Icicle
A/N: I do not own anything from the world of Harry Potter that you recognise in this fic.
Please keep in mind, there will be some SPaG issues in this as I have yet to have it beta'd- that shouldn't be an excuse but well, I'm using it anyway. Please feel free to point out anything, including how to maybe fix the ending/ suggestions for a Lucissa first encounter, as this is for a competition on the Diagon Alley II forum. Nine more chapters will be coming, each with their own prompt. The next should be their 'first kiss.'
Nevertheless, thank you for reading, and I hope you like my take on their relationship (though I have many ideas as to how it started... this is but one). -Tigress x
~First Encounter~
Stupid tie. Stupid collar. Stupid robes. Stupid party. Stupid everything!
Lucius gritted his teeth, tugging at the collar of his dress robes. They may have been new and fashioned out of the finest silk galleons could buy, but it didn't mean that they were any less hideously traditional or tight- fitting. He was even a little reluctant to bend over, sure that the supposed-to-be-flowing material would be stretched to breaking point and reveal his undergarments.
It wasn't fair; it simply wasn't fair. He would not have complained about his garments if he were allowed to attend the ball. No, he would have gladly walked around the room, making sure people knew exactly who he, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy, was. Lucius knew he could make polite conversation and charm his father's business associates. He knew he could swirl wine around a crystal goblet. He knew he could twirl around the polished dance floor, especially given the numerous dance lessons his mother had made him take- after all, what was the point of them if he could not show off his skill tonight? He also knew, most importantly, that he was certainly more mature than Rodolphus Lestrange, who, at eleven- only a year older than Lucius- found the silliest things amusing. He never displayed the manners or poise expected of a Pureblood, yet now he was probably having the time of his life with the adults on the floor below.
At this thought, Lucius made sure that he was sitting up perfectly straight on the ornate recliner. It wouldn't do for these… children… to see him slouching, oh no. He could see Bellatrix Black even now, eyeing him with contempt, probably blaming him for whatever reason for not being allowed herself to attend the ball.
It wasn't his fault that she had to watch over her two younger sisters, both of whom looked to be easily more tamable than herself. The middle one, Andromeda, was currently sitting on the recliner opposite him, a warm smile on her face as she conversed with his friend, Theodore Nott. Every now and again, he saw that she patted down her skirts, making sure that no creases could mar the fine velvet and that her skirts continued to fall to her crossed ankles. Unlike Bellatrix' wild black hair that brushed her shoulders, Andromeda's cascade of shiny brown hair was currently placed in a careful braid that wound down her back.
The youngest Black daughter, Narcissa he thought it was, was sitting next to her sister, staring around the room with wide blue eyes. Her blonde hair was styled like Andromeda's, highlighted only by the silver dress robes she wore. Lucius' lips twitched upwards as he thought how different she looked to her sisters, especially Bellatrix. He thought that the way she sat so quietly, not fussing- almost like one of the porcelain dolls his mother kept on display in a cabinet- was almost… angelic. Although she had ridiculous plastic earrings clipped to her earlobes, the glass falling like little icicles by her neck, she did not try to draw attention to them by fiddling with them. She didn't whine that she was bored like Rabastan Lestrange constantly did, nor did she try to run around the room pretending she was a dragon like Ernest McMillan currently was.
It was a pity that she was only six- who knew how much influence Bellatrix could have on her in the years to come.
Thinking of her age, Lucius realised that he was indeed the oldest in the room the children were confined to. As such, he was the one with the authority and was entitled to tell them all what they should be doing. With the barest hint of a smile, he immediately stood up.
"Right, because you are all children-" Lucius was impressed with the way his voice carried across the room and gained the attention of everyone, including a glare from Bellatrix, "-we may as well play a game. We are going to play 'Founders'. Choose carefully who you want to be, because there will be no swapping- and yes, someone has to be the Mud- uh- Muggleborns in need of rescue. Now, being the eldest and most capable, I will be Salazar Slytherin of course."
Lucius' smile rose as he watched everyone frantically whispering to each other who they would be. Ernest was arguing with Phillipe Prewitt about being Godric Gryffindor; Rabastan had taken out a plastic wand toy he had brought with him and was now swishing it back and forth in front of Theodore's face. Everyone was going to plan.
"I'm going to be Salazar!"
As quickly as it had come, Lucius' smile vanished. Bellatrix had leapt up and was glaring at him, her dark eyes narrowed as though daring him to take her role. Flipping one hand through her ebony locks, she straightened her posture.
"No Bella! Girls can't play boys, mother won't be pleased if she found out!" Andromeda had turned to Bellatrix, a mix of pleading and shock plastered on her face.
"So, why not? Salazar is the best character and that's who I'm going to be." Bellatrix folded her arms defiantly, lifting her chin up and ignoring her sister. Her full lips turned into a pout as her eyes continued to burn holes into Lucius.
"Girls just can't be boys; it's just not what ladies do, Bella. I was going to be Lady Ravenclaw, but you can have her if you want. Or you can be, uh, I dunno, Lady Slytherin?"
"No."
Lucius rolled his eyes before cutting in, a little glad that she had refused to play his 'wife'. Nevertheless, he wanted to start playing the game and the constant arguing was getting them nowhere.
Returning Bellatrix's fierce glare, he curtly replied. "I'm going to be Salazar and that's final. Pick someone else or don't play."
In response, Bellatrix clamped her mouth closed, cheeks puffed out slightly. Slowly, as she refused to draw breath, her cheeks began to turn a delicate shade of pink, before darkening to a red and finally, tinging blue. Her eyes never stopped piercing Lucius, not even as Andromeda sighed loudly and Narcissa gave a light gasp.
Lucius, however, knew this trick all too well and refused to give in. As usual, Bellatrix was being childish, and if she was immature enough to worry her younger sister as she was, she was certainly immature enough to play the great hero. Sensing his stubbornness and realising it matched her own, Bellatrix finally gave up, sticking out a pink tongue at Lucius once she regained her breath.
"Fine, let's have someone else decide for us."
"Fine. Theodore can decide," Lucius smirked, confident that his closest friend would pick him and they could finally play.
Unfortunately, Bellatrix seemed to be one step ahead. "No, I'll pick someone because you'll just choose your friends. Mmm, let's see…" Bellatrix's eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked around the room theatrically. Landing on her sister, she mimicked Lucius' smirk. "Cissy can pick because she doesn't really know these characters yet."
"But-"
"Really Bella?" Andromeda rolled her eyes, sighing again.
Standing up, Andromeda left them to sort out Ernest and Phillipe before they could maim each other with the array of 'swords' – that is, vases and candles - they had found around the room. Bellatrix sauntered over to her youngest sister who had remained seated. Her blue eyes were watching the scene with interest, and she gave her sister a small, almost shy, smile.
"Cissy…" Bellatrix cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice, "who do you think should play Salazar Slytherin. Me, your favourite sister, or him- Lucius." Bellatrix had all but spat his name, jabbing a thumb in his direction.
Lucius let out his own sigh, knowing he couldn't possibly win. Stupid Bellatrix. Stupid children. He turned away; ready to come up with a new game they could all play.
"Ummm…" Narcissa was clearly thinking hard for her brows had furrowed slightly and she chewed her bottom lip. Swinging her legs back and forth, it was only when she had come to a decision that she suddenly sat up straighter. "Ok, you can be Salazar."
Bellatrix beamed at her, turning to Lucius in triumph. "See, I- wait, what?"
Lucius looked up as Bellatrix gaped at her sister. Narcissa was smiling at Lucius, a small finger pointing at him.
"You mean me, right?" Bellatrix spluttered at her, having recovered from her shock too late to stand where Narcissa was pointing.
"No, Lucy-es. He can be Slytherin because he's a boy."
"But-"
"You heard her Bellatrix. I'm Salazar. Now pick someone else or leave us alone." Lucius grinned smirked at her, enjoying her annoyance. He had won!
For the next couple of hours, he ran around the room, conducting imaginary duels with Ernest, who had won the role of Godric, and designing fortresses out of the furniture. He knew the game was quite childish, but it enjoyed it nevertheless, having more fun than he could have imagined he would have that night. Bellatrix had remained in the corner sulking, making the game all the more enjoyable to play.
Narcissa had been rewarded, of course, in being allowed to be 'Lady Slytherin'- her role in judging the duels coming in handy when she predicted that he would always be the winner. Before he retired to his bedroom for the evening and the guests left, some unable to walk from copious amounts of alcohol- to which Lucius smugly noted was probably due to boring conversation in the ballroom- he waved goodbye to Andromeda and Narcissa. Perhaps Narcissa would be free from Bellatrix's influence longer than he thought –he certainly hoped so, knowing he'd need an ally in the next event his family planned, whatever that may be.
