Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the creator of the HP universe and its characters. I do not own anything except the rather strange plot bunny, and I solely profit in reviews.
Years Ago From Now: Chapter Nine
For the following five weeks, Hermione spent a disconcerting amount of her time in her bedroom or in the bathroom. Morning sickness was a bitch, and it seemed as if fate demanded that she experience all of the "pleasantries" of pregnancy, despite being quite far along in her pregnancy and not having conceived the child herself.
She had originally questioned if her distance from the people that Narcissa Malfoy would have called friends would lead to questions she couldn't easily answer without lying her pants off. Fortunately, her sickness was easily explained away. According to Lucius, it was widely believed that "the weaker the mother, the stronger the magic". Draco was already being rumored to be a magically strong baby considering his family alone.
In fact, wizarding urban legend said that her previous failed pregnancies were because the children would have been too strong. Narcissa Malfoy's magic had been unable to be siphoned into the baby to the extent the child needed, causing the miscarriage. Hermione didn't believe it for a second, but she was willing to take on the myth if it would allow her to be limited in her interaction with the Death Eaters of the time while she was so vulnerably pregnant.
Of course, Hermione knew that Draco Malfoy was not a weak wizard. He had been a fierce rival at school, if an unrepentant bully and pain in the arse, and he must have had remarkable occlumency skills to get away with what he did, being under the noses of Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Snape. Unfortunately, Hermione and Lucius agreed, morning sickness (or I'm-awake sickness, as Hermione inwardly thought of it) was just something that happened sometimes.
There was an upside to being "indisposed". She was not expected to take visitors, including family, aside from Lucius and the healer that was overseeing the pregnancy. This allowed her plenty of time to talk with Lucius about things that would be important for her to know when the inevitable did happen.
She had shared with him insights into their characters as she had known the Malfoys, and they plotted on the best way to go from where they found themselves. It was decided that they would use the impending birth of their son to get over their quasi-public "distaste" for each other. Considering that such a move would have to be taken very slowly, the two avoided the truth of what would be going on if things happened as they were supposedly destined to do.
At some point, it seemed, the two would legitimately fall in love with each other. Lucius seemed more open to the idea than Hermione was, to be sure. Of course, she wasn't truly allowing herself the chance to care about the man. After their hours of plotting how to pull off the next twenty years of their lives together, Hermione would usually stay awake well into the night (the time when she felt the least sick), thinking of how to utterly abandon the man and his child so that she could return home. This was, understandably, kept secret from her husband. Lily was taking her words to heart, researching privately and mainly using Hermione as a very interesting pen pal.
She had not told Lucius about Lily, yet. She wasn't sure what to tell him. She kept telling herself that she would… but once Draco was born. She wanted to be able to go to him with someone to replace herself with… softening the blow if Lily did the impossible and was able to get her home. Lily could be his link to the light, at least for as long as she was alive. And, considering Narcissa seemed well assured that Lucius would be freed in the future, she suspected that someone had to have known Lucius wasn't the Death Eater he was believed to be. But who?
She did feel a good measure of guilt with her deceit and planned abandonment of Lucius, but she was sure that he would understand if the situations were reversed. That knowledge didn't stop the guilt, though. The more time they spent together, the more their respect for each other grew. She liked this hidden Lucius Malfoy.
Aside from the obvious fact that he was incredibly good looking, a fact she tried to ignore at every opportunity, he was also wickedly intelligent. She had never had the privilege to talk with someone about the deep theory of magic itself that had interested her. He seemed to have a well thought out theory to everything she wondered about, and he had proved himself to be just as well read as she was, if not more so.
He had a dry sense of humor, and she was sure that to the public eye it seemed caustic and phony. She, however, was allowed to see the spark of amusement in his eyes or the occasional smile that he would send her way.
Their interests were also similar, and when they were not plotting or divulging potentially important information, they discussed history and the flawed systems within the government, particularly those concerning the classification of magical beings. He also increased her interest in subjects she had not had the time to pursue much in her own time. He was incredibly talented at Runes and Arithmancy, and he was more than willing to help her understand more about the subjects.
While Hermione was plotting on how to get back to her own body and her own time, Lucius was fulfilling his duties. He went to the meetings and revels, frequently returning to reportedly drink in his bedroom until he passed out. He went to various normal meetings, schmoozing to further a cause he had absolutely zero interest in helping. He also spent plenty of time protecting as much of the Malfoy fortune as he could, squirreling away what he could into Muggle holdings that wouldn't be seen and taken by the Dark Lord or taken by the Ministry when and if they arrested him.
She was reading through a book on Metamorphmagus abilities, desperately wishing it wouldn't be strange to approach her disowned sister to question her about her child's abilities, when Lucius knocked on her door and came in. He looked stressed, an expression that had her shut the book she'd been looking at and put it to the side.
"What's happened?" she asked, trying to speak calmly.
"I ran into Rodolphus today at the Ministry. He said Bellatrix was getting concerned at the fact that she hasn't seen you in so long and is beginning to suspect I have done something to you."
Hermione groaned. "I have owled her repeatedly to tell her I am just not feeling well."
Lucius glanced at her desk. "Your handwriting?"
She rolled her eyes. "I am not stupid enough to send correspondence in my own handwriting. Charmed to look like Narcissa's... I studied old letters to make sure everything I wrote seemed normal as well."
"Still, Rodolphus said your parents expect both of us to attend a party being thrown at their house to celebrate Druella's birthday. I imagine everyone will be there."
Hermione felt goosebumps break out at the thought of being in a room with the Dark Lord. "When?"
"This Saturday, I am afraid," Lucius said, calmly, coming in to sit at the edge of the bed as had become custom.
"But we agreed we wouldn't see anyone until after the next appointment with the healer next week. Seeing the scans together is supposed to make us be less hateful to each other. I don't know how to be mean to you like she was!"
Lucius sighed. "Unfortunately, you will have to learn. Could be an upside though in a way. If Bellatrix is suspicious now, because she hasn't seen you, she will be able to see that you are obviously fine and just as you have always been."
Hermione leaned back against the headboard, thumping her head against it to show her frustration.
Lucius scoffed. "You really couldn't be much less like her, did you know?"
"Perhaps we could look at some of your memories of her with you around them? I can use it to build character," she said, sitting up again as she decided to face the problem head on.
"That can be arranged."
The next weekend was coming faster than either Hermione or Lucius had expected. Hermione had spent a good amount of time watching Lucius's memories of his interactions with Narcissa, and it had garnered more sympathy for the man.
Their private relationship seemed to be entirely silent, with them not even acknowledging each other when passing in the hallways of the manor unless necessary or to antagonize each other. Their public life only looked slightly better.
Narcissa was… a piece of work. Subtle flirting with other men was not off the table, even when her husband was literally stood next to her. She would compliment these men, saying how strong and authoritative they were, painting it as if it was in contrast to her own husband. The insinuation was quite clear: Lucius Malfoy was weak, and she made all of the important decisions for them. He was just a figurehead.
Narcissa seemed to like it this way considering the circumstances, but her disgust with her husband was genuine, and… Hermione kind of understood that. So it was that she quietly walked into the Malfoy library to find Lucius reading. She sat down in the chair next to him, waiting for him to put his book down as she knew he would.
He did not fail her as he pulled his bookmark, replacing it before setting the book down. "…Narcissa," he said, inviting her to speak. Hermione hated hearing him call her that name, but she knew he would need to start saying it… and not with the hesitation he did right now. It was to be her name for a while… at least until she found anything that could get her out of there and back into Hermione Granger's life.
"I've been reviewing the memories you have kindly let me look at," she started, trying to figure out a way to start the conversation that needed to be had.
"And?" he questioned.
She took a deep breath before responding. "Narcissa is not the only one that changes drastically in the next twenty years," she said.
He raised an eyebrow, asking the silent question.
"Lucius Malfoy… while I have no reason to believe he ever hurt his family, was… well… he was a… a strong man."
The affronted look on his face said it all. "And you are saying I am not?"
Hermione quieted, trying her best to figure out a way to be nice while correcting the issue. "While I am not giving her justification… Narcissa was a real bitch… I want you to attempt to see it from her perspective."
Lucius waited, though he did not look impressed with the conversation so far.
"Imagine you are betrothed and married to someone that you are not at wanting to be with…" she started.
"That isn't hard to imagine," he supplied, dryly. Hermione waved his words off.
"You are upset that you are married to him and initially, you do things to embarrass or belittle him in public just to piss him off and to make yourself feel better. It's wrong, of course, but it is what you do. Instead of getting angry, as you would expect him to… he doesn't react at all. He allows you to say or imply whatever you want about him. Things that should bait any man into an argument seem to roll off of his shoulders, and you eventually come to believe that he truly is those things…. too weak or scared to stand up for himself. With time, how do you think your feelings would change about him?"
Lucius was quiet for a few minutes as he thought over her words before sighing, "Are you saying she truly believed it? She wanted me to be aggressive and cruel in return?"
Hermione shrugged. "I don't pretend to know what she wanted; we are vastly different people. I just… I think she might have come to believe it a bit."
"And do you believe it?" he asked, staring into her eyes.
Hermione cleared her throat. "Well, no. But… I know my Lucius Malfoy enough to know different."
"And how was your Lucius different?" he asked, seemingly befuddled.
Hermione took a deep breath. "Before I saw those memories, I would have imagined that the only person that had ever belittled Lucius Malfoy without consequences was Lord… the Dark Lord. Lucius was quick with his wand, dangerous and powerful… it might have rivaled how quick he was with his tongue. Lucius Malfoy is a Dark Wizard that gets his way and would not dare to allow someone to emasculate him."
"I see," he replied, turning his gaze out the window. "It is… was easier to let Narcissa say what she had to say so I didn't have to deal with her as much. And as I said earlier… I like playing a strictly financial role with the Dark Lord. If I'm mostly seen as just some random rich follower, I am not expected to do the bad stuff as much."
Hermione sighed, "Well, you definitely were not just some random follower in my time. You were inner circle, and Narcissa was kind of in the background. You… if time is to go as it has, you have to change."
He looked at her then, "And you would want me to treat you badly?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, but there is something in the middle. No happily married woman would want a husband that was seemingly fine with her sleeping around and badmouthing him to his face. It's… well, it's kind of disgusting. A woman wants her husband to be worthy of respect and respectful of her- not someone she can just run all over. I think that is universal for sane women."
"So, you intend to not have Narcissa treat me like that anymore?" he asked, considering their options.
Hermione shook her head. "That is a goal, yes. Narcissa was… well, she seemed happy with Lucius and loved her family. She… I… can't imagine having a good marriage with the man I saw in your memories. Listen, I have an idea…"
On Friday night, the second of May, Hermione spent the hour before dinner preparing for her dress rehearsal. While skeptical of the idea, Lucius had agreed to have dinner with her in character for how they would act together at the party on Saturday. She would dress and act just as Lucius's Narcissa would, and Lucius would begin to act more like the Lucius Malfoy that she had known.
She slid on the five-inch black stilettos that matched her black dress. It was a form fitting dress with a low back and a cowl neck, and it made her feel a bit more mature than she had ever felt. While not inappropriate at all, it screamed of a wealthy and classy woman… which was exactly what she was going for. She arranged her long hair in a French twist, and had very carefully applied the dark eye makeup and crimson lipstick, taking much more time than she ever had in the past to look absolutely perfect.
Privately, she thought it was much easier to be attractive in Narcissa Malfoy's body, even if it was harder to walk in. She was still doing her best not to stumble occasionally, even after being here for a month. The heels, despite the cushioning charms, did not help. Neither did her growing stomach.
As she walked down the stairs toward the dining room, she partly feared seeing Lucius's reaction to her being Narcissa. She did not look forward to being the caustic, catty woman she had seen in Lucius's memories. She much preferred the Narcissa Malfoy she had known, snob though she was.
She entered the dining room to see Lucius was already at his seat. Upon entering the room, he stood to walk around the table, pulling her chair out for her. "Narcissa," he said, calmly, returning to his own seat next to her.
"Mr. Malfoy," she said, almost sneering as she said the word, causing his eyes to flash in surprise for a moment. They were, of course, using this opportunity to interact as they did in public, where Narcissa always called him Lucius, but she needed to set the stage. She was Narcissa, not the woman he was building a friendship of sorts with. Part of the way she riled him in private was to pretend they were barely acquaintances.
"You look lovely, as usual," he said, politely.
"I truly wish I could say the same of you," she responded.
He smirked at her before replying, "Ah, I didn't realize your eyes were bothering you, darling. You should see a healer."
Silently, she approved. The elves brought their salads, and Hermione looked at it unimpressed before rolling her eyes and taking a bite. Lucius ignored her. Upon finishing their salads, the elves quickly came to remove their plates, replacing them with the main course.
Hermione looked down at the porkchop on her plate before pushing it away. "Surely your stupid elves have not forgotten my aversion to eating swine."
Lucius cut into his own delicious looking meal, slowly chewing a bite before responding. "I find their memories to be impeccable. They most likely prepared the meal based on the fact that I am the one providing the means to put food on the table while you spend time shopping… or screwing whoever will have you without being under contractual obligation."
Hermione sputtered, though she felt slightly amused at his response on the inside and enjoyed imagining what the original Narcissa would have looked like if he had said as much to her. "Are you aware of to whom you are speaking?"
Lucius nodded, "Of course, Narcissa. You should eat your vegetables. The sooner I get two healthy heirs, the sooner I don't have to speak to you anymore."
Hermione turned her attention to her meal, pulling the plate back toward herself as she began to eat it, meat and all. She should have known he could pull it off. It was only responding with how he'd obviously always wanted to, after all.
They both seemed happier as they ate their meal, and when they finished, Hermione leaned back in her seat. "You were great. How I see it, a little while of people seeing that and seeing the hostility gradually lessen… then with the baby being born and bonding over our love for him… it will become normal for us to at the least be known to like each other. How did I do? Convincing enough?"
Lucius stood from his chair, walking around to pull out hers so she could stand. "Almost as spoiled and bitchy as the real thing. It will be nice when we can stop acting like that to each other though… it's not as much fun as it should be with me knowing that you don't really deserve it."
They walked through the halls, and he followed her up the stairs to her room. "More studying tonight?" he asked.
Hermione smiled, pushing away the guilt at what she was secretly studying. "Yes. I'm almost through with the last book before I am on the hunt for more."
Lucius nodded. "Okay, I'll let you get back to it, then. I have business tomorrow for most of the day that I need to attend to. Can you be ready to leave at six?"
"That shouldn't be a problem" she replied opening her door and turning to face him. "Oh, the dress was a trial run as well. Is it okay for tomorrow night?"
Lucius looked her up and down once more. "It looks great. You look beautiful. Just, one thing…" He stepped in so their chests were practically touching. Gently, he reached a hand up, grasping a small tendril of hair that had come lose and was brushing over her shoulders. He lifted it, brushing a hand over her neck, then her jaw, and then over her ear, leaving the hair tucked behind it as he moved his hand. "Her hair is always up, and always perfect. Though, I have to say, I love seeing it a little bit wild."
Hermione felt herself blush deeply as he looked into her eyes, causing the left corner of his mouth to lift into a tiny satisfied smile. "I'll let the elves help tomorrow," she said, backing up into her room.
"I'm sure they'd be happy to do that. Goodnight," he said, turning and walking down the hallway toward his own bedroom. Hermione shut the door before spinning around and leaning up against it, her hand going to her quickly beating heart.
Merlin's Magical Moustache, what was that?!
Author's Note: Thank you for all of the kind reviews! I love to hear from you all! Narcissa is/was a special kind of woman, and I've seen plenty of strong men buckle to the ease of just saying "yes, dear" to avoid an argument, even when they are obviously right. I personally think Narcissa would initially take advantage of that... and then be incredibly turned off by it when seeing it would be reoccurring. Feel free to disagree, though.