any way to get one. Besides, there was no way to undo the damage without being seen. Done was done. It was over- or else, it would be soon.

Lucius felt like only a few moments had passed before the music began to play. He blinked, astonished to find that the seats around him were filled. Augustus Rookwood, looking typically smug and self-important was standing at the far end of the garden, near a raised dias, clad in his best dress robes and flanked by Rodolphus Lestrange.

The people in the garden stood, and Lucius cast his eyes back toward the house. Bellatrix was stepping out of the rear doors, clad in the same scarlet gown she had worn to the ball. She walked slowly toward her fiancé. Then, both of the doors behind her were flung open as the music swelled.

Lucius felt as if his heart would burst. Narcissa was standing there, on her father's arm. Her hair and her gown were exquisite. She was blonde again, clad in a bell-shaped confection that hugged her curves in the best places and rustled slightly as she walked. Everyone in the audience was dumbstruck by her beauty, but Lucius only noticed the one thing that marred her perfection- the devastating sadness in her eyes.

She wanted to be walking toward him- almost as much as he wanted it himself. He hadn't attempted legilimancy for years, but he thought he could hear her mind screaming out to his: "Lucius, Lucius, save me!" but he wouldn't let his muscles move. This is for the best. This is for the best… He repeated again and again, but he couldn't make himself believe.

Lucius felt as if a knife was slivering away his skin with every step that she took down the aisle, and he couldn't bear to watch Rookwoods's sneering, condescending smirk. He didn't deserve her. He'd never deserve her- potion or not. It simply wasn't fair!

Malfoy's mind briefly wandered to the potion, puzzled by something he saw. If Narcissa hadn't taken the other half of the potion, then Rookwood should have been affected alone. He vaguely remembered studying Love Potions in Defense against the Dark Arts. The charm wouldn't be as strong as if it was incomplete, or taken by someone other than the intended users, but he should have at least experienced some superficial attraction toward the potion's maker…but there was no tenderness in his gaze. He was looking at Narcissa the same way he might look at a brief at work. She was simply business.

"Dearly beloved…" The Druid at the front of the gathering began to speak, placing oak wreaths on Narcissa and Augustus's head as he began chanting something in a language that no one else understood. He plucked a leaf from both crowns and cast it into a small fire that was burning on the dias, preparing a weaker potion for the fasting charms he was about to apply. He asked Narcissa and Augustus to repeat the chants, and they did so. Then he poured the concoction he had made into a silver dish before speaking to the assembled.

Lucius couldn't tear his eyes away. Like a moth, drawn to a flame, his feet carried him forward, unseen, past the rows of guests. A strange, vital energy was churning beneath his skin. It seemed to start in his toes and fizz up, like bubbles in champagne, growing more and more urgent as he drew near the bride.

"These two have come to be bound. If, before they undertake this fasting, there is one who would speak, then let him do so, or remain silent forever."

The druid's words echoed through the little garden.

Finally, something inside Lucius burst. Like a clock wound too tight, the spring inside him broke, and he cast the cloak aside.

"THIS WEDDING CANNOT BE!" A voice echoed over the astonished crowd.

Only, the voice didn't belong to Lucius.

..ooOOoo..

Lucius saw Narcissa's body flinch as it was jolted by a double blow. First, as she turned toward the unexpected sound, she saw Lucius standing only feet away. Her eyes widened, but then looked past him, a second flash of shock illuminating her face as her eyes, along with every other pair at the wedding, were turned toward the rear of the lawns.

Agrippina Black was standing there, eyes wide, grey hair frizzled as she bounded up the aisle. "ROOKWOOD, MY LOVE!" She squealed horribly.

For a moment Augustus froze. Then, he leapt toward her, arms outstretched. "WOMAN-WHOSE-NAME-I-DON'T-KNOW!" he cried, with just as much ardour, "MY ANGEL!" And then his lips were crushing over hers with far more urgency than he had ever managed for Narcissa.

It was impossible to say who was more shocked: Narcissa, watching her groom probe the tonsils of a woman twice his age, Orion Black, sputtering indignantly at the new turn the sordid affair had taken, or his little brother who was slowly turning purple as his wife put her hands inside Rookwood's back pockets.

The crowd was in an uproar. All around them, shouts erupted. In the confusion, Lucius was barely noticed at all.

"I'm impressed, Narcissa!" Bellatrix whispered, shaking her head in amazement as their Uncle pulled Augustus away, and punched him squarely across the jaw. "You'll give that Snape boy a run for his money yet!".

Rookwood reeled from the punch, but quickly stood to return the blow. Almost as soon as he had, one of his cousins had joined the brawl…and then the Blacks joined in. Soon hexes were shooting around the gardens in bursts of red and green sparks.

Lucius captured Narcissa's hand. "I think this is our cue to leave."

"We're coming too!" Bellatrix ditched her bouquet and captured her fianc's hand instead. Together, the two couples dodged spells until they reached the house.

It was nearly half an hour before the screaming and crashing ended on the lawn. It was another twenty minutes more before the loud, buzzing voices and squalling mediwizard sirens were gone as well. Lucius and Narcissa passed them in the game room, curled around each, waiting for the axe to fall.

Malfoy wanted to be happy- he had inadvertently saved Narcissa from the current danger- but he didn't delude himself into thinking he was likely to survive his next encounter with Orion Black.

After what seemed like hours, they head the front door open and close. Then, weary footsteps wended their way toward them.

Orion Black did not appear surprised to find Lucius's arms wrapped around his daughter. To Malfoy's astonishment, the older man did not instantly launch into a tirade. He didn't do anything more than give his daughter and her lover a fleeting glance before walking to a cupboard and pulling out a decanter of some amber spirit. He poured a tall tumbler, drank it, and then turned.

"The guests have gone home." He said in their general direction, but without lowering his gaze to meet their eyes. "My sister-in-law, and Mr. Rookwood escaped on someone's broom, and seemed to be headed in the direction of France." He smirked. "One can only hope they don't find their way back."

Lucius was tempted to smile, but he didn't dare. Orion's mood was best described as "odd", and he didn't trust himself to anticipate what would happen next.

"You used a love potion." Orion said flatly.

"No!" Narcissa said, while Lucius blurted, "Yes!" at the same time. Instantly, they switched answered. Then, finding that they were still at odds, fell silent.

Lucius finally cleared his throat. "Narcissa was going to use it on Rookwood and herself." He explained. "I wouldn't let her take it. I was just trying to get rid of it. I never dreamed…"

Orion waved the rest of the explanation aside. "It hardly matters why. I was merely confirming how." He took another swallow of alcohol, "I assume that both of you know that Love Potions are banned?"

"Yes, sir." They both answered contritely.

"If you are caught, you face up to five years in Azkaban." Orion said with the authority of a member of the Wizengamut. He seemed to take satisfaction from the fear in their faces. "Was it worth it?" He finally snapped.

There was a beat of silence.

"Yes, sir." Lucius said again, this time in defiance. His Slytherin instincts were gnawing at him to disclaim, but he could not obey. His love for Narcissa was stronger than his urge for survival. "It was my fault, not hers. I couldn't let her marry Rookwood."

"It doesn't appear that she's going to marry anyone." Orion said dryly. "We have an officiant, a license, a string quartet and a fifteen layer cake- but no groom." He paused, gritting his teeth as though what he was about to say was physically painful before managing. "Unless of course you know of a volunteer?"

At first, Lucius didn't dare to believe him, but Mr. Black's face, though lined with exhaustion and annoyance, did not hold any malice. He simply looked resigned. He was tired of fighting them.

Lucius dipped his chin to kiss Narcissa's cheek, and she peered up at him with her shocking blue eyes. They were full of the question that her father was the one to finally voice.

"Well, Malfoy. The Druid is out there waiting? Are you going to marry my daughter?"

Lucius's lips curved into a smile, and his eyes glittered wickedly as he answered:

"No."

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Sorry about the cliffhangar (well, I'm not really. Aulizia dared me to do it, and I really rather enjoy being evil, or I wouldn't specialize in Death Eater romance, would I?). The /real/ ending will be up tomorrow.