Who: Narcissa, Lucius Where: Malfoy Manor, Narcissa's room What: Lucius brings a present for his wife, and possibly a change for their future When: Wednesday Evening Rating: G Status: Complete
Much as he'd wished to go straight to Narcissa when the business with Belby was over, Lucius had restrained himself. Better to let things settle for a day, just in case renewed Death Eater activity inspired anyone to renew the focus on his wife and manor. Even now, when he came, it was careful; he apparated directly to a windowless upstairs bathroom, and listened long and hard before proceeding into the hallway.
The Aurors had come by, of course; it was to be expected when the last person to "date" the victim happened to be the wife and sister of known Death Eaters. She'd answered all of their questions, and let them yet again search the manor, and then they'd gone on their way. Narcissa had smiled throughout, thinking about what had happened to the man who dared get fresh with her.
Tonight, Narcissa was taking a late dinner in her room, reading over her schedule for the next day to ensure she got everything done. With the wedding fast approaching, and so many of the attendees on the Ministry's Most Wanted list, nothing could be left to chance.
All seemed quiet, and a cautious survey of the upper floor revealed that the curtains had been drawn for the evening. Safe enough, then, Lucius hoped. He rapped gently on the bedroom door, hoping she would be inside, to save him searching the house. "Narcissa?" He spoke quietly, still on his guard.
Head snapping up, Narcissa first looked in the mirror and fixed her hair, then righted her blue silk gown, before getting up to go to the door. "How do I know it is you, and not some tricky Auror trying to get me to admit to seeing my husband?"
"My dear, I think if it were a tricky Auror, you would already be in hot water." He pushed the door open and raised his eyebrows, playfully stunned. "I do hope you're dressed up for me...."
Grinning, Narcissa put her arms around her husband's neck and kicked the door shut behind her. "Always," came her reply, and then a kiss. "I hoped you would come and see me this evening."
"And here I am, granting your wishes." His arms went to their familiar spot around her waist, drawing her in close. "I've even brought a present for you, though I don't think it will be much of a surprise...."
"I do so love presents," Narcissa chuckled. "Could it possibly be the notes of a certain Damocles Belby?"
"It very well could, I believe. In fact..." He reached into his robes, drawing out a sheaf of papers with a grin, "It is. Not exactly diamonds, but I thought it might please you, nonetheless."
She took the papers in her hands, flipping through them before giving her husband another kiss and going to place the notes in a hidden safe behind a portrait. "If I had the choice between diamonds and a visit from you with an item that will keep me from the Dark Lord's anger, I would choose you and these papers every time, my love."
"Lucky me, then, I'd have been in a bit of a bind if you'd preferred jewelry." Lucius chuckled. "But the notes are gained, the appropriate measures taken in regard to ungentlemanly conduct, and your sister has presumably returned to terrorizing her husband rather than the entire English countryside. All is right with the world."
Papers safely hidden and safe recharmed, Narcissa returned to her husband's side, sliding her hand into his with a laugh. "I almost feel bad for the man, having to deal with the two of you - though I have a feeling Bella did most of the work, if I know her." Really though, that only made it worse. Lucius was quick and neat, Bella...well, Bella always did toy with her prey.
"I could hardly have dissuaded her. She works rather more messily than I tend to like, but I have the distinct impression that getting in her way at such a time would be severely unwise."
"If you want all of your appendages?" Narcissa grinned. "I'd have to agree that staying out of her way was wise. And I do like your appendages where they are."
"I have grown rather attached to them, I admit." Lucius laughed, though the thought of getting between Bellatrix and her prey did give him a little shudder of horror.
A shudder of horror wasn't the effect Narcissa had been going for. "It is done and over with, now. Bella had her fun, and my honor is intact as is my mission. Best of all, you are home. Would you like me to have dinner brought up for you? You are eating, aren't you? I hate that you are so far away. How can I possibly be a good wife to you, so far away?"
"I would certainly appreciate dinner." He stretched out a hand, smoothing her hair in an affectionate, reassuring gesture. "I am eating much better than in Azkaban, and that's good enough for me. Soon I'll be home again, I promise. When we can move openly, I will be here with you. And I rather think those notes will help with that."
Closing her eyes for a moment, Narcissa leaned into the touch, not caring one bit how needy she was. "Werewolves, though, Lucius...it seems so dangerous," she replied, then regretfully pulled away. "Elf, bring Master Lucius dinner at once - the same as I am having, and a bottle of wine," she called towards the door. "I'm have Beef Bourguignon tonight, with herbed new potatoes and some fresh bread. I'll have them make extra, to take back with you." Because he would leave, of course. He never stayed.
"Don't trouble yourself, dearest. They are working for our side, wild though they may be, and Lord Voldemort will have little use for them if they threaten his own people." He took a seat, beckoning her to sit beside him. "But never mind that for now, let us talk of happier things."
Lucius's words did little to calm Narcissa's fears about her family fighting alongside werewolves that were going to be experimented upon, but she forced a smile and sat beside her husband, pulling over the table with her dinner on it. "You can finish mine, if you'd like. I barely started when you arrived, and I don't want you to have to wait on the lazy elves." Fingers traveling down his arm, she thought about what happier things she could speak to him of. "Pansy and I settled on her wedding gown - it's quite lovely."
"No, no, I can certainly wait. Please, finish your supper, my dear." He smiled and touched her cheek. "Is it? How are the preparations going?"
"Eat with me, then," Narcissa said with a sweet smile. She didn't feel right, eating without him. "I will gladly share." Taking a spoonful of stew, she ate it and then put the spoon aside incase he wanted some. "It was difficult at first - the gowns she was looking at were so far beneath her, Lucius, I couldn't even bear to think of Draco standing beside her looking like that. But finally, thanks to Daphne, Pansy changed her mind and got some good taste. Now I am just finishing going through lists of preparations, making sure it will be safe enough to have the family all here. I really wish we could simply have the manor hidden, it would be so much easier."
Lucius humoured her good-naturedly, taking a spoonful of stew. "I imagine it is rather a challenge. Is there anything I can help with?"
"Other than imperio-ing Pansy to agree with whatever I say?" Narcissa jested. "You're better with some of these protective spells than I am, if you could look them over before you leave. I think I may have to put a Fidelius Charm on the two rooms where the ceremony and reception will be held. I know it seems like a great deal to go through, but with it such a risk...at least that way if the Aurors were to show up they couldn't find those rooms, no matter how hard they tried. It's such a complex charm...of course I can manage it, but I don't know if I can do that and the others."
He nodded. "I'll look at them in the morning, and see what I can do. But you're quite right, there are far too many people involved to blindly trust that the Aurors won't get wind of it. One hopes, of course, but should the worst happen...."
"It won't," she insisted, cutting him off. "I won't let it - not on Draco's wedding day. It will be perfect."
"With the Fidelius on the rooms, it can't help but go right," Lucius concluded, soothingly.
Narcissa nodded, then tilted her head away slightly. She hated to bring it up again, but since they were speaking of the Fidelius... "You know, I was thinking that a Fidelius could work if you wanted to come home, as well. We could set aside a portion of the manor for your use and nobody would be any wiser, so long as we took other precautions as well." She scooted closer, molding herself to her husband's side.
He started to refuse automatically--he could almost say the speech by rote now, why it was best for him to stay away from the manor for now, how it was for her own safety. But then...that might actually work. Earlier on it might not have been exactly practical--after all, he didn't doubt they had a good idea by now of the exact layout of the manor, and rooms don't just disappear--but given how many times they had already searched the place, and the fact that they would likely need a damn good reason to bring them back at this point, it might just be feasible. "You know...that isn't such a bad idea, love."
As much as Lucius had been prepared to refuse, yet again, Narcissa had been ten times more prepared to hear that refusal. "But Lucius, I don't care about the danger, I want--" Blinking, she looked back to her husband. "It isn't?"
"It will be suspicious if the Aurors come calling, of course, but...they won't be able to prove anything. And I think they're likely to stick to watching the outside of the house, unless we give them particular reason to come inside again..."
"They haven't come on any raids at all in months, and only came this time because I was so recently tied to Belby, and due to the...nature of the missing appendage," Narcissa quickly agreed, placing her hand over Lucius's. "They questioned me a bit, and searched the house half-heartedly, but I think they've given up on finding anything and they know if they continue to raid the manor without a very good reason it will reflect badly on them in the press."
He nodded, thoughtful now. "Of course I'll want to consult our lord about it before we charm anything. But still...I almost think that it could work."
The excited smile that had swept over Narcissa fell at the thought of Lucius having to ask permission of anyone so that he could do as he wished - as they both wished. "Of course," she still replied, as she knew she must. "But what if he doesn't wish you to take the risk?"
"If he believes I will endanger the cause by taking such a risk, then I will just have to wait. But do not trouble yourself. I'm sure I can explain it satisfactorily."
Narcissa swallowed nervously and nodded. She did not think the Malfoy's were in the Dark Lord's good graces at the moment, but perhaps she would ask Bella to mention it as well. "We deserve this, Lucius. We've all worked so hard, and you were in Azkaban...you'll make him see. It doesn't do anyone any good to have you so far away, including him. Besides, the Ministry is beside itself, with all the Death Eaters that have escaped. I think they'll be far more worried about Bella and Rodolphus than you, for the moment."
"I shall make the most prettily convincing argument ever heard," he promised, smiling. "If nothing else, I think my being back in England is a fairly good reason on its own merit."
If there was one thing Lucius was known for it was that silver tongue of his. Surely he could manage this? Scooting some more, Narcissa made her way onto his lap. "Thank you, Lucius. I would do anything to have you back with me."
He pressed his face momentarily to her hair, an arm going around her automatically. "With luck, all you will have to do is a little bit of charm-work."