A/N: Did I listen to The Last 5 Years soundtrack to get myself in a break-up sort of mood? Why, yes. Yes I did. Enjoy!

WC: 1,143

Bella leaves early in the morning to go meet Rodolphus, so Narcissa doesn't get the opportunity to say goodbye. Andromeda disappears at some point after breakfast to go who-knows-where to go see who-knows-who but Narcissa has the sneaking suspicion it was the mysterious person from the café from Sunday, and she wishes Meda would tell her who it is, but clearly she's decided to be secretive about it. No matter, she'll find out when they get back to school. Meda can't hide anything from her.

Father and Uncle have some business to settle at the Ministry, something with the Wizengamot she wishes they would tell her more about, but they only told her 'not to worry her pretty little head about it'. Narcissa nods like the perfect child she is, but secretly wishes they would take a little time to look beneath her perfect appearance and give her a little more information on what they do.

Mother and Aunt have taken the opportunity to go for an outing, and Aunt Walburga has taken Regulus – her favourite – while Sirius has to stay at home for his cheek yesterday. Narcissa briefly wondered if Aunt Walburga wasn't a little too harsh on him, as the way she dragged him up to his room seemed a little violent. But then again, it was no different from the way Father would punish Bella when they were younger, so she didn't say anything. Besides, Narcissa wouldn't know, she's never been punished.

Mother asked if she wanted to go, but she's expecting a friend – Clarisse Belby, the closest that she could have to a best friend – so she's declined. So, it's only Sirius and her at home for the moment. She doesn't mind too much. Sirius and her don't exactly not get along, it's just that she doesn't particularly care for her cousin and vice-versa.

His defiant ways annoy her a little, that's true, because it's not the same way Bella is defiant. Bella will test the limits of the rules. Sirius just snaps them in half and throws them over his shoulder and dares them to punish him. It infuriates her Aunt and Uncle immensely, and she hates that. Also, it doesn't comfort her to know that this is the boy who is to become lord Black, when Uncle gives him his title.

Narcissa is proud of being a Black, just as she'll be proud of whoever's name she'll bare when she gets married. Bella and Andromeda can't keep the name either, so it's on Sirius and Regulus they have to count on to keep the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black alive and honourable. Sirius will fit into his place eventually – or at least, it's something they all hope but never say – or otherwise, there is always Regulus. But her youngest cousin is clingy and afraid. He hasn't been raised to become a Lord.

They're in the drawing room, her writing an essay for school and he looking bored out of his mind (at least he isn't bothering her), when the doorbell rings. The house-elf opens the door but Narcissa comes too.

Clarisse flies in, looking absolutely miserable. She throws herself into Narcissa's arms. She stumbles a little but catches herself quickly.

"Cissa," she sobs into her shoulder. Cissa. She's Cissa to her friends. It's better than Cissy, that makes her feel like a small child, but it's still not Narcissa. Cissy was a 3-months-old baby. Cissa was a girl of 11. But, of course, Clarisse is crying on her shoulder, she's not going to tell her that she wants to be called Narcissa now, is she?

"Shh," Narcissa whispers, "What's wrong?" Because clearly, something is. Slytherin's don't just cry for the silliest reasons. Not like those Hufflepuffs.

"He broke up with me," Clarisse wails. "Left me for a Gryffindor."

"Gryffindor?" a voice echoes, it's not Narcissa, so Clarisse looks up.

Sirius is standing in the door-frame of the drawing room, suddenly looking very curious. Narcissa has to repress a groan. Of course Sirius would have to be here. Clarisse stiffens and stands up a little straighter, wiping her eyes.

"Sirius, my cousin," Narcissa explains stiffly. "You can go to your room now, Sirius."

"No," he replies and he's got that determined look in his eye, so Narcissa knows it'll be completely useless trying to convince him to go.

"It's fine," she tells Clarisse. "He can stay."

Clarissa gives her a questioning look to which Narcissa replies I'll tell you later added with an exasperated sigh. Clarisse nods but her face crumples again. She takes her into the drawing room and sits her down on the sofa. Sirius seems to have understood that he's lucky she hasn't talked a house-elf into locking him into his room, so he stays in a corner while Narcissa tries to console her friend.

"I hate him," Clarisse says, blowing her nose. "And I positively detest her."

Narcissa nods grimly. Antiochus Parkinson and her friend have been betrothed since they were born. It's not unusual for Purebloods, and Narcissa is pretty sure her parents have a couple of secret agreements for Meda and her if ever things go bad. He'll come back to her, he has too but only once they turn seventeen. It's just that until then there isn't any official 'rule' for dating. And they had been 'dating' for 2 years now, so this just reeks of betrayal.

"Who is she even?"

"A Prewett," Clarisse spits out.

"You mean one of those pudgy red-headed Prewetts? She's got nothing on you," Narcissa declares.

"But what does he see in her, then?" Clarisse sobs.

Narcissa doesn't reply. Those blood-traitors get on her nerves. Don't they see they're just annoying every one around them? They're Purebloods, sacred 28, for Merlin's sake. Why don't they just do what they're supposed to do. It would make life so much easier. Father and Uncle are probably at the Ministry for some trouble they've stirred up.

Besides, Mildred Prewett is one of the worst Prewetts there are. Her cousins – one of them got married to a Weasley a couple of years ago if she remembers correctly – were far better than her. They left the Slytherins alone, so the Slytherins left them alone. But nooooo, Mildred had to go around trying to pick fights. Bloody Gryffindors.

"He's a boy," Narcissa tries to console her. "He's stupid and immature."

He's an absolute bloody idiot more like. Breaking up with her just before Yule. This sort of things happens with engaged children, and their marriages often aren't happy after incidents like that. He'd better bloody pray that Clarisse's parents don't learn of this, or he'll have them to deal with.

Sirius also looks far too interested in the whole affair. Narcissa hopes she hasn't made a mistake by letting him stay. She really should have locked him in his room.