Bear my darkness

Chapter 1

Narcissa apparated in the fields of Wiltshire only to be pelted with cold sharp rain on her face. Sighing, she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and quickly tapped it with her wand making it waterproof. The wet grass was ruining her shoes but she was relieved that she settled against bringing her pumps. She had decided to take a walk to the Malfoy Manor while taking her time to admire the countryside in its full summer glory. Now she staggered in the wind which was rustling through lush trees, discouraging her to apparate directly on the gates of the Manor lest she splinches due to lack of concentration. Suddenly she wished she had spent time in the workshop a little more.

It had been a while since she had visited Lucius, and Narcissa was utterly desperate to get away from the heavy gloom of 12 Grimmauld Place. Her last summer away from Hogwarts was turning out to be the worst since Andromeda left and all that was keeping her home, with everything in the girls' bedroom to remind her of a time when she and her sisters were sane, were Lucius's letters. He promised her a colorful visit to his house, after the Malfoys were done entertaining a special guest at the start of summer. She did not need to ask who this certain guest was since all through the last week of school Lucius was paler than ever and was continuously irritated to the point that once he glared at Minerva McGonagall during class and lost 30 good points from Slytherin. She dashed to save him whenever she felt that the purebloods were being too interrogative and the pesky Gryffindors shot him with remarks. Lucius was less than attentive to her and she felt she needed him to at last come to his senses.

The walk to the huge gates of the estate did not turn out to be pretty at all and her skirt and her stockings were drenched. She cursed under her breath and looked up to the huge house, where it seemed the grey clouds loomed over the most giving the impression as if the tall towers were emitting them. Narcissa expected Lucius to greet her on the gates itself since she specifically mentioned the time she would be visiting, but she let go of her exasperation because she believed it would be illogical waiting in the rain. She ringed the bell and was greeted by a very terrified Dobby who looked as if he was trying to send her back with his big ugly eyes.

" Hello, Miss Black", Dobby whispered, " Master is waiting in the hall for you."

For a moment she set aside her stern self to briefly nod at Dobby who took her cloak for her.

" I will send for a cup of tea in a moment, Dobby. Take care of my shoes for me meanwhile. These are soaked."

Dobby shivered in his tattered clothes while he hung her cloak on the mantle. He mumbled something, but slapped himself hard just after.

" Dobby is forbidden to walk around the house for the evening, Miss Black. Dobby will be in the attic if Master needs me. Till then he is not to make any noise."

With this Dobby fled upstairs so quietly she could not even hear his footsteps on the wood. Thinking it to be strange she tried straightening her damp self to look a little presentable, like the only daughter of the black household who was to retain their name, smiling almost instinctively when she walked into the hall.

"Lucius!", she exclaimed at his sight. Lucius Malfoy was spread on the Wingback, staring at the chandelier directly above him. Wearing a crisp white shirt which was half tucked in his trousers it appeared as if he had gave up dressing himself midway out of desperation. He was alone, and the big well-lit hall she was used to, looked compact and eerie with the only light coming from sapphire tinted flames in the fireplace. She briskly walked towards him expecting him to stand up at her voice.

"Lucius,", she called him again, slightly disappointed by his cold demeanor, " are we to be joined by your parents here?"

"Sit down, Narcissa.", he said, without moving an inch.

She opened her mouth to say something but decided against it. Shivering in her wet clothes she took a chair which was closest to the fireplace, wishing for some more heat. She conjured up a big handkerchief and was dabbing her hair with it, when Lucius frantically moved from his sitting place to the door and closed it.

"Lucius, what..", Narcissa gasped, alarmed for the first time as she saw him walk back with the same frantic gait, making his wand appear to charm the door behind him. He dropped to her knees and almost with an urgency kissed her full on the lips, tugging gently on her hair. Licking into her mouth slowly he let go and while still cupping her face, he demanded," Marry me, Narcissa Black."

Narcissa looked into his grey eyes, taken by surprise and tried to move but she could not. "But only,"he whispered, standing up, leaving her mortified and stunned," when you bear the dark mark and bow to the dark lord."

Instantly Narcissa realized why she could not move. Her body resisted the full body binding curse placed on her by her lover as she saw him place her wand, which he took from her person earlier, on the table. " Honestly Narcissa," he said, unbuttoning his cuffs, pulling the sleeves up revealing his dark mark, newly burnt into his skin," We are the pure blood and it is our inborn duty to serve the Dark Lord. With our family of death eaters imagine what powers we will have on our hands. But of course, you know all that, so it is such a shame when you are enduring so much. Surely, you don't want me pestering?"

He walked up to a struggling Narcissa, gently hovering over ear," Or do you?"