Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Seriously.
A/N: A sequel to 'A Brand On My Soul'.
A/N2: Much thanks to everyone who reviewed on the previous drabble and requested Lily's POV. I dunno if this is what you all had in mind, but this is what the muse insists on offering. Hope you all enjoy it as much as you did the previous drabble (do check out 'A Brand On My Soul' if you haven't!). Let me know by reviewing. However short, reviews are always appreciated!
"So," Narcissa Black spoke up as she settled into the seat next to Lily's, rearranging the folds of her robes as if she were a visiting queen and Lily her obedient attendant. "Why were you crying?"
Lily sighed and closed the dusty tome she had been immersing herself in before the unforeseen arrival of the older girl. "How subtle of you," she groused, turning to face Narcissa.
Narcissa smiled sweetly at Lily. "Well?" she prompted.
Lily exhaled and wrung her hands in her nervous state. "It was nothing important," she murmured reluctantly. "I was a little homesick." Why was she confiding – not that what she was imparting was anything of great significance or secrecy – in a complete stranger? Though she could not deny she felt more comfortable in Narcissa's presence than she had been in anyone else's since arriving at Hogwarts only a few weeks ago.
Narcissa looked thoughtful or maybe perplexed – Lily could not quite tell. "You – well, do you love home to such an extent?"
Lily frowned. "Doesn't everyone?" At Narcissa's shrug, she corrected herself, "Don't you?"
"No," Narcissa replied simply. She leaned back and folded her hands on her lap. "But I suppose we have different homes to start with." She smiled in a way Lily could only describe as sad and asked softly, "Will you tell me about your home?"
Lily flushed. "It's nothing extraordinary, really. We're just your average Muggle family. I'm sure you'd get bored -"
"Please?" Narcissa interrupted, sitting up as if surprised, a blush rapidly blooming on her cheeks as she realised what had slipped through her lips.
Lily blinked, surprised as well. She quickly bit down on her bottom lip. She suspected Narcissa would not appreciate her smiling at this point. So, she quickly opted to break the awkward silence by starting, "Well, I have an older sister named Petunia. Our parents thought it cute to name us after flowers, you see."
Narcissa's shoulders relaxed in obvious relief. She closed her eyes and leaned back once again, her head tilting towards Lily as the redhead told tales of her home in her gentle but firm voice.
Lily smiled as she watched Narcissa, memorising her features without meaning to, enjoying the little smirks and the soft giggles Narcissa let out as she told more and more stories. Lily's voice was starting to rasp, her throat felt dry, but she did not want to stop. She wanted Narcissa to stay and listen, wanted to experience more of the blonde's dry wit, wanted to feel this warmth constantly crawling up her neck as she received yet another one of Narcissa's rare smiles. What, Lily wondered idly, was this feeling?