Chapter 1
The atmosphere was heavy, a quiet tension hanging in the air like the thick rainclouds outside the manor. Narcissa Malfoy stood by the grand fireplace, her pale fingers delicately tracing the edges of the ornate mantle, as though grounding herself in the reality she was about to face.*
"James," she began, her voice soft but firm, "We have to consider this. The Malfoy estate, the family name—it’s all at risk. Without Lucius… I don't know how much longer I can hold everything together."
James Potter, standing across from her, shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t used to this—used to the grandeur of the Potters, yes, but never quite so tangled in the webs of the Malfoy legacy. The quiet, unspoken tension between them seemed to echo louder than the rain pelting against the windows.
“I know,” James said, his brow furrowing as he glanced at her. “I didn’t want it to come to this. I didn’t want to be tangled in their politics, in their… whatever it is that’s happening now. But Lucius is dead, and the estate’s future hangs in the balance. Your son’s future, too.”
Narcissa’s eyes softened, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I can’t let Draco bear the consequences of his father’s mistakes. Not when the only other option is…”
“The alternative is what?” James interrupted, his voice rough, almost angry. “Watching everything fall apart? You really think I’d let that happen?”
Narcissa met his gaze. She had always seen the strength in James, his fierce loyalty to those he cared about. But this situation was different. Her heart ached, knowing that in order to save her son, she would have to do something she never thought she would.
*Marry James Potter.*
“I’m not asking for affection,” Narcissa said quietly. “I’m asking for protection. For Draco. For the estate. For everything Lucius fought for.”
James exhaled slowly, running a hand through his messy hair. “You’re asking me to do this for Draco.”
“For Draco,” Narcissa confirmed, her voice steady now. “And because, despite everything… I know you understand duty. You understand sacrifice.”
The silence in the room stretched for a moment, only broken by the soft crackling of the fire. James looked down, conflicted. It wasn’t just about duty. It was about the legacy he was about to take on, the complex emotions he hadn’t anticipated.
“I never wanted to be tied to the Malfoys,” James admitted, his words more to himself than to Narcissa. “But if this is the only way… then we’ll do it. For Draco.”
Narcissa nodded, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding. "Thank you."
James reached for the glass of whiskey on the table, taking a deep drink. When he set the glass down, his gaze lingered on Narcissa for a moment. “This doesn’t make us family,” he said, his voice slightly softer now. “Not yet.”
Narcissa gave a small, sad smile. “No. But it’s a start.”