When Lucius and Narcissa walked into the courtroom together, the first person he saw was Andromeda Tonks, holding her orphaned grandson. She looked old, with gray streaking her dark hair, and she watched them with sadness in her eyes. Lucius schooled his face into an expression of neutrality; the sight of his dishonored sister-in-law made him want to curl his lip in disgust. And yet, if she hadn't run off with that Mudblood, he would have never married his Narcissa, for it was Andromeda who had originally been his betrothed.
They had been born within a couple months of each other, and before they could even walk, their parents had unofficially promised them. They had frequently played together as children, chasing each other around the spacious grounds of Malfoy Manor or the Black Estate. Back then, Cissy had been the annoying little sister, always trying to tag along but unable to keep up.
And yet, despite both being in Slytherin, they had drifted apart at Hogwarts. She made friends with students in other Houses, and gradually fell away from the Pureblood way of thinking. Lucius tried to correct her, but that always resulted in a fight. He hoped that would change once they married and she was no longer being influenced by her old peer group, but he also noticed the way that she was watching a certain Hufflepuff…
Her elopement had caused an uproar in Wizarding high society.
Of course, her parents were horribly embarrassed. They disowned Andromeda to mitigate the damage that her reckless decision had caused, and then, to maintain good ties with the affluent Malfoy family, they broke Narcissa's original betrothal and offered her as a replacement bride for Lucius.
To prevent Narcissa from following in her sister's footsteps, they were legally wed quickly, with plans for a grander ceremony once she had graduated. After all, she was two years younger than he was, and they could not truly begin their lives together until she was no longer a student.
The age gap wasn't that large, and he knew she was sixteen, not six, but he had her fixed in his mind as Andromeda's annoying little sister. When she glided down the aisle, a lady in her own right, he was astonished. Who was this graceful creature? How had he never noticed her before?
Where both her sisters were adventurous and tan, with wild spirits that were often at odds with Lucius's more severe personality, Narcissa was reserved and dainty, with fair features and a creamy complexion. Standing before him in her airy wedding robes, she was perfection, an angel incarnate, and he was smitten.
That had been twenty-eight years ago, and he loved her even more now than he had then.
Delicate creases spooled out from the corners of her icy blue eyes, which scanned the crowd that had gathered to condemn them, and her lips were pressed tightly together. She was anxious, though she was trying to hide it. He reached over and took her hand, brushing his thumb over her soft skin. He wished he could protect his bride from this harsh judgement, and tried to comfort her through his touch.
He could sense the harsh judgmental stares bearing down on him and Narcissa, seemingly all focused on the faded Dark Mark visible through his slitted sleeve. He felt horribly exposed, scorned where he used to be respected and admired. It was strange; he had always relished in the spotlight, but he had always been in control then, a commanding presence instead of a disgrace. Still, he held his head high and proud.
This trial was more of a formality than anything, an opportunity to publicly announce crimes and punishments. Most of the Death Eaters and their affiliates were already obviously guilty, confirmed by the testimonies of surviving witnesses and the memories of their peers, and now they were all lined up to be condemned. Most were in shoddy condition: unshaved and grimy, with blood-shot eyes and rumbled robes. Apparently, they were of the opinion that appearance didn't matter.
One by one, they shuffled forward. One by one, they were condemned, condemned for standing with the Dark Lord, condemned for government corruption, for bribery, for using Unforgivables, for murdering Muggles and torturing Mudbloods. With each accusation, Lucius's head lowered. Narcissa squeezed his hand comfortingly.
