"Narcissa... Narcissa."
"Hm? What's wrong?" Her eyes fluttered open, and she squinted through the dark, stifling a yawn. He didn't reply; he merely gathered her closer and kissed her. Narcissa snuggled against him and shut her eyes once more, waiting on the verge of sleep. After a few minutes, his breathing became slow and deep, and she allowed herself to drift off once more as well. She'd been at the Manor almost a week, and had spent most of it in bed with Lucius. She hadn't spoken much, but she didn't need to. Occasionally he wanted to tell her stories about his mother, some times he wanted to discuss trivial, distracting things, others he wanted to make love to her, and others still he wanted to simply lie in silence beside her. Narcissa did not object to any of these, and in addition, she found that he was often unable to fall asleep if she was not awake, she patiently stayed up until he could find respite in his own exhaustion.
The next morning, however, she awoke with a little start of panic to realize he was not in bed beside her. She sat up quickly, but quickly located him by thet window. He was staring pensively over the grounds, arms crossed as he leaned against the glass doors, and she did not think he was aware that she had woken until he spoke quietly.
"Thank you, Narcissa." He didn't turn around, but Narcissa smiled gently. It was the first time he'd acknowledged that she had rushed across the country to comfort him, and the first time he'd admitted that he had been utterly and hopelessly lost for the past week, and dependent upon her. She rose and padded across the room, and at the light touch of her hand on his back, he unfurled his arms to wrap one around her waist.
"I should probably see how my father is today," he announced tightly, for the idea was clearly not one that appealed to him. "An elf came in while you were asleep- apparently, he's refusing to eat."
His scowl was pained, and Narcissa laid her hand on his chest. "How horrible," she whispered. Lucius shook his head.
"The truth is, I don't know if I can make him, short of illegal curses, and honestly-" he sighed. "Do I really even want to? My mother is dead. And for all intents and purposes, they were two halves of the same person, and no potion or spell can make you survive if some cuts you into two. Even if you could, would you want to live with half a brain? One lung? Half a heart? That's not the sort of thing you recover from- that's the sort of thing that cripples you for the rest of your life, and makes you lie around waiting to die, resenting whoever saved one half and not the other."
He paused, and Narcissa waited in silence.
"I don't want to be in charge of all this yet," he told in in an almost child-like manner. "I wanted to establish myself at the Ministry, wanted to find out what this Lord Voldemort is all about. Maybe... I dunno, read some more books. See some more countries. Get married. I wanted to have my own life before I had to be the new Lord Malfoy, taking over family affairs and dealings, and when that man came up to me at the funeral, it wasn't just because Mum died that I was speechless, but because I suddenly realized that everything I've thought mattered- classes, Quidditch, N.E.W.T's, being Head Boy- well, none of that's going to make a difference in the real world and I don't know what the fuck I'm doing. My father won't be of any use, alive or dead, and if he's happier dead, then I don't see why-"
He broke off abruptly. "I should go talk to him. See if it's really as bad as all that. Maybe he's just not hungry, or something."
"Good luck," Narcissa whispered, squeezing his hand. "I'll wait here."
After he left, Narcissa sank back onto the bed, mind spinning. Would it be as bad as all that? Would Lucius have to assume the responsibilities of a man the moment he stepped off the Hogwarts Express for the last time? Clever and knowledgeable as he was, Narcissa simply could not picture Lucius handling the many accounts and investments and enterprises linked to the Malfoy name; besides, he'd need a foothold in the Ministry, and how was he meant to find one when he was so overwhelmed with the other matters in his life? Furthermore, an eighteen year old boy without a wife could surely not oversee the Manor and its Grounds, let alone the many other properties attributed to the family. He would not have been sufficiently trained, and a bereaved shell of a father would only add stress rather than alleviate it. All she could think of was Lucius in his Quidditch robes, a Captain but still only a boy, playfully wrestling with Rodolphus for the Quaffle after practice, like two gamboling kruppies; or Lucius, studying intently for an exam that he felt was of utmost importance; or Lucius, waking her up in the morning by tickling her until she screamed, then diving beneath the covers, pushing her knees apart to use his tongue and long, nimble fingers to morph her shrieks into moans and gasps. He was a clever boy, but still precisely that- a teenage boy, not yet prepared for the challenges of adulthood.
Narcissa had a sudden, vivid image of leaving Hogwarts to help him. She could live here as his wife; they could be married and she would devote all her time caring for his home and trivial affairs while he busied himself at the Ministry. He'd never have to fear coming home to a cold, empty house; she would be a good wife, she'd always have supper hot and waiting for him... she could be wonderfully devoted, if only he'd let her...
As abruptly as the mental picture came, she shoved it aside. It was a ridiculous fancy- she was far too young, and needed to finish two years of schooling after this one. And she knew no more about running a household than Lucius did. He parents would never allow it, and besides... she wasn't going to marry him. Ever. She forcefully reminded herself that she would be leaving at the first moment she felt that Lucius could cope on his own.
Steeling herself, she lay back down and drifted off to sleep.
She awoke with a yelp sometime later when the bedroom door was flung open with a bang, and Lucius stormed in.
"Damn it!" he roared, frustration boiling over as he swirled through the room, kicking furniture so that the wood splintered and flinging things off of tables. A small storm seemed to be brewing around him, and thunderclouds condensed as winds began to blow parchment about and lifted the blankets from her legs. She scrambled to her feet in alarm as a full-blown tornado took form. The chandelier jangled overhead and heavier objects lifted into the fray: the picture frames and the books thrown down previously were tossed into the air, whirling around Lucius. The fire in the wall sconces flickered wildly, and the curtains flapped helplessly. His hair whipped around his face, and for a moment, Narcissa couldn't speak in the face of his inexpressible anger. He reminded her of nothing so much as a Nordic god, wrathful and furious, grey eyes blazing.
"Lucius!" she cried at last. He turned, seeming to realize for the first time that she stood there. Immediately, the roaring wind quieted, and the objects clattered to the floor.
"Sorry," he whispered hoarsely, looking ashamed. "That hasn't happened in years."
"It's happened before?" she asked incredulously, eyes moving over the wreckage of torn magazines, broken quills, shattered inkbottles, and twisted clothing.
"Yeah," he admitted. "Used to do it all the time when I was a kid- sometimes, I'd get so angry with people, they'd just burst into flames- don't worry," he added at her aghast expression. "Someone else always put out the fire before they were too seriously injured. But this," he gestured to the mess around them. "Hasn't happened since years before I started Hogwarts."
"And the fire thing?"
"Well. Every so often I accidentally singe off Rodolphus's eyebrows, but other than that..." he broke off, and collapsed into a now-lopsided chair, burying his face in his hands.
"He won't eat, Narcissa. He won't even speak to me. His son."
"Oh, Lucius," she touched his hair lightly.
"She was my mother!" her snarled. "Shouldn't I be allowed to grieve too? Why should everything be my responsibility?"
"I know, love," she sighed in empathy.
"Come on." He seized her hand, rising to her feet. "Dress for dinner. I can't eat in here another night." He pulled his shirt impatiently over his head, shucking it aside amid the mess.
"I would, but I haven't anything to wear."
"What d'you mean?"
"I mean, it was sweet of Rodolphus to pack for me when Bella refused to, but my wardrobe consists of three sets of school robes and apparently every pair of underwear and bra that I own. It looks as though he just emptied the draw into my trunk."
"Well, wear the school robes then. It'll just be the two of us anyway."
She nodded and shimmied out of the robe she'd been wearing.
Narcissa forced another swallow of mediocre fish. The elves, startled by the sudden demand for a full meal on such short notice, had scraped together all the required dishes, but without the rich flavor and exquisite taste to which the Malfoy family was accustomed.
"Lucius... might I ask, why are we doing this?"
He had been picking listlessly at his plate, but glanced up defensively at her question.
"I have to, alright? If father can't... and I've got to... I need... normalcy," he managed at last. "I just need-"
Suddenly, the dining room doors burst open.
Hair disheveled and unkempt, robes certainly worse of the wear, shoeless and staggering but with blue eyes flashing, Rosalind Malfoy stumbled into the room.
"Mum!" Lucius cried, knocking over both his plate and chair as he shot across the room to enfold his mother in an embrace. "Mum."
He was well over a head taller, but Rosalind still managed to make it seem as though she held him.
"My darling," she crooned. "My sweet boy, my Luce." He clung to her, disbelieving, as though he feared releasing her might cause her to vanish. "Lucius, pull out a chair for me, won't you?"
He obeyed, dropping to his knees beside her. "Mum," he whispered. "How-?"
She smiled tiredly, stroking his hair. "Three of us managed to land safely when the carpet capsized, but international Apparation and Floo regulations made getting home a challenge- perhaps we ought to have found an embassy, but I knew my boys would be helpless without me, and I needed to hurry home. I'll tell you the whole story after I've eaten and rested," she promised. "Where's your father?"
"Father!" Lucius cried, spring to his feet. "He's in your room. He's-" he shook his head quickly, too beside himself with joy to relay his father's condition. "I'll get him."
After he'd sprinted from the room, Rosalind turned to Narcissa with a gentle smile. "Thank you, dear. For taking care of him. Have you been here the whole time?"
"I have. Mrs. Malfoy- I can't tell you how happy I am that you're not-!"
Rosalind laughed softly. "Not as happy as I am! I wish I could have owled, though; I hate to think of the pain I've put them both through."
She couldn't disagree there, but was saved from a reply as Abraxas appeared in the doorway, eyes wide and desperate.
"Rosalind," he breathed, frozen in shock.
"Abraxas!" she rose to her feet and he flew to her, lifting her off the floor and into his arms. They didn't speak, but their eyes were so full of adoration and love, Narcissa felt indecent and invasive for gazing upon them. Because her eyes were averted, she did not see Lucius approach, but felt his hand fall upon her shoulder. She glanced up and he smiled at her, tugging her gently to her feet. Abraxas still clung to his wife, but she held out an arm to include Lucius and Narcissa as well.
"I'm quite exhausted," she confessed, "And rather hungry. Perhaps I shall go take a bath, and the elves can bring something up?" She touched Lucius's cheek tenderly. "You look tired too, my dear."
"I love you, Mum," he mumbled, wrapping his arms around her once more. She beamed, standing on her toes and kissing his forehead.
"I love you too, Lucius."
He drew back, and took Narcissa's hand again, and Rosalind melted into the arms of her husband once more. "I'll see you two in the morning."
(A/N: Thanks for all the reviews- you guys are awesome :) Happy ending it is, though I'll post the other one too. One more chapter to go, then the epilogue!)