Just a Year

The fire light began to dim as I sat in my chair swirling the brandy in my glass. I heard the door open to the bedroom and only shifted slightly.

"Lucius, darling." Narcissa swept across the room in her black nightgown, coming to sit on my lap. "You came upstairs so early. Anything the matter my love?"

A solemn look was on my face as I looked into her ocean blue eyes.

"Nothing, Cissa. I just wanted to sit up here for some peace and quiet," I said lightly.

'There was peace and quiet downstairs," she said, laying her head on my shoulder. I was glad she couldn't tell my mind was elsewhere. She looked up at me and sighed.

"What?" I asked her impatiently.

"Nothing dear." A soft knock came from the door. A tiny little house elf entered.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Malfoy, but, Draco is crying, and we can't find the nanny anywhere."

"She's gone?" Narcissa snapped, getting up from my lap. "I told her she wasn't to leave."

"I'm sorry Ma'am," the elf squeaked. Narcissa stormed out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts once again, not that was generally a good thing.

Since Draco was born, I have done nothing but think of my fiery little red head I once had wrapped up in my arms.

I sighed, tipping my glass to my mouth and emptying it. My head was beginning to pound after many days of non-stop thinking. Pouring myself more brandy, I sank deeper into my chair and closed my eyes.

"Lucius, what are you doing here?"

"Stalking you," I said in my sarcastic tone. She let out a giggle.

"That's great, but seriously, why are you here?" she asked, skirting around several people in the restaurant where she worked. God how I hated that place.

"I'm offering you a higher paying job in Knockturn." Her face looked shocked as she turned to face me.

"Knockturn? Do I look like that kind of girl?" She picked up several plates from off a table.

"No, but, I have this hunch about you," I said almost silently. "Lily, at least you could come and look at the shop I want you in. That's all, just come and look." Lily looked at me sceptically.

"Fine, let me go tell Harris that I'm taking my break."

I couldn't help but smirk as she walked away, swaying her hips in that sexy little walk of hers.

We left a few minutes later, Lily placing her arm in mine.

"Where is James today?" I asked, really not caring in anyway. A dirty look spread across her face.

"He's away for a few weeks. I needed a break anyhow." Lily gave a small laugh. "He really can hit a nerve that man."

"He gets the title of man now? And here I thought he was still merely a boy," I said, leading her to the door of a dark blue building. We entered and I could tell almost immediately that she would take the job.

The shop was filled with rows and rows of books. She stopped me suddenly.

"When do I start?"

"I knew you'd like it," I said, bending to kiss her. She kissed me and smiled.

"Won't James be excited about my new job?"

"Oh yes, he'll be thrilled," I said, glad she accepted the job. "When is he expected back?"

"A week or so, why?" she asked, a smirk spreading to her face now.

"I can owl Narcissa from your place and tell her I had an unexpected something or other."

"Sounds good," Lily purred, coming and leaning into my chest. "Can we leave now?"

"I guess so," I said, hiding my anticipation greatly.

I opened my eyes, the fire light almost gone now. I began to reflect on meeting Lily, it was a fluke thing. I just happen to be in the restaurant she was in. I was meeting Narcissa there; she had said the small little place was growing on her.

As I waited for Narcissa, I spotted Lily and was taken away. She had so much spirit to her. Her clothes had stains all over them and she looked tired, but there was a general spark in her eyes. She came to my table.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked brightly.

"No thanks, I'm waiting for someone."

"Oh, I see. Okay then." she smiled and walked off to another table.

Maybe it was the way that she was so unlike Narcissa but I couldn't help but become infatuated with her.

Narcissa came, and we had a rather quiet lunch as my eyes followed my red headed angel around. Thankfully for me, Narcissa wasn't the keenest on catching someone disinterested in what she had to say. Hell, I could have had my fingers in my ears and she would still think I was listening.

After lunch, Narcissa said she had to go and see her parents about something.

"I'm really sorry, Lucius. Mother wants me to drop by for a bit. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," I said not looking at her. She kissed my cheek and Apparated away. I went over to the bar.

"Where'd your lady friend go?"

"Away," I muttered. I looked down at her name tag. "So, Lily, care to get me a scotch on the rocks?"

"Sure thing." She buzzed about the back of the counter, then produced my glass.

"Thank you," I said, tipping my glass towards her.

Over the coming weeks, I went back to the restaurant almost every day, despite my distaste for it, eventually grabbing Lily's attentions and the scene that had just ran through my head.

The door opening once again to the bedroom made me look over.

"All asleep and there's a new nanny who will hopefully do her job a bit better," Narcissa said, laying down on the bed. "Lucius, come here, please?" I rose and came over.

"What do you want?"

Narcissa slid the straps down from her shoulders, exposing her chest. I looked down at her with almost a disdainful look in my eyes. She was no Lily.

"Lucius," she said quietly, grabbing my hand and running it down her side. All that filled my thoughts was Lily. Remembering her saying my name that way the night we were last together.

"Lucius," Lily said, sitting on the edge of the bed, turning her back towards me.

"Something wrong?" I asked, sliding up to her, rubbing her thigh with one hand and her swollen belly with the other.

"You know what's wrong."

"No, I don't."

"You know this is probably the last time we'll be able to be together," she said sadly. "Your son will be born any day now, as with mine. We can't do this with children so young."

I knew she was right as much as I wished she wasn't.

"Yes, I know, but, don't be sad now. Be happy. It's our last night for a while," I said, trying to get her in better spirits.

"I guess your right," Lilly said, succumbing to the idea that this might not be the end.

"Right, so, we can make the most of the night," I said, smiling maybe for the first time in my life, while I leaned up capturing her mouth in a kiss.

I was coming back from my thoughts when I heard Narcissa screaming and cursing.

"Why aren't you responding? Am I not good enough for you?"

"What?" was all I managed to get out.

"I was trying my hardest to still be sexy and all you can do is look at the god damn ceiling?"

"No, Cissa, I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind." I sat down next to her on the bed. "I think you're still sexy," I said, knowing she would never tell if I was lying or not.

"Alright then," she huffed, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I stared at the headboard on our bed. Narcissa was not my Lily. She never would be. I almost slipped into thoughts again, when I new idea hit me.

I probably would still get a chance to see her again. Maybe when both the children were a year old. Yes, that might be long enough.

This thought renewed me, as I looked down at the top of Narcissa's blonde head. Just a year, that's all and Lily could be mine again.