A/N: I got excited and wrote the chapter early, and in the process, it sort of spiraled out of control and ended up longer than I intended, which I guess isn't a bad thing. I'm kind of overwhelmed by the response to this story- thank you guys so much.


Chapter Eleven

Narcissa knew she should've been focusing on her notes. She'd tried diligently for the first half of the period, listening to Professor Sprout prattle on about the properties of the Fanged Geranium and wondering idly how safe it was to bring the plant into a greenhouse full of students. Eventually, though, Narcissa gave in to her own lack of interest in the topic at hand and her own restlessness, and she allowed her mind to wander.

She thought of how she'd almost been certain her heart had stopped earlier when Lucius had grabbed her hand. She'd expected the contact to last for a few moments, as it had each time one of them had dared to make the gesture before, and then end. But he'd held on until the first-years had interrupted, and the regret in his eyes had indicated that he hadn't wanted to let go even then.

What's wrong with me? Narcissa stared down at the table in front of her, focusing on a spot beside her parchment and nodding now and then to give the appearance of paying attention. She hated how foolish she'd begun to feel. It wasn't as though being near to one another was a new phenomenon, for her and Lucius. However, as she reminded himself, it was under entirely different circumstances, now. Before, they'd been friends—best friends, if she were to be honest with herself—with no expectations of anything more. Now, though, she'd finally come to terms with the fact that she wanted something more, and if they'd had just a few moments longer together in the Great Hall, she was almost certain that he would've told her the same thing. Her embarrassment and fear of being late to her lessons had led her to hurry away, but she had also wanted to keep him from seeing how disappointed she'd been that their moment had gotten interrupted by a pair of squabbling students.

In theory, the mark on her back should've eased her mind. It means that things were supposed to work out, doesn't it? But she'd seen too many complicated situations involving soulmates to feel at peace, not the least of which involving her sister.

Narcissa cast a glance down the table at Rosalyn Selwyn, one of her dormitory mates and the victim of another complicated situation that Narcissa certainly did not envy. As Narcissa watched, Rosalyn directed a poorly-concealed glare in the direction of Alecto Carrow, who was speaking behind her hand to Nickolas Crabbe. Despite the majority of the school—or at least those in Slytherin, as Narcissa had little contact with the other Houses and was uncertain of what they knew—being aware that Rosalyn and Nickolas bore one another's marks, Nickolas still appeared to be unwilling to end his relationship with Alecto. Narcissa fully expected the ordeal to turn vicious, sooner or later, and she wanted no part in it, though she knew Rosalyn was likely to try to garner her support.

Narcissa let out a grateful sigh when the class ended and hurriedly shoved her belongings into her bag before making her way out of the greenhouse and onto the lawn. She stretched as she moved, glad beyond reason that Herbology had been her final class for the week and that she would now have the chance to relax, however temporarily.

This feeling of relief lasted only a few moments, however. Before she'd made it to the castle, she caught sight of a blur of red hair and energy moving toward her at much too great a speed for so late in the day, and she braced herself.

"Please tell me no one's hurt, this time," she said as Lenore paused at her side, the redhead's eyes wide and expectant.

"Not that I'm aware of, but I haven't read it, yet."

"What're you talking about?"

"Someone's trying like hell to reach you. You know letters are supposed to show up during breakfast, don't you?"

Narcissa's stomach twisted. The only letter she was expecting was from Andromeda, and she certainly didn't like the idea of the word 'yet' being applied to Lenore or anyone else reading that particular message.

"Of course I do," said Narcissa, folding her arms over her chest. "If you have a letter for me, may I have it, please?"

Lenore reached into the bag hanging from her shoulder, rummaging around in it for a few moments before producing an envelope addressed to Narcissa and passing it to her with a sigh.

"I could've tried to get something out of this, you know. The stupid bird wouldn't leave me alone—kept flying around the Common Room trying to get someone's attention, and I was the only one around, after Walden left. I figure the pecking I got has earned me at least one round of you letting me win at Wizard's Chess."

Narcissa shook her head, fighting a smile. "You're a hero, Lenore, truly. Thank you." She moved to begin opening the envelope and then paused midway through, glancing up at Lenore, who was still watching her expectantly. "Are you really that nosy?"

"You should know that, by now." Lenore shrugged.

"I do, but at this exact moment, as much as I do appreciate your valiant effort to fight off what I'm sure was an incredibly threatening owl and bring this to me, I need to read it alone. I will talk to you about it, though, when I can." Narcissa had no idea what the letter would contain, and at the risk of bringing more trouble down on her sister, she didn't believe involving someone else was the best course of action.

Lenore's face fell. "All right. If you say so."

Please, thought Narcissa in mild exasperation, I don't need to add feeling guilty for letting you down to the list of my problems, at the moment. She sighed.

"Just look the other way for a moment and let me read it, and then we can go back to the castle. Is that all right?"

Lenore nodded. "At least you're not trying to get rid of me." She smirked and turned, looking out over the grounds and at the passing students. Narcissa returned her attention to the letter in her own hands, removing it from the envelope and beginning to read.


Cissy-

I'm absolutely horrified at what our parents are doing to you. I'm coming to see you straightaway. Meet me in Hogsmeade this evening after you finish with your lessons, and we'll talk. I'll be bringing Ted—you said before you wanted to meet my match, and I figure now's as good a time as any, considering it seems you've met yours, as well. I want to hear absolutely everything about what's going on with Lucius. I'll be waiting at The Three Broomsticks.

Love,

Andi


Narcissa stared open-mouthed at the parchment for what must've been too long, as Lenore grew impatient, glancing in her direction.

"Aren't you finished, yet?" she prodded.

The words snapped Narcissa out of her stunned state, and she nodded hastily, reaching into her bag and digging for a quill. She ripped a blank portion free from the bottom of the letter and wrote as quickly as she could manage while still keeping the words somewhat legible.


Lucius-

I'm sorry; I'll be late meeting you in the Common Room. Something's come up with Andi, and she's waiting for me at The Three Broomsticks. I'll be back as soon as I can.

Narcissa


She folded the scrap of parchment in half and slipped it into the envelope, upon which she scratched out her own name and replaced it with his before sliding Andromeda's letter into her bag. She passed the envelope back to Lenore, who stared at it uncomprehendingly.

"Wait, so that was from—?"

"No, it wasn't. But would you take this to him, please? I don't have time to go back to the castle, after all."

Lenore let out a frustrated sigh. "Who're you ditching me for, then?"

"I promise I'll explain. I just don't have time, right now."

Narcissa turned and started across the grass, laughing humorlessly under her breath when Lenore called "Good luck, I guess."

You have no idea, Narcissa thought, how much I'm going to need it.


She had been present in The Three Broomsticks for approximately three seconds when she was nearly knocked from her feet by the force of the hug she received when her sister launched into her from the right. Technically, it was not an official Hogsmeade weekend, though it was a Friday evening, and Narcissa hoped that her Prefect status would keep anyone who happened to see her from asking questions. The pub was occupied by a handful of people she didn't know, and as she returned Andromeda's embrace, she allowed herself to forget for the moment about the rest of her worries.

"I've missed you so much," said Andromeda, holding to Narcissa tightly.

"I've missed you, too. How've you been?"

As they leaned back, Andromeda rested her hands on her sister's shoulders and eyed her appraisingly, a lock of brown hair falling in her face as she tilted her head to the side.

"I'm fine—we'll talk about me later. You look like you either haven't slept right in months or you've just come from a lecture with Binns."

Narcissa laughed. "Sprout, actually."

"Ah, Herbology. I do not miss it. Come on, let's sit down. Ted's just gone to order drinks, so it'll be just us, for a moment."

Narcissa swallowed as her sister took her hand and guided her to a table at the back of the pub where a trio of seats had been reserved by two coats and a purse. Andromeda shifted the purse to the floor and patted the seat where it had been before taking the one beside it, and Narcissa sat, glancing as she did so toward the bar. Much to her dismay, several men were waiting in line for drinks, and she doubted she would recognize Ted if she spotted him.

"Now tell me what's happening," said Andromeda, fixing her gaze on her sister. All at once, Narcissa recalled each time the two of them had stayed up late whispering conspiratorially with Bellatrix and pretending to be asleep when their parents, disturbed by the noise when the girls hadn't been nearly as quiet as they'd thought, had come to check on them.

"I'm sure I'll figure out a way to deal with this Thorfinn problem." The words were unconvincing even to Narcissa, so she wasn't surprised when Andromeda frowned.

"It's completely mad, what they're trying to do. Cissy, I…" Andromeda paused, closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh before reaching for both of her sister's hands. "I never meant to hurt you, with my decisions. I never wanted our parents to punish you for what I did, and I'm so, so sorry that they're trying to."

Narcissa nodded, squeezing the hands she held. "I know, Andi. I know you didn't want this."

"I'm tempted to show up at home and let them know how I feel about it, to tell you the truth."

"No," said Narcissa quickly and a little too loudly. A wizard a few tables over glanced in her direction and away again when he presumably determined that everything was fine. "I mean… we don't know what they would do. I don't want you to get in worse trouble because of me."

Andromeda laughed flatly, shaking her head. "What more can they do to me? I've already lost contact with nearly everyone in the family. I've lost my inheritance and a large portion of my belongings—everything I didn't manage to take with me on the first trip, Mother made sure I knew she was going to either throw out or burn. Good riddance, honestly. I don't need things that remind me of them."

What about things that remind you of me? whispered a small voice in Narcissa's mind, but she ordered it away immediately.

"You're handling this all really well," she said instead. "I'm proud of you."

Andromeda smiled. "Thank you. I wouldn't be handling it half as well, if it weren't for still being able to talk to you. And then there's this one."

She nodded toward the man approaching the table while attempting to carry three glasses of Butterbeer. His hair was fair—a sandy shade Narcissa thought nearly midway between her own and Andromeda's—and he glanced from one sister to the other with a bright, genuine-looking smile that made Narcissa's instinctive wariness of him ease the slightest bit. He seemed pleasant enough, at least.

"You must be Narcissa," he said, setting down each of the glasses and then offering her a hand, which she released Andromeda's to shake. "I've heard unending positive things about you."

"That's good to know," said Narcissa, smiling slightly. "And you must be Ted."

"I am indeed." He settled into the seat his coat hung on, still smiling at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, finally."

"And you, as well." Though she knew her parents would likely disown her for even thinking the words, she meant them. Disregarding his blood status, this man made her sister happy, and Andromeda deserved that much—more than that, actually, but as Narcissa was in no position to give her anything but her own presence for this one evening in the way of support, she had to content herself with the idea that at least Ted could be there for Andromeda even when she herself could not.

"How are you liking Hogwarts, this year?" Ted asked. "I have hope that at least some of the classes have gotten more interesting since I was there, but I've a habit of being disappointed by the educational system."

"It's roughly the same as it has been," said Narcissa, shrugging. Beside her, Andromeda took a drink from her Butterbeer, and Narcissa believed she caught sight of a smile on her sister's lips. "Things are still chaotic right now with it being so close to the start-of-term, but overall, it's—"

She froze, her attention captured by movement at the front doors.

Lucius stood at the entrance, glancing around the pub, and it was clear that he was looking for someone. The thought of diving under the table flashed through Narcissa's mind—what would he think, if he saw her here with both Andromeda and Ted?—but she found herself suddenly unable to move. A moment later, Lucius's gaze touched on hers, and he smiled, raising a hand to wave. Slowly, as her limbs no longer wished to obey her commands, Narcissa lifted her hand and returned the gesture. Across the table, Ted raised a brow and looked over his shoulder, and Narcissa realize too late that he'd probably been waiting for her to finish her sentence before her attention had been diverted.

She watched Lucius's smile falter as he looked to Ted and then back to Narcissa. For a moment, no one moved or spoke, and then Lucius started forward, his smile returning as he strode toward the table.

"Nice to see you, Lucius," said Andromeda with a smile of her own, kicking Narcissa hard in the shin beneath the table that led the younger sister to bite her lip to keep herself from letting out a yelp of pain. "Won't you join us?"

"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude."

"Nonsense, we've only just settled in, ourselves. Right, Cissy?"

"Absolutely." Narcissa watched with wide eyes, completely certain that her heart was going to beat free of her chest at any moment, as Lucius took the only remaining empty seat: the one beside Ted.

Merlin help me, thought Narcissa, raising her glass to her lips and taking a very long drink of Butterbeer.