Under Obligation

Chapter Two

When Narcissa awoke the next morning, the house was filled with the tumultuous activity of last-minute wedding preparations. Everywhere that she turned, she seemed to be stepping over an aunt or a cousin scurrying about with bouquets of flowers, plates of food, or yet another large, elaborately wrapped gift.

No one who lingered, it seemed, was safe from being assigned a duty. Most of the gentleman had disappeared for a morning of sport (which Narcissa suspected to mean that they Apparated back to London for their clubs, intending to pass the morning smoking their pipes and reading the morning Gringott's report while their wives dashed about back at the manor.) Even Bellatrix was stuck directing temporary servants who were levitating the decorations into place.

Narcissa scanned the crowd for Andromeda, but it quickly became clear that she would be impossible to find until things calmed down. She could speak with her sister then. For the present, she decided to escape back to the gazebo until it was time to get dressed.

Ultimately, hunger drove Narcissa back to the house earlier than intended. Her dinner of warm bread and venison stew came at the price of shepherding the youngest children for the last two hours before their mothers came to collect them and put on their clothes. The task was even more tiresome than usual. Some of the furious energy inside the house seemed to have transferred to their little bodies, so that they were nearly impossible to contain.

At last, just past six, Narcissa's mother signalled that she could go in. The blonde hurried up to her parent's bedroom where her dress was stored, and where she had been given permission to change.

Narcissa sighed happily when she stepped into the lushly dark and silent room. It felt like heaven after the day she had passed, and it took all her willpower not to sink into the deeply tufted mattress on her parent's bed. She continued to the en suite bathroom where her dress had been hung.

She scrunched her nose at the mint green organdie that her mother had selected. She was grateful that her mother had permitted floor-length robes- she really would look like a baby with her ankles showing- but the high ruffled neck and long puffy sleeves struck Narcissa as very dowdy. She looked enviously at her sister's gowns. As usual, Bellatrix had selected a simple gown of deep claret, and Andromeda had decided on pink.

Narcissa started a little when she realized that Andromeda's dress wasn't gone. Since she needed to take extra care with her appearance (what, with the Malfoys present), she had been allowed to stay in her own room. Why hadn't she come to take it away? The youngest Black felt a prickle of dread as she recalled the night before.

Bellatrix's dress is still here too. Narcissa consoled herself with the thought, and then concentrated on the task at hand.

Narcissa might have been stuck with an unfortunate dress, but she was very pleased with her hair. She had stolen a copy of "Spellbound" from her sisters and copied one of the styling charms so that her pale blonde hair fell in soft waves around her face, held in place by a sparkling clasp in the shape of stars.

Since no one else had arrived, Narcissa decided to be daring, and steal a bit of her mother's rouge. Then, when she was finally satisfied, she left the room and headed downstairs.

Many of the guests who had not spent the weekend were beginning to arrive. The wedding was in the gardens- the house could never contain everyone- but it would be hot until the sun went down, so most of the early guests had lingered inside. Narcissa's gaze skimmed over the crowd, picking out the faces she knew. She waved to Iris Spellman and Polly Waxwing, two of her housemates at school and returned a rude face to her cousin, Sirius Black. She was about to head for Rodolphus Lestrange when her gaze caught curiously on someone else: Lucius Malfoy.

He was standing a little apart from the general crowd, which Narcissa found a little odd. Given who he was, she assumed his exclusion from the hubbub had to be voluntary, Narcissa puzzled over this as she found her eyes lingering on him. His own steely gaze was lazily scanning the room. There was no hint of anxiety in his face, there was no hint of anything, but Narcissa had suddenly registered the empty space by his side.

Andromeda!

Or more particularly, a definite lack of Andromeda. Narcissa's breath caught in her throat. She should have noticed her sister's absence from Mr Malfoy's side immediately, except, there was something so self-sufficient about Lucius. He wasn't like other men, in need of a pretty partner to give the illusion of wholeness.

Poor Andy, Narcissa thought, and then poor me, when Lucius saw and focused on her. She flashed him a weak little smile that was not returned as he crossed the room towards her. She wanted to run away and hide, or, as that was a rather childish desire, make a plausible excuse and leave his side immediately.

There was something oddly ensnaring about Lucius Malfoy's attention though and plans of escape where horribly reluctant to present themselves to Narcissa.

"Miss Narcissa." Lucius dipped his head in greeting. His eyes skated calmly over her figure, coming quickly to rest on her face. "I wonder, could you possibly tell me where Miss Black is hiding?"

"No," Narcissa blurted before she had given herself a moment to stop and think.

"No, you won't tell me?" Lucius repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"I can't," Narcissa amended. "I don't know where Andy is," she said and smiled as brightly as she could manage.

Narcissa wished she didn't know anything about Andromeda's midnight escapade; she wasn't exactly lying to Lucius, but she was being selective with the truth and she didn't like to imagine what might happen to her if he should ever find out! And what had happened to Andromeda anyway? Where was she? Narcissa's stomach turned over - what if she had gotten herself into even more trouble, what if she was hurt, what if-

"You nor anyone else," Lucius drawled, halting Narcissa's catalogue of concerns. His eyes narrowed, a gleam of suspicion lighting their depths. "You're quite sure you don't know what might be detaining her?"

Narcissa shook her head "no", wilting a little under his scrutiny. He was so forceful- she couldn't imagine anyone refusing his demands for long. She reminded herself that she was a Black, and that she had promised, and was strong.

With a sniff of annoyance, Lucius glanced away. Then, without saying goodbye, he turned and melted back into the crowd.

"Who was that?" One of Narcissa's friends from school eased to her side, hooking her arm through Narcissa's own.

"Lucius Malfoy," Narcissa informed her, "my sister's fiancé."

"Lucky Andy!" The girl gushed, failing to notice as her companion frowned.

Narcissa had a sinking feeling that Andy would need more than luck to save her when her fiancé found her next. She was probably out with one of her Mudblood friends going to a supermarket, or "bowling" (whatever that was), or playing another one of their stupid Muggle games. Malfoy and her parents would be furious if she didn't get back soon. Andy had to arrive before the wedding.

Once again, however, her hopes went unfulfilled. Her alarm rose steadily when they moved to the garden. Narcissa sat with her parents in the third row- an empty chair next to Bellatrix staring up at her accusingly.

"Where is that girl?" Orion said tersely when he noticed his eldest's absence.

Mrs. Black looked worried too, but she was reassuring, "I'm sure she's with Mr. Malfoy. Isn't it splendid how well they get along?"

But she wasn't with Lucius either. Narcissa knew that it was crude, but she craned her neck around and skimmed the crowd. Lucius was next to his father, and Andromeda was nowhere in sight.

Narcissa couldn't concentrate as the ceremony began. It passed in a blur as her thoughts raced. What had happened? Where had Andy gone? What had she done? She would surely be discovered if she didn't return immediately.

"Narcissa, run upstairs and find your sister," Mrs. Black said as soon as the ceremony was through and they had stepped forward to congratulate their cousin and her new husband. The guests were heading back to the house for supper and cake. "I hope you sister isn't unwell."

If she wasn't, she would be soon, Narcissa thought as she started up the staircase. She didn't want to think of what Andromeda's punishment would be. She wasn't able to contemplate the matter for long. She had just reached the first landing, when a scream pierced the air.

Some screams freeze the blood, they settle like a leaden weight in the pit of the stomach, working their way through the body like a fast-working poison - it was this kind of scream that met Narcissa's ears. She felt ill. Panic, fear and dread clenched around her heart as her feet carried her at a run back downstairs towards the desperate cry.

By the time she reached the bottom of the staircase and rushed into the best of the formal receiving rooms a little crowd had already gathered. Narcissa, thankful for her petit frame, was able to squeeze herself past the guests and work her way to the very front of the crowd without much difficulty.

To her surprise, and further distress, it was her mother who was at the centre of the commotion. She was standing before the old Black family-tree tapestry that hung proudly on one of the walls of the room... and she was crying. Bellatrix's arm was around her shoulder, whispering something fast and low into her mother's ear, but Mrs Black would not, could not, be moved. She barely even seemed to register her daughter's presence.

"Mama!" Narcissa exclaimed rushing forward, taking up her mother's hands in her own. "What is it? What's wrong?" she demanded instantly, forgetting the crowd that was keenly watching the whole, extraordinary spectacle. Mrs Black simply shook her head and sobbed harder. "B-bella?" Narcissa stammered, turning to her sister. She had never seen their mother cry before - it was devastating, crushing.

"Look," Bellarix hissed, barely moving her lips as she nodded just perceptibly in the direction of the tapestry. Narcissa blinked; Bellatrix's skin was deathly pale, but there was an oddly bright fire burning in her eyes that almost frightened Narcissa. She tugged her own eyes away and glanced at the tapestry obediently.

Her gasp was clearly audible. "No, no, she wouldn't have, no," Narcissa whispered numbly, shakily her head, acutely aware of the crowd again, of their whispers and stares.

They could all see, as plainly as she could, that a new name had magically added itself to the tapestry - sitting neatly beside Andromeda, proclaimed as her husband for the whole room to see, was written Ted Tonks, and Narcissa suddenly knew, because of the hush that fell over the room, that the presence she could feel by her side her could only belong to one person - Lucius Malfoy.

Narcissa's first instinct was to shrink away, but she found that her feet were rooted in place. She was completely powerless to move or even speak. Like the rest of the onlookers, she could only gape.

If Malfoy could feel the scrutiny of a hundred eyes upon him, he did not show it. His cool façade was as placid and unreadable as ever. Chin lifted, features composed, his grey gaze skimmed over the tapestry. Narcissa, along with the rest of the room, held her breath.

She didn't know what she expected. Since the first time she had met him, Lucius had reminded her of a sheathed sword, or of a bow drawn, but held in place. He was powerful, but restrained all the more dangerous because one never knew when-or how- he would strike. She had no doubt that he would. They would all suffer for this.

Some of her shock was wearing off, and Narcissa began to contemplate the awful consequences of what her sister had done.

No one bothered to suggest that the tapestry was wrong. It never was. Andromeda had gotten married. The Malfoys would be furious- and the Blacks hopes of regaining their fortune were dashed. But there was something worse.

Narcissa didn't know for sure, but it didn't seem possible that her sister's new husband was a man of their class. All of the decent people- pureblood wizards who supported the cause- were people that Narcissa knew. She couldn't ever remember meeting the boy who had been with her sister the night before, and she didn't recognize the name
Tonks.

"Isn't that a Muggle name?" someone near her whispered indiscreetly, voicing Narcissa's deepest fear.

Something flickered in Malfoy's eyes, but his control remained unbroken. His gloved fingers tensed around a cane he was holding in his hands, and his features twisted into an ugly sneer. "Idiot girl," he spat darkly. Then he turned and stalked away.

As soon as Malfoy was gone, voices began to buzz again.

"...mudblood who was with her at school."

"...haven't seen her all day..."

"...Black always was too lenient..."

Narcissa's head spun as she was assaulted by voices from every side. Her mother started wailing again. Her father and uncle were shouting. Her aunt was shrieking. Cousin Lyra was crying.

In the hubbub, Narcissa was forgotten, and she seized her chance to escape. Gathering her skirts in her fingers, she flew up the stairs and continued to her original destination: Andromeda's room.

The door was standing open, but in her acute distress Narcissa failed to notice the significance of this clue. She burst straight into the room, drawing a quick, sharp in take of breath when she found that she was not alone. Lucius Malfoy was standing facing the window, his back to the door, his eyes fixed firmly on something outside.

He didn't turn to face her, although he must have heard her less than quiet entrance. Narcissa stood stock-still, wondering if she should speak, wondering if she should leaving... wondering exactly how it was that Lucius knew how to find her sister's bedroom...

Narcissa took a backwards step; she certainly wasn't the right person to be with Lucius right now. She didn't have the smallest clue what might be the right thing to say. Perhaps she might have felt differently if she was less upset herself, perhaps if she hadn't feared that Andromeda's selfishness had ruined the family's reputation irrevocably. Narcissa felt like her family's celebrated name was crumbling down around her feet. How would they ever pick themselves up? They didn't have the money to ease such a disgrace, to silence the whispers and present an unaffected air to the world.

"She left a letter."

Lucius's voice sliced through the silence like a knife blade. Narcissa started, unprepared to hear him speak.

"Oh?" she murmured, feeling foolish for not being able to offer anything more.

Still refusing to turn and look at her, Lucius nodded his head in the direction of Andromeda's dressing table - there sat a little pink envelope. Narcissa crossed the room obediently, her fingers shaking ever so slightly when she picked up the note. It hadn't been address to anyone in particular. Whoever found it was meant to open it apparently. Except it wasn't open, the seal remained intact.

"You haven't read it?" Narcissa gasped in surprise.

"What could she possibly have to say to atone for what she's done?" Lucius snarled, finally turning to look at Narcissa.

"She..." Narcissa started to explain but almost instantly, she faltered. Lucius was right- what could Andromeda possibly have to say? She had plunged a knife into their hearts, and then ran away without waiting to watch them bleed.

A part of Narcissa thought that she should crumpled the letter up and throw it away, while another felt that she should carry it to her parents, but the largest part of her mind was curious. So, with trembling fingers, she opened it and read:

To whomever finds this letter:

By the time you read this, I will be gone...

Almost automatically, Narcissa felt tears spring to her eyes. Andromeda certainly was gone- far beyond where she was ever likely to be reached again! It stung Narcissa that her oldest sister had lied the night before- she never intended to come back at all! No, that isn't entirely true. She didn't lie, Narcissa reminded herself. Andromeda had promised that things would be sorted out. Perhaps they were to Andromeda's satisfaction. Shaking, Narcissa read on:

I am going to Gretna Green to marry Ted Tonks...

Narcissa scrunched up her nose. She had never heard of the place. It must be Muggle.

Ted and I are in love.

Stupid Andromeda! Narcissa could already guess what the rest of the letter contained. She was so caught up in her stupid ideas of romance. Her little sister wanted to be in love too- but not at any price!

We are in love, and he treats me very well. You will like him very much when you finally meet him...

Not likely.

but I am going to wait a bit for things to calm down before I bring him home.

There, at least, was a small display of wisdom. Narcissa brushed away a tear before she continued.

I am very sorry for how much trouble this has probably caused. It was never my intention to hurt anyone. Mr. Malfoy is a perfectly respectable man, and I am sure that he will make someone who shares his views a perfectly respectable husband, but I cannot be his wife. If it was only my own happiness to think about, I might have managed, but my heart has already been given to someone else. Even if it hadn't been, I don't think that we would have been happy.

I know that the family needed the money. Ted doesn't have much, but we will help where we can. Please let my family know that I love them all. Tell Mother and Father not to blame themselves. They have always been so happy together, that I can't help but want that for myself. They taught me never to settle, and I won't. Tell Bellatrix that hope she will forgive me soon, and please tell little Cissa that I will miss her. Finally, please let Mr. Malfoy know that I am sorry, but surely he understands that this is for the best.

Sincerely,

Andromeda Black (Tonks)

Narcissa clenched her eyes shut after she read the signature, astonished that her sister had dared the final insult. Automatically, her fingers curled around the parchment edge, crimping it beneath her hands.

"Well?" Malfoy drawled in a disinterested tone, but it must have been a ruse.

It took a moment for Narcissa to compose a reply. "She only said goodbye," she explained. Then, as if she believed it might pacify him, she added, "She said to tell you that she is sorry and that you will make a good husband for someone else..."

"Charitable of her to say so," Lucius sneered."Someone whose tastes are less Muggle-inclined, perhaps?" he added acidly.

Narcissa gulped uneasily. Of course, the fact that Andromeda had chosen a Mudblood over him had to be the ultimate form of insult to a man like Lucius Malfoy. She thought that maybe, just maybe, she could see the suppressed anger crackling away beneath the icy pools of his eyes. He had to be angry surely, hurt and upset? He had to feel something?

But Narcissa found that she had to look away from Lucius's face long before she had any chance of deciphering him. Her gaze automatically fell on the letter again. She reread it slowly, her heart aching with each and every line.

"I don't think she realises exactly what she's done," Narcissa whispered to herself, a little surprised when Lucius actually responded.

"Oh? And what is that, Miss Narcissa, what has she done?" he asked, lips quirking a cruel smile. She lifted her eyes to his once again, bright with unshed tears they held him motionless.

"Ruined us," Narcissa choked. "She has disgraced herself, and her whole family will all have to share in her downfall. I-I..." she ground to a halt, staring at the floor as she blinked furiously, embarrassed to have dropped her guard so thoroughly in front of Lucius, especially when he was by far the most guarded person she had ever met!

But the consequences of Andromeda's actions seemed so very vivid at that moment - Narcissa felt like she had lost her sister forever, felt like she had had all of her dreams snatched away from her before she had even been given a chance to fully realise them! She felt so old.

Nothing would ever be the same again, she understood mournfully.

Narcissa started when she felt the steady, warm pressure of a hand on her shoulder. She was once again staring up into Lucius Malfoy's unfathomable eyes, only this time they were much closer, and - perhaps she was only imagining it - but a touch softer too?

"I'm sure things won't always look quite so bleak."

It was kind of Lucius to say so, inexplicably so, but he was wrong.

"I'd better take this to mama," Narcissa said, looking down at the letter because she couldn't bear to hold his gaze. The letter wouldn't matter. It didn't provide any more information than they already had, and it couldn't possibly make things any better, but at least it gave Narcissa an excuse to slip away.

"Goodbye, Mr. Malfoy," she said in a quiet voice as she headed toward the door. She looked back over her shoulder, taking a snapshot in her mind.

She knew that she would never see him again.

..ooOOoo..

By the time she went downstairs again, someone had dragged her mother out of the parlour. The guests were all quickly making their excuses, filling the house with the busy noise of packing and quickly contrived excuses. Lyra's wedding was ruined. Narcissa wanted to feel sorry for her but, consumed by her own grief, she lacked the energy to gather sympathy for anyone else.

Soon, the house was deserted except for the London Blacks and Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange. They convened in her father's study, locking the door behind them, so that the children outside could make out nothing more than the rise and fall of voices within. Sirius and Regulus had gone upstairs, trying to use an eavesdropping charm through the floor, but Narcissa, Bellatrix and Rodolphus remained on the stairs. The older couple were sitting close together, whispering in worried tones as the night wore on. Narcissa assumed that the Lestranges had stayed to discuss their son's engagement. Already pureblooded elite, they had very little to gain from an alliance with the Blacks. Perhaps they wanted to call the marriage off?

If so, Narcissa felt sorry for her middle sister. She couldn't imagine Bellatrix in love, but there was an obvious attachment between she and Rodolphus, and they seemed uniquely suited to one another's temperament. It would be cruel to keep them apart- but then, Narcissa was beginning to realize that life was cruel. If the Lestranges reneged on their agreement, surely it would only be the first snub they were forced to endure when news of Andromeda's infamous behaviour had spread?

The hours dragged past, but no one suggested dinner, or made an effort to move. The voices in the study were still sounding back and forth. Narcissa thought they sounded louder and angrier than before. They paused for a moment as an intrepid elf ventured inside with the evening edition of the Daily Prophet, then they exploded again.

"...no longer my daughter!"

Narcissa shook as her father's voice boomed through the house, loud enough to be discerned through the heavy plaster walls. She looked warily to her sister, but Bella barely had time to return a glance before the mahogany door to the study burst open, jarring on its hinges as it was flung back against the wall.

"Orion, don't!" Narcissa's mother was shrieking, her bright blue eyes the merest slits on her puffy, tear streaked face. She grabbed at his wand arm, but he shook her off with a sneer.

"You know it has to be done." Narcissa's aunt pulled the other woman away, looking haughty and pleased.

Uncle Rigel nodded, "It's the only thing we can do."

Narcissa suddenly realized that they were walking toward the parlour. Curious, if wary, she scrambled to her feet, moving just quickly enough to arrive as her father stalked toward the tapestry on the wall.

Narcissa's mother continued to shake with tears, but her aunt and uncle looked approving as Orion drew his wand.

"Ex patria!' he said in a commanding boom.

There was a flash of purple sparks, and then the room was silent save the sound of Mrs. Black's wrenching sobs.

Narcissa gaped. Her hand was shaking as she reached up to cover her open mouth. Her father's wand had been pointed to Andromeda's name. Now it was gone. Only an ugly scorch remained.

..ooOOoo..

Conventional wisdom always held that "Time heals all wounds" but Narcissa began to doubt that this was the case. In the grim days that followed Andromeda's defection, things only seemed to get worse. It started the next morning at breakfast when the Daily Prophet social page blared, "Malfoy Heir Thrown Over For Muggleborn".

Narcissa pushed the paper away, unable to bring herself to read what would surely be a damning report of the whole terrible affair of the previous day. Bellatrix it seemed was not quite so squeamish, she took up the paper and began to pour over it.

"Well, we might as well get used to it, Cissa," she explained with a hardened shrug, catching her little sister's disapproving glance.

Narcissa couldn't help herself, she didn't touch her breakfast - instead she studied Bellatrix as she read, watching every flinch and wince. Still, Bellatrix seemed to be coping frighteningly well. It was almost as if she had somehow managed to shut the corner of her heart that had once been open to Andromeda. She cared only for the damage done to the family that remained dear to her.

"Well, at least we're not the only ones they're ripping to shreds," Bellatrix announced once she had finished reading.

"What do you mean?" Narcissa asked quietly, although she could guess.

"Let's just say that I wouldn't want to be at the Malfoys breakfast table this morning for all the cauldrons in England," Bellatrix snorted, reaching for the teapot with one hand, the other still holding the Daily Prophet. "Listen to this, Cissa." She cleared her throat and then began to read aloud: "'Tonks may be a Muggleborn (and what, this reporter would like to know, is wrong with that?)" Bellatrix paused to pull a face, "but while Julius Malfoy as always claimed his family can trace-'"

"Bellatrix Black! Put down that trashy tabloid immediately!" Orion Black bellowed. He had just entered the breakfast room. He stormed across to his daughter and tore the paper out of her hand. Narcissa bit her lip, Bellatrix looked too shocked to resist, she couldn't remember the last time their father had raised his voice to either of them.

Both girls watched in shaky silently as he settled himself at the head of the table, helping himself to a hearty portion of bacon, eggs, a few slices of fried bread and some black pudding. How he could bear to eat Narcissa couldn't fathom, all she had managed was to nibble at a slice of toast. She supposed everyone coped differently though.

"Where's mama?" she asked softly, once her father had taken a few bites to eat. He looked at her for the first time all morning.

"She's... resting." His eyes lingered on his youngest daughter for quite some time, for so long in fact that she wanted to sink beneath the table and hide. Whatever could he be thinking?

"Narcissa, are you planning to wear those robes today?"

She frowned at the odd question. She couldn't recall a single time before when her father had commented on her attire, except for a general declaration that she was "very pretty, princess" when specifically asked. She looked down at her garments, trying to discern what had earned a comment. Her dress certainly wasn't the height of
fashion- she expected to spend the entire day at home, after all, but it was stylish and well cut: a dark grey overrobe fastened over a slightly paler ankle-length dress embroidered with tiny leaves.

"I had thought so, father," she answered warily. "Shall I change?"

"Yes," he answered to her astonishment. "Where's that dress Andromeda was meant to wear to the wedding?"

Narcissa's alarm continued to grow. She met her sister's eyes across the table, but the glance revealed that Bellatrix was as perplexed as she.

"And have your sister help you with your hair and a little bit of makeup."

"Daddy?" Narcissa asked in a worried tone. Her father certainly seemed to be his normal self- a bit more subdued than usual, but that was to be expected- but was it possible that stress over Andromeda had pushed him beyond his senses?

He arched a brow, annoyed at being questioned, but he answered nonetheless, "We're expecting company this afternoon," he announced. "I'd like you to look your best...maybe a little bit older," he mumbled cryptically, but then returned his attention to his meal, picking up the paper that he had recently decried as a "trashy tabloid" and staring at it with a feigned interest that imparted, very clearly, that the subject was closed.

After breakfast, Narcissa and Bellatrix slipped from the room, staring at each other wide-eyed as they climbed up the stairs to do what they were told.

"Who do you think is coming to visit?" Bellatrix asked as soon as they had slipped out of earshot of the breakfast room, "and what do you think they want with you?

Narcissa merely shrugged. She noticed that her sister had not been ordered to improve her own appearance. This implied that the guests might have a special interest in Narcissa- but why? Was it possible that her father knew that she had seen her sister sneak away? Was she going to be punished?

No, that didn't make sense, Narcissa admitted to herself, but it did nothing to soothe her nerves.

Upstairs, Bellatrix brought Andromeda's gown into Narcissa's bedroom. The soft, candy pink was a better match for Narcissa's complexion than her older sister's, though the low-cut neckline and tight bodice which had been fashioned for the older girl made her feel chilly and a little exposed. After she was dressed, Bellatrix pinned up her hair, and then dabbed a bit of rouge and lipstick onto her sister's face. They had just finished when a battered elf poked his head in the door.

"Master wants Miss Narcissa in his study," it squeaked.

Narcissa shot an imploring glance at Bellatrix, but the elf was already tugging on the hem of her dress and leading her out into the hall. She hadn't a clue what her father might want, and ignorance always made her nervous. It seemed that in no time at all she was standing outside the large mahogany door of her father's study, the elf knocking on the wood.

"Come in," Orion Black's voice called from inside. Narcissa brushed by the elf and pushed open the door, entering the familiar surrounds of the room.

"Ah Cissa, you look," she waited anxiously for her father's verdict as he regarded her thoughtfully, almost sadly it seemed, "perfect, just the transformation I was hoping for."

"Daddy?" Narcissa gaped. What transformation? What had been wrong with the way she had looked before? "I-I don't understand."

"Take a seat, petal. There's something we need to talk about." Orion had been standing by a cabinet, an empty glass in his hand, but when Narcissa sat in the seat in front of his desk, he moved to take up the opposite chair. "The events of yesterday... well, they've changed things."

Narcissa nodded her blonde head. She knew that of course, so why a tingling of dread had settled in the pit of her stomach she couldn't explain.

"For you more than anyone perhaps."

"For- for me?" Narcissa repeated, the colour draining from her face. He had to know that she'd seen Andromeda. He was going to punish her after all, she was certain!

"The Malfoys are- well, they are a very powerful family. Though it pains me deeply to say so, they are far more powerful than the Blacks."

Narcissa nodded silently again, although she still didn't quite understand. Yes, of course the Malfoys were powerful, and dangerous a little voice whispered, but what did that have to do with her?

"We need them, Cissa. They wanted an alliance, but they can survive without us. I am not certain that the reverse is true."

"What do you mean, Daddy?" Narcissa asked softly, her brows knotting in a frown.

"We cannot afford to lose the Malfoys as allies, Narcissa. So you see," Orion paused and took a deep breath. Narcissa leant forward in her chair, holding her breath as she waited to hear what her father was going to say next. "I want you to take your sister's place."

"W-what?" Narcissa stammered, her mouth hanging agape.

"I want you to marry Lucius Malfoy."

Narcissa stared, for a full minute she simply stared at her father, and then her head began to unconsciously shake in the negative. Orion Black flinched.

"Not now, not for years. But Cissa, sacrifices have to be made. I know it's not fair, I know it's not what you want - frankly, I don't want it either - but it must be done, Narcissa. What do you say?"

Narcissa felt as if she'd been struck by a hex. All of her breath seemed to leave her body, and for the moment, she could only stare. What did she say? What could she say? She hazarded a glance to her father's face, and immediately wished that she hadn't. It was so painfully obvious what he wanted her to say- what he needed to hear her to say. She had never seen her father appear so desperate, and this sign of
his weakness filled her with a fear deeper than any she had ever known before.

"I don't think Mr. Malfoy likes me very much," she finally managed, almost in a whisper, holding her body very still.

Orion forced a smile. "Don't be silly, petal," he said, reaching forward to brush her cheek in a gesture that was probably meant to be casually reassuring, but felt painfully forced instead. Narcissa recoiled from the cold touch of his hand. "I'm sure he'll adore you. Everyone does. Besides. You're a lot better suited to Lucius than your
sister was."

Narcissa rather doubted this. If it was true, why hadn't he promised her to Lucius from the beginning? But she wisely held her tongue.

"This is an opportunity for you, Cissa," Orion said, shifting tactics in the face of Narcissa's stony expression. "Mr. Malfoy will be able to buy you lots of pretty things. Won't that be fun, to have whatever you want? You can have a pony, and trips to Paris, and anything your heart desires."

"But-" she started to protest. How could he ask her to put her heart for sale? She was going to say so, but to her father's immense relief, they were interrupted.

"Misters Malfoy her to see you, sir," A houseelf squeaked, poking its head through the door.

Orion jumped to his feet. "Excellent. Show them in."

Narcissa met her father's face in panic. The Malfoys were here already? Then she saw his sheepish gaze and understood. It didn't matter how she felt. Her fate had already been decided.

..ooOOoo..

TO BE CONTINUED...