A/N: This story is part of the Dramione Rights and Wrongs series. This is a Lucissa story, with background Dramione. Please see "The Right Thing to Do" to start the series from the beginning.

No update schedule for this one. Should be 3 chapters long, and I will update as I can.

.

.

Narcissa Black learned how to glide from her mother. With a sleeping potted mandrake perched on her head, she moved through the rooms of Black Manor at six years old with a ferocious appetite for elegance. Druella would tell the elves to step in front of her or surprise her around corners, but by seven years old, Narcissa had learned to glide. "No, after you," she'd whisper to the elves, inclining her neck to a small bow. The potted plant would wobble and right itself, never disturbing the mandrake inside.

Her sister Andromeda taught her how to feel. When their eldest sister came home from Hogwarts after her first year, Andromeda and Narcissa watched in fascination as she practiced her spells, showing off all she'd learned. When Bellatrix turned her wand on the elf delivering their biscuits, Andromeda ordered her to leave the elf alone. After Bella stomped from the room pouting and calling them spoilsports, Andromeda pushed the golden hair over Narcissa's shoulder and said, "Who else would protect them if we don't?"

Bella taught her how to lie. On a rainy Sunday afternoon, Narcissa ran after her sister through the stalls of Knockturn Alley and into Borgin and Burkes, straight to the counter. Bellatrix pressed her face to the glass and showed her an onyx bracelet that was supposed to repel Mudbloods. She turned to Borgin and demanded that the bracelet be boxed. "My father, Cygnus Black, wants it. Said to put it on his account." After, as Narcissa eyed the bag swinging merrily from her sister's fingertips, she asked if father truly gave permission. Bella looked at her with her black eyes and sharp brows and said, "Who will he blame? His ten-year-old firstborn? Or the man who charged him two thousand Galleons without his signature?"

She learned strategy from her father. Cygnus Black III taught her chess at five, poker at five and a half, and haggling at the market at six. He told her, "Of course we can afford this necklace, Cissa. But what is it worth?" Once Andromeda's first year at Hogwarts came and Narcissa was left alone on the estate, her father would take her on every errand, every house call, and every back-room discussion. She watched her father work, how he would take control of every situation and bend the other person to his will. The summer before the Hogwarts Express chugged her toward her sisters, her father stopped bringing her with him. Narcissa cried to her mother, asking if she'd done something wrong. Druella took a deep breath, and replied, "You are a beautiful girl, Narcissa. Your body is developing faster than either of your sisters. Unfortunately, your father's friends take note of that sort of thing." Druella looked out the window as Narcissa stared at her feet, mind trying to grasp the concept. She looked up at her mother and said, "Then wouldn't it be strategic? To bring me along?" Druella remained silent, staring out the window, and didn't address it until a week later.

And from her husband…

Well. She was still trying to discern what lesson Lucius Malfoy was teaching her.

Narcissa Malfoy glided down the stone hall, following the guard as his boots clunked against the floor. He'd tried to talk to her already, tried to ask her about her day, about the weather. She'd responded politely, and smiled as he stumbled for words when she fluttered her lashes.

Lucius liked her hair up while in public, liked to see her long neck. He told her she looked delicious in anything, but she knew the waistline of her robes suited her, knew the color accentuated her eyes, and knew the perfume he had delivered to her last month hung off her skin like mist.

The guard wrenched a door open, and she stepped inside, thanking him with a smile. She found her husband, sitting on the edge of the metal table, body tilted away, reading the morning Prophet. As if he couldn't care less about her presence.

When she knew very well he had planned this moment – had situated himself just so.

The door closed.

"I hear there is a Narcissa Black that has taken over all of our accounts."

She stared at him flatly. His eyes raked her form, and then looked away without comment.

"And which of your informants told you that?" she asked, her tone light.

He closed the paper, making sure to fold it and lay it down so she could clearly see their son and Miss Granger making eyes at each other in front of Cornerstone books. He tilted his head at her.

"Anything interesting in the paper? I must admit, I haven't had a moment to read my copy."

She crossed to the metal chair, dragging it out with a jarring metal hum. She made a show of removing her gloves, sliding her bag off her arm, and folding herself neatly into the chair.

They stared at each other.

"Well. You've certainly caught my attention." He lifted a brow, staring down on her. She tilted her neck and his eyes darted to her skin before coming back to her. "Now, what is it you want?"

She crossed her legs, drawing his eyes, and said, "Where's the fun in that. Not in the mood for playing with your food this morning, darling?"

"I'm hoping to finish this argument with fifteen minutes to spare," he said, eyes darkening.

"Fifteen minutes?" She grinned. "Heavens, is that all you need?"

"I only need nine, but I remember that you need seven and a half."

She held his eyes with a smirk, watching a storm brew, and she mentally closed all doorways that would lead to arousal. A shiver started at her shoulders, and she stopped it before it reached her elbows.

He stood, walking around the metal table to his chair, like he was in his office about to negotiate.

"You support this?" he asked, gesturing to the picture of Miss Granger beaming at her son.

"I do."

He scoffed. "Of course you do."

She pushed a stray hair over her ear. "And you will as well. You will not interfere, Lucius." He gazed at her, eyes calculating. "Or I will end this marriage. Publicly."

He blinked slowly, giving no ground. "It seems like you already have, Ms. Black."

"You know I can do much worse."

Frowning, he turned from the table, as if gazing out a window. He tucked his hands behind his back, his grey Azkaban robes pulling across his shoulders.

"She's dangerous," he said. She lifted a brow and waited for him to continue. "She paid him no interest before the discussion of his inheritance began. And suddenly she's simpering in the streets of Diagon Alley like a lovesick puppy—"

"I've looked into her parents," Narcissa cut in. "They are a variation of Muggle Healers. They are highly wealthy and well-regarded in their chosen fields."

"Then perhaps it's the status she wants." His eyes cast down to her picture, wind blowing her curls around her and his son like a sandstorm. "She's been climbing a ladder of blood purity and social status all her life. Potter. Krum. Even Tiberius McLaggen's nephew."

"I assure you she's nothing of the sort." Narcissa paused, and then in a lower voice: "She spoke at his trial."

"Yes, I know."

"She cares for him. I can see it."

Lucius rubbed his hand down his jaw, watching his son stare with moony eyes at the Muggle-born girl he'd been orbiting for years. "Forgive me when I say I don't believe it."

"Not at all, dear," Narcissa lilted. "I've been a poor judge of character before."

She watched it land on him. His teeth ground together and he swallowed. He moved away, walking toward the back wall.

"I want to meet her."

"Meet her?" Narcissa blinked.

"At the November visitation."

She pursed her lips. "You meet her and then…? You won't stand in the way? You'll release the inheritance to him?"

Lucius sighed, eyes roving across the cracks in the stone walls.

"You must insist on marriage," he said. "You mustn't let them run off without that rock on her finger."

She studied him, feeling her pulse run away with her. Twirling the diamond around her finger, she quirked a brow. "You can't honestly be afraid of illegitimate heirs."

"I'm not. I'm afraid she'll break him into pieces and leave nothing left."

Narcissa glanced up at her husband, and found him watching the picture dance on the page. She'd seen it herself, of course. Their son's concentrated gaze. Like he'd found the sun after years of searching.

"I'll do my best," she whispered.

He looked at her, taking in her slender neck and the soft waves around her face. His eyes flickered, that soft fire that sent her reeling decades ago.

She stood. The chair clattered back.

"I must be off. Plenty to do." Her hands folded, her skirt smoothed, and her pulse tempered. "I'll schedule her for November. I'll see you in December for Christmas."

She moved to the door, knocking for the guard.

"I miss you." Murmured from across the empty room.

He stared at her, eyes begging for something she couldn't bear to give.

"I'm sure you do." A smile played at the corner of her mouth as the door opened. She caught the beginnings of his matching one before disappearing down the hall.

"Oh, Cissy! I have so much to tell you!"

Bella flopped onto her bed, knocking Narcissa's stuffed hippogriff to the ground. Narcissa pouted and grabbed Hermes from the floor, smoothing out his wings.

Andromeda and Bellatrix had been home for three hours. Mother and Father had brought her along to collect them from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, taken all three girls to afternoon tea, and then retired back to Sable Hall for the evening.

Bella loved to tell Narcissa about all of her adventures at school, but now that Narcissa was mere months away from experiencing it first-hand, she was slightly bored with the conversation.

"You told me at dinner," she said, straightening her pillows from where Bella had flopped.

"But not everything." Bella grinned at her sister mischievously. "Not the most important thing."

Narcissa's eyes slid to her sister, waiting.

Bella frowned and stretched her legs out. "Maybe I shouldn't say…"

Narcissa was still for a moment before she pounced, laughing, jumping onto Bella's stomach and tickling the information out of her. Bella grinned up at the ceiling, breathless, when she pulled away. "I am betrothed."

Narcissa stared, twisting up to hover and look down on her. Bella shrugged, still smiling.

Betrothed meant married. Betrothed meant leaving Sable Hall and living elsewhere. With a boy.

"How?" Narcissa's voice cracked. "You're only fifteen."

Bella rolled her eyes. "That's late, Cissa. Mother was married to father by this age!"

"Why didn't…" Narcissa swallowed. "Why didn't we talk about this at dinner?"

"It's all getting settled. But father wrote to me last month. Told me to keep it quiet until an offer has been made."

Narcissa felt herself spinning. The day she got her sisters back… the day she would never have to be parted from them again until they all left Hogwarts… that day would be the day she lost one of them.

Bella caught sight of her face. "Oh, darling!" She curled in on Narcissa, her spindly arms wrapping tight like a spider. "You know what this means? During the summer, you don't have to come back here. You can come stay with me and my husband!"

Husband.

Narcissa's lip trembled as she burrowed into Bella's shoulder. "Do you love him?"

A pause, and then a laugh. "Oh, Merlin, no! I don't even know him! But there will be plenty of time for that! He's only thirteen. I'd never even spoken to him before father wrote."

"What if he's cruel to you?"

"Then I'll be cruel right back."

"Why would father do this?" Tears fell down her cheeks. She wanted to hold Hermes and cry for hours.

Bella turned to her, brushing her tears away. "Because it's good business, Cissy. You know that." A smile grew on her lips. "I'm the oldest Black, and he's heir to the richest, purest wizarding family Britain has ever known."

Narcissa hiccuped, hoping one day she'd be able to marry for love instead. Bella threw her arms out across the bed, like she was ready to embrace her future.

"Bellatrix Malfoy has quite a ring to it, don't you think?"

.

.

A/N Find me on Tumblr, Twitter, and Pinterest under LovesBitca8.