Chapter 14 – The Secret Meeting
"Up we get little dragon" cooed Narcissa putting her son's arms around her neck and lifting him onto her hip "Did you have a nice sleep?"
Draco nodded and nuzzled his chubby cheeks next to him mother's neck.
"When are we going home Mummy?" he said softly. Narcissa hated lying to her son, he was the only thing in her life that was not part of the gilded cage. He was the only one who was not made up of lies.
"I don't know dragon…not for a while…don't you like it here?"
"I do but I miss my bedroom"
Narcissa laughed and took her son down stairs.
"Hey Auntie Narcissa…is Draco allowed cookie dough?" asked Nymphadora who was liking her fingers
"Um I don't see why not…as long as your mother doesn't mind"
"Oh she won't notice here you go Draco" she said passing the little boy a piece of dough
"Uh not so much he'll be sick" Narcissa said. She began tidying up the magazines on the coffee table. Andromeda had never kept her room tidy when she was younger, even though house elves usually did it for the Black sisters everyone agreed that Andromeda's was always the most filthy by far.
"Mmm" said Draco, Nymphadora leant forward and ruffled his white blond hair
"I love your hair Draco…and yours Aunt Narcissa, its such a cool colour"
"Thank you Dora" Narcissa replied
"Dora?" repeated Nymphadora laughing
"Sorry, it sought of slipped out, you don't mind if I call you Dora do you?"
"No not at all its just that no ones ever called me Dora…I quite like it…but do you mind if…?" she pointed to her lilac hair "do you mind if I become a bit of a copy cat and sought of change it?"
"If you like" Narcissa turned to look at the little display, Nymphadora shut her eyes tight as if trying to remember something. Suddenly before Narcissa could blink the girl's hair was the same silvery blonde as any of the Malfoys, it was also straight and shoulder length.
"Suits you" said Narcissa. Draco however was pointing at her and laughing childishly. Nymphadora scowled "Don't worry Dora, he's got nothing against your new hair style. I just think he finds it funny when the colour changes. He's never met a metamorphmagus before"
"Really" said Nymphadora brightening up "Well check this out Draco" The twelve-year-old changed her hair spiky pink- flowing blue- curly green- frizzy yellow- silky purple, without a pause between them. It was like a firework display. Draco was shrieking with laughter. Nymphadora stopped back at the Malfoy blonde hair. She seemed almost out of breath.
"I've been practising that for ages"
"Very impressive" said Narcissa plumping up the cushions on the sofa
"At school people are all… 'change your nose change your nose!'" she put on a stupid immature voice "My mate Charlie is always saying I should turn into a veela. I put my foot down there"
Narcissa laughed "You know, you say that now but one day you will use your metamorphing to your advantage. Mark my words"
"What? Change to look better for boys" said Nymphadora looking disgusted
"Well, why not?"
"Never, I'd never sink that low, not for a boy"
Narcissa laughed
"You'll be surprised what you'll end up doing. I know I was?"
"What did you do?"
"Well lets just say tissue paper can be very useful when you were as flat as I was" she said. Nymphadora shrieked with laughter. "You didn't hear it from me?" said Narcissa warningly.
"Mummy did Nymphy meet Daddy?" said Draco innocently
"Uh…no darling"
"Will she come for tea?" he said
Narcissa laughed
"Whenever he meets someone new who he likes he asks if he they can come for tea. I think he hears me say it to my friends and he thinks that's what you say to everyone"
"Oh…well can I?" said Nymphadora blushing
Narcissa swallowed
"I…" The idea was absurd. Of course she couldn't come…she was a half blood for Merlin's sake. Half bloods do not stray casually into the Malfoy Manor. What would Lucius say? How could she not be rude? So she said what women say to their children when they mean no "we'll see dear" Nymphadora looked a bit forlorn "I mean you'll have to ask your mother" Narcissa added quickly
"Yeah" said Nymphadora sorrowfully, she seemed to understand where Narcissa was coming from and did not like it. "I have some homework to do. It's left a bit late from school so…see you later Aunt Narcissa, Draco" Nymphadora left the room and trudged up the staircase. Narcissa sighed and sat on the sofa with her head in her hands.
"Don't cry Mummy" came a little voice. Narcissa looked up hastily to see her little son standing up near her.
"I'm not darling…come and sit here" she patted the sofa and hoisted him up next to her. She stroked his soft blond hair thoughtfully.
She couldn't intrude on Andromeda's hospitality much longer …she had to go somewhere else…but where?
In the Malfoy Manor, Lucius was awaiting a guest. He was pacing up and down the drawing room. His mother had left this morning claiming that she was disgusted with the behaviour of his wife. She had stormed out of the Malfoy Manor claiming not to return until Lucius could keep a proper hold on his wife! But was it not that what drove Narcissa away. A firm hold. Who would have ever expected Narcissa to run off like that? She had grown up knowing her duties and had almost always kept to them. And he had stuck her when she crossed her boundaries even slightly.
Dobby the house elf peaked slowly around the drawing room door. Lucius looked down at him
"What is it Dobby?"
"Sir, Mrs Zabini has arrived"
Lucius flew to the door so quickly he might have been on a broomstick. He had owled Francesca earlier claiming to talk to her. Glossing over the facts of Narcissa's running off. He knew that Narcissa and Francesca had had an argument; Lucius neither knew nor cared for the reasons, Francesca had been Narcissa's closest friend since she was eleven years old. If anyone knew where she would have gone it was Francesca.
Francesca was waiting in the hallway looking as magnificent as ever. Her black curly hair was twisted up and was half concealed by a small emerald green hat that was perched upon the curls. Her emerald green robes were lined with fox fur and gave her the usual cruel air about her.
"Lucius!" she said raising and eyebrow. Francesca raised a thin well-shaped eyebrow. For the many years she had known Lucius, she had never seen him quite as distraught. His usually immaculate silver blond hair was slightly out of place and his head bore a small purple scar above his eyebrow
"Francesca…uh come into the drawing room. Dobby, get Mrs Zabini a drink, take her cloak"
"Lucius whats wrong?" she said as he grasped her arm and dragged her into the drawing room just as she had removed her cloak.
"Please sit down" said Lucius holding his hand out to the sofa.
"Lucius? Please. Now, whats happened, you say Narcissa's run away?"
Lucius nodded
"And she's taken the boy with her?"
"Yes…now if she's hiding out with you tell her-"
"No she's not" said Francesca butting in "Narcissa is not at my house. My house is the last place she would go" Francesca finished firmly. Dobby held out a tray with glass of wine on it. Francesca took it without glancing at the elf and moved over to the sofa and sat down. She took a sip of the wine and then placed it down on the coffee table.
Lucius took time to register what Francesca said. Why would her house be the last place Narcissa would go? Lucius sat down on the large chair near Francesca.
"You had an argument?" said Lucius
"Yes, but the reason why takes us back a little further. Ever since you married Narcissa you have treated her both cruelly and harshly!" Lucius rolled his eyes "No Lucius don't give me those insolent school boy actions!" she pointed a scarlet painted finger at him "It's the truth and you know it, Narcissa never crossed you in her life! In fact I think when you married her, her naïve seventeen-year-old heart actually loved you… you would never hurt at school. Not under the careful watch of professors and her parents."
"She is audacious at times" said protectively of himself
"Yes perhaps…and you Lucius are violent at times, far more times than she is audacious or impudent. Narcissa has learnt all her life to be good to her husband. To be a loving, doting wife and mother. She is to do everything you say... Lucius you may look all over the world and you will be hard pressed to find another woman who had done all these things to such a "high standard." But Narcissa is still a woman. Not a creature, which can be claimed and thrown around like a piece of meat. There is only so much one can take" Lucius sighed and ran his pale fingers through his hair "So to be honest Lucius you have been a rather shit husband"
Lucius glared at her
"And as for a Father you have failed completely. Thankfully though, with Draco he is still only four years old. His memories of you like this may be scarce in a few years time. So you can still redeem yourself. Narcissa will be harder. She is twenty-three years old. It will be sometime before she will forget."
"Francesca Zabini if you think I am going to bend down on my knees to her and beg for forgiveness then spend the rest of my life as a family man baby sitting a screaming child in the middle of the night you can-"
"Lucius no one expects that of you, least of all your wife! Besides if you think Narcissa would let you or anyone else but herself near her son you have another thought coming! I recommend you find her and tell her exactly how much you appreciate her. How you miss her and that you hope that she will forgive you. Then you must behave kinder to her, because I think Narcissa could end up loving you very much indeed" Francesca allowed a sweet smile to appear on her lips. It seemed strange on her rather 'wicked' looking face.
Lucius leaned back on his chair and sighed
"I have to find her first" he said dismissively
Francesca snorted with laughter
"That's the least of your worries. The worst thing she could have done is left the country. Which won't be easy, she has little or no money. She does not understand the muggle world. She cannot go to the Ministry, as she knows you practically own the place. Her living family and friends would send her straight back to you!"
"You think I shall have no problem finding her then?"
Francesca shook her head kindly.
"So what did you two argue about?" said Lucius remembering where this conversation started
"I told her to do something she did not want to do at all, I was insulted and stormed off. That's all you need to know. And I would prefer it if you did not tell Narcissa about this meeting"
"The same goes for you" said Lucius coldly
Francesca stood up suddenly
"Now if you please Lucius… I have a son to go to and plans for the day"
Lucius stood up and shook her hand
"Thank you" he nodded to her.
Francesca smiled and did something most unexpected. She embraced him tightly and kissed his cheek. Lucius was unsure how to react. So he patted her shoulder thankfully. After letting go of him she nodded to him and left the room.