more HP fic
Jul. 26th, 2005 09:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
TITLE: The Engagement
AUTHOR:
rm
CHARACTERS: Severus, Narcissa, Lucius
RATING: 12+
SPOILERS: Minor Book 6 stuff that might not even be interpretted as such.
Author’s notes: This is set in 1975, Narcissa is a 3rd year, Severus a 4th. Prequel to Facilis Descensus Averno, which of course
kalichan and I have yet to post any of. But really, RSN. No copyright infringement or offense intended.
ARCHIVING: Please ask, but I'll probably say yes.
FEEDBACK: Early and often if you're so inclined.
“Severus,” Narcissa said, shaking him roughly enough that even if he had been asleep he might have complained. “I have news,” she added looking like she was about to explode.
“You shouldn’t be in here.”
“But I’m always in here.”
He sighed, gestured for her to climb on the bed, and then spelled the curtains shut around them. In his opinion there were just too many people in this damn castle.
“Yes?”
“Don’t look at me like that!” she said clearly enjoying herself.
“The news?””
“I just got back.”
“That part’s not news.”
She held out her right hand then, on which was a shiny new ring.
“What’s it do?” he asked, assuming she wouldn’t have broken into the boys dormitory to show off the latest in family wealth.
“It’s from Lucius Malfoy.”
He considered that it probably did all sorts of things then. Wait. “Why’s he giving you jewelry?”
“Because we’re engaged.”
Had Severus had something to choke on, he would have, but instead spluttered for a moment before composing himself as best he could.
“You’re making your muggle face,” she said with a hint of disappointment.
“My what?”
“Your muggle face. Like when you’re all confused about stuff your mother should have explained to you. I was home for the negotiation of my engagement. It’s to Lucius Malfoy,” she said full of pride, but speaking to him as if he were stupid. “Here,” she said pulling something from her robes. “He wrote you a letter.”
“Has he turned you into an owl too then?” He scowled.
She just flapped the letter at him, and he stared at it, feeling more than a little concerned that it was being delivered to him in his bed, under the circumstances.
Finally he snatched it from her, and opened it in a bit of a fumbling mess while he continued to stare at her.
Severus started at it for a while, and then started laughing.
“What did he say?” Narcissa asked, snatching the letter away from him.
She huffed here and there as she read it with keen eyes, and then folded it up as she handed it back to him.
“Did you understand it?” she asked.
“Yes, we both speak the Queen’s English, thank you,” he snapped, still somewhere between giddy and horrified that Lucius Malfoy of all people had sent him personal correspondence and had declared him talented.
Narcissa sighed again. “He’s politely explaining that I am off limits.”
Much as he tried, Severus couldn’t help his eyes from getting a bit bigger, although at this moment he realized there was nothing she could say that wouldn't be somewhat evocative. He hastily stuffed the letter under his pillow just to have it out of his sight.
“Gods, your mother is useless,” Narcissa exclaimed flopping down on the bed next to him.
Severus looked at her in some vague alarm in light of the recent correspondence.
“So’s my father,” he said lamely.
“Yes, but he doesn’t even count, does he?”
“You’re staying aren’t you?”
“I always do.”
“Won’t Lucius –“
“Spirit of the law Severus, clearly I have a lot to explain to you anyway.”
He curled on his side next to her then, clearly preparing for the lecture. Besides, now that he actually thought about it, he had all sorts of questions.
“So do you like him?” He asked, still trying to get his head around the age difference or at least the fact that at thirteen she was still clearly a child, even if the relationship was, to his knowledge, merely paperwork and jewelry at this point.
“He’s very good looking, and it’s a lucky match.”
“I thought your sister….”
“My sister’s insane.”
“Do you think she might try to kill you?” He asked, perfectly serious and somewhat grateful for having such grown up things to talk about.
Narcissa shrugged. “I’ve decided not to worry unless Rodolphus meets an end.”
Severus adored Narcissa because she was so sensible, but even from her it was a startling remark.
“You don’t seem happy for me,” she frowned.
“Am I making my muggle face?”
“No, just your sad one.”
He gave her a wan smile.
“Severus, you didn’t think –“
Part of him wanted to yell at her, to dump her out of his bed. Of course he thought. She was pretty, from a good family and was fond of him for whatever reason. Men didn’t marry up, he realized, but ambition and fantasy were closely linked he knew too well. Certainly, he couldn’t decide if he should be more offended by her suggestion that he had some sort of inappropriate emotional investment in her or the clear intimation that she was thoroughly and permanently beyond his station.
“It would have been quite a coup,” he said, recovering well, even as she had probably seen most of that pass over his face.
“I will get married. And then I will find you your very own coup,” she said decisively.
“You will?” he asked teasing her.
“I swear. And we’ll all be best friends. And you’ll look stunning together and I’ll make sure she’s very smart… and I’ll have garden parties! It’ll be brilliant, Severus, trust me.”
“I do, Cissy,” he said, leaning over to kiss her temple and then curling smaller to sleep.
She wriggled up close to him, and he was secretly glad for it. She rested her hand on his shoulder then, and smiled at her ring in the dark.
AUTHOR:
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CHARACTERS: Severus, Narcissa, Lucius
RATING: 12+
SPOILERS: Minor Book 6 stuff that might not even be interpretted as such.
Author’s notes: This is set in 1975, Narcissa is a 3rd year, Severus a 4th. Prequel to Facilis Descensus Averno, which of course
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ARCHIVING: Please ask, but I'll probably say yes.
FEEDBACK: Early and often if you're so inclined.
“Severus,” Narcissa said, shaking him roughly enough that even if he had been asleep he might have complained. “I have news,” she added looking like she was about to explode.
“You shouldn’t be in here.”
“But I’m always in here.”
He sighed, gestured for her to climb on the bed, and then spelled the curtains shut around them. In his opinion there were just too many people in this damn castle.
“Yes?”
“Don’t look at me like that!” she said clearly enjoying herself.
“The news?””
“I just got back.”
“That part’s not news.”
She held out her right hand then, on which was a shiny new ring.
“What’s it do?” he asked, assuming she wouldn’t have broken into the boys dormitory to show off the latest in family wealth.
“It’s from Lucius Malfoy.”
He considered that it probably did all sorts of things then. Wait. “Why’s he giving you jewelry?”
“Because we’re engaged.”
Had Severus had something to choke on, he would have, but instead spluttered for a moment before composing himself as best he could.
“You’re making your muggle face,” she said with a hint of disappointment.
“My what?”
“Your muggle face. Like when you’re all confused about stuff your mother should have explained to you. I was home for the negotiation of my engagement. It’s to Lucius Malfoy,” she said full of pride, but speaking to him as if he were stupid. “Here,” she said pulling something from her robes. “He wrote you a letter.”
“Has he turned you into an owl too then?” He scowled.
She just flapped the letter at him, and he stared at it, feeling more than a little concerned that it was being delivered to him in his bed, under the circumstances.
Finally he snatched it from her, and opened it in a bit of a fumbling mess while he continued to stare at her.
Dear Severus,
I hope you will excuse the familiarity under the circumstances, ones I’m sure Narcissa informed you of with all great haste.
While our acquaintance has thus far been in passing (a shame that, as word of your natural abilities continues to grace all manner of discussion within my social circle), I can’t help but feel this must necessarily be no longer the case.
Narcissa is, I am more than confident, aware of the full extent of her duties now and as my future wife. Quite frankly, I am sure she will illuminate you on them to a greater extent than you could possibly care for. However, others may well not be, particularly outside Slytherin House (from within I expect pointed challenge, not ignorance). She mentions you often; and I know you two are, for lack of a more precise descriptor, close. Any degree to which you could watch over her would be appreciated. Certainly, I would be in your debt.
Your servant,
Lucius Malfoy
Severus started at it for a while, and then started laughing.
“What did he say?” Narcissa asked, snatching the letter away from him.
She huffed here and there as she read it with keen eyes, and then folded it up as she handed it back to him.
“Did you understand it?” she asked.
“Yes, we both speak the Queen’s English, thank you,” he snapped, still somewhere between giddy and horrified that Lucius Malfoy of all people had sent him personal correspondence and had declared him talented.
Narcissa sighed again. “He’s politely explaining that I am off limits.”
Much as he tried, Severus couldn’t help his eyes from getting a bit bigger, although at this moment he realized there was nothing she could say that wouldn't be somewhat evocative. He hastily stuffed the letter under his pillow just to have it out of his sight.
“Gods, your mother is useless,” Narcissa exclaimed flopping down on the bed next to him.
Severus looked at her in some vague alarm in light of the recent correspondence.
“So’s my father,” he said lamely.
“Yes, but he doesn’t even count, does he?”
“You’re staying aren’t you?”
“I always do.”
“Won’t Lucius –“
“Spirit of the law Severus, clearly I have a lot to explain to you anyway.”
He curled on his side next to her then, clearly preparing for the lecture. Besides, now that he actually thought about it, he had all sorts of questions.
“So do you like him?” He asked, still trying to get his head around the age difference or at least the fact that at thirteen she was still clearly a child, even if the relationship was, to his knowledge, merely paperwork and jewelry at this point.
“He’s very good looking, and it’s a lucky match.”
“I thought your sister….”
“My sister’s insane.”
“Do you think she might try to kill you?” He asked, perfectly serious and somewhat grateful for having such grown up things to talk about.
Narcissa shrugged. “I’ve decided not to worry unless Rodolphus meets an end.”
Severus adored Narcissa because she was so sensible, but even from her it was a startling remark.
“You don’t seem happy for me,” she frowned.
“Am I making my muggle face?”
“No, just your sad one.”
He gave her a wan smile.
“Severus, you didn’t think –“
Part of him wanted to yell at her, to dump her out of his bed. Of course he thought. She was pretty, from a good family and was fond of him for whatever reason. Men didn’t marry up, he realized, but ambition and fantasy were closely linked he knew too well. Certainly, he couldn’t decide if he should be more offended by her suggestion that he had some sort of inappropriate emotional investment in her or the clear intimation that she was thoroughly and permanently beyond his station.
“It would have been quite a coup,” he said, recovering well, even as she had probably seen most of that pass over his face.
“I will get married. And then I will find you your very own coup,” she said decisively.
“You will?” he asked teasing her.
“I swear. And we’ll all be best friends. And you’ll look stunning together and I’ll make sure she’s very smart… and I’ll have garden parties! It’ll be brilliant, Severus, trust me.”
“I do, Cissy,” he said, leaning over to kiss her temple and then curling smaller to sleep.
She wriggled up close to him, and he was secretly glad for it. She rested her hand on his shoulder then, and smiled at her ring in the dark.
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Date: 2005-07-27 01:33 pm (UTC)