Word Count: 678


"Cissa, don't do this." Lucius is a proud man, but, in this moment, he doesn't care. He will gladly beg if it will make Narcissa stay.

She shakes her head. "I was always taught there's good in everyone, but you've proved me wrong."

Lucius flinches. Is he really so bad? He has made a lot of foolish decisions, but he wants to believe that he isn't terrible.

Narcissa looks at him like he's something vile, like he is scum from the pond, not worth her time.

...

The separation isn't going well for him. Lucius has always prided himself on being the absolute best. Now, however, he is anything but. His hair has lost its shine, and there are dark circles under his eyes.

He doesn't care. Not really.

He stares at the photograph clutched in his trembling hand. They had been so happy once. Narcissa smiles at the camera, laughing as Lucius steals a kiss.

He sets the photograph aside, grabbing the bottle of firewhiskey and taking a deep drink. He's never cared much for alcohol before. The burn of it, and the way it clouds his mind has always steered him away from it. In all his years, he's never had more than just a glass. Now, he can't keep track.

Eventually the gold will run out, and he will be miserable and sober, but, for now, at least he has something to make him forget the loneliness, if only for a moment.

...

She says she needs a fresh start. Maybe he doesn't blame her. She has been dragged down by his affiliation with the Dark Lord, and she deserves so much better.

Had she known she would be taking a chance when she married him? The Malfoy name had once been so good, so unshakable. Now he's thrown it all away and ruined everything.

"I wish you would reconsider," he tells her.

"Our love is dead, Lucius," she says with a sigh. "There isn't any point in pretending anymore."

"Honestly, Father, how can you live like this?"

Lucius barely even acknowledges his son. He knows that Draco is there, but he is too ashamed to speak.

"Have you looked in a mirror lately?" Draco demands, jerking Lucius' liquor bottle away. "Honestly, you look like you were mauled by a hippogriff, eaten, and then shat out."

"I'm sure I deserve that," Lucius mutters. "Leave me be."

He's lucky that his son is visiting at all. Draco should hate him just as much as Narcissa does. Lucius never intended for Draco to get caught up in his mess. Maybe it was always inevitable, but it isn't what Lucius wanted.

He's zoned out so much that he barely even notices Draco has left the room until he returns with a cup filled with steaming coffee. "Drink this. Maybe it will help you sober up."

Lucius accepts it, staring at the dark brown liquid within. "There's no reason for being sober," he says flatly.

"You miss Mother."

Lucius' lips twitch into an almost smile. He sighs. "Things were food for a while… yeah," he says wistfully. "I should have done more to keep her."

"Well, you're in luck. If you can change, she will meet with you this weekend."

Lucius neatly spills his coffee. The words are more potent than any amount of caffeine could ever be. He is alert in an instant. "She… What? Are you sure?"

"I've spoken with her. But she has to know that you can change," Draco says.

That's the problem. He has changed, but it isn't for the better. His life has spiraled, and he isn't sure what to do anymore.

But there's a chance. He's changed once, so why can't he do it again?

"I want to try," he says.

He's tired of being so lonely, of only having his thoughts and memories for company. He misses Narcissa more than he could ever say, and if he can have her back, he will do whatever it takes.

"I will try." He shakes his head. No, trying isn't good enough. "I will change."