Questions And Answers
"Some may be from showing up,
Others are from growing up;
Sometimes I was so messed up and didn't have a clue…"
Note: There is a hint dropped in this chapter, very subtle and easy to miss, about what happened to Lucius…
"I don't know, Pansy," Draco sighed as the two teens sat on a bench half way down the path that wound through the Malfoy's back garden. They had decided to go out for a walk whilst their mothers chatted away with all the pureblood gossip of the week. "Father's only been awake for a day, and mother says he can't remember anything. She told me he didn't even remember who she was! And yet, there's…something different about him besides his memory loss. Something…I dunno. He just seems like a different person somehow. He's not at all cold and condescending to me or mum. He told us to have a good time when we left for Diagon Alley…he's never said anything like that before."
Pansy wrapped her arms around Draco's. Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, "Oh Draco, but isn't that maybe a good thing? You've told me lots of times before that you're sort of scared of your father. So mightn't this be a good thing?"
Draco snorted. "Yeah, maybe…if he stays like this. But once his memories return, he'll probably just go right back to being the same way he used to be. So I'm not going to waste time getting my hopes up." He shook his head. "It isn't fair."
"Well, we'll just have to hope that he will want to change for the better once his memories return." Pansy, still clutching Draco's arm, sat up straighter and gave him a smile. "Let's be optimistic about it, shall we? After all, if he does revert back, you'll have these memories of him being nice, and after all, that's still better than—"
"Do you hear something?" Draco said, cutting her off. Pansy always seemed to have a never ending stream of words ready to say, and it annoyed Draco to no end. But he really did hear something. Pansy grew quiet (thank Merlin!) and listened as well. They could hear footsteps approaching down the path from the direction of the house. A voice was heard singing softly, and as the person drew nearer, still out of sight around the curve of the bushes that lined the pathway, they were able to make out the words.
"This one's for the mighty sea, mischief gold and piracy;
This one's for the man who raised me, taught me sacrifice and bravery;
This one's for our favorite game, black and gold we wave the flag;
This one's for my family name, with pride I'll wear it to the grave!"
Draco had never heard the song before. But something about the tune and the lyrics, or maybe just the way Lucius sang it slightly off key, made him smile. Father never sings…he's never happy enough. He glanced at Pansy and noted the downturn of her lips and upturn of her nose, almost as if she didn't like the song. He frowned at her, but she didn't seem to notice.
Draco and Pansy both stood as Lucius came around the corner of the bushes. He stopped walking and singing when he saw the two teens. "Er…hello there, Draco and…young lady that I've probably already met…in fact more than once, most likely…yet whose name escapes me at the moment. How's it going? I rather thought you'd be in the house with your mothers."
"No, we finished tea and they said we could come out here." Draco replied before turning to introduce Pansy. "Father, this is my good friend Pansy Parkinson."
The girl smiled, and he felt it was a fake smile, yet he wasn't certain why he felt that. "I'm very happy to see you feeling better, Mr. Malfoy," she said, dropping a little curtsy. "We were all so worried about you!" Her face looked sincere, but her voiced didn't sound like it.
Draco bowed to me at breakfast, and now this girl curtsied to me…these people are so posh! "Well, um, thank you, young lady. I feel perfectly fine, except for my memory. But I'm sure that will come back eventually." Good lord, at least I hope it does! As the thought formed in his mind, he happened to glance at Draco. He noticed that the boy's face dropped, and a look of fear shot across his eyes. And once again he wondered why everyone seemed to be so afraid of him…
"Well, I don't want to keep you any longer. Young people don't like having their parents hovering around them all the time, after all. I'll see you later, Draco…and you as well, Miss—er…"
"Parkinson," the girl replied, and he noted the very slight sneer on her lips as she did so. He narrowed his eyes, but returned her smile. I don't really like this girl…something about her seems phony.
"Yes, I'm certain I'll see you later as well. It was a…pleasure meeting you. Again." With a smile and a nod he continued on down the path and passing out of sight as he rounded another corner of the hedge.
Draco shook his head, frowning. "I just don't know what to think, Pansy," he murmured.
The girl hugged his arm again, resting her head on his shoulder and batting her eyes at him. "It will be ok, Draco. You'll see."
Draco sighed. I hope so.
(XXX)
He had walked around the entire garden path, yet when he returned to the house he could still hear the two women talking in the sitting room. With a sigh he climbed the stairs to the second floor and headed to his room. He looked down at what he was wearing and sighed. This outfit is absolutely ridiculous for a day spent puttering around the house! Walking over to the closet, he opened the doors and stood frowning at the clothes hanging in neat rows. There has just got to be something in here that isn't so posh!
The closet was much bigger than he had initially realized. Indeed, it was more the size of a small room than a closet. Row after row of neatly hanging clothes stretched back into the darkness. For a brief, fleeting moment, he wondered if it led to Narnia. I mean, why not? It's obvious that magic exists here…then he shook his head. With a sigh he moved a couple feet into the closet. As he did so, his foot bumped the cane with the snake head that had been leaning against the wall beside the door just inside the closet. The snake head fell off and rolled deeper into the shadows.
He picked the cane up and was setting it to the side when it made a rattling sound, as if something were inside it. With a frown, he closed one eye and peered into the hollow cavity, Seeing nothing but still hearing the rattle when he shook it, he turned it upside down. A piece of wood, close to a foot in length, slid out from the cane into his hand. He held it up and frowned at it. It looked like a twig off a tree or something. What the heck is a piece of wood doing inside of a cane? Crap, maybe I broke something…
Setting the cane and piece of wood aside, he squinted into the darkness of the closet looking for the snake head. Unable to see anything, he got down on all fours and crawled a bit further into the closet, but he still couldn't see any sign of it. Muttering to himself about houses in a first world country not having electric lighting at the end of the Twentieth Century, he began rummaging around for the snake head. He reached behind him and opened the doors as wide as they could go, hoping that the sunlight, which was streaming in through the windows would reach the back of the closet.
No such luck, of course, so he went back to rummaging in the near darkness, muttering under his breath again. Finally, his hands made contact with the cool metal of the can topper, and he pulled it out. There was a soft pop from somewhere behind him in the bedroom, followed by a voice saying, "Mistress wishes for master to please come down for supper."
The voice startled him and caused his head to connect sharply with the shelf he was reaching under, and a yell of pain escaped him. Rubbing his head, he backed out of the closet and turned to face one of the elf-things. The poor creature looked terrified, and was tugging its ears. "I is sorry, Master! Please forgive Mipsy! Mipsy is a bad elf!"
She started beating her head against the closet door with such force that he feared she would either injur herself or break the door…and quite possibly both. scrambling to his feet, he stood between the miserable elf and the door. "Stop that! Stop that this instant! Mast—I am not angry! But I might get angry if you keep hurting yourself! Now stop! I forbid you to hurt yourself anymore!"
Mipsy froze, and stared up at him, a look of awe covering her face. "M-Master doesn't wish for Mipsy to punish herself?"
"No, master does not…I mean, I do not want you to punish yourself! You are a good and helpful…elf, Mipsy, and you did nothing wrong. All you did was tell me that dinner was ready. That is no reason for you to be punished."
The elf stared at him in silence for a moment.
He stared back at the elf in equal silence.
The elf stared at him in continued silence for several more moments before bursting into tears. "Oh Master is sick! Poor master does not know what he says!" And with a loud pop, she disappeared.
He stood in more silence, blankly staring at the spot the elf had been standing in, for several more seconds, before exclaiming, "What the hell just happened?!" He couldn't wrap his mind around why the crazy creature wanted to be punished. Who wants to be punished? These munchkins are insane! He glanced down at the snake head in his hand. Frowning, he muttered, "What are you smiling at?"
The snake did not reply.
Shaking his head, he picked the cane up along with the piece of wood, and set them down and the snake head on the table beside his bed before heading down stairs.
(XXX)
After dinner-which consisted mainly of Narcissa and Draco talking about their day, trying on occasion to include him in the conversation-Draco said he was going for a walk in the garden, and with a small bow he kissed his mother on the cheek and left the room. Narcissa glanced at him. "I'm sorry, Lucius…Priscilla stayed much later than I thought she would. I have some letters I need to get written, so I was hoping we could postpone our talk until tomorrow? Draco will be with his school friends, and we…we can spend the day together. Perhaps something will help your memories return."
He felt a frown trying to form on his face but forced it back. I really want to find out more about this place, but I suppose it can't be helped. He gave a weak smile. "Oh, yes, that will be fine, uh…Narcissa. I understand."
She stood from the table. Heating towards the door, she paused at his side. "Will you be alright on your own for the evening?" The tone of her voice held a twinge of guilt in it.
"Uh, yeah…yes, I'm sure I can find something to distract me," he replied, sending her a weak smile. I just want to be wherever you are, but I sure did something to muck up our relationship. He just wished he could remember what it was so he could start to try and make it right.
Narcissa regarded him silently a moment before nodding. Once more leaning close to kiss his cheek (Lord have mercy, she smells wonderful!) she murmured, "Good night, Lucius." Before turning and exiting the room. He craned his neck to watch her as she crossed the entrance hall and ascended the stairs. Just before she was out of sight, she paused and turned back, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before she resumed her climb to the second floor.
He sighed, shaking his head. Why does it seem like she almost doesn't want to talk with me? It's as if she's purposefully avoiding it. Getting up from the table he moved into the sitting room. As he began to sit, he noticed the huge bookcase that covered one entire wall on the far side of the room. I guess I could see what I can find out on my own about this place.
Walking up to the bookcase, he let his eyes roam over the titles. Most of the titles left him shaking his head in confusion (, but one caught his eye:
Hogwarts: A History
By Bathilda Bagshot
Hogwarts…that's the school where Narcissa said we met. He took the book off the shelf and frowned at the author's name. Bathilda Bagshot…what is she, a hobbit? The Gamgee family lived on Bagshot Row. Then he frowned. Why can I remember random, pointless things like that but absolutely nothing about my own life? Taking the book with him, he returned to the comfy chair and sat down. Before long he was engrossed in reading.
A sharp pain shot through his arm, and he nearly dropped the book. The pain had come and gone so fast that if it hadn't been so sharp he wouldn't even have noticed it. He pulled his sleeve up and looked down. The tattoo on his left forearm confused him to no end when he'd first noticed it that morning. The thought began to form in his mind that he didn't remember getting a tattoo, until he realized he couldn't remember anything, so of course he wouldn't remember getting a tattoo. He reckoned that it must be the tattoo of some heavy metal band. He did like a few of them, after all…he remembered that much. It looks a bit like Grave Declaration's logo, what with the skull and all. But I don't remember the logo having a snake.
He stared at it a moment longer before shrugging and continuing with his book. But after another ten minutes, he knew it was useless. His mind kept drifting to Narcissa, and he couldn't concentrate enough to read anymore. He sighed again and closed the book, setting it back on the little table. How in the world can a woman have such an effect on me after just one day when I don't even truly know her? He headed upstairs to his room. His final thought before sleep took him some time later was, At least I get to spend the day with her tomorrow…maybe I can figure something out.
(XXX)
When he woke the following morning, he sighed and stretched. The bed was the most comfortable bed he could remember sleeping in. Of course, he couldn't really remember sleeping in any other bed, but this one just felt…comfy. Safe. It felt like home. He smiled.
But he knew he couldn't lie there all day. With another sigh he sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He smacked his lips a couple of times before standing and heading for the changing area to get dressed before heading downstairs to find some coffee. Catching sight of himself in the huge mirror above the washbasin, he did a double take. Then a triple take, his mouth falling open.
"What? It can't be!" His hair had resumed the long, platinum blonde look it had before Mipsy had fixed it. Maybe magic had an expiration time, or maybe munchkin magic just faded out after a while. He glared at his reflection. "Mipsy!" He called, careful to keep any anger or frustration out of his tone. He didn't want that crazy creature bashing its head against walls again.
"Master called Mipsy?" A timid voice squeaked from behind him, but this time he managed to not be startled.
"Um, yes, Mipsy…uh, would you mind making my hair the way it was yesterday, please?"
Mipsy gaped at his hair. "Why did master put his hair back the way it was if he wants Mipsy to make it different again?"
He shrugged. "I didn't do this, Mipsy. I honestly don't know what happened. It was still like you made it when I went to bed, but when I woke up it was this way again."
Mipsy snapped her fingers and he felt his hair shrink once more. A glance at the mirror brought a smile to his face as he saw the short, brown hair back in place. Turning back to the elf he grinned. "Perfect, Mipsy. You're the best!" He gave her thumbs up and she responded with a bow before disappearing.
He dressed quickly, in the outfit he'd laid out the night before (which he felt was still rather posh…) and headed down to breakfast. Narcissa was already at the table, but had not yet started eating. She glanced up as he entered the dining room, and he couldn't help but notice a slight look of confusion cross her face before the cool exterior mask she usually wore was in place again. He hesitated in the door way, wondering about the confused look he'd seen on Narcissa's face, before walking over and placing a kiss on her cheek, noting with satisfaction as another, longer look of surprise flickered across her face, this time accompanied by a slight rosy tinge in her cheeks.
Keeping a smug look of satisfaction off his face, he said, "Good morning," before taking his seat across from her.
"Good morning," She murmured in reply. She continued staring at him a few moments before the blush returned to her cheeks, and she looked down, suddenly intent on her breakfast. "Do you feel up to going out today, Lucius?" Her tone was formal, yet there was an underlying waver to it. "I thought we could go to Diagon Alley together, if you'd like…once Draco leaves with his friends." She raised her eyes to his face, her expression timid. "Something might help return some of your memories there."
He shrugged. "At this point, I'll try almost anything."
(XXX)
After breakfast and Draco's departure to somewhere called "The Greengrasses" (he reckoned it must be some sort of arboretum or park), he followed Narcissa into the sitting room. As she approached the fireplace, he balked. "Wait—are we doing that weird 'disappear into the flames' thing that you and..and Draco did yesterday?"
Narcissa's lips twitched as she nodded, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Oh, no! I am not walking into a fireplace! That's insane!"
Narcissa sighed. "You saw Draco and I do it, Lucius…and we came back safely. Just step in, throw some floo powder and say 'Diagon Alley'."
"But…but…it's fire! One does not simply walk into fire!" He spluttered.
With another sigh, Narcissa gave him a gentle shove. He staggered forward, tripping into the fireplace as Narcissa threw a handful of powder in and said, "Diagon Alley", the flames roared up, and he disappeared with a yell…
…reappearing almost instantly inside a dim, smoky room. He fell out of the fireplace onto a flagstone floor, still yelling. Multiple heads turned in his direction as he got to his feet wiping ash and cinders off his clothes. Noting the many faces staring at him, he announced, "I meant to do that!" Immediately feeling like an even bigger fool. He felt heat rising in his cheeks. Clearing his throat, he heard the flames roar behind him, and Narcissa was there, taking his elbow and leading him toward the entrance of what was clearly some sort of pub.
Passing through an outdoor easting area, they entered a wide street filled with shops and people. The shops looked very old, the people were dressed bizarrely, and it was crowded. He stood still, not moving, just taking it all in: the sights, the sounds, the smells. "I feel like I just stepped into Toontown at Disneyland," he muttered after staring around him for several minutes.
"What did you say, Lucius?" Narcissa asked from beside him.
Still looking around in shock, he shook his head. "Eh…nothing, nothing."
Narcissa took his arm as they stepped out into the street. She leaned into his side, and he heard the tiniest of sighs escape her. For some reason it made him feel about ten feet tall. Holding his head higher, he couldn't keep the grin off his face. One way or another, I will fix whatever I messed up with this woman!
As they walked, some people would nod pleasantly to them, some would wheedle and simper at them, and still others would frown and shy away from them. He noted it, but was too distracted by the things around him to pay much attention to the varied responses their presence received from the other people they passed. His overarching thought was, What in the world kind of business names are these?!
There was Twilfitt And Tattings (Sounds obscene!), Flourish and Blotts (What…), Gringotts (How is that building even standing? It's all out of proportion!), Slug and Jiggers Apothecary (I didn't even know they still had apothecaries in this day and age…), Quality Quidditch Supplies (Quidditch? Sounds like a disease…), Olivander's (Wait…Olive Vendors? There's a shop that sells olives?), Eyelop's Owl Emporium (That place cannot be sanitary!), Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop (This entire place is a joke!), and Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions (at least that one sounds relatively normal…).
As they passed the apothecary, a tall man in black robes, with long black hair was just exiting. He saw the pair—Narcissa caught his eye and made a sideways nod at the man beside her, who hadn't noticed the other man—and he spoke. "Good morning, Narcissa, Lucius…I trust you are doing well?"
The pair stopped walking, and Narcissa said, "Good morning, Severus. We are indeed well, thank you. I brought Lucius out today in hopes that he might see something here in the Alley that would perhaps help some of his memories to return."
Severus, as apparently that was the man's name, looked at him. "Ah, still unable to remember anything, Lucius?"
He shrugged. "Just random bit and pieces, here and there. It's absolutely infuriating!"
"Is there anything you can do, Severus?" Narcissa asked, worry evident in her tone of voice. "Any potions you can recommend, perhaps?"
Severus narrowed his eyes in thought, staring at Lucius, who grew uncomfortable under Severus's contemplative stare. "Give me a couple of days. I'll see what I can find. I am certain there is something we can do to speed the process along. I shall ask Dumbledore if he has any ideas."
He raised his eyebrows. "Dumbledore?" He snorted. "Dumbledore? Ha!"
Severus gave him a slight frown. "Whether he is on our side or not, Dumbledore is a great wizard."
"Yeah, well…with a name like that he'd better be!" He shook his head, missing the smirks that Narcissa and Severus exchanged with one another.
"Well, I must be going," Severus said. "I will see what I can find out and get back to you soon. Hopefully by the time the World Cup is ended. I'll arrange a time to come over. Good day." With a small nod Severus moved off down the street. Watching him go, Lucius murmured, "And who was that?"
"Severus Snape," Narcissa replied. "The potions professor at Hogwarts, and one of our oldest and dearest friends."
"Doesn't anyone around here have just a normal name?" He whined. "Like, John Smith or something?"
Narcissa sighed, barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes and the pair continued walking once more. They spent all day in Diagon Alley to some effect, as a few things did seem to job his memories. But it was just flashes of things, nothing deep or long lasting. And when they returned home (and he didn't even realize that he had thought of the obscenely huge mansion as home), after a light supper they sat in the sitting room as Narcissa continued answering any questions he had.
It was late in the evening when she finally finished. they were both silent. Narcissa kept shooting furtive glances at his face, unable to read the expression she saw there. After several moments of silence, she couldn't keep quiet anymore. "Well, Lucius…what do you think?"
He snorted. "That I must be lying in a gutter somewhere hallucinating all this…because it can't possibly be real!"
Narcissa sighed. "It's real, Lucius. All of it."
"Oh come on!" He burst out, jumping to his feet and beginning to pace. "Witches and wizards and goblins?" He just barely managed to stop himself from adding, "Oh my!" as he reckoned Narcissa wouldn't get it anyway…besides, this is no time for jokes). "Magical schools with houses that fight with each other; rich, old families that have always been magic and hate people who don't have magic in them—and let me point out that it's only 'magic' until you figure out the science behind it! Not to mention streets filled with businesses that have silly sounding names, stores for magic wands, people flying around on brooms, disappearing into fireplaces"
"Now, Lucius—" Narcissa began, but he cut her off.
"Oh, stop calling me that ridiculous name!" He snapped. He saw fear flash through her eyes and instantly regretted his harsh tone. He rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, I…I didn't mean to snap at you like that. It's not your fault, it's just…this is a lot to take in all at once, you know?" He sighed again. "I think I need time to let it sink in…just sort of ponder for a while, I guess."
Narcissa regarded him in silence once more before nodding. "I understand, Lucius." Once more he saw the fear shoot through her eyes when she said his name, and he mentally berated himself for scaring her earlier.
"It's all right, Narcissa…you can call me 'Lucius'. I seem to be stuck with it; it is not your fault, anyway…it's my parent's fault for giving me the ridiculous name in the first place."
Narcissa's lips twitched again as she stood. "We can talk again tomorrow about anything you wish." She kissed his cheek, and he noted again the intense look she gave him, that look which was a mixture of hope, longing and fear. "Good night, Lucius." And with that she left the room.
He sighed and went out on the front porch to look at the stars and think over the day. "At least the stars are the same, he muttered. It had been a decent day, he decided after some contemplation. He'd been able to remember a few things—ironically, that Severus Snape character had been strongly familiar, he'd gotten out of the house, and best of all…he had gotten to spend the entire day with the beautiful Narcissa. He still couldn't quite bring himself to call her his wife, but he hoped he would get their eventually.
Ironically, the last thought he had before sleep claimed him that evening was at least my hair didn't change back!
A/N: There you go. Hope you enjoy it. I had hoped to post a chapter of two of my stories today, but alas, it's not going to happen. Stupid weird work schedules. :/ Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and thanks for reading! Apologies for any typos…
Lyrics are from "Rose tattoo" by Dropkick Murphys…