No Other Option

"He loves you," Sirius said, ignoring the glares of his cousins roommates as they were kicked out of the room.

"I know."

Sirius plopped onto her bed. "He told me last night that you care for him."

"Oh he did?" Narcissa asked, looking up from her book. "And what did you tell him?"

"What you told me to."

"That I love Lucius?"

"Yeah."

"And how did he take it?"

Sirius shrugged.

"Was he angry?"

"Sad," Sirius said with a nod. "Crushed."

"Better now than later."

"How can you be so sure?"

Narcissa sighed. "I don't want him to get hurt Sirius. And he will if he continues to think that I love him. He won't let me go and he has to let me go."

"He's a big boy Cissa. You can't make these kinds of decisions for him. If he wants to fight for you, let him."

"I won't let him get hurt," Narcissa said and laid the book on the bed. "It would kill me if something happened to him because of me."

"I told him it was because you're too loyal to the family," Sirius said and cocked his head. "He wants to know why Andromeda can leave them for love but you can't."

"I would and you know it," Narcissa said fiercely. "I'm not doing this for them. I'm not."

"I know that, but he doesn't. And he's going to hate you when this is all over."

"Don't you think I know that Sirius? Because I do. But if hating me is what it takes for him to survive, then making him hate me is what I have to do."

"He can take care of himself."

"Not with a dozen Deatheaters knocking down his door he can't," Narcissa said and jumped to her feet and began pacing. "If I were to break my betrothal with Lucius you know that's exactly what would happen. They'd be on him in a second."

"Give him a chance Cissa," Sirius said, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to look at him.

"That's what I'm doing Sirius," she whispered. "I'm giving him a chance at life."

"So you're just giving up? Just like that? I thought he meant something to you."

"He means everything to me."

"I love you Cissa, and I understand why you're doing this, but that does not mean I agree or support you."

"You don't have to," Narcissa said and laid her head on her cousin's shoulder. "You just have to know that I'm doing this for him."

"I know."

"Did you tell him Evans is interested?"

"I did, but..."

"Don't worry, she'll take his mind off me," Narcissa pulled back and smiled sadly. "I know she will."

"But what will take your mind off him?"

"Lots and lots of jewels," Narcissa joked, sadly.

"That's what I told him," Sirius said and hugged her. "You're sure?"

She sighed and looked helplessly up into her cousin's eyes. "Positive."

"But..."

"Sirius," Narcissa said softly, "there's really no other option."