A/N: This chapter contains content that may be sensitive to readers. For this reason I am rating it M for violence and language. Please do not read if under the legal age. And I apologise in advance if this chapter causes any upset or unpleasantness for readers.

Narcissa sat at the bar nodding her head as she listened to her date describe what he did for a living. He was a perfectly nice man but yet again, was one of those who talked about his career too much. They had been sat at the bar, enjoying a bottle of firewhiskey for fifteen minutes and not once had he asked her about what she liked to do. She blamed her father for this one. His friend at the Ministry had a son who was interning in the Magical Law department and her father's friend had mentioned that his son, Timothy, was looking to start a relationship. Her father had said to his friend that Narcissa would go on a date with Timothy. She was starting to wonder if she would ever meet a man who wasn't so into his career and would like to get to know her.

As the evening progressed, Timothy did ask her a few questions but somehow the conversation steered back to law and politics of his career. She was starting to think of what the best excuse to leave would be when Timothy ordered another bottle of firewhiskey. Narcissa sighed heavily when the waiter brought over the bottle and Timothy looked at her curiously.

"Is something wrong?" asked Timothy.

Narcissa put on a fake smile, "It's getting rather late and I have work in the morning," she yawned.

Timothy frowned, "I didn't think you had a job," he asked sceptically.

Narcissa rolled her eyes, clearly he hadn't been listening when he had finally asked her what she did with her time.

"I work part-time at Madam Malkin's," Narcissa scoffed.

"Oh, that's great." said Timothy, a little unenthusiastically.

"Well I best be going," said Narcissa as she started to rise from the table.

Timothy leaned into her, his breath a little too close to her face.

"We could go back to my place," he hinted.

"No, thank you." Narcissa replied firmly.

Narcissa walked out of the bar, unaware that Timothy had followed her. Once the night air hit her face, she let out a startled yelp when Timothy grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down a deserted alleyway. He pinned her up against the wall, reaching into her cloak pocket and throwing her wand into the darkness.

"You will not just walk away from me. I pay for us to have a nice date and you, bitch, will show me some bloody appreciation!" hissed Timothy.

He clasped his hand over her mouth as he bent down and grabbed the hem of her dress in his free hand. Her screams were muffled by his hand and she knew the only way to try to get free was to hurt him. She bit down hard onto his hand and he let out a hiss of pain before he was pushed to the floor and kicked in the balls by Narcissa. She ran down the alleyway, back into the street. She could hear him getting back to his feet to chase her. As she ran up the empty street, she tripped over a crack in the pavement, causing her to fall flat onto her front. Timothy had caught up with her and dragged her to her feet.

"You're coming with me," Timothy hissed.

"I think not," said a cold voice behind them.

Timothy turned, his grasp tight on Narcissa's arm. Narcissa had never felt more relieved to see Lucius standing before them, wand raised and his grey eyes giving Timothy a murderous glare.

"She's coming with me," Timothy growled.

Lucius didn't say anything back, he sent a silent curse at Timothy. A red light hit the pathetic excuse for a man and Timothy went flying back up the street several feet. He was knocked unconscious when his head hit the concrete. Narcissa ran at Lucius, throwing her arms around him, grateful that he saved her. He held her close to him, the smell of her perfume making him slightly light-headed. Narcissa pulled away, her heart still hammering in her chest at the incident that had happened moments before. Lucius titled her chin up to meet his gaze, he gently moved her head side to side to check her face for injuries.

"Are you hurt?" asked Lucius.

"No, just in shock." she mumbled.

"Come with me," Lucius insisted.

Narcissa frowned, "Where to?" she asked.

"Back to the manor," Lucius answered.

Narcissa nodded as Lucius held her hand and he apparated them both back to the manor. He led her into the study and shut the door behind them. Narcissa watched him pour them both a glass of whiskey and she smiled when he handed her a glass.

"Tell me what happened," Lucius pressed.

Narcissa took a seat and began to tell him about Timothy and the date. Lucius said nothing, just took the occasional swig of his whiskey as he listened to her. She didn't know why, but she felt at ease being able to talk to him. Once she had finished, she looked at Lucius in slight embarrassment.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

Lucius looked at her curiously.

"Thank you?" he asked.

"For doing what you did," she pointed out.

"I couldn't see you get hurt," Lucius replied.

Narcissa nodded as she drained the rest of her drink and placed the empty glass on the desk next to her. Lucius copied her moments later and summoned another chair so that he could sit in front of her. He took her hand again, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

"I'll escort you home," Lucius offered.

"Please," Narcissa said quietly.

Lucius rose from the table and Narcissa followed him. He led them back out of the manor and once again held her hand. With a pop they disappeared from Malfoy manor and arrived at Black manor. They walked up the gravel driveway in silence, until they reached her front door. Narcissa didn't open it straight away as he had expected her to do. Instead she turned to him, twiddling her thumbs. He found himself happy that she wasn't quite ready to say goodbye.

"Thank you," she breathed.

Lucius chuckled, "You have a habit of thanking me," he teased.

"I mean it, you've been there for me so much lately. What can I to show that I'm grateful?" asked Narcissa.

"You remember that dinner I mentioned?" asked Lucius.

Narcissa smiled widely as she nodded in remembrance, it was now the end of the month and he was still yet to ask her to go to dinner with him. She felt a slight flutter in her stomach as she got silently excited that he was going to ask her to dinner now.

"I haven't forgotten," Narcissa admitted.

Lucius grinned at her, "Well if you aren't busy tomorrow evening, would you like to come to dinner?" he asked her.

"I'd love that," she smiled.

"I'll pick you up at seven," said Lucius.

"Until tomorrow then," Narcissa replied.

Lucius nodded his head, but still she didn't go inside. They both leaned in closer and slowly their lips met. It was just a light kiss as their lips gently moved against each other. Lucius stepped closer to her, snaking his arm around her waist to hold her close to him, his free hand stroking her soft hair, the scent of her perfume making him light-headed again. They broke apart, their breath ragged. Narcissa looked up at Lucius, looking for a sign that he didn't regret what had just happened between them. She saw none, she saw his eyes fill with warmth, a kind of warmth she had never seen before except when Charlie had been alive. She felt a pang of guilt when she thought of Charlie. Everyone was right, he would have wanted her to move on. But with his best friend? Should she start something with Lucius? All she knew was that she had enjoyed her first kiss with Lucius Malfoy. Lucius stroked her cheek affectionately and gave her a small smile, she returned the smile. She decided to ask for some advice when she went into the manor.

"Goodnight Lucius," Narcissa said warmly.

"Until tomorrow, Narcissa." Lucius replied.

Narcissa entered the manor and shut the door behind her. As Lucius walked away, he couldn't help but feel happy at how their parting had gone. Kissing her had been the most wonderful thing in the world, even better than eating his favourite meal that he hadn't enjoyed in a long time. He got to the bottom of the gravel driveway, thinking of where he was going to take her for dinner the next evening.