Standing alone in the corner of the McNair ballroom, Narcissa Black looked around the room at all the familiar faces that she had grown up with, the McNair brothers Walden and Walter, the Prewetts and many more.
Narcissa scanned the ballroom for her sister, haven been abandoned, half and hour before by her sister Bellatrix and her husband Rodolphus.
She was then pulled into a gaggle of gossiping women whom Narcissa hated spending time with.
Making small talk was a speciality of Narcissa, although she hated having to hear that the Montague's garden charms weren't working, or that the Flint elves were falling down the stairs.
Suddenly, her saviour arrived in the form of Rasbatan, Rodolphus's brother who glided over to her when he saw her being swamped by the wives. "Ah, Narcissa here you are, if you will excuse her, her sister wishes to speak to her" said Rasbatan taking her arm and placing it on his.
"Thank-you, so much" said Narcissa looking up at him.
"No trouble at all" he replied patting her arm, "Now Narcissa will you do me the honour of a dance?"
Narcissa hesitated, true she liked Rasbatan, but would rather not dance with him as his manners weren't of the highest manner, only 3 weeks ago at the Flint garden party, and he tried it on with Esmeralda Flint by trying to fool around in the bushes.
"Rasbatan, I'm afraid I must decline, my feet are giving me ache in these shoes, but I would be happy for you to escort me to a seat"
"It would be my pleasure" replied Rasbatan who although tried to hide it sounded disappointed.
Now sitting in one of the comfy armchairs of the McNair study which adjourned the ballroom, in front of the roaring fire, aware that the men standing at the back of the study had now left, leaving Narcissa in study alone with only the faint sound of the harp from the ballroom.
"Would you care for some company" asked a darkened figure standing in the doorway.
Narcissa spun round to see who it was.
The figure stepped into the glow of the fire.
Narcissa recognised him immediately, the figure she had seen many at time at parties, the figure always with a different woman, the figure was one of the richest heirs in Britain, the figure was Lucius Malfoy.
"I would not mind seeing as it is a free country" answered Narcissa, returning her gaze to the fire.
"Miss Black" said Lucius, sitting down in the chair opposite her, "Do be careful about staring into the flames; you'll fall in love with them"
"Really, you learn something new everyday" replied Narcissa raising her eyebrows and smiling.
"Yes I guess you do" said Lucius, taking a sip of his brandy.
After minutes of the only sound being the fire crackling, Lucius spoke.
"Miss Black, do tell me how we have never spoken before this?"
Narcissa raised her eyebrows and thought back to when they attended Hogwarts together, he was in the year above her and barely acknowledged her, why now does he notice her after years of wanting him to speak to her, why now when she is engaged to Barty Crouch Jr.
"Well, Mr Malfoy I think the reason we haven't spoken before this night is the fact that you have never approached me and it is not ladylike for a woman to chase a man is it?" she asked
"No, it most certainly is not" he replied smiling, "Miss Black, would you join me to dance?"
"I would but my feet are aching but I will gladly sit and talk with you"
"Is that wise for you to be alone with someone as charming as myself"
Narcissa laughed softly, usually she hated arrogance in men but it seemed to suit Lucius well.
"I think I can resist you"
"You think? But can you?"
"Yes, I can"
The two stared at each other, invisible sparks seemed to be shouting all over the place, their eyes locked almost so close they could see into each others souls, their faces grew closer, Narcissa wished she could kiss those lips and run her fingers through his silvery blonde hair, Lucius reached out for her hand…
They were interrupted by someone coming into the room, they both turned to see Barty Crouch come in.
"Narcissa my dear here you are, I have been looking for you ever since I arrived" he said coming towards her and kissing her lightly on the cheek then turned his gaze to Lucius and offered his hand.
"Bartemius Crouch and you are?"
"Lucius Malfoy" he said in a bored voice shaking his hand.
"Good, good come now my dear there is dances waiting to be danced" said Barty leading her out the room.
"Barty, I would much rather stay in here" she said glancing at Lucius who was swirling the ice in his brandy, "For my feet are aching"
"Just cast a healing charm on them, we must be seen dancing"
"Why? I don't want to put a healing charm on them nor do I want to dance, so why should I go out there?"
"Because I said so!" shouted Barty pulling at her towards the door that his foot stepped on her dress, the sound of the French silk ripping was painful for Narcissa to hear, she cried out but Barty kept pulling her towards the door
"Narcissa come now!" he shouted
"Stupefy" said Lucius pointing his wand at Barty, who immediately froze and fell to the ground.
Narcissa fell to the ground, freed from Barty's clutches, she was crying, Lucius started to make his way over to her but stopped in his tracks when about 20 people arrived in the room.
"CISSY!" screamed Bellatrix as she pushed her way through the crowd her dark hair flying all over the place "What happened?" she turned and did so the rest of the crowd to see Lucius standing over her and Barty who was still stunned.
"What have you done to my sister?" demanded Bellatrix, looking up at him, her eyes mad with rage.
"Nothing, except release her from him" he said staring at Barty's still body, "A monster, hurting a lady like that"
"Good story, except I don't believe you" said Bellatrix raising her wand.
"BELLA! No he's telling the truth, Barty pulled me against my will, ripped my dress then continued to pull me, then Lucius stunned him, that's all he stunned him" she shouted, looking up at her, her ice blue eyes glistening with tears.
"Really, that's what happened?" asked Bella looking at Narcissa who nodded, "Very well, sorry Malfoy for nearly hexing you" smiled Bellatrix who turned and was met with a hug from her husband who said.
"Can someone take Barty out of here and to St Mungo's seems he has hit his head in the fall"
Everyone left the study leaving Narcissa and Lucius alone once more.
"Are you alright?" asked Lucius, extending his hand to help her to her feet.
"Yes, yes I'm quite alright now" she replied, smoothing down her dress, the outer skirt had been ripped.
The two returned to the armchairs in front of the fire.
"I do hope that you don't intend to marry that man"
"Oh I won't, I'll be ending it soon, quite possibly tomorrow" said Narcissa fingering the hole in her dress
"Really? Why tomorrow?"
"Well it wouldn't really look right if I was courting someone and engaged"
Lucius gave a small chuckle and looked at her, "And who are you to court?"
"Why my hero of course" said Narcissa, who leaned into kiss Lucius who accepted.