Chapter 14.

"Tension"

Narcissa Black was rather puzzled – something she had just seen in the Great Hall disturbed her peaceful mood. One minute she was capturing James Potter's attention and getting very positive feedback from the man himself, and the next minute Lily Evans was swooping down on him as if nothing was wrong. But it was wrong! It was, it WAS! Narcissa had seen to it herself. She was sure that Lily Evans was mad, hurt and completely resentful toward her soon-to-be-former boyfriend. She should have been burning all the pictures of him and cursing every gift he ever gave her right now. SO what was she doing cuddling up to him instead!?

This was wrong… this is all wrong. What the hell is happening?- She thought desperately. She tried her hardest to put a gap between the two of them for weeks! Just yesterday she pretty much told Lily that James was almost cheating… Knowing the stories of Lily's short-lived temper well, Narcissa fully expected her to blow up at him and seal the deal! Why didn't she?

And just then she saw James get up and walk away, leaving his Ravenclaw girlfriend all alone at the Griffyndor table. This startled Narcissa even more. Did he not want her there? For, certainly, if she was there and in such a happy mood, it must have meant that they made up? Or they didn't…

Hmm. Now that's more like it – she finally thought. Tapping a silver fork mechanically on the wooden Slytherin table, she pondered her options for several seconds. Turning her pretty blonde head left and right, she scanned the Great Hall. Intrigued, she decided that it was time to move into the open and talk to him one on one. So she swiftly raised herself off the bench, checking first to make sure that Lucius didn't notice, and quickly followed James out into the main entrance corridor.

"James. Wait,"- her voice was cool and clear. There wasn't a single pleading or questioning note about the tone in which she said it. It was a request, a request she knew he would honor.

James Potter turned around, entirely not expecting to see Narcissa Black standing ten feet away.

"Hey.." He said uncertainly. For all of the tension between them, and all of the weird games that they've been playing, he never actually got any action or seen her do exactly what she was doing right then.

"How've you been?" - she smiled goofily, a smile that did nothing to flatter her perfectly serious face.

"Fine, I suppose." He returned her goofy smile in a much more elegant manner, for on James Potter goofiness was charming and natural. "How have your classes been going - …" he started timidly, but was immediately cut off.

"No," Narcissa said decisively. "No James. I didn't come out here for small talk." She approached him with such an air of confidence that several first years paused to stare at the handsome twosome.

She was now less than a foot away. James inhaled rapidly and ran a hand through his messy black hair. She was so beautiful, so breathtaking – his composure was beginning to falter and he was ready to throw caution to the winds… But she stopped dead a good ten inches from where his hands could easily touch her.

Narcissa narrowed her eyes and folded her arms in front of her chest. "Are you or are you not in love with Lily Evans?" she asked without a preamble. James blinked and slowly comprehended her words.

That he did not expect. His whole system urged James to go on the defensive.

"I… I…-" James stuttered. "I, what? What is it to you?" He blabbered the last part, without thinking and without meaning to offend her. But the damage was done. Narcissa uncrossed her arms and withdrew several feet back. "Narcissa, wait – I didn't mean that!"

"So you think I shouldn't care?" - she hissed. Tossing her head gaily to the side, Narcissa chuckled sadly. Lifting her big blue eyes to look at him again, she whispered softly - "Is all of this a joke to you Potter? You toy with your girlfriend's feelings just for fun?"

The best thing about Narcissa Black was that she didn't yell. James didn't say anything. He was thinking; thinking about how to best salvage the foolhardy situation he had just gotten himself into. She is confronted with a blabbering fool, like myself, who just insulted her without wanting to do it – and she is not even upset!

That was such a change for James that he was startled into silence and could do nothing but gape at the pretty girl. Wow, what a girl… If I am lucky enough, some day I will marry a girl like her… Except I'm not that lucky. Nothing else seemed to go through his head. For a second he forgot where he was and why he was there.

"Well?" she urged him impatiently. "Are you going to talk sometime today or what?"

Finally finding his voice, he hoarsely bleated - "Narcissa, you're breathtaking. You're classy and poised and you really understand what guys want… How can I possibly not want you?"

Slowly, James inched toward Narcissa, and ever so timidly his hands slid up her back until he embraced her tighter and tighter, until his lips were on hers and nothing else mattered. Her hands quickly found his black, unkempt hair and her heart slowed to a tune of a leisurely waltz. Quite possibly, she had never in her life felt so giddy. Their lips broke apart but their noses kept touching and their bodies remained pressed against each other while the two young people caught their breath. Although his mind was still dazed, James was relieved to see that "his" lady was smiling. He allowed a small laugh to escape his moist lips before kissing her forehead. Narcissa laughed too as she pressed a palm of her very pale hand to his chest while involuntarily shrugging her shoulders and slowly leaning back into him.

Unfortunately for Narcissa and James, that was the precise moment Lily Evans chose to come out of the Great Hall. Her loud gasp caught their attention and for a second, which seemed like an eternity, the three of them stared at one another– and then without saying a word Lily marched right past the flabbergasted couple and walked up the stairs with as much dignity as she could muster.

A/N This is completely un-betaed, so if you see any typos and such please let me know lol. And enjoy !