InsaneJournal

[FIC] Ageless Beauty (Part One): Narcissa/Gabrielle
Originally posted here on 29 August 2007

Title: Ageless Beauty
Requestor: sweetcarolanne
Author:
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Narcissa Malfoy/Gabrielle Delacour
Summary: Narcissa Malfoy takes Gabrielle Delacour as her protégé, but her reasons for doing so are not entirely pure.
Warnings: AU. Femmeslash. Chan.
Disclaimer: I do not own Narcissa Malfoy, Gabrielle Delacour, or the HP universe.
Author's Notes: Gabrielle, in this story, starts out as being 14. I do not know exactly what the age difference is between her and Fleur, but I have them as being about five or six years apart. In any case, while attempting to keep with the books as much as possible this story will completely disregard the war. This is not an action/adventure story.



Yule Time was both Narcissa Malfoy’s favourite and least favourite time of year. It was certainly the busiest time with parties and gatherings to attend, shopping and decorating to do. The woman both loved and loathed it all, taking great pride in purchasing the most expensive, fashionable gifts for her son, and even greater pride in organizing the most expensive, fashionable galas of the year. Still, this was all done with not an insignificant amount of bitterness, as the woman year after year never failed to come up with something even more impressive than the year before.

But what was the point? She and Lucius weren’t even trying any more to maintain the pretense of a loving relationship. His affair with the eldest Parkinson daughter, Primrose, hardly went unnoticed by their peers – something which at times could make Narcissa’s blood boil. She didn’t mind in the least that her husband had affairs; quite the contrary, she preferred it that was as it kept the man away from her. But could he not be more discreet? It would never do for the women of her circle to be making snide remarks about her inability to entice her husband - as if any of them had perfect marriages! The only woman whose husband remained completely loyal to her, as far as Narcissa knew, was her sister Bellatrix, and Narcissa wasn’t sure if that was because, after all these years, Rodolphus was still madly in love with Bella, or because he knew what she would do to him if his fidelity ever wavered. Not as if it mattered, what any of those other women said to one another. None of them would ever have the audacity to try publicly damaging the Malfoy name, and so any gossip they might share amongst themselves would never actually turn into scandal.

As for her son; Narcissa had had such great hopes for Draco when the boy was young. Now, it seemed he just got more and more like his father every day. In reality the woman had always been disappointed with Draco, for she had wanted a daughter. While Draco could certainly be considered feminine in looks, he was unfortunately lacking several other important feminine traits.

Still, despite all that, Yule Time was a time when Narcissa could show off, quite possibly her favourite pass time of all, and could pamper herself – more than usual, at any rate. During the Christmas season she could even indulge in her own infidelities with greater ease, because Lucius was so drunk throughout the whole thing. The woman remembered with pleasure the most recent festivities, by far her favourite to date.

The recent festivities had been unprecedented. It wasn’t just that she had been able to haughtily tell certain people that they were certainly not invited to her party, nor that her guests had been utterly enchanted by the snow she had charmed to fall from the ceiling of her ball room. It wasn’t even that Narcissa had managed to take to bed Valencia Zabini, Lucius’s mistress up until that point. No, the thing which had made the previous year so much better than any before it was that it was the year Narcissa had been introduced to the only Angel living on earth.

She could recall it as clearly as though it was happening all over again. The second night of festivities, after having had her way with Valencia and the expected argument with Lucius after, Narcissa had been feeling quite pleased with herself. She had been regally dressed in a whine coloured gown, which contrasted strikingly with her pale complexion and hair. It wasn’t a colour she would usually deem appropriate for one with her complexion, but after the previous night she had been feeling especially daring, and, moreover, Narcissa Malfoy knew she looked perfect in whatever she wore.

The woman had been standing in the vestibule, greeting guests with her husband as they arrived. Most of them she was already quite familiar with, having written the guest list herself, but every once in a while Lucius would invite someone with whom Narcissa was not acquainted. Such was the case when the Delacour family arrived.

Antoine Delcaour had married a half-veela, and that was obvious from the appearances of his two daughters. Although Mme. Delacour had unfortunately passed away, making it impossible for her to be there with them, in retrospect Narcissa was grateful for that, as having a half-veela in her house would have been too much. As it was, every man in the room had turned to stare at the older daughter, Fleur, including Narcissa’s husband. Narcissa, as a woman, was unaffected by the girl’s vela charms, which she seemed to be all too aware of, much to the chagrin of every wife or mistress in the room. Instead, the blonde woman couldn’t help but find herself drawn to the younger of the two girls.

Gabrielle Delacour was, without a doubt, the most beautiful, perfect creature Narcissa had ever seen. Still altogether quite tiny, she evoked both the desire to protect and the desire for something more carnal within Narcissa. That perfect blonde hair, which was curled in ringlets befitting her young age; her perfect blue eyes, as clear as a tropical sea; perfect little red mouth - altogether the girl made Narcissa want to coddle her close, spoil her rotten, and at the same time, throw the child over her lap, spank her, and then proceed to devour every inch of her.

That had been her first impression of Gabrielle, the little girl dressed in a gown of pure white. The corset-bodice hugged her tiny frame, and layers of lace fell from her waist to her knees, pristine white stockings and shoe completing the outfit. Everything about the girl was absolutely perfect, but unlike her elder sister she did not have the haughty awareness of her beauty or the raw sexuality which so attracted the men of the room. The perfection which existed in this little slip of a girl was something much more pure, something altogether more perfect in Narcissa’s eyes.

Although the woman had been so stricken by Gabrielle, her husband seemed to be incapacitated by Fleur and had therefore forgotten it was his task to do the necessary greetings. Narcissa took it upon herself to greet Antoine and welcome them all to her home. In reality they had no idea how welcome they were, but of course there were other guests to welcome and make idle conversation with.

Throughout the night Narcissa tortured herself by playing the part of the perfect hostess. This game was one which she normally enjoyed, but the presence of that beautiful child made it absolute torture. She couldn’t recall a time when she had been thusly affected by a single person. Perhaps it was the girl’s veela blood, but somehow she doubted that was the entirety of it. After all, wasn’t it said that women were not affected by those creatures? No, it was something about the child herself which had Narcissa so drawn to her, and drawn she certainly was. She had to have Gabrielle. Narcissa was a woman who knew what she wanted and she always got it. Things would be no different with this part veela child, she would just have to bide her time as the girl was admittedly very young. Even then, after only a few hours, a plan was forming in her brilliant mind as to how she could get closer to the girl.

When the opportunity had presented itself Narcissa had made her way over to where Antoine and Gabrielle standing. (Fleur was off flirting with someone’s husband, likely Narcissa’s own.) Smiling as graciously as she ever had in her life, Narcissa offered her hand to Antoine.

“Mssr. Delacour, I am so pleased you and your lovely daughters could join us this evening,” Narcissa had said in perfect French, the native language of the Delacour family.

“We are most delighted to be here, Mdme. Malfoy,” he had responded in the same language, kissing Narcissa’s hand before returning it to her. “And please, call me Antoine.”

Narcissa had inclined her head delicately, “And you must call me Narcissa.”

“As you insist, Narcissa,” Antoine replied. The man had put a hand behind his young daughter’s shoulders and gently pushed the blonde creature forward. “You remember Gabrielle, my youngest. She has just turned fourteen.”

Narcissa had then taken the opportunity to let her eyes travel over the girl’s beautiful form once again, but more slowly this time. A smile had spread across her lips as she had said; “What charming daughters you have, Antoine. Fourteen you say? She must be just about ready to enter society. Do tell me, who is training her?”

“Well, Narcissa, as you are aware my wife has left us. Fleur of course is doing what she can with her sister, but she does not have the talent or interest for teaching,” Antoine had explained. Narcissa had tried not to smile too obviously, for the situation was exactly as she had anticipated and she was quite pleased with this.

“Why Antoine, I am absolutely horrified to hear this! A beautiful child such as this deserves proper preparation,” Narcissa had exclaimed, resting a hand on the man’s forearm. “Is there no one who can take over the task? No aunts or family friends from whom you could request this favour?”

“I am afraid not. My only sister is unwell, certainly unable to train a young girl,” Antoine had explained.

The plan was going precisely as Narcissa had hoped. “Well, Antoine,” the blonde-haired woman remarked pensively. “I am afraid I am going to have to insist that you leave the task to me. There is absolutely no one else as well suited for it as I, don’t you think?”

Antoine had looked terribly pleased at the prospect. “Narcissa, I could not ask that of you. That is an incredible burden.”

Narcissa had glanced at Gabrielle, who was listening intently with wide blue eyes. The woman smiled at her, and looked back at Antoine. “It would not be a burden at all, Antoine, but a pleasure. I insist that you allow me this joy.”

“Well, Narcissa, if you insist,” he had remarked with a laugh, obviously not wanting this opportunity pass. Narcissa was more than pleased, as the man had played right into her hands, giving her exactly what she wanted.

The two began to make plans for how this would work out. As Narcissa already had a townhouse in Paris and a vineyard in the French countryside, she agreed to split her time during the school year between those two places, and Malfoy Manor. Christmas and Easter holidays Gabrielle would obviously spend with her family, but the summer would be spent wherever Narcissa saw fit to take the child. Antoine was thrilled that his daughter was to become the protégé of Narcissa Malfoy, the most widely renowned woman of social status in the United Kingdom. Never even once had the man expected anything untoward would happen, and why should he? Narcissa Malfoy was known as being the best for a reason.

* * *

The training would begin almost immediately. After the end of the holiday festivities everything had calmed down. Lucius had gone back to work, Draco had gone back to school, and Narcissa was once again left to her own devices. Usually the woman found this time of the year to be the most dull, but because she had so much to do in preparation she was actually quite looking forward to it.

Lucius was thrilled when Narcissa told him of her new project. Of course, he hadn’t said as much in words, but Narcissa knew her husband well enough to tell. After all, if she was occupied with her new pet she wouldn’t bother him, and moreover she would stop stealing his mistresses. So far, everyone was profiting from the arrangement.

When her son finally left the house, Narcissa had her things sent to her home in Paris. She actually didn’t need to move much, the woman usually spent at least half of each year in France, and so it wasn’t much of a change for her. What she did need to do, however, was prepare rooms for Gabrielle. Now that the girl was officially her protégé (they had even signed a legal contract to ensure that Lucius could not at some point interfere with the situation) it was deemed appropriate by all for her to have rooms wherever she would be going with Narcissa, even if she would rarely spend the night in the house with the older woman.

Narcissa began her preparations in the Paris house, where she would spend most of her time with Gabrielle. It was in the middle of the fashionable wizarding centre of town, and was elegant in a way that was quite different from Malfoy Manor. The Manor was cold and dark, as Lucius liked it, which wasn’t helped at all by the dark, damp stone walls. Narcissa’s town house, on the other hand, was wide open with high ceilings and huge windows to fill the rooms with light. Crystal chandeliers hung in almost every room, the furniture was all made of dark, highly polished wood, and there were fresh flowers brought in twice a week. The majority of the rooms were decorated in cream and blue, although Narcissa chose something slightly different for Gabrielle. Her room in Paris would be pale yellow, with gold and white accents.

The first day Narcissa and Gabrielle were to spend together after their initial introduction came upon Narcissa much faster than she had anticipated. She had laid out a tea service for the two of them, and was expecting the girl after she finished class in the afternoon. The girl would floo from her Headmistress’s office right into Narcissa’s sitting room, and the two would begin their time together.

Gabrielle was nervous, when she first went to see Mdme. Malfoy. Her sister had been trained for society and marriage by their mother, a woman who was not known for her maternal instincts and screamed more than spoke at a human level. She had observed the interaction between her mother and her sister, and wasn’t at all surprised that Fleur tended to ignore what she had been so painstakingly taught. After all, Gabrielle was well aware of her sister’s dalliances, and how often she used her veela powers to get what she wanted. Gabrielle herself would never do such a thing, finding it highly manipulative, and besides she was only fourteen and not yet interested in boys. It didn’t matter to her that at school all her friends talked about was the opposite sex, she just assumed she would become interested sooner or later, and until then why waste her time?

In the meantime, the girl’s stomach was doing flip-flops as she walked to her Headmistress’s office. What would Mdme. Malfoy expect of her? Would she be very cruel? The girl could be very sensitive and had a hard time taking harsh reprimanding.

Madame Maxime welcomed Gabrielle as she entered the office, and waved her toward the fire place. Whereas Fleur had been the Headmistress’s pride and joy, Gabrielle often felt she fell a bit short of the impossibly high mark her sister had left. Such was the curse of being the youngest. The young woman wasted no time, taking the floo powder, and made her way through the fire to Narcissa’s home.

Mrs. Malfoy was seated on an ocean blue divan when Gabrielle came through the fire. Immediately the woman was assessing the girl. This perfect child would become even more perfect under the guidance and molding of Narcissa. Already she could see the girl had mastered the art of floo-traveling, not that Narcissa was surprised. As a part-veela Gabrielle was bound to be unusually graceful.

The blonde woman rose, as Gabrielle stepped out of the fireplace soot-free and curtsied. “Bonjour, Gabrielle,” Narcissa said as the child rose. “Welcome to the Paris house.”

“Thank you very much, Mdme. Malfoy,” Gabrielle responded, standing in her blue school uniform for her new teacher’s inspection.

“Please, Gabrielle, you and I are going to become very close. I insist that you call me Narcissa,” the older of the two females remarked, the underlying meaning of her words completely lost on the innocent young girl. Both spoke in French, as Mrs. Malfoy wasn’t sure how strong Gabrielle’s English was, although she suspected it would be quite good. “And please, have a seat.” The woman gestured to the oversized armchair which was decorated in a blue and white floral pattern.

Obediently Gabrielle took a seat where she had been told, crossing her legs at the ankle and setting her hands daintily in her lap. Narcissa observed approvingly and resumed her place on the divan.

“Well, let us not waste time. Please serve the tea for the two of us,” Narcissa commanded, sitting back to watch.

The young girl poured perfectly, and, upon observing the type of tea, chose between the milk, sugar and lemon to add to each cup before offering one to Narcissa. The older woman accepted the cup and took a sip. She then smiled at the wide-eyed blonde girl who was waiting for approval. Narcissa hadn’t known if the girl would know much about tea, as the French tended to prefer wine above all else.

“Well done, Gabrielle,” Narcissa praised, and the younger girl’s eyes lit up. “Tea service is one of the most important aspects of the day to day society life, in Briton. Knowing what to serve and how to do so is very important for any socialite, if you intend to intermingle with the English elite.” Narcissa was entirely pleased with the girl thus far, and so the two began to talk about Gabrielle’s school, the younger girl’s timidity slowly fading as their conversation went on.

When they finished their tea Narcissa showed Gabrielle the house, and finally the girl’s new room. The young part-veela was clearly delighted by everything she saw, which greatly pleased Narcissa. When they had finished the tour several hours had passed, and it was time for Gabrielle to return to school. The two women made plans for their next meeting and then said goodbye.

When Gabrielle returned to her school she was practically floating. She was so excited for her next lesson, and couldn’t wait to tell her friends all about the one she’d just had. Each of them was being trained by their mothers or aunts, and for them it was more of a chore than anything else. But for Gabrielle, her lessons could very well become her favourite pass-time.

The girl had rushed out of Madame Maxime’s office, making sure not to run as she could almost hear Narcissa telling her how unladylike that would be. Still, her excitement made her feel as though she was going to boil over at any moment, and she particularly wanted to find her best friend, Océane, to recall the events of what had happened that afternoon. She finally encountered the red-haired girl in one of the student centres, and slowed her pace to a casual stroll before sinking gracefully into a seat.

The other girl looked up at her friend and had to do a double take. “Gabrielle! How was it? You are practically glowing!” the other young woman exclaimed.

Gabrielle had to work very hard not to blush or grin at her friend’s comment, as she was trying terribly hard to be everything she thought Narcissa Malfoy would be. “Oh, it was lovely, Océane,” Gabrielle remarked, her voice a whisper. “Madame Malfoy is so wonderful! She is not harsh or cruel or anything such as that. She has the most beautiful townhouse, and she has even provided me with my own room there! And she is so lovely, Océane, I’ve never met anyone like her. Even my mother was not as lovely as Narcissa!”

“She lets you call her Narcissa?” asked Océane with surprise, and Gabrielle nodded her head. The redhead looked impressed. “I am so pleased for you, Gabrielle. You are so lucky.”

The blonde part-veela couldn’t help but smirk. “Yes, I know.”

* * *

They met again at the same time and place the following week. Again Gabrielle served them tea, and Narcissa instructed the girl in various appropriate foods to be served with the various types of tea. The young girl proved to be a diligent student, soaking up the information the older woman gave her. Narcissa was entirely pleased with the girl, although she hid it very well as she did want the girl to really learn, and she doubted very much it that would be possible if Gabrielle knew how much Mrs. Malfoy adored her.

After their short lesson on tea, the two sat in the sitting room and Gabrielle told Narcissa of her past week at school. The older woman insisted on knowing everything; what classes the girl was taking, what they were studying in each class, what extra-curricular activities the girl participated in (Narcissa was pleased to learn her protégé was an award winning gymnast and ballerina) and what her social calendar was like.

“I should like to meet this friend of yours, Océane,” Narcissa remarked after having heard a great deal about the girl. “She sounds perfectly lovely. Perhaps the two of you might join me for lunch this weekend?” Narcissa was hoping to initiate more time spent between herself and Gabrielle outside of their lessons, and this would be a good way to start it.

The other girl doubted that the question was a request, but she was more than happy to oblige her teacher anyway. Her eyes lit up at the thought of getting to spend extra time with her teacher, and being able to show off to her friend. “That would be so wonderful, Narcissa, we would absolutely love to,” the young blonde gushed.

“Excellent, then I shall expect you at one o’clock on Saturday. Until then, let us move into the dinning room. I should like to see how much you know about place settings,” Narcissa explained as she rose from the divan.

“Not very much,” Gabrielle admitted a bit abashedly, rising as well. Usually the girl used whatever utensil was closest to her hand when she was eating.

The two moved into the small, but elegant, dinning room where four different places were set. Narcissa explained to the girl how many courses each place was meant for, and which utensil went with which course. As before, the younger girl listened diligently, wanting to soak up every word which came from her teacher’s mouth. Narcissa couldn’t help feeling smug at the way her pupil seemed to live for what she was saying, as if her words were the air that Gabrielle needed to breathe.

When the two finished their lesson, Gabrielle gathered her things to leave. “Now remember, lunch at one on Saturday, and I will be checking to see if you remember what you learned today at your lesson next week,” Narcissa had explained to the young girl.

Gabrielle nodded her head obediently, gave a little curtsey, and then returned to her school by floo. When she had gone Narcissa let herself fall gracefully into the armchair her student usually took, a heavy sight escaping her lips. Did the child not know how she affected her teacher? It was such torment to be alone for so long with the girl and not to touch her. But it was for the best that she wait; all part of the plan, because Narcissa knew Gabrielle wouldn’t say anything if the older woman took her to bed, but when she did so she wanted the girl to want her as much as she wanted the girl. She wanted Gabrielle to be an active participant, wanted the girl to adore her, to worship her, even to love her – and that required time and patience. Narcissa smirked to herself, glad that she was a woman and therefore able to restrain her body’s desires, where so many men would have just taken what they wanted with out a second thought. No, it was much better this way, she thought, for by denying herself the thing she wanted most, she would enjoy it so much more when she did get it.

Until then, she could satisfy her own needs, or find someone else to satisfy them for her. It didn’t matter, for she would have that which she had claimed, and, being a woman of impeccable tastes, she would enjoy it very much.

* * *

Those first few weeks went by swiftly, turning quickly into the first few months. Gabrielle progressed very well, according to Narcissa’s standards, learning all about the things she would need to know to one day run her own household. In addition, Narcissa began the girl’s musical training. She had been shocked when she had learned that the girl had never touched a piano in her life, and the only singing she had ever done was along with the wireless. It became Narcissa’s goal to turn her little jewel into a musician, for she fully believed one of the best ways to entertain guests was with music. Additionally, the idea of hearing her little angel sing was quite pleasing to the woman.

They had started with the harp, one afternoon in Narcissa’s sitting room. The instrument had taken the usual place of their tea-table (Gabrielle now thought of many of Narcissa’s things to be hers as well, as she spent more time there with Narcissa than in her own rooms) with a small stool beside it. At her teacher’s instructions, the child had gingerly settled upon the stool, and then blinked up at the older woman without a clue of what to do.

“Here, pet,” Narcissa had instructed, settling behind her pupil and taking the girl’s hands in her own. Neither woman was prepared for the chill which went down each of their spines from the touch, but while Gabrielle gasped quietly, Narcissa made no obvious reaction. The older woman couldn’t help but be pleased at the younger one’s little gasp, a smug smile turning up just the corners of her mouth. It provided her with solid proof that she hadn’t just been imagining a connection forming between them. But what did it mean, and how aware of it was Gabrielle?

Ever the composed one, Narcissa quickly moved forward. “You remember which string is which note, from our previous lesson, correct?” Narcissa questioned, murmuring into her protégé’s ear.

The young blonde nodded her head. “Yes, of course, Narcissa,” she responded.

“Good,” was the older woman’s cool reply. “I am going to teach you a simple melody which you can play without music, to get you acquainted with the instrument. We will focus on your music reading skills more next time, but I want to see how you work with the harp. Now, I shall guide your fingers through the movements the first time, and then you shall repeat it. Ready?”

“Of course, Narcissa,” was the almost breathless reply of the part-veela, who didn’t understand why all of a sudden her chest felt so tight.

Still sitting behind Gabrielle with the girl’s small hands in her own, Narcissa began to play a soft and beautiful song. It was a very simple lullaby, played primarily using inverted arpeggios. The song was one which Narcissa had been taught to play on piano when she was very young, and she had loved it so much that she had personally transcribed it for the harp when she got older, as that was her favourite instrument.

Listening to Narcissa play, Gabrielle was somewhat in awe. It was so beautiful. She knew she was supposed to be paying attention to where Narcissa was placing her fingers, but it was very difficult. When the song finished Narcissa moved away from her student, leaving Gabrielle feeling suddenly very along, and the girl brought her hands to her cheeks which felt as though they were burning. “I am sorry, Narcissa, but I do not think I can play it,” Gabrielle admitted.

“And why in heavens name not?” Narcissa asked, partially surprised and ever so slightly scolding. She wouldn’t have put the task to her pupil if she hadn’t thought Gabrielle completely able to accomplish it. She hadn’t expected perfection, obviously not, but for the girl to not even try!

“It is just; it is just that…” the young blonde began. “ Well, I tried to pay attention to my fingers, but the music was just so beautiful, and I was listening, and I forgot about paying attention, and I am so sorry, Narcissa! I could not help it!” was the rushed explanation which came from a slightly panicked Gabrielle.

The older woman laughed and, surprising Gabrielle, wrapped her arms around the younger girl in a hug. The part-veela naturally melted into her teachers arms. “You do not need to apologize, Mon Cherie. We shall try again, slower, and just a little bit at a time. How does that sound to you?”

Gabrielle nodded her head enthusiastically, and so Narcissa resumed her position behind her student. Without taking Gabrielle’s hands again, she slowly played the first line of the song, naming each note as she played it. Then she reclaimed the girl’s hands and did the same thing, making sure her student knew which of the strings her fingers were playing. Then she let go and Gabrielle played the line on her own. When the girl had finished a look of delight appeared on her face at having gotten that one short line right. Narcissa praised her student, gave her a small suggestion about the manner in which she plucked the strings, and then taught her the next line of the song. Gabrielle then repeated that, and then played the two lines together, by herself.

“Well done, Gabrielle,” Narcissa purred into her student’s ear. “Now repeat the first line twice more after the second, and you have the first four lines of the song.”

Gabrielle practiced very carefully, repeating the lines over and over until Narcissa was satisfied that she knew them. They continued like that for hours, the process being a rather slow one, until Gabrielle had learned the entire song and would then be able to play it from memory. When they had finished, the two women stood and Gabrielle stretched and yawned. Suddenly the younger girl realized how much time had passed – it was now well past her dinner time!

“I do apologize for keeping you so late, Gabrielle” Narcissa remarked, not actually sounding sorry in the least. “I am afraid I have made you miss your dinner.”

“Oh, it is alright!” the younger girl hurried to assure her teacher. “I am not hungry anyway.”

A low growl from the part-veela’s stomach belied her previous statement, and the older woman laughed, casually placing her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Come, my pet. I shall not let you go hungry. I am sure the house elves can have something prepared quite quickly.” The two women then made their way into the kitchen, Gabrielle’s entire body tingling from where Narcissa held her.

Narcissa easily deposited the young girl at the small kitchen table, speaking with a house elf before returning to her pupil. Settling into the other chair at the table, Narcissa took the opportunity to study her student.

Gabrielle was still a quiet girl, something Narcissa expected was a result of living in Fleur’s shadow, but she was now much more open with Narcissa than she had been at first. Of course, she was always trying to be the perfect little lady for her beloved teacher, never stepping out of line, but Narcissa could see the excitement which would sometimes overtake the lovely girl for a few brief moments. Additionally, their conversation was much easier and no longer required constant prompting from the older woman. These days Gabrielle told her everything of her own accord, which was exactly what Narcissa wanted.

The house elves brought the two women a tea service, which Narcissa served to allow her student a brief respite from the constant practice of her lessons. Gabrielle seemed to relax more fully when Narcissa took the tea pot and began pouring, both loving to watch her teacher and happy with the knowledge that she was not being tested.

Accepting her cup happily from Narcissa, Gabrielle took a long sip and sighed contentedly. The drink was made to sheer perfection, incredibly pleasing to her taste buds and her growling stomach.

“How do you manage to be so perfect at everything?” Gabrielle asked her teacher, not at all hiding her admiration.

Narcissa was smugly pleased at the compliment hidden within her protégé’s question. Did Gabrielle realize just how much she was playing into her teacher’s hands? Narcissa couldn’t help but think she would be getting what she wanted soon.

“Practice, my pet, simply practice,” the woman responded. “It is the key to any accomplishment – the more you work on it, the better you become.”

“Yes, that is what I have always been told,” Gabrielle agreed. “And it is quite logical, is it not? I mean, if you do the same thing all the time you are bound to get batter at it.”

“Precisely. Now I only hope you will take that to heart, with out studies. You are already a very gifted, bright young woman, but you must practice what you are learning in order to ensure that you will remember the information in the future,” Narcissa remarked, leaning casually back in her chair, her arms outstretched on the table with her tea cup between her hands.

Gabriele, who was sitting as properly as she always did, nodded her head in agreement. “Of course, Narcissa, I am very serious about our lessons. I know I have to practice and study, and I do. I know how important this is,” the young girl insisted.

“I am pleased to hear it,” the teacher replied just as the house elves brought their food and placed it before them.

“I have even been practicing with Fleur,” Gabrielle remarked as she began to cut and eat her food. “Well, when she permits it, anyway. She is terribly jealous, you know, that I am learning all this from you. She had to learn from our mother and they did not get along very well.”

Narcissa listened with great delight as her student spoke. This was the most Gabrielle had ever opened up to her, and she hoped it would continue. “Why is that?” the woman asked, hoping Gabrielle would tell her more personal information.

“Well, it is somewhat complicated, but because Fleur and I are, you know, part-veela,” the child had never acknowledged this information aloud to her teacher before. It was almost as if it was something of which she was ashamed. “We inherited certain veela traits – one of which is the ability to turn on our veela charms. They are very limited, you understand, but it is enough to make all of the men in the room turn into our servants.”

Narcissa listened intently. This was easily the most open Gabrielle had ever been with her. The woman looked at the beautiful young girl as she spoke, very pleased with her student.

“Well, my sister knows this, and we both know we are not supposed to use them, but Fleur does – all the time. It made my mother so angry. But the thing is, vela have those powers so that they can attract their mate. I think my mother would have been fine with Fleur’s antics if she had the intent of finding her mate – but Fleur does not want to settle down, especially after the fiasco with Bill Weasley” the girl explained. They both shuddered at the mention of Gabrielle’s sister’s dalliance and façade of an engagement. “She just wants to bed anyone she can.”

Narcissa nodded, processing all the information. So, somewhere out there Gabrielle had a mate. The blonde woman wasn’t sure how she felt about that. The girl was hers. Gabrielle belonged to her, and one day she would be hers completely. But until then the girl was no less her own, and as her teacher and mentor it would eventually fall to her to assist Antoine in making an advantageous match for the girl. Narcissa had planned on picking a rich but spineless English pureblood – the Goyle boy, perhaps? – who she and Gabrielle could manipulate easily enough so they could continue their own affair. That was, assuming that Narcissa didn’t grow tired of her doll once she’d had her, but the woman very much doubted this would be the case. Gabrielle was simply too lovely, too obliging for Narcissa to ever tire of her.

After pausing only briefly to let all of these thoughts run through her mind, Narcissa took a sip of tea and said; “I can see why your mother and your sister would have had problems, then. Tell me, have you ever tried to use your gifts before?”

A very attractive blush spread to the blonde child’s face, and she nodded. “Once, at school. But it was awful; I did not like it at all. I do not understand why Fleur so enjoys the attention of men. I do not like it at all!”

Something quite like victory flared up in Narcissa’s chest, and she smiled at her protégé. Leaning forward, she placed her hand on her student’s, which had been resting on the table.

“Every person is different, Gabrielle. It is perfectly normal for you to not desire the attention of men,” Narcissa assured, gently stroking the soft skin of Gabrielle’s hand. The feeling beneath her fingers drove her mad, but still she made no other move. It was as of yet too soon.

Gabrielle had felt a strange sensation in her chest and stomach when Narcissa touched her hand, a sensation which was becoming more and more familiar to her as the evening passed. The girl just nodded as her teacher spoke, and smiled. “Thank you Narcissa, that is very reassuring.”

Giving the younger girl’s hand a squeeze, Narcissa let go, and stood from the table. “I am afraid it is time for you to return to your dormitory, my pet,” the woman announced. “Please ask your headmistress to forgive me for keeping you so late.”

The younger girl nodded, rising from her chair and heading toward the sitting room. Somehow the harp had disappeared and been replaced with the usual table.

The girl turned to her teacher to say goodbye. “So I shall see you next week, then?” she asked, although she was hopefully of seeing her teacher sooner, and her eyes very clearly said what her words did not, as did her tone of voice.

“Of course, my pet,” Narcissa responded, very aware that it would likely be less than a week. “Do not forget to practice your lessons,” she reminded, and quickly bent down to place a kiss on the girl’s cheek, the first time she had done anything of the sort.

Blushing furiously, Gabrielle took the floo powder and returned to her school.

As soon as her student left, Narcissa let out an incredibly heavy sigh. She needed to find release that night, or she didn’t think she would be able to continue on much longer. The way Gabrielle had responded to her small innocent touches was so encouraging, making her wonder how the girl would react if she were to touch the girl in a much different manner.

* * *

That night after her lesson Gabrielle lay awake in bed, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. The child couldn’t sleep; her whole body was alive and tingling. She couldn’t take her mind off her teacher. Why was she being affected like this? The girl didn’t understand. Narcissa had merely touched her hand and kissed her cheek, it was almost maternal, Gabrielle thought. But something inside her did not at all feel like a daughter should for her mother, nor like a student for her teacher.

But what exactly was she feeling? The child had never experienced anything like it before. Perhaps it was just excitement at being so thoroughly praised by her teacher, who she very much admired. Still, excitement of that kind had never before caused her to have butterflies in her stomach.

She loved being around Narcissa, she knew that much was true. She greatly admired the other woman, and wanted to learn everything the woman could teach her in an attempt to become more like her. But there was something more, and for some reason she couldn’t figure it out.

It wasn’t until several hours had passed that the girl finally drifted off into a very light sleep, after tossing and turning for a good long time.

The next day Gabrielle was as preoccupied as she had been the night before. Luckily her stomach had settled, but she could hardly concentrate during her classes. What on earth was wrong with her?

When she got out of class for the day she rushed to the owlry and wrote a quick note to her teacher before she thought better of it. For some reason she just wanted to be around the older woman this afternoon. The butterflies returned as the girl waited for the response she had instructed the owl to come back with. It seemed to take hours, although in reality it was probably no more than fifteen minutes, before she saw the school’s owl flying back toward her.

Gabrielle held her breath – why was this such a big deal? – as she took the note and opened it. She breathed a sigh of relief as she read her teacher’s fluid handwriting telling her she was welcome to come over, as always.

The girl then turned and ran to her Headmistress’s office, flashing her note at the woman (who really didn’t care, anyway) before practically jumping through the floo. When the girl arrived in the other fireplace, she brushed out her skirt and stepped out, slightly out of breath.

Narcissa was sitting on the usual divan, but didn’t look as though she was waiting for her student. The woman was reading a book, and a tea service was set out on a smaller table which Gabrielle had not seen before. The harp and stool were placed beside it. The woman looked up from her reading and smiled at her student as she came through the floo.

“Gabrielle, I am so pleased you wanted to come and practice,” the woman remarked.

“Well, I really want to do well at it,” the younger girl stated, which wasn’t really a lie because doing well would please Narcissa, and then Narcissa would hug her again and for some reason Gabrielle wanted that more than anything she had wanted in a long time.

Narcissa nodded. “I am glad to hear it, darling. And you know, pet, you do not need to ask permission to come over. My house is yours as well. You may come whenever you like.”

Gabrielle beamed. “But what if you are not here? Or you are busy? I would hate to be a bother,” the girl replied, looking for assurance.

“Oh, my dearest,” Narcissa remarked with a beautiful laugh, which reminded Gabrielle of church bells. “You could never be a bother. Trust me. Even if I am not home, this is still your home as well. Whenever you want to come over you are welcome to do so.”

“Thank you, Narcissa,” the girl murmured happily.

“You are most welcome,” the woman responded. “Now, would you care for some tea?”

Gabrielle nodded and settled into her usual chair, as Narcissa prepared her a cup. Taking it graciously and sipping the sweet beverage, the student readily gave her teacher a brief description of what she had done that day – made all the briefer by the fact she didn’t really know what they had done in her classes. After she had finished her tea the girl took up her place at the harp, slowly playing the song she had been taught the previous day as Narcissa returned to her book.

It was so nice for Gabrielle just to sit there practicing, with Narcissa in the same room but not teaching her. There was no pressure for her to prove herself, as this was not an actual lesson, and it was perfectly comfortable for the two of them to sit together without speaking. Gabrielle felt she could practice the music, actually practice, as she felt much calmer in the presence of her teacher.

Narcissa had been extremely surprised when she had received the note from her student, but also extremely pleased. So pleased, in fact, that she had told the lovely creature who had been, at the time, between her legs to leave immediately. Gabrielle was now Narcissa’s first priority, even before allowing herself what used to be the almost daily pleasure of female company. While she needed their attentions more than she ever had before, with the constant torture of her student’s sweet smelling hair and soft skin, she no longer enjoyed it the way she once had. It no longer satisfied her, and the woman suspected it was because she wouldn’t be satisfied until she had the part-veela writhing beneath her.

Still, it was a good sign that the girl had come to her of her own volition. She was seeking Narcissa out, for whatever reason, and that would give the woman more opportunities to draw the child to her and eventually into her bed. Even without them progressing to a physical relationship, the more time they spent together the closer they would become. Eventually Narcissa knew she would become the world to Gabrielle, although she suspected the process had already begun from the way the girl reacted to her, from the way she had sought her out when she had not needed to do so.

Yes, Narcissa was pleased. While at first Narcissa had been drawn to the child, now she was absolutely in raptures with her. Gabrielle, besides being disarmingly beautiful, was smart, diligent, attentive, and talented beyond Narcissa’s dreams. The child picked up everything she was taught – everything! – in just one lesson. The woman had never been so impressed before in her life.

Even now, the girl sat at the harp and played the simple melody Narcissa had taught her as beautifully and fluidly as though she had been playing for years. The woman couldn’t believe how much natural talent the girl possessed. Perhaps she had sensed it, when she had first seen the child, and that was why she had been drawn to her. Now that she knew it for a fact, however, she absolutely adored her.

And from the way Gabrielle looked up at her teacher, wide blue eyes shinning and a grin on her face, Narcissa expected the feelings were returned.

* * *

Gabrielle came to Narcissa’s town house every day after that, without fail. From that point on the woman invited no more female visitors to come to her house; she was much too busy with her protégé. They continued the girl’s lessons in music, and also her lessons in English. The child needed to be trained up on that, especially because Narcissa wanted to take her abroad over the summer holidays – which were rapidly approaching – and to England as well. Although Gabrielle was fluent in Spanish, and was proficient in German, for some reason English had not been stressed in the Delacour household. The girl explained it was because of their mother, who had distaste for the British Isles, who had kept them from learning the language. After her death they had finally begun to study the language, but that was a recent development and so it was not one of the girl’s strengths.

Their lessons took on a different feeling after that; they didn’t feel quite so much like lessons any more, unless they were working on English. More often, Narcissa and Gabrielle were just two women spending time together and discussing things of interest to women of their rank, as well as personal things – on Gabrielle’s side. Narcissa did not have any personal information she wanted to reveal to the girl, and the girl never asked, so the subject was never touched.

One Saturday very close to the end of the year, the two women were finishing having lunch together. Narcissa dabbed her mouth delicately with her napkin, and then put it on the table to signal that she had finished eating. She looked expectantly at her student, who followed her teacher’s lead.

“I have a surprise for you,” Narcissa explained to her protégé, watching with delight as the girl’s eyes lit up.

“Really? But why? It is not my birthday,” Gabrielle reminded her teacher.

The other woman decided then and there that Gabrielle was not spoiled nearly enough.

‘I have a surprise for you because I wanted to,” she stated. “I do not need a reason to bestow a gift on my student, other than my desire to see her smile.”

And smile Gabrielle indeed did do. Narcissa stood from the table, and her pupil followed. “We shall be going out,” the older woman explained, grabbing a light traveling cloak and fastening it around her shoulders. Gabrielle, following her teacher, put on her own cloak. As it was a Saturday, the girl was not wearing her school uniform.

“If you do not mind, I shall side-along Apparate you to our destination. It is much easier and faster than traveling by floo,” the woman explained, and her student nodded.

“Yes, Papa does it with me when I am at home,” she agreed.

Narcissa wrapped an arm around her student’s waist, and looked at the girl. “Are you ready?” she questioned, and upon receiving a firm nod Apparated the two of them to the location.

Their destination turned out to be the richest shopping district in the wizard-only part of town, much to Gabrielle’s surprise and delight. The girl had been there once or twice with Fleur, who shopped there frequently, but she had always been told she was too young to wear the clothing one would purchase there – her father and sister seemed to assume that because she was young, she would go off and find a mud puddle to roll in once she had put on the expensive clothing. Everyone who was walking around them seemed so incredibly rich and beautiful to Gabrielle’s somewhat sheltered eyes, and she looked around with great joy at all the new things there were to look at.

“Would you like to go shopping, my pet?” Narcissa asked her student, enjoying watching the girl’s reaction to her surprise.

Gabrielle nodded her head vigorously. “Thank you so much, Narcissa, for bringing me here. I have only ever been here with Fleur once or twice, and I never really got to look around for myself,” she explained.

“Well, I want you to pick out anything that catches your eye. Whatever you want. But keep in mind that I am taking you to the Caribbean Islands this summer, and you will need appropriate attire for that.” Narcissa waited for the girl’s reaction, which she expected would be quite a good one.

Never one to disappoint, Gabrielle’s eyes went as wide as Narcissa had ever seen them go. “The…Caribbean…Islands?” the girl asked incredulously. “Really? Do you mean it?”

“I never say anything I do not mean, my pet,” Narcissa assured.

The younger girl clasped her hands to her mouth in excitement. She had been on holiday before, of course she had, but never to any sort of tropical location. She could hardly believe that she was going to get to go there now, and with her teacher too! Who was practically offering to buy her a new wardrobe! It was too good to be true.

“Well, are we ready to find you some new things, then?” the woman prodded, and put a hand behind Gabrielle’s shoulders to push her in the direction of the stores she personally preferred.

The day was like a dream for Gabrielle. They would walk into a store together and the sales people would know exactly who they were. They were given the best service the girl had ever seen, someone constantly offering to take their cloaks, fetch them a drink, bring them the latest style of gown or trouser or whatever they were looking at. By the end of the afternoon Gabrielle didn’t think she would ever need new clothing, although much of what Narcissa had bought her the girl had tried to refuse but her teacher wouldn’t hear of it.

“Gabrielle, if you expect to be my protégé you must look the part. The clothing you have is lovely, darling, but you must have more of it. Besides, it gives me great pleasure to purchase you a few little things,” Narcissa explained, as the sales attendant at their twentieth store had yet another package sent back to the Paris house.

Gabrielle certainly wasn’t going to complain that her teacher wanted to buy her things; she just didn’t feel very deserving. She hadn’t done anything to merit the purchasing of so many new articles of clothing. Still, if Narcissa was going to insist, she wasn’t going to refuse her.

The two women shopped all afternoon, Narcissa picking up a few miscellaneous items for herself as well while they were out, before they returned to the town house. When they got back the house elves had already set out a lovely dinner for the two of them, and the two women sat down to eat.

“Did you enjoy yourself today, Gabrielle?” Narcissa asked, even though she already knew the answer to the question. Still, she wanted to hear her student tell her exactly how much she had enjoyed it.

“Oh yes,” the girl remarked enthusiastically, just as Narcissa had known she would. “I have never been on a shopping spree like that before. I hope you know how thankful I am, Narcissa,” the girl emphasized, really wanting her teacher to know that she really appreciated what the woman had done for her.

The older woman smiled at the appreciation in Gabrielle’s voice. Really, the girl’s family was very upper class; she would have expected the girl to be more used to such treats. Well, if she wasn’t already, she soon would be, because Narcissa fully intended to buy the child anything she wanted, and then some more.

“Yes child, I do know. And I only hope you know how much of a pleasure it was for me to do. I enjoy making sure you have everything you need,” the woman insisted.

The younger girl beamed, and the two women ate their dinner. As they ate they talked about the upcoming summer, which Narcissa did not tell Gabrielle too much about, only enough to get the girl excited – a rather easy accomplishment, really. Additionally, the woman wanted to find out what sorts of things the girl expected so that she could ensure those expectations were met. She found that Gabrielle had very few expectations, having never been to a tropical country, and so she would be able to take the great pleasure of showing the girl all sorts of new things.

After they had concluded their supper they moved into the sitting room, where Gabrielle worked on some of her homework while Narcissa handled the paperwork for her yearly charitable donations. After they had each concluded their own work, they had said goodnight and headed to their respective rooms. This was all a part of the routine the women had established over the past couple of weeks, ever since Gabrielle started spending all of her free time at her teacher’s house. On weekdays they would have tea in the afternoon, and a lesson. Gabrielle would then work on homework until dinner, the two would eat together, and then Gabrielle would work on homework (if she had more to do) or practice her music or just talk with her mentor until bed time. Most nights Gabrielle would return to the school, as she was already pushing Madame Maxime’s good graces by spending every afternoon instead of just one away from the school, but on occasion the girl would spend the night in the bedroom Narcissa had made for her. Friday and Saturday nights, however, the girl always slept over, as she did not have class the next day, and it was unlikely anyone would notice her missing.

Gabrielle barely ever saw Océane any more, a fact her friend was constantly reminding her of when they did see one another in class. She felt guilty for having so readily abandoned her best friend, but there was something about being around Narcissa of which Gabrielle could not get enough. She wanted to be around the woman all the time, wanted to do anything to please her, and the girl was starting to figure out why that was.

She had told Océane of these feelings, and the girl had looked at her in confusion and surprise. “Gabrielle,” the girl had begun slowly, in a warning voice. “Those sorts of feelings are what girls our age normally feel for boys our age. Not women three times our age, even if she is Narcissa Malfoy.”

Gabrielle had gotten very quiet at that, and looked down. A blush had spread across her cheeks. She had suspected it herself, but hearing her friend voice what she had already been thinking served as a confirmation. “I know, Océane,” the girl remarked softly. She thought very hard for a moment, and then looked up and caught the girl’s green eyes with her own blue ones. “But I have never been normal, have I?”

Océane had appeared very thoughtful at that, and then gave a shrug. “I suppose not. Still. You must be careful, Gabrielle. Narcissa Malfoy is a very respectable woman. A very respectable married woman, might I add. She may not be interested in her fourteen year old student,” the redhead had warned.

Gabrielle had sighed. Her friend was obviously looking out for her best interests, but she had no idea of what it was like for Gabrielle when she was with her teacher. She didn’t see the way the two of them interacted; she didn’t feel the jolts of electricity which passed between them whenever they touched or feel the butterflies in her stomach when Narcissa’s eyes caught hers.

Still, there was always the chance Gabrielle was reading far too much into everything, and that her friend was actually right. The blonde had sighed. “I know, Océane, and I am not going to do anything foolish,” the girl insisted. “I suppose I just needed to talk to someone about it. It is difficult to keep within myself.”

Océane had put an arm around her friend. “That is alright, Gabrielle. And do not worry; I will always be here for you. Even if you do prefer your teacher’s company to my own,” the redhead remarked half teasing, half completely serious.

Gabrielle had flashed a brilliant smile at her friend. “Thank you, Océane. You are a wonderful friend.”

“Yes,” Océane had remarked dryly. “I know.”

* * *


Continue to Part Two!