AN: Oh peeps. Sorry this is so incredibly late. I finished it a while ago but my internet was down for a week so I could not put it on the web. Please forgive me, I will try and get Chapter 24 done quicker - LuciousLadyLucius
Chapter 23 - Second Chances
"What are you doing here?" Narcissa said her voice shaking with fear. Lucius was standing in front of her dressed completely in black, his silvery blonde hair shining in the sun that was coming through the window.
"I came to find you" he said softly
"Well perhaps I don't want to be found" she said sharply, tears brimming up in her eyes. She had been so happy, why did he have to come and ruin it!
"Look Mummy, Daddy could come after all" said Draco smiling. Narcissa swallowed and nodded at her son sadly.
"Narcissa, I know you don't want to see me, but I need to speak with you"
"Speak with me?" she broke down in tears. "What, tell me that everything will be better and then go back to the monster you always were!" she yelled.
"Mummy?" Draco whimpered, tears were brimming up in his eyes. Narcissa ran to the other side of the bed and picked Draco up.
"Draco, go next door to Maria and Clara. Tell them that Mummy is busy. Don't say your Daddy's here…do you understand?"
Draco looked confused but nodded. Narcissa put him down and he ran out of the flat, shutting the door behind him.
Narcissa looked at Lucius and shook her head
"Can't you take a hint Lucius?" she asked. Lucius raised his head arrogantly and walked towards her. Narcissa stepped backwards. "Don't come near me!"
"I won't…if you don't want me to Narcissa" he said. Why was he being so soft. Narcissa expected Lucius to grab her and smuggle her back to the Manor. This must be some kind of trap.
"Narcissa I don't want you to be frightened of me" he said. Narcissa looked up at him
"Well then Lucius, you should have thought about that before you hit me, before you kicked me, before you picked up your wand and aimed it at my son!"
"I never ever used the curse on Draco" he said
"You would have if your mother hadn't stopped you! Look Lucius, I can't come back and live with you again. I'm happy here, I've never been happier!"
Lucius sighed and sat on the window seat. He held out an arm and motioned her to sit next to him. Narcissa wavered slightly on the spot before taking a few caution steps towards him and sitting down as far away from him as possible.
"I understand that we've had problems and I do not wish to deny that I was the sole cause of them. But if you would consider a promise of a better life…would you come back to England with me?"
What was he doing? Was Lucius blaming himself? Was he pleading for her heart?
"Over these last few days Cissa" he continued "I have noticed a change in the Manor, and myself. I have missed waking up in the morning and not seeing you sleeping by my side"
"Lucius, we haven't done that in years" she said softly
"I know, which is why it is so very strange that I should suddenly be thinking like this"
"Is your brain saying this Lucius? Or perhaps it is your ego. Look Lucius I can't understand how you could expect me to jump into your arms and promising to return home. I'm not the same woman who you married any more. I've spent these past days thinking about myself and I've noticed something. I happen to like myself. I have an opinion, a sense of humour and a personality. Not a submissive little bride"
"And I believe you are not listening to me. I have always known that side of you, but I was too much of an idiot to see that. Narcissa, since you've been gone I have truly pined for you"
"What? You've missed a punch bag you mean!"
"Narcissa, please, listen to me! Stop these comments and try to accept the fact that I want to change my ways for you" he grabbed her hands. Narcissa stared at him and tugged her hand back
"Lucius, how can I trust you? Perhaps if it were just me I would take the risk…but I have my son"
"Our son" he corrected
"Lucius, you're his father by blood and name. But when did you last do anything fatherly for Draco? I am the one who has been there for him when he was sick, when he fell down, when he was sad, when he was happy. All he got from you was a snide comment and an angry glance"
"That's how I was raised!" Lucius said
"Oh yes, well thank you for your point of view Lucius but I'd rather my son did not grow up believing beating his wife was right. And I'd like you to know that while we've been away he has spoken about you in his favour more times than I believed he would. He wants your praise Lucius, maybe not at the moment but when he's older…when he's older he'll want to know that you respect him"
"Then for his sake Narcissa? If he would want this so much perhaps you would consider-"
There was a knock at the door. Silvio's voice called through
"Narcissa?" the door opened. Silvio entered the room and was taken aback as he saw Lucius sitting beside Narcissa "Oh you've got company, I didn't know"
"No Silvio its fine" Narcissa stood up, Lucius following. "Silvio this is my husband Lucius. Lucius this is the son of the woman who owns this place, Silvio"
Silvio looked at Lucius with great disgust as he took in his austere presence. Lucius looked at Silvio in the same way. The same way he looked at all muggles.
"It's a pleasure to meet you" Silvio said coldly not holding out his hand.
"The feeling is mutual" Lucius said coldly. Narcissa coughed to break the frigid silence
"Uh, Silvio I don't think we can take Draco to the ice cream parlour. Lucius turned up rather unexpected" Narcissa noticed Lucius was stepping to her side, she felt an arm twist around her waist, sending shivers up her spine in a way Silvio could never compete.
"Darling I had hoped to arrive home soon" said Lucius softly
"But Lucius-"
"No buts, we'll discuss this later" he said motioning to Silvio. Narcissa nodded
"There is some pay I need to sort out" said Narcissa softly "If I do go now I'll have to pay for my stay"
"I can sort that out with you" said Silvio sadly "When I was younger my mother taught me how this place was run. Come downstairs to the 'office'." He said
"Of course, Lucius would you mind?"
"No, I'll pack for you" he said patting his wand in his pocket. Which of course, only Narcissa noticed.
Narcissa nodded.
Silvio led Narcissa down to the room that had been changed into an office, in total silence. He closed the door when she was inside took a note books off the desk.
"Is he the one who beat you" said Silvio softly turning through pages of the note book. Narcissa nodded. "You know, you don't have to go if you don't wish to"
"I have no choice Silvio" she said sitting down in a wooden chair "Draco needs a father, and Lucius…well he promised to change"
"And you trust him?"
"In the past he's usually kept to his word. I don't see why promising this would be any different. Besides, he's never been the pleading type. But today he was. Either that or he's a bloody good actor" she laughed nervously. Silvio looked at her sadly and not a hint of a smile curled his lips, "Well how much will it be Silvio? the hotel fee?"
Silvio ripped out a page from the note book and handed it to her. The money was written down in Lehrer. Narcissa blushed
"I don't understand how much this is in mug- in foreign money Silvio" she opened her hand bag and pulled out a wad of money that Andromeda had given her. She handed it to Silvio, who silently sorted out the correct amount and handed the rest back to her. He put it in the till and looked at her silently. "Silvio…I know how you must feel about me. I want to let you know that all the feelings I felt for you this holiday were not lies. I did not use you… I just-"
"Look Narcissa, your life is your life. Don't let me get in the way of you ruining it" He stood up and leaned forward and kissed her chastely on the lips. A cold kiss. Like the kiss Lucius had given her on her wedding day. "I know I will always love you. I hope that you have a good life, and if anything does go wrong. I will always be here" He opened the door for her. And she left the room.
When Narcissa entered the hotel room, Lucius was standing next to the packed suitcases and putting his wand back into his the pocket of his jacket.
"So much for discussing it" said Narcissa softly "Lucius I haven't agreed to anything yet"
"Your friend Francesca has missed you a great deal" said Lucius matter of factly
"You've seen Frankie? That's strange we had an argument"
"Well its seems she's put that behind her Narcissa" said Lucius
Narcissa frowned
"That's very unlike her" She said
"Well if you come back to England…perhaps you can ask her" he smirked. Narcissa sighed
"Fine…I'll come home, if you promise never to return to your old ways. Or I swear. I will run away all over again…but this time I won't return"
Lucius nodded
"You have my word"
Narcissa sighed and shook her head. What was she doing. She should leave him now and beg Silvio for forgiveness. Live a happy life like Andromeda. Narcissa felt her heart had been put under the imperious curse.
--
"Daddy, are we going home now?" asked Draco as they stepped out of the hotel. Lucius had obviously rented a car from the Italian Ministry of Magic
"Yes, Draco" said Lucius softly, he looked at Narcissa. Narcissa raised an eyebrow
"Remember what I said Lucius" Narcissa warned "You promised to be a better husband and father, his your chance to prove yourself" she muttered. Lucius nodded and opened the black car door for her. Narcissa took one last glance at the house, she could have sworn she saw Silvio looking out of the window, yet when she looked twice, he was gone. Narcissa sighed and sat on the black leather seat. Draco looked at his mother as he was about to get in the back seat of the car. He looked up at his father.
"Daddy, can I sit in the front with you?" he asked his father. Lucius smirked and opened the front door of the car and
"You may if you wish Draco…but perhaps your mother wanted to sit there? Please remember in future that your mother has priority"
Narcissa watched the scene interestedly. This was the way it should be. Draco should be taught good manners and discipline but in a kind way. But how long would it last?
Draco looked up at his father with his big grey eyes and nodded. He made his way to the back of the car.
"No, Draco its fine, you may sit in the front. Lucius make sure he secure will you?" she said getting out and sitting in the back seat. Draco grinned and climbed into the front seat. Lucius waved his wand casually over Draco to make him more secure in his seat belt was more secure.
--
The Italian Ministry of Magic was not as grand as the one in England but it was still large and impressive, designed to the old Roman forum in its glory or the Roman Empire. Lucius marched over to the reception desk, Narcissa following him holding Draco's hand.
"Buon Giorno" said the woman at the desk looking up from behind eccentric red glasses
"Do you speak English?" asked Lucius drumming his finger impatiently on the desk
"Sie, can I help you?"
"Where may I find the floo department for over sea journeys?"
"Third floor on your right Signor" said the receptionist nodding towards the lift (see bottom of page).
This was it…she was going back home. But was she going back into the cage?
To be continued …
AN: For those of you were going to start flaming me with 'wizards don't have lifts' you may want to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I believe it states that Harry and Mr Weasley used a lift at the Ministry of Magic. LuciousLadyLucius
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