"Lucius…"
The elderly Malfoy woke abruptly from his fitful sleep, panting heavily. He could have sworn he heard…?
"Lucius…"
Yes, it was Narcissa! She was calling for him.
With more agility than could be expected, he clambered out of bed, chasing that lilting echo like it was the one thing that could replenish his parched and shriveled heart. He could hear her… she was just outside, waiting for him to let her in.
But she wasn't there when he flung open the door, letting a torrent of snow blow inside. Her laughter teased from beyond the threshold, daring him to come find her, just like when they played hide-and-seek as newlyweds.
But before he could run after the sweet pleasure promised, a forceful grip caught his arm. Bewildered and angry, he spun around to find a miserable house elf clinging to him and begging him to come back to bed. But with more strength and authority than he had displayed in decades, Lucius flung her away and ordered her to stay.
Then Narcissa's voice beckoned from beyond, and he followed.
He stumbled through the whiteout blizzard on withered bare feet that did not feel the bitter cold. Rheumy grey eyes darted about, searching for a flash of that familiar smile. Wind whistled through ears straining for the faintest echo of her laugh. Knobby hands stretched out for a shadow dancing amidst the fat snowflakes, reaching… reaching…
They found him late in the afternoon, body blanketed with pure white snow.