A/N: I apologise for the long gap in writing. Life got a little busy and I didn't realise how much time had passed! If you're still here reading this, thank you. I hope you enjoy the latest chapter.
"What would you like my love?"
The young witch had been engrossed in her own thoughts, forgetting that she was next in line to order. The grating tones of Madam Rosmerta's voice brought her back round to consciousness; clearing her throat, she glanced quickly at the menu on the table.
"My apologies, er could I order two hot chocolates, one slice of lemon cake and one scone with jam please?"
Once the transaction was complete, the witch went in search of a table. Luckily, being early on a Saturday morning, The Three Broomsticks was still fairly light in terms of patrons. There was a table tucked back around from the entrance that she chose, moreso for the privacy aspect than anything else. Removing her aubergine woollen coat, she pulled her dark, curly hair forwards over her shoulders. A quick check in her pocket mirror assured her she was presentable and so she waited for her guest. Looking around, she basked in the familiar scents and sounds, albeit some memories were starting to become a little rusty. Names of her former peers who would join them on a Friday evening were starting to fade away and she couldn't remember exactly which table was her favourite back then, but characters like Madam Rosmerta were unforgettable. Some things stuck in her memory as a permanent reminder of times past when life was simpler to navigate.
Narcissa arrived ten minutes early, as always. As soon as she entered the pub, she was met with a stark warmth emanating from the main fireplace, as well as the scent of roasted pumpkin and cinnamon. Autumn usually arrived much earlier in the Highlands and the seasonal celebrations were embraced with open arms once the equinox arrived. Narcissa found it a little bizarre, considering there was still a good four full weeks before Halloween. However, she acknowledged that it was a nice change from the bright purple and yellow flowers that had been decorating the pub since the school year restarted.
"Narcissa!"
Narcissa heard the familiar voice call out. Turning around, she saw her sister sitting in the corner, looking as bright and as beautiful as ever. Overcome with happiness, Narcissa rushed over into her sister's open arms, squeezing tightly.
"Oh Andromeda, it's so good to see you!" Narcissa exclaimed, taking in the sweet jasmine scent that used to be all so familiar. "I wasn't sure when I would see you again."
"I read your letter and I thought I had to come." Andromeda smiled at Narcissa as they let go, instead taking both of Narcissa's hands in hers. "You look really, really well Cissa."
Both of the ladies took a seat, wasting no time to start catching up on lost time.
"Thank you, you look happy Andromeda. The last time I saw you, you looked exhausted."
"Yes," Andromeda mused. "It's been a difficult time. Look, I didn't want anybody else to tell you, but I moved out a couple of weeks after you started back at Hogwarts. It's okay, I'm still communicating with Mother and Father – that's how I received your letter."
"What happened?" Narcissa asked, her face full of concern. "Did they force you to leave?"
"No. Aunt Walburga would have preferred it to be so, but alas, I chose to leave of my own volition. I know that my relationship has brought a lot of strain and shame to the family and I just wasn't able to be myself anymore. The more time I spent at the Manor, the more I wished I could be free. I'd look at the window at the birds in the sky and wish I could be as carefree as them. It sounds ridiculous right? Anyway, to cut a depressing story short, I made the decision to go. I couldn't bear to wake up every morning and see the look of dread and despair on Mother's face."
"So where are you now?"
"At Ted's. It's different, much different, but I feel at home." Andromeda chuckled. "It sounds daft, I know. I've been used to wealth and finery all of my life and yet I feel happy in a quaint little cottage, surrounded by fields of green and cows."
"I'm glad," Narcissa replied. Personally, Narcissa couldn't think of anyone she'd less like to be around.
"I know you all disapprove of Ted, but I feel you're the only one I can speak to and still be respected."
"I suppose…" Narcissa was distracted by the arrival of their drinks and accompaniments. "I see you haven't forgotten."
"Of course I wouldn't forget Cissa; I will never forget as long as I love that lemon cake is your favourite."
"Thank you, how kind." Narcissa cut a small piece of cake off with her fork, revelling in the taste. "After a busy start to the year, I've needed a good boost. So, what are your plans from here on out?"
"Well, I'm still working for that embroidery shop at the moment. It's not the best money, but I'm happy there. So please, don't worry about me. I've been bursting to tell you, but I thought it was too much for a letter and it was news that warranted a face-to-face conversation. I'm glad that is out of the way, though. After all, I want to hear about you! You said that things were going well and I'd love to hear every detail."
"Yes, well, I'm performing well in all of my classes, so much so I've been put on an advanced tuition program for Potions. Slughorn invited me to be a member of his infamous club, so I must be doing well."
"Fantastic news, Cissa. I had heard from Professor Slughorn a couple of weeks ago and he informed me that you were progressing well. It's nice to see the Black legacy of high academic performance continues! How is this advanced tuition going? What do you do?"
"It's one-to-one, once a week. It's going surprisingly well, actually." Narcissa unconsciously started playing with the charm on her bag. "I've learned a fair bit and I'm feeling like I'm getting to grips with the material."
"I'm amazed Slughorn has the extra time! He is a busy man with many personal projects."
"I've been assigned a tutor from the year above," Narcissa quickly explained. "Peer to peer learning, something about extra credit for them and a better mutual working relationship for me."
"Oh I see, who have you been paired up with?"
"Lucius Malfoy,"
"The Lucius Malfoy? Well I must say I am surprised, Cissa. I mean, he's smart but I didn't picture him as the dedicated type. Has he tried to charm you yet?"
"I was surprised too I must say, but actually, he isn't quite what everybody makes him out to be."
"It sounds like you have a soft spot for him," Andromeda teased. "I'm still highly suspicious of somebody who has never been bookish to suddenly be willing to tutor another student, especially such an intelligent and beautiful female student as you. I'm sorry Cissa, I don't mean to be cynical – I'm just trying to get my head around this partnership."
"That's what everyone says. My friends think he's just playing the long game, but I meant what I said. We have been getting on well and I have actually been learning and progressing. Apart from one evening where we decided to meet here for dinner, we've stuck to our agreed timetable and kept it professional. Besides, he will be leaving at the end of this year and I can't imagine he would want to waste his time on someone like me that he would have to wait for."
"Perhaps you're right. So long as he's treating you as he should, then I'm happy. After all, I'm the last person in this world who can criticise over choice of partner. I presume you will be attending Slughorn's party this evening?"
"Yes, although I haven't decided what I should wear yet. How formal is formal?"
"You don't need all the frills and petticoats, if that what you mean." Andromeda laughed. "This isn't one of our ridiculous affairs. Just pick out a nice dress you can move about and eat in and you'll be fine. It's more about the people you meet and the atmosphere anyway. Trust me, I can't remember what anybody wore to those parties, but I remember the conversations and the friendships that came out of them."
"That helps a lot, thank you." Narcissa said before taking a sip from her hot chocolate. "I'm a little bit anxious."
"How come? I know you are a little bit on the shy side, but there's nothing to be anxious about I promise."
"I don't know. I think Professor Slughorn holds me to some high standard and I am afraid of messing it up. I don't know, it's a little bit silly really. I don't mean to speak out of turn, but I don't think my life is destined to possess the same freedoms and choices as yours and…and I suppose outside of school, I'm not going to make a name for myself."
"I don't think that's true Cissa. The world is your oyster and it will be what you want it to be. Not for a second that I recommend following my footsteps; I know for sure that Mother and Father would be distraught to lose you. I think after Bellatrix, well, coasting and somehow passing her exams through the skin of her teeth and me abandoning the archaic ways, you are their last hope. I think you're the most balanced out of the three of us and I know you'll do what you need to do, but that doesn't mean that you need to fade into obscurity. There are many ways to make yourself noticed and there are right and wrong ways to go about it. You're an old head on young shoulders and I empathise, but don't worry about what will be – concern yourself with the present and make sure you live for every moment."
"I suppose you are right," Narcissa agreed. "This year has been quite stressful and soon I won't have the security blanket of school. It's all coming to a head and I guess I've been letting my thoughts take over."
"It's only natural. I mean, I remember being a couple of months off finishing at Hogwarts with no idea of what I wanted to do with my life. That kind of fear is only natural; we spend our youth being guided and told what to do, where to go and when to do it and then suddenly, you're on your own. I also know what you're like and that you've got a sharp eye that questions every little detail. Look, I know it's easier said than done, but you will be alright. If Bellatrix has managed to find some kind of path after Hogwarts, which is a miracle in itself, you'll have no problem."
"Don't you ever wish you could see into the future though? To have some reassurance about how things will go, if you're doing the right thing and if you will be okay?"
"I'm sure there are ways to go about it if you really, really want to know, but for me, I'd rather have my cards dealt and the chips fall where they may. Besides, what advantage would we all have knowing what would happen in ten, twenty or thirty years? Would that not cause more anxiety and stress? Like I said, it's better to be present in the here and now and everything will fall into place eventually."
Narcissa smiled. She knew what Andromeda said was true. If Bellatrix had managed to settle down with a husband, fill some kind of wifely role and fly from the nest and thrive, so could Narcissa.
"Anyway, before I forget-" Andromeda said as she reached into her other pocket. "-I wanted to give you this."
Narcissa took hold of a small silver parcel, fastened tightly with a neat black satin ribbon.
"You don't need to open it here – I know you don't like to be the centre of attention. Please have a look before your party tonight, though. I think you may like it."
"Thank you Andromeda, thank you so much."
An hour or so passed before Andromeda glanced at her watch and realised. As always, the two sisters had become lost in conversation, enjoying every moment of each other's company. Finishing the remainder of their second drinks, Narcissa and Andromeda exited The Three Broomsticks, greeted with the strong autumn sunshine that made the cobbled stones shine and sparkle. There was a light and sharp breeze, enough to make both sisters reach for their scarves.
"Thank you so much for coming," Narcissa said honestly. "It's been good to catch up."
"I couldn't say no," Andromeda replied. "But I must be honest with you Cissa. I don't wish to put a downer on our time together, for it has been wonderful, but I owe you the truth."
"What do you mean?" Narcissa asked, puzzled by the abrupt change in conversation. "I don't understand."
"I wanted to see you Cissa because I fear that this may be the last time we will see each other. I wanted the memory of our last meeting to be positive and this is certainly what I will hold dear forever."
Andromeda pulled out an envelope from her front coat pocket and handed it to Narcissa, who hesitated somewhat in taking it. Narcissa looked at her sister with an equal measure of fear and confusion, however with a reassuring nod, Narcissa opened the envelope. It took her two or three reads of the letter for the message within to sink in and while she was not surprised by the news, she felt saddened and also a little betrayed.
"Ted and I will be married next summer. We set the date back in July but we've been keeping it under wraps, for obvious reasons. I am sorry, Cissa. I didn't want you to find out second hand."
"Well, I guess this changes things doesn't it? You know I won't be able to come."
"I know. I don't blame you and I would never want to put you in a compromising position, but I can't say that a little part of me isn't upset that my own family won't be there. I understand, and I'm sure once the rest of our family receives the letter something will be said and done that can't be reversed. However, I love and respect you too much to just disappear without a goodbye. For almost seventeen wonderful years I have shared my life with you and I wanted to share one last time with you."
"You must really love him." Narcissa said, the solemness emanating from her voice. "He must be worth it to step away from your family and everything you've ever known."
"I do. I hope that one day when you fall in love, you will understand. For now, I don't expect you to understand; hell I know you don't approve, I can see it in the expression on your face. Just don't let this ruin the good memories of us, Narcissa. We had a good childhood; we've shared so many wonderful moments and I don't want you to discredit them."
"It's not that I don't understand, Andromeda. I…I just feel like I'm losing the one person I felt had my back. You're the sensible one, the one who always had her head screwed on and I just can't believe that you're turning your back on your family for something you are not."
"Narcissa," Andromeda took a step forward, cupping Narcissa's face in her hands. "We are more than just our family name, and our money, and our history. You are an intelligent young woman, but you have a little way to go yet. You will understand one day, I know. You've got a good heart but sometimes you let your brain cloud your feelings."
"We can't always let our hearts win."
Andromeda gently lowered her hands, taking a step back. Even when Narcissa was being difficult, Andromeda was still as understanding as she always had been. There was not one snippet of anger within her voice or her body language.
"You have my details if you want to write. If you ever write, I will reply and that I promise. I know it hurts and you are disappointed, but we have to follow our own paths, and this is mine. I hope we do keep in touch, but if we don't, I understand."
Narcissa nodded, unable to say anything in response. She felt numb; indeed, she had anticipated for quite a while that she would lose her older sister at some point, but Narcissa hadn't planned for it to be quite so soon. Naively, she presumed Andromeda would hold off for a little longer and that the charade of a perfect Pureblood family could continue. Ted Tonks had lingered in the background for a while and the threat of him had loomed ever closer since Andromeda finished at Hogwarts.
"I will try and convince them Cissa, but you know what they're like," Andromeda sighed. "Promise me you'll look after yourself, that you will do well and that you will thrive."
"I promise."
Narcissa accepted one final, long embrace. From what had been a lovely morning, full of such positive energy and hope, she couldn't believe this was playing out in front of her own eyes. Perhaps it was a bad dream - that any moment now, Artemis would stumble out of bed and wake the dormitory up. Maybe if she pinched herself, she thought, she could tear herself away from this scene and find herself tucked up in bed. However, Narcissa knew deep down this was real. She knew that the tension had been bubbling up below the surface and that Andromeda would have to leave. A dark part of Narcissa's mind wished it had been Bellatrix; not that she didn't love her eldest sister, but she didn't have a strong emotional bond with her and callously, it would have been far easier to emotionally shut off from what was happening.
"Don't be sad," Andromeda said calmly. "I am positive that some time, somewhere, we will meet again. Perhaps one day, this ridiculous idea of Pureblood sovereignty will die a death and we can all live together harmoniously."
"Maybe,"
"Take care Cissa. I love you and I always will. If you ever need me, you know where I am."
"I love you too."
Andromeda withdrew from the embrace and with one final smile, she turned away, walking down the path that led out of Hogsmeade. She turned back once to wave and with a faint crackle, Andromeda apparated out of the village. Narcissa watched on with a heavy and sombre mood descending on her, finally coming to grips with the gravity of the situation that was slowly unravelling in front of her eyes. Narcissa felt all sorts of emotions; anger, sadness, betrayal, hurt, but also hope – hope that one day, somehow and somewhere, she would see Andromeda again.
Lucius was almost ready for the Slug Club party. Not that he was ever late for an important date, but he had made sure to set himself an extra hour aside. The first party of the year was almost the most important, both in terms of forging connections but also to make an impression on the new members. Of course, Lucius only had eyes for one person and he hoped that tonight, he could get to know her a little better.
"Which one do you think Crabbe?" Lucius said, holding up two ties to his black dinner jacket. "Dark purple or emerald green?"
"Does it really matter?" Crabbe replied as he chewed on a bread roll. "They'll both look dark in there. Slughorn operates solely by candlelight, it seems."
"It doesn't matter to you, no, but some of us like to make a good impression. I'm asking for an observer's opinion."
"Go for the purple one," Crabbe said dismissively, getting distracted by a Knut he had spotted on the floor. "It looks more grown up."
"Thanks," Lucius placed the green tie down before proceeding to fix the purple one around his neck, focusing hard on his reflection in the mirror as he tied the knots. Lucius made sure that there was not a single button, thread or hair out of place – everything had to be perfect and he wouldn't settle for any less.
"Where you off Malfoy?" Goyle asked as he entered the dormitory, flopping onto his bed and kicking off his shoes. "You're looking far too smart for dinner!"
"I told you already Goyle, I'm at the Slug Club tonight." Lucius replied, slightly annoyed. "How many times have I told you now? I'm pretty certain it's been at least twice in the last three days."
"Sorry mate! I just don't get it, isn't it like a weird teacher's pet congregation? Come on think about it, it's for all the swats to get together and talk about how good they are and Slughorn basks in all the glory. I don't know why you entertain it Malfoy."
"You're just jealous you didn't get picked, Goyle." Lucius smiled wryly. "Yes, it may be full of swats, but it looks good to be a member of the Slug Club. I know you and Crabbe don't think beyond dinner but it will help you make connections with people which will prove invaluable when we leave this god forsaken place."
"I don't think you'll need any help. Your father is already an established figure and everybody knows who you are."
"I don't want to become my father, Goyle. I want to make a life for myself. If I have to suck up to a few professors and play nicely for a few evenings a year, I will."
Lucius had become used to the inane questionings of his peers, but he didn't expect them to think much beyond the next day. Lucius had a plan and a vision that he was determined to see through. Normally, he would find himself angered if somebody dared question him, but his attention was largely placed elsewhere and he didn't have the energy to rise to it. Finally, life was starting to come together and Lucius couldn't have been more pleased.
"Wow, what's this?" Crabbe exclaimed as he withdrew a gold brooch from the chest of drawers next to Lucius. "It feels and looks like it's made of solid gold! What is it?"
"It's a Cobra and yes, it's made of solid gold."
"Where did you get this?"
"My father brought it back from one of his visits to the Middle East. Turns out they have some fascinating pieces of art over there and they turn their works of art into jewellery. This was a gift from the head of the El-Hadouin family as a thank you." Lucius was fully aware that Crabbe was fawning over it; he could only dream of owning something so precious and expensive. "You can borrow it if you like. I know you have a date night planned with Lucille Henry."
"Really? What you do that?"
"Sure. I'm sure a fine piece of jewellery like that will impress her. You can then return the brooch to me with the good news about the date and it's a positive result for all."
"Thanks Malfoy!" Crabbe took the brooch, smiling from ear to ear. Lucius chuckled to himself as he watched Crabbe return to his bed via his reflection in the mirror.
Simple things for simple minds.
"Right, I will be heading off now gentlemen. Don't concern yourself with waiting up for me; I will presume that tonight will be a late one and I know you both have plans for tomorrow morning." Lucius announced his departure to Crabbe and Goyle as he took one final look at his reflection. "If I'm not back by the morning, then you can send a search party."
"Yeah yeah Malfoy, you can look after yourself. Just make sure you stay away from Slughorn's special brew, else you'll wake the whole of the dungeon up on your way back!" Goyle laughed, Crabbe joining in unison.
Lucius shook his head in dismissal, taking the opportunity to leave his dormitory. As he entered the common room, he noticed that it was unusually quiet; there were only about five or six small groups of people sat in various locations. Lucius thought this was most unusual for a Saturday evening, but more and more students were opting to devote their Saturday evenings to extra study, especially as their exams drew ever closer. As he quickly looked at the people around him, he noticed he didn't recognise many, if any, of the faces and so concluded they must have been in the more junior years.
As Lucius strutted down the corridors, he took great pride in his appearance; he knew he looked the part and the extra female attention didn't go unnoticed. Lucius was aware of a particular gang of girls that seemed to be his own personal fan club, loitering around the castle in the hopes of catching a glimpse at him. Of course, he wasn't at all interested in them, but it gave him an ego boost nonetheless.
When Lucius arrived at Professor Slughorn's office, he was surprised to see there wasn't a queue forming at the door. Often, Slughorn would start on the drink early and forget to unlock the door, meaning his guests were held in the corridor until the realisation dawned upon him to let them in. Tapping three times at the door, Lucius waited patiently for the door to be opened.
"Ah! Lucius! How wonderful to see you my boy!" Professor Slughorn greeted Lucius with a glass of wine in hand. "You have come just at the right time; the party is starting to liven up a bit. I know I said an eight o'clock start, but it seems like you all like to be punctual and arrive early."
"Of course Professor," Lucius said confidently. "We know how fantastic these events are and how privileged we are to attend them. I think only a fool would be late for such an occasion."
"Such kind words Mr Malfoy, many thanks to you. Please, do come in and make yourself at home."
The office had a real atmosphere about it; there was a hazy smokescreen lingering in the air, not dissimilar to when incense sticks were burning, and the lamps alternated between a warm white and a dark green. Benjamin Flores, who Lucius recognised from the year below, was stood by the vinyl record player, twisting the dial until the music was at a low, yet audible level. He recognised a couple of Slytherins from the year below who gave him a nod of acknowledgement as he passed them and by the buffet was Clarisse Brimstone, a seventh year Ravenclaw who aspired to be the very best in every single subject. While many of his seventh year peers admired her, Lucius didn't; in fact he found her to be quite annoying, like a bad taste in one's mouth that no matter how hard you tried, you could not get rid of.
"Red wine or white?"
Lucius looked over his shoulder to see Imelda Forge holding a tray of wines. Lucius had seen Imelda a number of times before, usually playing hostess at Slughorn's parties.
"I'll take a red, thank you," Lucius reached out and took one of the glasses from the silver tray. "Forgive me, are you a guest at these parties?"
"No, I'm only in fifth year." Imelda explained. "However, my father knows Professor Slughorn; they are good friends and so I've known him since I was young. Kind of like an uncle if you will. I just like to help out to ensure his parties are a success."
"How very noble of you."
Imelda smiled awkwardly, not sure whether what Lucius said was a compliment.
"Enjoy your evening," she said before disappearing back into the smokescreen.
Lucius slowly made his way around the exterior of the room, looking over the appetisers laid out neatly across the dining table. As some people were learning, it was also wise to attend Slughorn's parties on an empty stomach.
"Lucius!"
Lucius heard a voice call out and a couple of seconds later, his fellow seventh year Evan Rosier emerged from the haze.
"Evan, how wonderful to see you here!" Lucius said, shaking Evan's hand. "I am sorry we haven't had much time to catch up this year. It seems that our timetables, both inside and outside of the classroom, don't seem to marry up much this year."
"It's just one of those things, I guess it is preparing us for life on the outside!" Evan laughed, leaning against the wall. "How have you been my old friend?"
"Same old really, I can't say there is anything new to report. Still behaving in my usual charming ways and hoping everything pans out."
"Some things never change do they?" Evan mused. "How is the hunt going? I know after the last party at Malfoy Manor that your parents were desperately trying to find you a woman."
"If I'm honest, probably not going as well as my parents would like. I keep turning every offer down that's made and it's driving my mother crazy."
"I thought you'd be jumping at all the offers Lucius! What's keeping you from accepting one of them?"
"I'm just not interested. I've had my time to mess around and I'm just not that bothered any more. I don't know, I just want to see this year through."
"I understand completely. I thought my cousins were joking when they said seventh year was tough. Of course, I didn't listen much to Bellatrix; she somehow managed to fluke the whole system and pass, but I remember how stressed Andromeda was. Exam after exam after exam and very little respite. I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end."
"I couldn't agree more. How about yourself? Last time we met up, you were due to go on a date with Eleanor Winterhold. How is that going?"
"Very well," Evan smiled, gesturing his glass over to a couple of seventh years by the table. "We're officially a couple now. We mostly keep ourselves to ourselves while at school; Eleanor's incredibly determined to reach the top in a couple of her classes and so I know my place. We came here together tonight but she's busy catching up with her friends so I'm mostly leaving her to it. She is a little shy, so we haven't said anything in public. I am sure people are putting two and two together, but luckily nobody is really interested in what we get up to."
"It must be nice to not have every single action scrutinised." Lucius sighed as he finished the remainder of his glass of wine. "Sometimes I wish every little thing I do wouldn't be examined under a microscope."
"I'm afraid it comes with the territory. I guess you've just become used to it now."
"I think so."
"I do feel for you, though. It seems my cousin Narcissa has the same issue, and it drives her insane. There's nothing more invasive than having journalists camping outside your front doorstep, waiting for the perfect picture."
"Really?" Lucius replied with interest. "Of course, I'd expect it to some degree, especially given the award her father won in the summer."
"Yeah, her mother Druella spoke to mine just before we started back to school and she was saying how frustrating it was. Obviously, there's been some interest on the family since Andromeda's romance with Edward Tonks became public. I guess it's two sides of the same coin really, but with Bellatrix and Andromeda largely out of reach, Narcissa's the new target. Whispers from the ranks at The Daily Prophet reckon she's one to watch."
"How so?"
"Well, she's fast approaching seventeen years old and the papers will be waiting to see which family she marries into. It's always been the same; they have a dreary fascination with Pureblood families. Personally, having never really been high profile I don't understand it myself – I suppose you'll understand it better than I do. I just wish they'd leave the poor girl alone. I'm sure she's facing enough pressure to do the right thing."
"She seems far more intelligent than her peers and I'm sure she'll make the right decision. I don't think she would be foolish enough to put a toe out of line."
"I don't think so. Speaking of which, I heard on the grapevine you were tutoring her in Potions. I suppose she will be attending tonight."
"Yes, Slughorn's idea. He wanted me to earn some extra credit and I guess he says potential in Narcissa so I agreed. I can say she is far more capable than many of her classmates."
"That's good to hear. I know she will do well." Evan paused, gesturing over to the archway. "Speaking of the Devil, here she is."
Lucius looked over in the direction of the archway, zoning in on Narcissa as she spoke to Professor Slughorn. He couldn't help but stare; Narcissa had opted for a classic black shift dress with cut off at her knees, complimented with a pair of black slingback heels. Her hair had been styled into loose curls, sitting neatly just below her shoulders. Lucius had seen her dressed up before, that was nothing new, but tonight she looked so incredibly beautiful. Lucius can feel the confident energy that seemed to radiate off of her as she laughed with Slughorn.
"She always knows how to make an entrance," Evan teased. "I'm sure all the other girls in here are feeling upstaged."
"I am sure they are," Lucius said, maintaining his gaze over at Narcissa.
It was as if Narcissa knew she was being watched; she looked over in Lucius' direction, her eyes meeting with his and after a few moments, she excused herself from Professor Slughorn and approached Lucius and Evan.
"Ah Narcissa! You're looking well," Evan greeted Narcissa with a warm embrace. "Glad to see another relative made the exclusive club!"
"Thank you, Evan, I'm doing well. Glad to see you've managed to keep your spot, I thought maybe the club would be getting a bit full and they'd have to make some room!" Narcissa teased in response, playfully slapping Evan's forearm.
"They don't get rid of the best. Have you come alone this evening? You do know you could have brought a plus one?"
Narcissa quickly looked over at Lucius, not long enough to raise any suspicions on Evan's part, but enough for Lucius to acknowledge it.
"I know, but I couldn't bring any of my friends; they'd spend the whole evening looking for a tall and handsome seventh year to stalk and I'd be on my own anyway. Therefore, I figured it was probably best for me to come alone. And, as for the boys, let's just say the selection is rather disappointing."
"Honestly, you and Mr Malfoy over here are like two peas in a pod; both hard to please and neither of you seem to be able to find a date!" Evan laughed. "I jest, of course. I'm just glad to see you're well."
"And you, too."
"Forgive me, I'd love to stay and chat but I can see Professor Slughorn's loitering; he said he wanted to have a chat, but I haven't had the chance to talk yet as he seems to preoccupied with everyone else. Please excuse me, I hope to see you soon."
Once Evan was out of hearing range, Narcissa turned her focus to Lucius, admiring the sight in front of her. She loved a well-dressed man and Lucius had seemed to pull out all the stops tonight.
"I'm glad to see you here," Lucius spoke first. "I was wondering if you were already here and I'd missed you."
"No, I had some private business to attend to first," Narcissa replied. "However, I wasn't going to be late. I was very much looking forward to tonight."
"As was I. Would you like a drink?"
"It's okay, I'll grab a pumpkin juice when the tray comes back around."
There was a brief pause where neither one of them quite knew what to say next. They were fully aware that a few of their peers had become interested in their conversation and ever so often, there would be hushed tones and rushed glances in their direction. Lucius, who was all too aware of this as he faced the room, guided Narcissa to a quieter part of the room where they weren't so exposed.
"Thank you." Narcissa said. "I know the rumour mill is already churning, not that there is anything to say, but what is school without a bit of juicy gossip?"
"Just ignore them Narcissa. Let them say whatever they want – they clearly don't have anything better to do." Lucius' eyes settled on the silver locket around Narcissa's neck. "Family heirloom?"
"You could say so; my sister gave it to me, today in fact. She said something about it being a lucky charm, but I guess we shall see how that pans out. I can't say I'm ever in receipt of that much luck but I suppose there is a time for everything."
"That's true," Lucius mused. Taking half a step forward, he picked up on the familiar scent of orange blossom gracing his lungs. Now that he was very much aware of it, Lucius found it difficult to ignore how it made him feel. Lucius wasn't one to let on to anyone about how he truly felt about anything, but he couldn't deny how he felt more alive in Narcissa's presence. It was almost as if a beacon had entered the room and made everything seem brighter and much more amenable. Any of the minor grievances from the day had been long forgotten and Lucius hoped that time would slow, allowing him to enjoy every single moment for as long as possible.
"Would you say you're a lucky man?" Narcissa asked playfully.
"Some would say."
"But what do you say? I don't care what other people have to say Lucius."
Lucius gave a gentle smile. Narcissa was definitely pushing all of his buttons and she knew it.
"I'd say so. I guess we shall see how lucky this locket truly is."
Imelda, who had done the rounds of the room with the alcoholic beverages, was now making her way around with the juices for the underage students. Appearing in front of Lucius and Narcissa, she offered a drink to them both.
"Thank you," Narcissa said politely, taking her glass of juice from the tray.
Imelda smiled in acknowledgement before moving on to the next bundle of guests seated at the table.
"You look lovely tonight Narcissa," Lucius said softly. "You have to forgive me, I'm not adept at giving compliments. I didn't know if it was place to say anything – I didn't want to give off the wrong impression."
"Thank you, Lucius," Narcissa blushed. "And I'm not that good at accepting compliments, so I guess we are a perfect match."
"I guess so,"
"My dear students, welcome!" Professor Slughorn's sudden announcement tore Narcissa and Lucius away from their conversation. Slughorn was stood in the centre of the room, this time with a whiskey glass in his hand and with his wand held in front of his mouth in place of a microphone. "How wonderful to see so many familiar faces and so many new ones. The purpose of this evening is to mingle and to get to know your peers with the view of forging friendships that will hopefully last beyond tonight and into your adult lives. Each one of you has been invited here tonight as you all possess natural abilities in Potions, but you have also illustrated you have the aptitude to push yourselves and excel. I am so very proud of each and every one of you and tonight, I see you as my equals and not my students. Please enjoy all the food and drink there is to offer, although I must say that if you are underage, please behave and avoid the alcohol – I certainly don't want to get anyone into trouble and I don't quite fancy getting into trouble either-"
Lucius smiled to himself, knowing full well that every single Slug Club party ended up as an alcohol-fuelled fest. It was a wonder Dumbledore hadn't called for an end to these parties and that Slughorn hadn't been apprehended, but Lucius wondered if that the senior management turned a blind eye to it, considering how favourable the club had been for Hogwarts' reputation.
"-so without any further ado, please enjoy yourselves!"
The crowd that had appeared around Slughorn began to disperse, some of the braver students approaching unfamiliar faces and striking up a conversation.
"So, if I got this right, this is basically an excuse to eat, drink and chat until after curfew?" Narcissa asked. "I mean, I'm happy to oblige, but I just wanted to check that was the whole premise of the party."
"Basically yes. Slughorn likes to dress it up as some fancy event full of information sharing and knowledge expansion – it's no different to how our parties go. There's always somebody that gets stupidly drunk off Slughorn's whiskey, usually passing out; then there is maybe two or three people that decide to start playing musical instruments and of course, you have the two students who secretly fancy each other who decide to make a move when they think nobody is looking. I'm putting the money on Evan and Eleanor, but of course I could be wrong."
"I'm not sure why I was so anxious about tonight," Narcissa began to laugh. "I believed this would be a strictly format event, maybe with some special guests or some alumni coming to try and recruit new workers."
"Oh no, not at all. Put it this way; we are all Slughorn's favourites, his trophies. There's no real reason for these parties other than an opportunity for him to bask in his own students' achievements. We've got to cut the man some slack – he gets the fame and the attention he craves and we get a night off scot free. It's a win-win situation for us all."
"Excellent."
"Plus, ignore what he said about the alcohol. He'll turn a blind eye to that too, as long as you don't have too much and end up in the infirmary. I'm not sure your parents would be happy to receive a letter that your injury was caused by underage drinking on the school premises."
"I suppose that's fair enough. Everybody has a vice, don't they?"
"So, do you want the pumpkin juice, or do you want something that actually tastes nice?"
Narcissa laughed and after a moment of brief hesitation, she placed her glass of pumpkin juice on the nearest table.
"I would much prefer the wine."
"Wait here for a moment, I'll get us some drinks."
Lucius disappeared into the haze, leaving Narcissa alone with her thoughts. She was incredibly relieved to have seen Lucius when she first entered the room; she had been anxious that she would arrive first and would be stood around waiting for him. Of course, that was under the illusion that Lucius would have come to her straightaway; Narcissa liked to think he would have come to keep her company, but she didn't want to make presumptions. After all, he was just her tutor; he had no obligations to spend his evening with her.
Lucius returned rather swiftly with the glasses of wine, handing over one of the glasses of red wine to Narcissa.
"That's much better," Narcissa said after taking a sip. "I feel more like I'm at home now, rather than at a child's birthday party."
"Good, I want you to enjoy yourself." Lucius replied.
"So, is there anybody you were planning to speak to tonight? I mean, I thought you might have friends here that you like to socialise with; I don't expect you to stand with me for the whole of the evening, you're free to go and speak to whoever you want."
"Not particularly. I see these faces a lot, and to be honest, most are too scared to come and speak to me. Apart from Evan and a couple of sixth years, most people stay out of my way. However, I don't want to hold you back Narcissa; it's your first party and no doubt you'll want to get stuck in, speak to people and enjoy what these Slug Clubs have to offer." Lucius spoke with such conviction, although he thought it was him that needed the convincing.
Narcissa quickly scanned the room, looking for somebody who seemed approachable. There was a sixth year, Mildred Heavensgate, who she recognised, albeit they weren't exactly on speaking terms courtesy of Artemis. There was a couple of potential groups that Narcissa would approach, but truthfully she didn't want to; in fact, she seemed quite content staying exactly where she was. Biting the bullet, Narcissa decided it would do her some good to step out from Lucius' shadow, even if it was just to speak with her cousin at first.
"I'll be back soon," Narcissa said to Lucius. "I suppose it won't do me any favours to just stand in the corner all evening."
Lucius nodded in acknowledgement, watching as Narcissa disappeared across the room. Deep down, he understood that they couldn't be seen together for the whole duration of the party, for it would raise suspicion and there was nothing to say. Lucius was beginning to come to terms with the fact that he enjoyed spending time with Narcissa and that, seemingly out of nowhere, he had grown to care for her. Not a soul knew and for the time being, Lucius wanted it to stay that way. Lucius wasn't even sure Narcissa felt the same way; as she opened up in his presence he started to see that she was generally polite to everyone, and with the interactions Lucius had seen with males Narcissa knew, she was always polite to them. Perhaps their connection was just the same.
Narcissa found Evan standing over by Slughorn's alcohol cabinet in company with Eleanor and another couple.
"Ah Narcissa, would you care to join us?" Evan asked as he saw her approach the group. "Alexander, Phoebe and Eleanor, this is my cousin Narcissa Black. I'm sure you have heard of the name."
The group responded in unison with some variant of hello, making space in the circle for Narcissa next to Evan. Narcissa smiled politely at each one in turn as she took her place.
"Narcissa, this is Eleanor, my girlfriend." Evan gestured to the tall, light-brown haired person to his left. "I am sorry we haven't had the chance to do a formal introduction; as I explained to Lucius earlier, we haven't made our relationship public yet – select few know and for now, we are just trying to keep things under the surface, as I'm sure you can understand."
"I understand, nice to meet you Eleanor," Narcissa shook hands with Eleanor briefly.
There was something different about Eleanor; the way that her hair seemed to glisten when it caught the light, as well as her skin taking on an almost shimmery complexion. Her eyes were a piercing bright blue, as if they were magical themselves. Narcissa had her suspicions about why, but she decided now wasn't the time to investigate.
"Pleasure," Eleanor replied with faux confidence; her body language suggested she was somewhat uncomfortable, almost shy. Narcissa could empathise to a degree; her life had been filled with many first meetings and they never became any less awkward.
"Phoebe is Eleanor's sister, and Alexander is her partner." Evan went on to introduce everyone else in the group. "Phoebe and Alexander are both sixth year students, but I'm not sure if you will have crossed paths much as they are both part of Ravenclaw."
"No, I'm afraid we haven't met." Narcissa explained. "I'm not sure we mix in the same circles."
"Pity, but I guess that's the way of the world." Evan turned to address the other members of the group. "Could you please give me and Narcissa a few minutes?"
"Sure," Eleanor said, leaving the circle with Phoebe and Alexander not far behind.
"Eleanor seems amenable." Narcissa said once Eleanor had disappeared.
"That means you don't like her," Evan smiled slyly. "I'm used to all of the codewords."
"It's not that I don't like her Evan; she seems to be a little reserved."
"A bit like yourself then. I think once you get to know her, you'll get on rather well. I see your glass is empty, would you like another? You can't be seen without a glass in hand, else you might up with a shot of Slughorn's whiskey and I'm not quite sure it's late enough for that."
"Okay, yes thank you."
Narcissa handed the glass over to Evan and watched with curiosity as he entered the alcohol cabinet.
"Are you allowed to help yourself?"
"Not normally," Evan explained. "But I've done a few favours for Slughorn recently so he said I could be in control of the cabinet. Personally, I think that was a little bit of a dangerous decision, but it also means I get to choose the finer beverages. Ah, this one will do-"
Evan removed the cork from the neck of the bottle and poured the wine into the respective wine glasses. He handed back Narcissa's glass before picking up his own, swirling the crimson liquid around and inhaling the scent.
"You can't beat a good French red and don't we know it. I'm sure our grandmother would approve. So-" Evan rested his free arm on the windowsill, getting himself comfortable. "-I see you've made friends with Malfoy."
"I wouldn't say we're friends," Narcissa tried to explain. "Slughorn suggested Lucius should tutor me in Potions and well, so far it seems to be going well. Well anyway, there's no need to interrogate me; you're his friend so I don't need to tell you about his attributes."
"Lucius now is it?"
"I don't know why you think it's so funny. I don't understand why you men seem to have this strange hierarchy within your friendship groups whereby you never use their first name."
"Come on Narcissa, I'm only teasing you. Look, I'm just playing devil's advocate – I am just saying what any other person would be thinking. Okay, on a serious note, what do you think of him?"
"Well, he's intelligent, smart and when you get past the bravado, he does have some genuine care and thought for things."
"Hmm," Evan raised his eyebrows, nodding his head with a wry smile. "Do you like him?"
"Excuse me? Evan please that's not-"
"Come on Narcissa, we're family. Besides, I'm not going to go shooting my mouth off. If your mother caught wind of this, there would be a wedding date set up already and she'd personally frogmarch you down the aisle."
"We're just acquaintances," Narcissa said sternly. "Nothing more."
Evan didn't believe Narcissa for a single second. Although she gave off a convincing performance, Evan had seen the way they interacted with each other when they thought they weren't being watched.
"Well, I'll leave you with this and make of it what you will; from the older, male cousin with experience of how men act to his younger, female cousin, Lucius admires you."
"What? Has he said something to you?" Narcissa asked, genuinely puzzled by the revelation.
"Of course not, don't be daft!" Evan chuckled. "Lucius wouldn't breathe a single word to anyone. Surely you know that; anything he does feel he keeps close to his chest and people only find out if he wants them to. Trust me Narcissa, I have seen him with women, and he has never been attentive with anyone. I was watching you, how you thought I was gone and so you proceeded to have a chat before you moved somewhere else. Lucius was not a man of many words in the past and you knew a girl was just for show. The way he looks at you, speaks to you and about you is entirely different. In fact, we were talking about you before you arrived, and he showed a great deal of interest in what I had to say about you. That is not the Lucius I am used to seeing and take it from a man, we don't bother unless we really care."
"Oh," Narcissa was lost for words, instead retreating to taking sips from her wine to keep herself from Evan's gaze.
"So yeah, there you have it. Don't say I said anything, but hopefully with that knowledge you'll feel a bit more comfortable in what to do next. Plus, if it makes you feel better, I think you'd make a great couple. Lucius can be an arse – and I mean a real arse – but don't think for a second the show he puts on in front of others is how he was treat you."
Evan stood up, tapping Narcissa on the shoulder and giving her a reassuring smile before heading over to the buffet table where Eleanor and the others were now sitting. Narcissa couldn't believe what she had heard; she had thought that maybe, there was something brewing between them, but as an over-analyser, she thought she was misinterpreting Lucius' helpfulness, attentiveness and overall pleasantness in her company.
Always trust your instincts Narcissa, they are never wrong.
"Thank you, thank you all!" Professor Slughorn slurred as he held the door open for the guests to leave.
Some of the students weren't in the best shape at all, but nothing a good night's sleep and a copious amount of water wouldn't fix. Evan had consumed a few glasses of wine too many, couple with a couple of whiskeys making him struggle to walk in a straight line. Eleanor, who had only indulged in a couple of glasses, was trying her best to support Evan's muscular stature against her slender frame.
As Lucius and Narcissa followed on behind, Slughorn stopped them by clumsily placing his arm out in front of them, almost spilling the remainder of the contents of his wine glass.
"Mr Malfoy, Miss Black, how wonderful it is that you both came here together tonight. I hope you have had an enjoyable time! I feel like such a proud parent, watching two of my favourite pupils excel not only in school matters but in life as well. Mr Malfoy, make sure Miss Black gets back to the dormitory safely will you, that's a good chap!"
"Certainly, Professor." Lucius replied.
"Goodnight, Professor," Narcissa added, trying her best to swerve around Slughorn's arm.
"Goodnight both!"
Lucius and Narcissa left the office and entered the corridor, laughing as they watched Evan stumble all over the place, into columns and the odd statue.
"Watch it!" one of the portraits barked at Evan as he knocked the frame.
"I think he will be feeling that in the morning, poor man." Lucius said. "We've all been there! Just a shame it's Quidditch tomorrow – I think somebody might have to give him something to perk him up."
"He'll be fine, I'm sure. I've seen him bounce back like an elastic band. He's probably one of the few in the family that can, annoyingly."
"You haven't seen him down the Firewhiskeys in quick succession at the The Three Broomsticks."
"Touché."
"How are you feeling? I see you made the most of the free wine available tonight."
"I'm good, a little warm, but nothing I'm not used to. If I want to tuck myself into bed, five glasses is the maximum."
Narcissa was swaying a little on her feet and, not fully paying attention to the change in flooring, caught her heel on the cobbled stone and proceeded to lunge forward. Lucius instinctively grabbed Narcissa's arm, stopping her from falling flat on her face.
"So I see!" Lucius remarked, trying to stifle his laughter. "I'm not sure how you could walk in those sober, let alone after a few drinks."
"You learn. I refuse to be seen dead in a pair of flat shoes." Narcissa looked sternly at Lucius, prompting laughter. "I'm serious, Lucius!"
"While I agree that flat shoes are largely ghastly, I don't want you to fall over and hurt yourself. Would you mind if I keep a hold on to you, just until we get to the common room?"
"Okay."
Lucius linked his arm under Narcissa's, making sure to keep her close as she gently swayed from side to side every now and again.
"Just be grateful we don't have to go up the staircases to the common room. I imagine that's a challenge when intoxicated."
"I wish I could take these shoes off," Narcissa huffed. "Never mind the thought of trying to climb up any stairs."
"We aren't that far away. We will be there before you know it."
As they passed by one of the archways, Lucius took a quick glance at the magical staircases, watching many students struggling to keep their balance as the stairs moved from left to right. One poor person had fallen to their knees with their head down on the step, probably to keep themselves from vomiting.
As Lucius and Narcissa turned the corner, they were met with a rather aggrieved Professor McGonagall. She was stood underneath one of the candles with a lantern in hand; a second glance revealed she was wearing her night robes, suggesting she might have been woken up by the rabble of drunken students traipsing through the corridors.
"Mr Malfoy, Miss Black, I urge you to hurry along to the Slytherin common room! I've already witnessed the carnage left behind by Mr Rosier and do be warned I shall be speaking to the Headmaster about this first thing tomorrow!"
Lucius and Narcissa didn't say anything and instead hurried past McGonagall and around the corner out of sight. Although neither of them were particularly frightened of her, they didn't want to end up on the wrong side of her for, at the best of times, she had a fiery temper. It became evident that despite Eleanor's best efforts, Evan had fallen into one of the siren statues, clipping a good chunk of the fin off and leaving a trail of broken stone down the corridor. Some of the portraits who had been witness to this were shaking their heads in disapproval with one or two being especially vocal about their feelings on the subject.
"Not another one!" one of the elderly councillors piped up from behind one of the frames. "What is this school coming to? You wouldn't have seen this disrespect in my day! And a lady no less, hmph!"
"Why don't you just shut up?" Lucius snapped back at the portrait as he escorted Narcissa down the corridor.
"How rude! I am your elder, show some respect boy!"
Lucius didn't care much for what an old oil painting had to say. The rest of the journey, hurried and conducted in silence, was rather uneventful and before they knew it, they had reached the common room doors. Not wishing to attract the attention of any other professors that may have been on the prowl, they quickly entered the common room and firmly closed the door. Evan and Eleanor, as well as a few of the other attendees, had sat themselves on the sofas near to the fire, grabbing buckets or cups of water, depending on what their need was at that very moment. Lucius helped Narcissa into one of the nearby chairs and quickly fetched her some water.
"Thank you," Narcissa uttered. "I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologise - you look practically sober compared to some of this lot."
"I guess we'll have a stern telling off to look forward to tomorrow!" Narcissa started to giggle. "That will be fun!"
"McGonagall will get over it, I'm sure. A chipped bit of statue is nothing compared to what could have happened."
"I guess so," Narcissa placed her cup on the table before reaching down to undo her shoe buckles. "Now we are here, these are coming off."
Kicking off her shoes, Narcissa sighed in relief as she flexed her toes against the cool tiles. For a few moments, she sat with her eyes closed in attempt to stop everything around her from spinning.
"Are you alright? You look a little pale?" Lucius asked, a little lost on what to do. Did he put his arm around her? Did he help her to the dormitory door?
"I'll be fine. I think a good night's sleep is on the cards."
Narcissa reached out for her shoes and slowly, with Lucius' aid, got to her feet.
"I'll be okay from here. I don't think I can mess up the journey from here. Thank you, though, for getting me back here safely."
"No problem at all Narcissa. I hope you feel better in the morning and I guess I may see you tomorrow if there is a communal punishment."
"Maybe-" Narcissa lowered down slightly to retrieve her cup, finishing the remainder of the water. On the way back up, she caught of herself in the mirror opposite.
Not too bad, your makeup is largely still intact, but your hair is all over the place.
"Thank you for a lovely evening," she continued. "I really enjoyed tonight."
"I did too. Hopefully it won't be long until the next one."
Narcissa went to walk away, but instead she paused and hesitated.
Should I? Shan't I? No, maybe you should just go, before you do anything you regret. People are watching. Or are they? Go to bed, Narcissa, you're making this longer than it needs to be.
"Goodnight Lucius."
Instead of walking away, Narcissa took a couple of steps forward until she was a few inches away from Lucius. Reaching up onto her toes, she reached up and lightly kissed Lucius' cheek. Lucius hadn't been expecting her to make a move and so was surprised when she moved in.
You could do it right now. Make your move.
The voices in Lucius' head were telling him to make a bolder move, but Lucius fought against them; with Narcissa being in the drunken state she was, he didn't want to be seen as taking advantage. There was every chance she was just being her usual friendly self, just a little more forward in her inebriated state of mind.
"Goodnight Narcissa."
Lucius remained where he stood, instead watching Narcissa as she walked across the common room with her shoes dangling off one hand.
"You've done the right thing." Lucius said to himself. Looking to his left, he saw his peers had been too occupied with themselves to have even noticed him stood there – he could have made the move, and nobody would have known. The old Lucius would have done that, an easy goal. It's how it had worked before, but the girl had been very overt in her interest. However, Lucius wasn't interested in a drunken, meaningless kiss, or a move that could have been regretted in the morning.
Soon, Lucius. Let things develop as they may.