Sorry for the screwy chapter! Uploaded it in a different way and it appears to be fixed. To make up for it it'll be a two-chapter day. Thanks for reading
The grated fire in the sitting room didn't do very much in the way of warming the large space, so piles of blankets were needed to keep the occupants of the room warm as they sipped hot tea and cocoa in the chilly morning light. Evan had joined them again the night before as well as Rodolphus, causing the seating arrangements to be rather cramped. Bellatrix had taken this as opportunity to perch herself on Rodolphus' lap, burrowing under their shared blanket.
"Cozy there, are you?" Evan smirked at the pair. "What an adorable couple of lovebirds."
"I'm only here before your fat arse took up the last available seat, Rosier. Besides, he's warm," Bellatrix spat to her cousin, nestling in closer to the man she sat upon. Rodolphus shrugged, evidentially not caring what her motives were as long as she paid him attention.
Narcissa was squished up next to Lucius on one side and Regulus on the other, the young boy not wanting to be left out of the older teenagers' conversation. Andromeda was curled up in her own chair reading, but Sirius was no where to be found. Narcissa was also reading, her large volume propped up on her raised knees and the blanket was cocooned around her shoulders as she held her warm mug in her lap. Lucius was reading Narcissa's book – a revised version of the Rise of Merlin – from beside her, nursing his own drink and sharing her blanket.
He couldn't help but want to be close to this girl, and rejoiced inwardly whenever the chance arose. There didn't seem to be a genre of book that she didn't enjoy – he swore he had seen her with a muggle novel of some sort, which he knew he should care about but couldn't bring himself to.
The more time he spent around her and her family together the more similarities and differences he saw between her and them. Narcissa's temper, quick wit and keen mind hailed from the Blacks. She had told him about how her father had insisted that beginning on the girls' tenth birthdays they would be taught how to properly duel, for he did not wish to leave his daughters defenceless in a world where they were to be seen as meek and demure, and that all three girls were now extremely adept fighters. He had learned that her mother had once thought the Blacks as superior to herself, causing an imbalance of power early in Druella and Cygnus' marriage, however she had grown to appreciate what she as a Rosier could bring to the family over the years – this gave Narcissa the conviction that she was fully capable of standing her own next to whoever her husband may be, always supportive but intensely independent. Lucius had learned just how fiercely loyal Narcissa was to her family, how a part of her they were and how desperately proud she was to be a Black.
The blonde differed to the rest of her family, however, in her level-headedness. True, she could be quick to anger, which seemed to be a common family trait, however she was alone in the skill to mask this temper when the need arose. She also seemed intensely aware of the emotions of others around her, always able to sense what was being felt and the best way to deal with it – something that was severely lacking amongst her other relatives. This skill alone terrified Lucius, for he was certain that she could often sense just how much he had grown to care for her.
"Done this page?" She murmured, bringing him back to the present moment.
Lucius smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, completely zoned out of it. But yes, go ahead and turn."
She did so, immersing herself once again in the historic tale of the gifted young Slytherin. She enjoyed breaks from school when she had time to read material aside from what was assigned in class, and also when her dear family would be quiet enough for her to do so. To her disappointment, however, this peace didn't last much longer.
"So, Cissy, ready for your date tonight?" Bellatrix said in a sing-song voice. Narcissa's breath hitched as she felt Lucius stiffen beside her – she had meant to tell him before her family had to chance to, however she had yet to find the right words to do so.
"Date?" Evan said in confusion, eyeing how Lucius looked slightly stricken. "With who?"
"Almqvist," Bellatrix purred with a growing grin, eyes flashing maliciously at the destressed Lucius. She had not realized that the boy had not known, but all the better.
"The Swede?" Rodolphus asked and she nodded.
"Yes, Nicklaus apparently has quite the thing for our blonde beauty here, or so says his letter. I knew it was a good idea to bring him along that time to Hogsmeade. He's picking you up at seven, right Cissy?"
Narcissa's eyes were boring a hole into the page of her book, unable to look at Lucius nor her sister. "Yes, seven," she replied calmly, flipping the page so it appeared that she was reading. "At least that's what mum wrote back to him saying."
Lucius felt like he was going to be sick. Almqvist, the man who had eyed Narcissa so intensely in the Three Broomsticks all those weeks ago. He should have known. Why hadn't he asked Narcissa out before Nicklaus had the chance, why had he wasted away his time here adoring her from afar so while she was available for another man to swoop in, why oh why –
At that moment something strange happened. It was small, but at the exact same time Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Evan jumped in their seats, as if shocked by a spark. It was slight enough that Lucius was not sure if he had imagined it, however he looked over to Narcissa to see that she had looked up from her page and was staring at the three of them with slightly narrowed eyes.
Bellatrix stepped slightly from Rodolphus' lap as they rose, removing their blankets and setting down their tea.
"Going somewhere?" Narcissa asked, wondering what she had missed.
"Yes," Bellatrix grinned, adopting her disgusting baby voice. "Big gwown-up things, baby sister. Sorry!" She flounced over to kiss Narcissa's cheek quickly before doing the same to an equally confused Andromeda then grabbing Rodolphus' hand and skipping from the room, Evan following behind with a hasty goodbye. Narcissa and Andromeda looked at each other with matching frowns as they heard the front door slam.
"…Christmas shopping?" Andromeda offered incredulously before craning her head to see the grandfather clock. "Wait, what time is it? Ah, I'm sorry, I gotta run too."
"What? Where?"
"I might not be back until you're gone on your date, so if I miss you, have fun!" She too hurriedly kissed Narcissa on the cheek, not answering her sister's question before she exited the room, and shortly after, the house.
Lucius looked back down at Narcissa, whose jaw was set in a way he knew to be dangerous. "Hey, Reg?" The young boy looked eagerly up at him. "I bet Sirius is up to something much more exciting than us here. How about you go find him?"
Regulus slid off the couch sulkily, slumping onto the floor before scrambling to his feet. "Okay. Could we do something later? While Cissy is gone?"
Lucius smiled. "Sure thing. We'll go outside, maybe." This appeased Regulus enough to send him from the room, and Lucius finally turned to Narcissa, who closed her book with a harsh sigh.
"I don't understand why they won't tell me what they're up to. It's infuriating, having them running around all the time, obviously keeping secrets and only making small talk with me. With me – I'm the best secret keeper here! And the three of us would always tell each other everything. I knew when the both of them lost their virginities, they knew when I lost mine, I've known every single time up till now that Bella has snuck out during the night and I've covered for her until she's got back. I've hidden muggle oddities for Andy because my parents would never suspect me before her for such things. But now suddenly I don't deserve to know anything of their lives, while they still expect me to tell them everything about mine. I don't know what's changed, because it wasn't me!" She paused for a breath of air, her face slightly flushed. It felt good to vent to Lucius, even if it was perhaps not the most ladylike way to inform him that she was not as "pure" as society and her family believed her to be.
"Sorry," she muttered, tucking up her legs again and wrapping her arms around them. "Rant over."
He shrugged. "You don't have to be sorry, and you're allowed to rant. Especially when you hold it together so well usually. I think I'd have hexed them both by now."
She looked up at him with a small smile. "Yeah?"
"Oh yeah," he nodded, covering them both back up with the blanket. "Multiple times. You're a saint. And I really don't know how sisterly relationships work, but maybe… sit them down and flat out ask? That or blackmail, I don't know."
Narcissa gave a laugh, nodding. "Okay, blackmail it is. But really, you're right, I should just talk to them. Obviously they need some prompting. Which is what's weird to me, I don't know… I hate this change. Change with my sisters, with me becoming a 'woman' soon and all that apparently brings…" she trailed off as she looked up somewhat guiltily at Lucius.
"I guess suitors come with becoming a woman, eh?" He did his best to seem light hearted and joking.
Her brow creased deeper. "I was going to tell you before you heard it from, well, from Bella. I'm sorry." She shifted closer to him under their cover, feeling the back of her hand brush his.
"Why sorry?" He asked, his breath suddenly constricted in his chest. Her fingers reached back and slipped in between his, slightly curving around them.
"I – I don't know it just seems… like I should apologize…" Sweet Merlin, we're going to kiss.
He knew it too, and saw her eyes fluttering shut before closing his own, leaning in so that he breathed in the deep scent of her perfume and the floral of her shampoo, his nose brushing hers softly –
"Narcissa, do you have my copy of Moste Potente Potions? I seem to recall you borrowing it and can't find it anywhere in my study." The voice of Cygnus caused the teenagers to jump out of their skins, Narcissa lurching back from Lucius so violently that the book behind her was flipped off the couch and landed on the floorboards with a loud thud. Lucius felt as though all breath had been snatched from his lungs.
Cygnus then entered the room, seemingly entirely oblivious to what he had just interrupted. Narcissa gulped for air, leaning down to pick up the fallen book. "Sorry, father, I must still have it. It's either in my trunk or back at Hogwarts."
The man shrugged, walking over to sit himself down in the armchair previously occupied by Andromeda. "Don't stress about it," he stated as he crossed his legs. "Just curious."
Narcissa hadn't even settled back into the couch when Druella's voice came hollering. "Narcissa! We have to find you something to wear for tonight! Your sisters may have something suitable if your wardrobe doesn't inspire us." The blonde girl sprang from the couch, not looking at Lucius as she hurried to the door an up the stair to join her frantic mother, leaving Lucius alone with Cygnus to discuss the latest bill passed while all he could really do was think about how close he had just gotten to kissing the man's daughter.
It was nearly twelve hours after the almost-kiss as Lucius sat on the very same couch, holding a book in his hand but failing to actually read it. He had gone outside and flown with Regulus in the snow-filled night, much to the boy's delight, however the entire time his mind had been on the absent Narcissa. She had succeeded in avoiding him the entire day after her mother had called her way right up until she left with him. He had come to the door dressed in his (rather shabby, Lucius thought) best, a rose in his hand (cliché) and left with Narcissa on his arm.
The same Narcissa who had nearly kissed him that morning. His Narcissa. Lucius sank further into his personal pit of misery.
It was then that he became aware of another presence in the room and turned his head to see that very girl walking towards him. She looks lovely, he thought miserably as she made her way closer, a small, slightly abashed smile on her lips. They had picked out a simple, powder blue satin dress and jacket that fell to just above her knees, hair swept up elegantly from her face. Merlin, did he hate the thought of her dressing up for someone else.
Swallowing the lump of pain in his throat, he asked, in what was possibly an overly-cheerful voice, "How'd it go?"
Narcissa shrugged. "Alright, I guess. Nothing for the front page, but he was very nice." She plunked herself down on the loveseat next to him, tossing her clutch aside and staring at the dim fire.
I'm sure he was, Lucius thought bitterly. "Good, good. And he was… gentlemanly?"
Narcissa glanced sideways at him, smirking slightly, although she was so tired that she felt it didn't have its usual affect. "Yes, very gentlemanly. Nothing happened. We had a lovely dinner, he told me a lot about his country, which sounds beautiful, and that's about it. Don't worry."
"I'm not worried," he said quickly. "Just… making sure."
Narcissa shrugged slightly once again before giving a huge, very un-ladylike yawn. His shoulder, she noticed, was at the perfect height to rest her head on. "I don't think I'd mind too much if you were worried about me, Lucius," she murmured softly as she lowered her head to rest it on him. His shoulder was warmed slightly by the fire. "Lucius… about this morning – "
"Maybe… maybe don't say anything just yet," he spoke softly back. The moment was far too sweet for sober talk about what almost happened. She seemed to understand, and nodded slightly before, seconds later, her breathing slowed and evened. A long moment of silence enveloped the pair before Lucius gently rested his head upon her soft hair. "And I worry and think about you more than you know," he murmured once he was sure she was truly asleep.
The various skulls atop the mantle were the only witnesses to the scene of innocent contentment, however for once Lucius felt that he wouldn't have much cared if the entire school were to see him in such a sentimental state. He was realizing, with a jolt that only slightly made its way through the fog of sleep, that he was no longer in danger of hurting Narcissa due to negligence. If anyone was to be hurt out of whatever they were, it would be him, and he preferred it that way.