Lying back in the floating fabric, Narcissa watched as her husband climbed on top of her. Without a word, he slowly unpeeled her clothes until she was lying naked before him. Her pale skin seemed to shimmer in the setting sunlight. Malfoy did not move, he merely looked at her, surveying her body with calm eyes. Narcissa leaned up to kiss him, but he pushed her back down, moving his hand to her lips motioning silence. He brought his hand trailingly down her torso, lingering beneath her breasts before continuing to trace further down. His touch was feather-light feeling beneath his fingers a quiver of anticipation.

Narcissa looked up at her husband, his blue-grey eyes boring through her skin and felt starkly vulnerable in the open air, with nothing but her husband's hand to cover her.

Lucius lifted one of her legs up, sliding his hand up and down her inner thigh as he did so, still maintaining the same immaculate calm and decorum. Narcissa's eyes fluttered and her head fell back. Her hands came involuntarily up her body, stroking her hips and her stomach. Malfoy grabbed hold of them and forced them back beside her, eyeing her meaningfully, then with a gleam in his eye, drew out his wand and uttered a charm. Suddenly Narcissa felt her hands being bound by invisible chords either side of her body. If it were possible to feel more vulnerable, she did, but she was not afraid.

Sitting back, looking at his prize, Lucius Malfoy shook off his outer cloak, and then kissed Narcissa softly on the inside of her knee. He worked his hands and lips up and down her legs, his pace refusing to hasten, driving her crazy with his obstinate control.

Narcissa struggled in her invisible bonds, thrusting her chin up, every time his hands brushed further up her legs. Then, leaning over, he looked into her eyes, the mixture of alarm and longing spurring him into further action. Still holding her gaze he slipped his finger inside her, forcing her legs to open wider as he did.

Narcissa struggled to maintain eye contact as he continued to move his hands, rhythmically pulsing as he watched her breathing get more laboured, her hands clenching in her bonds. With another move Malfoy had undone his trousers, and, positioning himself over Narcissa, he slid slowly into her. Immediately her bonds were released and Narcissa threw her arms around her husband as he began to push into her, still looking into her eyes with increasing intensity. His thrusts grew longer and faster and Narcissa felt the fabric sheet sway more violently, dizzy with intoxication, her legs stretching as wide as she could, trying to envelop as much of his body as she could. His movements became faster and deeper, finally meeting a frenzied climax, his hips arching into hers. He kept moving though, until Narcissa too began to reach her peak, her mouth opening in a silent cry, her chest thrusting upwards, rocking against his body.

The floating hammock continued to sway as the two occupants lay within, exhausted and satiated, their arms and bodies seamlessly interlocked.

Narcissa awoke to find it much darker than she had realised. She sat up to see the sun was nowhere to be seen. Indeed the only light came from a little candle which stood on the stone bench. Next to it sat Malfoy, staring fixedly at the cane. Narcissa swung her legs over the edge and dropped lightly onto the ground. Malfoy looked up and flicked his wand at the candle, splitting it into four more candles, the little grove in which they sat suddenly appeared brighter.

"I have tried everything I can think of to get it to reveal… whatever it does reveal... I don't know. Perhaps it is nothing, though why Fudge prized it so highly I will never know." He handed it to Narcissa, but before she could take it he stopped, staring at it. Holding it up to the candle-light he narrowed his eyes, "look at this!" he said sharply.

Narcissa slid alongside him, to see from the same angle. She took the cane in her hands and held it up. In the light the cane was rendered translucent, and highlighted along its length was a fine fracture. Lucius looked at Narcissa incredulously, then, gripping the cane tightly he twisted the top part. It pulled apart about six inches, revealing another layer within. The pair looked closer to see that on this layer there was some writing.

Anima Fatalis 6879003p869 From Sleeping Light comes forth the Dragon

Narcissa and Lucius gazed at the message. "This was evidently what my father meant for me to find. I would never in a million years have thought he would have hidden it is such a... rudimentary fashion."

Narcissa looked up at him, "Maybe that's just it, nobody would think of it, thus keeping the secret... secret!"

Lucius continued to stare. "Anima Fatalis. The breath of fate."

"Your Latin is good!" said Narcissa with mock condescension, "Though I'd have said the soul of destiny myself'."

Lucius ignored her. "But what is this number.. and a dragon? I don't know anything about a dragon in classical history, save of course the fact that the symbol of our old house at Hogwarts was..."

"A serpent," Narcissa interjected.

"Which is the same word in Latin as dragon."

"Yes," said Narcissa, "Perhaps it is a reference to Slytherin... though I cannot think why..." Suddenly she stopped, "The number, I know what it is! After I left school I was sent to study literature abroad... I think it was to distract me from Bella's influence or something... but anyway, this number is the code to a book, and then the last three digits are the page... All we have to do is go to the Library."

Lucius looked impressed and for the second time that day realised that Narcissa was filling the shoes of a Malfoy more than adequately. "One problem, my darling... which Library?"

Both of them sat in silence for a moment. "Surely the National Wizard Library in London, near Gringotts... would that not be the one?" Narcissa proposed tentatively.

Lucius looked at her, "I have a feeling that it is in another library, somewhere... more protected."

Narcissa frowned, "Where?"

"Hogwarts."

"How will you get to the library?" ventured Narcissa.

"In two days time there is a meeting of the governors and teachers. An acquaintance of mine will be there. I will tell him that I am interested in looking around the school... for future reference," he raised his eyebrow seductively at Narcissa. "It is perfectly feasible that someone like myself would wish to do this, revisit my alma mater with regards to my future offspring... who knows, in the future I may even be one of the school governors..."

Narcissa smiled. "You seem to have it all figured out. "ill you need me to accompany you?"

Malfoy paused, "Why not? I dare say you could prove quite the diversionary tactic... should it come to that."

The next day after Malfoy left for work, Narcissa left to go shopping. She wandered aimlessly about Diagon Alley, flitting in and out of shops, buying things here and there, which doubtless she did not need, but which entertained her all the same. At about 3pm she wandered into a place called Tawny's. This gothically decorated bar was a favourite haunt of hers and her sister, and thus she was not surprised when she saw the latter sitting in the corner, talking furtively to someone with dark and greyish stubble which seemed to go all the way around his neck. Seeing Narcissa, Bellatrix smiled and motioned to the man opposite her who hastily departed.

"Cis... do come and join me," she said in an oily voice, patting the seat next to her.

As Narcissa walked towards her sister, Bellatrix stood up and kissed her on the cheek. This rather uncharacteristically demonstrative act puzzled Narcissa, but it did not concern her. They were sisters after all. The pair engaged in small talk for a few minutes until Bellatrix left the table to get Narcissa a drink. She then proceeded to quiz her about married life.

"You understand that now you have taken my place... you are a lady of the house!" said Bella with a giggle.

Narcissa laughed too, feeling an easy warmth spread over her as she drank, "Yes, I suppose I am," and she laughed again. "What drink is this Bella? It tastes funny."

Bellatrix smiled, "Oh, it's one of the owner's special concoctions... I don't know. But tell me about the two of you... together."

Narcissa blushed scarlet. 'Bella!' she said, giggling, 'I don't think I know what you mean..."

"Oh, you do..." said Bellatrix, flashing her teeth in a serpentine smile.

Before Narcissa could stop herself she had started to pour out details. She felt almost as if it was not her voice. "Oh but it was so beautiful in the swing, rocking in the wind... No, there's no wind in that garden… hmm, it must have been us!" and she laughed again, "But the of course it all got very serious with the cane."

Bellatrix suffered the subtlest sharpening of her eyebrows, before relaxing her features again, "Cane?"

"Oh... just a thing which actually belonged to Lucius, or Lucia as I sometimes call him now." She burst out laughing again, "But anyway, it is his so it doesn't matter that I had to get it from the secret room... You know I was quite the spy, without being caught or anything, 'cept by a house elf but they don't tell anyone and then I ate a pink cupcake." She stopped, looking slightly puzzled.

Bellatrix was looking at her sister fixedly. "Darling, I must go... I am due in Paris this evening. I have to be ready, Mummy and Daddy send their love... blah blah blah," she called back as she left the room.

Narcissa sat alone wondering why on earth she had just told her sister the entire history of her last few days.

Bellatrix walked down the street towards a red phone box. Passing a bin on the way, she flicked into it a tiny empty vial. The label on the bottle: veritaserum.

After being instructed where to go by a bespectacled youth at reception, Bellatrix marched through the ministry of magic. She was on a mission. Knocking on Fudge's door, she walked straight in. The receptionist had of course warned the minister, but even he was shocked at the speed with which she had entered the room. She sat down immediately in front of the desk and crossed her legs. Fudge looked bemused.

"It's like this, Cornelius. Of course my motives are solely the protection of my sister..." (Fudge raised his eyebrows at this) "But there is something I feel you should know. I believe you are missing something, a particular article which was recently confiscated during a raid, is that true?"

Fudge now looked completely bewildered, but his silence gave him away.

"Right, well, I have reason to believe it is in the possession of Lucius Malfoy, and I know this because it was my sister who got it for him... from your office actually." She paused for breath, "Now I am concerned that he is leading my good sister down a decidedly dangerous path, and I hope that the correct disciplinary action will be taken." She stood up at this and marched around Fudge's desk.

"My dear Bellatrix, I am of course concerned for my goddaughter too...but… You say Lucius definitely has the item... You have seen it with your own eyes have you?"

"Well, no..."

"Well you merely have theories, my girl, and it would do you good to stay out of other people's affairs." Fudge felt a slight chill coming over him. His worst fears had been realised, now action needed to be taken, starting with damage control. "It really is none of your concern."

Bellatrix could feel herself prickling with irritation. She despised Fudge and his muggle-loving bureaucracy. She could now add obtuse idiot to her list of names for him.

"And," continued Fudge, in an imperiously condescending tone, 'I would have thought better of you, Bellatrix, telling tales on respected members of the community. It's a shame, and not at all befitting of a Black."

Bellatrix stormed towards the door, before turning on her heels. "Well then, Fudgey, it's a bloody good job that I am not a Black anymore."

Fudge's mouth dropped open.

"I got married yesterday, Paris," she said, her reptilian smile lighting up her pale face, "So, now you will please address me as Mrs. Lestrange..."

"Rastaban?"

"Rodolphus, actually... younger men are easier to break in if you know what I mean."

Fudge looked stunned.

"Younger men have the vigour, the drive, to... control, lead... take over when necessary." Her tone was slick, "I shouldn't think you'll last long here, Fudgey... and you're a fool if you think otherwise."

With that she was gone.