Talk 'Til Dawn || Cissa ||

Their dark period had ended more than a year ago and while Narcissa still struggled with the weight of their losses, there were many more good days than bad. Cissa excelled at being a mum. It was something she had always known she had wanted and for the longest time she feared it would never happen for her. In Draco’s first few months there were moments when Narcissa wondered if all of their challenges had perhaps been the fates telling her not to bother, pleading with her to understand that she was not cut out for this life that she had desperately wanted. The dark clouds above her head cleared soon after and she had been eager to show off her perfect little creation, a gorgeous perfect blend of Lucius and herself. She had taken to writing newsletters each month, celebrating their family’s little triumphs; boasting about Draco’s first solid foods, his sleeping schedule, and the fact that he had begun cruising around Malfoy Manor as if he would be walking any day now. Draco was exceptional in all things, as far as Narcissa was concerned, and she would be hard pressed to miss an opportunity to show off her handsome little prince, so when an invitation for lunch came her way, Narcissa began planning their outfits immediately.

The Ambrosia Lounge was not the place Cissa would have chosen for hersef and Draco, but she could appreciate that Ophelia was trying her best by clarifying that they would sit on the restaurant side of the establishment instead of the bar. The hostess greeted her and cooed at little Draco before escorting them to their table where Lia had already been seated. “Someone was eager to see us,” she with a haughty smirk as she noted Lia’s earliness before leaning in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. “But who am I to fault you for wanting more time with this little one.” Narcissa carefully placed Draco in the highchair between where Lia was sitting and where she would soon seat herself. “How are you, darling? I feel as though it’s been ages.”

Draco greeted his mummy’s friend like a charming little prince, and Cissa was practically glowing watching the interaction as Lia shook his little hand. He hadn’t fussed or pulled away or anything, an absolute gentleman. “This one makes it look easy,” she said of Draco and of motherhood. “He’s been sleeping through the night for some time now, and he hardly ever cries.” Though the fact that Narcissa gives in to nearly every whim the infant had, was mostly the cause for that. She anticipated his needs and fawned over his schedule so that she could easily predict when he was going to need a nappy change or when he was getting hungry. She rarely ever left him alone long enough for him to get bored or to get into any sort of mischief, but even if she had she couldn’t fathom her little angel doing anything one might view as naughty. “I know every mother says it, but Draco is actually a little angel.” Cissa beamed at her little love, who was sucking on the sleeve of his shirt and beginning to drool. “He’s getting another tooth,” she explained adoringly, looking through her tiny handbag which had been enchanted so that it could double as a nappy bag without all the fuss until she found his chewing ring. “Here, lovey.” Cissa swapped out his shirt sleeve for his ring and Draco hardly seemed to notice or care in the slightest.

Draco was known around the manor to cause a fuss every now and again while going through this rough patch of getting his first teeth, but overall he handled it with the grace and poise of his mummy, and with the strength of his handsome father. And when genetics alone wouldn't suffice, a teething ring coated with a pain-relief potion often did the trick. "He's a very brave lad. Not one to wimper over a little pain, are we, my love?" Narcissa stroked his arm and adjusted his little cap dotingly.

The friends' conversation was interupted by the waitress who asked after Cissa's drink order. "A Riesling, please." Cissa waited a moment until they were alone again to continue her conversation with Lia. "Lucius is splendid, of course. He's taken to being a daddy like a fish to water. And his business is going well," though Narcissa knew considerably little about what Lucius actually got up to at work. Their Gringott's vault was never without, and never at risk of becoming so as far as Narcissa could tell, so there was no reason for her to question her husband about his dealings. There were a great many things Cissa kept herself out of, choosing instead to focus on their family and ensuring that her husband was well satisfied at home. "You know, Lucius has a few single mates I know would just die at the chance to take you out. You ought to let me set you up, I hate the thought of you living in that big flat all by yourself."

“Some of them are,” she mused, “but there are the rare hidden gems just waiting for the right witch to come along.” A few of his mates were even going through a divorce or were separated from their wives, but Lia didn’t need to deal with any of that. Soiled goods were no good at all, and Narcissa wouldn’t dream of setting her friend up with someone who had already proven an inability to make a marriage work. Marriage was hard work, as Cissa and Lucius knew all too well, but she hid the pains with a glamourous smile and focused her efforts on ensuring their son never felt even an inkling of the sorrow his parents had known before his arrival.

Her drink arrived and Cissa gave the waitress a small smile as thanks before carrying on with her conversation uninterrupted. “Off the top of my head, I’d have to say...There’s Desmond Sage. He just got back from business in Tokyo…or he’s just left. I can’t recall.” It was hard to keep track of Desmond, his business took him everywhere and anywhere. Though maybe that life would be a bit much for Lia. ”I believe both of the Zabini men are still available,” she offered as an added bonus. Either Leo or Lex would have been a fine choice, as both were physically dashing and wealthy enough to keep her friend happy. “I’ll have a chat with Lucius later and see who he thinks might be a nice fit. We’ll do a double date.” Cissa felt confident enough in the planning stages, but come time to actually leave little Draco alone with the nanny, she wasn’t sure she would actually be able to do it.

"Well, Felix is still single...” Cissa added with a little giggle. Marriages between third cousins were not uncommon, especially if you were limiting your options to families within the Sacred 28, but marrying your first cousin was simply barbaric. Who would even suggest such a thing?!

Draco gave a little whimper, having had the spotlight removed from him for longer than his liking, and Cissa turned her full attention to her child, offering him a spoon to play with and telling him what a “charming little boo” he was.

"We’ll be starting dancing lessons just as soon as he can walk,” she said facetiously. “I won’t have my boy be one of those poor sods who had to learn from the Head of House before their first school ball.” Cissa rolled her eyes playfully, remembering the fair few boys in their year who spent the weeks up to their first Yule Ball practicing stiff dance steps in the courtyards of Hogwarts.