You Raise Me Up

Hee hee hee. I suppose I should tag a giant AU at the summary of this fic. Hmm...I'm getting nothing but positive reviews...I haven't been attacked by the canon nazis yet...I think it'll be fine. Don't worry, all, most of your questions will be addressed in this chapter. SLightly shorter than the others...but very, very fun...
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Narcissa had just left Draco’s room, and was shuffling down to the room that she and Lucius shared. She couldn’t wrap her mind around why Lucius had gotten so upset. She had been surprised, she wouldn’t lie, but to scream at Hermione like he had? She was glad Bella had taken Hermione into her room, because she was sure Lucius would have probably been at it for hours.

She walked into the room, and closed the door behind her. Lucius was already lounging on the bed. His legs were stretched out, and his ankles were crossed. He looked very pensive indeed with his hands tucked behind his head. Narcissa gingerly removed her day clothes, folded them, and gingerly placed them on her vanity chair for the elves to retrieve. She shimmied into a flowing nightgown, and then climbed up on to the bed.

“Lucius…” she murmured softly, tucking herself gently against his side.

“No…Narcissa.”

“You know we need to talk…” she said, reaching up and touching his cheek. He tilted his head away from her touch. “Why did you get so upset, love? What is going on inside that beautifully sculpted head of yours?” she asked, smoothing her palm over his wrinkled brow.

“I lost it, ‘Cissa. I scolded the only living thing willing to help this family. She probably hates me. And then on top of that…I thrashed Draco. He did nothing..neither of them did. I suppose…I was a bit frightened…” he admitted, his hands coming out from behind his head so that he could drape one arm over the slender witch at his side.

“Frightened, love? Of what? Hermione is such a gentle thing…just look at the amazing change she’s wrought in Bellatrix…” she said, her hand lowering to play with the buttons on his deep green satin pajamas.

“I know…it is quite the feat. My dear…you above all people know that I can be a bit…”

“Pigheaded? Close-minded? Stubborn? Grumpy? Rude? My dear, I can go on….”

“All right, my little word-faerie…” he chuckled. “Yes…all of those things and more. I am also very set in my ways, and those ways are old. I cannot lie and say that I haven’t been very judgmental with women. I’ve always thought you vain and emotionally unstable creatures…I suppose I jumped to conclusions with the little Mud- oomph!” his sentence was interrupted by a sharp punch in the side.

“Not that word. Never again in this house, Lucius Malfoy, or you will wake up to literally have your foot in your mouth…” she hissed.

“Fine! Muggleborn…happy? Anyway…I jumped to conclusions. I supposed that she would want to have girl-talks with her friends, and Potter would come bouncing over here like the good little Saint and rescue the virgin in distress…” he sighed.

“You assume to much. First of all, you need to learn who you’re dealing with. Hermione Granger had very few friends at school. Potter and Weasley were her main ones. Both boys…she would not have boy talks with with either of them..that is not done in the circle of women…second…her only real female friend was Ginevra Weasley…who’s mother she insulted. She will not be talking to that one. Lucius…you did overreact, and you will apologize in the morning – ah, ah! No arguing…if you do not give a very thorough and sincere apology to her in the morning, then I will be forced to withhold all things sexual from you until you do. In that time I’m sure you can become well acquainted with Mrs. Palm and her five lovely daughters…” she warned. He gave a deep chuckle, and pulled his wife close.

“I will do so, my dear. No need to threaten me with abstinence.” He said, and planted a kiss on the top of her head.

“Good. Now go to sleep, Lu. I’m dreadfully tired…” she said, nestling herself into a more comfortable position against her husband.

~~

Bellatrix shoved food into her mouth like a starving woman. She barely chewed her eggs, and slathered her toast with butter before adding it to the culinary casualties of her hunger. The rest of the inhabitants of the breakfast table, save Narcissa, stared at her in utter amazement.

“Where is she putting it?” Draco asked, watching as she took her fifth toast half.

“Now, now, Draco. You don’t know what it’s like to be pregnant. Any time she’s feeling well enough she’s going to stuff her face like a starving cow…” Lucius said, his voice low. “At least your mother did, anyway…” he said, and was rewarded with a sharp stab on the leg with Narcissa’s fork.

Severus, who had been invited for breakfast, was trying to ignore all of them. “If she wants to shovel food in like a malnourished whale, then that is her choice…” he drawled, taking a small bite of his eggs. Bellatrix stopped eating, and glared at the dark Potions Master.

“Shove it, Snape.” She said, swallowing her mouthful of toast.

“Manners, my dear. Have you none? Besides...it looks like you already have.” he taunted, reaching over to brush a bit of egg from her face. Bellatrix stood from her place beside him, her dark eyes glinting with anger. Hermione looked slightly nervous. Narcissa ignored all of them, and took another half-piece of toast.

“Why don’t you mind your own business, you overgrown bat!” she hissed. He sighed, and stood as well, his own tall frame giving him the height advantage to look down at her.

“Why don’t you sit down before you get hurt, you bitter old badger…” he said, his voice low.

“Hook-nosed git!”

“Dark bitch…”

“Snarky little whiner!”

“Hormonal shipwreck!” he cried, his voice finally beginning to rise. During the insults their faces had slowly migrated close and closer, until their noses practically touched.

“Why don’t you go brew something uselful-” but she never finished her sentence. Snape took her face in his hands, and pressed his lips to hers in a soul-stealing kiss.

There was the clatter of silverware as each person at the table voiced their surprise at the action.

“Eew!” Draco cried.

Severus pulled away from Bellatrix, their eyes boring into each other. A sharp crack sounded as Bellatrix slapped him severely. Then, to the utter bemusement of everyone in the room, she took his face in her hands and kissed him back. He laced his hands through her thick hair, grunting lightly when her arms found themselves around his waist, pulling him close. They pulled apart only for a breath before going back together again.

“Oh…..my…..gods….” Draco said, his mouth open. Narcissa leaned over, and gently tipped his chin up to close his mouth.

Bellatrix groaned softly when Severus pulled away. “The others are watching…” he said softly, pressing his forehead to hers.

“Fuck the others…” she gasped, and tried to pull his mouth back to hers. He held her steady.

“I’d rather not….you, on the other hand…” he said suggestively, and waggled his thick black eyebrows. Bellatrix grabbed him roughly by the wrist, and practically dragged him from the room.

Draco gave a dry heave. Even Lucius made a strange face. “I think I’m going to be sick…” Lucius said softly, trying to banish the images of Severus and Bellatrix together. Hermione nodded.

“I’ll hold back your hair if you’ll hold back mine…” she said, her nose wrinkling. She had forgiven Lucius earlier that morning when he had openly apologized to her.

Narcissa smiled. “I think it’s sweet…” she said, earning a look of shock from the rest of the table dwellers. “It’s very strange, yes, but sweet.” Hermione shrugged.

“Maybe the bat and the badger can learn a thing or two from each other….”
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Ooh la la! Tres bien, no? Much bueno, si? You have to tell me about this one...I see a big black plot bunny hopping in the distance...