from Time to Time | Lucius Malfoy

A big mess

1961, December 

Christmas day had come, the estate beautifully decorated. There would be a big ball tonight, a Christmas party. It had been like this every year and the tradition would continue, mister Malfoy had casually explained to me. I had already gotten my dress ready, the gift giving would already take place at 4 p.m. since at 6 p.m. the first guests would already arrive.

For Lucius this would mean that he had to stay in his room from 5:45 p.m. A boy of his age doesn't have any business at a ball, his father said during breakfast. Lucius is a well-behaved child and I really wish Mister Malfoy had turned a blind eye and allowed the boy at least an hour to greet his relatives. But mister Malfoy has spoken and there was no way of changing his mind.

The house elves spent the whole day preparing the manor for the ball. The decoration was breathtaking, cold and warm dishes were already piling up in the kitchen. In the middle of the large living room which was not used at all on any other days of the year there was a huge decorated Christmas tree. There were many gifts all around it which attracted little Lucius again and again. "You have to wait, Lu!" I said more than once. Ah, the endless waiting... I felt sorry for the child. Patience wasn't his forte, but he did as instructed and eventually stayed away from the gifts.

At 4 p.m. sharp it finally was time, mister Malfoy called us and the gift giving could begin. It was a pleasure to watch the boy unwrap his presents. He received books and clothing from his numerous uncles and aunts to whom he was not really related - as I found out after just a few weeks here in the property - and a certificate from his father for a piece of land. There really wasn't a more inappropriate gift for a 7-year-old, but the boy thanked him and pretended to be happy.

When he opened my gift, I was particularly excited. Would he like it? He unwrapped it and shouted with joy: "A dragon!" The tin toy was enchanted and could fly. A useless toy, mister Malfoy dryly proclaimed, but to the boy it meant the world. I had been at Malfoy manor for a few months now, the family lived in endless wealth, but there were no toys for the heir of the house. Rather, he should endeavor to read, learn simple spells or practice the art of legilimency. Of course mister Malfoy, your wish is our demand. Nevertheless, I had to buy him the kite when I walked past the shop in Diagon Alley, the child's nose kept sticking to the pane, he was enthusiastic about the toy an I wanted to fulfill his wish.

Dragons were his favorite creatures. When we read something in the evening before going to bed it always had to be a dragon story, when he drew something it was a dragon, when he pushed his vegetables around on his plate it took on the shape of a dragon... gifting a Child that is so fond of something with something that gives him such joy is so easy... but unfortunately mister Malfoy couldn't jump over his shadow and didn't see the point of a toy.

We sat together for a while, drinking tea and eating cookies. Mister Malfoy pointed out at around 5:30 it was time for bed now. He sent Lucius upstairs but asked me to stay. "Go ahead, I'll be right after you and read you something." I whispered to the boy before he went upstairs.

"Mister Malfoy?" I looked at the tall man as he stood in front of me. He seemed to be hiding something behind his back. "Miss Sterling, I have something for you. I know we're not very close, but I've been watching you for the past few months. You're a good mother to my son, knowledgeable about the society we're part of, well behaved and I think..." he spoke kindly, which was uncharacteristic of him but assertive, which was more typical of him, and pulled something out from behind his back. It was a small box. At first I didn't know what would come next. He started to speak again and I would have preferred to vanish immediately: "... I think you would also be a good wife for me. For a man like me it is almost unforgivable to remain unmarried. You know your duties already, well, the marriage would have to be consummated, of course, but then I won't touch you any further. I know... to occupy myself elsewhere."

I swallowed. What the hell...?! Abraxas Malfoy had just proposed to me more or less half-heartedly and told me at the same time that he had absolutely no sexual interest in me. By the way, I don't have any interest at all in him either. He's my boss, damn it! In real life I wouldn't start anything with a superior, that's not appropriate at all. Abraxas Malfoy is indeed a handsome man but if you live together for a long time you get a lot... the good man has some affairs but doesn't treat these ladies very well, doesn't care about his child at all and is as good as never at home. I've exchanged three sentences with him since I've been here and now he wants to marry me?

"Sir, I...", I started, but he interrupted me with a derogatory gesture. "Thank me later, I'm sure you're already thinking of something... special." He smirked and looked me up and down, making me feel slightly uncomfortable. I felt like prey to a predator. Helpless and defenseless. The whole time I've been here there never has been any sexually strained relationship between us. He never complimented me. He never flirted with me. He never even looked at me properly. And now this? Now he wants to marry me? Me, blood status unknown? He's crazy....

"Mister Malfoy, I don't think so..." I started, but was immediately interrupted again: "There was no question, the wedding will be on New Year's Day and will be announced today." I beg your pardon? "Mister Malfoy, I think I'd have to agree to that!" I said calmly, but he didn't like it at all. "Listen, little one! I already told you how this marriage is going to work. YOU are a penniless thing, you will not get a better match than me..." he spoke dangerously slowly and softly that he had switched to you I didn't even notice. He took a step towards me and I walked backwards, but at some point I stood in front of the cold wall of the room and couldn't get away.

"It's going to be a marriage of convenience, you're my employee and you have to obey me. Do you think anyone cares what a woman has to say at all?" He got closer and I could already feel his whiskey-scented breath on my ear. When did he got drunk? "You do as I tell you or you'll end up in Azkaban. I'll come up with something, maybe I tell the ministry you hit my son or worse, touched him..."

What!? I should have hurt Lucius? I'm the only one here who really loves him! His father keeps yelling at him, raising his hand against him and pulling the boy by his ear halfway through the house and I'm supposed to have abused him now?

I couldn't free myself from his grip, he grabbed my wrist and jerked me around, pressing my face against the wall and breathing heavily down the back of my neck. At that moment, I wasn't just scared, I was actually panicking. What should I do? It wasn't possible to run away at the moment anyway, if I gave my consent to this marriage, he would probably be reassured for the time being. I was half lost in my thoughts when I felt him fiddle with his belt. He won't...-

"Mister Malfoy!" I blurted out, squirming in his grasp. He pressed his body against mine and I could feel the bulge in his pants on my lower back. "Shut up, you miserable little slut!", he hissed behind me and pulled up the fabric of my skirt. His cold hand was already touching my skin when a rather loud plop announced that a house-elf just appeared behind us, telling him about the arrival of the first guests. Mister Malfoy let go of me, pushed me away from the wall and I ran towards the stairs. "Get changed!" he called after me.