Lucius walked into his wife's room to find her planted before her mirror. She hadn't thrown up the usual wards, and he had decided to accept her passive invitation. There was no doubt a lesson he was supposed to learn.
He turned his attention to the images in the mirror. Draco smiled at something and cupped his wife's shoulder. It was clearly a gesture of comfort and support, but there was possession in it as well. Draco looked content. He took a deep breath.
"Don't start, Lucius." Narcissa frowned. "He has made his choice. I need to know he's safe."
Lucius nodded and sat down behind her to watch their son and his wife. There was banter and a fair amount of stupidity. What could one expect from Gryffindors?
The event was tasteful, he supposed. Augusta Longbottom was never one to wallow in her lower connections. The girl was dressed impeccably. The fact that their group included several of his son's friends was a relief. The boy hadn't lost all sense.
"He looks happy." Narcissa sighed. "I haven't seen him smile or laugh in so long."
"He's a man not a boy." Lucius rolled his eyes. Narcissa would wrap the boy in cotton wool if she could.
"His wife has formed a coven. They work magic together, and are apparently happiest in each others' pockets." His wife sounded impressed.
"Our world does not need a coven full of Gryffindors romping about." He suppressed the shudder such a notion evoked. "Imagine the chaos."
"She is the only Gryffindor. There's a Ravenclaw, two Hufflepuffs, and a Slytherin. It's a good mix. I think it should make things interesting."
He watched his wife as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. It was a sign of her displeasure. She never expressed such things in a base way. Years of intense study had helped him understand parts of the fiercely controlled witch that shared his life, but he was fairly certain he would never come to a full understanding. Narcissa had always been perfectly proper. It was easy to mistake the façade for the real witch she kept wrapped up so tightly. There was a wildness within her, an unpredictable hoyden waiting to break free. He missed that virago.
"They're setting up for the witches waltz." She sighed. "It's a gracious act and a polite gesture. She's rising above quite nicely."
Lucius dragged his eyes from the rounded curve of his wife's shoulder as the first trail of light appeared. The warm light flowed behind the witches, seeming to trail from their robes as they whirled about in perfect synchronicity. They blurred in the light of the bright pentacle. He'd seen the dance many times. He'd danced it. He knew each step intimately, but he'd never seen it work.
He was up and moving closer. He was too enthralled to be cautious.
"It's beautiful." He focused his eyes on his son. It had been too long. The boy was gone. There was a man working a miracle of magic with his witch. Lucius sat next to his wife and fought the urge to take her hand. If she rejected him now, he would break.
"The blessing of such a thing." The longing in Narcissa's voice shook him.
"Do you wish you were dancing or present to accept the blessing?" He inched his hand toward hers on the velvet cushion.
"Both." Narcissa glanced toward him and he could see the sheen of tears building in her eyes. "I dreamed of dancing and calling forth the power. Every young witch does, but I wanted to show my parents that I was powerful. I was such a naive little thing. I've danced it so many times and never been blessed with so much as a flicker."
Lucius covered her hand with his. Perhaps he could learn something from the bold Gryffindor perched in his family tree. Narcissa didn't pull away. She turned her eyes back to the mirror and gasped as a dragon of blue flame took flight and joined in their magic. He watched the beast as it followed the pattern drawing the magic up into the air. Glowing orbs of magic floated out into the night on the warm currents created by the fire.
"Don't leave me." Narcissa turned her hand over and clutched his. "The magic is a free gift. If it comes to us we will feel it."
Lucius stared at their joined hands and was certain the magic had visited him. He sat in the warm glow of her affection and drifted happily watching the dance end. Narcissa leaned against his shoulder. He was blessed. Enjoying the moment, he closed his eyes and let his magic spool out and caress his wife.
"I wish their wards weren't so strong." Narcissa growled. "I can't hear what they're saying."
"Arthur was raised properly, for the most part." Lucius forced his eyes open. "As the pater, it would fall to him to offer thanks."
"I know the traditions, dear." Narcissa sat forward breaking the contact between them. "That looks combative."
He turned his focus to the mirror and flinched as his son and the Longbottom scion wielded their wands. The situation appeared to be on the verge of exploding. He moved to stand, but Narcissa tightened her grip on his hand.
"You couldn't get there." She squeezed his hand. "Not in time to affect this nonsense. I suppose the Weasley boy spouted off without thinking again."
"He does have a reputation for it, doesn't he?" Lucius settled next to her again.
"He hasn't handled life after the war well. He rather enjoys the spotlight, but has never learned to manage it." Narcissa shook her head in clear disapproval.
"It seems Arthur has reached his limit." Lucius chuckled as the boy was launched into the air. "I may have to send the man a nice bottle of Ogden's."
Narcissa smiled at him. Well, it wasn't a smile. It was a slight upward curve of her lips, but he'd call it a victory. Such things were far too rare these days.
He was staring at her when she snarled. He looked to the mirror and watched in horror as a blonde witch in a ridiculously overdone gown took aim at Draco's witch. The small dragon that protected her by eating the hex dos nothing to sooth Narcissa. She waved her hand and a black cloak flew to her hand.
"Get your things Lucius." Narcissa grabbed a silver hair pin and smiled down at the emerald eyed snake before allowing it to secure her hair in its suddenly mobile coils. "I will not let this pass."
He glanced toward the mirror with a wide grin. Only his reflection stared back. The besotted grin was to be expected.