When the three of them all go shopping together, they go to Muggle shops, because Narcissa has a reputation to maintain and Lily knows all the best places and Marlene doesn't really care as long as she's with her girlfriends.

They're looking for dresses, nominally because they're nineteen and they have been invited to four weddings in the last two months, but mostly because dress shopping with each other is just fun. Lily twirls in a circle in front of Narcissa, Marlene, and the mirror. Her dress is a deep emerald that brings out the darker flecks in her eyes. Narcissa's gaze lingers at the place where the neckline drops low. Marlene is staring at the curve of her neck and where it turns into her shoulder, the inch-wide strap only drawing attention to the jut of her collarbone.

Lily blushes, the red of her cheeks hiding her freckles. As a deflection, she shoos Narcissa into the dressing room with the magenta gown she's chosen. Narcissa comes out, and Lily can't help her jaw dropping. Her blonde hair and the pale magenta of the dress and the flare of the skirt make her look ethereal, as though she's an angel descended, just waiting for her time to ascend again. Marlene pulls her in for a kiss. Lily understands the urge.

"Get that one," Lily says without hesitation.

"Only if you get that one," Narcissa says.

"Deal," Marlene agrees for both of them. She grins at them.

"Why are you so damn fat?" comes from the neighboring dressing room. The three of them freeze at the yell.

"Honestly, how many times have I told you to stop eating so many sweets? You just have no self control, do you?"

Lily peers around the corner to see a mother and a girl who may be around 10. The girl is slightly above average weight, but not by much.

Narcissa leans over her shoulder, and then slides easily around her.

"Excuse me, that's enough," she says, firmly but coldly to the mother.

The mother looks at her, eyes wide. "What?"

"I said, that's enough. You are seriously damaging your daughter's self esteem for no reason but your own pettiness. You need to stop."

"Who are you to judge my parenting? I don't see you with a child."

"No, but I've been one. And my mother was a lot like you. She expected perfection. I know the damage that does."

Lily and Marlene are staring at Narcissa in awe. Narcissa took forever to admit how she felt about her mother to them, let alone to a complete stranger.

But before they can react, Narcissa has carefully moved forward and is looking the child in the eye.

"You are not fat. And even if you were, it wouldn't matter. It's not about external beauty. You're beautiful inside."

The child blushes. Despite what her mother may think, she's an adorable child — her skin is deep brown and the coral shirt she wears offsets it perfectly. Her face is round and her smile as she looks at Narcissa lights up her face.

"Thank you." Her voice is deep and surprisingly solemn.

Narcissa nods, and floats back to her girlfriends.

When they've rounded the corner, Lily and Marlene simultaneously silently squeal at her. "That was amazing," Marlene says under her breath.

Lily hugs Narcissa. "I'm so proud of you." Marlene piles on the hug.

"Kind of surprised, though," Marlene admits. "That was a very Gryffindor move."

Narcissa smiles faintly at her. "Hopefully that means that you two will become more Slytherin, as well."

Lily and Marlene both grin, look at each other, and in synch, say, "Nah, I don't think so."

Amber's Valentine Drabbles - LilyNarcissaMarlene, Magenta

(Stickers: shopping) (insane house: word: ethereal) (365: 57. Color: coral) (character appreciation: plot, protecting a child, bonus for Lily) (days of the month kiss a ginger: lily in a relationship) (showtime: finale: that's enough) (Buttons: Marlene)