Molly wasn't speaking to him. He'd tried to catch her eye at breakfast but had been unsuccessful; she sat with her back facing him and resisted all urges to turn around. Lucius had known he was in trouble long before he'd left the room last night, but he had no idea how deep he was in until he went to meet her after.

She hadn't been there.

He checked the courtyard on his way to Arithmancy, hoping that she'd be there. She usually blew off the first few minutes of History of Magic - it was a safe bet that Professor Binns wouldn't notice if someone walked in late. To his chagrin, however, she was nowhere to be found.

Classes were unbearable. In classes they shared he spent the whole time trying to catch her attention, and in classes they didn't share he spent the whole time thinking about ways to make it up to her.

Narcissa wasn't making matters any better. Every chance she got she was by his side. She was like the fly buzzing around your head or the little cousin you're obligated to entertain. She would not leave him alone, something he was sure Molly had noticed.

The last class of the day was Charms. Charms was the kind of class that it was easy to have private conversations in. After the lesson was taught, the students were told to partner up and practice. Lucius quickly made his way to Molly's side and pulled her into a corner of the room, ignoring her protests.

"I'm not taking no for an answer, Molly, so please just calm down and talk to me."

Molly scrutinized the look on his face. His expression carried no traces of his usual arrogance. His tone was frustrated but also strained. She avoided his eye as long as was possible. "This is what you call an inconspicuous relationship? Isn't it bad for your reputation to be seen making nice with a Gryffindor?" She couldn't refrain from being nasty. As little as she'd like to admit it and as coy as she played, she'd fallen hard for the bad boy this time. She was hurt; it hurt to look at him, and it hurt even more to be forced to speak to him. Especially given the topic she knew he wanted to discuss.

His face darkened, and his words came out low and biting. "Nevermind my reputation. This is about you and me."

She dropped her gaze, mumbling softly. "And Narcissa."

"And nothing!" He was tired of people harping on about him and Narcissa. It hadn't happened and it was never going to happen. "That's what you think? That there's something going on with me and that bimbo?" He was appalled that Molly would even think that of him. He thought she'd known him better than that. As she nodded her head he could feel nothing but annoyance and a flicker of anger. "Merlin's saggy— Nothing, and I repeat nothing is going on with me and Narcissa. Nothing is going to be going on with me and Narcissa. How many times do I have to say it?"

Her temper had sparked as if an entirely new fire had been lit underneath it. "Nothing? I saw you, last night. I saw you."

He had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. "Of course you saw that Moll, it's the—"

"I'm not talking about that." She shook her head, trying to keep tears from reaching her eyes. "Before all of that. I saw the way she was looking at you." He opened his mouth to protest, but she continued before he could make one sound. "And I saw the way you were looking at her." Her eyes reflected the pain she felt inside, and seeing that made Lucius' blood run cold. He knew what she was talking about. He knew exactly what she was talking about.

The professor's voice broke through the noise of the classroom and both Molly and Lucius turned to listen. "Next class I expect your essays on my desk before the lesson. Remember everyone, three feet."

Lucius looked back at Molly, but she was already packed up and leaving the room. Her red hair swished behind her and a vanilla perfume hung in the air where she had stood.

XxXxX

The next few days were chaos. There were more girls interested than Molly could accommodate in one night. Even worse, Narcissa had come back with a sack full of Galleons and a thirst for more "entertainment". "I'm impressed, Prewett." The blonde girl smiled despite the daggers coming out of her eyes. "Your little business seems to be succeeding. Congratulations." The congratulations was dry, and in Molly's opinion, a little too much.

"What do you want, Black?" she asked wearily. Molly was in no mood for Narcissa's games and quite frankly just didn't have the time. One of her boys was in hospital and another had gotten himself a week in detention. Still another had found himself a proper girlfriend and quit completely.

"Simple, really." She reached one hand into her pocket and pulled out another jingling bag, this time full of gold. "I want another turn."

Molly sighed heavily. She couldn't refuse a payment like that, but on the other hand she was already booked up for that night. Anyway, why would she accommodate Narcissa? "I'm all booked up next week, sorry. The week after that too, so don't even ask."

Narcissa narrowed her eyes. She wasn't used to being denied what she wanted. Scowling, she lowered her voice to a venomous hiss. "I'm not afraid of a detention, Prewett, but if this… ah… scandal were to come to the Headmaster's attention I think the consequences for the person running these illicit activities would be a little more severe. Get what I'm saying?"

Molly really hated her. "Y'know what, Narcissa? If you can find me four more boys I'll see what I can do, but I seriously doubt it'll happen. Other than that, there's nothing."

"You don't think I could get you four more boys?" Narcissa laughed. "Now you're insulting me. That's child's play. Fine, I'll get you your boys. Just make sure I have the one I want."

XxXxX

Lucius had never had such a good reason to reflect on his actions. His girlfriend hated him. His reputation was in need of serious repair. And Bellatrix was writing to him.

Lucius,

My sister tells me you've gone and gotten yourself a girlfriend of the Gryffindor variety. I write on behalf of your family, my family and Slytherin house when I say that your actions are atrocious. My parents are as of yet unawares, and I'm sure yours are as well. I am willing to keep this deviation from the plan off of your father's radar provided that it ends quickly.

Come to your senses.

Bella

P.S. She'd better at least be a pureblood.

He'd never really been friends with Bellatrix, but they'd never really been unfriendly, either. In fact, he could remember one time when they were quitefriendly indeed. He didn't know much about her, but he'd never felt the need to know that much about her. It's like they were getting married or anything. He knew one thing for sure, though: If Bellatrix said to do something, you did it.

Lucius was fuming when he got back to their Common Room. It was empty and unnaturally dark, although the green glow did provide an ambient sort of light. He kicked a table in his frustration, sending it flying across the room. It broke, as did everything on it. The sound of splintering wood and shattering glass became cacophonous as they echoed off the stone walls, reverberating until they filled the dank room. From the dormitories, someone heard the noise and that someone came running.

That someone was Narcissa.

He rounded on her in a heartbeat, brandishing the letter in front of her. "You went to Bellatrix? What the hell?" He advanced slowly with each sentence. "You don't go running to your sister to fix all your problems – what are you, twelve?"

She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes in a cold stare. "Clearly nothing I say will force you to come to your senses. You gave me no choice."

"It's none of your business! What I do, Narcissa, is not your business." He put emphasis on the last three words, taking one step as he pronounced each of them. By now he'd crossed the whole room, and she was right up against the wall with him standing menacingly a few feet in front

"Actually," her response was quick and triumphant. It was like she had trapped him into saying what he had said so she could pull out some secret weapon. "It is my business. I seem to keep having to remind you that we're to be married."

Saying that brought her too much joy; hearing that made Lucius' heart sink further down from its already lowered position. His expression darkened; his words came out a low growl. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

"But that's just it, isn't it?" She was smiling now. "You don't get a say."

Oh yes, it was a secret weapon. And it was lethal.

A/N: I think I'll just stop promising smut "next chapter". It'll come when it comes, when it's part of the plot. And it will be.