Heaven Sent

Chapter 27- Strange and Beautiful

xxx

I've been watching your world from afar,
I've been trying to be where you are,
And I've been secretly falling apart,
I'll see.
To me, you're strange and you're beautiful,
You'd be so perfect with me but you just can't see,
You turn every head but you don't see me.

I'll put a spell on you,
You'll fall asleep and I'll put a spell on you.
And when I wake you,
I'll be the first thing you see, lyricstop
And you'll realise that you love me.

Yeah...
Yeah...

Sometimes, the last thing you want comes in first,
Sometimes, the frist thing you want never comes,
And I know, the waiting is all you can do,
Sometimes...

I'll put a spell on you,
You'll fall asleep,
I'll put a spell on you,
And when I wake you,
I'll be the first thing you see,
And you'll realise that you love me.

I'll put a spell on you,
You'll fall asleep 'cos I'll put a spell on you,
And when I wake you,
I'll be the first thing you see,
And you'll realise that you love me, yeah...

Strange and Beautiful- Aqualung

xxx

Massive.

It was the only word she could think of, and the expression she was wearing showed nothing short of awe.

The ballroom was probably able to fit two Great Halls just within its circular interior. The dark wooden floors were laid in a round setting like a murky whirlpool with the Malfoy emblem at its center. Great carved columns skirted the outside of the room, creating a border awning around the gigantic stained glass dome letting in bright moonlight along with the numerous floor to ceiling windows along the walls. The room was incredible.

"Just think. In a few days, there will be an enormous tree scraping the ceiling," Narcissa said, hugging her husband's arm. The blonde man just looked down at her with a smile.

"I almost forgot about that. We'll have to go out and get it together in a matter of time, won't we, dear?"

Lucius directed his gaze on Severus, "And we won't have another fiasco, I hope?"

"It's not my fault we couldn't get the bloody tree down," Severus retorted grouchily, causing Narcissa to laugh.

"You certainly we're a bit of help when we got it down."

"Again, I blame Lucius."

"Me? Why on Earth do you blame me?"

"For sending us on the foolish expedition in the first place," Severus commented dryly and again Narcissa laughed.

"But it's tradition!"

"Tradition is just an excuse to go out into the wild and frolic like a mangle of baboons."

"Then we shall be acting like a mangle of baboons this year as well," Lucius said with a smirk, "Lydia, care to become a primate?"

Lydia, up until this point, had absolutely no idea what the trio had been talking about. She'd been far too busy avoiding Severus's gaze and admiring the room they had just entered. She had been listening of course, cringing whenever Severus spoke in that grim, testy way, but had not known exactly what they meant. "I'm afraid you don't know what you mean," she said with a blush.

Narcissa gave her a smile, "Every year we all bundle up and head out into the woods to cut down a Christmas tree for the Gala," she explained, "It's great fun- even for Severus, though he's too stuffy to admit it."

Severus glared.

"I'm not sure how much help I would be." The idea was appealing. Lydia had never had a really Christmas like this. Yes, they had always gotten a tree, but it was usually very small with hardly any decorations. But the idea of being in the middle of a forest with Severus was not a pleasant one… but she couldn't let his presence run her life, should she? Gah…

"Do you think I'm any help?" Narcissa chuckled, "I'm just there to help pick out the perfect tree. And may I say, that the Tree Picking Committee needs a bit of assistance this year."

No, she couldn't let his presence run her life. Yes, it was going to be awful, but why should she let her feelings for him get in the way of something that could be meaningful. And the way he was talking about it- it seemed liked he might not even go. "In that case," Lydia said pleasantly or at least trying to sound so, "I would love to go."

"Oh good," said Narcissa, "It's always a splendid time, though I will admit the work is a bit hard. But I think it's worth it to have a Christmas tree to dance around."

"Speaking of dancing," Lucius drawled, "What is a good Christmas tree to Lydia if she can't dance? Cissa, would play us a waltz?"

The blonde woman detached herself from her husband, and Lydia watched with uneasy eyes as Narcissa glided to the magnificent grand piano diagonal them. Narcissa's presence was something Lydia greatly appreciated- keeping her leveled. With Narcissa at her side, Lydia was too concerned with looking sophisticated to think about the dark haired boy, now lurking under the awnings of the room.

Slowly a quiet song began to crescendo under Narcissa's fingers, flowing in the cool harmonics of the room. The waltz was at a walking pace, but the woman's hands were dancing like fire. Narcissa looked enraptured, smiling over her shoulder at Lydia and Lucius, and Lydia suddenly felt a pang of desire. She wished she could play like that.

Looking serious, Lucius started towards her, "Now, dancing is the most important tool a lady like yourself can have. We gentlemen have our cigars and brandy to rattle information out of others, but for a lady, such activities are frowned upon. Dancing, however, is something envied- a proper flirtation that is bound to break a Fidelius Charm if done properly."

For some reason, dancing didn't sound nearly as appropriate as she thought. It sounded more like scandal and manipulation than anything else. Lydia wasn't one for mind games and the more Mr. Malfoy spoke, the more nervous she felt. It was not like she was pretty, or charming, or even graceful. Dancing was hard enough without worrying about unraveling some dirty secret about her partner. And why would she need to anyway?

"Mr. Malfoy-" Lydia begain.

"It's Lucius."

The girl gave a nervous smile, acknowledging him, "Lucius- I don't see why I would ever need to get information out of anyone."

Suddenly Mr. Malfoy's smirk turned bitter and across the room, there came a snort- Severus. Lydia looked down, feeling the heat on her cheeks and the urge to pick at her nails was unbearable. She felt like a total and complete child, but it was true! She did not see the use of this. "I apologize," she said quietly, "I've said something wrong."

"No, no," Lucius insisted, "I just don't think you're fully aware of your position now, girl."

Position? And what position would that be? She was a school girl- a child. She was a mere book keeper's daughter- not anyone of position, "Sir?"

Lucius laughed, causing Narcissa to send a wary look in his direction, "Lucius, please-"

"For such a smart girl, I think you would have put two and two together, Miss Lachlan," he barked, looking smug and incredulous at the same time, "You do realize you are without family, girl? You no longer have a home or any assets to fund the rest of your underage days. You are an orphan and a very poor one at that."

The words hit Lydia like snow in a fierce wind, cutting the skin on her cheeks and around her eyes. She could feel the color draining from her face as each syllable hit home. The way he was saying these things- they were true and harsh, so harsh. And she knew them- had known them, but suddenly it was so much more real and so much more degrading.

And it all came together. She was nothing. She was no one.

And she was going to have to climb her way back to the top.

The realization was scathing. She was starting over. She was a clean slate. And the Malfoys were giving her this chance.

"You're lucky you have us, Lydia," Mr. Malfoy continued, "We are here to help you find a place in this world. I like you, child. I like you very much and would like very much for a smart girl like you to be successful. You are not going to be able to do that with the lousy inheritance your father left you. Do you understand that, girl?"

Her voice felt raw and crackly in her mouth, like something foreign- something that wasn't her own, "Yes, sir."

"And you realize there's only one way for a girl like yourself to succeed in a world like this, don't you?"

No, no she didn't. She had always planned on going to a university after school- becoming an Unspeakable or worse, working in the shop. But there were hundreds of other options out there to be successful for a girl. It wasn't like this was the Middle Ages. What was he talking about? "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

"Marriage, Lydia. I'm speaking of marriage."

Marriage?

What? Marriage? He was speaking of marriage? But- but she was only sixteen. She wasn't even legal yet. She hadn't even passed her NEWTS! For Merlin's sake, why could marriage be her only option? "Bur sir, I've never planned on marriage as such a sustaining factor in my life. I've always thought to go into the Department of Mysteries- become an Unspeakable. There's hardly any room for marriage with a career like tha-"

"Silly girl… Don't you get it? Both your father and your mother are dead- murdered. You are a target and the only thing keeping you alive is your association to me." he hissed, causing Narcissa to cringe on the piano bench. And Severus- well, Lydia had no idea what Severus was doing. She was too ashamed to look at him.

With the new tone in his voice, Lydia's posture grew tense and she began to bite the inside of her lip nervously.

"But my ties can't keep you safe forever. You know that. They are too weak- no binding factor other than fondness and friendship. But marriage- to someone of pureblood notoriety- that would keep you safe. That would keep you sound," Lucius sighed, "I don't mean to upset you, child. I'm only trying to help you."

Lydia felt sick to her stomach. Yes, she was a half-blood, she knew. But the threat had never been as great as this. She had always thought she could depend on herself to stay out of the Death Eaters ways. Why did she need marriage? Was it really that dangerous?

"I'm that great of a target?"

Lucius gave a chuckle, "Lydia, dear girl, you know what your mother was?"

She swallowed, looking down in shame, "A muggle-born, sir." She had never felt dirtier- here, in front of the notorious Lucius Malfoy- with muggle blood flowing through her veins.

"Yes, of course. But not that, girl- your mother, Katherine Scott, was not only a muggle-born, but the Ministry's most valued Unspeakable. And not to mention your father was the Wizarding World's number one source in the history of the Dark Arts."

Lydia's thoughts came to a screeching halt, "My father had nothing to do with the Dark Arts. He was an honest man," she said fiercely, feeling her throat clench in anger. But the anger slipped away quickly as she realized exactly what she had said and more exactly to whom. She looked down as his gaze turned harshly on her, scolding and patronizing.

"You're father would have been the Dark Lord's greatest resource had it not been for your mother's charms," he said it gently, breaking it to her in a way. But for some reason, it did not feel like that.

Lydia started shaking her head and for some reason she couldn't really explain, she took a step back, "No," she said, "My father was an honest man. He never did anything wrong." He never wanted me to do anything wrong.

"Lucius," Narcissa said desperately, "Stop, you're upset-"

But he answered sternly with finality, "No. Lydia, you are the daughter of two very intelligent beings and they have left behind many secrets that are only yours to know. The tests of time have made you no one, but I," he paused, "am giving you a chance. Will you take it?"

A chance. A chance to make her own way- to live, to breathe. To wear fancy dresses and go to balls and to be a princess. That was the life he was offering her with a husband to seal the deal. Suddenly, she was like any other rich pureblood girl and she had a chance, an option. She wouldn't have to work her way from the bottom. Lucius Malfoy was immediately putting her on the top.

But did she want it?

Suddenly her thoughts flew to the dark haired boy across the room and so did her gaze. His black eyes were watching her intently, waiting for any sign. And then, she had her answer.

If it would impress him- make him look at her differently… then…and maybe he could be…?

"Yes." She said it quietly but firmly, looking back at Lucius.

But she did not see Severus, scoffing and shaking his head fiercely as he turned. And she did not see Narcissa laying her forehead above the piano's keys. She hadn't even noticing them holding their breath.

It was done.

Lucius smirked, holding out his hand with a bow, "Then let's dance, shall we?"

Lydia took his hold with a smile, placing her free hand on his shoulder as his grip fell upon her waist. She felt immediately uncomfortable and awkward, but tried to hide it by looking at her feet. It was odd to be in the arms of a man she barely knew, but she better get used to it. More awkwardness was coming with the mere thought of the approaching gala.

"Follow my lead, and count. It's only in three and not hard in the least."

And she did. It was hard, Lydia found, but after fifteen minutes or so of spinning around the room, she found it easier to keep with the down beats of the song, stepping in the right direction and following Lucius as he moved. Yes, she was getting the hang of it, but she certainly wasn't good. Her actions were still clumsy and quick, but Lucius promised she would get better with practice.

The song eventually slowed and came to a quiet end, with Mr. Malfoy detaching gently from the girl, "Good show," he said with a bow.

"Thank you."

Narcissa was approaching them with a bright smile- too bright a smile- on her face, "No doubt every eye will be on you at the Gala. That was marvelous."

"For a cripple," barked Snape from his corner and Lydia immediately flushed. She wasn't saying she was perfect or anything. No one was.

But Narcissa just laughed, "And I'd like to see you do better."

"Easily."

"Then let's see it." It was Lucius who spoke, a glint in his eye. He was looking at Severus oddly, his head tilted in the least bit. "Why don't you dance with Lydia?"

Severus snorted, "On a cold day in Hell perhaps."

"Oh, come on Severus!" Narcissa said, loving the idea, "You can dance with Lydia and I'll take Lucius for a spin. It will be fun."

Lydia was starting to feel sick again. Dancing with Lucius was stressful enough- but Severus? Severus who she never wanted to be near again. Who she never wanted to touch or kiss or think anything of…….

No. Definitely no. She did not want to dance with that bastard.

"I hate dancing," said Severus dryly.

"No," Lucius said with a smirk, "You just hate people. Dance with Lydia. She's splendid at it."

"You dance with her if she's so splendid."

Narcissa frowned, "Severus, no need to be rude."

"Not rude- logical."

"Yes, yes, we've heard it all before," Lucius said, grabbing his wife by the waist and pulling her close. With a flick of his wand, the piano keys began to move on their own, playing gently in another waltz. "But if you don't dance with poor Lydia now (don't believe a word Severus is saying, Lydia girl), I will be very pleased to sign Gretchen Meliflua on your dance card multiple times." Lucius sent the boy a smirk, twisting Narcissa around the room in a graceful step. Just another of Narcissa's fine qualities- she really could dance, and so could Mr. Malfoy for that matter.

"You wouldn't," Severus hissed, looking dangerously at the blonde man.

"I rarely jest about these sorts of things." Another smirk with a delighted laugh from Narcissa.

"Come on, Severus, stop being such a sorry sport," she said.

Lucius gave him another meaningful look. And if Snape had a knife on him, Lydia was sure it would be sticking right out of Lucius's chest right now.

"Really," Lydia said hurriedly, "Severus doesn't have to dance with me."

With the look Severus sent her, Lydia was pretty sure she had just said the wrong thing. Suddenly, that hostility in his scowl turned into something daring and he stalked forward. With a stiff bow, he held out his hand and Lydia froze.

She just stared at him, feeling her limbs tense with anxiety. Why was he doing this? Was he insane or did he just want to torture her? She didn't understand. "I'm not feeling too well," she said honestly, turning desperately to Narcissa. The blonde was still swaying across the room with her husband.

"Do you want to retire?" Narcissa called across the floor, but Lucius twisted her away.

"Posh girl, you were fine just a moment passed," the man cut in, "Don't be nervous. Severus is a solid dancer. He won't hurt your feet too terribly."

Gee thanks for the help….

Lydia could feel Severus's gaze on her like a stabbing icicle and she turned to him in unease.

"I won't bite," he said darkly, black eyes blazing in all the things she could not identify.

She had no choice. She was trapped.

And so, she took his hand.

His touch was cold, like there was no blood flowing in his veins. But at the same time it was burning and if Lydia had not been red enough before, she felt the heat flame in her cheeks once more. She could feel his other hand wrapping around her waist and immediately was thrown back to earlier that day in the library, her gaze now settled, unfortunately on his lips. Her breathing became tight and she almost forgot to raise her own hand to Severus's shoulder. Her senses were too overwhelmed and she could smell him- smoke and sage clinging to her nose.

Suddenly, her feet were moving and it was like she was hanging on for dear life. Lydia was trying her best not to look up at him, but she couldn't avoid his eyes and they were boring into her painfully. The sound of the music disappeared and all she could hear was his breathing mixed with hers, quiet at first- growing ragged with each passing moment. His expression was indescribable. She wanted to say it was cruel, but despairing? She honestly couldn't tell. Lydia had never been good with reading people.

But they weren't dancing anymore- they were gliding across a sea of black and all she could see or feel or hear was him before her. She felt faint and ready to break down- more tired than she had ever been. This was torture. This was agony. Part of her wanted to rise up on her toes and kiss him while half of her wanted to run away. The confliction was turning her mad.

And then, his face was lowering to hers and uncontrollably, she was lifting up her chin to meet him. His breath on her face was cold and delicately her lips parted. They had stopped moving, she realized suddenly and he was pulling her closer. Her eyes stayed trained on his and she saw something different there- something she had seen in the library. Something more than hatred maybe? He was looking at her with something new and almost in wonderment and Lydia's lips turned up the slightest bit. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe… oh Rowena, she didn't know.

What she did know was that she wanted him to kiss her- badly.

But then, he froze. His eyes suddenly glazed over and quickly, he was detaching himself from her. She could barely comprehend what was happening until he was walking across the ballroom, robes billowing as the door slammed. The sound echoed through out the hall with screaming finality.

Lydia could only stand there, stiff and alarmed. Too confused to move or to walk away. It had not sunk in what just happened yet. And she was still going over it mercilessly in her head.

She and Severus had almost kissed. Not like the kiss this morning, but something real- something wanted.

And he had pulled away.

Lydia was shocked, purely shocked.

It wasn't until she felt a hand on her shoulder that Lydia looked away from the door. Narcissa was standing beside her, looking concerned.

"Lydia?" she said hesitantly and the girl just shook her head.

"I honestly have no idea," she said hopelessly, looking back to the door. Lucius was now walking across her gaze, out the same exit Severus had taken, looking stern. Turning back to Narcissa, she said, "May I retire?"

The blonde smiled, "I think that would be a good idea for both of us."

And silently, they walked up to their separate quarters, never speaking of what just happened in the ballroom below. When Lydia reached her room, she paused, looking across the hall to where Severus was staying.

What in Rowena's name was going on?

xxx

A/N- Hey there! Sorry about the bit of delay on this chapter. No, don't fear I am back. I just have mid-terms next week and being a dork, I've been studying A LOT. This chapter also ended up longer than most. It just wouldn't seem to end.

I will be completely honest here and say I am back for good. I'll explain my absence if you care. The only writing I had done up until the drop off of this story was simply fanfiction. I have multiple names and multiple stories. I had never written anything before I wrote Storms- which is possibly some of the worst writing I have ever seen in my entire life. Even this story, I still think is absolutely atrocious, especially at the beginning. But fanfiction worked as a practice to become a different person and writer. Through fanfiction, I began to start writing my own original work, but at times I felt it was a little close to some of the fanfiction characters and ideas I had already explored or written. So, to pursue a short story idea I had, I dropped off all ties with fanfiction. I didn't read them or write them. Silly, I know, but through that I was able to develop something that was entirely my own and I am still developing it. I'm not done with that story and it is a work in progress, but I feel at this point, I'm enough of my own writer to do two things at once. And this stupid story just kept calling me back. I read it over a few weeks ago and suddenly some inspiration popped into my head and I've been obsessed with finishing this ever since. It will be finished- not soon. I'm just coming to grips with how long this story will be, but I will put updates up at least once a week, sometimes more. I can only thank you readers for still reading and I am terribly, terribly sorry that I left you all hanging. I promise it won't happen again.

For those who would like to read any of my original work that kept me from this, I have a livejournal dedicated purely to my own original writing. The name is shortcomings and it is friends only. If you have a livejournal and would like to see some of my stuff, just leave me a comment saying that you're one of my readers and I would be happy to add you. I love feedback, especially on my original stuff and if some of you guys do join, I might put some fanfiction cookies up there every once in a while.

Now, I must thank all my lovely reviewers. You guys are amazing and I love you all to death. Thank you so much for sticking with this story and I hope you'll stick with it a little longer.

Growlithe- Haha, I'm completely, totally, and utterly back. Not sort ofs in sight. Thank you for the brownies and for the review! Here, have some cookies!

Agent Alpha- I am SO sorry! No fear, I shall keep the updates regular and snappy. No more cliffhangers, I promise.

Daughter of Darkness777- Haha, I am so glad you stuck with the story. Huggles you! It's not going to be totally AU, but there are obviously some liberties I took with Severus's past and I don't plan on changing them. I'm not sure how AU it will be with how things work out in the future. I am definitely going to use what happened in HBP later on in the story, as the story will span that longer and longer. But some things are going to be different and some are going to be the same. But hey, its fanfiction. No harm done. And don't worry, updates will be at least once a week if not more often than that.

FAeOfDaRkNeSs- Thank you so much! You're making me blush horribly. Don't worry, no more hiatuses here.

An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin- Huggles you too! I'm so glad you stayed with the story and awkwardness away!

Blairwitch.13- Thank you so much. Yes, there are quite a few grammar mistakes. I'll be honest- I'm terrible with spelling and grammar. I've also never had a beta reader for this story, purely because I like my writing to flow with each chapter and waiting for a beta is always a pain. I am definitely finishing and I don't know if I can promise a happy ending. I have at least four different endings in my head and some of them are happy, some of them are iffy, and some of them are bad. I personally don't like unhappy ending too much, so I don't know how things will turn out. I'm actually working on a short story right now as stated up there, but I don't know if I'll try to publish it. Thanks so much!

REVIEWERS GIVE ME GREAT MOTIVATION TO WRITE AND I WILL PUT EVEN MORE AND MORE CHAPTERS UP IF I GET SOME NICE RAMBLY REVIEWS! THEY MAKE MY DAY! I LOVE YOU GUYS! PLEASE REVIEW!