December 1971

It was quiet. Narcissa shifted uncomfortable in the dining room, aware that silence was a rare event in the Black household. Forty-five minutes had passed since the last sound had echoed through the many halls to where Narcissa sat, the hard wood chair causing her back to ache. Her mother had been very strict on her instructions; to wait right there, not to move in case she ruined her dress, her hair, anything about her current get-up.

Narcissa did not argue; the dress she wore was something that had been in the family for a long while, the most expensive blue silk falling to her knees. She had no idea how was visiting, her parents declining to share such information with her, only that they were "very important -- especially for you, Narcissa". Not curious in nature, she had decided not to press them for any other details, only to do what she was told. She would be a good daughter and just hope she would be rewarded for that. She couldn't fathom who these mysterious guests were, especially since it would be affecting her most of all.

"Cissy!"

The low call of her sister came from the doorway, making her jump -- she had been watching the clock so intently she had not noticed her appear.

"Cissy, come on," Bellatrix Black beckoned her. Narcissa frowned, rising from the chair but not moving towards the other girl. "Cissy, hurry up!"

"Mother said to stay he --" Narcissa began.

"Merlin, stop being such a goody two-shoes, and hurry the hell up," Bellatrix snarled; she had never been renowned for her patience. "They're here!"

At this, Narcissa's eyebrow quirked, glad she would not be waiting much longer. Her back had become stiff, not to mention the aches in her backside.

"Who is it?"

"You'll see!" Bellatrix laughed, and grabbed Narcissa by the wrist as she came towards her. Before the younger sister could object, she was being pulled down the hallway towards the stairs, where she would be able to see the guests.

***

"Oh!" Narcissa breathed, hands wrapped around the bars of the railing across the landing.

Bellatrix sniggered, watching her sister's expression. Below them, by the front door, which was still left open causing a sharp breeze to ruffle Druella Black's hair. In front of her, stood three figures; she did not recognise the other two, whom she presumed to be the father of the younger male. The male, however, she did recognise…

"It's Lucius! Lucius Malfoy!" she whispered, looking to her sister for confirmation.

Bellatrix nodded, and stuck her tongue out.

"I knew you had a crush on him," she whispered back. "I knew it!"

Narcissa shoved her sister in the arm, who protested with a 'hey!', luckily not loud enough to alert the visitors - or, even worse, their parents - below.

"I do not!" the younger girl informed her sister, setting her jaw.

This was only half-true; it would be true to say, certainly, that the youngest Black sister found the blonde very attractive - but, then, there were few females in Slytherin who did not. But she had come to dislike his attitude towards the attention he got from the girls -- he seemed to bask in it, as if being handsome was some kind of personal achievement.

She was quite surprised to see him in their home, Narcissa did have to admit, if not a bit excited at the idea that others would be jealous of this (particularly her best friend, who has quite the crush on Lucius Malfoy). She wouldn't even need to tell people, since it would spread quite fast that the Black sisters had had Lucius round for dinner…

"Narcissa!" her mother shouted suddenly, causing both Narcissa herself and Bellatrix to jump. "Bellatrix! Andromeda!"

The two former Black sisters straightened up, Narcissa carefully smoothing down her dress. She could see Lucius's slight figure through the gaps still, the dark suit fitting his body perfectly. As always, his head was help high, his hair just reaching his ears. He had always worn it longer than the other males, something that Narcissa suspected added to his appeal.

Behind her, as the two of them descended the stairs, she heard the footsteps of her older sibling, Andromeda, coming from the left wing of the house -- from the library, Narcissa suspected. Following her eldest to greet the Malfoys, she felt butterflies in her stomach as she tried to remember how to conduct herself.

Greeting the two elder Malfoys with a shake of the hand and a kiss on either cheek, she found herself standing in front of the youngest. Though he was the same age as her, he seemed much older, if not only because he had at least three inches on Narcissa. She felt her cheeks flush slightly, and hoped the thick layer of make-up her mother had applied was enough to hide it.

"Narcissa," Lucius drawled, smirking slightly (had he noticed her blushing?). He bent down to brush his lips against her hand.

"Lucius," she replied, her voice holding an air of an excitement, no matter how much she tried to push it down. Lucius' smirk grew larger as her mother ushered them all into the dining room. She jumped as she felt a warm hand on her back, guiding her through her own home, a nervous smile appearing on her lips.

Narcissa could tell tonight would be an eventful night.