One Year Before

Kai had been ecstatic when he received his brother's letter, even if it had been short. They hadn't seen each other since… well, since their father had died. But Nathan had invited Kai to come down to the home where he was staying for Christmas.

Now that the Slytherin was actually outside the house he had no idea what he was doing. Luckily he was saved from making a decision by three small kids running right past him into the house, a fourth running straight into him.

"Sirry, Mistah," the kid bellowed, righting himself and offering the much taller male a hand that wouldn't do much to help.

"It's alright, I heard a rumour that redheads can't actually see three steps in front of them." The words spewed from Kai's mouth without much thought process, or any to be honest, and the kid looked a bit shocked, pouting sadly and opening his mouth to retort.

"Aye," A female voice interrupted, smacking the now standing Kai across the back of his head, "Mal might be a damn klutz but you've got no right to speak ta him like that, now apologize."

It was Kai's turn to be shocked but all the same he looked between the redheaded pair and stuttered out a confused apology.

The young boy grinned, "It's alrigh' Mistah, if ya have to deal with Mary we're gonna be even pretty quickly."

"Hey!" Mary exclaimed indignantly, shaking her head, a small smile pulling on her lips as she waved the younger one away, "Scat Malcom, you've got homework to do."

The boy nodded, running into the house, but not before he stuck his tongue out at Kai. The latter rolling his eyes before looking at the girl in front of him, it might've been silly but he hadn't been stood up to before. Probably something to do with being a Slytherin, here he wasn't a Slytherin, he was a stranger who had just made a really bad first impression.

Just as he had opened his mouth but the girl spoke first, "You must be Kai, Nate's little brother." She held out her hand, "Mary, Nathan's been living with us, til he can find his own place."

"What," Kai blinked in confusion, shaking her hand, "He's been sending us money this whole time, he can afford his own place."

For a moment the redheaded girl gave him a confused look but she quickly shook her head and turned to the house, calling over her shoulder, "You'll have to take it up with him then, he'll be home in a bit."

Home? Had his brother actually gotten so close to this family that this was his home? His home should be with his mother, and Kai, not with strangers.

Somehow Jane had ended up at the Malfoy Manor for the first part of her Christmas break. And yes, she knew why. But it still amused her to no end. The blonde boy himself was positively annoyed with the situation, Jane had scoffed at his request for her to join him as his date for his parents ball but he reminded her that she did owe him a favour.

Honestly, she thought he was going to use that favour for something that mattered even the slightest bit. But in the end she still stood beside him, he arm laced through his own as he chatted airily with other guests.

"I despise everyone here," he admitted under his breath once the last couple had left.

"Shocking," Jane retorted, "From the pure-blood supremacy you continuously spout I thought you would thrive in this environment."

Lucius glared and Jane couldn't help a smirk, she stepped towards the dance floor, offering him her hand. She was rewarded with a suspicious look as he warily accepted, fluidly leading them to the center of the floor, "You can dance?"

Jane scoffed, shooting her 'date' a pointed look as she stepped out, taking his hand lightly and stepping to the slightly faster beat of a strange song by a muggle named 'Elvis'. "I may enjoy the company of muggles and muggleborn, which is seen as a sin by some, but that doesn't entirely affect dance lessons, Lucius."

"You look like an angel,"

"Look like an angel."

"Walk like an angel,"

"Walk like an angel."

"Talk like an angel,"

"Talk like an angel."

"But I got wise."

Lucius smirked at his shorter dance partner, "You're the devil in disguise."

At that Jane laughed, "Well, I'd say it's a rather good disguise for the devil."

"It's practically your theme song," Lucius amended.

Jane spun on her toe, tapping her feet and spinning back into Lucius' arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up to whisper in his ear, "I'll choose to take that as a compliment." Before dancing away again, in response Lucius caught her hand and twirled her back towards himself, dipping her down and earning an eye-roll from the female Potter.

"So who are you?" At the raised eyebrow Kai cleared his throat, "I mean; to my brother."

"A friend," Mary replied easily, setting a cup of tea in front of her guest. "He talks about you quite a lot."

Kai couldn't resist the urge to snicker, "Am I living up to expectations?"

Mary raised an eyebrow, "Not entirely."

"Really."

"I do believe he said you were a tad bit more annoying in person."

"Annoying? Honestly?"

With a chuckle Mary sipped her tea, shaking her head she just smiled.

"Well he never wrote about you in his letters."

In response Mary tilted her head to the side, orange curls falling over her shoulder, "Are you trying to make me jealous?"

"No." Kai answered all too quickly.

The girl chuckled again, her eyes practically glowing, "Relax, no one's trying to take your brother from you."

"This is stupid," Lucius grumbled, not bothering to keep up his character if the only one that could hear him was Jane.

"I'm not an entertainer, Lucius," Jane replied, lifting her glass of punch in greeting to someone across the room, "I honestly have no idea why you needed me here."

"You make it slightly less idiotic."

The Ravenclaw raised an eyebrow, deadpan, "You say the sweetest things."

In return the Slytherin scoffed, "I'll have you know I could charm the skirt off any girl here."

"I would love to see that," Jane laughed, proposing a silent challenge with her smirk.

Without another word Lucius Malfoy strode to the closest lady, a brunette Jane vaguely remembered to be a year below them in Hogwarts. The Potter girl bit her lip as she watched Lucius transform into his usual charming self, whispering and talking softly to the girl who was quick to nod to the door. Out of amusement Jane set down her glass and left the room just after them, leaning against the wall just in Lucius' line of sight, and the moment he recognized her he pulled away from the clingy brunette, smirking at the black-haired girl. He spoke to the brunette again before the younger girl skipped off happily and he walked over to Jane, leaning on the wall beside her with a pointed look.

Jane shrugged, "You didn't charm her skirt off."

"Kinky," Lucius replied snorting.

Jane smiled in reply, "Well I do make things slightly less idiotic, don't I?"

"Maybe more idiotic," Malfoy retorted, "But also more entertaining."

"Grand." Potter answered, "I'm still bored."

Kai was just preparing to leave, albeit procrastinating just a bit. He had spoken to his brother and they had caught up but he had to return to Hogwarts, and he would be lying if he said he didn't want to see the red-headed girl one more time before he left.

"Why would you name a school after a pig?"

Apparently he had gotten his wish and he scoffed, "Why would you name a school at all, why have schools?"

"You're strange Kai Hatoshi."

"As are you Mary Sullivan."

"I have an odd request," Mary admitted, waiting for Kai to gesture for her to continue, "Write to me. I quite enjoy your company."

Kai didn't deny the grin that spread across his face.

Jane and Lucius had migrated to some small room in a corridor just off of the room the ball was being held in. Currently the fact that a sharp stone dug into the muscle of her shoulder was blatantly ignored in favour of focusing on the hands holding her in place. Jane wasn't sure she would have done anything even if she could, however if anyone asked she would blame her compliance on the fact there really wasn't anywhere to move in the tiny broom closet. The sound of clomping boots passing the wooden door, that brushed her right arm in the small space, was enough to send her eyes to those of the male in front of her. Immediately her breath caught in her throat, his hands were warm on her sides through the light fabric of her blouse; her own hands were pressed against the shirt on his chest. It wasn't clear who moved first, or if they moved together, for their lips to meet in a soft peck. Once there was an inch between their lips one of his hands had moved to her cheek and this time he pressed his lips against hers, not that she was complaining in the slightest. She could feel his lips part and she pushed him to take control of the kiss, her tongue darting out before she nibbled his bottom lip. She could feel his breath hitch before he pushed back. Pressing her back against the stones, Lucius' hands traveled up her back, one entwining itself with her hair as her own hands tugged on his shirt. Her lips moved from his and she kissed along his jaw, enjoying the fact that she could easily pull reactions from the blond in front of her.

When Jane was finally headed back to Mariland she traded smirks with Lucius, "So, don't write."

"Not in my worst nightmares," Lucius replied, kissing Jane once more before she slipped tossed down the flue powder.

short chapter for my own procrastinating amusement i hope you liked it!