Summary: Narcissa never intended to make friends while at Hogwarts, but one couldn't hurt, right?

Rated: K

Genre: Friendship

Tag: Pining

Competition/Challenge Block:
Written For: Monthly Challenges for All (Year 3); Hogwarts (Term 14); Houses Competition (Year 7)

Houses: Slytherin - Muggle Studies; Drabble - [Color] Royal Blue

Hogwarts: Ravenclaw; A.8 - Celtic Studies #6: Write about a charismatic character.

MC4A: Sp Bingo (3B-Bench); Ship Bingo (Mistaken for Dating); Chimera; Link; FPC (Not a Lamp; Ladylike; White Dress); Star (Pocky Pockets; Odd Feathers); Fence (Machismo); ICs (In aFlash (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Rian-Russo Inversion x2; Ethnic & Present; Red Era (Y); Lunar Era (Y); Slytherin MC; Ravenclaw MC; Old Shoes (Y); Culturally Inclined

Word Count: 963

Beta: Aurora, Shy

Only A Royal's Flower

Narcissa told herself the day she went to Hogwarts she was not there to make friends. Her academic life would be an aid in finding a suitor, but it didn't mean she was going to shrug off her studies due to this. Evidence of a well-educated woman was alluring to any respectable Pureblooded male, intelligence was a desired trait for heirs to inherit. Friends weren't important, and her mother would go even further to say they never existed. They would come later in the form of acquaintances; people she would need to know to further an agenda to her future husband's family.

Despite all of this and her outward cold demeanor to keep everyone away, Narcissa still had to retain some form of pleasantries when it mattered, and this happened to be one of those times. A boy who donned the royal blue-lined robes of Ravenclaw approached her in the library one day, unbothered by her lack of welcoming appearance.

"Hello, miss. Would you mind if I sit with you to study? Everywhere else is too crowded."

His voice held a slight accent Narcissa couldn't identify, which was enough to pull her attention away from her essay to address him properly. The boy was older than her, possibly on the cusp of puberty based on his voice alone, and was fairly tall. He had flawless dark skin and medium-brown eyes that matched well with the royal blue headwrap that concealed his hair.

"You may," Narcissa said with a light nod, returning to her history essay.

He was quiet as he set up his own homework, which Narcissa appreciated. She needed to focus on her own work, but her lack of interest in learning about the Werewolf Code of Conduct left her homework wanting. She never understood what was so important about these subjects taught in History of Magic, especially about a bill that never really came to be.

"Sixteen thirty-seven," the boy said after several long minutes of quiet time.

"Excuse me?" she asked, turning her sharp eyes over to him.

"I believe the year you are looking for is sixteen thirty-seven. It is for the first year assignment on the Werewolf Code of Conduct, correct?" he explained, glancing up at her.

"It is," she said, trying to not purse her lips at the help he was offering. "Thank you, sir."

"Shacklebolt," he said, reaching out his hand to her.

Narcissa knew that surname, making the encounter a lot more comfortable knowing he was part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.

She accepted his handshake. "Black."

It soon became an interesting predicament Narcissa found herself in. She wouldn't call it anything more than being study companions since that was what she and Kingsley did in each other's presence. Offering praise over good test marks wasn't out of the ordinary, either, and neither was celebrating an important achievement that Kingsley had made.

"Congratulations on making Prefect, Kingsley," Narcissa said, tapping on the royal blue badge with a bronze P pinned on his robes. "I knew you were fit to be one."

"Thank you. It really is quite an honor," Kingsley said, smiling at her fondly.

She was too busy fixing his tie to notice. "Next step will be Head Boy."

It was a nice day out, so the unlikely duo opted to study in the courtyard, claiming the best bench there that remained in the shade for most of the day.

Kingsley was stressing over his OWLs, and she was determining what elective she wanted to drop for her fourth year to allow more time to focus on more important subjects.

"I do not know how you can spell all of these stars' names," Kingsley said, shifting his astronomy notes for Narcissa to look over. "Much less which ones belong in what constellation."

She smiled, seeing that he was using the royal blue ink she got him for Christmas. "I can teach you a trick to help remember if you like?"

It wasn't something she was anticipating, but Narcissa had found herself becoming quite good friends with Kingsley. He told her he was going to go to the Auror Academy after he graduated and even shared his dreams to one day become Minister for Magic. She kept it simple, mostly talking about the Black's legacy she would be aiding to uphold. Sometimes she would tell him about her perfect ideal wedding, and even let slip that she'd wish to be on the Wizengamot if she had a career choice, among other once upon a times.

They were walking back from a trip to Hogsmeade when Narcissa was hit with something else she never expected to face.

"I shall be graduating this year," Kingsley said. "And I wish I had told you this sooner but… I'd like for you to know now."

Her smile faltered some at this, slowing to a stop at his words to sit on a bench. He remained standing, looking down at her, reaching for one of her hands. The royal blue robes he wore blended into the darkening sky above, and from Narcissa's view, he looked almost cosmic-like with his eyes shining from the moonlight like stars.

"What is it?"

"I have found my admiration of you to have grown to be more, and wanted my affection for you to be known." He gave her hand a gentle kiss, but she pulled it away shortly after.

"Kingsley… I have also been meaning to tell you…" Narcissa looked away, instead taking in the sky above. "I have been betrothed to Lucius just this spring. I am sorry."

After several seconds of silence, Narcissa mustered the courage to look back at him.

He offered a hand out to her. "There is still time left before curfew. Let us find Lucius and celebrate your engagement."