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“You better be on your best behavior.”
Narcissa Malfoy’s tone was light, but the expression she had on her face said otherwise. She was perched at her vanity, checking her immaculate appearance and picked up her pearl-crested hairbrush to run it through her blonde strands.
“Pardon?” Lucius Malfoy turned his head nearly around to look in her direction, doing a fairly bad impression of an owl.
“If you dare ruin this for me, I will divorce you, is that easier for you comprehend?” Narcissa bit out each word through clenched teeth. “Ruin what?” Her husband asked this with such genuine perplexity that she almost felt compelled to draw her wand on Lucius. Though her comment of divorce he either did not seem to catch, or he was selectively choosing to ignore.
“You know tonight that Ginevra’s family is joining us for dinner for the first time,” Narcissa said in rush before she placed her hairbrush back down firmly onto the marble vanity. “Her happiness is the only chance of us having grandchildren,” she stated before she rose from her seat. Lucius said placatingly, “Yes, my dear, but you can’t possibly expect me to be civil to that lumbering fool Arthur Weasley.”
“You will,” Narcissa demanded without room for argument, “Our son loves Ginevra and if everything goes all according to plan their wedding will be in a year from today.” She walked over to where he sat, her heels clicking on the tile floor with each step. It gave her a bit of satisfaction that his grey eyes had widened in surprise as she stood over him.
“No one would accuse you of being an affable host, Lucius,” Narcissa spoke with severity, “Yet tonight you must refrain any snide comment and you will be pleasant to all members of her family.” She did not give Lucius a chance to speak before she turned on her heel to march out of their chambers.
An hour later, the dining room of the Malfoy Manor was a lively affair. Seated beside her was her husband who quietly ate his dinner, and on her opposite side was Molly Weasley. The matriarch of the Weasley clan was in good spirits who chattered merrily to Narcissa and only occasionally stopped to admonish her twin sons who were drinking from a flask beneath the table.
Though she hardly registered what anyone else was doing seated around the grand table, as seated across from her was the couple that brought the most joy to her in the world.
Her son, Draco, was whispering into his fiancé Ginevra’s ear, and the redheaded girl giggled with a rosy flush on her face. Narcissa was so happy with their upcoming nuptials, and she smiled warmly at the mother of her future grandchildren. Ginevra Weasley made Draco the happiest that he had ever been, and that it is all that truly mattered to Narcissa.
She had observed over the last two years with growing excitement that her son had smiled more and laughed with abandon since his relationship with Ginevra began. The girl was smart, pretty, and pureblooded on top of all that. Truly things that every witch would want for her son. Though her sons feelings were paramount, the fertile Weasley lineage is what changed Narcissa’s indifference to be fully supportive of the young couple’s relationship.
Weasleys were well known for having many children in each generation. There were currently nine redheads sitting at the table for dinner, and just imagining in the future doubling that amount with Malfoy-Weasley brood made Narcissa feel so giddy. Her own pregnancy was so rough on her body that having Draco is all she could do. No other viable pregnancies before or since then.
The term ‘rainbow baby’ makes her want to weep, but observing her own rainbow baby become a man has been the greatest pleasure of her life. Draco looked so joyous as he grinned happily at Ginevra with his grey eyes sparkling, and Narcissa knew deep within the marrow of her bones that the future looked brighter because these two were happy together.
“Oh, they look so in love!” Molly gushed happily out loud, and Narcissa murmured her agreement. She lifted up her goblet of wine to her lips, but a fantastical idea made her stop short. Baby giggles filling these empty halls, small bare feet toddling around on the floor, and imaginary little squeals made Narcissa’s heart give a jolt.
The illusion in her mind cleared, and she took a small sip from her glass before placing it back down. Draco was saying something in a hushed voice as Ginevra listened in with a bemused expression on her face. There was steady hum of chatter around the room as Weasley’s conversed with each other, the common bickering of family members, and she watched keenly as her son held his fiancé hand beneath the table.
Family always came first in Narcissa’s mind. She could only hope that her son’s future family would grow and grow.
“What do you want your grandmother name to be?” Molly whispered softly into her ear, and Narcissa in turn dipped her head a little to murmur her answer, “Nanny Cisi.”
“Nanny Cisi sounds perfect!” Molly said in a hush tone before turning to talk to her husband seated on the opposite side.
It did sound perfect to Narcissa, and imagining Ginevra’s small frame growing with life sooner than wedding would not be bad thing she mused to herself.
Watching them beneath her lowered lashes, Draco captured Ginevra’s lips for a quick kiss that she smacked him on the arm for. Narcissa’s lips quirked in a smile as her heard her son begin to laugh. Lucius gave a soft sigh and he grumbled under his breath, “Our future grandchildren might have red hair.” She turned her head to look at the resigned expression on his face, and she quipped softly, “They could be blond, Grandad.”
“Grandad?” Lucius snorted and shook his head ruefully, “We both know that’s not going to happen, they will give us a hoard of redheaded freckled tots.” Narcissa reached out to squeeze his arm and she said with excitement while speaking in third person, “Nanny Cisi can’t wait.”