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“Flattery, cheekbones, and charm… truly, you are unstoppable,” Narcissa replied with a soft chuckle as she shifted on her feet, a hand instinctively brushing over her stomach. "Thank you. That means a lot. If this child ends up with even half the grace you show in social manoeuvring, he’ll be leagues ahead before he’s even out of diapers." She nodded. “Lucius is… walking a tightrope between panic and performance I think. He keeps a dignified air when others are around, but he's also increasingly unwilling to let me out of his sight in case something happens." She offered a faint, genuine smile then “I’d be delighted if you stopped by. And yes, do bring Leta if she also has the time — it’s been far too long, and the company is always welcome. I imagine you both have plenty stories I’d enjoy hearing.”

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Florence Pugh for Valentino Beauty (2024)

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Narcissa squeezed his hand tightly, her knuckles white, her breath shallow as another contraction gripped her. Her eyes, shimmering with pain and determination, found his. "Don't say it like that—like it's easy," she breathed, her voice trembling but fierce. "You try carrying your son for nine months and then talk about 'soon.'"

But even through the strain, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Her grip loosened slightly, and she let her head fall back against the pillow, eyes fluttering closed for a moment. "I'm just—tired," she whispered. "But I know. I feel it."

Then, turning her head again to look at Lucius, her expression softened. “Just don’t let go. Not until he’s here.”

where: the malfoy manor who: @nvrcissasm when: 6th of june, 1980 - 06:00

“Get her whatever she needs!” Lucius commanded sharply, his eyes never leaving Narcissa as the nurses moved swiftly around the room, tending to her through the relentless waves of labour. Her water had broken two hours ago, and now the long, agonizing wait had begun.

He settled at the edge of the bed, reaching out to take her hand gently, their fingers intertwining. His voice softened, steady and filled with quiet reassurance. “Soon, love. He’ll be here before you know it.”

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"She truly has." Narcissa replied with a genuine smile. Even being incredibly pregnant and uncomfortable for the majority of the day, it was impossible for her to not be happy for her friend on this day. "They both have." She added with a small nod. With everything else, the Selwyn's deserved to celebrate a true moment of happiness.

Head inclining as he leaned in, she hummed. "If you could hold your son for even a moment, I'd be inclined to stay longer. But I think now would be a good time to start saying our goodbyes while I can still feel my toes."

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“Flattery, cheekbones, and charm… truly, you are unstoppable,” Narcissa replied with a soft chuckle as she shifted on her feet, a hand instinctively brushing over her stomach. "Thank you. That means a lot. If this child ends up with even half the grace you show in social manoeuvring, he’ll be leagues ahead before he’s even out of diapers." She nodded. “Lucius is… walking a tightrope between panic and performance I think. He keeps a dignified air when others are around, but he's also increasingly unwilling to let me out of his sight in case something happens." She offered a faint, genuine smile then “I’d be delighted if you stopped by. And yes, do bring Leta if she also has the time — it’s been far too long, and the company is always welcome. I imagine you both have plenty stories I’d enjoy hearing.”

"Between the sharp cheekbones and the ever flowing flattery, I might get a boost ahead in life." He joked, letting out a gingerly laugh. Evan was used to taking compliments and making the most of them, quite dexterous in social exchanges and gaining the best he could out of it. "I'm certain he will prove his worth in no time, my dear, a son of yours could only be brilliant." Evan told his cousing with honest belief, he cared deeply for his family and was glad to see his cousins bringing in new members to their bloodline. "How's Lucius handling fatherhood so far? Freaking out or already past that stage?" The wizard wondered as he hadn't been around all that much, a debt he would pay soon enough. "I'll stop by for tea sometime this week, if that's alright by you. Perhaps I could bring Leta around too, I'm sure she's been looking forward to seeing you as well."

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A soft smile touched Narcissa’s lips, the kind that suggested both amusement and a well-guarded pride. “You’re too kind, Rita,” she said smoothly, though the slight tilt of her chin hinted that she fully accepted the compliment. She sipped her tea. “Emma and Sethos certainly did go all out yes, but I suppose that's part of living your life in the limelight. It was still an incredible day.” She nodded

Narcissa's expression remained composed. “Of course they are,” she said coolly, her voice silk over steel. “Scandal sells far better than truth. And those unwilling to form their own convictions are always eager to be told what to think—especially when it’s written in glittering ink on glossy parchment.”

Rita had no doubt that the wedding taking the top spot for the year would be Agatha’s. There was something about her friend and her incredible standards that would make it harder and harder for others to have a chance to compete. “Well, yours certainly set the bar high last year. Not to mention Emma and Sethos. Then again, they did go a bit too far out, didn’t they? Quidditch players with certain requirements and expectations in the public eye. I think yours would have to be my favorite. For last year!” It was a compliment, one rarely given by the blonde yet with the witch in front of her the witch saw no issues giving out freely.

“And right you are.” Rita nodded, the words resonating with her. “Plenty of the daily issues are filled with those things. Even Witch Weekly is struggling to remain away from the current topics floating around out there.” The gleam in the journalist’s eye said more than any words could. If there was a chance to be dragging lower beings through the mud to sway to opinions of those unsure where to stand, she was more than happy to draw a circle precisely where they were meant to stand. - @nvrcissasm

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Color Palette Challenge #72 - Lucius x Narcissa

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Narcissa had always had a lot of time for Amycus - for both of the Carrow twins in fact. Having known him and considered him a friend as long as she had, he was one of the few people she had no objection to simply showing up unannounced. Arching her brow, her lips curved upwards slightly in amusement. "Forever plotting and planning as though the world is your personal chessboard. You're lucky that I think fondly of you, else you would have been about turned in an instant." She replied with a small chuckle. Accepting the box delicately, she turned it over in her pale hands with practiced grace as she listened to Amycus. At the first glimmer of light escaping from within, her expression softened as she glanced up to see the constellations taking form. "What an incredibly thoughtful gift" A pause, then a whisper of a smirk. "Safe for Kneazles even? Look at you covering your bases. Though, if Lucius heard you suggesting that I might bring something with claws on to the grounds, he'd have a few choice words for you. And likely a hex or two." With a small chuckle, she closed the box again. "...Still," she added, voice softer now, "it's truly lovely. Thank you. It'll be a wonderful addition to my son's room. And a perfect way to teach him about how his family on my side are named."

Making her way though to the lounge, Narcissa silently indicated for the elves to be bring refreshments as she took a seat on one of the sofa's. "I've been as well as can be expected when you're housing another small person inside you." She replied with a small chuckle. And that was before she considered everything else that was going on outside of being pregnant. "What about yourself? Keeping busy as always?"

Narcissa Malfoy was one of the few who could bring a smile to the wizard’s face, always laced with that hint of mischief as though he was planning something. And he was. Planning things whenever the tiniest possibility reared its head, Amycus Carrow was there to grasp it. “But what fun would a surprise be if it had been announced ahead of time, dear Cissa? That would spoil the whole thing.” He reached into his pocket, to pull out a small box. “And I come bearing gifts. A creation of my own and, I made sure of that, safe for any child, elf or kneazle if that is something you are looking to have one day. Given your husbands penchant for the feathery kind, I don’t think the latter will be an option.” The little light inside the box was certainly one of his finger creations, casting stars and constellations alike around any room it was placed in. Leave it to the alchemist to create or find a glowing substance.

The wizard followed the other, humming as he went along. Malfoy manor had its charm, something Amycus couldn’t deny and with Narcissa perhaps an inkling of warmth plenty of other manors lacked. “How have you been?” - @nvrcissasm

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"It does. Don't get me wrong, I am very much ready to not be pregnant and like the side of a house, but there's also a part of me that wants to hold on to this part for as long as I can." She admitted with a small nod. "Thank you dear, that means a lot coming from you. Speaking of the two of us though, I should probably go find Lucius before he starts panicking that I've been out of his sight for too long. It was really good to see you though, we should have a catch up sometime soon."

"That's crazy. Time goes by so fast." She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that in a couple of months that would be her. Narcissa was still graceful in pregnancy, the dress she was wearing complimenting her baby bump in a flattering way. "I am sure you two will make great parents."

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Narcissa's eyes sparkled with fond amusement as she shook her head. "Forever a flair for dramatics cousin. I'm sure the sharp cheekbones will carry you far in time to come," she replied smoothly, though her smile gave away the affection beneath her words. "You've always been a good friend - and a better cousin. I've no doubt about that, no matter what you've heard. But perhaps it's best to believe only half of what you're told, and make sure the other half flatters you outrageously." She offered with a small chuckle. She had always had a lot of time for Evan and valued any time that they had the chance to spend together. "I'm sure that he'd be happy to know that he has an uncle who already sees his worth, even before he's had the chance to demonstrate it." Then, with a rare softness, she added, "Well, you are always welcome m'dear. You know that."

Laughter flowed easily from his lips, shrugging his shoulders but smiling widely. "No one can deny I look incredibly good in the pictures, it's the sharp cheekbones I've been told." He said teasingly. "I like to believe I'm a good friend, though, I've been told that as well. Think I should believe everything I hear?" Evan wondered, his tone playful, definitely enjoying the company of his younger cousin. He'd always adored Narcissa, their conversations throughout the years ever fun, he always consulted with her when he needed to purchase an object etched with dark magic, she was quite talented. "He might have the Malfoy surname, which gives him all sort of benefits genetically and social wise. But he's going to be a Black as well, that makes me proud of him without needing to know him either." The wizard offered confidently, eager to meet all the children joining their family soon, the future looking bright for all of them. "Busy is good, but never too busy to visit you, darling."

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talk less.

          smile more.

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Narcissa's lips curled in a to a faint smile as she regarded her friend. "I suppose with having the pair of them, you've got a good chance of you both having one that takes after you more than the other. But you never know, it could end with them both having a healthy mix of both."

She hummed in amusement at Alecto's words about their upbringing. A joke as it may be, it also wasn't all that far from the truth either. "Oh I'm sure if our parents would have thought about it, they'd have had it in there without a question." She shook her head lightly.

"I was thinking more of a swift kick in the ribs in the middle of the night ought to do it." She chuckled, "I'm sure you must remember all to well how that feels from tiny feet when you least expect it. Though a curse would also work if it came to it."

Taking a sip from her tea, Narcissa shook her head once more. "Now now. Just you focus on your own children's training and leave my son's to me."

Alecto gave a short, amused laugh, her arms folding loosely over her chest. “Honestly, I’d be more surprised if they didn’t take after me. Though Rabastan’s hoping for at least one quiet one.” It was already evident that Asteria held some of her fathers traits.

She tilted her head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “We might as well have all been handed the Pureblood Handbook in our cribs." It was said in jest, but at a young age, she stood firmly behind her upbringing.

At the mention of Lucius, her expression softened just enough to show shared understanding. “He’ll manage. And if he doesn’t, a well-placed curse tends to help realign priorities. You’ve done the hard part, he can lose some sleep for the heir.”

She gave a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “As for the war comment, please. I’m not that cruel. I’ll wait until he can at least walk before I start training him.”

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Narcissa stood a few paces behind, her hand resting gently on her swollen abdomen, the quiet weight of the child growing within her somehow grounding her in a way that her sister’s fury and focused intensity could not. Her gaze followed Bellatrix’s every movement, the way her sister’s eyes sharpened with each passing second, as if the entire world was an obstacle to be dissected and understood. Narcissa didn’t have the same sharpness these days, not since she found out she was to have a son. She found herself more... aware of things, of her own body, of the world around her. It was like the world itself was softer, rounder, inescapable, but strangely comforting.

"Bellatrix," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind, "you can’t be so reckless." The words had come out automatically, but as soon as they did, Narcissa regretted them. Her sister was not one to be restrained by common sense, nor by her own well-being. And she knew that with her shields, the brunette couldn't truly come to any harm. But still, the growing unease in Narcissa's stomach twisted painfully as she saw her sister kneeling so close to the cliff’s edge.

"I can’t imagine Regulus would be here either," she continued, stepping cautiously closer. There was no hiding the softness in her voice now. "But… if it is true, and that he had been seen here. He must have had his reasons."

She watched her sister cast another spell, her brow furrowed, lips tight, searching for some elusive trace of magic. Narcissa felt the quiet pull of disappointment herself as the spells revealed nothing. Her mind wandered for a moment—Regulus. The thought of him left a hollow ache in her chest. It was like he was disappearing further with every passing moment.

But then Bellatrix turned toward her, her words light but with that bitter edge Narcissa knew so well. "A broom?" Narcissa raised a brow. "Bella, if you must go down there, I’ll go with you." Just then, her son shifted slightly beneath her touch. A small, private reminder that she had more than just herself to consider. For the first time in forever, she found herself wishing that she could feel a little of Bellatrix's relentless drive to solve the mysteries they faced. But no, right now, Narcissa needed to protect more than just the name Black. She needed to protect this new life inside her.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and her expression softened as she shook her head. "Just… if you think going down there will help, please be careful. The last thing I need is to explain to our parents is why I've returned home alone."

The sisters walked together, fingers entwined into a stoic grip. Blacks did not wear their hearts on their sleeves. Bellatrix was perhaps an anomaly, her passions blazing for all to see. But when it came to propriety, she knew the correct way and would never expose her own weaknesses. It was only in their joined touch that they could feel the press of familial connection, unbreakable and fierce. She'd heard whispers that Regulus had fled like a rat. She refused to believe it. He was a Black too, and the heir to the name. He was not Sirius. But he knew his duty and he was determined to succeed.

"That could be arranged," she said wryly, injecting a little poorly placed humour into the proceedings. Truthfully, she had no desire to cause the inhabitants harm. They'd done nothing aside from choose to reside in remarkably tedious surroundings. It wasn't their fault that the Black children had dispersed and turned traitorous. Still, despite that acknowledgement, the thought of Andromeda and Sirius getting away with their betrayal scot-free made her pulse darkly thud just a touch harder, a thick-set frown settling over her brow like a heavy cloud. She could surely muster enough rage to set any place aflame, let alone the one that was causing bitter memories to resurface like the century's worst joke. She certainly wasn't laughing.

Pausing with Narcissa metres from the cliff edge, she stood for a moment, loose strands of hair whirling around her face like a deadly shroud. Then she fastened it with a twitch of her wand, another swirl casting a shield at the precipice while her tresses coiled themselves into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. She'd have no accidents while they were there, no crumbling rock or sliding grass or Merlin knew what else.

"He said that Regulus had been seen here, and that the Auror Department would investigate." Shaking her head, she turned to Narcissa almost exasperatedly. "Cissy, I simply do not know why he'd want to come here. I don't recall him particularly enjoying himself on that trip. If I remember correctly, he was rather tired of Sirius's antics." The words had left before she could stem them, though she batted no eyelid and simply steeled her lips into a grim line, ever intending to forget her other wretched cousin existed. "Severus also said he'd been talking about a cave," she added, mostly to move on from the prior topic. "But there is no such thing here. Only a sheer drop and jagged rocks."

With that, she began her own examination, casting spell after spell along the length of the surroundings in an attempt to locate magical meddling. It revealed absolutely nothing. Though she'd had hardly any hope in the first place, she still felt her aspiration plummet as quickly as a stone tossed over the edge would surely fall. She moved towards it, kneeling on the grass and peering over with the type of utterly reckless abandon that would have given their mother heart failure. She didn't care. Her charm was there to stop her falling, after all. Squinting against the wind, she could see nothing but grey rock and hurtling waves. She supposed there might be something hidden down there, but she highly doubted it. A few more spells cast downwards came up with zero, fingers gripped around her wand with far more care for that than for her own life. If she lost that precious weapon she may as well be dead, too. It was part of her.

Giving up, she looked at Cissy over her shoulder- "Should've brought a broom. I'll borrow one tomorrow if the wind calms and fly down there myself."

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don’t let them know what you’re against 

            or what you’re for