FIC for: Conspiratorsb
Title: Not Your Colour
Recipient: Conspiratorsb
Fic or Art: Fic
Rating: PG
Characters: Narcissa, James, Sirius, Lily
Warnings: None
Summary: James and Sirius are having difficulty babysitting while Lily goes shopping, where she runs into Narcissa.
i.
The nursery was immaculate. There were no blemishes to be seen on the stark white walls and furniture. This place did not suffer dirt for more than a fraction of a second. No one was allowed into the nursery apart from the Mother and the nurse.
And the baby, of course.
Soft mewls came from the crib, and the old woman who had been reading set down her book. The child was awake again, it seemed. Walking over, she looked down at the little thing. Such a pity he would grow up in this sterile environment. It wasn’t conducive towards childhood, that much the woman knew.
Picking up the baby, the nurse carried him towards the changing station. There was a multitude of different cleansing items, few of which the old woman ever used. Despite the beatings she received from the Mother. Did she want him to catch a disease? It seemed to her, like the child would catch a disease from the seemingly infinite amount of different lotions and sprays and cloths laid out.
"When you’ve changed him, bring him to me." The Mother’s voice floated through the doorway. She stood there, not actually a part of the room. She’s too bright, in her light blue robes. She wouldn’t fit in the white environment of the nursery.
Ducking her head, the old woman didn’t look up from her work. "Yes, ma’am," She said in her most deferential tone.
"Put the green suit on him, will you? His father wants an audience," The slightly shrill voice dictated before sweeping away.
Green, of course. The nurse picked up the baby, and hugged him to her breast. "There, there, child. One day," She assured him, letting him grip at her finger while she looked for the proper outfit. Ah, there it is.
It was with some difficulty that she dressed him. He’s a fussy baby. "Come now, Draco. Your father wants a visit. Don’t you want to look proper for him?" She smiled kindly at his distressed face, and found his toy. The little dragon he has chewed to death. Ironic how it was the only thing to calm him down.
When the woman handed Draco off to his Mother, she discarded the toy without much thought. There was no room for toys in the world Draco is going to.
ii.
"You’re an arse," Sirius declared, hands tied behind his back.
Snickering, James shook a finger at him. "Language, young man," He scolded.
"Sod all, he’s not going to hear. He’s asleep, Prongs," Sirius looked scandalized at the sleeping form of James’s child.
Shrugging, James walked behind the chair Sirius was sitting in. "Right, but Lily said you weren’t allowed around him unless you were tied up and couldn’t move. Precautionary measures, you see. Last time you dropped him. She’s upset," James said, as he untied the cords.
"Lily’s out," Sirius muttered, rubbing his wrists, before bending down to undo the ones on his feet. "Besides, he bounced," Sirius said sulkily. Springing to his feet, he hopped over to wear baby Harry was laying in his crib. "Unusual at this age, but still, it isn’t like he’s brain damaged."
"Sure," James laughed, slouching down in the chair Sirius abandoned. "But you know Lily. She didn’t exhibit any magic until she was seven or so. And Harry’s only three months. You can’t just go around dropping your godchild every time you pick him up, mate," He looked nonplussed, but Sirius has noted the lines of tension in his shoulders.
Sighing, Sirius settled for just looking at the baby. "Right, Prongs. I promise to never drop him again. I swear on your life. Will that make you feel better?"
Snorting, James gave Sirius a lopsided grin. "Yeah, mate. Loads better. Seeing as it’s my life in the balance and all."
"As long as you’re okay with that," Sirius laughed as baby Harry woke up with a distressed noise and attacked the finger Sirius had been wiggling at him. "He’s up now, what should we do with him?"
"Do with him?" James sounded horrified, springing to his feet, at Sirius’s side in a second. "We leave quietly and hope he goes back to sleep… It took me forever to get him down, Padfoot," James looked down at the smiling face of his son. It was impossible for James to look at Harry and not smile. Leaning down, James pressed a kiss to Harry’s forehead, before tugging Sirius away. "Now, if we’re lucky… he won’t make a fuss!"
As the adults attempted to sneak out, with some pushing and shoving and muffled mutterings, they almost very nearly make it. That is, until they step into the hallway, where they are met with loud piercing screams.
iii.
Slipping away to Diagon Alley was always something of a treat for Lily. Especially these days. It was difficult for her to get out of the house without James giving her that helpless, lost puppy look, which was terribly unfair of him. He knew very well she could not resist that look. These encounters usually left her staying home with the baby and James bounding off the store. Only to return hours later with very little groceries, even less money, and one large thing they very much did not need.
That was when Lily got mad. And, coincidentally, James slept on the couch.
But they had a tentative system. Now, after many trial runs, Lily was capable of leaving James alone with their child and not having to worry too much. Granted, she never dallied more than necessary, but really, Lily thought they were getting on famously as new parents, all things considered.
For now, though, she was looking for something suitable to wear to the Ministry function later in the month. James had stressed more than enough to her that she didn’t have to go if she didn’t want to. But this was about keeping up appearances. Which was why Lily stepped into the dress shop.
There was a high, imperious voice coming from the back. “What do you think you are doing?” There was more complaining, but Lily tuned it out. Instead, she turned towards the bolts of fabric lining the walls. It wouldn’t be that hard for her to pick out a colour. Dark green, it fit the best with her eyes and her hair. And it was the one that James had requested of her, with that little glint in his eyes.
Trailing her fingers down the smooth fabric, Lily allowed herself an indulgent smile, oblivious to the rest of the shop. It took her some time to notice the impatient person standing next to her.
"May I help you?" The woman asked in short, clipped tones.
Startled, Lily glanced sideways to see the woman holding a large sheaf of parchment, quill poised to write. "Yes," She smiled easily, trying to assuage the woman. "I’d like some dress robes, in this colour," She gestured towards the fabric her fingers were still resting on.
"Right, measurements?" The woman wrote quickly as Lily rattled off the numbers. "It’ll be just a moment before we can fit you." She grasped the bolt of fabric, and shuffled off towards the back.
Now that she had some time, Lily allowed her gaze to travel through the rest of the shop. There was only one other woman there, and her gaze was directed towards Lily already. "Rather expensive material for an auror, is it not?" The woman lifted a carefully crafted eyebrow.
The expense was not something that had occurred to Lily. Spoils of marriage, and all. "Why, Mrs. Malfoy, are you in need of a loan?"
The tight lines that formed around the other’s mouth were enough to make it worthwhile. Even if Lily didn’t particularly care for falling into such traps. "Hardly," Narcissa drawled, crossing her arms deftly over her chest. "It just seems such a shame to waste something so delicate on… your kind," As she said it, it seemed to Lily as if her face twisted up at the smell of something rank. It was most unattractive.
"Careful, if you hold that face too long you’ll freeze like that," Lily spat out, and turned away from the elder woman. She would not rise to the bait here, or anywhere. She was better than this. People like Narcissa Malfoy and her arrogant husband were the reason she was fighting for her very survival.
Of course, any more interchange between the two of them was cut off by a flurry of activity at the front door.
"Stop shoving, James, you’re gonna get through, we’ve just go to -" The rest of it was cut off, and Lily rubbed at her temples, before swinging her gaze to the door. Only to find her husband, her son, and Sirius fighting for entrance into the store.
For a long moment she stood there, mostly flabbergasted. "Honestly, James Potter," She chided, swooping in and snatching a gurgling Harry from her husband’s arms, leaving the two men to fumble their own way in. "I thought I left you at home to watch Harry," She murmured accusingly, careful to keep an eye on her baby, her husband, his friend, and the other woman. It was a lot, but she was more than used to it by now.
"He woke up," Sirius voice floated to her as he pushed James fully through the doorway. "Wouldn’t go back to sleep. James suggested we visit, so he could spy on your dress," Sirius’s grin let her know there was a lot more to the story, but Lily let it pass.
"Is that so?" She queried her husband.
For his part, James had the decency to look ashamed. "Sirius also mentioned we might stop by the Quidditch shop. I hear they’ve got a new broom," Anything further James might have said was silenced with a gesture from Lily.
"No, you’ve got to keep an eye on Harry," She frowned, handing their son back over. "You know I need to be fitted." And indeed, the woman was standing there, looking scandalized at the disruption of her peaceful area. "Don’t move, the both of you. I’ll be back soon enough," She warned them both before disappearing into the back where she would have to try on the outfit.
With Lily gone, James was left holding onto his infant son. "That did not go as planned," He told the child, distressed.
"Am I to assume you two will be staying?" Narcissa queried from her position at the corner of the store. It was not that she was spying, but it was hard not to listen to the overbearing obnoxiousness she felt radiating from them all.
The two men snapped their heads up in her direction. James grimaced, but Sirius just smirked. "Cousin," He greeted her, stepping forwards. "It’s been so long."
"Not long enough," Narcissa snapped, eyes narrowing. "You would do well not to greet me so informally," Her voice grew haughtier by the moment.
Distracted as he was by Harry keeping a death grip on his finger, James spared a glance for the woman. "Listen, just keep to your blo -" James halted himself mid-sentence looking down at his son. Lily was very serious about not swearing around him. Ever. "- self, why don’t you? We’re just here for my wife."
Turning up her nose, Narcissa sauntered towards where another woman was holding out a package for her. "A shame the Potters have disgraced themselves so to associate even a little with her kind," Though she didn’t name it, the implication was clearer than anything. Mudblood. "But to marry one…" Narcissa tsked, shaking her head.
For his part, Sirius had been about to launch into a verbal tirade at Narcissa, but James had held out a hand. Lily was standing there now, holding her own package. It hadn’t taken long to get everything to her liking; she was not fussy. "My kind," She said slowly, advancing on James and exchanging her package for her son. "I’d rather have the dirtiest blood there was than associate with you for more than second," Her voice was cold, but she didn’t spare Narcissa more than a passing glance.
Ushering the boys out in front of her, Lily paused in the doorway. "That colour looks terrible on you," A lifted eyebrow and she was gone.
iv.
The sharp crack of Narcissa’s apparition rang through the manor. Infuriated she began stalking towards the nursery. Blue looked lovely on her, and that cow had no right to say otherwise.
Why had she appeared so far away? It only served to frustrate her more. There was a house elf tugging on her dress, but she kicked it away. Useless things that they were. No, she wasn’t in the mood to be placated.
Sweeping into the nursery, she glared at the woman feeding her son a bottle. "Out," She hissed, holding out her arms for her own son. No, she would not let others take control of this important part of her son’s life. Gathering Draco in her arms, she sat gently down in the rocking chair and tilted the bottle to his lips.
"You are my son," She cooed. "And I will never allow anyone to speak to you in such a manner."
Recipient: Conspiratorsb
Fic or Art: Fic
Rating: PG
Characters: Narcissa, James, Sirius, Lily
Warnings: None
Summary: James and Sirius are having difficulty babysitting while Lily goes shopping, where she runs into Narcissa.
i.
The nursery was immaculate. There were no blemishes to be seen on the stark white walls and furniture. This place did not suffer dirt for more than a fraction of a second. No one was allowed into the nursery apart from the Mother and the nurse.
And the baby, of course.
Soft mewls came from the crib, and the old woman who had been reading set down her book. The child was awake again, it seemed. Walking over, she looked down at the little thing. Such a pity he would grow up in this sterile environment. It wasn’t conducive towards childhood, that much the woman knew.
Picking up the baby, the nurse carried him towards the changing station. There was a multitude of different cleansing items, few of which the old woman ever used. Despite the beatings she received from the Mother. Did she want him to catch a disease? It seemed to her, like the child would catch a disease from the seemingly infinite amount of different lotions and sprays and cloths laid out.
"When you’ve changed him, bring him to me." The Mother’s voice floated through the doorway. She stood there, not actually a part of the room. She’s too bright, in her light blue robes. She wouldn’t fit in the white environment of the nursery.
Ducking her head, the old woman didn’t look up from her work. "Yes, ma’am," She said in her most deferential tone.
"Put the green suit on him, will you? His father wants an audience," The slightly shrill voice dictated before sweeping away.
Green, of course. The nurse picked up the baby, and hugged him to her breast. "There, there, child. One day," She assured him, letting him grip at her finger while she looked for the proper outfit. Ah, there it is.
It was with some difficulty that she dressed him. He’s a fussy baby. "Come now, Draco. Your father wants a visit. Don’t you want to look proper for him?" She smiled kindly at his distressed face, and found his toy. The little dragon he has chewed to death. Ironic how it was the only thing to calm him down.
When the woman handed Draco off to his Mother, she discarded the toy without much thought. There was no room for toys in the world Draco is going to.
ii.
"You’re an arse," Sirius declared, hands tied behind his back.
Snickering, James shook a finger at him. "Language, young man," He scolded.
"Sod all, he’s not going to hear. He’s asleep, Prongs," Sirius looked scandalized at the sleeping form of James’s child.
Shrugging, James walked behind the chair Sirius was sitting in. "Right, but Lily said you weren’t allowed around him unless you were tied up and couldn’t move. Precautionary measures, you see. Last time you dropped him. She’s upset," James said, as he untied the cords.
"Lily’s out," Sirius muttered, rubbing his wrists, before bending down to undo the ones on his feet. "Besides, he bounced," Sirius said sulkily. Springing to his feet, he hopped over to wear baby Harry was laying in his crib. "Unusual at this age, but still, it isn’t like he’s brain damaged."
"Sure," James laughed, slouching down in the chair Sirius abandoned. "But you know Lily. She didn’t exhibit any magic until she was seven or so. And Harry’s only three months. You can’t just go around dropping your godchild every time you pick him up, mate," He looked nonplussed, but Sirius has noted the lines of tension in his shoulders.
Sighing, Sirius settled for just looking at the baby. "Right, Prongs. I promise to never drop him again. I swear on your life. Will that make you feel better?"
Snorting, James gave Sirius a lopsided grin. "Yeah, mate. Loads better. Seeing as it’s my life in the balance and all."
"As long as you’re okay with that," Sirius laughed as baby Harry woke up with a distressed noise and attacked the finger Sirius had been wiggling at him. "He’s up now, what should we do with him?"
"Do with him?" James sounded horrified, springing to his feet, at Sirius’s side in a second. "We leave quietly and hope he goes back to sleep… It took me forever to get him down, Padfoot," James looked down at the smiling face of his son. It was impossible for James to look at Harry and not smile. Leaning down, James pressed a kiss to Harry’s forehead, before tugging Sirius away. "Now, if we’re lucky… he won’t make a fuss!"
As the adults attempted to sneak out, with some pushing and shoving and muffled mutterings, they almost very nearly make it. That is, until they step into the hallway, where they are met with loud piercing screams.
iii.
Slipping away to Diagon Alley was always something of a treat for Lily. Especially these days. It was difficult for her to get out of the house without James giving her that helpless, lost puppy look, which was terribly unfair of him. He knew very well she could not resist that look. These encounters usually left her staying home with the baby and James bounding off the store. Only to return hours later with very little groceries, even less money, and one large thing they very much did not need.
That was when Lily got mad. And, coincidentally, James slept on the couch.
But they had a tentative system. Now, after many trial runs, Lily was capable of leaving James alone with their child and not having to worry too much. Granted, she never dallied more than necessary, but really, Lily thought they were getting on famously as new parents, all things considered.
For now, though, she was looking for something suitable to wear to the Ministry function later in the month. James had stressed more than enough to her that she didn’t have to go if she didn’t want to. But this was about keeping up appearances. Which was why Lily stepped into the dress shop.
There was a high, imperious voice coming from the back. “What do you think you are doing?” There was more complaining, but Lily tuned it out. Instead, she turned towards the bolts of fabric lining the walls. It wouldn’t be that hard for her to pick out a colour. Dark green, it fit the best with her eyes and her hair. And it was the one that James had requested of her, with that little glint in his eyes.
Trailing her fingers down the smooth fabric, Lily allowed herself an indulgent smile, oblivious to the rest of the shop. It took her some time to notice the impatient person standing next to her.
"May I help you?" The woman asked in short, clipped tones.
Startled, Lily glanced sideways to see the woman holding a large sheaf of parchment, quill poised to write. "Yes," She smiled easily, trying to assuage the woman. "I’d like some dress robes, in this colour," She gestured towards the fabric her fingers were still resting on.
"Right, measurements?" The woman wrote quickly as Lily rattled off the numbers. "It’ll be just a moment before we can fit you." She grasped the bolt of fabric, and shuffled off towards the back.
Now that she had some time, Lily allowed her gaze to travel through the rest of the shop. There was only one other woman there, and her gaze was directed towards Lily already. "Rather expensive material for an auror, is it not?" The woman lifted a carefully crafted eyebrow.
The expense was not something that had occurred to Lily. Spoils of marriage, and all. "Why, Mrs. Malfoy, are you in need of a loan?"
The tight lines that formed around the other’s mouth were enough to make it worthwhile. Even if Lily didn’t particularly care for falling into such traps. "Hardly," Narcissa drawled, crossing her arms deftly over her chest. "It just seems such a shame to waste something so delicate on… your kind," As she said it, it seemed to Lily as if her face twisted up at the smell of something rank. It was most unattractive.
"Careful, if you hold that face too long you’ll freeze like that," Lily spat out, and turned away from the elder woman. She would not rise to the bait here, or anywhere. She was better than this. People like Narcissa Malfoy and her arrogant husband were the reason she was fighting for her very survival.
Of course, any more interchange between the two of them was cut off by a flurry of activity at the front door.
"Stop shoving, James, you’re gonna get through, we’ve just go to -" The rest of it was cut off, and Lily rubbed at her temples, before swinging her gaze to the door. Only to find her husband, her son, and Sirius fighting for entrance into the store.
For a long moment she stood there, mostly flabbergasted. "Honestly, James Potter," She chided, swooping in and snatching a gurgling Harry from her husband’s arms, leaving the two men to fumble their own way in. "I thought I left you at home to watch Harry," She murmured accusingly, careful to keep an eye on her baby, her husband, his friend, and the other woman. It was a lot, but she was more than used to it by now.
"He woke up," Sirius voice floated to her as he pushed James fully through the doorway. "Wouldn’t go back to sleep. James suggested we visit, so he could spy on your dress," Sirius’s grin let her know there was a lot more to the story, but Lily let it pass.
"Is that so?" She queried her husband.
For his part, James had the decency to look ashamed. "Sirius also mentioned we might stop by the Quidditch shop. I hear they’ve got a new broom," Anything further James might have said was silenced with a gesture from Lily.
"No, you’ve got to keep an eye on Harry," She frowned, handing their son back over. "You know I need to be fitted." And indeed, the woman was standing there, looking scandalized at the disruption of her peaceful area. "Don’t move, the both of you. I’ll be back soon enough," She warned them both before disappearing into the back where she would have to try on the outfit.
With Lily gone, James was left holding onto his infant son. "That did not go as planned," He told the child, distressed.
"Am I to assume you two will be staying?" Narcissa queried from her position at the corner of the store. It was not that she was spying, but it was hard not to listen to the overbearing obnoxiousness she felt radiating from them all.
The two men snapped their heads up in her direction. James grimaced, but Sirius just smirked. "Cousin," He greeted her, stepping forwards. "It’s been so long."
"Not long enough," Narcissa snapped, eyes narrowing. "You would do well not to greet me so informally," Her voice grew haughtier by the moment.
Distracted as he was by Harry keeping a death grip on his finger, James spared a glance for the woman. "Listen, just keep to your blo -" James halted himself mid-sentence looking down at his son. Lily was very serious about not swearing around him. Ever. "- self, why don’t you? We’re just here for my wife."
Turning up her nose, Narcissa sauntered towards where another woman was holding out a package for her. "A shame the Potters have disgraced themselves so to associate even a little with her kind," Though she didn’t name it, the implication was clearer than anything. Mudblood. "But to marry one…" Narcissa tsked, shaking her head.
For his part, Sirius had been about to launch into a verbal tirade at Narcissa, but James had held out a hand. Lily was standing there now, holding her own package. It hadn’t taken long to get everything to her liking; she was not fussy. "My kind," She said slowly, advancing on James and exchanging her package for her son. "I’d rather have the dirtiest blood there was than associate with you for more than second," Her voice was cold, but she didn’t spare Narcissa more than a passing glance.
Ushering the boys out in front of her, Lily paused in the doorway. "That colour looks terrible on you," A lifted eyebrow and she was gone.
iv.
The sharp crack of Narcissa’s apparition rang through the manor. Infuriated she began stalking towards the nursery. Blue looked lovely on her, and that cow had no right to say otherwise.
Why had she appeared so far away? It only served to frustrate her more. There was a house elf tugging on her dress, but she kicked it away. Useless things that they were. No, she wasn’t in the mood to be placated.
Sweeping into the nursery, she glared at the woman feeding her son a bottle. "Out," She hissed, holding out her arms for her own son. No, she would not let others take control of this important part of her son’s life. Gathering Draco in her arms, she sat gently down in the rocking chair and tilted the bottle to his lips.
"You are my son," She cooed. "And I will never allow anyone to speak to you in such a manner."