Lucius Malfoy

an rp blog for the sacred

[lusciousmalfxy]

Evan Rosier’s Brunch Open Starter

Lucius, normally one to hold court at an event such as this, had instead settled for sitting back and watching the crowd. Midsummer had always been his second favourite holiday season and this year had been no exception - except for the little task that had been given to the Death Eaters. 

It had not been easy to slide away from the festivities, especially not as he had been making an effort to spend as much time as possible with Narcissa, but he had managed it at the evening gather at the Wilkes Manor. He assumed that his dark glasses could be easily explained as mitigating a hangover - as many of the brunch goers were -  and not merely hiding his contemplative thoughts.  

The truth was he had barely touched a drink over the past few days, something an eagle-eyed party goer might have noticed. He hadn’t wanted to jeopardise his mission by being sloppy.  Now he couldn’t stop thinking about what he had done and wondering just what the Dark Lord wanted with so many children.

He hadn’t expected to be so affected by it.

“Hmm?” he asked absently, “I didn’t catch that.”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

“I do too,” she agreed. But what wasn’t right about right now? She was never going to understand him. She realized that she needed to try and be patient, but patience wasn’t her strong suit. And she felt like she deserved more than him just saying that he wanted it to be right. But clearly, he didn’t think so considering their fight, which she definitely didn’t want to relive. Narcissa realized that her behavior had been offputting and now she needed to double down and show him just why he wanted to marry her. “No, you are quite right,” she said in agreement. “I don’t want our happiness to be ruined by our silly argument either. It’s in the past now, and I respect your decision.” There, if she showed him that she respected him then perhaps he would show her the same courtesy. 

“Aren’t I always?” Narcissa questioned with a laugh, a teasing smile on her lips. At his offer, she nodded her head. “I would love that. I will gladly wear them. It was so hard for me to send them back, you have wonderful taste in jewelry,” she complimented. 

“So,” she started, looking up at him. “What did you think of my Grandfather’s surprise?” She asked. She found Sirius across the room and watched him for a moment. He seemed sincere, seemed happy to be back. But a part of her was certainly unsure. But she trusted her Grandfather, knew that he would never do something to harm the family again.

Lucius exhaled a breath that he hadn’t realised he was holding. He was only slowly realising just how much he enjoyed making Narcissa happy and how much his own mood was affected when she was upset with him. There were few people whose opinions mattered to him and apparently Narcissa was one of them. It shouldn’t have been surprising given that he had chosen her to be his partner. 

“Well so do you if you like the pieces I chose,” he said. He’d even picked them out himself instead of having a personal shopper do it for him. 

“It is definitely a surprise,” he said. Of everything he had expected to happen at the party that evening the return of Sirius Black had not been it. There hadn’t been so much as a whisper that it was coming, no hint that he had turned his back on his muggle loving life. “You must be happy that he has returned to the fold.”

[archirenaux]

All you did was your job, Reilly.

[lusciousmalfxy]

@thevioletwilkes​

Violet was uneasy as she sat across the table from Lucius in a way that she rarely wasn’t. She was pleased, of course, in the knowledge that she was the one sitting here, that he clearly wished to continue some sort of relationship. And yet given how she had left him in Sweden, she wondered if he’d had the time to think on the words she’d left in her wake.

But lunch was lunch, after all, and she enjoyed the food here so she said nothing about any lingering unease and instead offered him the smile she’d often practiced in front of her vanity mirror. “Perhaps you ought to pick someone more competent next time.” Her words were sharp, though her tone was not, and her head inclined at his question, though she did not believe him when he said he was looking forward to it. “I am doing most of the planning, actually. Mother’s been busy with some of her other commitments and since I live at the estate in Norfolk now it seemed more prudent.”

She ordered a glass of wine when the server came and turned her head back to him. “And how are your parents?” She’d always loved them.

“He was not my choice,” he said, with a slight roll of his eyes like that should have been obvious. “And his father is an important donor to the Minister’s campaign fund. But I am quite certain that once this is done he plans to travel around England selling falafels from a van. So at least it won’t have been a wasted experience for all of us,” he shot Violet a wry smile. She would know he was joking. 

“And if you have improved the gardens it makes sense that the garden party should be your reward,” he said. He wasn’t entirely convinced that it was a good reward, but then he supposed that would depend on how much the party was enjoyed and how much prestige Violet could glean from its success. 

“They are doing well,” he said with a smile. He tended to smile when he thought of his parents. They were all quite close. “Though I am told Abraxas has been working far too many long hours and Adeline has been spending all of her free time looking for her next horse. Though she has talked of changing the gardens again. Perhaps I should recommend you to her for advice?”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

Narcissa allowed him to reach for her hand and she looked up at him when he spoke. “No. I don’t think there is any reason for him to find out,” she said in agreement. 

She was quickly realizing that she needed to approach the Violet situation differently. It didn’t look good for her to appear jealous of Violet. For some reason, Lucius couldn’t see through Violet the way that she did. She would never trust Violet, that woman was out to get Lucius back, she was sure of it. She didn’t like that Lucius still thought that he could be friends with Violet, but their fight made her realize that Lucius was naive and she needed to tread carefully when it came to Violet. 

“I want to make amends too.” She paused and looked up at him, meeting his gaze. “I just love you so much Lucius and I’m ready to spend the rest of our lives together. But if you need more time, than I understand. I will try to be patient with you,” she told him. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. It wasn’t true, she was so over being patient with him, but she knew what she had to do to keep him. She felt like she had waited long enough to be married. But something was still holding him back, it seemed. “The gifts you had sent me were beautiful and I hated sending them back. I just…thought that this was a conversation we should have in person.” 

“I want it to be right, Narcissa,” he said. He hadn’t had to put into words why he hadn’t proposed yet. He knew his parents had wondered but he wasn’t yet old enough that they would pry or put pressure on him - so long as he seemed to be on the right track. His own father had been far older when he had married. After the Violet debacle they were also keen to avoid another scandal in case he changed his mind. He had made it clear that it was one area where he would do what he wanted rather than what they expected of him. “I would hate for our happiness to be overshadowed by something like, well, this.” 

A tension he hadn’t realised he was holding in his chest released when she kissed his cheek. He had really disliked feeling like she was mad at him. 

“You were probably right,” he agreed, even if he had been trying to avoid just that very thing by sending her the gifts. But it hadn’t been as terrible as he had expected. There might have been a lesson about communication there. “If you would still like them I have kept them all. I can have them delivered to the Manor.”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@thevioletwilkes​

location: le canard with: @lusciousmalfxy​

When Violet had seen Lucius at the Black Gala, their conversation had been quick and perfunctory. When she’d suggested perhaps they ought to catch up to talk, she had expected the suggestion to be ignored. It had been quite a surprise when Violet had received an owl inviting her to lunch at Le Canard and she sat in the restaurant now, her legs crossed at the ankles as she lifted a glass of Burgundy to her lips.

“How are you enjoying the Minister’s office?” she inquired, well aware that small talk seemed appropriate given the situation they were in. She expected Lucius to be minister himself one day. There was a pause. “Will you be attending Mother’s garden party?” It was to be held in the country estate this year and she was rather hoping to receive an answer in the affirmative.

A more prudent man might have realised inviting Violet out for a meal was not the most prudent course of action. However, Lucius had been serious when he had told Narcissa that Violet was his friend. He told himself that he thought such a thing was possible now that some time had passed. 

Besides, it was a lunch date. There was nothing romantic about a lunch date. 

“It is as good of a place as any to be working in the Ministry. Though I do wish they would stop replacing the Junior Undersecretary every year. We are about to pick someone new and the old one is only just starting to be trained,” he said with a shrug. “I had planned to. You did mention that the garden is looking better than ever. I was looking forward to seeing it. Are you helping with the planning this year?”

Violet would probably know that was a bit of a lie. He didn’t have much interest in gardens. He did have an interest in keeping Violet happy. In an entirely platonic, friendly, way, of course.

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

“Oh?” Narcissa said with a pout. “Grandfather wouldn’t be pleased to hear that you’re not having a good night,” she said. But inside, she was quite happy that Lucius wasn’t having a good night. She missed him, but she was too stubborn to break first. She felt like if she broke first then he would think that what he had done was okay. And it wasn’t. 

She knew that they were in the middle of a crowd, but she didn’t make any attempt to remove them from the prying eyes of pureblood society. Perhaps Sirius would be enough gossip for them. She tilted her head slightly. She was going to make him say it. “Oh? Any reason in particular that it’s improving?”

She bit down on her lip. “I don’t want to fight either,” she admitted. “But I’m not going to stand here and be disrespected again, Lucius.” She paused. “You really hurt my feelings,” she told him softly, averting her eyes to the ground. She wanted him to say it. To say that he was sorry.  Then it could all be forgiven again.

“I do not think there is any reason he should ever have to know,” he said as he reached for her hand. “It is improving because I am finally here with you.”

He smiled at her and was relieved to hear that she didn’t want to fight anymore. He hadn’t been entirely sure when he approached her that she didn’t want to fight again. She hadn’t accepted any of his apology gifts, after all. 

“I am not here to disrespect you, Narcissa. I never meant to make you feel that way,” he said, about as close as he could bring himself to say he was actually sorry. It was not something he could easily bring himself to do - probably because he didn’t think he was the only one who should be apologising. But there was no way he was going to bring that up. “I am trying to make amends.”

[plasticblisss]

“Persephone climbed into her husband’s lap as if it were her throne, as if she never sat anywhere else. Hades, stiff and frightening to eyes of others, let the flower goddess run her fingers through his hair like any love drunk young man tasting the nectar of a woman’s love for the first time. To the world he was an unyielding and merciless king, but for her he was vulnerable and tender.”

— “Sundown,” Chapter 11

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

Narcissa knew that she had been a tease with Lucius ever since their fight, but she wanted him to show that he wanted her. She wanted him to chase after her, and to fight for her. He hadn’t chased after her that night, and she was still hurt that he hadn’t. But she was ready to put the past in the past if he showed her that he regretted it. 

She had enjoyed his gifts, but she hadn’t admitted that to him, and instead sent him back notes to tell him that it wasn’t enough for her, while keeping his gifts. She had felt that he would eventually have to come and seek her out himself, and he finally had. She couldn’t hide the smile on her lips as he cut into her conversation with one of her distant relatives.

“Yes, please excuse me,” she said, turning away from them and giving her attention to Lucius.

He always looked handsome, but tonight he seemed even more handsome than usual. Perhaps it was the distance. She had missed him. “Hello, Lucius,” she greeted him. “Have you been enjoying your night?” He better not be, he wasn’t by her side.

“Not particularly, no,” he said. First Sirius had returned and Narcissa hadn’t even looked at him. That was all the more difficult given how beautiful she looked. Her dress seemed to hug her in all the right spots and the colour seemed to be perfect. It was almost like she had chosen it just for him. 

He managed a charming smile. They were still in the middle of the crowded room. While he suspected most eyes were on Sirius he wasn’t naive enough to think this interaction would entirely escape notice. Especially not after last time. “But it seems to be improving already.”

“Narcissa, I -” he paused for a moment, an apology on the tip of his tongue. “Don’t want to fight with you anymore. I have missed you.”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@siriusly-okay​

date: April 14, 1979  location: Arcturus Black’s Estate  open to: everyone 

The night was moving in a whirlwind for Sirius. Since his grandfather revealed just what was up his sleeve, Sirius had been bombarded by people wanting to speak with him about this or that. Even when that had died down, he’d sought people out, determined to start reestablishing the connections that had fallen apart over the past seven years. Even before that he wasn’t a particularly pleasant child, often complaining or finding a way to cause mischief at the social outings his parents dragged him to. It’d be a long way to climb to get back to the top of everyone’s good graces, and Sirius suspected that even once making amends he wouldn’t be favored by most. 

However, that’s a thought for another time. He’s got to focus on the here and now, and right now he’s starving. He hadn’t a bite to eat since the party began, squandered away as he was until it was time for the announcement. He’s just found a floating tray of something delicious when Sirius hears someone approach him, announcing themselves before he has a chance to properly dig in. He turns towards them, appropriate smile on his face as he tries not to be dismayed at the loss of his one moment of peace. “Sorry, I haven’t had a bite to eat all night. I must not have heard you approach.” 

“That’s quite alright - go ahead,” Lucius said, a far more amenable smile on his face than he felt. Sirius might have returned, and Lucius might have been dating Narcissa who seemed delighted by it, but that didn’t mean that Lucius wasn’t deeply suspicious. There had to be something afoot. 

Even if there wasn’t, even if Sirius had genuinely returned because he was remorseful and wanted to rejoin society, Lucius still would not have been happy. He didn’t need any more rivals for power and importance and he didn’t need more people he had to play nice with. 

“Welcome back. I know Narcissa is delighted by your return.”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@thevioletwilkes​

Her response was to raise an eyebrow. “You know my French is atrocious,” she remarked, thinking of how she’d tried to learn it when they were together. It was not something she’d taken to easily and eventually Violet had begun using translation charms instead. She fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist, twirling it around the skin.

It was, on paper, an awful idea. But inside Violet felt gleeful, as if all that she’d worked for was finally coming to some sort of fruition. “You’re actually rather good at giving gifts,” she mused. “And I would hate to waste a good line simply because I can.”

The music was audible from where they stood and, try as she might, Violet could not imagine a more picturesque setting for the moment. She took his hand and pushed any wariness from her eyes.

“And the best way to learn is through immersion,” he pointed out, not bothering to disagree about her competence with the language. It would have been disingenuous at best. 

Lucius was quite certain that his appearance with Violet on the dance floor would cause a stir. He was equally certain that after his fight with Narcissa he could not have cared less. It would be a problem for the morning or another time. 

“You do remember how to dance, yes?” he asked, allowing himself to tease her a little. The reality was that it felt incredibly easy and natural to fall into a dance frame with Violet. They had danced together so many times before that stepping onto the dance floor with her now felt like no time had passed at all. 

He was going to have to be careful.

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

Narcissa was just so annoyed. How could men be so obtuse? How could he not see that it would cause her problems to know that he was looking at Violet? If he was looking at Violet then perhaps he missed her, perhaps he wanted to go back to her. Didn’t he see how that would trouble her? Was it just him that was so oblivious or was it all men?

“You were going to marry her, Lucius!” She finally exploded. “You were going to marry her and you haven’t made that commitment to me,” she snapped. They had been together for so long, and still, she wasn’t even betrothed to him. She was his girlfriend and there was a time that she had been okay with that because she was younger, and getting married hadn’t seemed as important. But now it was important to her, she wanted to marry Lucius, not just for the title and the prestige, but because she thought that she loved him and she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. 

“Don’t you ever think about how it feels for me? Every time I am near Violet she always looks for a ring on my finger and it’s never there. She always acts like she’s superior, so don’t you see that it bothers me that you were looking at her instead of at me tonight?” Lucius was supposed to be hers, and yet, he had been watching her. 

Narcissa looked like he had slapped her and she stepped back away from him. “I’m sorry that I am apparently so horrid that you would rather be at work than spend a holiday with me,” She snapped at him, hurt on her face. “I will just do you a favor and go since that’s what you really want, apparently.” 

Admitting he was wrong had never been one of Lucius’s strengths. He wasn’t good at backing down or stepping aside. He was far too prideful for that. 

“She is my friend,” he said, voice tight. Of course, everything Narcissa was saying was likely true. He probably should be looking at the woman he had intended on marrying at one time - there was a reason he had not spoken to Violet since their engagement had ended. But he wasn’t going to admit that. Instead, he scoffed. 

“Do not project your insecurities onto Violet, Narcissa,” he said, irritated at the pressure she was putting on him to propose. He planned on proposing, but unlike Violet, he wanted to do it when he was ready and in his own time. He wanted it to be special. Saying as much would have likely saved him a deal or trouble but alas. “I dare say she could not care less whether we are engaged or not. She has moved on. Perhaps you should also.”

“Well by all means do not let me stop you,” he said gesturing a hand towards the door that would lead back to the party. 

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

Narcissa had never wanted to be this person, this insecure girl who had to worry that Lucius was going to stray from her. She wasn’t supposed to be like this.

And yet, here she was. “It’s not about other women, Lucius,” she snapped, looking at him. How did he not get it? How did he not understand that she was upset that he was looking at one woman in particular? “It’s about her Lucius! Don’t you get that? It’s about her and you looking at her when you’re here with me!” She finally shouted, hating herself for being this girl right now, but it was all just coming out. “I don’t care if you look at Marlene or Alecto or Rosalind. It’s just about you looking at her.” 

Frustrated and angry tears sparked in her eyes as she stood there. Maybe it would be different if she had a ring on her finger, and they were planning a wedding, but until then she felt like things weren’t as secure as they were meant to be. And until then, she would continue to worry about Violet’s existence. Hell, until she was Mrs. Malfoy, she would continue to worry.

She stared at him, shocked when he snapped at her. 

He had never done that before, he had never used that tone with her. “I know that you have responsibilities,” she replied, frowning. “I just…I thought that this would be more of a vacation for you. You work so hard. But it felt like you would rather be in London, working, then be here with me.” She honestly just…couldn’t believe that they were having this fight. “I know that,” she said softly. 

Part of Lucius couldn’t believe that this was the conversation they were having. A much smaller, easily ignored, part of him knew exactly why this conversation was necessary. It was the part that sat right next to his guilty conscience and was probably the least examined part of his psyche.

“Well I am so glad I have your permission to look at some women,” he said with a scowl. He had spent years not talking to Violet so that Narcissa would feel comfortable. It wasn’t until he had started speaking to her again that he realised how much he missed her. Violet had been his betrothed, yes, but she had also been a close friend. He wasn’t sure he wanted to give it up again.

“This is absurd. I am not going to ignore her. Violet is part of society. I cannot very well ignore her presence. She hasn’t done anything wrong,” he sad, voice tight. If anyone had a right to be mad it was probably Violet, but she didn’t seem to be. 

“Being in London working would feel like a vacation compared to this,” he almost growled, and then immediately wished he could take it back. But there it was. 

[lusciousmalfxy]

@thevioletwilkes​

She might have rolled her eyes or scoffed if they were truly in public. But Violet knew that the walls had ears in pureblood estates and she wished to maintain her composure as much as possible. Her dress clung to her and she flicked her wand for a small warming charm.

“I must have missed the part where the Flint estate has been transported to France, Lucius.” Her lips, painted in a deep red, thinned. “Are you including muggle trash in everyone now? How delightfully rebellious.” It was not a compliment. She wasn’t certain why she was needling him. Perhaps it was because she wanted to know if he was interested in the pursuit, if he would eventually return to her. She certainly didn’t want a meek kitten if he did.

Of course he did; he’d purchased it. Violet played with the bracelet, the jewels catching what little light was available. “You know,” she drawled, her lips curving upwards in a jest that did not quite reach her tone. “I’ve always wondered who picked this one out. It’s not nearly as ostentatious and tacky as I’ve learned you prefer.” New didn’t equal better. “Though you seem to have lost your meretricious tart for the evening.”

“You know that isn’t what I meant,” he said with a slight roll of his eyes. Really he just wanted to be anywhere else at that moment and France with Violet seemed like a pretty good idea. 

He ignored the jibe about Narcissa. He was never going to agree with Violet on that point - they might have been fighting but he still liked Narcissa; he still thought she was perfect - but he didn’t feel like defending her at that moment, either. 

“We could stand here while you catalogue the various gifts I’ve given you over the years, or you could agree to dance with me. I know which one I would prefer, but I would so hate to deprive you of the chance to get some barbs in.”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

Date: April 14th, 1979 Location: Arcturus Black’s estate Open

There was a certain exhilaration, knowing a secret that was going to rock everybody’s world. When Grandfather had come to her to tell her about Sirius, she had been doubtful. She still was, truth be told. But Grandfather was very persuasive, and it hadn’t been difficult to agree. It was a mere technicality that Arcturus Black wasn’t her actual Grandfather, but she had called him that since birth, had always respected his power. She suspected that that was why he had asked her to be the first to welcome Sirius back into the folds of the pureblood elite. And she had done her part magnificently, she was sure that Grandfather would be sending a new dress when this was all over.

Narcissa was enjoying the gala, it was an honor that it was being hosted by the Black’s this year, and she had dressed to the tens. Her dress was gorgeous, a beautiful emerald green (a color that she knew Lucius would love), her makeup impeccable, and her hair was in an elegant half up half down hairstyle with glittering gems placed throughout. This was the first time that she was seeing Lucius since their fight, and she was determined to show him what it was that he was missing. But she had also known that all eyes were going to be on her for that special moment that she embraced Sirius, and she had wanted to look perfect.

“Grandfather truly knows how to throw a gala, don’t you think?” She asked a nearby guest, a glass of champagne in her hand. She had been moving through the guests, making sure to speak to everybody, but Lucius, of course. “It’s just so wonderful that Sirius has finally realized the errors of his ways and returned.”

Lucius could not say that he was pleased by the return of Sirius Black - actually, he was far from it. What made it worse was the way he, along with the rest of society, had been blindsided by it. The difference was that his girlfriend appeared to have known and he wanted to know why she had not told him. 

Of course, they were still in the middle of a fight. But he had already attempted to apologise to her. Each gift had been accompanied by a note, though apparently none had been sufficient to thaw Narcissa’s cold shoulder if the way she had been speaking to everyone but him was anything to go by. 

He hadn’t missed that and he hadn’t missed the dress she was wearing either.

“Truly wonderful,” he said as he joined the conversation that Narcissa was in the middle of. “Excuse me. I have to borrow Narcissa for a moment.”

[lusciousmalfxy]

@nrcissablck​

Narcissa was honestly a bit surprised with herself. She had never been put in this situation before, had never had a relationship like the one that she had with Lucius, but she knew that she couldn’t let him get away with this. If they were to be married like she hoped that they would be, then she needed him to see that he couldn’t walk all over her.

She was a Black, and she was owed respect. Lucius may be a Malfoy, and Narcissa wanted to be one too, but she wasn’t going to stand there and be disrespected by him.

Especially not in public.

As she stood there, she crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him. She raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to say something. Although she didn’t know what he could possibly say to her to make this okay. He was looking at his ex-betrothed. And that was not acceptable. Narcissa wouldn’t stand for it. Was she not enough for him? That he had to be looking at that other woman? 

“You were looking at another woman! Your ex-betrothed at that, Lucius. And you were ignoring me! I’m your girlfriend, not Violet,” she reminded him. She hated saying Violet’s name, but she couldn’t avoid it in this situation.

“You’ve been so…distant and strange since we got here. Did I do something wrong?” She asked him, even though she knew that she hadn’t. 

His fingers itched badly fr that cigarette. The only thing holding him back was the knowledge that Narcissa wouldn’t like it and he was not at the point of intentionally trying to piss her off. 

“And how would you propose I avoid looking at other women, Narcissa?” he asked, ignoring the fact that there might be a reason why that woman in particular might cause issues. Namely that they had previously been betrothed and apparently hadn’t spoken since. Or not that Narcissa knew about. “Unless you want to patent some sort of magical glasses that makes it impossible, I think you might find that I will have to continue to look at other women. They do make up half of the population.”

He was being entirely, purposefully, obtuse. But that was because he thought this particular complaint was ridiculous - even if he knew exactly how worried Narcissa should be about his eye wandering to Violet. He was nothing if not a hypocrite. 

But he wasn’t going to act on it. He knew that. So there was nothing to worry about.

“I had work, Narcissa. Responsibilities,” he snapped. Maybe he should have reassured her, but it wasn’t as though he had been distant entirely by choice. It wasn’t his fault that the time he had spent with her had been doing things that he found intolerable - like mediation. “The Ministry can’t just stop because I am not there - the Minister cannot look like a fool. Unlike seemingly everyone else here I cannot just forget about my career for two weeks.” 

[lusciousmalfxy]

@rab-lestrange​:

April 14, 1979 - Arcturus Black’s Estate Open Starter

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Rabastan muttered under his breath. His presence lasted about thirty seconds - enough time to watch Sirius walk out then he took off toward the nearest exit from the estate. He was seeing red - the emotion new to him since it came out of nowhere and left him realizing he needed fresh air or he would be risking making a scene. If there was one thing he couldn’t afford, the latter option happened to be it. He didn’t exactly care about doing damage control but the idea of his father referring to him as more of an embarrassment than usual wasn’t all that likable.

The safest option was exiting into the courtyard and leaning against a wall. Several deep breaths were needed to calm his temper before he was able to pull a cigarette out from inside his blazer. A flick of his wand ignited the tip of it and Rabastan brought it to his lips, inhaling deeply then allowing a cloud of smoke to escape from his lips. Upon realizing he wasn’t alone, he stood up straighter and narrowed his eyes at the intruder. “Either join me or keep your mouth shut,” He grimaced. “I’m not in a good mood.”

Rabastan wasn’t the only one displeased about Sirius Black’s return to the fold. Though if the murmurings in the room were true there was also a segment of society getting ready to lick the returning heir’s boots. 

Lucius only wanted space to work out a strategy. He knew this would affect him - he hadn’t missed the way Narcissa had welcomed Sirius back - so he wanted to get ahead of the issue. He felt he thought better with a cigarette in hand and, apparently, he was not the only one. 

He shot Rabastan a cocky grin before he pulled out a cigarette of his own. If he was rattled by the return of Black he wasn’t going to let on to the younger man. “When are you in a good mood, Rabastan? Seems to me it should be a small enough window that I could put it in my diary.”