Title: Little Dragon

Background: This is from Narcissa's Point of View.

Disclaimer: JKR owns all...

Specific to this chapter: More introduction, really. Warning: darkness. This is a dark chapter, especially for me. It's hard for me to write this dark. I mean, most everything I just allude to but yeah, this chapter has some adult themes/subject matter, but nothing explicit...still you should be warned. I don't expect the whole story to be this dark. Also I couldn't help but put Snape in the story...could I? Not that he has a large role...yet.

Thanks for those of you who commented on chapter 1...I appreciate it!

Comments are welcomed and appreciated...as always...


Months went by, in many of which Lucius was absent, and I grew very lonely. Lucius would send a man – a certain Severus Snape – to check in on me from time to time. I knew of him from school, as he was in my class. We had not been close friends, barely acquaintances, actually.

He was a quiet fellow, who never had much to say to me. So, I did not get to know him very well back then. Sometimes I would try to strike up conversations, but he did not seem interested in talking. Indeed, he seemed uneasy to be around me at all. Perhaps he was afraid of Lucius.

Lucius did not allow me to go out much unless it was with him, and he would grow livid if a man so much as looked at me. I found it odd that he would let Mr. Snape around to watch over me while he was away, but Snape was a gaunt and sallow fellow, not very attractive. I don't think he saw him as a threat, and he must have trusted him, greatly. I also think that he was watching, not only to see I came to no harm, but also to report what I did. That bothered me.

I grew very bored of waiting around for Lucius to come back, and ventured out from time to time with Bella. She did not think that a man should tell me what to do, and told me as much every time we were together. I secretly agreed with her, but I was afraid to go against my husband.

Time passed slowly in these months, and I longed for a time when we could build a happy home. I thought Lucius would be more agreeable if not on these long trips. Lucius still had not explained what his long absences were, and that disturbed me, more than I'd like to admit. He seemed to be involved in some shady goings on, and I wondered for the first time if it was with He Who Must Not Be Named.

One fateful day I came down with a terrible cold. Lucius was still away, and Bella came over to nurse me. It was sweet of her; that was the way she was with me. I was forever going to be her little Cissa, and she was going to take care of me. She left me in the early evening, propped up in my most comfortable chair, covered in warm velvety blankets, and promised to return the next day. I appreciated every minute she spent with me.

Not even an hour after she left, Lucius returned. He had been drinking heavily, and I could smell it on him as soon as he walked in the door. My heart sank. Lucius was not an amusing drunk, or a depressed drunk; he was a mean drunk. He didn't slur his words, nor pull his punches. I greeted him as pleasantly as I could, as I felt horrid. I hoped he would go up to his room and sleep right away, as he was apt to do when he came home intoxicated.

Instead, he asked me why I hadn't gotten him a drink yet. I revealed to him that I was sick, and in no fit state to be getting him things. He glared at me, and for a moment I thought he was going to come over and strike me, but he did not.

"Get me a drink!" he shouted, startling me. There was no reason for him to be ordering me about; he just liked doing it.

"We have servants for that," I pleaded. I felt absolutely dreadful, and thought I might be sick if I had to get up. He ignored my request, and I would like to say that if he wasn't drunk he would not have done the following, but I can't be sure.

He grabbed me by my shoulders and forced me to stand up. I started weeping. I hated for him to see the weakness in me, but I felt so atrocious. I couldn't recall him ever being so vile to me. I numbly stumbled into the kitchen to try to find a bottle of wine – not that he needed more to drink mind you – but a bottle would keep him busy for a long time, and was probably the only thing that would pacify him.

My head ached as I tried to arrange a silver tray.Onit wasa goblet, the bottle, and some cheese and crackers in a small china dish - in case he was hungry. When I brought it back to him I was no longer crying, just sniffling a little. I had composed myself quite well, for someone as ill as I.

I placed the tray in front of him, and wiped my eyes with a handkerchief. I wished the extra effort would please him enough so he'd leave me alone. I hoped that I could go be miserable in peace without his yelling orders at me. I longed then, for Bella to come back and put a cool cloth on my forehead, and baby me as she had earlier.

I looked down at him hopefully, my head swimming. He did indeed seem pleased, but instead of letting mego he beckoned me to come sit with him on the sofa. It took every ounce of effort I had to be seated there with him, upright like a lady, while he drank his wine and ate his tidbits of food. I severely disliked him at that moment.

He told me all about his trip, and I tried to seem interested. As time went on I felt myself slouching back in the seat, pining for my soft pillows and warm blankets. I may have dozed off a little, I cannot be sure, but he slapped me then, jerking me out of my stupor.

"You listen to me when I'm talking to you." He said sternly. I raised my fingers to my lips and when I pulled them back they were stained crimson. I tried to tell him I was listening, but he had already forgotten about it, and moved onto another subject, giving me a severe look that said I'd be better use to him with my mouth shut.

I endured two more glasses of wine, sitting straight as a board, wide eyed, dismally afraid I would fall back asleep, and quite possibly never wake up. I am sad to say the prospect didn't seem so bad at that moment. Finally though, he seemed to get bored of his oration, which was a very dull one.

I was just happy it was done, and maybe I could get some rest. Unfortunately for me, he was not tired.

"I've really missed the comforts of home," he said touching my arm suggestively.

My stomach gave a lurch…he couldn't, not like this…no. I was horrified.

"Well yes," I said, thinking quickly as I've learned to do, "I've had the servants make up your bed, for when you returned. It will be warm and comfortable. I will bid you good night so you can get some well deserved rest."

"I was hoping you'd join me," he said, and his motives were crystal clear, even though I had already suspected it. I thought I was going to die when he said that. I could not imagine such a thing in the state I was in. My head pounded in protest.

"Lucius, I'm so sick, please not tonight." He didn't listen, and I think I begged him then, but it's a blur. I know I started crying again. I wanted some pity, but got none. He hit me again for being insubordinate, this time hard. I sobbed uncontrollably, and didn't stop until I fell asleep more than an hour later.

Did I let him do what he wanted? Of course I did. I wish I could say I was a stronger person, or that I even thoughtto fighthim, but I did not. You simply do not say no to Lucius. It would have done no good to struggle, and he was rough enough with me as it was. The bruises on my wrists didn't heal for two weeks.

I remember lying beside him, listening to his soft snores, while I cried myself to sleep. I was thinking I'd like to stifle him with my velvet pillow, but that thought gave me no joy, as I really only wanted him to love me. I only felt pain at that moment. I didn't realize the magic that was going on inside of me, for that was the night I conceived my son. The memory is bittersweet.