zennywrites

[zennywrites]

Cygnus x Druella

[zennywrites]

im starting a new job soon! so excited but also so nervous 🙃

[zennywrites]

Hi, happy birthday🥳🎂

Hiiii, thank youuuu

[zennywrites]

So I just kind of love girl dad Cygnus. Like Cygnus being dragged to shops to pay for a million pairs of shoes. And he doesn't care so he's just like "Take my money if that makes you shut up."

And he doesn't know what half of the things his daughters want are, like I can imagine Narcissa asking if he can pay for this new lipgloss she saw on a magazine (it's supposed to last for 24 hours and it makes your lips really shiny) and he's just like "I have no clue what you're even saying right now but here's twenty galleons for you."

[zennywrites]

a picnic for two (and maybe a few ants)

ship: cygnus black x druella black.

tags / warnings: summer/spring; romance; couple; cygnus x druella; ants; marmalade; picnic.

word count: 506

the sun was out. not just “out” in the weak, half-hearted way it often was in england— but fully, properly shining. it spilled through the leaves of a towering beech tree like a gentle enchantment, casting golden patterns on the soft green grass. somewhere nearby, a lazy bumblebee buzzed, wholly indifferent to the wizarding couple lounging in its domain.

druella black — formerly druella rosier, now proudly a black — sat perched on a soft tartan blanket, sleeves rolled up and legs tucked beneath her. she held a pear in one hand and her wand in the other, using a lazy flick to shoo away a persistent group of ants from the edge of the cheese plate.

“they do say nature is healing,” she said with mock solemnity. “apparently it means an ant uprising.”

cygnus black, her husband of precisely six weeks and three days, grinned as he handed her a chilled bottle of elderflower cordial — conjured with unnecessary flair, of course.

“i bribed those ants. they're here to impress you. they've been trained to spell out ‘i love you’ in crumbs, but it’s a work in progress.”

druella raised an eyebrow. “if they can do that, i may have married the wrong wizard.”

“oi!”

she laughed, a sound so light it nearly startled a nearby robin. druella had always seemed composed, even regal, but ever since the wedding, cygnus had discovered her smile came easily—especially when he teased her, or tripped on his own shoes, or brought her tea without being asked.

today, they were in a hidden clearing behind the black family’s lesser-used summer estate in wiltshire. he’d chosen it because it was far from any house-elf, meddling cousin, or matriarch with unsolicited opinions about how soon they ought to be producing heirs.

(“let us at least finish our sandwiches,” cygnus had muttered last week at dinner, when his mother’s hints had turned to outright mentions of baby names.)

“did you ever imagine this is what marriage would be like?” druella asked, nibbling at a strawberry. “sunlight, sandwiches, and ants?”

“i imagined more doom. maybe one dramatic duel. definitely a little screaming.” he leaned back on his elbows. “but this… i’m not complaining.”

she smirked. “you like me, black.”

“tragically.”

she leaned over and kissed his temple. “i like you, too.”

for a moment, the world was still. the sun warmed their faces, the wind rustled the leaves gently, and a crumbled biscuit remained untouched on the edge of the blanket, as if offering a truce to the ants.

then —

“cygnus,” druella said carefully, “did you pack an entire jar of marmalade with no bread?”

he blinked. “i thought you liked marmalade.”

“i do. on toast.”

“i thought we’d do… spoon marmalade? marmalade… shots?”

she laughed again, helpless this time. “you are such a ridiculous man.”

“i am your ridiculous man.”

and as she tackled him into the grass with a kiss and a half-hearted scolding about jam etiquette, cygnus decided there was nothing more splendidly magical than being married to someone who would picnic with him, marmalade and all.

© zennywrites

[zennywrites]

a day without mummy

ship: druella x cygnus black + bellatrix, andromeda, & narcissa black

tags / warnings: cute; fluff; healthy relationships; toddler tantrums.

word count: 871

it started as soon as the front door shut.

druella black, elegant and composed, had kissed each of her daughters on the forehead and announced she was going shopping with grandmama rosier for the entire day.

“you’ll be just fine with papa,” she said, smiling sweetly. “i’ll be back before dinner.”

“promise?” andromeda whispered, clutching the hem of her mother's cloak like a baby duck.

“i solemnly swear,” druella replied, kissing the top of her head.

cygnus had smiled confidently, baby narcissa in one arm, already picturing a relaxed day of toys, snacks, and perhaps—even—naps.

he was a fool.

hour one

“mummy’s gone,” bellatrix announced, standing atop the toy box, arms crossed. “this house is doomed.”

“she said she’d be back before dinnertime,” cygnus reminded them, balancing narcissa on his hip.

“wot if she forgets?” andromeda asked in a small, quivering voice.

“why would she forget her entire family?”

andromeda blinked at him. “you forgot me at the park two times.”

“that was once, and it was three minutes, and i came back!”

narcissa, who had been silent, suddenly let out a wail so deep and tragic it echoed down the corridor.

cygnus sighed and sat on the floor. “alright. emergency cuddles.”

hour three

bellatrix had drawn a chalk pentagram on the drawing room rug.

“it’s for summoning mummy,” she explained matter-of-factly. “but gently. no demons this time.”

cygnus blinked. “this time?!”

“i haf references,” bellatrix said, holding up a crayon drawing of a stick-figure version of druella with the words “pleese come home we r sad” scrawled across it.

meanwhile, andromeda was making a list of every meal druella had ever cooked for them and dramatically crossing out each one.

“we haf nuffink to eat,” she declared, despite being surrounded by fruit, biscuits, and a full bowl of soup.

“you’re literally holding a sandwich,” cygnus muttered.

“it’s not cut in triangles!” she sobbed.

narcissa, wrapped in a blanket like a tiny haunted burrito, just stared blankly at the fireplace. “mummy,” she whispered to it. “come back. i am fadin’.”

hour five

cygnus had tried everything.

a puppet show (bellatrix bit the puppet). storytime (andromeda cried because the mum in the story was also gone). snack time (narcissa licked a spoon, declared it “not mum-flavored,” and gave up). nap time (no one napped; instead, narcissa stood up in her crib and gave an emotional soliloquy about betrayal).

they all ended up in the same armchair, piled on cygnus like puppies, sighing dramatically every three to five minutes.

“mummy always puts the blanket on nicer,” andromeda sniffled.

“mummy does da voices better,” bellatrix grumbled.

“mummy is soft and smelly,” narcissa whispered. “no offense, papa.”

“none taken,” cygnus sighed.

hour seven and a half

the house was silent.

too silent.

cygnus, nearly asleep upright, suddenly heard a distant click.

the front door.

three small heads snapped up.

“mummy???”

druella had barely stepped inside when she was met by a stampede—bellatrix launched herself at her like a cannonball, andromeda clung to her waist with both arms, and narcissa sobbed loudly and flopped onto her feet like a fainting goat.

“oh dear,” druella laughed, staggering slightly under the weight of her children. “did you miss me?”

“i thought you died!” andromeda wailed.

bellatrix was kissing her elbow. “i almost had to take command!”

narcissa simply looked up at her with wide, tearful eyes and whispered, “you smell like perfume an’ bread crumbs. i love you.”

cygnus shuffled into the hallway looking like he’d aged a decade.

“she was gone for eight hours,” he said faintly.

druella smirked. “darling, i warned you.”

“next time,” he croaked, “take me with you. or take them. but not like this.”

she laughed and kissed him on the cheek. “you did wonderfully.”

he gestured at bellatrix, who had begun crying again because druella’s shoes were "too shiny" and she “wasn’t ready for change.”

“oh yes,” he muttered. “wonderfully.”

that night, with all three girls piled into bed, wrapped around their mother like sleepy vines, druella whispered stories while cygnus watched from the doorway, sipping tea and trying to feel his legs again.

he wouldn’t admit it out loud—but even through the chaos, the crying, the chalk circles, and the soup tantrums…

…they really, really loved their mum.

and so did he.

© zennywrites

[zennywrites]

the princess and the pea purée

ship: druella x cygnus black + narcissa black

tags / warnings: cute; fluff; healthy relationships; narcissa being a little cheeky brat

word count: 479

narcissa black was six months old and already terrifying.

not in the way her elder sisters would eventually be—bellatrix with her dramatics and andromeda with her too-smart eyes—but in the quietly imperial way only a baby named narcissa could be.

she had big blue eyes that blinked at you in judgment and a habit of making high-pitched noises until her parents bowed to her every whim. she also had a shocking ability to hurl mashed peas with precision.

which is exactly what she did on a rainy tuesday morning.

cygnus entered the nursery with a fresh bottle and a hopeful heart. he’d even warmed it to “just slightly warmer than her majesty’s wrist.” he had read a scroll about optimal baby-feeding temperatures and was feeling rather proud of himself.

“good morning, darling —”

splot.

green pea puree smacked directly against his shirt collar.

narcissa blinked slowly at him from her perch in a highchair charmed to levitate to a “dignified height.” her bib said “little lady of the manor” in gold-stitched script. her mouth was a perfect rosebud pout.

cygnus looked down at his shirt.

“dru,” he called, voice calm but strained, “your daughter has declared war.”

from the hallway, druella called back, “your daughter wanted the gold spoon and you gave her the silver one, didn’t you?”

cygnus blinked.

“she — what?! she's six months old! she doesn't know the difference!”

“she feels the difference,” druella said, sweeping into the room like a queen in silk slippers, brushing her hair into a loose braid as she walked. “she's very sensitive.”

“she has demolished her oatmeal.”

“she has standards.”

cygnus groaned and held up the dripping spoon. “this is how it begins. today it's silverware. tomorrow it's disowning cousins for not color-coordinating their robes.”

“i mean,” druella murmured with a smirk, “depending on the cousin…”

he looked at her.

she looked at him.

narcissa let out a high, imperious squeal that clearly translated to: where is my breakfast, you peasants?

cygnus sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and — taking the gold spoon this time — offered her a tiny, cautious mouthful of pear purée.

narcissa blinked once. then, magnanimously, she opened her mouth.

“oh thank merlin,” he breathed.

“she accepts your tribute,” druella said solemnly, watching their daughter chew with a perfectly satisfied expression.

“you know,” cygnus murmured, brushing a streak of green from his cheek and leaning over to kiss druella’s temple, “i always thought i’d be the scary one.”

druella chuckled. “no, love. you’re just the handsome one.”

from her highchair, narcissa clapped once — regal, approving, like a tiny monarch watching her court perform appropriately.

“she really is your daughter,” cygnus muttered.

“obviously. she has exquisite taste.”

they both laughed, leaning into each other, as narcissa settled back with a smug little gurgle, clearly very pleased with how breakfast had gone once her terms were met.

and so the morning passed: a bit messy, a bit silly, but warm and whole and absolutely theirs.

© zennywrites

[zennywrites]

a picnic for two (and maybe a few ants)

ship: cygnus black x druella black.

tags / warnings: summer/spring; romance; couple; cygnus x druella; ants; marmalade; picnic.

word count: 506

the sun was out. not just “out” in the weak, half-hearted way it often was in england— but fully, properly shining. it spilled through the leaves of a towering beech tree like a gentle enchantment, casting golden patterns on the soft green grass. somewhere nearby, a lazy bumblebee buzzed, wholly indifferent to the wizarding couple lounging in its domain.

druella black — formerly druella rosier, now proudly a black — sat perched on a soft tartan blanket, sleeves rolled up and legs tucked beneath her. she held a pear in one hand and her wand in the other, using a lazy flick to shoo away a persistent group of ants from the edge of the cheese plate.

“they do say nature is healing,” she said with mock solemnity. “apparently it means an ant uprising.”

cygnus black, her husband of precisely six weeks and three days, grinned as he handed her a chilled bottle of elderflower cordial — conjured with unnecessary flair, of course.

“i bribed those ants. they're here to impress you. they've been trained to spell out ‘i love you’ in crumbs, but it’s a work in progress.”

druella raised an eyebrow. “if they can do that, i may have married the wrong wizard.”

“oi!”

she laughed, a sound so light it nearly startled a nearby robin. druella had always seemed composed, even regal, but ever since the wedding, cygnus had discovered her smile came easily—especially when he teased her, or tripped on his own shoes, or brought her tea without being asked.

today, they were in a hidden clearing behind the black family’s lesser-used summer estate in wiltshire. he’d chosen it because it was far from any house-elf, meddling cousin, or matriarch with unsolicited opinions about how soon they ought to be producing heirs.

(“let us at least finish our sandwiches,” cygnus had muttered last week at dinner, when his mother’s hints had turned to outright mentions of baby names.)

“did you ever imagine this is what marriage would be like?” druella asked, nibbling at a strawberry. “sunlight, sandwiches, and ants?”

“i imagined more doom. maybe one dramatic duel. definitely a little screaming.” he leaned back on his elbows. “but this… i’m not complaining.”

she smirked. “you like me, black.”

“tragically.”

she leaned over and kissed his temple. “i like you, too.”

for a moment, the world was still. the sun warmed their faces, the wind rustled the leaves gently, and a crumbled biscuit remained untouched on the edge of the blanket, as if offering a truce to the ants.

then —

“cygnus,” druella said carefully, “did you pack an entire jar of marmalade with no bread?”

he blinked. “i thought you liked marmalade.”

“i do. on toast.”

“i thought we’d do… spoon marmalade? marmalade… shots?”

she laughed again, helpless this time. “you are such a ridiculous man.”

“i am your ridiculous man.”

and as she tackled him into the grass with a kiss and a half-hearted scolding about jam etiquette, cygnus decided there was nothing more splendidly magical than being married to someone who would picnic with him, marmalade and all.

© zennywrites

[zennywrites]

adding to this for my own consumption bc why tf not?!

ballerina!druella x architect!cygnus:

cygnus was dragged to a ballet gala by a client, completely uninterested — until druella stepped onto the stage. she danced giselle and he was absolutely transfixed. he didn’t even clap when it ended — too busy sketching her silhouette on the back of a cocktail napkin.

she’s elegance and fire, precise and passionate — while he’s composed, methodical, and quietly intense. but they both thrive on discipline and an obsession with detail. he gets how all-consuming ballet is, and she loves how his blueprints are just another kind of performance.

when they start dating, he becomes her biggest fan, but never in an obnoxious way. he’ll sit silently in the corner of her rehearsals, sketchbook in hand, pretending he’s working but really drawing her over and over again.

for her birthday one year, he surprises her by designing a private dance studio in their home — with the perfect natural lighting, sprung floors, and a window that overlooks the garden. she dances there barefoot in the mornings while he drinks coffee and watches.

they argue in french when the emotions are high — druella’s usually fiery and dramatic, cygnus cool and calculating, but when the fight’s over, it’s always followed by a dance (her) and silence (him), and then long, intense eye contact that ends in an equally intense make-out session.

she’s inspired by his structures — sometimes choreographs pieces based on his buildings. he calls her his living sculpture. when he gets stuck on a design, he watches her move until something clicks.

he’s ridiculously protective of her body, especially after injuries. he doesn’t interfere, but he’ll fight with directors behind the scenes if he thinks she’s being pushed too far. she doesn’t always know — but sometimes she does, and she forgives him because he only wants her safe.

their wedding was small and chic — she wore a custom gown that flared like a tutu when she spun, and they danced a slow waltz for their first dance. not a dry eye in the room, except cygnus, who only showed emotion through the way he held her like the most fragile, priceless thing in the world.

late at night, druella will stretch out on the floor while cygnus draws at his drafting table. no words — just the sounds of pencil on paper and the subtle creak of her body moving. he always ends up abandoning his work to lie next to her, their fingers barely touching.

© zennywrites

anyone want cygnus x druella head canons or nah?

[zennywrites]

How’ve ya been?? :)

i’m good just been busy with work and stuff, lmaooo. how are you?

[zennywrites]

they both have a treasure trove of pet names for each other. cygnus calls druella “his star” (because he’s convinced she’s the only thing keeping the universe in balance), and druella calls cygnus “her storm” (because he’s unpredictable, but she loves the chaos). if anyone dares to overhear these sweet exchanges, they look at them like, “what is wrong with you two?”

while they are always touching, always in each other’s space, they save their true chaotic pda for moments when they’re at home or alone, just the two of them. cygnus loves the way druella’s laugh rings through their private quarters, and he’s not afraid to pull her into a deep kiss after she makes some snarky comment in the middle of a conversation. nobody else gets to see it except them, but when it’s just the two of them, the world could burn and they wouldn’t care.

they’re always buying each other things, but not the usual gifts—oh no. cygnus will give druella a bouquet of her favourite dark roses, but the flowers will be enchanted to make her laugh every time she looks at them. druella, in turn, will gift him something strange but oddly practical, like a set of enchanted gloves that makes his handwriting immaculate or a rare book of spells that only she knows how to properly use. it’s not about the presents, it’s the thought, and the chaotic way they both go out of their way to make each other’s lives a little bit more magical.

their silent conversations are wild and borderline terrifying. in public settings, they communicate with just a glance, a shared smirk, or an eyebrow raised in perfect synchronization. their entire relationship is built on a language no one else can understand. they can lock eyes across a room and it’s as if the world around them vanishes.

they argue, but it's not like most couples. cygnus will destroy entire walls with his wand during a fight, druella might fire an actual curse just to prove a point. and yet, minutes after their chaotic explosion of energy, they’re laughing about how ridiculous they were and then immediately falling back into each other’s arms. no hard feelings—just pure, raw, passionate emotion.

they both have a violent need to protect each other, and it’s incredibly chaotic. if druella sees anyone staring at cygnus for too long, she’ll casually drop a "oh, you like him? too bad, he's already taken by the best woman in the room" and give them the most sinister smile. cygnus is equally protective, but instead of verbal threats, he’ll silently intimidate with the most piercing gaze if anyone even dares to ask druella for something. it’s cute and scary, and no one dares get involved with their private love bubble.

they don't do simple anniversaries—they go all out. cygnus once turned their entire estate into a massive enchanted garden just for their anniversary. every flower was custom-grown to match druella’s favourite colours. she reciprocated by creating a "mysterious" treasure hunt that led him to gifts only she could give—private memories from their youth, secret love letters she wrote, and a set of memories they'd made together. in short: their anniversaries are legendary, and anyone who gets invited is in for a treat (and probably a few broken hearts).

they are openly possessive of each other in the sweetest, most intense way. cygnus will smile when someone looks at druella for too long—and the smile is only half-innocent. similarly, druella will tug him closer if she notices someone noticing him. it’s not out of insecurity, but more because they both believe they’re the one for each other, and no one else is allowed to even think about messing with that. it’s intense, but they thrive off of it.

even though they can easily communicate with a single glance, they both secretly love to write each other long, passionate letters. cygnus’ are full of wild poetic language that makes no sense to anyone else, while druella’s are sharp, calculated, and overflowing with intensity. they don’t keep these letters in safe places—they hide them in random spots, and whoever finds one has to endure the most awkward moment of their life trying to read it without being caught.

they often go on "vacations" that no one else knows about—these "vacations" often involve some sort of wild, slightly dangerous escapade where they get into extremely chaotic situations. think: stealing artefacts from cursed tombs, travelling to ancient magical lands where everything is trying to kill you, or possibly playing some high-stakes game with a dark wizard or two. they always come back with a story that no one believes. but they both have the best time ever—and always make sure they’re right beside each other the whole way through.

© zennywrites

anyone want cygnus x druella head canons or nah?

[zennywrites]

anyone want cygnus x druella head canons or nah?

[zennywrites]

zennywrites | masterlist

prev. @/zennybearr , @/zennyluvss !!

header credits: @/saradika-graphics

—————

minors & ageless blogs do not interact !

all nsfw content is indicated with “*”, sfw pieces might include suggestive hints and will be tagged accordingly

requests are always open, i just take a while to finish them

check ao3 fics “here”, posted works on tumblr below, and follow this “tag”, for my random little headcannon thoughts.

snowed in (lucius x narcissa malfoy)

silent muse (lucius x narcissa malfoy)

movie magic (cygnus x druella black)

sweet seduction (cygnus x druella black)

midnight memories (cygnus x druella black)

driving lessons (abraxas x oc - evelyn malfoy)

drunk in love (rodolphus x bellatrix lestrange)

a picnic for two - and maybe a few ants (cygnus x druella black)

the princess and the pea purée (cygnus x druella black + narcissa black)

a day without mummy (cygnus x druella black + bellatrix, andromeda, narcissa black)

[zennywrites]

If I wanna get into F1 where should I start 🙈

honestly, start by watching a few races like the one in suzuka coming up this weekend. i tend to watch on sky sports but you can also watch the highlights on youtube etc. some people upload the while race on tiktok as well if you wanna watch like races from the early 2000s as well for the shits and giggles of it all, lmao.

[zennywrites]

Lucissa headcannons??

lucius' unwilling softie: lucius pretends to be the cold, calculating wizard, but whenever narcissa gets a little “accidentally” clumsy—like dropping something—he’s instantly there, like, “are you okay, my dear?” but it’s so extra—he swoops in like he's about to perform some ancient healing magic and ends up making it worse. narcissa, trying not to laugh, just pats his hand and says, “lucius, darling, it’s just a teacup.” his overprotectiveness is adorable but totally unnecessary.

narcissa’s sassy side: narcissa has an internal list of “things that irritate lucius” and loves to casually drop them in conversation just to see his reaction. “oh, lucius, i read about how you once lost a game of wizard's chess to a 12-year-old,” she teases, knowing full well it will make him internally explode while maintaining his perfect facade. she gives him that innocent look, and lucius will glare at her but secretly be kind of proud that she still knows how to push his buttons.

malfoy family game night: every week, there’s a game night at malfoy manor. it starts off “casual” but rapidly descends into utter chaos. lucius takes everything way too seriously. his competitive streak means draco ends up sulking after losing a round of exploding snap, and narcissa is just trying not to laugh. but when narcissa finally beats lucius at wizard’s chess, lucius sulks for the rest of the night, dramatically declaring that “no one will hear the end of this.” meanwhile, narcissa acts so gracious, but you know she’s secretly living for the moment.

lucius' shocking gifts: lucius always buys narcissa the most extravagant, expensive gifts—gems, rare artifacts, enchanted objects. but one time, he tries to give her a bouquet of enchanted roses that keep flying around and attacking him. narcissa stares at him, a smirk on her face, and says, “did you get this from a black market wizard?” lucius, looking so unbothered, casually flicks his wand to make them behave. narcissa’s giggle gives it away that she loves the chaotic effort, even if it’s a bit of a mess.

the “narcissa likes to steal his clothes” game: lucius’ fancy robes are basically the most comfortable thing ever—especially for narcissa. so she’ll sneak into his wardrobe and wear his robes around the house like a blanket, while lucius just stares in shock. “i was going to wear that, you know,” he says in his smooth, dramatic way. narcissa just raises an eyebrow and twirls in his robes, “mm, i think it looks better on me.” draco, on the other hand, is forever caught in the middle, facepalming at the utter chaos his parents create on a daily basis.

lucius' unintentional snuggles: lucius is not a fan of public displays of affection (very much a “i’m-too-proud-for-that” guy), but when they’re alone in their study, he totally melts into ridiculously long hugs. narcissa will hug him for a “moment” and he will stay there for five more minutes while pretending it’s not happening. his hand will sometimes slip up and accidentally brush her hair back like he’s trying to keep it out of her face—cue narcissa giving him a side-eye, and lucius trying to act like it’s no big deal, but it’s CLEARLY his favorite thing ever.

draco's "training": narcissa and lucius both mean well but when it comes to teaching draco “proper malfoy etiquette,” it’s a disaster. lucius insists on giving him speeches that go on for hours, while narcissa just sits there, looking like she's about to lose it. at one point, narcissa just interrupts and says, “lucius, darling, he already knows how to sit properly at the table. maybe try teaching him how to not knock over his glass of pumpkin juice every time?” lucius refuses to admit he’s been giving way too much advice, while draco just cannot wait for the torture to end.

lucius' "unassuming" tea parties: lucius, being the epitome of dignified, refuses to have a “basic” tea time. instead, he invites no one over, yet still sets the table extraordinarily perfectly. narcissa’s just there, sipping tea, pretending to be in a fancy salon while lucius shows off his absurdly perfect tea brewing skills. and they sit there, in an over-the-top, dramatic silence—because it’s way more fun than it sounds. it’s honestly just them being goofy in their own way, but they’d never let anyone else in on it.

lucius + narcissa synchronized sarcasm: they have this amazing talent for syncing their sarcasm perfectly. if someone says something ridiculous at a dinner party, lucius will give the “i’m disinterested” eyebrow raise, and narcissa will instantly chime in with the most sarcastic, dry comment. this always leaves everyone else in the room confused, while lucius and narcissa just share a small, private smirk like this is their little game.

[zennywrites]

How’ve you been?

i’ve been good, thank you for asking. just busy with work and life in general, lol. how are you, lovely anon?

[zennywrites]

Im craving Lucissa so badly it hurts. PLEASE ANYTHING LUCISSA😭😭

narcissa malfoy nee black had never been particularly sentimental. she had been raised to be composed, graceful, and always in control of her emotions. but lucius malfoy had a way of unraveling that carefully crafted exterior without even trying.

tonight, she found herself curled up in the malfoy manor sitting room, a book in her lap that she had long since abandoned in favor of watching her husband. he sat across from her, reviewing a letter with his usual sharp focus, his long fingers tracing over the parchment absentmindedly. his hair, always perfectly kept, had fallen slightly out of place, a strand slipping over his forehead.

"lucius," narcissa murmured, her voice soft but insistent.

he looked up immediately, always attentive when it came to her. "yes, my love?"

she hesitated for a moment, then simply held out her hand. she didn’t have a reason—she just wanted him close. lucius seemed to understand without question. he set aside his letter and crossed the room in a few strides, taking her hand in his and pressing a kiss to her knuckles before settling beside her.

"you were staring at me," he observed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"i was not."

"you were," he insisted, tilting his head to examine her. "do i fascinate you that much, narcissa?"

she huffed, though her cheeks felt warm. "don't be insufferable."

lucius chuckled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her against him. she let herself sink into his warmth, her head resting against his chest as his fingers idly traced patterns along her shoulder. they sat like that for a while, in the quiet comfort of each other’s presence.

"you're rather smug tonight," she mused after a moment.

"and you’re rather affectionate," he countered, glancing down at her with unmistakable fondness. "not that i mind, of course."

she huffed again, but this time it was more amused than exasperated. "i suppose i just enjoy your company."

lucius pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his voice softer now. "that is fortunate, considering you're stuck with me for life."

narcissa tilted her head up, meeting his gaze, her lips curving into the faintest smile. "there are worse fates."

lucius laughed, a warm, genuine sound, and tightened his hold on her. "there are no fates better than this."