Chapter Twenty One

A/N: Thank you to 55 and Nevaeh -Rose Malfoy for reviewing the last chapter.

The students had gone about their day-to-day lives after the night of the announcement, but still it was rare to find another topic of conversation outside the classroom. The whole school was buzzing with excitement, of the newly arriving students, the dangerous challenges, the Champions and of course, the legendary Triwizard Cup.

Narcissa herself rarely spoke of the upcoming event, although having been raised in a family obsessed with Wizarding history, most importantly their own, she was well aware of the Triwizard Tournament and its significance. She even recalled, somewhere buried in her memory, that it was a Rosier who had designed the Cup for the first ever event, but she could not say she cared particularly. Besides, having no one to speak to regularly, Narcissa found that she rarely spoke at all.

Of course, Narcissa had attempted to rebuild her relationship with her sister, but she was finding it a lot more difficult than expected to regain the loving trust they had once shared. After all, Andromeda had been there while she had endured the abuse from her father. She had known what he did, she had treated her injuries after he had thrown her against the fireplace... a shiver ran down Narcissa's spine. Even after all these years, Cygnus Black haunted her nightmares.

Unable to make sense of her conflicting emotions, she had attempted to keep her distance from Andromeda and all the other Slytherins, simply to be on the safe side. However, she had soon discovered it to be more difficult than she had thought.

True to her feeling, the arrogant boy she had met as she searched for the Slytherins, Lucius, had met her each morning at the door to the dining hall and had proceeded to walk her to her class, meeting her there afterwards, when he would walk her to the hall for lunch. He left her be after that, but would make an effort to smile at her from his own table throughout dinner. Then the next morning the process would begin again. Initially, Narcissa had found it all rather frustrating. However, having come to know Lucius better through it, she discovered she did not mind it so much after all.

"Do you know anyone entering the Tournament?" Lucius asked that morning, as they strolled along the corridors towards the Charms classrooms. "Half of the Slytherins have already put their names into the Cup."

"No one's told me they're going to enter, but I wouldn't have anyone I would expect to speak to me about it." Narcissa answered, shrugging her shoulders slightly. Lucius raised an eyebrow at the gesture, but she ignored it- manners were not at the front of her mind on this occasion. He made to comment, but Narcissa had cut him off before he had the chance. "Have you entered?"

Lucius smirked. "Perhaps. What would you say if I had?"

"I'd say you were a reckless idiot." she responded, enjoying the look of disbelief that flashed across his features. Lucius was still becoming accustomed to a girl speaking her mind so plainly, even if it was a quality he professed to enjoy in her. "There was a reason they stopped the Tournament all those years ago. Do you know how many students died in it?"

"I imagine they stopped counting sometime in the 16th century." the boy smugly replied. "Honestly, these Champions are supposed to be the best of their schools, institutions competing for honour by putting their best foot forward. You wouldn't think so many of them would be so useless."

"Have you ever seen a Triwizard Tournament, Malfoy?" Narcissa argued, becoming more frustrated by the second. An egotistical attention-seeker, Lucius was typical of his kind. Always thought that he knew best and was willing to argue with anyone that disagreed. 'He's the most frustrating boy I've ever known, and that should make me like him a lot less than I really do.'

"I know enough to know what to expect." came the cryptic response. "It'll be dangerous and challenging and nothing I can't handle."

Narcissa heaved a sigh of irritation, but decided not to debate the matter any further. It was clear that she could not dissuade Lucius from participating and she did not really want to alienate the closest thing she had to a friend.

"So, if I am selected," Lucius began, his smug smile growing by the minute. He was clear enjoying the experience of being victorious in an argument, one that Narcissa did not often let him have. "Will you come and watch me compete?"

"Lucius, I doubt there'll be anyone in the immediate vicinity of the school who won't be there." Narcissa pointed out, deliberately avoiding the question she was asked. "It's not often anything this exciting happens around here."

"No, of course I know that loads of people will be around." Lucius seemed a little flustered now, although Narcissa could not quite put her finger on why. Perhaps he simply was not used to being contradicted this much; although Narcissa was never shy with her opinions around him, she seemed to be among a minority in that regard. "I just wanted to see if you'd maybe… if you'd be there cheering for me."

Narcissa's smile faltered a little, although it did not disappear completely. All those conversations they had had about the dangers of the Triwizard Tournament and he simply wanted her there to support him. It was a request she could not bring herself to deny, although the thought filled her with dread.

"Yes, I'll cheer you on." she told him, and watched his smile grow brighter. "I suppose I'll worry less if I'm watching the Tournament than if I'm sat in my dorm room wondering what's happening."

Seeming satisfied with her answer, Lucius allowed her on her way into her lesson. Her tutor, a strict woman with a frown so permanent it had left a deep crease in her brow, admonished her for her tardiness, waving her wand in what Narcissa supposed was intended to be a threat. She paid little attention as she headed for her seat, instead running over hers and Lucius' conversation in her head. There were so many things about it that were strange, but she could not imagine what it was. Perhaps he really was scared of the Tournament. Perhaps that was why he needed her reassurance that she would support him.

'I won't let him down, I will be there if it comes to it.' she told herself, realising how much her friend may rely on her presence now. 'Anyway, most likely he won't be selected at all. Life would be so much easier that way.'

It was a lesson Narcissa had never truly allowed herself to learn, despite all the adversities she had faced over the years: Life was the very opposite of easy.

A/N: Sorry it's been so long, but my life has been so hectic it's unbelievable. Next update should be faster. Please review!