Corset Laces.

A/N: This plot bunny bit me thanks to Snape_Goddess, go check her work, I highly recommend it!



Half-past seven on a gloomy December day had the occupants (and guests) of Malfoy Manor calmly sleeping and enjoying warm beds; the party the evening before had been a great success – as all Malfoy formal gatherings should be.

Ismene Malfoy, however, was an early riser; but had allowed herself an extra half-an-hour lie in to recover from the exhaustion that came with planning and executing social events. Not only had she out done her closest rivals in society, but she had perhaps found the next Lady Malfoy in the form of Narcissa Black.

Ismene pondered for a while as she carefully brushed her waist-length dark blonde hair with the silver brush; Narcissa was ten, Lucius was twelve; the age gap was not insurmountable – as it was with many pureblood marriages, hers included. The young lady – yes definitely a young lady, not a little girl; had been incredibly polite, had not spoken until spoken to and had been genuinely interested in the planning of the party.

***

The night before:

‘Mother said I was to ask you, Lady Malfoy, she says you are a master of occasion.” Narcissa had said, looking up at the older woman and quoting her Mother’s words.

“Indeed? And do you wish to know, Miss Black?” Ismene had been sceptical of the child’s words, many had tried to steal her secrets of event planning; it was not beneath the pureblood wives to use their children to gain information.

“Yes please! My Mother doesn’t have the time plan parties, Father is so ill and needs her to care for him… I used to help when I was little, and I miss that.” Narcissa said, sadly. Shaking her head.

“Well, in that case, why do you not follow me, Miss Black, and I shall tell you a few secrets of mine.” They weren’t really secrets – Ismene wasn’t going to tell anyone those! But the young lady’s eyes lit as she took the offered arm of the lady of the Malfoy household.

***

Yes, Narcissa Black was certainly the better of the three Black girls; Andromeda had a wildness to her eyes, a manor that did not speak of obedience; that would not do as a wife of the most prominent pureblood families. Bellatrix was cold and calculating, qualities amiable in a pureblood male – but most certainly not in a woman! That left Narcissa, a demure, beautiful young lady who wanted to learn how to throw a society party… Ismene made a mental note to speak with Abraxas when he woke, a marriage contract would have to be drawn up soon, before others realised what a catch the youngest of the sisters was.

Ismene placed her brush down on the ornate dressing table in her dressing room; looking around at the garments hanging in precise order around the walls. The morning after a party called for a formal gown that was suitable for the day, but showed class, elegance and money… ah! The pale rose pink fitted gown with the matching cape over the top was most appropriate; the bodice was fitted, but showed no hint of the cleavage that had been on view the night before, it fell to her ankles but did not trail on the floor, it was a calm colour – not the scarlet of the previous evening. Yes, the rose dress would be perfect for breakfasting with her peers at nine o’clock.

Ismene called an elf to fetch her maid, a lesser pureblood whom had been orphaned as an infant. Catherine’s Mother had been her maid, and her Father had been Abaxas’s butler – but a terrible accident had killed them both. When not at Hogwarts, Catherine Ravenwing (a distant relative of Rowena Ravenclaw) lived in the servant quarters of the manner, but was in no means a slave – and one of Lucius’s friends, Goyle, had taken a shine to her at the party… well, it was one less suitor for Narcissa Black, so she, as the legal guardian of the fifteen-year-old, would permit the marriage between them.

“Dippy!” she called, waiting for the elf to return as Catherine entered the room and bobbed into a little curtsey.

“Yes, Mistress?” Dippy answered as she popped into the room.

“Fetch Master Lucius from his bed and have him come in her at once. Make sure he is dressed for the day.” Ismene said, dismissing the elf with a wave of her hand.

“What do you want Lucius in here for?” Abraxas said, pottering into his wife’s dressing room to gently kiss her on the cheek before he began his day.

“I think it is time I introduced him to women’s garments.” She replied, slipping off her night trail before Catherine helped her into her first layer of undergarments.

“Whatever for?” Abraxas asked, puzzled.

“I think we need to get a marriage contract written for him and Miss Narcissa Black – she would be perfect as the next Lady Malfoy.” Ismene said calmly, sweeping her long hair out of the way as Catherine tied the bows on her petticoats.

“The little one? I would have thought you’d have liked the middle one… Bella-something?” Abraxas said, not remembering the raven-haired girl’s name.

“Bellatrix.” Ismene corrected, “No, the middle of the sisters is not suitable, neither is the elder – but the youngest would be.” Catherine arrived with a corset just as Lucius came through the door.

“You wished to see me, Mother?” he asked, yawning.

“Yes. You are going to assist Catherine in dressing me today. You need to learn how to do such things for when you marry.” Ismene replied, watching as Abraxas left to dress.

“Oh? Why?” Lucius asked, puzzled, "Won't she have a lady's maid, like you?"

“Because your wife will approve if you are capable of helping her dress for the day. Sometimes you may find yourselves needing to dress at other times of the day other than in the morning. It makes you a better husband if you know how to help your wife; and she will respect you greatly for knowing. Now, watch Catherine carefully and do as she says…”

***

Forty years later.

Draco wandered into his Mother’s dressing room, to show her what he looked like in his Hogwarts robes. Draco Malfoy was going to make her, and Father, proud of him at school when he started in a few weeks time. He had not expected to see his half-dressed Father, pulling at the silken laces of his Mother’s corset.

“Careful, Lu’, I still need to be able to breathe.” Narcissa said gently.

“Sorry, dear.” Lucius answered, slackening the previous lace before moving to tighten the next.

“Oh! Isn’t he handsome in his school robes!” Narcissa said, looking at her son’s reflection in the mirror.

“Mother? It’s the middle of the afternoon? Why are you only just getting dressed? Are you too warm?” Draco asked, misinterpreting his Mother’s flushed appearance. “And why is Father only wearing his trousers?”

“Erm…” Narcissa said, not quite sure what to say to Draco.

“Your Mother and I have been celebrating our wedding anniversary, and as we shall be going out this evening, I am helping her change.” Draco had watched his Father lace his Mother’s corset more times than he could count, so the answer didn’t surprise him. He himself was quite capable of lacing her corsets too!

“But why aren’t you wearing a shirt, Father?” Draco asked. Lucius Malfoy was always impeccably dressed, always. "And your hair is all messy too."

“If you think I am going to help you explain this – then you have another thing coming, Lu’.” Narcissa whispered.

“Go change Draco, and when I have finished with your Mother, I will meet you in the Library.” Lucius said, planning how he was going to explain this to his son.

“Alright… is something wrong?” Draco asked, suspicious.

“Nothing is wrong Draco – far from it. I will explain soon.” Lucius said, gesturing for his son to leave.

“He’s such a smart boy – perhaps he will be the first Malfoy heir to be a Ravenclaw?” Narcissa said, letting go of the pillar as Lucius tied off her corset ribbons and gently pulled the dress over her head.

“I would be happier if he was a Slytherin.” Lucius said, fastening the buttons on the back of his wife’s dress. “Hmm… how am I going to explain that the reason we were undressed is that we were celebrating our anniversary in a more… carnal way?”

“You’re on your own with this, Lu’.” Narcissa said with a small chuckle, glad that pureblood Mothers were not expected to explain sex to sons, only daughters.

“Well, this is going to be an interesting conversation.” Lucius said, quickly dressing before moving to leave the room.

“Thank-you for lacing me up – you are much better than the lady’s maid.” Narcissa said, rising on tip toes to kiss her husband passionately. “I think it definitely makes you unique among the pureblood men – and it is one of the many reasons why I love you.” Narcissa continued to kiss him, one hand dropping to gently fondle his rear.

“And if you continue, milady, you’ll find that corset back on the floor and your petticoats with it as I ravage you!” Lucius said, offering silent thanks to his Mother as he (reluctantly) left to talk to Draco.