Hyaa! ^^

Sooooo... I'm sorry but I swear you'll get Andromeda back next chapter! In the meantime, have some Narcissa! ^^

Honestly, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it ^^ I love Narcissa to bits! I'm actually pretty excited posting this ^^

(also, I made some mistakes last chapter that I edited, its nothing major... Bellatrix Lestrange lol ^^)

Thank you so much to Infernalbooks for always reading and reviewing you're great and I'm so thankful ^^

and thank you so much to Farbautidottir for everything ^^

Enjoy!

The Great Hall was decorated in black and orange for Halloween. Thousands of candles burned brightly against the night's black veil, illuminating the room with a golden glow. Laughing pumpkins and snarking bats flew across the ceiling. And toads croaked and bones waved and hats danced playfully, their magic bursting with a light-hearted carelessness that was not reflected on the livings' faces.

The Headmaster's seat was empty and his absence weighted on the castle. The seat was rarely unused, and never in times of celebration. But for many, this Halloween was not a time for celebration.

Hushed whispers amongst Hogwarts' ghosts made for a dark lethargy, a background noise to the unusual atmosphere of this feast. At the end of the hall, the grim faces of the professors served as reminder to the gravity of recent events. Narcissa would not have felt such reactions justified if it had not been for her sisters and… Lucius.

Because a Minister – and Nobby Leach in particular – was nothing more than human, and humans died. Nobby Leach would be forgotten in a couple of months she knew. He was a man of no great birth with little accomplishments within his function. Bellatrix had said he was particularly incompetent, even dangerous in his stupidity. His disappearance should have been for the best… So why did Bellatrix look so shaken.

Narcissa had asked, of course, and had received no direct answer from her sister. She had then turned to Andromeda who had shrugged and whispered a simple "I don't know". But Narcissa was all too familiar with that "I don't know"; it meant Andromeda knew something, or believed something, or suspected something, but was not willing to share. As for Bella, her distress was not caused by the incident itself – she certainly felt no positive emotions towards Leach – and thus had to be about its circumstances. A conclusion Narcissa had come to the night before, after the Minister's death had been announced throughout the entire school by a beaming Rita Skeeter, and one that had been confirmed as most likely after another worse news had befallen upon Hogwarts this afternoon : the Aurors suspected Nobby Leach was assassinated, and their primary suspect was none other than the wealthy and influential Abraxas Malfoy.

Narcissa had gone to Lucius right away. They were not the best of friends, although they had known each other for more than seven years, but Narcissa felt they had gotten close enough since September for it to be a grave failure of good manners not to go and comfort him. What she had found had deeply shaken her; Lucius had been in shock, nothing like the overly confident – even arrogant – boy who strutted around Hogwarts as if his family owned the castle. He had stood there, in the Common Room, eyes wide open and shining with a heart-wrenching mix of terror and confusion, his usually handsome face distorted and frozen, as if it slowly emptied itself of all life. His already pale skin had turned worryingly white and Narcissa had been the first to jump forward when his legs had given up from under him. His friends had helped her sit him down, but he had not even noticed.

Now he sat by her side in the Great Hall. His face had found some colour again, but he had not yet spoken. Narcissa was worried for him. She was not sure whether it was pity she felt, or whether she simply cared. All she knew, was that when he had fallen and she had caught him, the one overwhelming thought in her mind was the memory of a silver night where the full moon shone so bright no stars were visible in the sky… Bellatrix had been at her windowsill when Narcissa had entered the room. Pale, shaking, her eyes empty and lifeless… That terrifying vision of her eldest sister, so pale against the night, so frail-looking, so unlike the strong woman Narcissa had always seen in her... It had been such a shock that for a few moments, she had been completely deaf to Andromeda's voice ordering with angry precipitation to bring a candle. When she had come back, light in hand, Bellatrix had been wailing against Andromeda's shoulders. Andromeda had looked up at Narcissa's arrival, sadness shimmering in her eyes, and had extended a hand. The three of them had spent the night holding each other, silently, wordlessly…

The sound of a goblet falling onto the wooden table brought Narcissa back to reality. Griffin Hotterpond, Selene Davos and Emalind Redwall – the closest amongst Narcissa's vast number of friends – were all laughing playfully as Iris Bonnefois mopped it up.

That is the job of house-elves, thought Narcissa. She said nothing aloud, however. Instead, she turned her attention back to Lucius. He had not said a word since the start of the banquet. He had not even noticed her friend Iris's slip.

Wordlessly, she picked up the carafe of pumpkin juice and poured it in his empty cup. His eyes wavered, as though to look up, but never rose enough to meet hers. He nodded slightly and lazily wrapped his fingers around it. He remained still then, lost in thought.

Narcissa waited for what felt like an eternity, but the boy remained stuck in his melancholy. She held back a sigh, thinking really hard that she hated this. No matter, she thought. He's your responsibility now. She looked around once to find her friends talking amongst themselves and his friends talking amongst themselves, and she caught sight of her sisters whispering in a corner and throwing him the occasional glances, and she realised he had to be her responsibility because nobody else seemed to care enough to do something.

She turned back to him then, set an elbow on the table and her head in her palm and looked at him. She noticed the most imperceptible wince on his part, but otherwise no acknowledgement he had felt her eyes on him. She smiled warmly, knowing he could see her from the corner of his eyes.

'I tried to make pumpkin juice once,' she said brightly, though only loud enough for him to hear. 'My parents weren't at home and my sisters had refused to help. I don't even know how comes we had a pumpkin at home; it was spring. But I tried anyway. I massacred the thing. By the time my parents came back, the walls were orange and our house-elf was vomiting pumpkin juice left and right.'

Lucius remained still and Narcissa waited, thinking very hard that he had better like the story because she was making a humongous concession by admitting she had ever failed something, no matter how old she was. Soon however, he turned to face her, not quite a smile on his face, but at least a sign of interest.

'What happened?' he asked in a croaky voice; he had not spoken in more than ten hours or so.

Narcissa wriggled slightly, in a matter she had wrought to be elegant.

'I was only five and cutting the pumpkin with a knife was obviously too hard for me to do,' she replied slowly to keep him at the edge of his seat. 'So I thought I would use magic.' Lucius raised an eyebrow and waited. 'I didn't have a wand though, so I took a long wooden spoon we had in the kitchen, I pointed it at the pumpkin, and I shouted: "Break it!" really loud,'

Lucius burst into muffled chuckles. 'Why would you shout that?' he asked between two hiccups of laughter.

'I had never tried casting a spell before,' said Narcissa, laughing also. 'I thought if I ordered with strength, it would work… But then the pumpkin had literally exploded all over the kitchen. That's when my house-elf showed up.'

'Why did it not clean?' asked Lucius.

'I ordered him not to. I was so determined to make that pumpkin juice that I forced him to help me scratch it off the ground and put it in a mixer. Then I added water and milk and…'

'Water and milk?'

'Oh, that's not all! I think I added mandragora root too, and red pepper and other things I can't really remember…'

'Merlin…'

'… Then I told, Retch – the family elf – to taste it. He could not handle even a gulp of it and started throwing up all over the ground. My parents came back right then.'

'How did they react?' asked Lucius excitedly, and Narcissa could not help but notice just how completely his gloomy expression was gone.

'They were shocked at first,' she said, 'then they were angry. But I told them it wasn't my fault and Retch took the blame. They forgave me right away. My sisters though… When they saw it, they nearly died laughing. Bellatrix even told our elf to go fetch a camera so that the moment could never be forgotten. Andromeda could not speak at all, she was down on the ground…'

Narcissa stopped herself before she could say more. Andromeda did not like her talking too much about the family. She looked at Lucius and found utter enjoyment in his eyes.

'Your sister Andromeda? On the ground? Really? And that picture? Do you still have it? And your parents? They let you take it?'

Narcissa laughed heartily. 'I haven't seen that picture in years,' she said. 'I think Bellatrix has it. I should ask her one day…'

Lucius nodded brightly, a big smile on his face. They both fell into a comfortable silence then, but it dragged. Just when Narcissa was about to say something, Lucius turned to her once more. His smile was gone, replaced by a thoughtful yet soft expression.

'Thank you,' he whispered, turning away and looking very red all of a sudden.

Narcissa smiled proudly. 'Of course,' she said. And when she saw the worried frown drawing wrinkles on his young brow, she added: 'I know you're worried for your father, but everything'll be fine.'

He said nothing for a very long time and neither did Narcissa. Then, as if taken by a sudden burst of folly, she leaned closer to him, put her lips only a breath away from his ear, and whispered: 'Do you think he did it?'.

Lucius turned abruptly and gave her a look of utter outrage. 'Of course not!' he exclaimed.

Unshaken, she looked back at him, wearing the most innocent of expressions, and watched as doubt crept on the surface of his anger. Then, with a smile barely perceptible and in a voice barely audible she said gently: 'Then why are you worried?'

His certitudes seemed to crash. Lack of understanding spread on his face and his shoulders fell. 'I – I'm not…' he croaked.

Narcissa placed a supportive hand on his shoulder and savoured a silent victory when he did not push her away.

'My father used to say that kids who cannot trust their parents means the beginning of a crumbling heritage,' she whispered. Lucius nodded wordlessly. 'I'm done eating.' She added then, rising from her seat. 'Iris let's go.'

Iris rolled her eyes before following her. Narcissa chose to let it slide. Sometimes, loyalty was maintained through forgiveness. The others rose right away and another ten students followed. Narcissa did not slow down for them; she knew they would be the ones running to reach her. She stopped thinking about them.

'Iris, tomorrow's a Hogsmeade Weekend, yes?'

'Yup,' answered Iris distractedly, looking back with each step she took.

Narcissa raised an eyebrow. 'What's going on?'

Iris glanced again before getting closer to Narcissa and grabbing her arm.

'I'm pretty certain Lucius Malfoy is following you,' she said.

'I think he's looking for you,' added Selene Davos.

'That has to be the first time I see him run,' mumbled Griffin mockingly.

Narcissa followed her friends' eyes and let a victorious smirk tuck at her lips as Lucius Malfoy hurried amongst the crowd following her. She stopped in her steps and waited.

'What did you two talk about?' whispered Iris in her ear.

'I'll tell you later.'

'Right... About Malfoy...?' She continued, her voice low enough that even Emalind, Selene or Griffin could not hear them.

Narcissa gave her a secretive look. 'I'm handling him.'

Iris raised an eyebrow. 'I noticed that,' she said. 'I'm asking what for? What's the end goal?'

Narcissa waved a dismissive hand. 'I'll think about that later... You know, when he's not in shock because his father is possibly a murderer?'

Iris shrugged. 'Right.' A pause. 'Is his father a murderer?'

Narcissa gasped before answering in an offended whisper: 'Iris! A member of a very old and pure family? Are you out of your mind?'

Iris, for a whole second, looked fairly surprised. It soon turned into an indifferent shrug. 'Just tell me when he confesses.'

'As if he would know anything... If it is true.'

'Why? Does his father and him not have a good relationship?'

Narcissa sighed. 'More like the patriarch of a very old, noble and wealthy family would not risk his reputation by confiding his murder plans to his fourteen years old son.'

Iris frowned. 'His only son and heir. The only other Malfoy left.'

A shiver passed through Narcissa's body. The thought of only having one heir to a family was frightening. She could not imagine her family name worn by one or two people only.

'That's not how it works,'she answered when the feeling had passed.

At least, she thought it was not how it worked. Would her sisters agree with her? She should ask them one day... Separately of course; that's when they were most ready to talk with her rather than each other.

Iris was about to reply when Lucius finally did reach them, pushing through the crowd that surrounded her. Both girls stared at him.

Looking as uncomfortable as a boy who's always had everything could, he sneaked closer to Narcissa. She smiled warmly and watched his shoulders relax. Despite herself, she started to wonder how open his mind would be.

Lucius cleared his throat.

'Hum,' he said. 'Narcissa... I – Can I speak with you in... In private, please?'

Narcissa refrained from laughing. Calmly, she turned to her friends. Emalind opened her mouth to protest but Selene stopped her by catching her wrist and dragging her away. Griffin followed after having laid suspicious eyes on Narcissa and Lucius, but ultimately , it was Iris that left last, nodding once as she let go of Narcissa's hand.

'Shall we?' Proposed Lucius once they were far enough, and they both walked a little further, stopping at a fairly hidden spot behind a suit of armour.

Lucius was fidgeting nervously. Narcissa had never seen him like that. She wondered what he would tell her, although her excitement remained effectively contained, hidden behind a warm and caring smile.

'I –' managed Lucius at last. 'I think I – Well... You're family and mine are allies, right?' He blurted.

Narcissa maintained a composed expression. 'Yes.' Not that she knew, of course. She supposed it was true... Another thing to ask Bella and Andy.

'Good... Because... Does – does that make us friends?' he whispered.

Narcissa had to cough to stop herself from laughing. Friends. Her sisters and her had had that talk before... About friends. But Narcissa knew she had to go along with him.

'Of course,' she replied with a beaming smile.

Lucius smiled back. He seemed to have regained his confidence, at least partly.

Perfect.

'Good,' he said. 'I need to tell you something, but it's very, very, very secret. Nobody can know. Just you, okay?'

Her heart beating madly with excitement, Narcissa nodded.

'Good. So... Here is the thing... The day before yesterday, I received an owl from my father.' Admitted Lucius carefully. 'He – He insisted I – I trust him... He said mistakes have been made and none of it was his fault... He said I had to stay put and not let myself be influenced by those who... don't like him very much... So... So I don't think he did it. I really don't but... Everyone will think he did and now he's being interrogated and I – me... I'm...'

The poor boy was so nervous Narcissa feared he would tuck out his own nails. She caught his hands to stop him from fidgeting and looked into his eyes. All his emotions, thoughts, memories... All were being thrown at the forefront of his mind. Narcissa did not even have to dig and if she was agile enough, he would not detect her invasion. So when his eyes were on her she focused and saw images of herself and her sisters, her name – Black – written on a piece of parchment, his father talking... But what did he say? There was also Lucius, strutting through the castle, his friends at his heels... Protected.

Gently, she let go of his hands.

'Calm down, Lucius' she said softly.

Lucius did not react. He was too busy staring at her with wonder in his eyes. The thought inflated her ego greatly, but she was careful to maintain an expression of soft caring.

'You want my sisters to take you under their wings don't you?'

She had to wait for Lucius to come back to his senses. He nodded then and tried to look important. Narcissa smirked internally.

'I need a... A patron,' he said.

Just like her, he must have learned the word recently.

She smiled brighter and put a hand on her hip. 'All right, then,' she said. 'I'll talk to them.'

Lucius could not contain a complacent smile.

'Perfect,' he said, clapping his hands once in satisfaction as he made to leave. 'See you later then.'

Narcissa frowned. 'Hey!' she called after him. He turned around and she frowned deeper. "Do not sound immature!" She thought. 'I just did you a great service.'

She loved that sentence. She remembered Bella saying it to Rita Skeeter two years before.

Lucius seemed confused. He raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

'What?'

Narcissa tapped her foot impatiently.

'What do you say to someone who does you a great service?'

It took Lucius a few seconds to understand. When he did, he grimaced irritably and groaned. He was about to reply, stopped himself, hesitated, and finally grimaced again before shouting "Whatever!" and escaping in a run.

Narcissa was outraged and angrier than she had been in a long while.

What a colossal idiot! She thought, and stormed away, stomping her feet to the ground and seriously reconsidering what she had just promised.

Why would she or her sisters help him anyway?

I'll try to post next chapter on Thursday but I'm so busy trying to find an appartment and all, I can't promise anything :/

Have a great day y'all! ^^