Narcissa stumbled down the Common Room stairs the next morning, her eyes still full of sleep. She quickly brushed her hand over them and looked around. Regulus was waiting at the door with Lucius and Severus, and she knew Bellatrix was taking her Glory sweet time to put on some make up.
"Morning," she grumbled, sitting on the back of a couch, blinking hard a few times to wake up completely.
"You're a real sight in the morning, you know that?" Regulus chuckled.
"I send my sympathy to Bellatrix," Lucius mused. "She's the one who sees her before the rest of us see this."
Narcissa would have said something, but she was too tired to make the effort, so she simply rolled her eyes and yawned, signaling either her drowsiness or her boredom.
Heels came clicking down the stairs, as her's had done a moment ago, and Bellatrix appeared, looking brisk and awake.
However, despite her eager looking expression, Narcissa knew secretly Bellatrix was just as tired as she was.
"Good morning," Bellatrix said warmly, hopping up on the couch next to Narcissa.
"Well you're a sight for sore eyes," Rodulphus said happily coming down the staircase, slipping on the last step.
Normally, no one from a decent family would laugh at something as stupid as someone else's pain, but Narcissa let out a loud snort and quickly covered her mouth when Bellatrix shot her a glare.
"Shut up, Cissy," she growled. "That last stair is always slippery."
She turned her head so swiftly that Narcissa was whipped in the face by her sister's ponytail.
"Yes..." Narcissa whispered darkly, "Rough cement is usually slippery in the mornings."
She heard a couple chuckles come from behind her. Satisfied, she slid off the couch and left her sister to tend to her fallen boyfriend.
"Shall we...?" she asked, motioning to the door, "I'm so hungry."
"Ladies first then," Lucius said, graciously stepping to the side. Narcissa shot him a wary look.
The last time he said Ladies First to leave the Common Room there was a whole package of Dung bombs just waiting to explode all over her on the other side.
"You really want to do that, Cissy?" Bellatrix asked, walking over hand-in-hand with Rodolphus, "We haven't forgotten the presents you left us on the other side last year."
All the boys looked at each other and smirked.
"So... boys first," Bellatrix continued. "We insist."
Regulus rolled his eyes and pushed the door open, revealing nothing of any sort, "The trust from you two is appalling."
"The lack of maturity from you all is disgusting," Bellatrix grumbled, linking arms with Narcissa and walking out the door as quickly as they both could.
Narcissa looked at her sister and smiled. No matter how irritated her sister could be with her, Bellatrix would always side with Narcissa over anyone.
The smell of the Great Hall first thing in the morning was a feature that Hogwarts could not function without. Freshly brewed coffee, slightly burnt toast, and pastries littered the long tables as students filed onto the benches, grabbing what they could.
"Do you guys have Transfigurations first today?" Narcissa asked, looking down at her schedule as she walked.
"Let me see your Time Table," Lucius said, stopping in front of her, causing Narcissa to walk directly into him.
"Yeah here," she muttered, handing him the small piece of paper. His eyes traveled over it quickly, frowning a bit.
"I have almost every class with you," he muttered.
Narcissa was tempted to inquire whether that was such a horrible thing or not, but she held her tongue.
"Did you all hear the news?"
Everyone looked back and it was only then Narcissa noticed Bellatrix had gone back to walk with Rodolphus.
"Dippet's retiring!" Bellatrix exclaimed, "Someone new is going to be Headmaster."
"Have they said who yet?" Narcissa inquired, taking a seat next to her overly excited sister.
Who could possibly replace Dippet? Narcissa knew the old man used to be an exceptional Headmaster, yet only by Slytherin standard, which meant he was oblivious to all the rule breaking they had done over the years.
"Add two and two together, Narcissa," Rodolphus muttered, rolling his eyes in a cocky manner, "Dumbledore just got someone to "assist" him in class... And Dumbledore is already the Vice at school here... Once Dippet's gone we'll have that new broad for Transfigurations and Dumbledore for Headmaster."
"Quite a speech, Lestrange," Lucius snorted, "but if Dumbledore makes Headmaster... We can never do anything, because he's the one who usually catches us!"
Narcissa tuned out the groaning of her male peers as her eyes wandered up the long staff table, watching Dumbledore. He was talking to a younger witch beside him, McGonagall, who seemed very calm for her first day of teaching.
Narcissa would miss Dumbledore's classes, and she felt uneasy having someone new teach her things. She and Dumbledore had somewhat of a... a bond, if you will. So many times she had stayed after class, discussing the topic in further detail with him. Of course, she told all her friend's Dumbledore had caught her doing something and was giving her lectures, but she knew soon they would start to see a trend.
Dumbledore and McGonagall shared a laugh, then dug into their plates. He looked up, and Narcissa smiled weakly when he bowed his head an inch in her direction.
"Cissy, do I need to put food on your plate at every meal now?" Bellatrix demanded, shoveling some eggs onto her sisters' plate.
"No, I can do it myself," Narcissa snapped hotly, switching her plate for Bellatrix's, "and I don't want eggs."
"Eggs are good for you," Bellatrix stated, forking a few pieces and stuffing them in her mouth. "They keep that blonde mane of yours nice and shiny."
"I naturally assumed that was just grease," Regulus stated from across the table. Narcissa glared at him heatedly and gave his shine a swift kick from under the table.
"Oww... I was only joking, little Cousin."
She rolled her eyes, then got up, "I'll see you in class, Bella."
"Where are you going?" her sister demanded as Narcissa gathered up her books, "You can't skip out on a meal again, Cissy!"
Narcissa grabbed an apple, shot her sister an amused look, and hurried out of the Great Hall, thrusting the apple into Crabbe's hand as she passed him and Goyle.
She wanted to see someone, someone she knew would cause Hell to herself in the Slytherin House if she was caught.
She wanted to see Sirius.
She knew she would have to be quick, since class started in twenty minutes. Sirius and his friends usually ate outside by the lake for every meal, on a pleasant day.
Today was one of the most glorious days Narcissa had seen over the past little while. The sun was shining boldly in the blue sky, and there was not a single hint of clouding over. The wind blew softly against her Slytherin cloak as she moved along a well-trod path towards the edge of the lake.
There were more students outside, all of the houses took advantage of the wonderful day, yet Narcissa moved swiftly, and with purpose.
"Sirius!"
The shaggy black hair on her cousins' head whipped back when he glanced over his shoulder, his smile fading. James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew also simmered down a hint upon Narcissa's approach, although Peter's eyes were traveling greedily over her chest and legs.
She knew the skirt she picked out that morning was too short.
"What do you want?" Sirius inquired, standing up and dusting off a few grass bits that stuck to his cloak.
"Dippet's retiring," Narcissa said simply, "and we think Dumbledore is taking over."
"But... But he's the head of Gryffindor," James said loudly, standing up, "You can't tell us he's going to leave-"
"She didn't say leave Hogwarts, James, relax," Remus said calmly. "He's going to be a Headmaster... I suspect we'll be getting McGonagall as our new Head."
Narcissa admired the little Lupin boy, he was always so smart. He was in her Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and he appeared to know more about the subject then many of the Slytherins.
"I just wanted to let you know, before you heard some stupid rumour from someone else," she stated after a moment of silence. "I've got to go to class... Good bye, Sirius."
"Bye, Narcissa."
She looked down at her watch and groaned; five minutes until class. Everyone's classes began at different times, and it so happened she was, as usual, one of the first classes of the day.
She broke off until a run, her high heels clacking loudly against the stone floor. A hand suddenly shot out from a hall and grabbed her upper arm, causing Narcissa to scream.
"I figured you'd go to the old Transfigurations Room," Lucius laughed, pulling her up the staircase. "They left a note in the Common Room bulletin."
"Well I was too busy being insulted this morning to actually look," Narcissa growled. Lucius stopped walking.
It took her a fraction of a second to realize what she had said, and she quickly covered her mouth instinctively; something she had done since childhood.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing," she muttered quietly, "Nothing... I was... Talking to myself."
"Funny," Lucius smirked, "I naturally assumed you were speaking to me, since it was I who was insulting you."
Narcissa felt herself started to shake, not with fear, but fury. He was mocking her, she could see it in his eyes.
"Lucius Malfoy, don't mock me over something so stupid," she hissed, holding up a finger threateningly.
He raised an eyebrow and wrapped his large hand around her petite one, drawing it to his mouth and kissing the tip of her finger, "I wouldn't dare mock you, Narcissa. Now come, we're late for class."
He let go of her hand and continued up the stairwell. Narcissa frowned and looked down at her fingertip curiously.
Lucius pushed the door opening arrogantly, clearly making his entrance known to the class full of Slytherins and Ravenclaws, but Narcissa noted there was no teacher sitting at the desk. A large, orange tabby was, and Dumbledore's phoenix sang softly to itself on its perch near the back of the room.
"Where'd you go?" Bellatrix hissed, looking back as Lucius and Narcissa slid into the joined desk in the second row.
"Someone was going to the wrong Transfigurations Room," Lucius chuckled, throwing a know-it-all look Narcissa's way. "I figured I would help her along."
Narcissa rolled her eyes as she rummaged through her book bag, pulling out the thick Seventh Year textbook she had lugged around for the past hour. It must have been filled with lead, since it was so much heavier then everything else in her bag.
"You missed Dumbledore telling us that he won't be teaching today," Regulus said from the seat behind with Crabbe and Goyle, "He said he and Dippet had some business to go over, and McGonagall would be teaching today."
"Well where is she?" Narcissa asked, looking around the room.
"Probably late," Rodolphus muttered, "All new teachers are late... It's just tradition!"
The cat suddenly leapt off the table, transforming into a tall, slender witch, with her auburn hair tied back tightly in a bun.
"I certainly hate to break tradition, Mr. Lestrange," McGonagall insisted, "but it seems I have."
Rodolphus gulped and scowled, but remained quiet in his seat. Lucius sighed and sunk down, fiddling with his quill.
McGonagall watched him for a moment, then with a flick of her wand it changed into a thorn, upon which Lucius pricked his finger.
"I hope that will keep your attention up here, Mr. Malfoy," she mused, smirking ever so slightly. Regulus snorted softly from the back, but stopped when Lucius shot him a less then amused glare.
"This year, I will be taking over Dumbledore's classes," McGonagall stated. "Since most of the school is aware by now, he is up for a better position."
Narcissa's face fell at the thought of no longer getting a chance to talk with the man after class, but she was sure she would live.
"This year, we are going to do some Human Transformations," McGonagall stated, "so I will inquire that you are all using your utmost maturity. Some of the tasks I will ask of you in class could lead to damage to yourselves and peers, so heed my warning now."
Writing began to appear in Narcissa's notebook, and she closed it slightly, watching her sister write furiously on her own notebook in the seat in front of her.
Bellatrix and Narcissa received matching black and silver notebooks from Andromeda for Christmas the year before, and they found their gifts brilliant.
This enabled them to pass notes, sitting anywhere in the room. The writing would fade after a few minutes, making it almost impossible for a teacher to detect anything.
My she seems so full of herself... and what she's teaching. I suppose it's better then getting told about why trolls and such used this ruddy bit of magic... What do you think of her?
Narcissa wanted to answer, but McGonagall was now watching her, and she shut her notebook after scribbling Laterunder Bellatrix's note.
"That was so boring," Regulus groaned, "All we did was take notes!"
"I think it's safe to say my hand won't function for the next little while," Bellatrix grumbled, waving her limp hand around.
Narcissa smiled slightly, "You'll get used to it, Bella... We took mountains of notes last year."
"Oh shut up, Cissy," Bellatrix hissed, linking her hand with Rodolphus. "I have Potions next, you?"
Narcissa looked down the column, trying to see what her next class was, but Lucius answered, "Narcissa and I have study hall."
She shot a look over to him, then cursed. Her one flaw during school was remembering her Time Table. She usually had it clutched in her hand for months until she remembered when and what class to be at.
Lucius, however, seemed to know it already.
"I have Charms," Regulus sighed, "with these two lugs."
"I have Potions with you then, Bellatrix," Snape said softly from behind everyone, making the group jump.
He had a way with them... He could sneak up without anyone knowing.
He was a sly one, that Severus Snape.
"We'll see you at lunch then," Lucius muttered, waiting patiently for Narcissa to stop whispering with Bellatrix about something.
"So you and him alone?" Bellatrix cooed in her ear, "Are you sure you didn't plan this, Cissy dear?"
"Hush up and go to Potions," Narcissa murmured, pushing her sister gently towards the dungeons.
After saying short good-byes, everyone drifted off their own ways, leaving Narcissa and Lucius alone.
"Well... What do you want to do?" Lucius asked, readjusting his shoulder strap from his bag.
Narcissa shrugged, and coloured slightly when her stomach let out a loud growl, "Can we get something to eat?"
Lucius smirked and she felt his eyes linger in hers for a moment, then nod, "Why not... I could go for a snack."
She grinned and started off towards, Lucius close behind her. They took the scenic route, since they had an hour and a half to spare. There were many students in the courtyard, reading, chatting, some of the younger ones running around.
Peter Pettigrew was sitting alone at one of the tables, his notebook out. Narcissa made eye contact for a second, but looked away awkwardly when his eyes moved down her legs again, making her feel uncomfortable.
"Lucius," she muttered, stopping and looking back at him. "Can you... put your arm around my shoulder or something?"
He frowned, "Why?"
"Well that... Pettigrew character keeps looking me up and down and-"
Before Narcissa could even finish Lucius was strolling over to where Peter was sitting, a calm expression on the Malfoy's face. Narcissa hoped he wouldn't do anything to hurt Peter, since it wasn't a crime to look...
Lucius walked over slowly, watching that little rat of a boy Pettigrew gulp.
"H-Hello Lucius," Peter mumbled, "Whatever Narcissa told you isn't true, I-"
"Don't speak," Lucius said, silencing him, "Just listen. If you ever look mygirl up and down I'll make sure you don't have eyes to do it again... Clear?"
Petter nodded his head violently and Lucius smirked, enjoying the simple power he had over the simple mind.
Narcissa and Lucius sat at in the middle of the Slytherin table, Narcissa munching contently on a sandwich.
"You look thin," Lucius said suddenly when Narcissa finished the last bite of her sandwich. "Eat another one."
Narcissa wished he wouldn't order her around, like she was below him, but that was how Lucius was raised, how she was raised. Her family, along with many of the Pureblood families of that day and age, strongly believed the men were the King of the Castle, and women were nothing but dirt.
"I'm full though," Narcissa stated, looking at him through her soft blue eyes, "I'm not hungry."
"I want you to eat," Lucius said firmly. "Your sister told me about your summer."
"I just wasn't hungry then!" Narcissa argued, "I don't see why it's so difficult to understand! When I'm hungry, I eat, when I'm not, I don't!"
"Well..." Lucius paused, grabbing two pieces of bread, "Share one with me then."
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
"Then why eat?"
"Because I want you to eat."
Lucius went silent after he said his last statement, but continued piling up some meat and lettuce between two slices of bread.
Severus joined the pair sometime later, after Lucius had somehow managed to force Narcissa into eating several more sandwiches.
"How was Potions?" Lucius inquired, pulling Narcissa towards him. She made eye contact with Severus, and his comment from the night before echoed in her head.
"I think he does it... Just because he can."
Narcissa, however, didn't push Lucius back, since she was completely stuffed and on the verge of exploding. She leaned her back against his shoulder, just enough so she could see Severus.
"Slughorn is going on leave for a while."
Narcissa's eye widened, "Another one going... We're losing all of our teachers!"
"He said Dippet will make a big announcement about it at dinner tonight," Snape stated.
Narcissa couldn't believe that teachers were leaving Hogwarts. Teachers had never left, not once during her stay at Hogwarts.
"Did he say who?" Lucius asked, his hand slowly moving around Narcissa's waist, "Someone younger I hope."
"Some bloke," Bellatrix said quickly, "and take your arm off my sister you pest or I'll do it for you."
"I wasn't-"
"Yes, yes I watched you pull her up against you," Bellatrix snapped, grabbing Narcissa by the arm and dragging her up out of her seat. "Keep your big hands to yourself, Lucius Malfoy."
Narcissa stared at her sister with total disbelief, as did Lucius and Severus, as Bellatrix yanked her along the hall and out.
"What's wrong with you?" Narcissa demanded, freeing her arm from Bellatrix. To her shock, a few small tears rolled down her sister's pale face.
"Not even a week into the relationship and I already find him feeling up some girl in class!" Bellatrix blubbered, brushing some tears away angrily, "That tart... Patricia Paymees... from Hufflepuff! He went to a Hufflepuff! I stood there and watched him put his hand up her leg and everything!"
Narcissa felt her stomach drop. She hated seeing her sister like this, hurt was never a good emotion on Bellatrix.
"Did... Did you say anything to him?" Narcissa pressed softly, rubbing Bellatrix's arm.
"Well..." Bellatrix sniffed, "I asked him what he thought of Patricia afterward... And... And he told me she had a nice pair of legs... Worth Galleons in his mind... I just walked off to find you afterward!"
Bellatrix looked over Narcissa's shoulder and let out a sob. Narcissa glanced back and saw Rodolphus walking toward the Great Hall, a pompous smirk on his face.
"Go find us a seat outside," Narcissa said, "We'll start some homework and take your mind off it."
"Where are you going?" Bellatrix asked, trying desperately to not look as though she had been crying as more students filed out into the halls for lunch.
"Just give me a minute," Narcissa said kindly, "I'll get you a sandwich."
Bellatrix nodded and shuffled off towards the door.
Narcissa, fuming, had no intention on getting her sister a sandwich. How could he just do that to her?
As arrogant as Pureblood men were, they stuck to ONE woman when they had them. Her father had never once strayed from her mother, and she knew he never would.
Rodolphus was sitting next to Lucius, Regulus across from the pair beside Severus. They all broke out laughing at something one of them had said.
She spotted a glass of red fruit punch and smirked.
"What was with your sister?" Lucius asked when Narcissa got close enough to hear him over the dim of students talking.
"Yes, she seemed a little upset when we left Potions," Rodolphus muttered, grabbing a Treacle Tart.
Narcissa picked up the glass of red liquid and dumped it over Rodolphus's head, letting it spill all down his face and onto his white shirt.
She had never done anything like that before... and it made her feel... good.
Everyone around the pair stopped eating or talking, Regulus even dropped the sandwich in his hand.
"You, Rodolphus Lestrange, are a piece of filth," Narcissa hissed, "If you even touch my sister again, I'll make sure you don't have the hands to do it, to her or any other girl, git."
She turned on her heel and stormed out the Great Hall.