Hey, Soul Sister [Lucius/Narcissa]

Chapter Forty-Two

A/N: Chapters 42-44 have been modified for continuity issues. x

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Lucius's head was spinning. He'd practically detached from himself due to the overwhelming amount of people he'd been forced to see—he really didn't feel like he'd been given time to grieve his father. Throughout the service, he'd stayed very close to his mother, hoping to give her support, and Narcissa, accepting the support she offered him. The image of his father's casket closing and the realization that he'd never see him again had made Lucius extremely ill and weak. He'd managed to keep it together, but he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on. Now that he, his mother, Aunt Asherah, and Narcissa were standing in front of the Malfoy family crypt as guests approached them with repeated condolences, he was finding himself shutting down further. When his mother's sister Elena approached him with a hug, it took all of his energy to wrap his arms around her.

"I'll be fine," he barely muttered into her ear. He wasn't trying to be rude—he simply had no more energy.

Elena let out a sigh and nodded. "I know you will. You're strong. But if you do decide you need anything at all, we're here for you." She gave him another squeeze and then shifted down the line to speak with Seraphina.

Lucius kept his focus forward, and he gasped when he was suddenly pulled into another hug. He relaxed when he realized who it was—his cousin Avalon, who had been a year ahead of him in school and who had been more of a sister to him while growing up than a cousin.

"I'm sorry," she said. "You shouldn't have to go through something like this."

"Thanks, Av," Lucius whispered. "I'm so bloody tired of being here. All these apologies and condolences are driving me mad."

"I understand." Avalon sighed. "If you want a break from all of it, I'd like to take you out for supper, if you're free this evening. I think getting out of here for a little while would be good for you. Bring whoever you like. My treat."

"I'd like that very much. I'll bring Narcissa, and the two of you can get to know one another a little better."

"That sounds perfect." Avalon squeezed Lucius's hand before stepping back and moving down the line to speak with her aunt.

Lucius looked toward Narcissa, and he froze. Augustus stood in front of her, his arms around her and his hands running along her back. Her posture was rigid.

Lucius shifted closer to his fiancée.

"Rookwood," he said through gritted teeth.

"Malfoy." Augustus pulled back from Narcissa, who edged closer to Lucius. "I'd like to offer you my deepest sympathies."

Lucius smiled politely. "While I appreciate that, I would appreciate it more if you would kindly put space between my fiancée and yourself."

Augustus frowned deeply. "Lucius—"

"I really don't have the patience to deal with this, right now." A voice at the back of Lucius's mind told him he should stop talking before this got out of hand, but he was too stressed to care whether he was being rational about the situation, at the moment.

Augustus held his gaze for a long moment at then turned away, dissolving back into the crowd.

Narcissa embraced Lucius tightly and rested her head against his shoulder.