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Title: Memories
Rating: G
Words: 855
Notes: For![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
theiceroyals March quote prompt, It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. I went with the "dusty" portion. Self-challenge of quickfic, one hour, unedited. Getting my writing legs back under me. :D (And man, half the stuff I write for these two, I think I need a "genre: angst" tag. XD )
Vines had grown up the wall of the Manor, trailing over the stones and across the windows. The sunlight fighting its way through had a greenish tint from the leaves, but even the weak beams lent some warmth to the room. Lucius stood by the window, one hand on the dusty sill, one hand clutching a small, threadbare blanket. He absently rubbed the thin cotton, unconsciously tracing the faded design as he looked at the small marks inked onto the wall. They started low, just about knee-high to him, with a tiny "2" written beside the first line. The marks rose upward, smoothly at first, then with more and more space between each, until they were almost to his chest. A small "12" was next to the last line.
He remembered the argument between Narcissa and Draco before that final mark was drawn, how Draco had protested that he was too old for such babyish things, how Narcissa had tried to cajole him into it. He remembered that he had finally ended the argument by taking Draco aside, telling him that while it might seem foolish, it was important to Narcissa, and occasionally a man needed to do foolish things to make a woman happy. She would want to remember it later, he'd said.
As he stared at the marks now, he thought he had been the fool. The only footprints in the dust were his. Narcissa rarely set foot in this room any longer. She couldn't seem to bear to think of Draco's childhood, of everything before Hogwarts, before the war, before the Dark Lord.
Lucius could barely think of anything else. Draco had been innocent once, full of energy and life, his grey eyes shining like mercury, his laughs echoing through every room of the Manor. Lucius wished he had more to take him back to those years than a handful of lines on a wall and a faded, ratty blanket usually tucked onto a high shelf. He wished more of the scuffs and marks in the room were from him, spending time with his child then instead of time with forgotten ghosts now.
Heedless of the dust tainting his dark robes, Lucius turned and leaned against the sill. He gently rolled the time-soft blanket around his hand, patting the fabric in a slow motion that seemed unconcious until he realized what he was doing. He was patting it much as he'd once patted Draco's soft hair, standing over the heirloom crib and swearing to himself that he would always protect his son.
That was a promise he'd made before everything changed. A promise that he hadn't kept.
His breath caught in his chest. He brought the blanket up, burying his face in it. It smelled mostly of dust and time, but beneath that, very faintly, he thought he could sense the child that Draco had been.
The smallest cough brought him out of his memories. He dropped his hands and looked up, glancing away immediately when he saw Narcissa in the doorway. "I--" he muttered. He tried to continue, to find more words, but nothing came to him at first. He gestured helplessly at the empty room. "Remembering," he finally managed to say.
Narcissa slowly walked to the window, the hem of her long gown trailing through the dust. She sat beside Lucius and rested her hand on his arm. "I know," she whispered. Slowly, she tipped her head onto his shoulder. "That's why it's difficult for me to come here. It hurts to think of those memories when there are so many more that are--" She took a shuddering breath and made the same helpless gesture.
Lucius slipped his arm around her. "I can't help but think how much time I could have spent with him. Instead, I was at the Ministry, collecting favors. I don't know if I can forgive myself for it."
She nodded, her hands locked together in her lap. Lucius thought that might be all the response she would give him, but after a few moments, she lifted her head and met his eyes. "Does it help to know that I forgive you?"
He looked at her, the woman he had loved for decades, the woman who had been his support and his beacon throughout his life. Even in the worst moments, he'd known she was there for him. He had never doubted her love, but with her words he realized that somewhere deep inside him he had feared her forgiveness. Feared the lack of it. Now he felt a strange weight disappear from his heart. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "It does," he said quietly.
Narcissa gave a small smile and stood, extending her hands to him. "Come, love," she said. "Draco sent an owl today. He has some news about Astoria." She squeezed his hands. "Perhaps we'll both have a second chance to spend more time with our family."
Lucius drew her into his arms and smiled into her hair. "Better memories," he said. He held up the soft, well-loved blanket. "Perhaps this will get a second chance as well."
Rating: G
Words: 855
Notes: For
theiceroyals March quote prompt, It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. I went with the "dusty" portion. Self-challenge of quickfic, one hour, unedited. Getting my writing legs back under me. :D (And man, half the stuff I write for these two, I think I need a "genre: angst" tag. XD )Vines had grown up the wall of the Manor, trailing over the stones and across the windows. The sunlight fighting its way through had a greenish tint from the leaves, but even the weak beams lent some warmth to the room. Lucius stood by the window, one hand on the dusty sill, one hand clutching a small, threadbare blanket. He absently rubbed the thin cotton, unconsciously tracing the faded design as he looked at the small marks inked onto the wall. They started low, just about knee-high to him, with a tiny "2" written beside the first line. The marks rose upward, smoothly at first, then with more and more space between each, until they were almost to his chest. A small "12" was next to the last line.
He remembered the argument between Narcissa and Draco before that final mark was drawn, how Draco had protested that he was too old for such babyish things, how Narcissa had tried to cajole him into it. He remembered that he had finally ended the argument by taking Draco aside, telling him that while it might seem foolish, it was important to Narcissa, and occasionally a man needed to do foolish things to make a woman happy. She would want to remember it later, he'd said.
As he stared at the marks now, he thought he had been the fool. The only footprints in the dust were his. Narcissa rarely set foot in this room any longer. She couldn't seem to bear to think of Draco's childhood, of everything before Hogwarts, before the war, before the Dark Lord.
Lucius could barely think of anything else. Draco had been innocent once, full of energy and life, his grey eyes shining like mercury, his laughs echoing through every room of the Manor. Lucius wished he had more to take him back to those years than a handful of lines on a wall and a faded, ratty blanket usually tucked onto a high shelf. He wished more of the scuffs and marks in the room were from him, spending time with his child then instead of time with forgotten ghosts now.
Heedless of the dust tainting his dark robes, Lucius turned and leaned against the sill. He gently rolled the time-soft blanket around his hand, patting the fabric in a slow motion that seemed unconcious until he realized what he was doing. He was patting it much as he'd once patted Draco's soft hair, standing over the heirloom crib and swearing to himself that he would always protect his son.
That was a promise he'd made before everything changed. A promise that he hadn't kept.
His breath caught in his chest. He brought the blanket up, burying his face in it. It smelled mostly of dust and time, but beneath that, very faintly, he thought he could sense the child that Draco had been.
The smallest cough brought him out of his memories. He dropped his hands and looked up, glancing away immediately when he saw Narcissa in the doorway. "I--" he muttered. He tried to continue, to find more words, but nothing came to him at first. He gestured helplessly at the empty room. "Remembering," he finally managed to say.
Narcissa slowly walked to the window, the hem of her long gown trailing through the dust. She sat beside Lucius and rested her hand on his arm. "I know," she whispered. Slowly, she tipped her head onto his shoulder. "That's why it's difficult for me to come here. It hurts to think of those memories when there are so many more that are--" She took a shuddering breath and made the same helpless gesture.
Lucius slipped his arm around her. "I can't help but think how much time I could have spent with him. Instead, I was at the Ministry, collecting favors. I don't know if I can forgive myself for it."
She nodded, her hands locked together in her lap. Lucius thought that might be all the response she would give him, but after a few moments, she lifted her head and met his eyes. "Does it help to know that I forgive you?"
He looked at her, the woman he had loved for decades, the woman who had been his support and his beacon throughout his life. Even in the worst moments, he'd known she was there for him. He had never doubted her love, but with her words he realized that somewhere deep inside him he had feared her forgiveness. Feared the lack of it. Now he felt a strange weight disappear from his heart. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "It does," he said quietly.
Narcissa gave a small smile and stood, extending her hands to him. "Come, love," she said. "Draco sent an owl today. He has some news about Astoria." She squeezed his hands. "Perhaps we'll both have a second chance to spend more time with our family."
Lucius drew her into his arms and smiled into her hair. "Better memories," he said. He held up the soft, well-loved blanket. "Perhaps this will get a second chance as well."
no subject
Date: 2018-04-01 07:04 pm (UTC)From:this is absolutely stunning and beautiful!
and awww for lucius!
but also yay for the angst, i am such a sucker for angst!
as for the tag- done!
thank you for this lovely story!
no subject
Date: 2018-04-06 07:00 pm (UTC)From: