…And it's certainly been far too long since we've chatted in person, Cissy. We must have tea sometime- or whatever it is that proper married women do. Again, I apologize for not inviting you to the wedding, but it was an elopement, and having guests would defeat the point. I know you're upset, but you're acting so childish about it. Ignoring my owls- and you know how I hate writing owls anyway! So it's settled. I'll see you on Sunday at noon.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Narcissa gritted her teeth and crumpled the letter in her fist. She was considering hurling it in the fireplace as well, but the sound of a door opening stilled the motion.

"Good evening Narcissa. Mail, have you?"

She smiled at Abraxas from where she sat, curled in one of the settees in his expansive study.

"From my sister. Bella says she coming to visit this weekend."

"Did she?" Abraxas moved to pour himself a drink before joining her in a nearby armchair by the hearth. "I thought you were giving no response to her post?"

"Oh, I'm not. But Bella is Bella- If she's made up her mind that she'll be here on Sunday, she'll be here on Sunday."

"I see." He swirled his scotch thoughtfully, before asking, "Did you have a pleasant day, Narcissa?"

"Oh, alright, I suppose. I was alone, mostly." She shrugged half-heartedly. "And how was yours?"

"All hectic, as to be expected. While Aethel and the girls are about the city picking out gowns and shoes and other frivolities, I've been revising and re-editing Adina's contract, deciding precisely what that ungrateful Rowle boy gets in addition to my little girl…" He grumbled darkly under his breath for a moment, before looking back up at Narcissa with an apologetic smile. "Please excuse my behavior. I've never been so involved in a wedding before- certainly not my own, and I had Lucius do a fair deal of the contracting for his own marriage- for practice, you see. I edited the final draft, but there was never so much minutiae incorporated in that." He shook his head and downed the remainder of his drink.

"You evidently care a great deal for your daughters," Narcissa murmured.
"Well, I'm just glad I don't have to got through the same process for you, Narcissa; you're turn is over." He flashed her a quick grin and Narcissa smiled back shyly, inwardly glowing over the fact that he though of her as a daughter. "Supper should be served momentarily, and I'm famished." He stood, and she rose as well. "Have you finished that book yet?"

"Oh, very nearly. It's quite fascinating."

"I'm glad you think so. It's one of my personal favorites-"

"Abraxas," A voice interrupted suddenly, causing Narcissa to jump slightly. Mrs. Malfoy ignored her daughter-in-law as she addressed her husband. "Might I have a word with you?"

"Is it not time for supper, Aethel?" He seemed mildly taken aback at the uncharacteristically stiff tone of her voice.

"The children can eat; we shall join them later. But I must have a word with you. Alone."

They moved back into Abraxas' study, but Aethel paused at the doorway to give Narcissa a rather pointed glare before vanishing inside as well. Feeling indignant and more than a little curious, Narcissa ignored to obvious implication that she was meant to go, and tiptoed over to the door, foolishly left ajar.

"…Odd time for a discussion, Aethelfled."

She seemed untaken with his pet name for her.

"I didn't want to be interrupted. I'm concerned for Adina, and I know if I say anything to her, she will deny it, but I don't think she wishes this wedding to occur."

"That's a fairly strong accusation; what reasons have you to think it true?"

"Call it a hunch, or a mother's intuition. Adina is an obedient girl, and she won't ever complain outright like Terentia."

"The girl is probably just nervous. She doesn't very well know the Rowle boy."

"Perhaps… Perhaps that is a problem in itself."

"Are you implying, Aethel, that I should not have arranged this marriage for her?" There was something rather imperious in his tone, and his wife was suddenly submissive and soothing.

"I'm worried about our daughter, is all."

"Well don't be. After all," He gave his wife a playful grin, "I like to think our marriage was quite satisfactory, even if our parents were the ones who planned it out. And I do recall someone being quite nervous beforehand- terrified, if my memory serves me." Abraxas gave a warm, deep chuckle, and placed his hands around his wife's waist, pressing his lips affectionately to her forehead.

"Oh, do stop teasing me," Her face was atypically red. "I was just a little girl then, and you did give quite a terrifying visage."

"That so? Still, the theatrical tears may have been unnecessary." He lifted her onto the edge of his desk, and dipped his head to her neck.

"I know, but you were very patient with me." She reached up to root her fingers in his pale blonde hair.

"Well, its fortunate I was so young then, for my patience seems only to have waned with age, quite contrary to popular adages."

Blushing deeply, Narcissa ducked back and heard, as she retreated quickly towards the dining room, a crash that she assumed was Abraxas sweeping impeding trinkets from his desk.

When she pushed open the heavy doors, it quickly became clear that she was intruding here as well. Beatrice was leaning forward on her knees and elbows to hear what her older brother was saying, Adina and Terentia were giggling across the table at something, and Lucius seemed to be imparting some humorous anecdote to his littlest sibling. Though he didn't smile himself, she was grinning wickedly.

"… So I opened the door and thanked him for the return of my change, and that I'd known it had fallen, but the sum was too pitiful to bother bending down to pick up, let alone craw on my hands and knees as he did."

"And was he mortified? Weasleys always turn so bright red!" Beatrice giggled nastily.

"I should say he was." Lucius drawled amusedly. "Especially when I offered him a knut for his effort. Surprisingly, he refused."

The three sisters exploded into gales of laughter. However, Beatrice's eyes happened to fall upon Narcissa, and her smile vanished. Terentia followed her gaze as well and sneered.

"Well, look who decided to show u-"

"Oh, don't!" Narcissa exploded, shocking herself at the vehemence in her own voice. "You're parents aren't here either, and I highly doubt you'll be criticizing them!" She dropped into her seat at the lowest position of the group and waited in the heavy silence to be served by a suddenly present elf. Terentia stared, agape, for several seconds, before turning to her brother, who was quietly eating his meal.

"Well, Lucius, aren't you going to say something to your wife? She has no right to speak to me as such."

Narcissa gritted her teeth and braced herself for a calm, patronizing lecture- but none came. Lucius continued to silently eat his meal.

"Brother?" She demanded expectantly.

"I don't believe this is a conversation that should be discussed here and now, Terentia." He replied softly.

"I do!" She continued to push, although the expression on Lucius's face made it quite clear that he was finished with the conversation. His eyes returned to his plate. "Lucius,"

"Enough, Terentia. I would think that you would not like to be chastised before your family, but if you would so prefer, perhaps you would hear that I find my wife well within her rights to arrive several minutes late to what is clearly not a formal meal, as she has quite aptly indicated that our parents are in fact absent. Perhaps you would also like to know that I've found your behaviour for the past several months just short of atrocious, and that it is grating upon the nerves of every member of this household. I once believed you to be a mature, independent-minded adult, but you have been acting as a sullen, spoiled child, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself- you are certainly shaming the rest of your family."

His tone was quiet, clipped, and icy. No one moved except Lucius, who lifted his fork once more and proceeded with his meal. Narcissa knew she ought not make eye contact with anyone, but somehow she found herself looking across the table at Beatrice. To her immense shock, the usual, hateful glare was absent, replaced instead by a distinctly curious one. The gentle clinks of Lucius's dining were interrupted by the loud scraping of a chair and Terentia's rapid footsteps as she ran from the room. Still, no one spoke, but Adina lifted her silverware and began to eat as well. Minutes later, the door opened, and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy entered, perfectly composed and coiffed. They showed little concern over the fact that no one spoke, until Abraxas noticed that his second daughter was absent.

"Lucius, where is Terentia?"
Lucius gaze met his father's squarely. "I believe she said she had a headache and wished to lie down."

Had Narcissa not witnessed the scene, she realized with a start that she would have believed his words unquestioningly. Abraxas certainly did; he gave a brief nod and began eating supper. Such a gifted liar, too? The thought made her uncomfortable. Has he ever lied to me? The answer was obvious: Of course not; he'd ever told her anything worth lying about.

…

That night, Narcissa was sitting upright in her bed when Lucius knocked once, twice, and pushed the door open. His expression was calm, but Narcissa noted that something about his movements wasn't quite right- while each motion was usually fluid and relaxed, he appeared slightly more agitated. As he began undressing, she took a deep breath, and spoke.

"I… I wanted to thank you for today, at dinner. It was kind of you to defend my tardiness against Terentia-"

"It was not kindness." He tone was sharp and abrupt. "I spoke only the truth, and though I do detest such conspicuous disputes, my sister has been exceptionally pugnacious of late, and she did insist." Finished with the task of disrobing, he strode towards the bed. "And I suggest you do not arrive belated again."

Any hint of previous gratitude evaporated at his acrid words. She gave him an icy look as he slid beneath the sheets. When she replied, her tone was aloof.

"I'll try to remember that."

Lucius stiffened suddenly, and darted out of the bed.

"I have to go." His voice was rough, and Narcissa noticed that he gripped his left arm as he moved swiftly from the room, not even bothering to gather his clothing.

"That was odd." She announced to no one in particular.

…

"Cissy, doll!" Narcissa found herself engulfed in her sister's heavily perfumed embrace at noon on Sunday. "Splendid house you've ended yourself up in. So give me a tour, unless you sleep here?" Bellatrix snorted derisively. "I can't see Lucius allowing that." She nudged her sister playfully, but frowned when Narcissa gritted her teeth and forced a grin.

"No, no, there're bedrooms…"

"I don't care about the bedrooms. What is it, Cissy?"

Narcissa sighed and shook her head, leading the way to the study that had been assigned to her and striding out through a set of double doors onto the balcony, into the bright sunlight. She glanced down the length of it, noting there was an ajar door some distance down that she assumed led to another room in the Manor- she'd never bothered to investigate. Bellatrix caught up and stared at her sister accusingly.

"Out with it. Has Malfoy hurt you? If he's laid a finger on you, I swear I'll rip him limb from bloody limb, and personally make sure that he never-"

"No, it isn't like that, Bella."

"Oh. Good. I didn't think Lucius was the type anyway. Is it still about the Yaxley boy?"

"I-" She tried valiantly, but found it was still impossible to speak of Mort. "It's miserable being here. Lady Malfoy is some like some cruel, unjust tyrant, and the girls are just dreadful! And Lucius… I can't stand him! He's heartless, and unconcerned, and every night- every night! He- he- it makes me literally sick, Bellatrix, when he touches me, and he's in my room every night, and I'm just going to go mad here with these people! I hate Aethel because she criticizes everything I do, I hate Terentia because she wants my life to be hell, I hate Beatrice because she's a superior little brat, but I hate Lucius more than the rest of them combined, because it's his fault I'm here!"

She stopped, abruptly, herself unprepared for the mildly hysterical outburst. Before she could rectify her words, Bellatrix burst into raucous laughter.

"Goodness, Cissy, I didn't realize you-! Well, never mind that. I suppose Lucius can be an awful bore, and his mother and sisters do always seem to be in an awful snit whenever I've seen them."

She didn't understand. Narcissa sank slowly into a chaise as Bellatrix chatted on, unable to wrap her mind around the fact that her sister, her Bella, simply didn't understand what she was suffering. They'd grown up together, they knew everything of the other, and while, true, Bellatrix had never read her quite the way Dromeda had, they'd been as close as two human beings could possibly be, and yet, she didn't understand. No one did.

Narcissa had never felt quite so alone in her life, and neither of the two young women noticed when the door several paces down the balcony clicked softly shut.

…

There were two quiet knocks upon her bedroom door before Lucius pushed it open, looking characteristically solemn. He shrugged out of his clothes, but did not turn out the lights and finish his business quickly to leave his wife in peace; instead, he sat down upon the edge of the bed, back to her. It was fascinating, as she regarded his pale, flawless skin, that she could be so utterly repulsed by him. He shifted almost imperceptibly, and she watched the smooth, powerful muscles just below the surface with nothing short of loathing.

"Is there a problem?" She asked tersely after a lengthy moment of stillness.

"If you-" He began quickly, but cut himself off just as abruptly. "Never mind." He flicked his wand at the lamps, and she felt him lie beside her, for several more extensive, awkward seconds. She vaguely wondered what the issue might be and wished he'd get over it soon- she was rather exhausted. Finally he stood, gathered his clothing, and left without uttering a word, and Narcissa smiled as she snuggled into her comforter and fell promptly asleep.