Chapter 5

*I realize that the Lestranges weren't actually in Azkaban after Book 5 and definitely wouldn't have gotten out so easily anyway, so it's somewhat A/U. Luckily for Bellatrix, I needed to use her in a scene.*

* * *

So little worth mentioning has occurred of late. Perhaps it is the war keeping gossip at bay. After all, who wants to be seen sneaking off with a Mudblood mistress in times such as these? However, we must persevere in our shallow pursuits.

-Gilda Grindylow's Society Papers, 30 October 1996

"Oh, honestly!" cried Bella, throwing the gossip sheet aside in disgust. "Who in the name of Hecate is this bloody woman? She's positively obsessed with you!"

"Indeed," remarked Narcissa calmly, taking a bite of her toast. "Although I'm not sure why she bothers. Her constant remarks on my supposed 'relationship' with Severus have done nothing to cause a scandal. It is obvious to everyone that I am the very soul of discretion."

Bellatrix hid a smile. "Of course you are, Cissy. Lucius is in Azkaban, as we've said ad nauseam. No one cares if you stray, particularly because you've given him an heir who is now sixteen."

"That's not true, Bella." Narcissa clasped her hands over her heart. "I care. Lucius certainly cares. So would Draco, if he were to learn the truth."

"Surely he's read Grindylow?"

"Naturally, but Severus and I have managed to convince him that she is wrong."

Grinning behind the rim of her teacup, Bella could not keep the amusement from her voice. "Severus and I?"

"Oh, shut up, Bella. As you well know, I've not spoken to, erm, Professor Snape for at least a month, and I have no intention of doing so in the future. Lucius shall surely be out of prison soon. They've released you and Rodolphus, haven't they?"

"Indeed. They assumed the Dark Lord would be too angry with us for losing the prophecy, you know. Though it seems they were wrong... "

"Well, why didn't they let Lucius out then? He was in charge! Surely the Dark Lord would be most upset with him."

"Oh, he is. But as Lucius is probably the best wizard of the Death Eaters, the Ministry has decided not to risk it for now."

With a sigh, Narcissa allowed her normally rigid posture to slump and lightly touched a hand to her forehead. Ever since her visit to Snape's dungeons, she had hidden herself away inside Malfoy Manor, where Bella had joined her after being released from Azkaban.

"Cissy, I know it's none of my business, but he told me what you said." Pushing back from her chair, Bellatrix moved around the breakfast table to embrace her sister.

"What?"

"Lucius. In Azkaban." She bit her lip. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Cissa, being in love with one's husband. You know very well that Rodolphus and I were a love match."

"Yes, but you and he are so different from me and Lucius. He made it quite clear that he had no intention of marrying for love, which didn't bother me at all then. Really, I felt all that romantic nonsense was a bit unseemly. No offense to you, of course."

"None taken." When she had pulled her sister up from the chair, Bella led her into the drawing room. "But surely," she said when they had settled upon the sofa, "you've not given up on the idea? Naturally he would be angry about Snape, but it seems to me that he might one day... "

Whatever Bellatrix had been about to say was lost as a large brown and white owl swooped through the open window and alighted on the arm of the sofa. Narcissa took the parchment from around its leg with trembling fingers and sloppily tore it open. It was still rather early for mail, and this particular missive bore the stamp of the Ministry of Magic. Skimming the message with wild eyes, she let out a strangled gasp of anguish, her fingernails puncturing the edges of the paper where she clutched it.

Mrs. Malfoy-

-Percy I. Weasley, Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic

"Oh, gods, Bella!" Two great tears trickled down Narcissa's pale cheeks. "They're letting him go."

Gently, Bella wrenched the mangled parchment from her sister's grasp and put an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Cissa. I'm sure he's not as bad off as the blood traitor says. Just run along to Azkaban, and bring him home."

"Will you come?" quavered Narcissa. "He told me not to go back... "

Rolling her eyes, Bella stood. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you went there to get him out. Besides, I rather think you're lucky. You can rescue him from prison and nurse him back to health. He'll fall in love with you for certain!"

"Don't be silly, Bella. Lucius Malfoy isn't the type to take kindly to 'rescuing,' especially by his whoring wife. And as for falling in love with me... "

"Narcissa!" snapped Bella. "Stop being stupid and go! I have things to do besides stay here and coddle you while you play the recluse. There are things to be done for the Dark Lord that are far more important than your marital woes." With a snap of her fingers, she Disapparated from Malfoy Manor before her sister could utter another word.

* * *

Narcissa's unbound hair spilled over the hood of her traveling cloak as she hurried from the carriage and into the gates of the prison. Mere minutes after her sister had gone off in a huff, she had summoned her coach and thestrals, not even pausing to have Glaber set her hair.

Upon entering, she discovered that they had moved Lucius into a small cell near the front of the prison. Slowly, Narcissa approached him, lying silently on a low cot in the shadows of the tiny room.

"Oh, gods, Lucius," she whispered when she had drawn nearer. The once proud and arrogant Lucius Malfoy lay ashen-faced, grey eyes gazing blankly at the crags of the ceiling. His expensively cut robes were torn and slick with the slime of the filthy walls; his fine, soft hair was matted with dirt; and his once broad frame was gaunt. Disregarding her gown, Narcissa knelt down on the cold floor beside the cot and hesitantly traced his high cheekbones with her ungloved fingers. "What have they done to you?" Voice catching in a sob, she buried her face in her husband's robe.

"That's quite enough of that, Narcissa." Weakly, Lucius tried to push her away with his cane.

Taking a deep breath, she raised herself from the floor. "Very well. Mobilicorpus!" With a flick of her wand, Narcissa raised Lucius from the bed, and he drifted along behind her toward the carriage.

* * *

Ah, dear readers, it has come to This Author's attention that Lucius M----, Death Eater extraordinaire, has indeed been released from Azkaban! Though he has yet to reenter society, there is every reason to believe that Mr. M---- is spending his time not recuperating, but working fiendishly to regain the favor of our friend, Lord V----.

-Gilda Grindylow's Society Papers, 7 November, 1996

"Lucius M----? Lord V----?" Lucius tossed aside the paper in disgust. "Couldn't you have brought me something a bit more edifying than Gilda Grindylow's insipid gossip?"

"Sorry." Narcissa took the teapot from a silver tea tray and set a cup before Lucius. "I thought it rather amusing, actually. The bloody woman is obvious to the point of ridiculous."

"And rather interested in you as well. If I didn't know she was a woman, I'd say she fancies you."

Blushing, she rearranged the pillows at Lucius' back. "You seem better today. We'll have you back torturing Muggles in no time."

A ghost of a smile danced across Lucius' face. "Yes, well, I should certainly hope so." He gestured to his wife, who was currently combing the last of the snarls from his hair. "Though one could become quite accustomed to this." Unexpectedly, he reached up and seized one of her hands, pulling her down so that she was eye to eye with him. "Legilimens."

The last two months sped before Narcissa's eyes: sending Draco off to school, Bella's release from prison, and most importantly, the final scene in Snape's rooms.

"Very good, Narcissa." His piercing gaze softened. "Very good, indeed." Lucius leaned toward her, seeking his wife's lips with his own.

Narcissa gave a gasp of delight. His mouth was hard and insistent, devouring her as she softened against it. Shyly, she ran the tiny tip of her tongue along his teeth, listening with satisfaction to his muted moan.

Boldly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him as close as she dared. Lucius' hands moved over her back, teasing the sensitive skin of her neck and moving down to cup the roundness of her derriere.

"Lucius," she whimpered when his teeth found her earlobe, "oh, gods, I love you... "

Abruptly, he broke away from her, leaving her shaking with unresolved need. "Yes, I recall."

I should really stop saying that... "Oh, Lucius, about that... "

Mercifully, a house-elf appeared in the doorway before Narcissa could finish. "Mistress has a caller. Does she wants Tubby to send him away?"

"No, I'll go!" cried Narcissa, leaping from the bed and hurrying away so fast that she kicked the elf halfway down the hall and had barely composed herself when she reached the steps and descended into the grand foyer. "Severus! What on earth? You do know that Lucius has returned, do you not?"

"Indeed, Mrs. Malfoy. The entire wizarding world knows it." His eyes narrowed as he took in her kiss-swollen lips, flushed cheeks, and the tendrils escaping from her chignon. "I had come in the hope that Gilda Grindylow had persuaded Lucius that you were far too scandalous to keep as a wife." Tracing her moist lip with his finger, he continued, "Apparently, I was wrong."

"Yes, quite wrong. How could you be so foolish as to think that my husband would pay any mind to a gossip column?"

Snape pursed his lips. "Naturally. But you, perfect Narcissa Malfoy, I expected some reaction from you. You've never been one to sit in the face of scandal and do nothing. Your entire life has been dedicated to restoring the Blacks' honor after your sister's unfortunate behavior. Making a splendid, albeit loveless, match, giving him an heir straightaway, behaving so rigidly that... " He broke off in a sigh. "Gods, Narcissa, I thought you'd be tired of all this nonsense by now."

"I know you can't fathom it, egotistical as you are, but I'm happy as I am." Her eyes were dark with concern as she laid a hand upon his arm. "Give up, Severus, please. You're just torturing yourself."

"Happy?" sneered Snape. "Then I must have misunderstood that day you came to see me at Hogwarts. You are the same anguished woman whose husband resolved never to love her, are you not?"

Though her fingers clutched more tightly on the banister, Narcissa did not allow him the satisfaction of seeing her flinch. "Bella is right. I was being an imbecile. Whether or not he decides to fall in love with me is his choice, as is the decision to forgive me for allowing you to seduce me. Severus, the point is that I love him, not you, even though I'd prefer him to feel the same. I can't, however, say that I don't desire you, which is why it would be better if we avoided each other's company."

"I see." Snape held himself stoically, as usual. "That is the one thing I hadn't counted on, you loving Lucius. I rather thought you'd be easy to lead from his grasp, though I went to some extreme measures... "

"Including, it seems, feeding information to Gilda Grindylow." Eyes alight for the first time, Narcissa queried eagerly, "Does that mean you know who she is? Everyone will be so envious if I discover her identity first... "

With a humorless bark of laughter, Snape muttered, "Actually, I am Gilda Grindylow. Didn't it ever cross your vapid little mind that she began her column at the same time as we began our affair?"

"You? But..." The look of astonishment melted from her features, and she began to laugh. "Oh, Severus, I never dreamed you had a feminine side! How... Why in the name of Slytherin would you do such a thing? That was all to drag me away from Lucius?" Shaking with mirth, Narcissa sank to the floor. "Oh, gods, Severus, when I think about your catty comments about Amata Goyle's dresses! Did your friends honestly think you were spying for the Order at all those balls?"

"I... " Rarely was Snape disconcerted, but he now seemed quite at a loss for words. "Perhaps I went a bit mad. It does seem rather ridiculous now that I have you here laughing at me." Annoyance flashed through his eyes, and he hauled her up by the arms. "Though you may mock my methods, admit it, Narcissa, you would have married me if your sister hadn't gone off with that Mudblood."

Sadly, she gazed up into his cold, unreadable eyes. "I can't say for sure. You may have had a better chance, but only an idiot turns down Lucius Malfoy. I wish I could say at least something you wish to hear, but I simply can't."

With a jerky nod, Snape released her from his grasp. "Of course. Well, Narcissa, it seems as though you've finally gotten your wish. I shall leave you alone. But remember this: You couldn't resist me. You barely struggled that night at the masked ball. Go back to your beloved Lucius then." Closing in upon her, he added in a low, dangerous voice, "I'll always have the satisfaction of remembering what I can do to you, Narcissa." He took her in a heavy, drugging, possessive kiss, skimming his palm across her silk-covered nipples, noting with pleasure the way the peaked instantly at his touch.

"No," said Narcissa, stepping away with great effort, "this goes no further. But Severus... I always did care for you. You must know that."

"I do." After bowing over her hand, pressing it with the slightest flutter of his lips, he Disapparated, leaving Narcissa in the empty foyer.