Lucius woke with a start, adrenaline already pumping through his veins.
"Narcissa," he whispered, pawing hopefully at her thigh. "Wake up, beautiful."
She made a tiny, protesting sound, and turned to bury her face in his chest. He kissed the crown of her head and gave her bottom a brief squeeze, deciding to give her a few more minutes of rest while he got up to brush his teeth and wash his face. By the time he returned to his bed, she was sitting up and yawning.
"Big day today," he purred, crawling over her and pushing her back. "Kiss me for good luck."
She obliged, wrapping her arms around her neck and giggling sleepily. "Are you going to win?"
"Of course," he replied airily, scooting back under the blankets with her and tugging at the hem of her night gown.
"Well then, you should go rouse the troops."
"The troops are roused," he assured her, though added, "But only if by 'roused', you mean 'aroused', and by troops, you mean my-"
"Lucius!" she hissed with a scandalized laugh, but pressed her lips to his once more. "There, that's two good luck kisses for you."
"And yet I still haven't gotten lucky."
"Pity, my kisses of luck seem to be broken today. Bad day for it, but what to do?" she shrugged innocently and yawned dramatically, wrapping the blankets around her shoulders as though she intended to go back to sleep, grinning up at him. Lucius scowled poutingly.
"No, you're just not kissing the right spots." He groped under the sheets to tickle her sensitive side; she squealed and doubled up immediately. He held her head down and she wiggled around for a moment so she could stretch flat on the bed, feet poking off the edge as she nipped playfully at his navel. Suddenly, she gave small scream, and Lucius sat up in alarm as he heard a thud. He whipped the hangings aside to see Narcissa glaring up at Rodolphus, who had the sense to look abashed.
"Sorry, Cissy, I thought you were Lucius, I didn't realize-"
"Didn't it seem a bit odd," she inquired icily, "when you were yanking me out of bed by my ankles, that I weighed significantly less than Lucius might?"
"Well, yeah, but it just happened so fast..." he looked guilty for a moment more, then turned to Lucius with a grin. "Ready for today, Captain?"
Lucius made sure to help Narcissa to her feet and wrap her in a blanket before responding with a wicked grin, "Fuck yeah. Sorry," he apologized quickly, pulling the small, scowling blonde close.
"I'm going to go," she said, giving Lucius a quick peck. "I'll see you at breakfast."
"Bye, Cissy!" Rodolphus called, but she merely shot daggers at him as she swept out. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd still say she was a frigid bitch."
"Oh, fuck off. And you have no right to be pulling anyone out of my bed at this hour; her or me."
He shrugged unrepentantly. "Next time I'll just make sure I go for the bigger feet."
"I can see why she hates you. I do too. You know that, right?"
"Sure, sure," Rodolphus slung an arm around his shoulders and, laughing, Lucius did the same. "We're going to win today. I can't wait to crush those useless Gryffindors!" He began to lead then towards the Common Room, still talking excitedly. "I have a bludger saved specially for that Potter brat-"
"Rodolphus what the fuck are you doing?" Lucius interrupted.
"Going down to breakfast. I'm hungry."
"You idiot," Lucius gestured impatiently to the shorts they both wore. "We aren't dressed."
Narcissa fidgeted on the edge of the bench, eyes darting from the game to her sister and back again. Eyes never leaving the players, Bella droned, "If you don't knock it off, I'm hexing you."
"It's just... I feel like people are staring at me. Generally only the seventh years sit in the front row, and I can't help but think-"
"Just shut up, won't you? No one cares."
This was not entirely true. Several benches back, Francesca glared at the blonde head with nothing short of hatred.
On the pitch, Lucius dived to make a spectacular save, and the Slytherin portion of the crowd errupted with cheers. He came up grinning and pitched the Quaffle, gesturing for Rodolphus take out his younger brother's distractions. He nodded once and shot off, quickly unseating a Gryffindor chaser. For all that Rodolphus tormented his sibling, he became ferociously protective during games, if no other time. Lucius relaxed his stance for a moment, sucking in quick lungfuls of air as he searched out Rookwood. The Seeker was their weakest point, and unfortunately, a strong one for the opposition. He'd set Rosier on a constant defensive, and the older boy kept so many bludgers at Potter, Lucius was pleased to see the bespeckled boy had little time to search out the Snitch.
Just then, Potter whizzed by, forcing Lucius to reverse quickly. He was instantly irritated with himself; he should have let the boy hit him, and earn a foul. However, that thought was wiped from his mind when he heard Evan's panicked yell.
"Malfoy! Malfoy, hey Malf-"
He turned just in time to take the bludger directly in the face.
His neck snapped back and he lost his grip on the broom, sliding backward. He might have still recovered, despite his obviously shattered nose, if he had not fallen into the goal post. His head smacked against the metal ring, and he lost balance entirely and plummeted. He tried to brace himself for landing but, while he held his ankles steady, his left knee snapped outward, and he felt the tendons and muscle tear and bone snap just before he lost consciousness.
"No!" Narcissa cried, leaping to her feet and leaning over the railing. "Lucius!"
Bellatrix looked concerned too as Healer Winnard rushed out onto the field with several other professors, but it was mostly because she believed Slytherin now had little chance of winning the game.
"Bella," she spun around, beside herself with panic. "Are they taking him up to the Hospital Wing?"
Bellatrix rose slowly, squinting over at him. "I'd say yes. Definitely a broken leg."
Narcissa turned to rush out of the stands, but was impeded by bodies pressing forward, trying to get a glimpse of Lucius before he was carted away. "Move, please, move..." Narcissa fought valiantly, but was far too slight to get through quickly. No one noticed the other body slip down the stairs and rush up to the castle.
By the time Narcissa made it through the crowd, Lucius had vanished from the pitch. Narcissa focused on remaining upright as she stumbled across the grounds, and dashed up to the infirmary.
"Lucius!" she cried, spilling into the Hospital Wing. "Is he okay? Where-"
"Get out of here."
Narcissa looked up, startled, at Francesca's furious face. In the bed, Lucius was twitching.
"I beg your pardon? What are you doing here?"
"He needs me now, you stupid little slut. It's all fun and games with you two, but he's hurt and when he wakes up, he'll be wanting me, not you. So get the hell out."
"You really are crazy, aren't you?" Narcissa snapped, marching up to the beside. Healer Winnard was concentrating on mending his leg, and ignored the two girls. "Lucius is in love with me. You're nothing to him anymore."
"He played you well, didn't he?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lucius voice was rough and thoroughly distressed. He looked groggy and bruised, and slightly panicked.
"I'm done with pretending, Lucius!" Francesca cried, clutching his hand. "You've had her, you're done, and now you're hurt, my love. And I'm here for you."
"Lucius, clearly she's insane," Narcissa scoffed. "What on earth-"
"Tell her, Lucius. Tell her how we never broke up. Tell her that I knew the whole time; that you were always planning on coming back to me. Obviously she won't believe it unless she hears it from you."
Narcissa was about to make another comment on the girl's evident madness, but the look of horror on Lucius's face gave her pause.
"Lucius... what is she talking about?" she asked uncertainly. His eyes raced to her face, looking tormented.
"Narcissa, look," he reached out for her hand, but she pulled it away. His fearful expression intensified as he rushed to explain. "Look, Cissy-"
"Don't. Just tell me what's going on."
"She's... she's not lying. Right now. About this. But Narcissa, I changed my mind," he pressed on as Narcissa's eyes widened. "I fell in love with you, I never loved her-"
Narcissa held up a hand, indicating that he should stop, but he needed her to hear him, to believe him.
"Look, Narcissa, things may have started like that, but I made up my mind that I was never going back to her, that you were the one I wanted to be with-"
"When?" Narcissa demanded sharply. "When did you decide that? Before or after we... we... slept together?"
Lucius's silence answered the question. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply.
"Narcissa, listen to me. I never wanted you to know-"
"Well, that's obvious," she snarled, stepping back.
"No, what I meant was... Narcissa, I want to marry you. I love y-"
"No!" she cried. "Just stop! I can't... No." She turned on her heel.
"Don't go, I-"
But she had already sprinted from the room.
"Damn it," Lucius hissed, collapsing onto the pillows. "You useless whore. Get the fuck out of here. I hope you snap your neck on the way down the stairs; I never want to see your face again."
Francesca's jaw dropped. "Lucius, what are you saying?"
"Get out!" he roared. Lucius had never struck a woman before, but was dangerously close to doing so now.
"You love me!" Francesca cried, stamping her foot. "And you would do well to remember it! I won't forgive you easily for what you just said there- that you never loved me." She crossed her arms and pouted, and Lucius felt his rage reach a boiling point. He recalled the times he had upset Narcissa, and she'd forgiven him with quiet, accepting grace.
"I swear, if you aren't gone in five seconds, I will risk Azkaban to end your worthless life." His tone was low and deadly.
"Lucius-"
"NOW!"
Narcissa flew down to the Slytherin Common Room, and up to her room in record time. Her head was spinning and her chest heaved, and she flung herself into her bed.
It was a lie. It had all been a lie. Narcissa was only dimly aware of the sobs wracking her thin shoulders, and she buried her face in her pillow. It wasn't fair; she waited so long and she'd trusted him and loved him- what did Francesca have that she didn't? How could he lie to her for so long? How could he promise that he would never hurt her? Because she hurt now: her throat was raw, her stomach felt full of lead, and her chest ached. Her face was hot and wet, and she wanted to scream at the injustice of it all- how could he?
Narcissa had no idea how long she lay there; the drapes around her bed were pulled shut against the outside world. But eventually, Bellatrix appeared, and settled down with a sigh on the edge of her mattress.
"I broke his other leg," she offered at last, once it became clear that Narcissa did not intent to speak. "I have an awful lot of detentions now, and I was meant to be suspended, but once I explained the situation to the Headmaster, he decided detentions would suffice."
Still, Narcissa did not respond.
"Cissy, he's an arse. He doesn't deserve your tears. Get out there and remind him what he's missing. You'll be fine."
Narcissa did not lift her face from the pillow, and Bella rose with a little shrug, as though to say, 'Well, I tried.'
After she vanished, Narcissa swallowed back a fresh wave of tears.
Bellatrix pranced in the Common Room and flopped down beside Rodolphus.
"She's moping, and she won't talk to me. Honestly, she can be so difficult."
"Gorgeous, you were up there thirty seconds."
"I know, but if she won't talk to me, why should I stay?"
Rodolphus shook his head, rolling his eyes. "She's heartbroken, babe. Maybe give her, oh, I don't know, a minute or two?"
"Boring," Bellatrix replied bluntly. "Hand me that copy of Witch Weekly?"
He obliged, and glanced around the dungeon. It was oddly silent, considering Slytherin had just won the Quidditch match, but no one seemed to want to celebrate without their captain.
The bloody arse, Rodolphus thought with sudden vehemence. It was rare that he was truly upset with his best friend, but he had taken advantage of Narcissa in a way that superseded the normal Slytherin ways. After the match, he'd gone to visit Lucius in jubilation, but found the Hospital Wing strangely quiet, and Lucius looking unusually distressed. The entire story had tumbled forth. He had clearly expected some sort of empathy, which Rodolphus flat out refused to give.
Rodolphus genuinely liked Narcissa. She was pretty and shy and the only person his Bella actually liked, himself included. He had been eager to see Lucius with her, certain that she would have a good effect on his often cruel, supercilious and arrogant friend. And she had- she had been an excellent influence. But Lucius's arrogance had gone a step too far. It was one thing to indulge himself; to coax a shy girl into bed for the night. But to spend months deceiving an otherwise unwilling girl? A sweet, pureblooded girl, at that? Rodolphus did not approve.
He rose slowly, quickly preparing an excuse in case Bellatrix asked where he was going. She was absorbed in her magazine, and did not look up. He glanced once more around the room, took out his wand to mutter a spell he generally denied knowing, and crept up to the fifth year girls' dormitory.
Narcissa was curled in a tiny ball, arms wrapped around her knees as she locked her jaw, resisting the sobs that fought to be voiced. She jumped when she felt a hand on her back, but when she turned her head to identify its owner, she gave a yelp of alarm.
"Go away!" she managed, scooting away but unwilling to get out of bed.
"No, Cissy," he replied serenely, patting her with a somewhat absent air.
"I'm sure you've come to argue for him, and I don't want to hear it. Go."
"But I didn't!" he insisted, moving closer to lessen the gap she'd created. "Your sister is being selfish. I though I would make sure that you were alright."
"Please go," she begged softly, blinking rapidly.
"No. He's a prick for what he did to you. He's stupid and deserves to be stuck with the gold-digging whore. Serves him right. Cissy," he stroked her back heavy handedly, though Narcissa suspected he was trying his hardest to be gentle. "You're much better than what he deserves."
"He's your best friend," Narcissa sniffed.
"Which makes me the most qualified to tell you that you're too good for him, doesn't it?"
"But I trusted him," she whispered. "I loved him. I don't understand..."
"Forget him," Rodolphus advised.
"I can't!" she cried. "I'm so angry with him but how can I just not love him anymore?" she demanded. "How can I suddenly want him miserable, hate him? How can I still worry about him, when it's clear he'd rather be with her? She doesn't love him." The last part seemed to upset her immensely. "What if she doesn't love the way he gets that line across his forehead when he's listening intently; what if she doesn't love the way he studies: the way he curls up over the parchment but stretches his legs out as far as he can? What if she doesn't love the way he grins when he's done something bad but knows he'll get away with it? What if she's not in love with catching his eye and forgetting to look away; or how- how he-" her sobs were too close upon each other to continue.
"Cissy," Rodolphus murmured quietly. "Merlin, I didn't even realize..."
Narcissa did not protest when he scooped her up carefully with his massive hands; in fact, she scarely noticed. He cradled her gently, like a baby, and somewhere in her mind she appreciated the strength of the chest her head lolled against, and the power of the arms that were wrapped around her. She had always been so terrified of Rodolphus's shockingly large frame, but now, she felt safe and protected.
He held her until her gasping wails diminished to sniffling hiccups, and waited until her small body relaxed against him. She had cried herself to sleep, and he returned her to her mattress, clumsily placing her head on the pillow and tugging a sheet of her shoulders. He returned to the Common Room, landing easily on his feet after the stairs morphed into a long slide, and came face to face with Lucius.
"Fuck, you startled me." He tried to brush past but Rodolphus threw out an arm, halting him.
"She's asleep. Don't bother her."
"I need to go talk to her. Why were you up there, anyway? She hates you."
"If she knew what was good for her, she'd hate you, too. But don't worry, I think she'll come around to that once the shock's worn off," he replied bitterly. Lucius frowned.
"The hell's wrong with you?"
"You don't deserve a second chance. I helped you because I thought you liked her- Merlin, Lucius, I know she's nice to look at, but did you really have to ruin her life just to get between her legs? She's never going to trust another man. Ever. She thought she was going to marry you; she thought that's what it meant when you took her home to meet your parents. How was she supposed to figure out that you would have taken her anywhere as long as it had a private bed? Did you not stop once to think about the fact that you weren't just fucking her- you were fucking her up? Girls take shit like that seriously."
"I do want to marry her- Rodolphus, I just figured it out a little later than I should have-"
"And you know what the worst part is? She loves you. Probably more than your own fucking parents. Certainly more than Francesca. Not that Francesca doesn't love you; she loves your gold, she loves that you're captain of the Quidditch team, your name and your looks. But ask her, and she'll say she loves you in spite of your flaws. Cissy loves you for them. She loves your arrogance and your damn insensitivity and the stupid things you do because they make up you. She fucking loves you, not some idealized you. And you don't deserve another chance because you fucked her up, and as a consequence, you should have to live with the misery of knowing you threw that away for yourself. Marry Francesca. She's all you deserve. Let Narcissa sleep or I swear I'll send you straight back to the Hospital Wing."
For a moment, Rodolphus thought that Lucius would skulk off, defeated, But the blonde's jaw tightened, and his leaned forward, his narrowed eyes glittering with fury.
"I may have fucked up, but I'm not walking away. Not from her. I don't care whether or not I deserve her; I want her, and I will have her. I am going to marry her if she'll forgive me, and nothing you say will stop me from trying."
"Maybe you're right. Guess it doesn't matter what I say," he replied, fisting his hand and slamming it into Lucius's jaw. He dropped instantly and Rodolphus swung his foot into Lucius's abdomen. Lucius doubled over, rolling so his legs were beneath him and his stomach was protected. He was coughing and gasping, but Rodolphus did not permit him even a moment to catch his breath. He stomped, hard, on his curved back, and Lucius cried out in pain, still slightly hazy from his injuries and consequent potions earlier, and unable to react quickly enough to defend himself. Rodolphus seized him by the collar and pulled him to his feet, shaking him roughly. "Sleep it off, you stupid prick. I can't keep you away from her forever, but don't bother her today."
Lucius shot him a look of loathing and brought his knee up between Rodolphus's legs in a violent, swift motion. It was a cheap, dishonorable shot, but the only Lucius could effectively use at the moment. It almost worked; Rodolphus dropped like a stone, but did not release Lucius before doing so, consequently bringing them both to the floor.
Lucius open his mouth to snarl another insult at Rodolphus, but a lancing pain through his jaw transformed the words into a strangled cry. The third broken bone that day, and he doubted he'd be able to persuade Narcissa to listen to him if he couldn't speak. He decided instead to glare scathingly at Rodolphus, who was curled on his side and spitting blood. A shadow fell across the pair.
"Malfoy," Bellatrix growled, wand clenched in her fist. "You broke my baby sister's heart and my boyfriend's dick on the same day. I am this close to ripping out your intestines and lighting them on fire while you watch. And then I'll chop of your-"
"Bella, honey," Rodolphus wheezed, "With the imagery, remember? I told you I don't care what you do to other men as long as I don't have to hear about it. Ever."
"Right," Bellatrix sniffed, staring down at Lucius haughtily. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
He attempted to tell her precisely what he had to say for himself, but winced instead. Bella's eyes lit up maliciously. "Broken jaw?" she crooned. "Did Roddy break your poor wittle jaw?" She lifted the hem of her robe, and daintily placed the toe of her shoe on his chin. "Say 'Ah'."
Lucius awoke the next morning feeling as though a large boulder had landed upon him. The bleak white ceiling of the Hospital Wing glared down at him, and he tried to sit up.
"Oh, I don't think so, Mr. Malfoy." He was immediately pushed back to the pillows.
"You don't understand," Lucius replied swiftly. His throat was dry and his teeth throbbed, but he could feel that the bone, and whatever damage Bellatrix had done afterwards, had healed. "I need to go now."
"No, you need to wait until you are fully healed, and the stressful situation among your peers has settled down-"
"Fuck this," Lucius hissed, springing to his feet. "I'm going now."
"I'm under strict orders to keep you here-"
"You don't understand!" Lucius cried. "If I talk to her now, she might change her mind. I might be able to change her mind before she decides to hate me."
"Settle yourself," the Healer commanded calmly. "You're still unwell."
"I want to marry her- she has to know that. I lied to her, but I meant what I said- look," Lucius hoped his rising panic wasn't as evident as he feared it was. "Just let me go for, say, twenty minutes. I swear I'll come right back up here."
"I don't think-"
This was a waste of time. Lucius nodded as though in defeat, and the Healer relaxed her guard. This was all he needed.
Ignoring startled cries of protest, Lucius shot from the room, bounding off through the castle.
He stumbled into the girls' dormitory, breathing hard. He guess had been correct; the hangings on her bed were closed, indicating that she'd never gone to class that morning. Suddenly nervous, Lucius crept forward to draw the heavy fabric aside.
She was so beautiful. He took a moment to simply admire her perfect little nose, her long, dark lashes (which he knew by now were entirely natural, not the work of a glamour charm), and tousled but silky blonde hair. But her noticed that her cheeks were wet and pale, and her brow was furrowed. Despite that fact the she was asleep, she still hurt.
"Narcissa," he breathed, reaching out to tenderly dry her face. In all honesty, it was all he'd intended to do, but she immediately turned towards the touch, and the painful expression eased. "You have to know I love you," he continued softly, slipping into bed beside her, stroking her hair. "My beautiful, darling Narcissa." He brushed his lips lightly to hers and she stirred against him, prompting him to deepen the kiss. "I love you," he repeated, cupping her jaw as she began to sleepily return the caress. "Merlin, Narcissa, you can't be angry with me." He rolled over her, hands dropping to her waist to hold her closer as he rested his forehead against hers. Her hands moved to his shoulders, but she gave a tiny jerk.
"Lucius?" she mumbled, confused. Suddenly, her eyes flew open, bright blue and blazing with fury. "Lucius!" she cried, shoving him. "Get off me! Go away! Get out!"
"Narcissa, you have to listen to me," he pleaded as he sat up, out of reach from her clenched little fists.
"I don't listen to anything you have to say," she snarled. "Get out of my bed, you disgusting, filthy-"
"Look, I fucked up, we both know that-"
"No!" she jumped out of bed, furious. "No more, Lucius! I don't want to see you or listen to you anymore!"
"But Narcissa," his heart was pounding in his ears, and he pushed back panic. "I love you."
"Even if that wasn't a lie, do you really think it would be enough?"
"It's not a lie! Damn it, Narcissa, I wouldn't lie to you about that. About how I feel about you."
"You did before!" she cried. "You said the same thing the first time we... we... Lucius-" she choked on a sob, but suppressed her tears with rage. "Did you... with her... after we..."
"Started having sex? No, of course not, we've been in the same bed almost every night since-"
"And what about before then? After you two 'broke up?'"
"I..." he drifted off guiltily. "Yeah. The winter holidays. We were alone and I was horny and she was... well. More than willing. It was stupid of me, but I hadn't fallen in love with you yet, and you didn't love me either, then-"
"I did," she whispered, her voice scarcely audible as it escaped through her constricted throat. "Over the holiday, I missed you so much, and it finally occurred to me that maybe it was because..." she broke off, and turned to fiddle with her wand on her nightstand. "Lucius, just get out."