Author's Note: I hope everyone enjoys! Please review!

Under the Moon and the Stars

Narcissa smiled fondly at Draco, who was busy building a card castle with his Exploding Snap cards.

He saw her watching and grinned. "Hey Mum."

"Hello, Draco," Narcissa said with a twinkle. "I suppose you want to hear what happens next, with your father?"

Draco raised his eyebrows, ignoring his castle as it exploded. "You're not going to make me beg this time?"

Narcissa smiled fondly at her son. "I suppose not. Now, after your father and I took our relationship to the next level……"

iv. Moonlight

Lucius was in his seventh year of Hogwarts, with Bellatrix, and they finally had to buckle down to study for their NEWTs. Narcissa, a fifth year, was also frantically studying for her OWLs. This severely limited the amount of time Lucius and Narcissa could spend together.

One day at lunch, Narcissa was making Andromeda, a sixth year with no life-or-death exams to study for, quiz her.

"Who led the goblin rebellion of 1816?" Andromeda asked dully.

Narcissa cringed. "Er. It was one of the ugly ones, I know that."

Lucius slid into the seat next to her. "They're all ugly. I think this particular one was Berlin the Brave, though."

Andromeda nodded and Narcissa sighed with frustration, before giving Lucius a kiss.

He gently pulled away and stood up. "I have to go. Snape is holding some sort of study group. It's rather ridiculous, but I figured I could get all the potions information I need from him. But meet me tonight, in the Owlery, at say, midnight, okay?"

Narcissa frowned. "That late?"

Lucius shifted impatiently. "Well, I'm busy until curfew, and then I have something to discuss with some friends, so yeah, that late. Can you make it or not?"

Narcissa sighed. "Fine. Owlery at twelve."

Lucius grinned and kissed the top of her head. "See you then." He sauntered away, and Narcissa, rolling her eyes, delved back into her book about goblin rebellions of the early nineteenth century.

When it was a quarter to twelve, Narcissa slammed her potions book shut and quietly crept out of the Slytherin common room, which was strangely empty. Where was Lucius?

"What are you doing out so late?" the portrait wondered aimlessly as Narcissa tried to get through.

Narcissa scowled. "Bathroom," she muttered. The portrait clucked with disbelief and disapproval, but let her pass.

After several terrifyingly close encounters with Filch or Peeves, Narcissa made it to the Owlery. Lucius was already there, smirking at her.

"Where did you come from?" Narcissa demanded.

Lucius shrugged. "I was in the library and then I went to the kitchen because I missed dinner. You have no idea how bloody hard it is to prepare for these damn NEWTs. They determine everything!"

Narcissa started to rub his shoulders. "I know," she said sympathetically. "Bellatrix hexes everyone in sight, she's so stressed. But really, you don't need any NEWTs for what she wants to do."

Lucius spun around and looked at her. "You don't need any NEWTs for what I want to do either," he said carefully. "But for appearances, I am going to need a good job, and you do need NEWTs for that."

Narcissa felt her heart pound, but there was no tremor in her voice when she asked, "What do you want to do?"

Lucius looked at her coolly. "I was thinking of working in the Ministry, perhaps."

"No," Narcissa breathed. "What do you want to do?"

Lucius looked out the window. "Do you really want me to answer that, Narcissa?"

Narcissa nodded, bathed in the moonlight. "Yes, Lucius. I do."

He nodded curtly. "I want to do exactly what Bellatrix wants to do. I want to serve the Dark Lord and assist in his rise to power."

Narcissa looked down, unable to speak. Lucius cupped her chin with his hand and raised her face to his. "Listen," he said. "I will be fine. But you know this is dangerous work. I don't want you anywhere near this."

Narcissa bit her lip. She couldn't imagine Lucius, in a black cloak, cursing innocent people and killing them. But it was all in the name of pureblood supremacy, so it had to be right. Of course, she had no intention of joining herself. She nodded anyways, smiling up at Lucius.

He fingered her golden hair, shining in the light of the moon. "Narcissa," he said in an incredibly tender voice. "I didn't expect to tell you this. But I thank you for accepting it calmly, without hysterics. You are a remarkable girl and I-" He broke off, a tint of color to his normally pale cheeks, and kissed her instead.

Narcissa kissed him back, deciding not to think about how scary it was that her boyfriend and sister were going to be part of a madman's army- for that's what the Dark Lord was, Narcissa knew that, no matter what her parents or Bellatrix said- and instead, focused on how beautiful Lucius looked in the moonlight.