#91—Future

“I gag on the mere thought of my future with you, Narcissa. I had a wonderful relationship going until you poisoned it.”

“Me? I wasn’t the one that arranged the marriage, Lucius. I didn’t have a say in it either, you know.”

“But you can have a say in ending it. That’s all you have to do but you won’t do it.”

“Why would I? I get to marry a handsome man, a pureblood, live lavishly and not have to worry about anything.”

“Oh you’ll have plenty to worry about. Don’t you worry.”

“Like what?”

“My hatred and wrath maybe?”

#97—Dictionary

“I need Mulciber Warwick’s Wizarding Dictionary.”

“Fourteenth stack, three columns in, second shelf down.”

Madam Pince was never one to fetch anything for anyone so Lucius followed her directions to retrieve his book. Upon returning to his table, he found Narcissa rooting through his notes.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I wanted to compare notes for the assignment.”

“Compare them with someone else.”

Lucius body-checked Narcissa as he walked by, nearly knocking her over the table.

“I don’t get you.”

“And I don’t like you.”

“Is there a reason why you’re so mean to me?”

“Need I repeat myself?”

#80—Author’s Choice—Avada Kedavra

“Watch it, Narcissa. Killing you would be just as easy as killing a muggle.”

“But you won’t. You’ll break the terms of our marriage.”

“Our parents are dead. What does it matter?”

“Because the Unbreakable Vow had your name in the clause. Go ahead. Try it. I’ll meet you on the other side.”

Lucius grabbed Narcissa by the collar and pulled her face to his, their noses touching.

“Avada Kedavra,” he hoarsely whispered. “That’s all I have to do. And if it means I die too, so be it. Draco would be better off without you as a mother anyway.”

#83—Fearful

Narcissa was fearful of the situation. Never had she seen Lucius in such a state and never had she felt the anger of the Dark Lord coming down so hard. If Lucius failed this mission, he would either end up in Azkaban or dead. Even more, she feared for herself and Draco. Lucius already failed the Dark Lord once. She was surprised he was getting a second chance. Failing this time just wasn’t an option. Yet she knew he was only thinking about himself. He wanted to remain on the Dark Lord’s good side. His family was secondary at best.

#35—Pureblood

“I don’t understand. How can Severus be a Death Eater? He’s not even pureblood. Surely the Dark Lord knows that.”

“I don’t ask questions, Narcissa, and neither should you. The Dark Lord himself had a muggle for a father and look at what he became. The Weasleys are pureblood and look at them. We all know that pureblood is the only way but if I had to choose I would no doubt take Severus over the entire Weasley family any day. The only thing worse than a muggle or mudblood is a blood traitor. We’re not to question his will.”

#20—Hogsmeade

It was Lucius’s last Hogsmeade weekend at Hogwarts. He’d be finished with school in a couple of months but he was more looking forward to being rid of Narcissa for a year. He was dreading the day he had to marry her.

While walking along High Street with his mates, Narcissa approached them.

“Since this is your last visit to the village, Lucius, I thought we’d go to the Three Broomsticks and discuss a few things.”

“I’d rather climb the Whomping Willow naked. But thanks anyway.”

Lucius and his mates laughed and carried on with their walk, leaving Narcissa behind.

#22—Kneazle

“That filthy mudblood’s gotten a new pet. She calls it a cat but I swear it’s as big as an otter. There’s something not right with it either. I overheard her say it’s part kneazle. Miss Perfect is breaking school rules. If she can have a kneazle, I can get something else.”

“Now Draco. There’s nothing wrong with your owl. Besides, what do you care what a muggle-born has?”

“Your mother’s right. She’s a mudblood. Anything she has is tainted regardless. You have a pureblood owl. She has a tainted kneazle. Is that what you want?”

“Of course not, Father.”

#53—Chase

“How long am I going to have to chase you around before you actually succumb to it, Lucius? You can’t run forever.”

“How about this? Stop chasing me! I’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it better if you come to terms with it now.”

“The only way I’ll actually comes to terms with marrying you is if I’m dead. Otherwise, consider me heavily sedated for the duration.”

“I thought you always wanted a pureblood wife.”

“Yeah, one of my choosing, not one chosen for me.”

“Play the hand you’re dealt, Lucius.”

#57—Gape

“You wouldn’t know what an emotion is, Lucius. You were born without the ability to feel.”

“You need to shut that gaping hole in your head you call a mouth, Narcissa. Whatever part of me that was human died when I married you.”

“Then just take it out on me. Why do you have to be so evil to Draco too? He’s your son!”

“He only gets half the barrage you get because he’s only half you.”

“You’re a monster.”

“Then divorce me!”

“I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.”

“Then you should just refer to me as monster, not husband.”

#61—Kiss

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Lucius froze. Narcissa stood before him, her veil waiting to be lifted.

“Kiss me, Lucius,” Narcissa said through clenched teeth.

His hands shook as he raised the veil. He grimaced and sneered as he leaned closer to her lips, closing his eyes. In an instant, he felt hands on the back of his head and his face connected to Narcissa’s. She was holding his lips to hers. His eyes shot open and he tried to free himself. After a minute, Narcissa released him and he backed away, panting and snarling at his new wife.

#23—Telescope

Lucius had gotten special permission from the Astronomy professor to go up to the tower to work on his assignment. He couldn’t very well use a telescope from the Slytherin House unless he wanted a close-up view of a tree stump.

He was up there an hour before the slamming door knocked him out of his momentum. He turned to see who it was and Narcissa walked through the door.

Lucius rolled his eyes. “I thought I’d have the tower to myself tonight.”

“You thought wrong.”

“Well, now you can have it. I’m done.” Lucius gathered his belongings and left.

#54—Dare

Lucius and Narcissa were waiting for their traveling cloaks before leaving the party.

“I wish you could stay.”

“As do I but Lucius must go polish his personality. He needs it ready for the morning.”

The woman looked at Lucius and he snidely smiled before saying goodbye, grabbing Narcissa and wrenching her out the door.

He threw her off the stoop and she stumbled but didn’t fall. “Don’t you dare embarrass me like that in public again, Narcissa, or I will rip the life right out of your body. Understand?”

“Act like a human being and I won’t have to.”

#81—Depression

“Is there a reason why you’re moping around the house?”

“You, Lucius. You’re the reason why. You don’t know how to treat Draco. I feel so worthless. I don’t know why I even bother getting up in the morning.”

“You’re so melodramatic. Slipping into a depression are we? Life just isn’t what you thought it would be? Thought you would be happy forever? Is reality too disturbing for you?”

“You’re too disturbing for me. I don’t know why I stay.”

“Neither do I, Narcissa.”

“Did you ever care about anything in your life?”

“Yes, until you sucked everything worthwhile away.”

#27—Owl

“Father, I want a new owl. I don’t like this one anymore.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“I’ve had it for five years. He’s old and worn and I think it’s time for an update.”

“Draco, there’s nothing wrong with your owl. He can still fly quite well, he’s never lost any mail—”

“Mother, don’t you remember what it’s like to be a teenager? It doesn’t matter if something’s broken or not. If it’s passé, you can’t possibly keep it. And I have a reputation to uphold.”

“You’re not getting another owl, Draco.”

“But Father—”

“No and that’s final.”

#64—Nap

“Lucius. Lucius! What do you think you’re doing?”

“Well, I was taking a nap. I would have thought that was obvious.” Lucius rolled over on the couch and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

Narcissa threw a pillow at his head and started to walk away. “Get up. We have that dinner party in an hour. I don’t want to be late.”

“Then shouldn’t you be halfway to dressed already? Or have you already shellacked your face?”

“Funny. Get ready. I’m not the only prima donna in the house.”

“Please, woman. Don’t project. It’s not a very admirable quality for you.”

#84—Angry

“I really don’t understand why you’re so angry and bitter all the time. There’s no reason for it.”

Lucius marched into another room and stomped back a few second later, a large mirror in his hands. He walked in front of Narcissa and held the mirror up. He held it there for a moment before peeking around the frame.

“Do you see what I see? I see a blob of blonde in which to harbor my resentments. This is what I see every day. You wonder why I’m like this? How many times must I repeat myself? Infinite, I’m guessing.”

#28—Timeturner

“Mother, what if I could get access to a timeturner? I know the Ministry has them locked up in the Department of Mysteries. I could go back and do something, anything, to prevent Dumbledore from getting to Father and the others.”

“Because you don’t have enough on your plate, Draco, is that it? You want to take on even more? Lucius is in prison and the Dark Lord is punishing him by means of you. I won’t lose both of you!”

“This isn’t punishment, Mother. He trusts me to do this.”

“Are you so naïve that you can’t see it?”

#66—Pace

“Lucius, you’ve been pacing all afternoon. Will you please sit down?”

“The Dark Lord has returned, Narcissa. He knows that Weasley child destroyed his diary. He knew I gave it to her. Do you have any idea how angry he is with me?”

“But you didn’t know what it was. You just wanted to taint them.”

“Do you really think he cares? He thinks I was careless with his things, that I put myself before him. I can only imagine what he’ll make me do to pay for it.”

“Can it really be that bad?”

“You’re so oblivious it’s scary.”

#85—Snappish

“You’re going out like that?”

“You know what, Lucius? I really don’t give two galleons what you have to say. You’re no permanent gem either, you know.”

“Ooo. A bit snappish today, no? What’s got your knickers in a twist?”

“Your face, Lucius.”

“Did we forget to take our potion this morning? Are the voices in your head getting louder?”

“Why don’t you climb down to the seventh circle, you half-brained twit?”

“Someone eat a sour bug this morning? Coffee too bitter?”

“Go blow it up a chimney.”

Narcissa stormed out of the house with Lucius looking after her laughing.

#33—Classroom

Lucius approached the Charms classroom at a bound, knowing he was late yet again. But when he got there, his classmates were congregating outside. He walked up to Crabbe and Goyle who seemed to be laughing about something.

“What is it?”

“One of the first years had problems with his feather. Turns out he jinxed it, and a dozen others, and they’re floating around the classroom attacking anyone that walks in. Narcissa got the brunt of it. Took three people to drag her out. Lucky for her all feathers can do is tickle.”

“I miss too many things being late.”

#67—Quell

“I must go. I have work to do.”

“Lucius! Your family comes first! What good does it do us if you’re never here? You need to quell that hunting-lust you have before you end up in Azkaban.”

“You go ahead and tell the Dark Lord that, Narcissa. You go ahead and tell him that you rank higher than him and see what he does. I happen to value my life.”

“But when is this going to end? How long can he expect unadulterated devotion?”

“For as long as he’s in power, I would assume.”

“So you’re lost, then.”

“For now.”

#89—Past

“We thought he was gone! We were able to get away for so long and now the past is coming back to haunt us. He has risen again, Lucius and don’t think for a second that you’re not going to pay for what you, what we’ve, done.”

“You’re by proxy, Narcissa, not a Death Eater. You don’t think I know what I’m going to have to face? If nothing else, I fear him.”

“But you don’t fear for your family?”

“I have to care for myself above all others. You need me to survive. If I’m destitute, so are you.”

#8—Potions

“Draco, do you remember Severus Snape? Close acquaintance of mine. He’s the Potions professor at Hogwarts. You’ll be in good hand with him. He knows how to treat his fellow Slytherins.”

“But Lucius, he is a professor. Surely he’s supposed to be impartial and not show favoritism.”

“How blind are you, Narcissa? Severus is head of Slytherin House and favors them just as the other heads of house do their own. It’s a natural rivalry. I only wonder what house Potter will be in.”

“Harry Potter? He’ll be at Hogwarts?”

“Yes, Draco. You two are the same age, you know.”

#38—Patronus

“Insolent boy, Potter is. He was able to wow the Wizengamot with his ability to produce a patronus. He was vouched for by Dumbledore and a mad muggle with a cat fetish. His wand should be snapped in half by now.”

“So it’s safe to assume the charges were dropped?”

“Sharp as blades, Narcissa. How did you make it this far without your brilliance bubble popping?”

“I’m on your side, Lucius. There’s no need to bite back.”

“There is when you state the obvious. Idiocy annoys me.”

“Then you mustn’t look in the mirror too often, dear. You’ll get crampy.”

#70—Teem

Lucius was teeming with anger. How could the Minister let such trash into the most prestigious box at the Quidditch World Cup? The amount of money he had to pay was astronomical. There wasn’t a chance that the Weasleys could afford it.

“At least we’re over here and away from them,” Narcissa whispered into Lucius’s ear as they sat down.

“It’s just the fact that they’re here that’s soured my Quidditch experience,” Lucius replied, not bothering to conceal with voice.

“Just don’t look at them. Hopefully they won’t be too hard to ignore.”

“You would think, but I doubt it.”