Anonymous @ May 1 2003, 07:39:13 UTC

Narcissa does seem to be loosing sight of the reason she left her husband. I'm disappointed but not surprised.

Narcissa is rather shallow, spoiled, and is not able to face the real world. The idea of being independent is still rather charming to her, but I don't think she sees it as a long-term thing. It's more like a hobby. It would not surprise me if her parents had a relationship very much like the one she has now with Lucius. Someone had to set an example for her and if she doesn't know anything different, the behavior continues. It's like the Cycle of Violence.

I'm not sure how Lucius feels about his wife, but how she feels about him is rather obvious; she said that she still loves him. He says that he misses her, etc but I'm not so sure. Lucius is a man who knows the weaknesses of his wife and is not above using them to get what he wants (whatever that is).

It would not surprise me if he let himself be injured in that dual so he could begin the process of getting his wife back under his thumb. It shall be very interesting to see what he gets her for her birthday. I hope it isn't shiny.

milenalupin @ May 1 2003, 09:04:39 UTC

It would not surprise me if he let himself be injured in that dual so he could begin the process of getting his wife back under his thumb.

Yes, he does play the "sick puppy" card very well. If you can't pressure her into coming back, try to get her pity. Especially in a moment when Narcissa for once tries to be caring and thoughtful in regard to her family.

Which just proves that he has memorized "Salazar's Rule Of Scheming" #83 - Exploitation begins at home.

lore @ May 1 2003, 10:55:23 UTC Ode to Narcissa

Nacissa may be shallow/spoiled/etc., but leaving the Manor was a BIG DEAL for her. I think we're losing sight of that. She's never left Lucius before, has she? You can't expect a woman who's learned to cook and fly a broom (maybe) for the first time to go home and return to being the same person she was before. She might try, but I don't think she will be able to do it.

Narcissa is changing, ever so slowly, ever so subtly and I love it. It's all about the baby steps for her. She's been chaffing under the yolk of Lucius' attitude toward Draco for a while now. It seems only natural that it finally came down to this: "I can't stand beside you as a wife and mother if you don't give me equal footing."

Her only stand has been on the Draco issue because, her and Lucius do not seem to have anything else to disagree about. I think she will go back to the Manor once she sees a change in Lucius' attitude toward Draco because she genuinely thinks she loves her husband and life at the Manor. It doesn't matter what sneaky manipulations Lucius is up to, because this arc has all been about change in Narcissa's character.

Before, the Malfoys only consistently disagreed about Draco. But what do you think will happen when Narcissa takes her new-found skills and ideas about herself back home? There will be lots more to disagree about then, which will make the Malfoys more interesting characters.

Something had to give in that "relationship," because the characters were really quite similar in their attitudes. Their snark and smarm have ruled NA for...almost two years? And they were always great together, picking on Pansy and defending Draco.

You can't really change Lucius without going far afield of his book persona, but we know very little of Narcissa from the books. She was the one who had to do the changing to keep the twosome from stagnating. Her character has been wonderful to read in her snarky, shallow past. She will be equally wonderful to read in her ever-changing, ever-widening future.

love, lore