Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the creator of the HP universe and its characters. I do not own anything except the rather strange plot bunny, and I solely profit in reviews.

Years Ago From Now: Chapter Ten

Like most days, Lucius seemed to keep himself very busy. After finally deciding that she needed to prepare herself for the party at the Black family home, she made her way up to her bedroom from the library for the final time. On her way up the stairs, she could hear Lucius's voice coming from the direction of his bedroom as he directed the elves to do a few things for him.

She entered her own and called her own elf. "Mink," she said at a normal volume, having recently lost the habit of calling for the elves as if she needed them to be able to hear her all the way through the house.

The elf appeared, bowing low. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Draw a bath for me, and make sure my outfit for the night is laid out. It is the same as last night. Also, when I call again I am going to need a bit of help with my hair." It was odd not to say please to the elf, and she felt as if it was wrong to just expect Mink to do as she said with bare civility, but Mink truly didn't seem to mind, and… well, she had to be more like Narcissa. She was not going to be cruel to them, but she was learning not to be so polite as to have people think she saw them as her equals. Narcissa certainly didn't.

She took off her clothes, throwing the items into the hamper before making her way into the bathroom. The tub was already mostly full, and she dipped in a toe to find it to be at the perfect temperature. Climbing into the tub, she laid back, allowing the water to wash over her as she attempted to mentally prepare for the evening.

Hermione had spent the entire day (once more) going between her bedroom and the library, researching ways to get back home as well as trying to figure out how she got here and if she was even capable of changing everything. So far, to her dismay, it was seeming as if the laws of time travel she had been under in third year applied to her situation.

While she had, unquestionably, travelled back further than anyone had ever written about, there was nothing to indicate that she could really change much of anything. There were worrisome accounts of seeing your future self, realizing it, and losing your mind, but it wasn't like that was possible in her case. If the infant Hermione grew up and met her, she would recognize her as Narcissa Malfoy… as Hermione had supposedly done for the first time at the Quidditch World Cup just before her fourth year. Of course, there was no proof that she couldn't change what was to be at this time. Maybe she was in some sort of strange alternate reality because… the Lucius Malfoy she had grown up knowing definitely didn't seem to be wearing a perfectly polished mask to cover up a decent human being.

Lucius… she had to admit that she liked him. They had not spent a great amount of time discussing personal things; they were entrenched in how to make her not stick out like a sore thumb and bringing the wrath of Lord Voldemort down upon them. When they weren't doing that, Lucius was typically working (though she still wasn't quite sure what it was he did for a living beyond "investments"), and she was trying to find a way to get far and away from him and back into her old life.

She did feel guilty about trying to leave, even if it was looking more and more like that wasn't possible. She had pages and pages of notes in the desk in her room with everything she thought might be the least bit useful, and they weren't giving very good answers. And, obviously, Lucius really needed her help. There was one thing certain… Narcissa Malfoy was meant to exist. As was Draco. If they didn't, who knew what kind of clusterfuck that would set up for her future?

If she changed it incorrectly when managing to get home, who knew what she'd be returning to? She could go back to a place where somehow Harry had died as a baby and Voldemort reigned supreme… To hear Mad Eye tell it, the Order had been on the losing side before Harry had come onto the scene.

She did want to go back, though. Life wasn't perfect by any means. She wasn't sure if the thing she had tentatively begun with Ron would work out… they fought constantly, and she still didn't think she could trust him not to walk out or turn on her if things got tough. She had no clue what she wanted to do for work. Her parents still had no clue who she was and never would again. But it was her life that she had formed by making her own decisions.

Here, she was being thrust into a life that she had not lived the first twenty-four years of, not only that but in the body of a woman who was married and pregnant. Staying here involved knowing what was coming for the next twenty years, which wasn't all that great, and being the mother to her childhood bully. It was not exactly ideal, even if it was important.

So, despite her guilt, she continued to search for a way back… hopefully without Lucius knowing anything about it.

She slid her head beneath the surface of the water, wetting her long blonde hair before coming to the surface once more. She looked to the side of the tub to see a bottle of new shampoo there and smiled. Narcissa had used some prolifically floral concoction that, while it seemed to work well, made Hermione feel a bit overwhelmed with the smell. She was pleased to see that Mink had kindly replaced it with something different. Opening up the bottle, she squeeze some onto her hand and smelled it. Apples. Much better.

She washed her hair quickly before doing the same to her body, using the matching scented soap that had been provided as well. Climbing out, she dried herself off before wrapping up in an incredibly soft grey robe that was hung on the hook. It was strange, living this "in-between" identity. In some ways it was odd to put on Narcissa's clothing and touch Narcissa's things… like she was stealing, but at the same time it did feel like it was all hers in some way. Perhaps it was just that everything fit her so beautifully… the only adjustment at this point being around the mid section magically being expanded and the seemingly endless supply of high heels. She still stumbled occasionally, as she supposed might be from "growing" 5 inches overnight, without including the heels. In most of them, she came to be just a few inches under Lucius's own 6'4'" frame.

She climbed out of the tub and pulled on the soft robe hung on the hook just next to the sink.

"Mink," she said, calmly, rubbing the towel through her hair as she sat down at the vanity, looking at Narcissa's face in the mirror.

The young elf appeared, bowing once more. "You is ready to be having your hair done, Mistress?"

"Yes... It needs to stay perfectly in place. Can you style it in a way I usually would for such an occasion?" she asked.

The thought of her hairstyle made her thoughts flash back to the night before as Lucius had tucked the tendril of hair behind her ear. It had seemed… bold and flirtatious, and she had to admit that it had thrilled her in some way. Beyond acknowledging his good looks to herself, she had not allowed herself to ruminate on any attraction to Lucius or the fact that (if things were out of her control) she would one day be his wife in a much more traditional sense of the word than he and Narcissa had shared.

Now, as Mink played with her hair, the thought came: Ron or Lucius? The immediate answer had her wishing she could apologize to Ron. It was true, what Narcissa had told her in the garden that day. She had envisioned Charlie while with Ron. Ron was not ugly, but he was not as good looking as Charlie. And comparing him to Lucius? It was undoubtedly a victory for Lucius.

Also, while Ron could be very sweet, and she had not seen that side of Lucius too much here (not that she'd seen the opposite either), Ron was… simple. Lucius was intriguing. She was never quite sure what he was thinking, but it was clear that he always was. He was incredibly intelligent, and for someone like her… that mattered.

"Is this being ok, Mistress?"

Mink's questioned caused her to blink, coming out of her thoughts and back to her current reality. Her hair had been dried and put up into a sleek low bun, the light seemed to glisten in the natural highlights, showing off its golden texture.

"Yes, Mink. You may go," she said, standing from the vanity. The little elf snapped its fingers, causing the tub to start to drain, before disappearing.

Hermione took the time to apply her own make up, doing it in a similar style to the night before. Then, she walked out to her room to see that her dress had been hung from a hook on the side of the wardrobe. Next to it on a small ottoman lay some red lace underthings and shoes.

She rolled her eyes at the impracticality of the lingerie but didn't argue with the selection. Narcissa was not one to entertain "practical" fashion. She dressed herself quickly and was just putting on her heels when she heard a knock at her bedroom door.

"Come in," she called, buckling the shoe. She looked up as Lucius walked in, looking resplendent in black dress robes with a white shirt and black bowtie. Red double stitching brought a slight amount of color to the outfit.

"You look nice," she said standing after finishing her other shoe.

He nodded, looking at her with a smile of appreciation. "Thank you. You look stunning."

Hermione smiled slightly. Compliments like that didn't mean as much when you were not you and that you, in actuality, looked much different from the woman whose body you were wearing. "Ready to go then?" she asked, feeling slightly apprehensive.

Lucius shook his head. "You are forgetting one of Narcissa's favorite things," he said, snapping his fingers.

Boden appeared, holding out a rather large rectangular jewelry box. Lucius took it from him, opening the box. "Thank you, Boden."

Inside was a very long double strand of pearls with matching earrings. "Remembering the dress you are wearing from last night, I thought these would look appropriate."

Hermione smiled, taking the earrings out of the box and easily putting them into her ears. She reached for the necklace in the box, but Lucius pulled it back slightly. "May I?" he asked, setting the box down on her desk as he pulled the necklace out.

Hermione nodded, turning around for him to clasp the necklace. She could feel him standing behind her, and she felt her heart speed up a bit realizing how closely he was standing behind her. He took a few seconds too long to clasp the necklace, and she could feel his breath against her neck. Feeling the weight of the necklace be let go, she adjusted it before turning to face him.

The strands ran dangerously low, drawing attention to the shape of the loose cowl neck as the pearls threatened to dip underneath the fabric. "Good?" she questioned, ignoring his gaze as she faked looking around for something.

"Perfect," he said, leaning in to kiss her on her cheek, mere centimeters from the edge of her mouth. She was beginning to think that he was attempting to woo her, and… she wasn't sure how to feel about that.

From his perspective, it made perfect sense, of course. This was his wife's body (which was undoubtedly attractive) with the mind of someone whose goals and personality suited his inside. Not to mention that he was under the impression that they would have a relationship with each other at some point. They were supposedly in love twenty years down the road, after all. They had to start somewhere, and he seemed to be starting.

She cleared her throat as she stepped back, trying to hide her blush. "Great. I suppose we had better be on our way then."

On what planet was it natural for Hermione to be eager to get to a party for blood supremacists? This one, apparently.

They flooed into Noir House separately, Hermione coming out just a moment before her "husband." Immediately, an elf greeted them in the large foyer.

"Mrs. Malfoy," it greeted, "Welcomes home."

Feeling Lucius come out behind her, she didn't even spare the creature a glance. "Come, Lucius," she said, walking from the room to where she had seen the ballroom to be in previous memories of parties there.

Lucius took his time to follow her, making her wait right outside of the ballroom for him. Appearances had to be kept, of course. The doors opened for them, most likely aided by the magic of a few unseen Black family house elves, and they walked into the already crowded room.

Hermione looked around as if scanning the room for someone in particular as she tried to recognize faces. It was not difficult. Unfortunately, very few of the people were people she wanted anything to do with.

She could see Antonin Dolohov talking to a few men she thought were Jonah Avery and Sterling Parkinson. Horace Slughorn was looking a bit tipsy but having what seemed to be a pleasant conversation with a man with long, dark hair in a corner.

She also saw Walburga Black in the flesh, looking around the room with a disapproving eye while a pretty older woman tried to engage her in conversation, a woman she recognized as "her" mother, Druella. She started to make her way toward them when she heard a voice call out, "CISSY!"

She turned toward the call to see the bane of her existence walking toward her. Though much younger and with less obvious insanity in her eyes, Bellatrix Lestrange flounced across the room toward her, a good looking man on her arm that seemed to be a very clean cut version of Rodolphus Lestrange. She felt Lucius come up at her side, placing a hand on her back as they made their way to meet her beloved sister in the middle of the room.

She stiffened at the feel of Lucius's hand on her back but allowed it, knowing that Narcissa did not like to make scenes unless she was in charge of the script. She was much to subtle for that, a fact that Hermione deeply appreciated.

The last few steps toward Bellatrix and her husband saw Bellatrix actually halfway running to throw her arms around her sister. "Cissy! It's been too long. How do you feel?"

She rolled her eyes as she tried to act happy to see the other woman. "Like my body is being taken over by a monster, of course. I don't know how people manage to have more than a few of these. No wonder Molly Weasley looks like she got caught up in a fight with a dragon."

Bellatrix tutted, sympathetically. "The things we do for our blood, I suppose. I'm sure I will be able to understand a bit more soon."

Hermione nodded, pulling out of the hug. "Of course. If Lucius can manage to help create life, I am sure a wizard like Rodolphus can!" She felt the hand on her back disappear and could practically hear Lucius's sneer at the back of her head.

Rodolphus on his part seemed entirely bored with the conversation, barely paying attention to the two witches as he glanced around the room. Bellatrix nodded. "Yes. It is also just where you put your priorities. While I understand your eagerness to fulfill your marital duties, we are just so busy with doing what needs to be done to better our society! Rodolphus is of great use to our Lord, as I am sure Lucius has told you."

"Good evening, Lucius," Rodolphus said, finally managing to look at the people he was standing with.

Lucius nodded once in greeting. "Rololphus, I hope you are well." The pleasantry was mostly ignored as Rodolphus went back to people watching.

"Come, Cissy, let's go see Mother and Father. They have been very eager to see that you are well," Bellatrix said, grabbing her by the arm. They left the men behind, watching as Lucius and Rodolphus separated to get involved in their own conversations that they seemed to prefer over each other. Lucius made his way over to where Horace Slughorn was speaking with… Snape! Oh!

Of course Severus Snape, at this time at least, was most certainly not a spy, but that would be changing soon. She knew that he was closer to the Malfoy family than most and wondered if there would be any real interaction between them here.

Bellatrix tugged on her hand as they slowly walked toward where her parents were now standing together, gossiping all along the way. "I saw her in Diagon Alley last week. I can't believe that she managed to have a Metamorphmagus even though she got married to that mudblood. The obvious fact that our family magic is obviously so strong as to be passed down is the only reason the Dark Lord is not wanting to send her a message, I think."

Hermione realized the topic of the conversation and tried to come up with something to say but nothing came to her

Bellatrix sighed. "Well, I suppose he has to be about the best mudblood out there to not dilute out power like that in his child."

Hermione scoffed at the ridiculous thought causing her sister to laugh.

"Please, Cissy! It isn't like you have to talk to Andromeda anymore, but you should really let go of your bitterness. So you got stuck with Lucius instead of her… it's not all bad. He is good looking at least."

"He's just a mouthpiece," she said, repeating a phrase Lucius said she frequently used in regards to him.

"Even still," Bellatrix said as she pulled them to a stop next to a large column, "You've already had a scan or two. You are waiting pretty far in to end this one, aren't you? The sooner you get them in and out, the sooner you can be with a more worthy wizard… perhaps a certain brother-in-law of mine?"

Hermione felt sick at the change in topic. Lucius's fears had all but been confirmed with just a few sentences. Narcissa had been purposefully ending her pregnancies. "Yes, he's been watching me like a hawk and is suspicious. I caught him trying to dose my drink with Veritaserum, if you'd believe it. Of course, he has absolutely no stealth… I still can't believe he managed Slytherin. It will have to be after the next scan, which he is insistent to attend with me."

Bellatrix hummed in commiseration. "I'm so sorry, sister. He truly didn't seem so bad in school. Quiet, but… I never took him for weak."

She rolled her eyes. "He isn't weak physically. Just mentally. I swear I'd be better off with the Mark on my arm."

"Well, why don't you, then?! Rodolphus is fine with having us both marked," she said, smiling eagerly.

Hermione shook her head. "You know my stance on the issue. I'll get my work done; I'm not suited to the limelight. He can be the figurehead, everyone knows I am the cornerstone. Even his father would acknowledge it if he were still in country."

Abraxas Malfoy had left for France when he had deemed Lucius capable to handing the family affairs. While he was still, technically, the head of the family, Lucius did all of the work associated with that title. Not that Lucius seemed to mind having a bit more control of things. Meeting Abraxas was not something Hermione was eager for, as she had heard he was quite difficult to deal with, constantly displeased with everything other than himself.

"Come on," Bellatrix said, "Father has been worried. Mother has been, too, I'm sure."

A moment later, Hermione was being hugged tightly by her "mother" while her "father" smiled at her. The expression seemed a bit forced, however. Lucius had said their relationship was tense.

"My dear little one… how are you feeling?" Druella Black (nee Rosier) asked as she squeezed her daughter to her.

"I am fine, Mother. Thank you," she said the words coldly and felt like a giant arse as she did it. According to Lucius, while Narcissa was civil to her mother they were not close. Narcissa thought Druella to have a weak constitution and had preferred her father to her mother even before Cygnus had demanded she marry Lucius when Andromeda ran off with Ted Tonks. Still, Druella tried. Hermione endeavored to make her relationship with Druella better now that she could subtly change things.

"And how is your pregnancy going? Think it will stick this time?" her father asked.

Hermione tried to pull off a poor impression of a sad expression. "We shall see. We have a scan in a few days, so I will know more then."

Her parents nodded, and they both engaged the sisters in pleasant conversation regarding their travel plans and changes to the house. While Druella and Cygnus were not a love match, the two had grown to consider the other to be one of their very best friends. When Arcturus had been the head of the Black Family and the Dark Lord had started to make his name known, Arcturus had forbidden the next generation of Black men from going into his service. Orion, Alphard, and Cygnus were not death eaters.

Orion put on the air of neutrality as he felt it was owed to Arcturus, as the next head and Orion's only son, to not serve the Dark Lord in any way. It did not stop his wife from pushing his own sons, Sirius and Regulus, toward service to Lord Voldemort. He did nothing to stop her nudges.

Alphard was a bit of a black sheep. He was an eccentric bachelor-for-life, happy to just enjoy his money and roam the world. He did not speak publicly about his distaste for the Pureblood Regime, so his actions were allowed with only rolled eyes and avoidance. Cygnus and Walburga had very little to do with him.

Cygnus, however, was comfortable working around his uncle's words. He did indirectly serve the Dark Lord, and he encouraged his daughters to serve him as they saw fit. They did so in varying levels… Andromeda not at all, Narcissa in a way similar to her father and Bellatrix all in. Cygnus was very proud of his darkest daughters, even if he was not a huge fan of Lucius.

Lucius took a stance to the Dark Lord that he considered much more like Orion than he would care to admit. He thought Orion was running the family into the ground (after all, look how his eldest son ended up!), and Lucius seemed to almost grudgingly serve the Dark Lord, doing the bare minimum.

Still, he served, and he allowed Narcissa to do as she pleased; in Orion's eyes, that was good enough. Narcissa had no reason to be dreadfully unhappy, even if she didn't love her husband. Because of this, she usually was encouraged to keep her feelings of disgust about her husband quiet.

After several minutes of quiet conversation, Druella and Cygnus were pulled back to their party. Hermione glanced around for Lucius but didn't see him. She did, however, feel a hand come to touch her hip as a wizard came to stand behind her while Rodolphus was rejoining his wife across from her a moment later.

She looked to her side, expecting Lucius and felt her eyes widen for a second to see Rabastan Lestrange there. Unlike his very stoic, disinterested brother, Rabastan's eyes glittered in amusement as he regarded the people around them.

"Cissy, my love… how are you this evening?"

Hermione took a moment to respond, even though she had planned for this possibility. "Not overly well. I feel sick most of the time, and I am afraid that the nausea is starting to return. How are you, Rabastan?"

"Much better now that I can see you. How long until I can visit again?"

She sighed, "A while, I am afraid. Lucius is very suspicious."

Rabastan nodded, and she felt his hand leave her hip as he took a half step to the side. "He must be. Here he comes."

Hermione looked over Rodolphus's shoulder to see that, yes, Lucius was making his way toward them. Sirius Black was at his side, but… no, that wasn't Sirius. He was a bit too young, and his eyes seemed too dark to be Sirius. Regulus? As they got closer, she was sure she was right.

Regulus came up to stand between Bellatrix and Narcissa, making a semicircle of their small group. Lucius instead walked around the group to stand next to his wife on her other side, bumping Rabastan out of his way as he did so. He ignored the younger man's glare.

"Look who I found smoking filthy muggle cigarettes out on the balcony," Lucius said, referencing Regulus. "Rabastan. Long time, no see. You've been very much missed." The sarcasm was clear in his voice.

Rabastan nodded as Bellatrix simultaneous smacked Regulus upside the head. "What on earth makes you think inhaling something muggles make could be good for you. I swear, Sirius rubbed off of you way too much, despite our best efforts."

"Regulus, how are you doing? I'm surprised to see you here," she said, smiling warmly at who she had heard was her favorite cousin. It was something Hermione hoped they could share, seeing as the potential for a relationship with Sirius was all but impossible as far as she knew.

Regulus kissed her cheek with a happy smile. "I'm doing well. Father requested that Dumbledore let me come home a day early so that I could attend the party. I had to do a bit of extra work ahead of time, but it is well worth it to see you. How are you feeling?"

"Decidedly unwell, but I am coping. Any girls catching your eye?" she asked, interested to hear his answer. She did not know much about Regulus, and she wanted to know more about how he came to be the first person to figure out what Voldemort was up to.

"None in particular," he said, giving a cocky smile that reminded her entirely too much of his brother.

She rolled her eyes while Bellatrix threaded her arm through his with a laugh.

"I believe, cousin, a woman will show up that will completely knock you off your broom. You will follow her around like a sad little puppy, begging to be led."

Hermione shrugged, throwing a look at Lucius before she bantered in return. "Oh, please, Bellatrix! Regulus is much too strong to be at his wife's beck and call. I think he will find a happy partnership with a deserving witch, just like both of our parents did.

Rabastan laughed, "Yes, well, it looks like he'll have to wait in line. There are more single men in the room than just him that don't have anything to do but twiddle their thumbs and wait for the right woman to become available for them." He made an obvious leer at Narcissa which caused several differing reactions. Regulus shifted uneasily, clearing his throat. Bellatrix giggled heartily. Rodolphus's eyes lit up as he finally decided to take interest in the conversation. And Lucius, his eyes grew quite stormy.

Hermione decided it was time to up the ante, so to speak. She had a part to play, after all. "Oh, Rabastan, don't worry! I have no doubt that the right woman will leap into your arms as soon as she is able. After all, you are a strong, virile man that I have heard has absolutely no issues with taking care of a woman the way she deserves. I'm sure women are lining up for you… those qualities are just impossible to find in a man nowadays."

She heard Lucius growl slightly and saw Rodolphus's looking positively amused, which seemed very uncharacteristic of him. She felt a hand slide around her, the large hand coming to cup her left arse cheek and squeeze. She turned to Lucius, outraged at the action to see the smirk in his eyes.

"Come now, love. Regulus will find his woman, eventually. At least you lucked out to be betrothed to me." Then, he wrapped his other hand around her neck and pulled her directly into him, pressing his lips furiously to hers.

Without even thinking what Narcissa would do, she tried to pull back in outrage, but he held fast. His lips moved insistently against hers, muffling her disapproving noises. After a moment, though, the fight left her. She started to realize just how good he felt. His chest was firm against hers, and his lips and tongue moved so expertly tickling her own as his hands gripped her neck and arse, holding her against him.

The room melted away as she felt herself start to respond. Her muffled protests disappeared as the hands that had been moving to push his chest away from hers instead went to grip his robe, clenching the fabric in her hands. She moved her tongue to touch his, feeling her body relax into the kiss, drunk as his mouth dominated hers. It was only after she released a rather long, lascivious moan that he pulled away, eyes burning into hers. Lust. She knew her eyes reflected the same thing.

A slow clap followed by quiet, chuckling laughter brought her back to reality. She blushed hotly, turning her attention to their spectators. Rodolphus was the one clapping and laughing, a show of emotion on his face that even seemed to surprise him. Bellatrix and Regulus had expressions of shock written on their faces, though Regulus seemed strangely approving somehow. Rabastan… he was glaring murderously at Lucius, wand hand twitching. She felt Lucius's hand slide from her neck, a finger coming to direct her chin back so she looked him in the eye again.

Lucius, for his part, hadn't even spared the others a glance, eyes still locked on her. "Let's go, Narcissa. If you aren't feeling well, we should get you home. I am sure I can find something to help you feel all better."

She could only nod stupidly, feeling him turn her and wrap an arm around her waist, leading her toward the exit. Her gaze was turned to the side to look at his smirking profile all the way. The room seemed a bit quieter than before, save for Rodolphus' laughter, which became a full belly laugh as they left. Not that she noticed.

Author's Note: A long chapter! I hope you enjoyed it. Rodolphus's characterization is in homage to Mr. Palmer from Sense and Sensibility (better by far than Pride and Prejudice, and that is a hill I am prepared to die on). Because of that, I absolutely envision Hugh Laurie when I am writing for him. It's fun.

Additionally, I am happy you all find Narcissa's take on Lucius and why their marriage became what it was believable. Yes, it's wrong of her to be how she is, but... hey, no one could ever consider her perfect.

A question that I decided I would answer: eventually, yes, Lucius will know who his wife was/is. It won't be for a long time, though. Writing is going well. I'm polishing up Chapter 25 and have it outlined all the way up to Draco receiving his Hogwarts letter. At some point, I will start referring to Hermione as Narcissa more and more. Roll with it when that happens. She IS becoming another person. Please drop a line! I love to hear from you all!