Something about the sight of her darling future husband standing there warmed her insides. She was in such a rare mood - one that only came after intense retail therapy - that filled her whole heart with a sense of lightness she couldn’t help but spread. So often she was an icy presence, strolling through the halls in a storm of black and green. However, she’d learned from her mother of all people that warmth, sweetness drew prey in easier sometimes. She’d counted a record of seven people who she’d smiled at on her trip to Hogwarts. This was a facade, as was everything else, and yet, when she was with Lucius, it didn’t feel like a facade at all.
She was long past pretending that it was for any reason other than that she loved him. God, she was a fool, wasn’t she? Foolish since childhood when she stuffed those fairytales under her floorboards and dared to dream of a future with a Prince Charming. She felt it the moment they’d cried together in the Hospital Wing. Something within her heart had shifted when she saw a side of Lucius she’d never before known existed, and as she left him see a side of herself she never let anyone else know existed. Yes, she had possibly willed this silly love into existence in her desperation to love the person she would marry, but it didn’t feel like that was the truth.
Regardless of all of that, she smiled warmly, curtsying softly as he kissed her hand. “Oh bonjour my sweet Lucius.” She stood on her tiptoes, wrapping her hands around the back of his neck and smiling up at him. “How I missed this handsome face of yours, the French delights are nothing compared to you,” she murmured. “I’m glad to hear you missed me as well, but don’t worry my light, I come bearing gifts.”
Her arm wrapping around his neck filled him with far too much satisfaction. How easily she stroked his ego. A year ago Lucius never would have imagined feeling this way because of Narcissa. Regardless of the chaos swirling around the rest of the castle, she had the unique ability to ground him in the present moment. She was it. The reason he had joined up in this fight. She was everything he wanted to protect, preserve, and bring prosperity to. She was his future, the future, of their pureblood lineage.
It was almost too much. Things between them had been so strange, so rushed. It had been a surprise to be paired together, both thought another match would be made. It seemed as if they both resisted - her with Borscht and him with Lucinda. But now they shared secrets and nothing brought their kind closer than secrets. She was the only person who knew the depth of his grief and he was the only one who knew hers. It was heavy at times.
But not at this time. The scent of her perfume, her lips curving into a perfect smile, the weight of her against him all came together in the perfect combination to ease his mind of all troubles. He had half a mind to kiss her, but would save that for a more appropriate venue. Her compliments brought a matching smile to his face, “You spoil me. And here I thought that was my job.” He placed his hands on her waist, “I hope your travels were exactly what you needed. Next time, don’t run away without bringing me along.”
