Hey, Soul Sister [Lucius/Narcissa]

Chapter Forty-Three

Narcissa leaned against the wall outside The Three Broomsticks, hoping to clear her head and refrain from doing anything else she'd regret.

I can't believe I actually slapped him. I mean, he deserved it, but still... I hope no one saw that. I'm going to ruin my image before I get the chance to make it. I've been emancipated for less than a week, and here I am, fighting like a Muggle in a pub.

Moments later, the door opened, and Lucius appeared at her side and wrapped his arms around her. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Narcissa leaned against him, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry. I can't deal with them, right now." She'd been trying so hard to remain strong for the sake of her fiancé, who needed her now more than he ever had before. She'd been trying to behave and keep herself firing on all cylinders, but she'd snapped. She hadn't the patience to deal with Thorfinn, especially now that she knew that her mother had been sneaking around with Thomas Rowle for Merlin-only-knew how long.

Lucius tightened his grip on her, and she felt tension shoot through him. "I'm so sorry, my rose." He pressed his lips to her hair as he rubbed her back. "Nothing that has gone on with him is your fault, and I hope you know that. Quite honestly... I wouldn't be surprised if he put things together about your parents before we did. I don't know what he's been trying to gain through all of this, but he won't win. I won't allow it." He kissed his cheek before releasing her and opening the door. She followed him back into the pub and watched with wide eyes as he returned to their table while she hung a few paces behind him. "Stay with Narcissa—keep your eye on her," he told Lenore, Avalon, and Meg. "You, come with me," he said to Thorfinn, grabbing him by the robes and pulling him toward the door.

"Get the hell off of me!" Thorfinn shouted.

Lucius produced his wand and pressed it into Thorfinn's side. "Don't think I won't use magic. At this point, I'd love to see them try to scold me." He pulled Thorfinn by the robes toward the door, and Narcissa stepped to the side as they passed, pursued by Alecto. "Macnair. Rookwood," Lucius called, gesturing with his head for Walden and Augustus to follow. The group moved out the door, and Narcissa slowly made her way back to her seat.

"What's going on?" asked Avalon.

Narcissa kept her eyes on the table. "Thorfinn is..." She sighed. "Difficult." She took a very long drink of Butterbeer.

Lenore took a swig of her own drink and lowered it to the table. "He's a bloody nightmare is what he is. Druella tried to force Cissy to marry him, and now that he's been told to shove off, he's not handling it well."

Narcissa drummed her fingers on the table. She didn't want to ruin the mood; she knew they'd all been trying to enjoy themselves. She knew, though, that the damage was probably done.

"Lucius and I saw Thorfinn's father with my mother. I think she was using me to get closer to him."

"That's terrible," muttered Meg.

Avalon scooted close to Narcissa, wrapping her arm around her and reaching out for her hand. "You poor, dear."

Lenore's grip on her mug tightened until her knuckles paled. "You're not going back to her, are you?"

Narcissa leaned against Avalon with a sigh. "Thank you. No, thankfully, I'm not going home. Your uncle persuaded the Minister to expedite emancipation papers for me, and now I'm officially free to marry Lucius and stay at Malfoy Manor with Lucius and they can't say a word about it." She caught sight of the image creeping out from beneath the sleeve of Avalon's dress along the side of her wrist, and she froze. A silver snake. "Was that there before?" she asked quietly, looking up into the other girl's face.