Requiem for a Dream

Chapter One - The Beginning

The path down to Lucius's study was one Marguerite would know even in the dark. How many times had she traversed this same corridor for one of their late night trysts, or just to sit and watch him? Marguerite smiled rather bitterly. Another one of her secrets that she would always keep hidden from him.

With a soft knock to alert Lucius to her presence, Marguerite pushed the door open slightly, giving herself time to peer into the room before she opened the door all the way open. Darkness was something one got used to in the Malfoy Manor, yet Marguerite had never seen the room as dark as it was now.

Even though Lucius loved the darkness, he always had a fire roaring in the fireplace to the left of his desk. Yet, tonight, the hearth was cool, no evidence that anything had burned near those stones tonight. The room itself was void of any occupancy, save for herself. Marguerite wondered if Lucius was even in the Manor. She was about to leave the study to retire when movement caught her eye.

The flimsy curtain moved slightly in a non-existent wind. Peering through the sheer material, Marguerite caught sight of a form she her hands and eyes knew all too well. In the same moment her heart leapt and ached as she gazed upon his silhouette.

Moving quietly through the room, Marguerite found herself pushing the curtain aside to see Lucius standing on the balcony, his forearms leaning against the stone railing. She could have left him be, but something wouldn't let her. She had made herself a promise that she would tell him... even though, her mind knew this wasn't the right time to speak.

Her light footfalls never alerted Lucius to her presence until she lightly laid a hand on his shoulder. It was a small gesture, and one that had always earned her one of Lucius's rare smiles. Instead, he pulled away from her, not looking back in her direction.

"Has everyone gone?"

His voice was distant, perfectly matching his body language. Marguerite didn't follow him, instead quietly answering the affirmative that the guests had indeed left.

"Good. And Draco?"

Lucius's inquiry as to the whereabouts of his son was to be expected, but still pained her nonetheless. If they could avoid speaking of the platinum-haired boy, she would have found her own disposition to have changed. She couldn't be held accountable for her dislike of the child.

"Back at school..." she trailed off, her eyes skimming out over the lush grounds bathed in moonlight. "You know he can't stand to be around me... so he left as soon as he could..."

Lucius made no comment and it was probably all for the best. "Yes, that would be best I assume..." He still hadn't glanced in her direction and for once, Marguerite felt herself growing rather uncomfortable in his presence. "That is all... I suppose. You can leave now."

At first Marguerite wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. She coughed once, blinking at him. For all of what she may be, she certainly was not one of his servants. Lucius sensed that she was still behind him and turned to face her for the first time since she had joined him. The pain was evident in his eyes, yet she could tell he was trying his best to cover them over as he so often did.

"There is no reason for you to stay," he continued. "The house elves will clean up..."

Marguerite bristled slightly. "Last I checked, I didn't have the duties of a house elf."

"That is not what I meant. I know you are tired... It has been a long day..."

"All the more reason for me to stay around and make sure you're alright."

Lucius narrowed his eyes briefly at her before speaking again. "I am not a toddler. I can see myself to bed, thank you."

Marguerite merely raised an eyebrow in his direction, knowing it would only serve to fuel his anger. Lucius made a move to push past her, but Marguerite stood before him, effectively barring his passage.

"Move, Marguerite..." She merely shook her head in response, her muscles tensing as she stood before him, not permitting him to pass. "I am warning you. Move."

"Unlike many people underneath you, I'm not afraid of you. You'll stay right where you are."

That was obviously not what Lucius wanted to hear. It was evident in his speech, for Lucius rarely swore. "Damn it! Why must you make things difficult?"

"Because I know you, Lucius," Marguerite replied quietly. "That's what happens... you should know me well enough to know that I'm a force to be reckoned with."

"I am not in the mood for your ego tonight! Move. Now."

Marguerite merely crossed her arms in front of her chest, lowering her head to gaze at him through narrow slits in an expression of defiance. Grief did strange things for Lucius, one of which being his reverting to a more child-like state... well, child-like for Lucius. It brought forth the anger that always lurked so closely beneath the surface as a child. Anger that Lucius kept so carefully hidden and guarded as an adult. He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, effectively pushing her out of the way as he stormed into his study, Marguerite closely at his heels.

"I'm not leaving here until you bloody talk to me!"

Lucius spun around, a rare look of anger on his face. "What? What is so bloody important that you must pester me until you turn blue? What?"

At this point, Marguerite wasn't about to back down. Her one fault began to shine though with striking clarity: speaking without fully thinking through her words.

"Just what the feck is going on with you!?" Marguerite asked with a shake of her head. She raised her head once again to glare at him, knowing he'd do anything to avoid the issue. "And spare me, please, don't state the obvious..."

A sarcastic snigger left Lucius's lips as he glared at her with distaste. "'Don't state the obvious'... Ah, what a tasteful way of putting it Marguerite." He shook his head slightly in annoyance. "You always did have a way with words..."

His words were sarcastic and Marguerite knew it. Still, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a victory. "Thank you, Lucius... I always did pride myself on that."

Once again, a look of annoyance passed over his face as he did nothing to hide it. Yet, it seemed as if all the fight had left him. "Go away..."

Marguerite crossed her arms across her chest, leaning back against the sofa in the centre of the room. A sofa that, at one time, had held a few rather fond memories for her.

"And once again, that's the wrong answer. Want to try again for half credit?"

"What do you want from me?" Lucius turned from her once again, fuming in anger. He made his way to a large chest beside his desk, carelessly setting his cane on his desk. "I have nothing left to give at the moment and I am not in the mood for games!"

Marguerite watched in half-amusement as he pulled a cask of liquor from the cabinet. "Go ahead, drown your sorrows in drink... bravo Lucius..."

"Sod off."

"Tsk... such strong language from the great Lucius Malfoy... the man always in charge of his emotions..."

She moved slowly and quietly towards his desk as Lucius pounded down the first of many shots that evening. Watching him to make sure he wouldn't be turning around anytime soon, Marguerite plucked the cane from his desk and made her way back to her earlier post. Now, with Lucius effectively disarmed, she could speak without fear of him pulling his wand from his cane.

"Yes, if only the world could see me now."

Lucius's sentence was punctuated by a rather cruel laugh and the slamming of the cabinet door. In spite of herself, Marguerite jumped at the harsh noise.

"Well, at least they'd know you were human."

Lucius turned around as he poured another shot of, what Marguerite could now see was his drink of Merlin's Tonic. "Wouldn't they be surprised..." he began as he sat down at his desk. "I know I was..." he muttered as he finally let his body sink into the dragon's hide chair.

Instead of agreeing with him, Marguerite merely raised an eyebrow at his comment. "Well, not everyone would be surprised..."

Lucius threw the shot back as he filled the glass once again. "Always ready with a witty comeback. Some things never change." His sentence was punctuated by throwing back another shot. "Are you planning on leaving anytime soon?"

Marguerite grinned as she settled herself against the back of the sofa, not caring that the cane was pressing rather uncomfortably into her back. "No, not particularly... since, I do live here after all..."

"Not in my study..." he said, pouring back another shot and refilling his glass. "...The last time I checked..."

This time she did let the laugh escape her lips. "Are you sure about that Lucius..." she asked, throwing a look first at the sofa then at the doors leading to the balcony behind him.

Lucius merely scowled in response. "Again I ask: what do you want? Or are you here solely to torment me? I never thought hell as this cool..."

"Hell is actually a cool place... the further down you go, the colder it becomes." Marguerite paused, knowing they were going off on a completely unrelated topic. She sighed to herself, looking at him with an expression of caring. "What I want you to do is talk. I've seen you get like this before and I don't want you falling in on yourself Lucius..."

'That and because I care about you, you bloody prat...'

Lucius merely glared at her in response. "How sweet... A viper with a heart. Remind me to care..." Lucius lifted the glass to his lips yet again, pouring down more of the clear liquid.

Marguerite, on the other hand, was letting her anger get the better of her. "You should bloody care!

Another derisive snicker left his lips. "About you?"

That comment hurt more than she would ever let on. She blinked a few times, trying to keep her anger in check, which presently was quite hard to do.

"Oh, that's real nice Lucius... how many times have you actually told me that you do care for me...? Need I remind you?"

Lucius began to pour another shot before he set the bottle back on the desk with a thud. It echoed throughout the now silent study.

"I have said many things I regret, Marguerite; I needn't a score card."

"So... so you regret this?" Marguerite asked softly, knowing the 'this' didn't need to be explained.

Lucius finished pouring the drink, once again letting the bottle fall from his hands to clatter to his desk. "Among many other things... yes, I do," he said as he threw the shot back.

Slowly, the barrier between herself and the anger she felt was beginning to wear thin. And, she still had his cane digging into her back as a constant reminder of just what she could do. Under normal circumstances, Marguerite knew she couldn't pull his own wand on him. He'd be on her before she could mutter even the simplest of curses.

However, that all changed when one was facing a rather inebriated Lucius Malfoy.

Marguerite narrowed her eyes at the blonde, failing as she attempted to back up for the couch was already directly behind her. Even though she tried to keep a cool tone to her voice, she knew she was failing.

"Well that's a pleasant thought..."

"I am a ray of sunshine..." Lucius replied, tossing back another shot.

Marguerite began to lose count of just how many he had thrown back. "Stop it before you kill yourself..."

His gaze split between Marguerite and the bottle as he poured himself another shot. Marguerite only sighed to herself, closing her eyes briefly.

"I drank more than this that summer break in France..." Lucius trailed off as a far-away look passed over his face. Almost as if he was remembering something he had wanted to keep hidden. Then, with a brief shake of his head, Lucius tossed back another shot. Marguerite had finally had enough.

"Don't make me do something I'm going to regret, Lucius..."

Lucius rolled his eyes in a rather childish gesture. "Terrified, Marg..."

With a rather sardonic grin, Marguerite finally played her trump card. She pulled his cane out from behind her back, twirling it in her hands as if she were a cheerleader of some sort.

"I can't believe you didn't notice that I had it..." she began with a laugh, playing with the wooden object. "Damn, how inebriated are you?"

And that was when the proverbial shit hit the fan. Lucius jumped up suddenly, bracing himself as he stood up too quickly; the blood rushing to his head. His latest shot spilled over a pile of papers, undoubtedly ministry work.

"Shit... Give me that... Now."

"Wrong answer." Marguerite stopped twirling the cane/wand in her hands. "Don't try and take it from me either. You're too drunk to move fast enough..."

"First of all, I'm not drunk." Though, the slight wave of his body as he spoke said otherwise. "Second of all, I've always been faster than you." And yet, Lucius didn't move from his post behind the desk.

Marguerite laughed to herself, once again resuming her taunting. "No you haven't... I've just always let you win..."

"Keep telling yourself that, Marg... Maybe one day even you will believe it."

Lucius shook his head slightly before raising a hand to his temples. Marguerite could tell he definitely was drunker than he would lead on. It was almost pathetic to see Lucius in such a state.

"Don't test me Lucius... you're in no state to do so. Now, why don't we have a chat like civilized people, shall we?"

"I want my cane back... And then we will have your ruddy talk or whatever." Lucius looked longingly at the bottle of tonic next to him, yet wisely deciding against throwing back another shot.

"No... I have the cane, therefore, I'm making the rules. I don't trust you at the present, Lucius..."

A derisive laugh left his lips. "I believe I am in a more docile state as such," Lucius motioned to the bottle of tonic, "than I would be without. It is my impairment that has saved your wand hand..." At this, Marguerite snorted. He shook his head in response, almost as if he hoped that would take away part of his inebriation. Wisely, in Marguerite's point of view, Lucius decided to return to his seat. "But have it your way."

"Now, at least we're getting somewhere." Marguerite's face softened momentarily. "I don't like threatening you, Lucius, but I think it's the only way to get through that thick skull of yours."

"Liar. The only way you could threaten me was with me drunk and wandless..." Marguerite glared at this. "Go on... Is there a point to this besides your excessive hub... hub... ego?"

"Yes... I've asked the question five times now; I'd like an answer..."

Now seated, Lucius picked up the bottle once more, though his head was already spinning from the alcohol. "You want to know what is wrong?" Lucius took a shot in answer before pausing as if to think. Finding that thinking gave him a headache, Lucius settled for taking another shot.

Marguerite on the other hand, was reaching the limit of her patience. "Now Lucius. And stop stalling before I take the alcohol too."

If looks could kill, Marguerite would be lying in the ground beside Narcissa. Marguerite caught the glare, his eyes telling her that he would kill her if she tried, wand or no wand, drunk or not. And, for once, Marguerite knew when to hold her tongue.

Finally, it was Lucius who spoke next. "Well, I am wandless, half drunk in my study being badgered by my mistress while my wife rots in the ground... is that good enough or shall I keep going?" With a glare, Lucius tossed back what had to be his thirtieth shot of the evening.

Once again, Lucius's words stung. Marguerite kept trying to tell herself that it was the drink talking, but she was beginning to doubt that herself.

"And so I get treated like dirt now, is that it?" she asked softly, lowering her eyes slightly to stare at the floor.

"And you expected what, exactly? To be welcomed with open arms while Narcissa is still warm in her casket?" Lucius's eyes burned with a rare anger, the alcohol letting his true emotions actually show through. "Bloody hell, woman! I lost my wife. Isn't that penance enough for my sins... without having to deal with you as yet another reminder?!"

Marguerite bit her tongue to keep from speaking the words that came to her mind immediately. Instead, she took a few deep breaths, hopefully that her rational side would speak first. Her eyes were still lowered; not trusting herself to meet his gaze.

"I'm not expecting you to run to me... though, there were times I thought you would have..." A soft laugh escaped her lips. Funny how quickly things changed. "Oh the things you confided in me Lucius..."

"A confidant, perhaps..." Lucius agreed, pouring himself another drink. He lifted the glass to his lips but didn't pour the clear liquid into his mouth. "But making you my lover was a mistake, Marguerite. One I now regret more than anything..."

This time, it was damn near impossible to remain stoic. She was sure Lucius saw the change in her body language, how her body now tensed; a muscle in her jaw ticking. "And why is that...?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper and deathly afraid of the answer he would give.

The glass was tipped back as Lucius downed the liquid. "She knew... All that time - she knew." There was no emotion in his voice as he spoke. His words echoed the sudden emptiness inside her. "Do you have any idea how much it must have hurt her? To know that I was with you, to see us together and yet bite her tongue? To wake up in an empty bed every morning... By forsaking her... I might as well have killed her myself."

"And you never even gave a thought to me, did you?" The words left her lips before she could stop them. As much as she regretted them, the words needed to be said. It takes two to tango, or so the saying goes.

"Yes, forgive me. I have forgotten Marg, the poor unsung victim of it all..."

That was it. The straw that broke the camel's back. Marguerite finally lost her temper.

"Fuck you, Lucius. Don't you dare act as if you're the innocent party here..."

Once again, Lucius flew to his feet, his temper flaring to match her own. "I never have! It was Narcissa who was innocent! Even when we were children... And now she has paid the price for such."

"Her death wasn't your fault! Don't act as if you're the one with all the guilt... don't you dare..."

"Dare? Stuff it. I can act however I want now...It doesn't matter anymore..." The energy from his anger seemed to leave him as quickly as it came and he lowered himself into his chair. His words were soft, a striking contrast from the tone he had used only moments ago. "I have guilt enough - guilt to last me the rest of my life..."

"And what am I supposed to do," Marguerite asked, defeat beginning to seep into her voice, "brush all that under the carpet as if it never happened!?"

So much for her original plan.

"Move the hell on! Is that such a foreign idea? To get over it all and get on with life." Marguerite looked up at him sharply, but he just kept speaking, ignoring her as he seemed to do so often as of late. "Yes, that means not running away from the magical world, that means not pretending it all doesn't exist... You couldn't handle life as a child; it would do you well to start trying now."

Her anger flared again. He didn't know what she went through. He was never disowned by his father, forced to live on the streets, a fate any well-bred pureblood woman should never have to face. She didn't come back from the affair smelling like a rose either. If anything, she was the one who was more aware of the workings of the world.

She went fifteen years without having everything handed to her on a plate. Fifteen years of being the one who was taken without any compensation. Or a compensation that may provide a meagre meal of bread and, if she was lucky, meat.

"You bastard, you have no idea what happened. Some things can't be changed Lucius... but I honestly didn't think you'd be such a bastard right now... I guess you really don't understand... anything..."

"If I'm such a bastard, why wont you leave me be?!"

Marguerite sighed to herself. Oh, how much truth there was in his words. "Because there's a part of me that's saying not to... that's why."

The familiar Malfoy sneer was on his face in a flash. "Here is a hint - that part is a sentimental fool." Without moving his gaze from hers, he poured himself another shot. "There is nothing for you here, now more than ever... Just leave."

"No, I'm not leaving you..." Marguerite replied as Lucius tossed back the shot. "I'm not giving up that easily..."

"Giving up on what?" Lucius asked, his sneer still not leaving his face. "Happily ever after? Ha! That's a lark."

"No," Marguerite responded, her voice barely above a whisper, "on you..."

"I gave up on me years ago... You would do well to do the same."

"I refuse to. Call it my pureblood stubbornness... I know you're still in there, deep down... the man I care about more than anything." There was a very long, pregnant pause as the weight of her words finally sunk into her brain. Marguerite closed her eyes. There was only one word for this... she was screwed. "Oh shite..."

"You are pathetic..." was the only response from Lucius, along with the shake of his head. "There is no deep down... This is it. Callous bastard extraordinaire - learn to live with it."

Well, the cat was out of the bag, but not in the way she would have liked. So, instead of pretending like nothing happened, Marguerite pushed on ahead. Maybe she could get through to him this way. If not, breaking the bottle of tonic over his head was beginning to look rather appealing.

"No... because the Lucius I've been with for the past two years wasn't a callous bastard... I don't know what I have to do to get through to you..."

"Damn it!" Lucius shouted, pounding his fist on the desk. The bottle and empty glass jumped simultaneously as he connected with the wood, the sharp noise making Marguerite jump once again. "I cheated on my wife, betrayed my children and soiled the home in which they all sleep... yet you see nothing but an angel. Are you a fool?"

Marguerite lowered her eyes once again. "Maybe I am..."

"That is an understatement."

"Frankly, I don't care. I've given up on that... I had my chance and I screwed it up... or, maybe we both did... maybe that's why I'm still here right now... because something's not letting me go."

"You are right! Our chance is over. It was a long time ago. It was selfishness to think that it wasn't..."

"I'm not talking about us..." Marguerite said softly, knowing she spoke the truth. The question is, would Lucius even believe it. "Face it... no matter what was going on between you and Cissa even if you were estranged by that point... you never would have sought solace in my arms if there wasn't something else... I know that much... and don't you dare lie to me either."

"Don't you think I know that...?" Lucius asked, his own voice soft. "Don't you think I knew that then...?"

Lucius sighed, and Marguerite could tell that she had hit a nerve with him. Her next move would have to be careful, else all she had worked for could be whisked away and she'd be back to square one.

As much as she wanted to go to him and wrap her arms around him, Marguerite held back. "Then why are you doing this? To yourself...?"

"Because I am to blame," Lucius replied simply. "I loved her..." A slight, though bitter laugh left his lips. "How easily that comes out now... all too late. But I put everything before her, my trifle ambitions and momentary feelings. You don't understand... It is different."

"No it isn't... she knew you loved her..."

"Yes, I'm sure," Lucius said as he poured another drink, yet not taking a sip. "I showed it so well, didn't I?"

Marguerite sighed to herself. "Yes, you did... you know, I didn't stay away from her the entire time I've lived here... we did talk quite often... as much as it pained me... we did..." Once again, the memory of her conversation with Narcissa back in Hogwarts came back to her full force. Marguerite knew that would kill him, but would it make him understand? She sighed once again. "You see... you don't know everything Lucius..."

"Don't try to pacify me, it won't work."

"I'm not trying to pacify you... I'm trying to make you understand!"

This time, Lucius finally did drink the shot. "I'm sure."

"Dammit Lucius!"

"What?" He asked, looking at her through the bottom of the glass. "What now?"

"What do I have to do to make you understand!?"

"It doesn't matter if she knew..." Lucius replied as he lowered the glass to the desk. "None of it matters because it is all hindsight now. She is gone. I treated her like dirt and she is gone. End of story." He punctuated his sentence by pouring and downing another shot.

Marguerite shook her head. "You never treated her like dirt... ever..."

Once again, Lucius's temper flared as he pounded his fist on the desk. Strange how he became more like a child in an inebriated state. "Liar! You weren't here. You only saw what I wanted you to see... Haven't you wondered how things got like that? Haven't you even wondered what the hell happened to her? I killed her, that's what happened... She was dead long before she touched the ground."

"It wasn't you who killed her, Lucius... do you want me to say it was me? Would that make you bloody happy?"

"It would make you right... for once."

Marguerite sighed, almost defeated. "Fine... if it makes you happy..." Marguerite paused, finally deciding Lucius deserved to know. Who knows, maybe in some strange way it would help to ease his grief. "You'd probably love to know all I knew... you didn't share a dormitory with Cissa..."

It didn't exactly come out the way she had wanted, but such was the way of things. Lucius looked at her, completely lost. Granted, most of his facial expression stemmed from the fact that he was rather drunk, but Marguerite had a feeling her words were enigmatic enough on their own.

"Ah... I've finally piqued your interest..." Marguerite said with half a smile.

"Sure."

Even through his tone, Marguerite could tell he was still a little more than annoyed at her. "Oh, my dear Lucius... the things that she told me... how she knew that it would last, but it wouldn't..." Marguerite trailed off, at once not sure if she should really continue.

At last, it seemed that she was breaking through to his alcohol soaked brain. "....What?"

"Do I need to state it any clearer...?" Marguerite asked with a heavy sigh.

"Seeing as I've just mainlined half a bottle of heavy liquor... I would think so."

Marguerite ignored his comment. "As time went on... she saw the change in you... and knew there would be a point that you drifted apart... she knew it was inevitable..."

Her words seemed to have a strange effect on him. He looked almost defeated and it pained Marguerite to see him like that. She had seen that same look once before, and she never wanted to see it ever again. He turned his gaze away from her.

"But... How... I don't... understand..."

"It's because you were too caught up in yourself to notice... I think I'm the only one who's ever had patience for you..."

A deep scowl set itself in Lucius's features. "Yes, that makes me feel SO much better. Thank you. Now I know that despite it all, despite how ever hard I may have tried, Cissa knew it was pointless..."

Marguerite crossed her arms over her chest, a piercing glare coming from her stormy eyes. "Fine... then maybe I shouldn't continue..."

"Go on... You know you were going to anyway."

Her mouth opened to speak, but she closed it quickly. What she was going to say would hurt Lucius... she knew that much. And, quite frankly, Marguerite wasn't too keen on the idea of being on the receiving end of whatever he could throw her way. Marguerite remembered just how strong he was as a youth.

"I don't want to be hit for what I'm going to say though..."

Instead of answering, Lucius held up his wand hand, further driving the point home that Marguerite had his wand. Still, it didn't settle her nerves any. He could still throw a punch...

"Physically?" she asked.

"Yes, I am such the aggressor..." Lucius said with a roll of his eyes. Then, he winced as if he realised just what he had said to her. With a shake of his head, Lucius drowned another shot. "Go on if you mean to."

Marguerite merely raised an eyebrow at his first comment, yet didn't say a word. She was already taking her life in her hands here, and she wasn't about to give Lucius double the ammunition. With a heavy sigh, she began to speak. "She told me once... I don't remember when... that IF you were to go to someone; she'd rather someone she knew then some trollop in a brothel..." Once Marguerite had finished speaking she closed her eyes, wincing, and waiting for the blow he promised wouldn't come.

Instead of the immediate blow, Marguerite heard him let out... something that sounded like a laugh. But, Marguerite knew better. She slowly opened her eyes to see a muscle in his jaw ticking as his fingers curled around the shot glass. In a matter of seconds, the glass was whizzing at her head, barely missing Marguerite. Well, better a glass than a fist.

"Look, it doesn't give me any pleasure either!" Marguerite said, glancing at the broken shards on the floor. At least now she didn't have to look at Lucius.

"I am very sure," Lucius said, now eyeing the bottle. He wouldn't drink directly from it, but he wasn't exactly in a condition to rise and get another glass. "You gleam no pleasure from any of this."

His words stung. She looked up at him, defiance in her eyes, yet trying to keep her emotions in check. "What do you take me for? I'm not taking pleasure in this whatsoever..." Once again, she dropped her gaze to the broken shot glass. "It hurts me just as much..."

"And why don't I believe you in the slightest?"

Marguerite sighed. "Because I'm not a cold, callous bitch either..."

Lucius laughed. "Since when?"

Well, once more, it came down to the moment of truth. And, though Marguerite had told herself that she would tell him the truth, she found it hard to. Her voice dropped to a low whisper, as if she hoped that Lucius, in his inebriated state, wouldn't be able to hear her.

"Two years ago," Marguerite whispered, almost to herself. "Two years ago when you told me to trust you..."

"Anyone who trusts a Malfoy is a fool. Every business partner knows that. Perhaps that is why I am surprised at the shocked looks on their faces when they get burned."

"No... I don't believe that... not for a second... business partners maybe... but, no..." Marguerite was floundering, not wanting to believe the truth in his words.

"And what more were you?" Lucius asked, spinning the almost empty bottle on the desk. "It was a business deal, pure and simple. We both knew what we wanted when we went into it. Simple."

Marguerite shook her head. "Why do I not believe you?"

"Because you have never believed anything that you didn't want to be true."

"No, I believed what I knew had some basis of truth..."

"You were wrong." There was no emotion behind his voice and that was probably what hurt her the most. Marguerite watched, half shocked as Lucius lifted the bottle to his lips to take a swig of what liquor was left.

"No, you are"

"Bullshit." Lucius raised the bottle yet again, but just before it touched his lips he stopped.

"I think I hit a nerve..." she said softly, though not taking any pleasure in her small victory.

Lucius still held the bottle very near to his lips. "Go away..."

Marguerite shook her head. "No... I told you a long time ago... I'm not leaving Lucius... I can't..."

"Why?" Lucius asked, lowering the bottle and setting it gently on the desk. "Why can't you let me rest in peace?"

"Because I can't..." Marguerite replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "I don't know my own reasons..."

Lucius lifted the bottle as if to toast her. "There is two of us."

"Then... we've reached an impasse..."

Lucius chortled. "That was reached about 12 drinks ago."

In his present condition, they wouldn't be able to discuss anything. Lucius was less than coherent at this point. And, given the amount of alcohol he had consumed, he probably wouldn't remember a word of this conversation tomorrow. Yet, if he was sober, he probably would kill her before she even had the chance to explain herself. Weighing the consequences, Marguerite decided that it would be for the best.

Turning the cane slightly, Marguerite pulled Lucius's wand from its hidden compartment, pointed it at him and muttered a sobering spell.

"There... now you're sober... care to talk more...?"

With a shake of his head, Lucius blinked a few times as the effects of the alcohol were drained from his system. "What the..." he asked, looking down at the near-empty bottle. He stood up quickly, this time without becoming light-headed. "Give me my cane, Marguerite."

Marguerite shook her head, tightening her grip on his wand. "No. Because it'll lead to my pulling out my wand and then there would be problems..." She smiled to herself, reminding him of his Hogwarts days. "I always was better at Duelling than you were."

A soft laugh escaped Lucius's lips. "I have led more raids than you could dream of..." He rubbed his temples briefly, the sobering spell not completely ridding him of the effects of the drink. No wonder if he had nearly downed a bottle of Merlin's Tonic. "Give me my wand. You have my word I won't do anything but retire for the evening."

The last time Lucius gave her his word, a shot glass suddenly went flying towards her head. And, if she hadn't ducked, may have hit her square in the face. No, she wasn't about to hand it over that easily.

"I can't..." Marguerite began as she turned away from him, making her way towards the door. "I'm sorry..."

She exited the study, but with Lucius close on her heels. "You are now stealing my cane?" he asked, raising an eyebrow to her retreating back. "How old are you again?"

"Thirty eight..."

"Give me my cane..."

"No... We haven't settled this..."

"I am quite settled..."

Marguerite whirled around to face him. "Bull shit you are!"

As she turned, the cane nearly flew from her grasp. Her grip wavered slightly, and Lucius took that opportunity to attempt to snatch the cane from her. Marguerite, however, was completely sober and managed to keep it out of reach yet again.

"Wrong move again, Lucius."

Lucius narrowed his eyes at Marguerite. "I am warning you."

She narrowed hers in return. "And I'm warning you..."

"I am shaking..." Marguerite's face took on a rather fiendish look. "Fine. And here I was, attempting to act un-rashly..." With a flick of his wrist, a smaller wand appeared in his right hand. A mocking smile on his face, he looked to Marguerite. "Now... Are you ready to reason?"

Alright, so Marguerite wasn't quite expecting that. She kept her face in the same expression, not wavering once. "Fine... reason, away..."

"Make things simple. Give me what is mine and we can both go on our way."

Marguerite sighed to herself. "We both know that isn't going to work Lucius..."

A muttered spell from Lucius, and the cane flew from Marguerite's hand. She cursed under her breath, giving Lucius the satisfaction of getting... half of his cane back.

"Well... that accomplished nothing..." Marguerite said with a laugh.

"I've gotten my cane back... you can keep the school wand."

Marguerite held up the other end of the cane, holding his wand out for him to see. "Suit yourself..."

Lucius made another poor attempt at grabbing for his wand, only for Marguerite to pull it from his grasp. It was a standard rule really. Never act when angry.

"No," she said, keeping the wand from him. "We need to finish this..."

Instead of staying to talk, Lucius pushed past her. "Fine. Have the bloody thing. My head feels like a centaur has jumped on it one too many times... I am going to bed. Good evening."

For the first time tonight, Marguerite let him go past her. She swallowed hard, still getting a last comment in. "This isn't resolved yet Lucius..."

"Of course not. I would expect nothing less from you, Blackeney."

With a nod of his head, Lucius made his way to his chambers, Marguerite a few steps behind. There was definite tension in the hallway as the two walked in complete silence. Lucius paused at the entrance to his chambers, not looking back to Marguerite.

She, on the other hand, lightly placed a hand on his shoulder, as she had done so many nights previous. It was partially routine, part for him to see that she did in fact care.

"Goodnight," Marguerite placed a light hand on his shoulder as she passed by him, "lover..."

Lucius threw open the door and stormed inside, slamming the door in her face. Marguerite never saw the scowl on his face... though; it wasn't even directed at her.

Now that she was alone once again, the weight of the evening's events came crashing down on her. Worst of all... she had revealed her feelings, but not in the way she wanted to. And... he never said anything. Just sat there... and drank.

Blinking back the tears that now threatened to spill, Marguerite quickly made her way to her own chambers... where she could cry in peace.