Narcissa was in the common room, studying for Potions. There was going to be a test tomorrow, and her marks hadn't been too impressive lately. She looked up as a log cracked in the fire, and watched with bored fascination as the wood settled and the embers glowed. With an irritable noise she shut her book and dropped it on the ground, lying back on the couch, staring at the dark arches of the ceiling.
Lucius was lying on his bed, reading the latest Dark Arts book, which his father had sent earlier that day. Its pages were hardly engrossing, as he had already learnt most of what it had to say. Deciding his time would be better spent with his friends, he rose from the green four-poster bed and made his way to the Common Room. Upon entering the harbor of Slytherin activity, he spotted a certain blonde haired girl sitting near the fire. His heart raced a bit, and he instinctively ran a hand through his already perfect hair. As none of his other friends were around, he decided to see what she was doing. Just be natural. Striding haughtily over to her, he settled himself on one of the Slytherin-green couches.
"Evening Narcissa," he said in his typical drawling voice. "What are you up to?"
Narcissa looked over at Lucius made his way to the couch. Her face remained impassive, and she managed to stomp down excited fluttery feelings in her chest. She responded to his greeting with a polite nod.
"I was studying for potions, but I've given up on that." She smiled lazily. "Whatever have you been doing? I haven't seen you since dinner."
Lucius glanced at the book on the floor and smirked a bit.
"Potions isn't your thing, eh?" he asked with a slight grin. Leaning back on the couch, he sighed. "I was reading a book that Father sent me... it's so bloody boring though." He rolled his eyes. "Like I haven't already read a thousand books about 'the history of the dark arts'."
She poked at the book on the floor.
"Potions is rather boring. It's too easy; you don't need to -think- for it." She smiled. "I like history though. At least it's partially interesting."
A small part of her wondered fuzzily why she was discussing academics with Lucius Malfoy instead of trying to snog his nose off.
Lucius smiled slightly as she poked at the book which remained on the floor. He actually enjoyed Potions, but he wasn't about to say so after she had professed her disdain for it.
"Potions is rather dull," he agreed.
He hated discussing school; it was practically the last thing he wanted to talk about. Much less talk about with Narcissa, when he could be discussing how beautiful her eyes were.
"So... are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?" He tried to sound nonchalant. He wasn't sure if he succeeded. He ran his hand through his hair again.
Narcissa gave a start as he asked her about Hogmeade and sat up, very carefully. She picked a nonexistent piece of hair from her kilt.
"Yes, I'm going… are you?"
Lucius nodded. "Of course, of course."
She felt rather silly and couldn't seem to make herself meet his gaze. She pushed the Potions book over to her left and leaned down to get it, setting it down on the couch beside her. She flicked her grey eyes up to meet his matching pair and laughed faintly.
"We're like twins, Lucius," she said softly.
He set his elbow on the arm of the couch and raised an eyebrow at her comment.
"Twins? How do you figure?"
She smiled, a small curve of the lips. "We're both quite pale, we have the same eyes, and, the same hair…"
As she spoke, she reached across the small table in between then, and gently picked up a section of Lucius's silver-blond hair. She dropped it hurriedly when she was finished speaking, and returned her hands to her lap where they sat, awkwardly. She picked at her skirt once more.
He tilted his head and felt a rush when she touched his blonde hair. He could sense her uneasiness. In truth, he felt somewhat awkward too, but it told him that she maybe, just maybe, returned his feelings. He smiled.
"You make an excellent point, except..." –he stretched his hand across the table now and brushed a strand of silky hair from her pale face– "...you're beautiful."
His expression was soft, almost impassive, but flirtatious nonetheless. He glanced towards the fire, then back at her.
She said nothing when he brushed her hair from her eyes, but her heart was thumping so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Lucius Malfoy had just told her she was beautiful. Mr. Desirability had just said she was beautiful.
"Thank you," she replied in a voice just above a whisper.
They sat in silence for a few moments before she found the courage to speak again.
"So…" she said, halting. "What will you be doing in Hogsmeade?"
"I suppose I'll just be aimlessly wandering around. I don't suppose you'd like to join me?"
He held his breath, unsure how she would respond.
She immediately sat up a bit straighter, a smile widening on her face. She quickly repressed this show of emotions, however, and replied primly:
"Why thank you. I would love to."
Inside, a small part of her set off celebratory firecrackers.
He couldn't help but let his lips curve into a large smile. For a moment, his voice seemed to stick in his throat, as if words were unworthy of such a wonderful moment. He quickly found that suave drawl again though.
"Marvelous. I'll look forward to it."
Glancing at the clock, he sighed.
"Forgive me, but I must take my leave."
He stood up and bowed slightly with a dramatic flourish of his hand.
"Good night, fair maiden."
With one last sultry glance, he headed up to the dorms.
