Chapter 1 – Quite 'romantic'

"Mom, that hurts!" Narcissa shouted as she sat on a white marble bathroom counter top.

"May I ask what you were thinking, Narcissa?" Her mother, Druella, asked. She ignored the girl's cries as she looked at her daughter's bleeding foot.

"It hurts," Narcissa cried as her mother lightly wiped up the blood.

"That isn't an answer, Narcissa," Druella said patiently as she looked at the large piece of glass sticking out of the ball of Narcissa's foot.

Narcissa bit her lip and her mother continued.

"Your father stated plainly that the window in his office was broken and that you and your sisters were not to go in there. But you did anyway Narcissa. Now tell me why?" Druella said calmly.

"Bella told me to," Narcissa said as her mother grabbed her wand from the side of the sink.

"I know that you love your elder sisters, but in cases like these we must use common sense," Druella stated as she began to remove the piece of glass from her daughter's foot.

Narcissa bit her lip even deeper and stared up to the ceiling. Her eyes filled with tears as her mother removed the piece of glass. "OW!"

"I know, honey," Druella said quietly as she placed the piece of glass on the counter. "But it's almost done."

Druella began to clean up the wound and Narcissa let tears run down her young face. Her mother gave her a gentle smile before wrapping up her daughter's wounded foot. "See isn't this a lot better."

Narcissa nodded and watched as her mother put away the supplies. "Now don't listen to everything your sister's say. You're the youngest and they will seek to get you into trouble."

Narcissa frowned and her mother laughed slightly. "Come now," Druella smiled as she lifted Narcissa in her arms. "I'll carry you to the library. You can read that fairy tale book I bought you. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"But I want to play outside," Narcissa protested.

"You have to stay off that foot," Druella said silently as she walked into the library with her daughter in her arms. "The spell will heal your foot at a quickened pace, but for an hour or two you have to keep off it."

"Fine," Narcissa frowned as her mother placed her on a small chocolate brown couch.

"And don't worry," Druella smiled as she handed her daughter a thin fairy tale book. "Your sister will be punished."

With that her mother left the room leaving her five year old daughter alone in the library. Narcissa pouted and folded her arms in a huff. She didn't want to be alone in this boring old room.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Celesta Malfoy knocked slowly on the large black door standing in front of it with a calm look on her face. At her side stood a young blond boy with piercing gray eyes; he had his hands in his pockets and slowly rocked back and forth.

"Lucius, stop fidgeting," Celesta whispered and the boy stopped immediately.

"Sorry," Lucius grumbled as the door opened.

"Oh, Celesta, what a wonderful surprise," Druella smiled and she let the two inside. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I needed to get out of the house," Celesta said looking rather sadden.

"Well of course, Celesta. That will be fine," Druella smiled as they all walked into a small sun room. "I was just about to have some tea."

"Sounds lovely," Celesta smiled and Druella's attention turned to Lucius.

Druella smiled at the boy she hadn't seen him in years. He was looking rather grown up now sharing every feature the Malfoy's were known to have. "Lucius, you're growing up to be a handsome young man."

Lucius let out a force grinned and blushed as the two women laughed. "Thank you, Mrs. Black."

Druella stopped her laughing and smiled at the boy. "My two eldest our out with their father, but you are more then welcome to go entertain my youngest daughter."

Lucius smiled he was rather glad he could leave the two older women to their conversation. "Can I?" Lucius asked looking up to his mother hopefully.

"Of course, Lucius," Celesta replied.

Druella walked slightly towards the door. "She's in the library. It's down this hall," she said pointing to the left. "When you reach the end of the hall turn right and it will be the first door on the left."

Lucius ran the directions through his head before walking out of the door. Druella smiled, as she watched the boy leave the room. She then turned to her old friend and motioned for her to sit at the small table.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucius found the door with easy and opened it slightly. Inside was a rather small girl with shoulder length blond hair. She was reading a small book with a look of frustration on her face. Lucius walked all the way inside and the girl jumped somewhat as he came in.

"Sorry," Lucius said quietly as Narcissa reached down to grab the book she just dropped.

Lucius grabbed it before she did and she frowned. "Who are you?"

Lucius looked at her blankly, "Lucius Malfoy. Your mother said I could play with you."

"Oh," Narcissa replied quietly as Lucius handed her the book. "I'm Narcissa Black."

"Hi," Lucius smiled as he sat down on the brown couch beside her.

"Hi," Narcissa replied with a giggle.

Lucius sat beside her and they both felt rather awkward, but neither exactly knew why.

"So, what are you reading?" Lucius asked as he stared at his feet.

"Oh, it's just a couple of fairy tales. It's rather hard though. There are a few words I just don't understand." Narcissa said blushing slightly as Lucius stared at her.

"Your eyes are pretty," Narcissa said blankly as she stared at Lucius's face.

Lucius blushed slightly as he turned his attention to floor. Narcissa looked at her book and then back over to Lucius.

"I could read you that book if you want," Lucius suggested as he looked up to her again.

Narcissa smiled and handed Lucius the book. "I was on page eleven."

Lucius nodded and began to read Narcissa the story.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"It's been a living nightmare, Druella," Celesta said as she blew slightly on her tea. "He isn't the same."

"Was he ever 'the same'?" Druella asked slightly.

"No, but he was never like this," Celesta said as she sat her cup down on the small wooden table.

"When I married that man I was in love with him and I knew it. For crying out loud I felt it. But he has become a totally different person," Celesta frowned.

"In what ways because—no offence Celesta—he was always a harsh man. Cruel to the bone," Druella said trying her hardest not to sound harsh.

"I know, but it was a good match and he would be sweet with me . . . at first," Celesta said as she looked towards the floor. "He got what he wanted from me when I had Lucius. He had an heir; a boy to carry on the name Malfoy. I was there for only that."

Druella frowned she had known that Celesta would go through this, but it hurt to see her friend in such a state. "You're treated right, aren't you?"

"I get money every month to spend, I get to go to all the social gatherings, I get the house, and I have a son—a wonderful son," Celesta said her voice wavering slightly. "That is why I'm here?"

"He looks healthy and very handsome. He has the best features out of both of you. He has your eyes and your hair," Druella said smiling.

"Whenever he's mad he takes it out on Lucius," Celesta said her face screwing up and her eyes watering.

Druella bit her lip and stared at her friend sadly.

"Lucius doesn't deserve it and I can't stand to watch it, but I have to. I have to know it goes on and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm no match for that monster! He hurts my son—Lucius has learned to brush it off. He won't speak to his father. He absolutely hates him. I can't have Lucius raised in that house, but I can't take him away. If he leaves the house he'll have nothing!" Celesta cried her body shaking slightly.

"He's a cruel man," Druella hissed. "I can't even imagine my girls going through such pain."

"Lucius is a fast healer. It's a gift," Celesta said smiling slightly. "I don't want him to end up like his father."

"He seems very kind," Druella said calmly.

"He has a nasty temper and is already skilled at the Dark Arts," Celesta said softly.

"So were you at his age," Druella added. "He won't end up like his father."

"I can't be sure," Celesta replied, "He thinks I don't care for him."

"In time he will understand why you can't rescue him," Druella suggested.

"I was hoping that when things get bad—"

"He is more then welcome to come over here. My three daughters will absolutely adore him. Bellatrix will probably tease him immensely and Andromeda will do the same, but Narcissa is usually calmer in that sense. I'm sure he'll get along fine with them."

"Lucius can be a bit of a teaser himself. He's rather cunning. Gets in loads of trouble and he does it with a smile on his face," Celesta said with a small laugh. "He's all I have."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"That's a bunch of girly crap," Lucius added as they finished the story.

"It's called 'romantic'," Narcissa smiled as she was handed back the book.

Lucius shook his head, "That never happens in real life."

"How do you know?" Narcissa snapped, "One day you could meet a girl that you want to marry."

"I'm never marrying," Lucius replied his face screwed up in disgusted.

"Why?"

"Because it's just two people that are never happy with each other and all they do is fight and argue," Lucius said his face falling.

Narcissa shook her head, "Not if you love them."

"People still fight when there in love."

"But they get over it and they make up. Don't your parents love each other?"

"I don't want to talk about this girly crap," Lucius snapped as he got up off the couch.

Narcissa frowned, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going outside. I hate being shut up in rooms," Lucius replied angrily.

"But you can't leave me alone," Narcissa said bitterly.

"You can come if you want," Lucius replied his temper dying down slightly.

"I can't. See I hurt my foot and I'm supposed to stay on this couch," Narcissa said showing her bandage foot to Lucius.

"It looks fine," Lucius said waving his hand slightly.

Narcissa pouted, "My mom said I should stay in here."

"Do you always do what your mother tells you to?" Lucius asked.

Narcissa shook her head and Lucius continued, "Then come on let's go outside."

"Only for awhile," Narcissa replied as she got off the couch slowly. Screwing up her face slightly as her foot touched the ground.

Lucius smiled and they both walked out the wide glass door in the library. They walked into the sun as they left the library. It was a warm day and the backyard of the Black estate seemed nicer then the cold library.

"You have a nice yard," Lucius replied as he looked out over the countless fields and the small pond.

"Yeah," Narcissa answered as she walked over to the pond. "We have some fish, you know?"

"Really," Lucius asked excitedly, "My father hates animals. We're not allowed to have any."

"That's too bad," Narcissa replied as they bent over to look into the pond. "But fish aren't that great. They aren't like cats and dogs."

"I bet," Lucius answered as he sat on the cool grass. Narcissa smiled and sat beside him.

"You're really nice, Lucius Malfoy," Narcissa said as she stared out over the distance.

"So are you, Narcissa Black."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Thank you for the tea, Druella," Celesta said as she got up off her chair.

"Anytime Celesta and I mean that," Druella said feeling quite concerned.

"I hope Lucius had a good time today," Celesta smiled as they both exited the sun room.

Druella nodded and her mind couldn't help but ponder a certain possibility. The name Malfoy was one of the eldest Pureblood names and it was even older then the name Black. If one of her daughters—of course when they got older—managed to marry the boy; it would be a good match.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucius and Narcissa both stopped running through the field. She had collapsed with a small cry. Her hand was on her bleeding foot and her face was covered in tears. Lucius knelt in front of her staring at her foot blankly.

"Ow!" Narcissa cried as she looked up to Lucius.

Lucius unwrapped her bandage, "It's not that bad."

"How would you know? It isn't your foot," Narcissa replied angrily as Lucius removed a small bandage from his pocket.

"Just in case I need one," Lucius mumbled and Narcissa watched as he wrapped up her foot.

She smiled at Lucius, "You're really good at this."

"I get hurt all the time," Lucius said before frowning.

"Oh," Narcissa replied as Lucius tied a small knot. She then wiggled her foot slightly. "Thank you."

Lucius nodded and stared back over to the house. "I can carry you back if you want?"

"But that would be 'romantic'," Narcissa teased giggle slightly over her own comment.

Lucius gagged, "No it wouldn't."

Narcissa giggled again, "Yes it would."

Lucius sneered at her, "You don't even know what 'romantic' is."

"Yes I do," Narcissa lied as Lucius frowned.

"Well it's not 'romantic' I'm just offering you a source of transportation," Lucius said sounding as if he had read his answer in the back of a text book.

Narcissa shook her head, but smiled when Lucius offered to give her a piggy back. She locked her frail arms around his neck and he lifted her off the ground. "See this isn't 'romantic'."

"You don't know what 'romantic' is either," Narcissa smiled and Lucius blushed slightly as he carried her back to the house.

It wasn't a long walk, but Narcissa knew she was slowly slipping out of the young boys grip. They were both thankful when they reached the library. The moment they made it inside, however, Lucius collapsed with Narcissa sitting on his back. They both let out a wild laugh, as the door opened abruptly.

"Narcissa Black! What are you doing?" Druella asked loudly as she looked at her young daughter sitting on top of Lucius's Malfoy's back.

"Well . . . um . . . Lucius was bringing me back inside because I hurt my foot again and he collapsed because I'm rather heavy at least that's what Bella says," Narcissa rambled.

"You went outside? Narcissa, I told you to remain on the couch," Druella replied angrily.

"It's my fault, Mrs. Black," Lucius said as Narcissa slipped off him and limped her way back over to the couch. Lucius stood up, "You see I wanted to play outside and I sort of forced her out with me."

"Lucius the girl was injured," Celesta said feeling rather embarrassed, "We will have to talk about this at home."

Lucius walked towards his mother, "You're not going to tell father, are you?" He asked the hint of fear evident in his voice.

Celesta frowned, "Of course not, Lucius." Celesta then led her son towards the library door, "I'm sorry about this Druella."

Druella smiled, "Not at all. He was just having a little fun and knowing Narcissa she isn't totally blameless," she added as she looked over to Narcissa.

"You will say you're sorry," Celesta said to her son.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Black."

"All is forgiven, Lucius. In fact I was rather hoping that you would come over again. If Narcissa enjoyed your company enough to break the rules I am sure that you will get along just fine with my other girls as well," Druella said as she patted Lucius on the head.

Lucius smiled and looked up to his mother. She smiled back at him before motioning towards the door.

"Goodbye, Mrs. Black," he said walking towards it. "Bye, Narcissa."

"Bye," Narcissa smiled as Celesta and Lucius left the room.

"Did you have fun with Mr. Malfoy?" Druella asked her daughter as she examined the new bandage on her daughter's foot.

"Oh, yes," Narcissa smiled. "He's quite 'romantic'."