Compatible Evil

Chapter Seven: Decorating Narcissa

Narcissa Malfoy was not a woman whom anyone dared contradict. She could have said that Dumbeldore was a sex machine and no one would have dared argue; she could have dictated that Hufflepuffs had yellow blood and they would have nodded reverently, and if she had casually mentioned that electric pink and lime green were a good combination, half the wizarding world would have been wearing it the next day. Her husband, currently rotting away without a soul in Azkaban, had candidly admitted at his trial that the dementors would be a breeze because Narcissa wouldn't be there. Needless to say, he had been awarded the cell without a toilet.

She was a well-meaning, rather pleasant woman.

"Pinkie," she demanded officiously, "you will go and fetch Dobby for the day, and I will not take no for an answer."

Pinkie nodded her head with fervour and vanished from the velvet line carriage with a small pop. Narcissa sighed and leant back into the comfortable seat, snuggling back into her silk wrap. A small smile plied across her perfect pink lips and reached her eyes, as it was prone to do when Draco was the subject of the smile. It touched indulgently on the matching booster seats strapped in opposite her as the carriage rolled up to the doors of Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the carriage door swung smoothly open.

"Finally," Narcissa sniffed, swinging out of the carriage delicately.

"Ah, Mrs Malfoy, how wonderful to see you again," Dumbeldore trundled down the steps and kissed her hand softly, "so glad you could come, so glad."

"And it's lovely to see you as well, headmaster Dumbeldore."

"It's very good of you to take Miss Granger and Draco out for the day, I'm afraid we're preparing for the leavers' ball and there is simply no one to take care of them."

"I'm sure we'll have a lovely time. Is my baby alright?"

"Draco is fine," Dumbeldore reassured her as they walked through the halls, "I believe he is currently enjoying playing with some magical blocks. Well, here we are."

Dumbeldore allowed the tall woman through the door first, catching a mouthful of expensive mink perfume swirling behind her. Draco Malfoy was sitting on the large rug in front of the empty fireplace opposite Hermione Granger, playing with his blocks. Hermione was ducking and squealing as they flew towards her, but Draco was chortling agreeably.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, stop that at once!" Narcissa said sharply.

Draco turned his pale face towards his mother and dropped the brick he was holding onto his lap instantly. Hermione too turned her little face towards the elegant, beautiful woman, shocked that she had commanded Draco so effectively.

"Hello darling," Narcissa bent down from her waist and cooed over her son, "You are an adorable, naughty boy."

"Mummy," Draco struggled from under the kisses showered on him, "mummy!"

"Ssssh darling," Narcissa patted his head and turned to Hermione, "well, you're very pretty, aren't you? I always wanted a daughter, but Lucius was never up to it."

In the disgusted hush, Draco pulled a face and pretended to gag.

"Lady Malfoy?" a little voice squeaked from the doorway, "Pinkie has found Dobby."

"Good," Narcissa snapped, "Now, Pinkie, you take Miss Hermione, the little poppet, and Dobby, you will take Master Draco."

Dobby, who was slightly green, had his ears trailing on the ground as he obeyed his former mistress and picked up Draco miserably. Pinkie took Hermione eagerly, the little girl cooing joyously at being away from the fiend that was Draco Malfoy.

"Now, Headmaster," Narcissa barked as the houselves trundled out of the room, Draco trying to eat Dobby's ear, "I shall send them back when they are young adults once again. I shall let you know if anything goes horribly wrong."

"Of course, of course," Dumbeldore looked delighted as Narcissa marched out of the door.

The group of children, Narcissa and houselves reached the carriage with little incident apart from Draco sneering so nastily at a third year she fell down the stairs, much to Draco and Hermione's amusement. The long blonde plaits she wore caught her before she plunged to her death or serious injury through the banisters, and Narcissa levitated her up safely. They left her on the stairs with her friend, feeling rather faint.

"Now, strap the children in," Narcissa commanded, stepping up into the carriage.

She settled like a flurry of snow, wrapping the cream silk around herself more firmly and adjusting the large white sun hat to avoid any of the mild sun rays. Opposite her, Hermione giggled happily at Draco's struggled to release himself, which included throwing himself rather painfully against the buckle.

"Draco!" scolded Narcissa sharply, "Stop that! Sit still."

"Mu-u-u-mmy," Draco whinged unhappily, reaching out to her with his little arms.

"No," she replied sharply, "now, I have a treat for my favourite babies. Hermione dear, you may also be a favourite child, because, honestly, Rose Parkinson's newest granddaughter is so ugly."

"Treat?" Draco ignored the rest of the dialogue, although Hermione looked pleased.

"Of course darling," Narcissa smiled at him indulgently, "we're going shopping first, and then you two can help me rearrange the dining room for the party tonight. Won't that be fun?"

Draco's face fell. Narcissa ignored this or took it as a positive indication, either way she pinched his chubby cheek between her fore-finger and thumb and waggled the skin up and down.

"Yes, you are an adorable child," she told him, "I must enter you for the Witch Weekly Most Charming Smile award this year. Let's see Rose Parkinson beat that."

As Hermione choked on suppressed laughter, Draco wriggled frantically to get away from his mother. Narcissa shrugged and picked up a copy of Witch Weekly, turning to the gossip pages immediately.

"Well, fancy that," she said after a while, "Mrs Zabini met Millicent Bulstrode last Wednesday. I wonder if they're thinking about starting a betrothal."

Draco and Hermione's ears picked up; the Hogwarts gossip mills were always ripe for some outside information, and priceless stuff like this didn't come everyday. Narcissa glanced at Draco again briefly, and frowned.

"If you aren't going to find a girlfriend soon, I may have to take Rose up on her offer, and have you betrothed to their youngest girl, Pansy, is that her name?"

Draco paled considerably, and shook his head vehemently, the power of speech apparently struck from him in terror. Hermione grinned savagely.

"Well, here we are."

Narcissa rolled up her magazine and dropped it casually on the seat before casting doubtful looks over the two children. Drawing out her wand, she cast a binding charm. A light blue rope shimmied out of the tip of her ash wand and wrapped itself gently around their ankles. A second rope sped into Narcissa's hands from Draco's ankle, and she smiled in satisfaction.

"I can't possibly loose you now," she exclaimed happily, and stretched down from the carriage, tugging the children after them.

Diagon Alley was filled with witches and wizards of every age above eighteen and below eleven. Mrs Rose Parkinson was in the Apothecary arguing over the price of cat eyes furiously, her shrill voice domineering the crowd easily. Narcissa pulled them away, telling them that Rose would see them later, and she had a time schedule. Hermione spotted Mrs Weasley's back scurrying into a book shop, and ached to follow her. Narcissa guided them into the dress maker's shop, Madame Malkin's, and proceeded to take the centre of attention.

"Lady Malfoy!" Madame herself scurried over, "How lovely to see you!"

"Good afternoon," Narcissa began cordially, "I'm looking for outfits for these two, and for myself."

"Of course! I shall attend to your outfits myself, Samin, look after the children, and fit them."

Samin was a younger woman with a pinched face and long nose, wearing a plain navy blue robe with white trim. She caught Draco first and set him up on the stand with an immobilising charm so that only his eyes rolled frantically. As she began to hold batches of coloured silk and velvet up to cheeks and hair, Hermione began pulling funny faces at him, still sitting obediently in her chair. Draco began to laugh unwillingly, he face turning red.

"What on earth," Samin turned to Hermione and rolled her eyes, "sit still, little girl."

Hermione, seeing Narcissa was talking excitedly to Madame on the other side of the small shop, hopped off her chair and began to do an odd dance. Draco snorted, but as Samin turned around, Hermione was back in her seat, smiling angelically. As the assistant turned around with sky blue silk, Hermione tiptoed into the cloth aisle. She came out with a sheet of white velvet over her head making ghost noises as Samin was cutting the fabric, and Draco turned purple.

"Hey!" Samin turned, angry, as Hermione fell over and crashed into the edge of a mannequin, "Immobilise! That's better."

Hermione and Draco, now lodged against the stand with matching outfits being constructed around them, had a perfect view of what happened next. As the mannequin fell, it toppled into a rail of dresses, sending them into the material, sending a bale of cotton into the accessory vats, sending a storm of silver, gold and bronze baubles flying into the air. It rained bits of lace and ribbon, covered the entire shop. Unfortunately the accessories used in wizarding dressmaking were self-stick for ease, and soon Madame Malkin emerged with pink lace in her hair and bows all over her breast, quivering with anger.

"Samin!" she bellowed, helping up Narcissa Malfoy, who had been mercifully shielded from the blow by a sheet of ice grey gauze, "You idiot girl!"

"It wasn't me!" Samin protested, "It was the children!"

"How dare you?" Narcissa joined in eagerly, looking at the angelic duo, "They're frozen by the counter! That's it; I am taking my custom elsewhere!"

"Oh no, Lady Malfoy!" Samin wailed, "I am so sorry!"

But the group had already wept out of the shop, Narcissa pulling the children along as the charms faded. Behind them, Madame Malkin was berating Samin, and the girl was wailing loudly. Hermione looked at Draco with wide, frightened eyes, and Draco pressed a finger to his lips in a show of secrecy. Narcissa was complaining loudly as she stalked along the street, warning the other shoppers to try somewhere else, as Madame was getting shoddy. Soon all three were enclosed in their carriage, Narcissa still slightly pink in the cheeks. Within moments Malfoy Manor had appeared, and the children had been bundled into the dining room with minimum contact from Dobby.

"Honestly," Narcissa grumbled, "the nerve of that witch! Now my dears, do you think the pink streamers look best, or the yellow?"

Neither child answered, an oddly glazed expression had come over their faces. With a little scream Draco belted away from his mother, who was coming at him with a large yellow bow for him to hold. Hermione, the bright blue rope glowing briefly, was pulled forward at breakneck pace, and bumped along behind him as he swung around a large table. Narcissa leant to pick Hermione up and got tangled in the magical rope, sending her toppling onto the chaise-lounge with an expulsion of air.

"Draco!" she said sharply, sitting up, "Come here this instant!"

"No!"

He dived under the nearest chair, dragging Hermione after him. She let out a little scream as she bumped her elbow on the ornately carved chair leg. Narcissa, a furious look on her face, reached underneath the chair to seize him, resulting in Draco scuttling away from her and knocking over a coffee table. The brown liquid in a tea cup spilt on Narcissa's skirt and she let out a yelp of surprise.

"Draco!"

Hermione was dragged forwards suddenly, almost landing on her head as Draco sought refuge under the large desk. As Narcissa lunged for him, he dived bravely for the curtains and wiggled behind them. Hermione rolled over and followed him on unsteady legs, deciding it would better to run rather than be pulverised. Narcissa made a rather undignified swipe at her son and caught Hermione instead. Grinning, she pulled the girl ferociously, intending to pull Draco with her.

"Ow!" Hermione shrieked as Draco latched onto the desk leg as he sailed past it.

"Draco!" Narcissa shouted again, "Let go of that desk!"

"No!"

"Ow!" Hermione screamed as the rope tightened around her ankle.

Narcissa, worried about Hermione, let go. Draco tugged forward as soon as Hermione hit the floor, and she bounced after him as he ran from the desk to the dining table to hide between the legs.

"You know, Draco, you are far more trouble this time around," Narcissa sighed, red in the face.

"Bad," Hermione sulked, rubbing her ankle from underneath the table, "bad Draco!"

"Indeed Hermione. Now, do you two want to decorate this room, or not?"

An anguished shriek from Draco was heard, and his mother sighed in exasperation.

"Fine then. I think some lunch is in order, and then a nice lie down."

Draco screamed again, louder, and his mother compensated again.

"Only the lie down for me then. How about some pasta?"

Draco crawled happily from under the table and stood up, dragging Hermione after him.

"Finally," Narcissa sighed, and summoned the mourning Dobby, "some lunch Dobby."

…

Sorry, there are no individual thanks because this took me a long time and it is an extra long chapter as a reward for you!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, and keep reviewing please! I love reviews!

P.s. there may be romance next chapter...or at least a bit of old-fashioned hero-ing!