A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This is 'the end' but there will most definitely be an epilogue. Please review.

Disclaimer: Not mine...

"It's just a little cut on my forehead!" Narcissa cried as Lucius carried her into the manor. "I could have walked myself."

"No, no," Lucius countered. "You hit your head. What would have happened if you'd gotten woozy and fell? What kind of host would I be?"

"I'm fine, really," Narcissa said. "You can put me... Oh great."

Lucius had carried her into the dining room just as the rest of the family was sitting down to dinner. At the sight of the blood dripping down her forehead everyone rushed forward to help her. Lucius sat her down on the table, Abraxas called for Doddy, Emmiline pulled out her napkin and began dabbing at the blood, and Octavia handed her a glass of water.

Bellatrix looked at Rodolphus and sighed.

"Now really," Narcissa said, exasperated. "Don't fuss."

"What happened?" Emmiline asked.

"She slipped out of the carriage and banged her head on the ground," Lucius said. He took the napkin from his mother, dabbed it into the glass of water, and placed it onto Narcissa's head. "Better?"

"Yes," she said softly. "Although I'm really not worth all the fuss."

"Oh no darling," Octavia said with a smile. "It could be a concussion."

"You're in your final year at Hogwarts I hear," Abraxas said after everything had settled down. "Excited to graduate?"

"Oh yes," Narcissa grinned. "Although, I'll miss school."

"Cissy is top of her year," Bellatrix said and smiled at her sister. "And Head Girl."

"Wow, that's quite an accomplishment," Lucius said. "I was Head Boy my final year."

"How interesting," Emmiline said, looking from Lucius to Narcissa and back again with a wide grin. "You've just met and already there's so much you have in common. Bellatrix dear, were you a Head Girl or prefect?"

"Oh, no," Bellatrix said with a chuckle. "Dumbledore never would have given me an authority position."

"Why ever not?" Abraxas asked.

"Well I was always one to make trouble," Bellatrix said. "I'm not sweet and innocent like Cissy here. I like to be where the action is."

"I feel that a young lady should follow the rules," Emmiline said. "Like our Octavia here. She's the epitome of a proper young lady, just as I was."

"You feel that women should just take the backseat to men?" Bellatrix asked. "Just go through life following what is dictated to them? And what of the upcoming war?"

"You plan to join Lord Voldemort?" Emmiline asked, the disgust in her voice quite noticeable.

"Of course," Bellatrix said. "I'm just as qualified to fight as any man."

"Well what will you do if you have children?" Octavia asked. "Who will look after them while you're out fighting the good fight?"

"I don't plan on having children any time soon," Bellatrix answered. "So that won't be a problem."

"You don't plan to have children?" Emmiline sounded scandalized. She looked at Octavia. "What kind of woman doesn't want children?"

"Well I don't see Octavia with any children," Bellatrix said.

Rabastan slapped his forehead as the table fell silent.

"What?"

"Octavia can't have children Bella," Lucius said softly. "She's barren."

"Oh I..."

But Octavia had thrown her napkin on the table and was pushing back her chair to leave. Rodolphus tried to catch her by the arm and pull her back down, but she shook him off and stomped out of the room.

"Look what you've done now," Emmiline hissed. "You can't do anything right can you?"

"I'm sorry," Bellatrix said, looking horrified at the taboo she'd just committed. She took a deep breath and pushed back from the table. "I think I need a breath of fresh air."

"Come on," Rodolphus said and pulled Bellatrix from the front step. "Up. Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Bellatrix asked.

Rodolphus looked at her and said, "Somewhere to get pissed."

"Knock, knock," Narcissa said, standing in Lucius' doorway. "May I come in?"

Lucius shrugged.

"She means well," Narcissa said quietly. "She just doesn't..."

"My family hates her," Lucius said. He sighed. "And yet my mother thinks her sister is perfect for me."

"Lucius..."

"And I think I might agree."

"We've just met," Narcissa said. "You don't know anything about me."

Lucius shrugged again. "I know that I couldn't take my eyes off you during dinner. I know that you don't approve of your sister's actions. I know that you're gorgeous."

"I'm sorry Mr. Malfoy, but I've heard that a thousand times before," Narcissa said. "So you'll understand if I don't swoon."

"And here I thought you were sweet and innocent."

"I'm a Black. None of us are sweet and innocent."

"But you're a young lady. What do you want to do when you graduate?"

"What's expected of me."

"I asked what you want to do. Not what you're expected to do."

"Alright," Narcissa said with a nod and took a seat next to Lucius on his bed. "If that's what you wish." She paused. "I want to meet a man who'll travel the world with me. I want to visit everywhere: Australia and Chile and Morocco. I want him to make love to me every night and think of me every minute of every day. And then, once we've been everywhere and done everything together, I want to come home and have his children."

"How many?"

Narcissa shrugged. "As many as I can." She looked up and caught his eye. "And what about you Mr. Malfoy? What do you want?"

"I just don't get it," Bellatrix wailed and slammed the dingy cup of whiskey onto the table. "Why does everyone hate me? Am I really all that bad?"

"No," Rodolphus said. "I think you're just fine the way you are."

"Well then why doesn't anyone else feel that way?" She picked up the cup and drained it. "Gods, I love whiskey."

"I love girls who love whiskey," Rodolphus said and took a sip of his own drink.

"Lucius thinks a lady should only have a few glasses of wine," Bellatrix snorted. "What do I do Rodolphus? He'll never ask me to marry him now!"

"I wouldn't be so sure," Rodolphus told her. "He asked for his grandmother's ring."

"He did?" Bellatrix asked. "I don't know how to feel about that."

"His father said no."

"Oh."

"I can't stand that girl," Emmiline hissed as she and Abraxas climbed into bed. "Speaking that way to Octavia."

"She didn't know," Abraxas said.

"I don't care."

"Em..."

"That Narcissa though," Emmiline nodded her head resolutely. "She and Lucius would have gorgeous children."

Narcissa sighed and leaned into Lucius' side. He wrapped his arm around her, lifted her chin, and placed his lips lightly on hers.

Bellatrix hiccuped and leaned into Rodolphus' side. He wrapped his arm around her, steadied himself, and helped her to the closest floo.

"Rodolphus."

Bellatrix sat straight up in the bed. She looked around, took in the unfamiliar surroundings, and let out a silent shriek. She was most definitely not in her room, nor in Lucius'.

"Rodolphus!" She heard Abraxas yell from outside. She prayed he wouldn't... "Oh, hello. Um, is Rodolphus..."

Bellatrix shook her head.

"Well then," he took a deep breath, "I'll just be at breakfast."

"Ah, nice of you to join us Abraxas," Rabastan said, gesturing to the seat across from him. "What's wrong?"

"I just..." Abraxas shook his head. "Nothing."

"Did that Bellatrix come home last night?" Emmiline sniffed as she buttered her toast.

Abraxas snorted.

"Rodolphus," Bellatrix whispered. "Rodolphus, where are you?"

The door to the bathroom swung open and Rodolphus strode out, a towel wrapped around his torso. He said, "What?"

Bellatrix's eyes narrowed.

"Can someone please explain why Bellatrix is already screaming her head off this early in the morning?" Emmiline asked as Lucius and Narcissa sat down to breakfast.

Narcissa shrugged and quickly tucked into her plate of toast and eggs. Lucius followed suit and Rabastan narrowed his eyes at the strange tension they radiated. They seemed... Guilty.

"And where were the two of you last night?" Rabastan asked, trying to sound casual as he buttered his toast.

"Looking for your dear Bellatrix I suppose?" Octavia asked shortly as she sat down at the table.

Lucius nodded and stuffed a fork-full of eggs into his mouth.

Emmiline raised her eyebrows and glanced meaningfully at Rabastan. "Did you find her?"

Abraxas snorted again.

"Mother, I'd like Grandmother's ring," Lucius said later in the morning. "I know how you feel about the situation..."

"Lucius," Emmiline smiled sadly at her son and took a deep breath. "Do you really love this girl?"

"Marriage isn't always based on love Mother," Lucius said. "Sometimes we need to bypass our feelings for what's best. Marrying Bellatrix will not only benefit me, but also cement our place in society. She's a Black..."

"Well so is her sister," Emmiline said. "And I must tell you Luc, you seem much more taken with the younger Black."

"Narcissa is..." Lucius took a deep breath and shook her head. "Narcissa is a phase."

"Will you be happy Son?"

"Yes, I think so."

Emmiline nodded and reached into the jewelry box atop her vanity. She carefully pulled out an old, tattered box and hesitantly handed it to Lucius. "I just always hoped this ring would be given for something more than social standings."

"Oh no." Narcissa shook her head as Lucius handed her the box. "I really don't want to look at it."

"Will you try it on?" Lucius asked. "It's just that, your hands are so much like Bella's and I want to make sure it fits."

"I don't..."

"Oh come now," Lucius said and pulled the ring from the box. "Just try it on."

"Lucius, I..."

"It won't bite." Lucius forced the ring on her finger. He held her hand up to inspect the ring and then looked up at her. "I..."

"Isn't that bad luck?" Octavia had been standing in the doorway, witnessing the whole exchange. "Putting on a ring meant for someone else I mean."

Narcissa's eyes widened and she quickly began trying to pull the ring off. Only, it was stuck tight. She looked up at Lucius and cried, "I can't get it off."

Octavia raised her eyebrows. "See?"

"Use soap!"

"Doddy, get us some butter!"

"Just add water!"

"Spit on it if you have to!"

"Hello? We're wizards!"

"And what are we spitting on in here?"

Five heads looked up as Rodolphus and Bellatrix made there way into the kitchen. Emmiline dropped the towel in her hands, Octavia started whistling, Rabastan laughed, Abraxas slapped him on the back of the head, Lucius bit his lip, and Narcissa let out a sob.

"I fear we've missed something my dear," Rodolphus said quietly and watched as Narcissa ran from the room.

Bellatrix looked at Lucius' guilty face and then turned to follow her sister. She reached the bathroom door just as it slammed shut and then began banging on it. After a moment's hesitation, Narcissa pulled the door open and ushered her sister inside.

"Cissy," Bellatrix said as Narcissa rushed into her arms. "Cissy, what's wrong?"

"It won't come off!"

"What Cissy?" Bellatrix held her sister out at arms length. "What won't come off?"

Narcissa thrust her hand at Bellatrix and said, "Your engagement ring. It won't come off."

"I can't hear."

"Shh..."

"At least she's not screaming yet."

"Shut up!"

"This is so rude. It's invasion of..."

Four voices hissed, "Shut up Rodolphus!"

Bellatrix stared, transfixed, at the large diamond glittering on her sister's finger. She took a step back and asked, "My... My engagement ring?"

Narcissa nodded sadly.

"I don't quite..."

"Lucius was going to give it to you later today."

"Then why is it on your hand?"

"He wanted to see what it would look like," Narcissa said as her shoulders slumped. "He said we have the same size hands and he wanted to make sure it'd fit."

"But that's..." Bellatrix shook her head and began tapping her fingers on the sink. "That's stupid."

Narcissa shrugged.

"Let's do presents," Rodolphus said cheerily a moment after Bellatrix and Narcissa exited the bathroom and entered the parlor.

"Oh yes," Bellatrix said sarcastically. "Let's do presents. Let's pretend that none of this horrid weekend happened at all by giving out gifts. I mean, I was supposed to be asked a certain question this evening followed by a nice little gift, but that nice little gift is now on my sister's finger."

Narcissa whispered, "Bella."

"No Cissy," Bellatrix yelled. "No! Don't you see? I deserve this. I deserve all of this. I deserve my... My would-be fiancee giving my ring to my sister because I slept with his best friend last night." Every jaw in the room went slack. "Oh yes. You've heard from the whore's mouth herself. I slept with Rodolphus."

Bellatrix stormed out of the room and Rodolphus held up his hand. "Wait a..."

"You slept with my fiancee?" Lucius hissed.

"Well she's not actually your fiancee," Rodolphus said. "And I didn't sleep with..."

But Lucius had lunged at him. He hadn't even pulled his wand. He just jumped over the back of the chair and ran at Rodolphus who, in turn, took off running in the opposite direction. Lucius chased him around the parlor, out into the hallway, and down to the library. Rodolphus was chased around the desk twice before he took off and ended up in the kitchen. Finally, the two squared off on opposite sides of the large island in the kitchen.

"You slept with Bellatrix?" Lucius yelled and faked right.

"No!" Rodolphus shouted and took a step to the left. "No, we didn't sleep together! I just got her pissed and..."

"Then why does she think you slept together?"

"I don't know!"

"Rodolphus, you may be my best friend, but I'll kill you!"

"But I didn't touch her!"

"Then why," Lucius lunged over the island, "does she think you... Agh!"

Lucius collided with Rodolphus and sent the two of them sprawling onto the ground in a tangle of limbs and curses. The others ran in to find Lucius straddling Rodolphus, clutching his collar and snarling. He asked as he raised his fist, "Why?"

Rodolphus shook his head. "Why do you care? You don't love her."

Narcissa walked into Lucius' room after finally removing the old engagement ring. She took the ring, placed it on his bedside table, and went to wait out front for her carriage.

"Here's one for Rodolphus," Lucius said and whipped the wrapped gift at his friend as hard as he could. "And one for Octavia and Elan. And here's one for Mother. And Narcissa. Narcissa?"

The group in the parlor looked around.

"Where's Narcissa?" Lucius asked.

"She said something about going home," Rabastan said. "I think she's out waiting for the carriage."

Lucius' jaw dropped. "She's going home?"

Rabastan shrugged.

"Go," Bellatrix said gruffly to Lucius. She bit her lip. "You know you want to."

"Wait! Wait a minute!"

Narcissa held up her hand and the coachman put her bags back on the ground. She turned and looked at Lucius sadly... Almost expectantly.

"Why are you leaving?" Lucius asked, stopping just inches away from her. "Why?"

Narcissa took a deep breath. "I don't... I don't belong here. I'm not part of the family. It's just..."

"I don't want you to leave," Lucius said. "Please stay."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Narcissa said, shaking her head.

"I want you to."

"I can't." Narcissa nodded at the coachman and he picked up her bags again. "Bella..."

"Wants Rodolphus," Lucius said quickly. He took another step towards her and grabbed her hands in his. "And I want you."

Narcissa pulled her hands free and turned to the carriage. "I'm sorry."

Please Review