Severus took Narcissa to the Muggle shopping mall, a place she'd never been before. Despite his irritation with her for hiring him a trainer the day prior, he was still extremely amused by her complete lack of knowledge for Muggle traditions.

"What do they call this place?"

"The mall," he explained. She nodded and looked around. Her eyes portrayed both wonder and disgust. "So, keep your eyes open for someone attractive. She'll have to be real pretty, or Sirius won't look twice."

They made they're way to the mall's food court. Severus had to keep pulling Narcissa along or else she would stand they're mocking the Muggles all day. They sat down at a table in the midst of several food stands.

Narcissa spoke. "See anyone good?"

"No."

She sighed heavily. "I forgot, you only notice red-headed Gryffindors."

"Shut it. I'm not attracted to these muggles."

"Well," said Narcissa annoyed, "Just pick one."

"Okay. Erm… that one, over there." He nodded toward a tall, curvy teenager with long brown hair and light brown eyes with thick eyelashes.

"Nice choice," Narcissa said. "Now go ask her for a strand of her hair."

"I can't do that," he growled, "Don't you think that'd be a bit strange?"

"Just go."

"Nar-"

"GO."

"You do it!" But Narcissa only shook her head very slowly. She wanted him to go ask, and when did Narcissa Black ever fail to get as she desired?

The girl didn't take much notice to Severus as he stepped behind her and her friend in a line for food. Severus could feel his palms sweating. Though in his life time he had had more female friends then male, he couldn't help but feel nervous at approaching these girls. He swallowed hard and prepared to do exactly what Narcissa told him- be blunt and completely honest.

"Excuse me," he said, but it wasn't loud enough to catch there attention. "Excuse me?" he repeated.

The girls turned around. He was close enough now to see the specks of yellow in the pretty girl's round, brown eyes.

"I'm brewing a magical potion and need a strand of hair from the head of a beautiful girl. Would you like to assist?"

She laughed a very squeaky laugh. "A strand of my hair? You're ganna have to buy me dinner first."

"Buy you dinner?" Severus hurriedly emptied his pockets of his Muggle money. He hoped it'd be enough. "Does you're friend want dinner too?"

"You want to take out both of us?" asked the pretty girl.

"No…" said Severus, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. "I want a strand of your hair."

Both the girls' eye's traveled the length of his body. The pretty one turned to her friend.

"I don't want him," said the friend.

"Good, because I do." At seeing Severus' confused expression, she explained, "we always consult before pursuing a man."

"…and if I don't want to be pursued?"

She merely laughed. "If you didn't want to be perused then why did you some over to us?"

"For the strand of hair." He wished Muggles would listen once in a damn while.

She held out a brown curl. Severus hesitantly reached forward and pluck.

With the lock in his hands, Severus turned to leave.

"EXCUSE ME?"

He faced her once again. Her eyebrows formed a V-shape.

"Yes?" Severus sneered.

"That's it?" she asked, "you really only wanted my hair?"

"Yes. That's what I said, isn't it?" Severus stood there, waiting for her to reply to this.

It took her a long while, but finally, she said, "Y-you're a freak!"

"Yeah, yeah," Severus sneered, "I heard it all before." With the lock of hair curled beneath his finger, he marched over to Narcissa. Narcissa was laughing herself to tears at the table. Her chest was heaving and she could hardly say a word between giggles.

"Did- you… SEE- they're- faces?" she cried.

Severus sat down in the chair opposite and, ignoring her, carefully put the hair in a small vile.

"But-but- did you see the looks on they're faces?"

"Yes and I've never been more embarrassed in my life," he growled.

She looked up at him and raised a very questioning eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe I have been." A too-familiar memory of Potter hanging him upside down came to mind.

"They seemed to fancy you, you know," said Narcissa, seeming more impressed with herself then with him. "Until you pulled her hair out, that is."

Severus paid her little mind. He rose the vile to eye level, and examined the hair inside. "We'll need someone of age to multiply this for us. Then we'll have enough to last as long as we need."

"Bella will do it."

"Perfect."

"Sev, please let's walk around this malt."

He glared up at her dazzling smile. "It's called a mall, and I told you not to call me-"

"Sev?"

"Yes! That! Don't…"

"No," she cut in, "I meant… oh, just turn around!"

Severus' head spun around. His heart leaped like a frightened frog when he spotted that head of red hair that he'd dreamt of since his childhood.

"I-I forgot she comes here," Severus managed.

"Who is that hideous creature beside her?" Narcissa asked.

"Who? Oh, um, her sister, Petunia."

"Well, I can see who got the looks in the family," she noted.

"Let's leave."

"What? Why? We should go say hello."

"No," he said fiercely. "I'll kill you."

"a bit violent today, aren't you?" she teased.

"I just- I- never mind. Can we just get out of here?" Severus stood up. He stared down at the floor and let his curtain of black hair hide his face. "c'mon. Let's go."

Narcissa frowned but followed him out of the food court. They walked passed store after store. Narcissa kept misreading the names and pointing at the mannequins, as happy as a 1st year in Honeydukes. Severus, on the other hand, kept looking over his shoulder for a glimpse of Lily.

"Oh no!" Narcissa gasped at seeing the time on a series of cloaks being advertised in an antique store. "You're late for Quiditch training!"

"Narcissa, I refuse to subject myself to your… your…"

"Attempt to help you?"

"Yeah, that," he sneered.

She graphed hold of his sweaty hand and, despite his objection, ushered him to the exist.