Divided Heart
Part 2
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe does not belong to me.
A/N: Hello again. I fixed a small error in the last chapter thanks to . Thanks for that! I hope you enjoy this next installment of Divided Heart. Please review!
"Hello, Narcissa," Severus said as he stepped into the common room. A few months had passed, and Narcissa's potion grades, along with her familiarity with this strange boy, were increasing steadily.
"Severus," she replied, pleased that he was back. She smiled at him from her position on the couch where she lounged, closing the book she had been reading.
"Where is everyone?" he asked, walking over to her and settling in an armchair across from the couch, book bag dropping to the floor. She shrugged. There was apparently some sort of assembly today in the great hall, but it had not flagged her interest. Narcissa didn't know if Severus would enjoy it, but she decided not to mention it. She would gladly take any time she could get to talk to him. They hadn't had any real conversations in a long while. Especially not alone.
"What did Professor Dumbledore want?" she inquired, countering his question with one of her own.
"Nothing," he replied shortly, appearing flustered. "All alone," he muttered under his breath, just in her hearing range.
"Yes, all alone," she repeated him and laughed at the surprise on his face. Color quickly rose in his cheeks.
"Narcissa…"
"Yes?" Silence greeted her question. He stared at the floor a few minutes. "Severus?" Narcissa leaned forward slightly.
"Do you fancy him?" he blurted, then quickly ducked down his head, hair covering his face. She could see the flash of his eyes looking up at her.
"Who?" Narcissa asked, bewildered. This was certainly not the question she had been expecting.
"Lucius," Severus whispered back, too late to back out.
"Lucius?" Narcissa cried, now blushing as well. "Whatever would make you think that? I've barely spoken to him! I barely know him. I don't even-"
"Alright, alright," he replied quickly, obviously embarrassed. "I didn't-"
"Why do you care anyway?" Narcissa asked stiffly, practically in tears, though she couldn't see why.
"Because." About to express her dissatisfaction with this answer she was silenced to see Severus' hook-nosed face drawing nearer. Uncertainty in her eyes she once again opened her mouth, this time preparing to ask another question. "Shhh," he whispered. Then he kissed her.
"Regulus." Narcissa nodded at the second year. Thankfully, this cousin was showing much more potential than Sirius. Walking past a window showing the grounds, she stopped to gaze out at the snow-covered expanse, glistening in the faint sunshine that was filtered through the clouds. The normally dark outline of the Forbidden Forest was now as white as the ground below it. Narcissa smiled. Two years ago, even last year, she would not have acknowledged the simple beauty of the Hogwarts grounds. But she was now a seventh year, her last year, and she no longer took the wonderful sights of Hogwarts for granted. She frowned slightly, thinking that maybe she'd taken more for granted than just Hogwarts. Trying to push the thought from her mind, she pushed her way on to the Great Hall.
"Cissa." Severus looked up at the beautiful young woman standing in front of him. She sighed.
"Severus, please, please, do not call me-"
"Cissa," he stated, finishing for her. He smiled apologetically. Sitting down on the bench next to him, she calmly retrieved a piece of toast from the platters of food, and began to eat. Minutes later, her small talk with Snape was interrupted by a large, regal, black owl landing in front of her. Gently, she untied the letter from its leg and opened the cream colored parchment. After reading the twisting, slanting script, her face went as still as stone, the only betrayal of her emotions her slightly shaking hands. Standing, she walked purposefully away from the Great Hall.
Her thoughts were swirling in her head, threatening to break out onto her face. Narcissa could here the swift footsteps of someone behind her, and she quickened her stride.
"Narcissa! Stop!" Severus called from behind her, sounding annoyed. She whirled around.
"I don't take orders from you, and I would thank you to kindly leave me alone, Mr. Snape!" On the verge of tears, whether angry or sad she didn't know, Narcissa stormed away, barging into the empty Slytherin common room. Then they came. Silent at first, the tears rolled down her cheeks, evolving into belching sobs.
"Narcissa," he whispered softly in her ear, and settled beside her, holding her, stroking her hair. Finally she sat up, still sniffling, but cold and hard once again. "Now, what is it?"
"This." She pushed the letter at him, and he read it, expression becoming harder by the minute, until the point when he handed it back to her.
"And you were not…expecting this?" he sneered coldly. "You, a Black, were not expecting this match to be made?"
"I thought maybe Bellatrix-"
"You thought, you thought!" He leaned in toward her, his face a mask of fury. "Narcissa, I don't think you thought at all!"
"Maybe I didn't, Severus! Maybe I tried not to, because I wanted to be happy," she replied, breathing hard. "Yes, I wanted to be happy and I am sincerely sorry. Sincerely sorry I ever dared to do things that made me happy, knowing that something that would make you hurt might later occur. God forbid this is hurting me at all!" Silence followed her eruption. Narcissa continued to breath heavily, working off the anger she had held in her heart for more than just this morning; for her whole relationship. Severus looked up at her, shame gradually replacing the anger in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Narcissa, I…I just…" his voice cracked and trailed off, as he leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, grateful for this distraction, and let all her pent-up emotions flow into the kiss, one salty tear making a trail down her right cheek.
The letter had read:
Dear younger sister,
How is Hogwarts? I hope all is well with you. Exciting news presented itself on the doorstep of our home yesterday in the form of Lucius Malfoy! I was there working out the details of my own wedding to Rodolphus, when yours became the main topic. The Malfoys had sent Lucius to ask father for your hand in marriage.
He pretended to think on it, but of course said yes. Congratulations! In two years you shall become Mrs. Lucius Malfoy. The Malfoys are some of the purest of blood in our world, and your Black blood mixed with his will make something extraordinary. I hope that this news brings you comfort, as Lucius is a fine man, as wealthy as he is powerful and handsome. I'm sure you two will be very happy, Narcissa.
I will see you over the holidays.
Love,
Bellatrix
A/N: Thanks for reading, hope you liked. Reviews would be deeply appreciated, and construction criticism, pointers, and mistakes are accepted with graditude!
KW