His
blue eyes scanned her response with anger and suprise combined. She
was pregnant? With Lucius's son? "Ugh," said Sirius,
throwing the letter aside with disgust. Still, he had expected it. He
knew it would happen, but it was such a slippery business. He knew
what Voldemort wanted Narcissa to do, in order to stay alive. And of
course, Sirius wanted her to keep her alive - even if it meant taking
things this far. Damn it! That slimey git Malfoy was going to pay.
Grabbing his cloak, he wrapped it around him and left the house,
banging the door behind him. He would go to James's. He could of
apparated there, but actually walking there let him burn off some
anger. He wrapped once, twice, three times on the wooden door. It
swung open. A beautiful woman with vibrant red hair answered, and
wrapped him in a hug immediatley. "Sirius," she said
cheerfully, "James is in the lounge." Sirius smiled at her
without bothering to speak, and made his way through to the lounge.
At the sound of somebody else's footsteps, James looked up. "Hey
Padfoot," he grinned. "Firewhisky?"
"Sure,"
replied Sirius, "Why not?" Why not indeed.
As James
poured them both a generous measure, he glanced at his best friend
with mild concern. "Anything wrong, Padfoot?" He handed him
the glass of Firewhisky, which Sirius downed in a single gulp.
"You
could say that," replied Sirius darkly. "I have these
feelings ..."
"Stop right there," said James
playfully. Sirius smiled benignly and fell silent, contemplating his
options. An outsider of the matter would probably say to him to grow
up and forget it all, but somehow, he just couldn't. She would
probably be angry with him anyway, not replying for two years. Wow,
why hadn't he replied? There'd been so much going on and it wouldn't
of been appropiate.
"So anyway," said James, cutting
into Sirius's reverie, "Are you going to discuss, or not?"
"It's
Narcissa-"
"Narcissa,
eh? Oh ... I know. I know what you're going to say," his voice
was taunting in a playful manner, "You like-like her."
"How
do you know?" Sirius looked suprised, and James laughed
pleasantly."
"I know everything," replied James
nonchalantly.
"It was kinda obvious though, mate. You know. 'Oh
Narcissa, look at my stomach, yes I do work out, I'm so sexy . . .'
Methinks
that might of gave it away, just slightly."
Sirius punched
James in the shoulder in a friendly manner. "Shut it."
James
grinned. "Sooorrry ... so. Problem? Oh yeah, I know. She's with
Lucius, right? That can only mean one thing," he snapped his
fingers mid thought, "Aha - she's pregnant?"
"Possibly,"
replied Sirius, marvelled at James's intelligence.
"Ahhh ...
and so you're kinda jealous?"
Sirius rolled his eyes at the
bluntless of this statement, but nodded.
--
"No,
oh flobberworms! No." She stared at the potion which would tell
her whether she was pregnant or not; and she was.
She'd just turned twenty ... she couldn't have a baby. It was
unorthodox! Not so soon, anyway. Would it be as evil as Lucius?
Muttering profanities, she marched downstairs looking for Lucius.
"Lucius, where are you?" she shouted angrily, her voice
echoing around the house. A cough silenced all. She turned, and saw
Lord Voldemort standing in the hall, uninvited, with a smirk on his
face.
"Problem, girl? I assume you would not be shouting the
odds if there wasn't." His tone was mocking, and his eyes seemed
to laugh at her. She'd never really noticed before - they were so ...
magnetic. She felt herself smiling coldly, power overseizing
her.
"There may be a problem, but is that really any of your
concern, Voldemort?" Uh oh. She'd gone too far - his face
contorted and he shot forward, grabbing her by the throat with one
hand, his other hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, dear girl, it is
my business. I think you'll find anything and everything is to do
with me - and speak like that again, girl," he threatened, his
eyes narrowed with disgust, "I'll make sure the last thing you
see is green light."
She swallowed. "Yes ... lord."
He released his grip and she staggered forward, choking a little for
air. He regarded her as if she was pathetic, a smirk replacing that
cold smile of his. "So what is the problem, Narcissa?"
"I'm
pregnant." She hadn't meant for it to come out so abruptly, but
this didn't seem to restart his anger, infact, his smile grew
wickedly. He stroked her face patronisingly.
"Gracious, I'm
pleased to hear it. Do you know the gender?"
She shook her
head, unable to restrain herself from smiling with pride. "No,
but by the way it kicks me - I'm sure it's a boy." His smile
grew, and he took her arm without speaking and led her to the
kitchen. He forced, rather pushily, Dobby to make them all drinks.
Dobby obliged, but shuddered and whimpered whenever Voldemort looked
directly at the elf. "I don't like house elves much," he
said coldly, taking a sip of his drink, "They annoy me
so."
Narcissa smiled. "Dobby's a good house elf, my
lord."
"So I see," muttered Voldemort, slamming his
now empty glass onto the work top with such force that Narcissa
flinched. "So, will the baby be born soon? I should imagine so,
you look borderline obese. So, perhaps in another month or so, the
child should be concieved?"
She nodded. "Perhaps."
His tones became sharp again. "I don't want any of these
Mungo healers or Magi-Wives bothering you either. Your pregnancy,
should you take this," he pushed a small tablet towards her in a
tiny leather box, "will be virtually painless. And - don't
question it," he added when he saw her open her mouth
indiginantly, "take this now."
Obediently, Narcissa
swallowed the minute tablet. Voldemort's smile grew. "Good
girl," he cooed. "And I'll send Lucius over to you - I
forgot to mention he's been working over time on me." His grin
was so ... cold. It frightened her.
"Naturally, my lord ...
farewell."
"Yes, farewell."
And with that,
Voldemort vanished. Narcissa picked up a mirror on the worktop, and
for the briefest moment, she saw her eyes flash scarlet.
