An Unexpected Visitor

The rain fell for hours, until the world outside the window had become nothing but a blurry washed out landscape. She stood at the window, fingers tracing patterns on the cold glass, eyes searching for something to come out of the grey. She heard the fire burst to life behind her, and she sipped at her wine absently, not even tasting it. The low roar of the flames and the crackling and popping that issued forth from the fireplace was soothing, and with a sigh she turned from the window, making her way to the other side of the room where she sat behind her late husbands\' desk, noting with distaste that there was a thin layer of dust covering it already, although the rest of the room was as immaculate as always. She ran her finger on the ledger, noting the last entry was dated for the day before he died...was killed, she amended mentally. She finished her wine and got up from the chair, and made her way to the bar.

She began to pour herself yet another glass, when a house elf arrived to announce a visitor. She left her glass where it was and indicated to the elf that her guest should be shown in, and she wondered who it could be. She ran her hand over her hair and waited, and soon heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. She could hear the elf chattering nervously and she rolled her eyes, assuming it was yet another Ministry official, and was surprised when Severus Snape walked into the room, casting sneering looks at the elf, which she quickly dismissed.

She crossed the room and hugged him politely, kissing his cheek as an afterthought, and then arched her eyebrow at him. \"Does the Ministry think by sending you I will suddenly be able to tell them more then I already have?\"

Severus raised his eyebrow in return and shrugged. \"I came on my own Narcissa. If you wish me to, I can leave.\"

She shook her head and went and sat down on the settee, and patted the seat next to her. When he sat down she took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze before releasing it. Severus had been her one constant since their days at school, and though he had been openly working for the Ministry since Potter had killed both the Dark Lord and her husband, he had never been among those clamoring for her to be sent to Azkaban.

\"Severus, why now? After so many months, why do you come now?\" Her voice had a slightly pained tone to it, and she willed herself to be strong.

He sighed and looked at her, and then answered softly. \"I had to wait that long to obtain permission to visit you. I finally threatened to quit, and the fools gave me the vacation I have so long deserved and leave to visit you as long as I wished.\"

She felt ashamed of herself for her suspicions of him and nodded, her fingers clasped together to prevent them from shaking with righteous indignation. Months, months - to obtain permission to visit her. Her husband and son were dead, her sister once again imprisoned within the walls of Azkaban, and they locked her away in her own house as though she was a threat to anyone. The very idea was laughable, at best.

\"How long are you able to stay then?\" She waited for him to answer, hoping the answer was at least overnight. This house was lonely, and she found herself rambling from room to room all day, until she was so exhausted she finally fell asleep, usually on the settee.

He smiled softly and took her hand again, a once familiar gesture that he had stopped doing when she had married Lucius. He had never seemed to understand he was her friend, nothing more, and he had drastically curtailed their relationship.

\"As long as you\'ll have me. I told them I wouldn\'t leave until I was damn good and ready, and though they huffed a bit, Albus agreed I deserved as long a break as I wanted. And I can think of nothing better to use that time doing then getting to know my friend again.\"

She smiled and pulled her hand away gently, going to the bar and finishing pouring herself a glass of wine. \"Do you want anything Severus?\" She asked without turning around.

Severus stood and went to the bar, standing next to her. \"Scotch, neat.\"

She laughed softly and poured him a glass, and handed it to him, and then looked out the window at the rain that still came down in torrents. It muffled the sounds in the house, and made her feel as though someone had thrown a sound dampening spell on the Manor. They stood side by side, in companionable silence, watching the world outside wash away. Soon, they had both finished their drinks, and Narcissa wrapped her arm through his and smiled. She set her glass down and plucked his from his hand.

\"Let me walk you to your rooms, and then we can talk in the morning.\" He nodded and began to walk with her, glad he knew the layout of the Manor so well.

As they walked, footsteps echoed softly through the halls, his boots clicking a staccato on the stone floor, occasionally muffled by an oriental rug, and her soft feet padded along, trying to match his long strides. He slowed his pace almost imperceptibly to accommodate her, and spoke quietly, hesitant to break the stillness of the house. \"Where are you putting me?\"

She blushed and avoiding looking at him as they walked. \"I was thinking in Lucius\' quarters, actually.\" She turned began to walk up the staircase with him, and added hastily, almost as an after thought. \"Unless you\'d rather something else.\"

He smirked and shook his head. \"That would be fine Narcissa.\" He heard her audible sigh of relief, and wondered briefly if his rooms would be connected to hers.