Chapter 33 - Paranoia

Flashback

"Cygnus how could you?" the brunette woman shrieked and threw herself melodramatically onto the chaise longue. A young blonde girl watched from behind the door. Her Father's face was half in the shadows half in the dim candle light, his robes as sleek and grand as ever. Her mother was sobbing violently on the seat. Her head buried in her arms. Her dark peach pink robes bustled around her.

"Dru…please-" her father said irritably

"What? Was I not good enough?" Druella Black sat up and glared blotchy eyed at her husband "Do I not satisfy you!?"

"Dru…calm down you're getting out of hand!"

"How dare you take that slut, that hussy for your mistress!! What kind of man are you?"

"Dru, it is not uncommon for a man of my status to take a mistress for himself. Your Father did the same thing…as did mine"

Druella burst into tears again.

The young girl from behind the door whimpered softly, but no one hear her.

"Druella, please. You must control yourself! I am your husband! You are my wife! My actions have nothing to do with you!"

Narcissa slipped away from the door. She was thirteen years old, slightly gawky, and skinny for her age. Despite her looks she was old and wise enough to understand the situation without the help of her sisters. She would never forget the hysterical look on her mother's usually calm face…

End of Flashback

So her Father had taken a mistress, fresh company where his wife did not satisfy. Now could it be Lucius was doing the same thing to her.

Narcissa sighed as she looked out the window, Draco and Susan were out in the garden, she was giving him a lesson on plants using the garden as a type of nature trail.

"I could do that" Narcissa moaned.

Susan had been teaching Draco for around two weeks now, and every day Narcissa suspected Lucius more and more. She picked up little things, how he was always late home on Wednesdays, and how he left the house early in those same mornings. Also on Wednesdays he had a far away look in his eyes at dinner, and always claimed that he was thinking about work. And why was it Wednesday…why was it always the day she met up with her friends?

Had he always acted like this, and Narcissa was just beginning to realise?

Then again, Narcissa thought to herself, how could Wednesday have anything to do with him having an affair with the tutor…he went out early, and she was here tutoring. She could not be in two places at once. Narcissa bit her nails in frustration, it made no sense. But why else would Lucius be willing to higher this girl, she had always imagined Lucius to hire a tutor with old fashioned values and definitely not a young woman, barely a woman she was practically a girl. And the parcel he bought, who was that for? And if this whole scenario was innocent why did he not tell her that he was out during the day. Why lie? Maybe every Wednesday he brought this woman a present? She did say last Wednesday that she had plans for the evening. Was she to meet him? Lucius was acting distant at dinner, perhaps he knew that she was suspicious and cancelled his meeting with that girl.

She had to confront him about it…sooner or later.

The next Wednesday Lucius prepared to leave as usual Narcissa stood by the staircase; she had gotten up especially early to "see him off."

Lucius left his study still piling papers into his briefcase; he stopped when he saw Narcissa standing by the staircase

"Cissa…what are you doing up so early"

"I came to see you off" she said pleasantly

"Ah…" Lucius nodded. Narcissa smirked at Lucius' confusion at her ever changing attitude towards him "You don't usually on Wednesdays"

"Wednesday?" she said her ears pricking up "Whats so special about Wednesday"

"Well I go to work early, I have a conference every Wednesday, you know that" he said grabbing his cloak "What time does Miss Shard arrive"

"In about half an hour" Narcissa nodded, her smile fading

"Good" He nodded "I'll be home a little later tonight"

"Will you be missing dinner?"

"It is possible"

"Shall I arrange for something to be saved for you?"

"No…no that's all right" he said looking at the clock on the wall "Is Draco ready for his lessons"

"The house elf is dressing him now" she answered

"Very good…well then I best be off" he said opening the front door "Have a nice day with your friends"

"Thank you, I will" she nodded as Lucius left.

Narcissa walked into the drawing room and sat at the table she wrote out a quick letter to her friends, dipping her quill into the ink she wrote

My dearest friends,

I am afraid I will be late in meeting you today, I will explain all later,

Do not worry there is nothing serious

I shall most likely meet you around half past one, at Madam Malkin's

Lots of Love

Narcissa

She put down the quill and folded the letter up, stamping it with the Malfoy seal.

Narcissa went over to the French windows opened them and walked onto the porch where her owl was waiting. The fresh damp morning air was crisp and cool. The smell of freshly cut grass wafted around the house.

"Deliver this to the coffee house, make sure the manager gives it to them" she explained to the bird as she put it in the creature's beak.

The Owl turned on the porch railings, flapped its great wingers and flew across the grounds.

"Mummy" came a little voice from the house, Narcissa quickly turned and went into the drawing room where Draco was standing, dressed and groomed for another day

"Hello again darling, do you want some breakfast"

"Yes please, I have to have food to be clever for lessons today"

Narcissa's mouth tightened but she forced a smile,

"Of course, go into the breakfast room and tell the house elf what you want, I'll meet you in there in a moment"

Susan Shard arrived at the house at nine o'clock, punctual as always. She briefly mentioned to Narcissa what the lessons would involve today. Narcissa nodded coldly and set Draco upstairs with her.

Narcissa took a deep breath and snapped her fingers. Dobby immediately appeared and bowed low.

"Yes Missis?" he said looking up at her

She kneeled down at his height so it was not necessary to speak loudly

"Dobby I have an important job for you"

tbc

AN: yeah I knowww I haven't updated in months…but heyy new harry potter book, new ideas….tadaaa more coming soon I PROMISE xxxx

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