Loss

Death Eaters: Loss

A/N: GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF A MISCARRIAGE. You've been warned.  Also, sheesh! This is a long chapter.
May 30, 1992

Narcissa hadn't been feeling well most of the day, so she had decided to rest in her bed chamber. She jolted awake when she heard the manor doors slam, followed by loud stomping steps into the study. Wondering what had gotten him upset, she hurried down the stairs. As several crashes could be heard. She knocked on the door, wand in hand should he reflexively cast a spell, and opened the door to the study. "Lucius?"

Something crashed against the door, and she waited for verbal confirmation. "Narcissa... sorry," Lucius grumbled, completely averting his gaze as he sat in the armchair by the fire.

"What happened?" She asked, slipping into the room and cautiously stepping toward him.

"We lost Dobby," Lucius said darkly.

Narcissa became confused. "How did we lose Dobby?"

"The Potter boy," Lucius snarled. "He tricked me into giving Dobby a sock."

"And exactly how did he do that?" She asked as she knelt down by the chair and took his hand into hers. He was silent for several moments, as if he were torn between telling her the truth or a lie. "Lucius... how did he trick you?"

"He hid the sock in the diary..." Lucius grumbled.

Narcissa gasped inwardly, her body stiffening as she got back to her feet. "The diary... the diary you told me you were selling off?"

"I never said I would sell it," Lucius corrected harshly. "I said I would get rid of it should the ministry attempt to raid."

"And how exactly did you get rid of it?"

"Hid it in the Weasley girl's book... to open the chamber of Secrets..."

"Lucius!" Narcissa exclaimed incredulously, struggling to keep her breathing even. After several moments, she spoke again. "Not only did we lose our house-elf, but you put our son at risk."

"The monster only goes after mudbloods and half-bloods."

"The King of Serpents doesn't discriminate, Lucius! If Draco for whatever reason had been in the halls when it attacked, Draco would be petrified... or heaven forbid dead."

"You wanted him to go to Hogwarts," Lucius snarled.

"Had I known you were contriving a risky and ridiculous scheme I would've conceded to Durmstrang," she seethed as she felt her stomach cramping. She tensed as she realized what was happening; given the situation, she took the opportunity to storm out then hurry up the stairs as her pain began to increase. She was barely able to reach the tub in time as she felt a warm liquid run down her leg.

Lucius grumbled as he glared into the fireplace. Somehow he would need to find another house-elf to take care of the chores around the massive manor; and now his wife was livid with him over the scheme of ridding Hogwarts of their mudbloods. He didn't know how long he stewed before he realized it had been awhile since Narcissa had left. Thinking she may have calmed down enough for them to talk, he walked up to the bed chamber, only to find it empty... he stopped as he thought he heard whimpering coming from the loo. "'Cissa?" He called, turning the knob on the door to find it locked. He waited for a moment, but when there was no response, he called again, waving his wand. "'Cissa... Alohomora..."

As he opened the door he was stunned to see Narcissa in the jacuzzi... staring down at something in her hands. The stench of blood didn't go unnoticed, and he quickly realized what had happened. He cautiously made his way over to the tub; only to stare at the blob in her blood-covered hands. His hand tightened instinctively around his wand as his lip twisted slightly in disgust; his father's words going through his head...