31st July 1970
The summer holidays were turning out to be rather good so far. Cygnus had set Charles Flint to court Narcissa and the two had hit it off rather well. Charles, or Charlie as he liked to be called, was a well educated young man who attended the Durmstrang Institute. Charlie's father and Narcissa's father had attended Hogwarts together and had returned to England to do business with the Ministry. Cygnus had introduced Narcissa to Charlie the first week back at home since the school year ended and she instantly found herself taking a liking to the boy.
Charlie was charming, dropping compliments on her unexpectedly that made her blush. He could speak Spanish, Italian and German and could read and translate Latin. He easily could hold her attention in a conversation and he certainly made her laugh at his jokes, but he wasn't Lucius. He was a perfectly nice young man but she had acknowledged that she had fallen for Lucius Malfoy, even if he was a complete swine.
She and Charlie had been courting for six weeks now and she could tell that both sets of parents were hoping for a proposal to come at the end of the summer. Narcissa still believed herself to be too young to be formally engaged to someone, for she might be going into her fifth year but wouldn't be sixteen until next February. But if Charlie offered a proposal, she could see herself accepting it due to the fact that Charlie was a respectable boy and she enjoyed his company.
Narcissa was surprised to learn that her father was allowing her to go shopping for her OWL supplies, alone with Charlie. She hugged her father which Cygnus hadn't been expecting. She felt happy that she was being trusted to be alone with a suitor and she vowed to not let her parents down. After Bellatrix's behaviour had come to light at the Malfoy ball all those years ago, she and Andromeda were usually kept a close watch on even if Andromeda didn't obey the rules whilst at school.
Charlie picked her up at eleven o'clock and they took the floo network from the Black manor house to The Leaky Cauldron. He helped her out of the fireplace and watched amusingly as she dusted the ash off her dress. He offered his arm to which she smiled and looped her own around his, letting him lead her out into the cobbled street. His first took her to Flourish and Blotts to buy her books for the next school year and then along to the apothecary to stock up on ingrediants. She even bought herself some new school robes from Madam Malkin's.
Satisfied with her shopping and grateful that Charlie was helping to carry her various shopping bags and packages, they stopped to get an ice-cream at Florean Fortescue's ice-cream parlour.
"What flavour would you like?" Charlie asked, as they sat at an empty table and placed the shopping over half of it.
"Strawberry please, how many sickles is it?"
Charlie held up his hand, to which she stopped rumaging through her purse.
"Call it my treat as you would not allow me to pay for any of your school things."
"Because it was unnecessary as my father gives me a monthly allowance and I have been saving up for a while."
Charlie chuckled in amusement and went up to the counter to get them some ice-creams. Narcissa sighed in happiness as she lazily lay back in the chair but her relaxation didn't last long, for Lucius had taken the empty seat opposite her.
"All done for the next school year?"
Narcissa nodded, "I did not realise you were shopping too."
"I came with Evan, Rabastan and Julian Goyle. I must say that I am surprised to see you out alone, for the last I heard was that your father kept a close watch on you and Andromeda?"
"I am not alone Lucius."
It was as Charlie coughed that Lucius turned to face him. Charlie passed Narcissa her ice-cream and raised an eyebrow at Lucius to which Lucius merely glared at him.
"Could you please move yourself from my seat?"
Lucius stood from the table and nodded curtly before leaning down to kiss Narcissa's cheek and whispering huskily in her ear: "You are mine." and walked out of the parlour. Charlie looked at her with concern, hoping that Lucius hadn't done anything to upset her.
"I apologise for that boy you saw in your seat, he's an associate at school."
Charlie nodded, "He seemed a little possessive, who is he?"
"His name is Lucius Malfoy and I agree with you that he is possessive for he wants what he cannot have."
"Malfoy, as in richest pureblood family in England?"
Narcissa nodded, "Yes and he uses his status to make those around him feel inferior."
"And he wants you?"
Narcissa blinked as she continued to eat her ice-cream, forgetting how delicious fortecue's had been for it had been years since she had last stepped foot in the ice-cream parlour.
"Do not worry Charlie. For Lucius may have an interest in me but he is nothing more than a cruel being who raises people and drops them before the person knows it. I have no interest in a person like that."
Charlie smiled in satisfaction and the two finished their ice-cream. They left the parlour and went to have a drink in The Leaky Cauldron before Charlie had to escort Narcissa back to the manor. When Charlie went to get them two butterbeers, Narcissa headed to the ladies room to freshen herself up. It was after she stepped out of the cubicle and went to the sinks to wash her hands when she heard someone come in, she turned to see Lucius had entered the room and was locking the door behind him.
She gulped nervously as he headed closer to her, twirling her loose hair around his fingers affectionately. This only infuriated her, how was it possible that he could gaze into her eyes with such adoration and affection and then not acknowledge her existence a few days later?
"What do you think you are doing?" Narcissa demanded.
"I do not like it, seeing you with others."
Narcissa rolled her eyes, "I am not yours Lucius."
"But you are, Narcissa."
She shoved him away, tears welling up in her eyes as she continued to look him in the eye. She wished he would just tell her the reasons why he wouldn't allow himself to love someone, just to end her suffering. Just thinking and trying to come to some conclusion as to why Lucius was this way had caused her to have many night where she had lack of sleep and heartache. She'd give anything to understand how Lucius Malfoy's mind worked.
"I know you are capable of loving someone, no matter how many times you tell me you cannot. Why do you push me away?"
"It is for your own good."
"And it is for that reason that I am not yours."
"You do not understand."
Narcissa shook her head, "Because you will not explain to me."
"I am Lucius Malfoy, I do not explain myself to anyone. Not even to you."
Still the water began to well up in her eyes but she refused to let Lucius see her cry because of his harsh words and cruel nature.
"Believe it or not Narcissa but you are mine."
"Say it."
Narcissa moved closer to him, causing his eyes to widen in surprise as she placed her hands on his chest.
"Say what, Narcissa?"
"Those three little words you are so afraid of. Say them and I will be yours willingly." she whispered, her eyes pleading with him to stop the hurting.
He remained silent for a few minutes and Narcissa hoped that he would say what she needed to hear. What she knew he felt because although Lucius blew hot and cold with her, she knew that he wasn't a good enough actor. For Lucius had made the mistakes of showing her a different side to him, one that she knew was capable of affection, if only he knew how to stop.
After a lengthy silence, Narcissa retracted her hands from his chest and turned to move. Lucius caught her wrist and she briefly turned to meet his confused stare.
"Narcissa I-
She held up her hand to stop him from saying an excuse and shook her head. Unlocking the door, she wiped the tears away and returned to the bar where Charlie was waiting for her. At least she had a chance of a future with Charlie, given time she may even fall for him.
29th August 1970
The summer holidays were drawing to a close and Narcissa was sad to say that her time with Charlie was coming to end as well. For Charlie had to return to Durmstrang on September 1st like she was to return to Hogwarts and she could not wait until the Christmas holidays when she would next see him. Her entire summer had been one of her favourites, the best one in a long time. Her parents were happy to see the connection that she had made with Charlie.
The Flints had been invited to dinner on the 29th August, the last chance for Narcissa and Charlie to spend some time together before their education took them away from each other. Narcissa could honestly say should anyone ask that she was rather disappointed to be returning to Hogwarts, not just because Charlie would not be there but also for the fact that she would have to see Lucius every day for the next nine months.
After they had finished eating dinner, Cygnus gave permission for Charlie and Narcissa to go for a walk in the grounds alone. Narcissa loved her parents even more for putting so much trust in her after what had happened with Bella, she felt that they were allowing her a little bit more freedom. She looped her arms around Charlie's and together, they walked around the garden that looked so peaceful in the sunset. They stopped to sit on a bench, with Narcissa smiling as Charlie took both her hands in his and made eye contact with her.
"Narcissa, there is something I wish to give you."
Narcissa raised an eyebrow as he released her left hand and went into one of the pockets in his robes. He pulled out a small velvet box and she felt her heart thump in her chest, surely he wasn't going to propose? He opened the box to reveal a silver, single set diamond ring. It was nothing fancy or flashy, it was simple yet still looked beautiful and Narcissa felt her heart melt.
"I am not going to propose Narcissa."
Her smile faded as she shifted backwards, causing Charlie's eyes to widen in alarm.
"Forgive me that did not come out right."
"Explain."
"I have already discussed the issue with my parents and yours and we are all agreed. This ring is what they call a promise ring."
Narcissa nodded and allowed him to continue.
"I am starting my final year at Durmstrang and you are starting your fifth at Hogwarts. You are a wonderful girl and will blossom into a beautiful woman when you graduate but if I propose to you now and you accept then you will be trapped. Two years is a long time and if I proposed and we drifted apart or you discovered that you did not like the person I am then you would be trapped. That is not fair on you for you are still a young girl and although I have no intention to look at another, I want you to have the option there."
"I understand."
"This ring represents the promise that I have seen you and cannot look away. You have captured my interest and my heart Narcissa. This ring represents the promise that one day, after you graduate that I will propose to you and then it is your choice whether you accept or not. Although I am courting you, I asked your father not to arrange our marriage for both your sisters seem unhappy with their fate and you deserve happiness. If you can wait two years Narcissa then accept my promise."
Narcissa gulped as tears of happines began to well up in her eyes, this was the nicest thing that someone had ever done for her.
"Can you wait two years?"
Charlie chuckled and placed a chaste kiss to her lips, making her blush slightly.
"I am a very patient person Narcissa, this is what the ring represents. It represents my commitment to wait two years with you."
Narcissa offered her right hand to him and he smiled widely as he placed the ring on the fourth finger of her right hand. He placed a light kiss on each of her knuckles and Narcissa examined the ring, enjoying the sight of it on her finger. There was nothing that could ruin her happiness now that she had a future with Charlie.
1st September 1970
Lucius shoved past the many people who stood in the corridor on the train, waving goodbye to their families. He wished that the train would just get moving and take them all back to school, for he wanted to get his education over and done with. He carried on down the corridor, dragging his trunk along behind him and was happy to see that Evan was sat in a compartment.
"Hello Rosier." he drawled, shoving his trunk into the overhead storage, briefly stopping when he saw a trunk with the initials: N.B. on the handle. Clearly Narcissa was joining them on their journey back to school. Lucius sat down in the seat opposite Evan, looking out the window moodily.
"Malfoy, looking forward to sixth year?"
Lucius nodded, his prefect and Quidditch captain badge pinned to the front of his school robes.
"Well done Lucius, you've worked hard for the team position."
Lucius nodded curtly and didn't even look up to acknowledge that Narcissa, Andromeda and Jemima Nott had joined them. He sat staring out of the window, not even paying attention to the various conversations that were happening in the compartment as Neil Greengrass and Rabastan joined them before the lunch trolley came down the corridor.
It was as a commotion kicked off in the corridor a little further down that he found himself alone in the compartment with Narcissa, the air getting awkward between them. He turned to look at her, noticing that a ring now sat on her right hand, something which had never been there before. It didn't belong there.
"What is that thing sat on your finger?"
Narcissa blinked and looked down at her ring, smiling affectionately at the piece of jewellery before turning her attention back to Lucius.
"Charlie gave it to me, it's a promise ring."
Lucius scoffed, "A promise ring."
Narcissa nodded and glared at him, "You see he has made me the promise of proposing to me when I graduate, something which will go ahead and happen."
He felt his heart hammering in his chest fast, he couldn't lose her. His attempts to prevent her from falling for him had failed for he could still see that she did from the look in her eyes. But he had hurt her, he knew that and he was truly sorry for his stupid efforts, if only he could explain to her why he didn't want to love her like he did.
"Well then I wish you the best of luck for the future." he sneered.
Narcissa nodded before rising from her seat, "At least I know that Charlie is not a coward Lucius, for if you were just honest with me then it would be your promise ring that I would be wearing and not Charlie's." she whispered harshly and then exited the compartment.
He didn't bother rising from his seat to see what the commotion was, he merely stared out of the window again. Narcissa had been right, he was a coward and now there was nothing he could do to win her over.
A/N: So I apologise for the really long chapter but I hope you liked it. I decided to write three months in one chapter to prevent the story from having unnecessary chapters later on and to keep the story as short as possible for I don't want you lovely readers to get bored if the story has like a million chapters(exaggeration I know).
Enjoy this as the next few weeks are busy for me. Father's day for us Brits tomorrow and I still need to get my partner something from my two kiddies, my partners birthday in two weeks. My daughter's first birthday two weeks later, my kids joint birthday party two weeks after that and then my son's third birthday two weeks after that so my planning is going to go into that, my schedule is hectic for the next few weeks.
As always, please review :)