Ice

Chapter 13: "This word 'damnation' terrifies not him, for he confounds Hell in Elysium." -- Christopher Marlowe, Dr. Faustus

Lucius waited patiently in the library at Ravensden as he waited for his fiancée to join him for dinner at Malfoy Manor. Orion and Ariana were talking to him as he waited, and he was answering their questions politely enough. Lucius was often easily bored with social conversation, and unfortunately his future in-laws were not immune from that sentiment. He kept his attention on his hosts and studiously avoided looking at Orion Black's desk. He made a mental note to have Narcissa request that piece of furniture from her parent's estate as he was rather fond of it.

He was nodding politely to Orion's tirade against the latest Ministry policy forbidding the use of transfigured Muggle money and wondering how in the hell this man managed to father such three entirely different children. One of whom is a sadistic sociopath, he thought and forced himself not to grin. Well, an easily recognizable sadistic sociopath anyway. Another was a blood traitor living somewhere in Muggle London -- Lucius managed not to sneer at this -- and the most fascinating and intelligent of his children was viewed by her own parents as nothing more than a fluff-brained idiot. Lucius smiled.

Dressed in robes of a deep violet that highlighted her blue eyes, Narcissa entered the library looking as coolly beautiful as she always did. The trim was edged in a silver pattern that resembled Celtic knotwork -- she rather put Lucius in mind of some Irish sorceress. At that thought, he was almost shocked at his fanciful musings. He was not a man given to such thoughts; it made him slightly wary. Thus, his greeting to his intended was slightly frostier than normal. As they bid her parents farewell and stepped outside on the lawn, Lucius looked her over and drawled, "Lovely as usual, I see. Of course, I do not believe you capable of looking less than perfect."

Narcissa arched one blonde brow at him, her face calm and unreadable; however he could tell his words had irritated her. Lucius had quickly ascertained the easiest way to annoy Narcissa was to pay more attention to her looks than her mind. "I doubt you would accept anything less, Mr. Malfoy," she purred at him, and he laughed. He gave her a neat bow and held his arm out, his smile considerably warmer.

"Indeed, Miss Black, I most likely would not. Shall we?" He held out his arm to her, and they Apparated to Malfoy Manor.

The house was late Victorian style, complete with an imposing façade with rich, lush ivy climbing up the ancient stone walls. The entrance to the house was set back in a small courtyard with two immense wings completing the u-shape design.

Lucius watched her as they walked up the stairs to the entrance of his home, and her eyes swept over the land and the façade of the Manor. "It's beautiful," she said as she stopped unconsciously and turned around in a circle to view. The smile she bestowed upon him would have warmed his heart - if he'd had one to warm. He tugged her along, saying only, "Your reaction to your future home pleases me, but I suggest we not keep my father waiting. He is an absolute tyrant about manners."

She laughed her husky, genuinely amused laugh but said nothing. He escorted her through the doorway and into the entranceway and allowed her a moment to look around. She spun around slowly as she examined the details of the interior: the wood paneling on the walls, the shining hardwood floors and the tall, soaring doorways.

Lucius took a moment to look critically at his home, something he had not done in years. He had, like generations of Malfoy's before him, grown up in the Manor. Lucius, like most Malfoy heirs, was an only child and spent a great deal of time exploring the Manor when he was young. Adulthood had taken the thrill out of that pastime, but he was still fond of the house. "Does the house meet with your approval thus far?" he asked her and was surprised by her answer.

"It is absolutely divine, Lucius, but I must admit I expected you to live in a home with a vast amount of marble and white. I would not have placed you in a home with such warm colors," she said, "although it certainly beautiful." She continued to look around as they walked toward the dining room through the hallway, which was indeed furnished in tones of deep red and gold.

He paused for a moment to think of how to best answer her words; he understood entirely what she was saying. "The house is indeed very warm, is it not? I believe that is the effect of all the jewel tones and the wood. Perhaps it was designed that way as the Malfoy's are not noted for being exceptionally warm-hearted individuals," he said as he placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her down another hallway towards the dining room. He was gratified at her small shiver and smiled slightly in the muted light of the house.

"There is no surfeit of windows, either," she continued in a curious tone as they progressed. "It is rather like being wrapped in a warm red blanket," she said, "so different from the stone exterior." She smiled at him, slightly wickedly. 'Perhaps you are correct, Lucius. The house is the heart all of you Malfoy men lack," she said, eerily echoing his earlier thoughts. He was strangely pleased she could say such a thing in such a cheerful tone of voice.

"Astute as always, Miss Black," he said and stopped in front of the dining room. "We've arrived." He pushed the door open and stepped back politely to allow her to precede him.

The dining room was furnished in the same rich, mahogany wood as was found in the rest of the house. Heavy red and gold brocade drapes were pulled back from the windows, and the setting sun lent an even warmer feel to the room as the light filtered in through the windows. The table was set with crisp white linen and furnished with high-backed chairs cushioned in plush, red velvet. There truly was an excessive amount of red and gold in his home, Lucius thought, wondering why it was he had never noticed such a thing before. Inwardly shrugging, he turned his attention to the man standing politely at the head of the table.

"Ah, Lucius, you've arrived. Right on time as well," Aurelius said. He favored Narcissa with a brief once-over politely disguised as a greeting. "And Miss Black, how lovely it is to meet you at last. Welcome to Malfoy Manor. Please, sit, sit," Aurelius said, gesturing them towards the table.

"Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Malfoy" Narcissa said politely. Her wicked smile had vanished, and she was once again the proper Miss Black with her ramrod straight posture and demure expression. Lucius remembered her sprawled beneath him on her father's desk and fought the urge to snicker.

"So what do you think of Malfoy Manor, Miss Black?" Aurelius asked after they had been seated at the table.

"It is a lovely home, Mr. Malfoy," she said sweetly. "I should love to see the gardens; no doubt they are just as spectacular." She sipped at her goblet of water, her wine untouched next to her plate.

"Yes, well, my late wife Stephanie was a devoted gardener," Aurelius said gruffly. Lucius wanted to roll his eyes at that -- his mother had not been as fond of gardening as she had been of instructing the gardeners in their daily duties. Admittedly, Lucius had never seen his mother smile as much as she did in her gardens from the time he was a small child until she had died from heart failure when he was in his second year at Hogwarts. Lucius had never been interested in the pursuit of gardening, and his father had turned over the maintenance to a team of professionals. Aurelius Malfoy would have considered such things women's work, and Lucius was not terribly interested in devoting time to cultivating life of any sort -- unless it involved his future wife, of course.

"Lucius tells me your sister recently married," Aurelius said, and Narcissa nodded calmly.

"Yes, sir. She married Rodolphus Lestrange about two years ago, I believe."

"No children?" Aurelius asked, and Lucius watched Narcissa carefully for any sign of discomfort in the conversation. His father was not exactly subtle, and Lucius was certain the question was meant to inquire if he need worry about the youngest Black daughter's ability to provide an heir to the Malfoy name.

"No, they have no children," Narcissa said simply, not elaborating. Lucius was leaning back in his chair watching the byplay with interest. I wonder what she shall do if he asks why that is? Lucius wondered. Surely she won't mention the truth, that Bellatrix would Avada a child the minute it annoyed her, her child or no. Lucius decided immediately that his future son and heir would spend precious little time with his aunt.

"Any particular reason?" Aurelius continued, watching Narcissa with speculative blue eyes.

"I am not sure exactly, but my mother is most eager for a grandchild so I am certain they shall get around to it sooner or later." Narcissa appeared completely at ease with his father's pointed questions so Lucius remained silent and ate his quail in silence.

"I understand your mother's feelings on that matter," Aurelius said, leveling a look at his son. "I myself am quite eager to welcome the next generation of Malfoys, and I only have the one son. At least your mother has two other daughters besides your sister to provide her with an heir."

Lucius stilled at that, furious with his father as Narcissa sucked in a sharp breath next to him. His father was fully aware that Andromeda had been disowned -- either his statement was intended to cause her distress -- Idiot, I've equal skill with memory charms as I do with the Cruciatus curse, and if you think the fact you're my father would stop me from using either, you best think again. -- or he was subtly trying to pry for information that was of some importance to him. Before Lucius could say anything to halt this line of conversation, Narcissa spoke.

"Two," she said, her voice quiet but with a slight hint of steel beneath it he recognized. "My mother only has two daughters, sir." She met Aurelius' gaze with calm blue eyes. Lucius expelled a breath he was not aware he was holding and leaned back in his seat to fix his father with a lazy smile. Brava, Narcissa.

"I see," his father drawled and smiled charmingly at Narcissa. "That must have been terribly difficult to lose a sister you no doubt loved very much."

Lucius sat straight up in his chair, his hand tightening on his wand threateningly. He felt his eyes go cold and the emotion drain off his face like water sluicing off the implacable stone façade of his home in a rainstorm. Lucius was, however, far deadlier than any summer storm. Before he could act, however, Narcissa's voice rang out clear and strong beside him and penetrated the haze of the cold fury that was at that moment wrapped around him.

"Andromeda Tonks betrayed her family's loyalty and sense of honor, Mr. Malfoy. I have no desire to claim as a sister one such as her." Narcissa's posture was relaxed as she laid her fork down carefully and blotted the side of her lips with her napkin. Lucius noted there was not even a tremble in her hands as she spoke, and his fury turned into a fierce sort of pride.

His father leaned forward, a gleam in his eyes as he said softly, "I knew your family motto was Toujours Pur, Miss Black. I did not know how seriously you took those words."

Lucius fancied he could see the gears turning in her devious mind. She carefully placed the napkin on her plate, placed her hands in her lap and nodded. She thought a moment before speaking, the two Malfoy men silent as they waited for her answer. When she looked up, the hush in the room had turned into an odd sort of tension.

"I do not doubt that is why my family disowned Andromeda," Narcissa said thoughtfully as if she were discussing substituting ingredients in a potion rather than a rather traumatic recent experience for her family. "However, my disdain has more to do with what I feel was her real crime against us, Mr. Malfoy, rather than her admittedly wretched taste in men."

"And what is that, Miss Black?" Aurelius asked. "I am most interested to hear."
I'll bet you are, Lucius thought, and turned his eyes to Narcissa.

She smiled politely and surprised him by reaching under the table to pat his hand. The gesture surprised him. It was almost as if she were saying to him, Don't worry; I shall not displease you. The gesture was effective; it restrained his fury at his father for making her participate in this conversation on their very first meeting.

"She betrayed her family name, Mr. Malfoy. She was disloyal to the House of Black, and that is why I shall never forgive her." Narcissa sat straight in her chair, and her voice hardened slightly. "I have no respect for anyone who would so willingly abandon their loyalties for any reason, love among them." She leaned back in her seat, and the only hint he had of her discomfiture was that she picked up her wine goblet and took a sip. Narcissa hardly drank either at social situations or even in private with him, and the action told him exactly how much she disliked the topic of conversation. Lucius was unable to blame her. He had merely been required to suffer through Orion Black's ill-disguised prying into his financial security.

Aurelius nodded thoughtfully. "You will forgive me, Miss Black, for my seemingly rude prying into such a delicate matter. There are few people in this world I hold in higher esteem than those rare individuals capable of appreciating loyalty -- true loyalty -- to one's family." He looked at his son pointedly.

"You've chosen well, Son," he said and stood up to walk over to where Narcissa sat next to Lucius. Aurelius motioned for her to stand, and Narcissa did so. His father held his hands out and clasped Narcissa's hands in his.

"Welcome to the family, Miss Black," he said and smiled at her.

She smiled back and said quietly, "Thank you, sir." Her voice was sweet and content -- and completely insincere.

Sensing that dinner was at an end, Lucius stood as well. Aurelius looked at him for a long moment and then gave his son a rare smile. "You've done well, lad," he said.

Remaining silent, Lucius inclined his head briefly.

"I believe I shall retire for a glass of brandy. I suspect I shall see you again soon, Miss Black?" he asked, and Narcissa murmured politely that she hoped so.

When his father left, looking rather smug, Lucius finally allowed himself to scowl. "I apologize for my father's atrocious idea of dinner conversation," he drawled and said gruffly, "Are you quite alright?" Narcissa was staring out of the window, only her profile visible to him, obviously lost in her own thoughts.

"Of course, Lucius," she said, the tone in her voice the same forced politeness she'd used with his father. "Thank you for a lovely evening."

Lucius caught her shoulders and spun her around roughly to face him. He saw a brief look of shock on her face before she fixed her blue eyes at him -- eyes that went from blank to furious in a matter of seconds as they took in the unfriendly look on his face.

"Whatever is the matter with you, Lucius?" she hissed at him as he stared down at her angrily.

"Don't you ever use that ridiculous tone of voice with me," he snarled at her, his fingers biting into the soft skin of her shoulders. "I do not make it a habit to inquire about the feelings of others so when I do so I suspect an honest answer."

She laughed harshly. "What do you want me to say, Lucius? I am sure you are quite aware I found that entire scene distasteful." Narrowing her eyes at him dangerously as she stared up at him, she brought her hands up and grabbed at his robes. "I am sick and tired of being judged because of my sisters' actions," she said, her breath coming quickly and a slight tremble affecting the hands that clasped at him. "The father of the man who I am marrying has just spent our first meal together inquiring as to my state of fertility -- all because my mad sister refuses to have children. I am then required to defend my sense of honor -- which I am not in a habit of doing -- because Andromeda is a faithless traitor." She lowered her eyes for a moment and said in a strangled voice, "Am I to forever be found lacking because of their actions for the whole of my life?"

Lucius' earlier anger at her forgotten, he loosened his grip on her shoulders to pull her against him and tucked her head on his chest. He rested his chin briefly atop her head. "Your sisters are not worthy of you, Narcissa, and if they are the standard to which all the members of the Black family are held, perhaps it is best you shall no longer be a Black." He tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. Tearless but wary, she stared up at him quietly.

"I am well aware that Bellatrix is mad; probably more than even you know," he said harshly, "and Andromeda's behavior has no bearing on my impression of you. She is responsible for her own mistakes. As for my father," he sneered, "he has never really fought for anything he claims to support. If he did, he would be out there attempting to do something about it instead of hiding in his study with his brandy and his opinions. He is not worthy of you either, Narcissa."

She tensed a bit in his arms and cocked her head questioningly. "And you, Lucius? Will you fight for what you stand for?" There was a hint of something darker in her voice, and her breathing was beginning to quicken. He did not think that it was from fear this time, and he tightened his hold on her a bit.

"Of course," he said, his own breathing a bit harsh as his body reacted to the feel of her in his arms and the sight of her eyes, which were as dark and fathomless as the night that had fallen outside of the windows. "You may rest assured of that, Narcissa. I have no conscience, my dear," he said silkily, moving her back against the wood paneled wall next to the sideboard, "when I find it worth my while to pledge my loyalty to something, there is very little I will not do for it."

"Ah," she said in a warm, alluring voice so different from the icy and aloof woman she'd been mere moments ago as she confronted his father. "And am I one of those things you find worth your while, Lucius?" She traced her finger over his bottom lip, and, smirking at her slight breathless moan, he caught it briefly in his teeth and bit down gently.

He leaned down and said softly, "Without question, Narcissa." He kissed her then as if he was sealing a promise -- and in a way, he was.

Lucius Malfoy had a fully developed sense of honor thanks to generations of Malfoy arrogance, but he had not lied when he said he had no conscience. His considerable talents had been devoted to the admirable goal of keeping the Wizarding world free from the taint of Mudbloods and Muggles, and having such loyalty to a cause without having a conscience meant there was indeed very little he would not do to see his goal attained.

He pulled back from their kiss and stared intensely down at her as he attempted to explain this to her. "There are few causes -- and fewer still people -- who earn my loyalty, Narcissa, as I do not lightly give it. I have given it to you, and I there is nothing I shall not do for you as a result of that. I could speak inane words of love to you and liken your eyes to sapphires or some other rubbish, but there is nothing greater I can give you than that promise."

Narcissa stared at him unblinking, her lips swollen from his rough kisses and her mouth curved into a smile. "Thank you," she said in a voice as intense as his had been, imbued with more emotion than he had ever heard from her before. "I shall bear your name proudly, Lucius Malfoy, and I shall endeavor to always be worthy of that which you have given me."

He caught her face in his hands and smiled down at her. "I have no doubt that you will," he said softly, and their eyes met. She reached a hand up to trace his face -- his eyes, his mouth, his pointed chin -- and her eyes burned with some unnamed emotion as if lit from within by some inner fire.

"Bellatrix has forever been the emotional one," she said, her voice quiet as she continued to lightly touch him. "I thought emotion such as this would drown me, destroy me. Perhaps," she said softly, "I am not as incensed as I thought I would be after all."

He caught her hand and carried it to his lips, kissing her fingers one by one and placing a kiss in the center of her palm. "We are the ones who destroy, Narcissa. That is the difference, my dear, between us and your sister and Rodolphus." He pulled her back to kiss her again and managed to think coherently long enough to use his wand and lock the door before tumbling with her back on one of the soft, high-backed chairs surrounding his table.

They had not yet exchanged rings or spoken words that would bind them legally for life, but from that moment on Narcissa Black was his, and as far as he was concerned, she had become a Malfoy.