Fatal Flower

Fatal Flower, Chapter 4; The Pendula.

After a quick "Finite Incantatem" Mr. Lestrange was back to normal again. Narcissa was proud of her doings, convinced she was in the circle now.

"Lucius, bring me a House Elf! I absolutely have to master this spell before I leave!" Mrs. Lestrange said.

There was another faint round of laughter. Actually it was more like nervous chuckles from the men. Lucius grinned broadly and called for Dobby. Minutes later Dobby arrived in the library.

"How can Dobby be of service, young Master Malfoy?"

Now there was true laughter again.

"Go over to Narcissa and sit still for her!"

Narcissa spent the next twenty minutes teaching Morphia Lestrange the Vector Filariasis curse. Her eyes twinkled every time Dobby cried out in agony. She had never realized how much fun this curse could be. When Morphia had finally mastered the curse, both women rejoined the group. Narcissa was about to take a seat in a chair when the group fell silent.

"What do you think you're doing, Greenling?" a man by the name of Rosier said, "You can sit on the floor. You're lucky we're letting you join us at all!"

Narcissa looked around the room, not meeting any sympathetic eyes, so she sat down on the floor. Lucius had fetched a bottle of Firewhiskey and some small, bell shaped glasses.

A strange ritual unfolded before Narcissa. She was allowed to drink with the Death Eaters as they held heated conversations about things she didn't understand, but after every round of whiskey, one of the group would spit up a large ball of phlegm which Narcissa was expected to clean up without the use of her wand. It was worth it though. Never before had Narcissa felt the kind of admiration she felt for Lucius' friends. She reveled in their decadence and idealism and wished she could be like Morphia, whose voice seemed to carry quite some weight in this group. Narcissa took another sip of whiskey, feeling the glutinous heat seep down her throat. She made sure to keep up with the others; she may be a Greenling, but she wasn't about to give them an excuse to look down on her. The consequences of Narcissa's brave drinking were apparent. She swayed slowly from side to side and felt a definite pressing cloud in her head. It took every bit off willpower she had to stay focused. Rosier and the Lestranges were not trying as hard though. After their last sip of whiskey they broke out into song.

And If it all should end

Upon our last foray

Aurors appear to soon

And we can't get away

I will not lose my head

Though I'll be mighty mad

And so we'll shoot it out

Death Eaters and our sons

There'll be no Azkaban

We'll die with blazing wands!!

The library was illuminated only by the strange flickering flames that burnt in the fireplace. That combined with the thundering determination in the singers' voices made this a very ominous scene for Narcissa. She had no time to dwell on it or the jolt it sent through her body, for Rosier had spat out a fresh glob of phlegm for her to clean.

"Enough playing around now!" Lucius said in a slightly irritated tone of voice. "Our Lord expects our first public attack tomorrow and we haven't even decided on a location yet. Does our unit wish to face disappointing Lord Voldemort?"

An icy silence came over the group which made the hairs on the back of Narcissa's neck stand up. She quietly continued to scrub the carpet as she listened to distressed whispers from the group. It was probably the Firewhiskey that made her do it, because Narcissa was as nervous if not more so, than anyone else in the room. She stood up.

"If I may make a suggestion," she began, "My hometown holds a large Muggle open air market for Christmas. It starts tomorrow."

"Sit down and shut up, Greenling!" a fellow by the name of Goyle growled.

"Come on, Darius, let her speak." Morphia said, holding up her hand. "It's not like we can expect a better idea from you."

The silence was replaced by chuckles and an angry grunt from Goyle.

Narcissa proceeded to explain the location and size of the market and how it would be a perfect place for a display of the Dark Order's grandeur.

"That's a fantastic idea! She can even tag along and begin her initiation," Morphia said.

"No," Lucius answered with determination. "We will take the market, but I have other plans for Narcissa tomorrow. She will join me at the Ministry's Yule Dinner to make another kind of statement. I've already discussed that with the Dark Lord himself."

Lucius gave her a meaningful grin, which made Narcissa even more nervous.

"Very well," Morphia said.

"Narcissa, go to bed now. We have some important things to talk about."

Narcissa's heart had already skipped a few beats at the mention of an initiation, so she didn't comment on Lucius' patronizing remark. Being part of this Order was going to be harder than she had anticipated and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it. She turned to leave the room and could hear one last remark from the group followed by laughter.

"Be sure to teach her how to kneel, Lucius. I'm sure you'll have fun doing that."

She walked up the marble staircase with difficulty and wasn't quite sure how she found Lucius' room. Not that she cared anyway, all she wanted was to sleep. She lay down on the dragon shaped bed and the room started turning.

"Get up, Narcissa. Get up," she told herself.

Clumsily she stumbled into the bathroom and emptied the contents of her stomach. She sank down next to the toilet bowl holding her head. Frantically she looked around for a way to summon a House Elf, but found none.

"Oh, I made a mess. Can anyone come and help me?" she said aloud.

Before she could blink her eyes, Chef apparated in the bathroom holding Pantera and a jug filled with liquid and moving red dots. He used some sort of magic to clean up the mess Narcissa had made, put the cat down and handed Narcissa the jug.

"Drink. Good food. Arkadian food."

"Oh! I can't eat anything now. Take it away!" Narcissa whined as she tried to push the jug back in Chef's hands.

"Try. Good. Feel better."

Chef seemed to be smiling again, but it was hard to tell. He just looked so alien.

Narcissa took the jug and nipped at the liquid inside. It tasted salty and strange, but it went down well enough. Before she knew it, she had finished the whole jug. It didn't stop her brain from throbbing, but it did make her feel a bit better. She staggered up and walked towards the bed, Pantera steadily in tow.

"Thank you, Chef. Please don't tell Lucius about this, all right?"

His glowing form gave a nod, then he disapparated. Narcissa sank into the mattress and fell into a deep, unruly sleep.

*********************************************

Narcissa had no idea what time it was, but she was certain it was ungodly early hour. Lucius was poking her with something.

"Oh, what time is it? Let me sleep!" she moaned.

She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids were stuck to her face. Attempting to roll over, she noticed that Lucius was now holding her and giving her small electric kisses. She rubbed her eyes and finally opened them.

"Lucius, stop! I'm all dirty," she said with a giggle.

"I like you dirty," he replied.

She smiled at him before his body melted into hers. Narcissa surprised not only herself with a kind of ferocity she didn't know she had in her. Lucius locked his fingers in hers. An inferno blazed in Narcissa's chest.

He's mine. This is real.

They showered together and as the pleasant warm droplets of water hit Narcissa's skin, a dark nervousness settled in her insides.

"Lucius, what are you going to do today?"

He smiled.

"A dark moon will rise today. The winds of change will blow through this country and we will take one step closer to the cause."

Narcissa swallowed a knot that had settled in her throat. She wasn't at all pleased with Lucius' cryptical answer and sighed deeply, turning her eyes to the bathroom floor. Lucius noticed her concern and lifted her face by the chin.

"Don't worry, Narcissa. The most important thing today is the Ministry's Yule Dinner. That's all you need to think about."

"Why can't I go with you with you to the market?"

"You're not ready for that type of thing. Besides, you'll need an alibi if anyone should ask, so I'm sending you to Madam Reniformis' spa."

Narcissa didn't argue. She couldn't deny that she was worried. What if anything went wrong? What if Lucius got hurt? She quickly purged those thoughts out of her mind. Ridiculous! Nothing would happen! Those stupid Muggles didn't stand a chance!

The sun was slowly rising as they stepped into the Malfoy car. It was kind of vulgar to be traveling in Muggle apparatus, but it was a perfect way to travel without attracting Muggle attention. Soon, Narcissa thought, soon they wouldn't have to hide anymore. When the Order got it's way, they would never have to hide again. They rode in silence for about an hour, then the car pulled into the shell-covered driveway of a modest estate.

"We're here," Lucius said.

He got out of the car and held the door for Narcissa. Reluctantly she exited the vehicle as well. A waiver thin woman with pitch black hair came running from the house.

"Lucius! How is your mother, dear?"

The black haired woman grabbed Lucius by the elbows and blew two kisses past each of his cheeks. Narcissa concluded that this must be Madam Venus.

"My mother is doing well. She's enjoying a vacation in the Caribbean with father. I was hoping you would take care of..." He paused. "...of my girlfriend, Narcissa."

Narcissa thought she would faint right there! He called her his girlfriend!

"Oh, how lovely! Nothing is more refreshing than the young!" the woman said. She extended her hand to Narcissa. "How very nice to meet you, my dear. I'm Renilla Reniformis. You're going to the Yule Dinner I take it? Good. We'll fix you up!"

She dragged Narcissa away from Lucius and the car and started walking towards the house. Narcissa gave Lucius one last glance over her shoulder. He gave her a little wave before getting back in the limousine and leaving. As the car pulled away, Renilla gave Narcissa a little squeeze.

"How on earth did you string young Malfoy? You have to tell me everything, dear. Do you know how wealthy his family is? You lucky girl!"

Madam Reniformis talked continuously, not leaving any space for Narcissa to answer any of her questions. Not that Narcissa felt the particular need to tell Madam Reniformis anything what so ever, but it was quite amazing how much the older woman talked. Narcissa was led into the house and almost shoved into a changing room where a white house robe was waiting for her. Madam Reniformis made no attempt to give Narcissa any privacy and noticed the young girl's hesitation.

"My dear, don't be shy. We are going to exfoliate, rejuvenate, levitate and regurgitate your whole body today," Madam Reniformis said with a loud laugh.

Narcissa sighed, obviously not impressed with the little jokes Madam Reniformis made and changed into her house robe.

"That's the spirit, my dear. And by the way, you have nothing to be ashamed of. I wish I could have a body like that again!" The older woman laughed again and gestured to some of the many black and white photographs that decorated the walls. They were all pictures of her, be it a much younger version. They appeared to come from several different Wizarding magazines. Narcissa concluded that Renilla must have been a model when she was younger.

"All right, dear. Time to get you fed and watered!"

Narcissa was pushed back out into the hallway and into another room where a long buffet table stood.

"Champagne?"

Once again Madam Reniformis didn't await an answer and she shoved a glass of Champagne into Narcissa's hand. The buffet table was covered in plates with different kinds of pills and one small plate of sliced fruit.

"We have anything you might want, my dear. Happy pills, sleepy pills, laughing pills, appetite suppressants and of course relaxing pills. All made by the best of alchemists, of course," Madam Reniformis said as she motioned her bony hand over the table. Narcissa took a relaxing pill, a happy pill and raised her glass of Champagne to Madam Reniformis before chasing the pills with a sip of bubbly liquid. She could get used to this kind of living. The effect was instant. Narcissa felt like she was floating on a cloud and couldn't stop smiling. She was led to many other rooms, each containing a different kind of bath. She'd had a mud bath, a lotus bath, and a flaming hot bath that made her skin turn red like a lobster. She didn't care one bit, it must have been the pills. The last bath was different though. It was saline and the minute Narcissa stepped in, she realized she wasn't alone in the water. Hundreds of lumpsuckers, tiny fish with a suction cup on their belly, started grazing her skin. The effect of the pills was starting to wear off. The sensation of the lumpsuckers on her skin brought back the memory of that morning and the electric kisses Lucius had planted all over her body. Narcissa started having naughty thoughts, but cut herself off immediately. She thought about where Lucius was now, what he was doing and felt nervous again.

"All right, dear. Time to rinse off!" Madam Reniformis sounded.

Narcissa got out of the pool and into the shower, where two House Elves were ready to wash her hair. She emerged from the shower and was taken to yet another room where Madam Reniformis herself gave Narcissa a massage with an amber colored ointment. Next she was taken to a wicker basket under which lay a layer of smoldering coals. Narcissa had to lie down, her head resting on a pillow as her long blonde hair was draped over the warm basket to dry. It took quite a while for her long locks to dry completely and Narcissa wondered why they didn't just use a drying spell. Madam Reniformis must have been able to read minds.

"Drying one's hair over smoldering coals adds a touch of shine and bouquet to the hair. It's a very old trick, you know." She winked at Narcissa and led her back to the buffet room for more champagne. There were some tomatoes stuffed with egg salad on the table now and Narcissa reached for one, then changed her mind and took two of the appetite suppressant pills. Had she died and gone to heaven?

The afternoon was mostly dedicated to Narcissa's face, which was covered in mud, scrubbed, ointed, lumpsucked, tucked and plucked. Finally, as the sun was setting in the sky, three of Madam Reniformis' assistants started braiding and doing up Narcissa's hair. It was quite a pretty result. They had decorated the intricate magical braiding with orchids and pearls.

"Isn't this awfully expensive?" Narcissa asked.

The assistants giggled.

"Don't worry ma'am. Master Malfoy is paying!" More giggles erupted from the three young girls, but they silenced as Madam Reniformis entered the room carrying a lovely light pink dress robe with bell shaped sleeves. The assistants scurried out of the room.

"Look at this, dear. It was just sent over from Madam Malkins' in London. You sure are going to steal the show at the Ministry's Yule Dinner tonight. Lucius went all out for you! Now, take that robe off, my dear."

Narcissa smiled to herself and took off her house robe. Madam Reniformis pulled out her wand and muttered an unknown incantation at Narcissa. With a puff a glittering cloud of powder blew over Narcissa and Madam Reniformis helped her into the robe, adding the finishing touch of make-up.

"Thank you so much, Madam Reniformis!" Narcissa said, taking the older woman's hands.

"Oh, please dear, call me Renilla!" the older woman said with a smile.

Renilla stepped back and observed her day of hard labor.

"Well, I think it's time you go break some hearts, Narcissa! Lucius will be here any minute now to pick you up."

A jolt of guilt shot through Narcissa. She hadn't thought of Lucius for most of the day. Those damned pills! She bit her lip and wished he was all right, that everything had gone well. She didn't' have time to dwell on that thought though. Right that moment a House Elf came in, informing Renilla that Narcissa's car had arrived. Forgetting etiquette Narcissa ran out into the hallway and out of the house. There stood Lucius by the car, smiling and all in one piece.

Narcissa ran right up to Lucius and flung her arms around his neck.

"How did it go?" she whispered in excitement.

"Shh! Not here!"

Renilla had appeared behind them, smiling at the two young people.

"Put it on the account, will you Renilla? We have to get to the Yule dinner."

"Sure thing, Lucius. You two have fun. Knock 'em dead!"

Lucius and Narcissa exchanged a shifty look and could barely contain their chuckles. When they were safely in the car, they both burst out in laughter. Narcissa's eyes sparkled.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"It went well, very well. The Dark Lord was most pleased. But the real work is still ahead of us." He smirked.

"You wicked man! Will you finally tell me what's so important about this Yule Dinner? What am I supposed to do?"

Lucius pulled a small box out of his pocked and opened it. Narcissa let out a gasp.

"Do you know what this is, Narcissa?"

"Yes, of course! It's a Pendula! A hair ornament maidens in the wizarding world used to wear to signal their availability. It slowly got phased out though, since Purebloods wear more ornate Pendulas than Mudbloods. You could see a girls heritage right away and it was deemed inappropriate."

Lucius attached the Pendula to Narcissa's hair and it dangled right in the middle of her forehead. It was the most ornate Pendula Narcissa had ever seen. Shaped like a limpet made out of yellow diamond with small white diamonds all around the main stone.

"Lucius, I can't wear this. People will scold us and talk about us."

Lucius smiled.

"Just follow my instructions."

He spent the rest of the ride drilling Narcissa on what to do at the Yule Dinner and when they finally arrived at the main Ministry building, Narcissa was smiling too. A red carpet lay on the steps to the main door and their car pulled right up in front of it. Narcissa made sure her Pendula was secure, took one last deep breath and gave Lucius a kiss before they both stepped out onto the red carpet. Narcissa took Lucius' arm and smiled broadly, just like he did.

"Head up high. Walk proud," he said through his smile.

They started walking up to the entrance, where a small crowd was gathered around the doors. As they came closer several people gasped and pointed to Narcissa. She held her head up higher and smiled wider. Whispers exploded in the crowd and more and more people were looking at them as they walked up the steps. A pushy woman with large glasses pushed her way through the crowd, holding a quill and a piece of parchment. She was followed by a younger woman who looked very similar and a photographer.

"Excuse me! Excuse me! I'm Massmedia Skeeter with the Daily Prophet. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"

The woman looked overly excited. Narcissa kept her calm smile .

"Certainly. Ask away."

After a short interview the photographer took a few pictures of Lucius and Narcissa. Soon he was joined by a few other photographers and a line of guests trying to get into the building had formed behind the couple. Finally the crowd of press had cleared and they entered the building. There wasn't a guest at the dinner that didn't look at them. They made their way around the room, exchanging pleasantries with some of Lucius' acquaintances and avoided certain other people. In light of cultural exchange, both Muggle and Wizarding music were played. Narcissa and Lucius sat during Muggle music and danced to Wizarding songs. Due to the grand entrance they had made, everyone was watching them and their silent and subtle protests went unnoticed by none.

Their departure came sooner than expected and happened to coincide with the Minister making a toast to Wizard-Muggle cooperation. That too did not go unnoticed and the photographers made more snapshots as they departed. Narcissa felt proud of herself for the first time in a very long time, but she still had no clue of the importance of the night's events or the consequences of what they had set in motion.

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