Pale Elegance

TITLE: Pale Elegance

AUTHOR: Lady Sirius

PAIRING: LM/NB, BB/RL

RATING: NC17

FEEDBACK: Of course all rights to Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling - I am simply toying with Lucius and Narcissa for my own purposes!

DEDICATION: I dedicate this work to the very sexy, very incredible Jason Isaacs, who is a veritable sex god in his own right, but when he wears that blonde wig - damn! And to all the Narcissas that play with and love my Luciuses... You make playing Lucius a pleasure indeed...

Pale Elegance

Chapter Four - In Which Cupid's Arrow is Misdirected Once More

Normally, Rodolphus Lestrange would never have deigned to speak to a first year student, other than to demand that he get out of his way. Or order him to fetch something. Or perhaps to ridicule him. He actually disliked children, quite a bit. (It seemed hard to believe he was ever a child himself). But this was a different situation, this first year being his younger brother, Rabastan, of whom Rodolphus was actually quite fond, and even rather protective. Rabastan and his best friend, Regulus Black.

Rodolphus was in his dorm, the one he shared with Lucius, Severus, Crabbe and Goyle, seated upon his bed, a book of verse open upon his lap, surreptitiously attempting to memorize some of it. He had the idea that Bella might enjoy it, and he was feeliing the need to play the Lothario. Normally, an underclassman would not dare to invade the sanctity of the seventh year dorm, but this one had something on his mind and thought nothing of approaching his older brother with his thoughts. His dark face wore a scowl, and his robes appeared to be rather the worse for wear. In fact, they were positively drenched.

Rodolphus raised his eyebrow askance at his brother's appearance, and then realized that young Mr. Black was in the same wet condition. "Surely you two didn't fall into the lake?" he asked, and was rewarded with an even blacker scowl.

"No, of course not," Rabastan replied, "we were in the boys' loo just now, when suddenly - it exploded!"

"Exploded?" Rodolphus asked languidly, "how do you mean?" He didn't seem overly concerned about a matter of errant plumbing. That seemed to be something for Filch to handle.

"It was my brother," Regulus interjected, "him and his sorry lot of friends."

Ah, now that was a different matter. "Are you sure?" Rodolphus questioned the boy, his muscles tensing even as he laid his book aside, his attention now thoroughly claimed by the two lads before him.

"Postive," Regulus nodded energetically. "I'm sure it was them, I saw Sirius with some dungbombs earlier this morning."

"Then they need to be taught a lesson, don't they?" He gained his feet, glancing toward the inert Crabbe and Goyle, neither of whom seemed to be particularly occupied. Lucius was absent, alas, or he would have enjoined his participation in the game. "Come, I need you," he beckoned to the neanderthalic duo, as he swept from the dorm, the wet boys scrambling in his wake.

Rodolphus was never one to shrink from trouble. Far from it. He liked to be in the thick of it. But on his own terms, of course. When he was calling the shots. And he had every intention of staying in charge on this occasion, as well.

He strode purposefully from the dungeons, and to anyone who knew him it was apparent that something was brewing. He and his entourage began the climb up the connecting stairs toward Gryffindor. The closer they drew toward the dorm, the greater the crowd they were attracting, curious as to the cause of this commotion. He paid them no heed. Once before the portrait of the Fat Lady, he took up an aggressive stance, collaring one of the young Gryffindors who was about to enter into the Common Room. "Tell Potter and Black I want a word with them," he commanded, and the youngster hastened to obey.

A few moments later, both boys appeared, curious, no doubt, as to why they were being called out. But judging by the smirks on their faces, they obviously had some sort of idea, although they both acted surprised at seeing Rodolphus there..

"You want something, Lestrange?" James spoke first, taking on a rather belligerent attitude.

"You and your little gang of hooligans are responsible for the damage in the boys' loo," Rodolphus asserted, "and I want an apology from you to my brother for what you did. Yours too, Black," he added for Sirius' benefit, even as the other boy snorted in contempt. "Or I'll tell Dumbledore on you both."

"Lestrange, you're daft," James asserted cooly, "I don't know what you're talking about. Sirius and I've been here all day. You can ask anyone. I think it was most likely a member of your own House. Why don't you ask around?"

"Yes, like Snivellus," Sirius interjected with a smirk. "Sounds like something he'd do just as an excuse to play with his chemistry set." The two boys snickered, exchanging glances, even as they were joined by two more of their number. Namely Remus and Peter. "Our friends will vouch for us," Sirius maintained evenly, "so why don't you and your band of merry men just sod off?" His glance fell upon his little brother, and for a moment it faltered at the sight of his drenched robes, but then his mask of indifference fell back into place.

Rodolphus took a step toward Sirius, a step that was taken in unison by Crabbe and Goyle, menacing grunts issuing from their joint mouths. Sirius stood his ground, and James took a protective step toward him, even as Remus attempted to play matchmaker, and Peter cowered where he was. "Now, gentlemen, is this really necessary?" Remus began.

Rodolphus' hand flew to the wand in his pocket. He had every intention of using it, fuck the rules. He made his own rules. Murmurs flew through the crowd that hovered about the periphery of the feuding boys, ripples of excitement and anticipation. It was well known that these two houses despised one another, and what would follow was anyone's guess. But it was bound to be good, whatever it was.

A new voice made itself heard beside Rodolphus, having just arrived, and he smiled at her familiar dulcet tones. His beloved. His Bella. "Come to watch the fun, love?" he fairly purred. But her next words took him greatly aback.

"Forget them!" she almost hissed, "we have far worse problems. Come!"

With a negligent laugh, he pulled his wand and lightly tapped Sirius on the forehead. "Lucky for you I have business elsewhere," before he followed the darkhaired girl away from them, to the disappointment of the students who had hoped for some sort of spectacle. Once they were alone, in a corridor away from everyone, Bella turned to face him at last, her eyes flashing fire, and her very body language proclaiming her unhappiness.

"Have you received any sort of owl from your parents?" she wanted to know.

"No, I haven't," he replied, perplexed, "why, should I? What's wrong, love?" He hated to see her like this, so thoroughly agitated, and he attempted to soothe her, placing his hands upon her arms in a calming gesture.

"Because I have one," she said, "and the fools are under the impression that they are going to marry me off to Lucius Malfoy!"

Rodolphus looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His mouth fell open in utter disbelief. And in a moment of exquisite timing, Rabastan came around the corner, envelope in hand. "I was going to give this to you earlier," he said to his older brother, "I ran into the owl in the owlery..."

With trepidation, Rodolphus tore the missive open, read the damning words. "Narcissa? Me and Narcissa? Oh no, oh hell no," he shook his head. "Not now. Not ever." He drew the unhappy Bellatrix into his arms, and the two simply stood there, appalled at what was happening in their lives. And amazed at the rapidity with which happiness can change to tragedy without warning.