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Author's Note: Hello my dear readers. It's been 7 years since I wrote fanfiction and recently I've been feeling like I want to return to this glorious world. I'm not sure if anyone remembers me; in short, I wrote To Have And To Hold which focused on Narcissa and Lucius from childhood through to parenthood. Due to personal circumstances, I stopped writing and I have always felt a little sad that I never got to complete it. After some thinking as to whether to resurrect it or not, I have decided to leave that version as is. Instead, I plan to embark on a new fanfiction following a similar storyline. Some plot lines/events may make a feature – it depends on how I feel! I guess this is a second edition, but hopefully with a bit more of a mature taste to it. Thank you in advance.
Nothing quite signalled the slow death of summer quite like darker mornings. Throughout the warmest months, the evenings had been endless, seamlessly transitioning into dawn before anyone had truly noticed. The flowers that once stood tall and bright had began to shrink and wilt and that familiar humid breeze had dropped away, leaving behind a raw coldness.
September was always a month of great change. The hustle and bustle of the lavish parties had simmered down to a casual coffee in the study, or if a more jovial affair, a couple of glasses of sherry in the dining room. If one was to look carefully, right in the nooks and crannies of the Manor, there would be some tiny fragments of evidence of celebrations past. A couple of feathers or a luxurious golden thread, now swept in the corner, was the bittersweet memory of what Pureblood society was like. Apart from those small mementos, there was hardly an item out of place in Malfoy Manor. Abraxas Malfoy made sure of that.
The sixth of September had arrived so suddenly and without invitation. Lucius had been dreading returning to Hogwarts. He had longed to become so much more than an over-achieving schoolboy; Lucius had always admired his father and hoped that one day, he would be just as successful. Like most children, Lucius had begun his education with so much fascination and hope, only to find himself bored by the time adolescence hit its peak. The only thing that had made his sixth year somewhat memorable was the number of girls he'd managed to charm. Long ago, Lucius had longed for his next Potion lesson, yet now he hoped for the day he would leave that fateful classroom and never return.
Lucius glanced over to his new trunk for his final year. Unlike his peers, whose trunks were often well-loved by this point in their education, Lucius received a brand new trunk every year filled with the finest stationery and supplies his father could afford. Lucius was grateful, of course, but for someone who valued materialism, he had also lost a lot of love for school supplies. When he sat in the classroom, he felt his talents were dulled. All the Malfoys excelled in their academic abilities; for that there was never any question. However, Lucius knew his future did not lie in Transfiguration or Potions, but instead in something much greater. He planned to leave the Hogwarts days behind and move on to bigger and better things.
A gentle knock on the door stole Lucius away from his thoughts. He turned, seeing his mother enter, carrying a newspaper under her arm.
"Good morning my dear Son," Venetia greeted Lucius with a warm smile. Lucius couldn't help but smile to himself; as always his mother was dressed in a matter fitting of a formal meeting. "Are you packed?"
"Yes, I finished the remainder of the packing last night," Lucius replied as he gently closed the trunk, sliding the locks into place.
"Your final year, I almost can't believe it. I remember you being so small, as if it were only yesterday. Where have all the years gone?" Venetia placed the newspaper down on the nearest bureau before walking over to Lucius, placing her hands gently on his upper arms. "Look at you now. You're so big and strong, just like your father. We are so proud of you and everything you have achieved. You're almost of age now; a mere two days and you will formally be an adult, yet I still see the little boy within you. I think he is still in there, somewhere."
Lucius smiled again. His mother was never wrong. For years, Lucius had dreamed of turning seventeen. As a teenager, he had longed for that taste of freedom and total autonomy. He had always respected his parents and had never treated them as fools, but he had dreamed of the day where he would make a name for himself. Thus far, everybody knew him as Abraxas' son; indeed his father was a great man and had achieved so much, but Lucius wanted to create his own legacy. For the last couple of years especially, he had lived very much in the shadow of his father.
"He is Mother, somewhere," Lucius replied. "This is an important year for me and I don't feel full of excitement and enthusiasm."
"Why not Lucius?" Venetia asked. "I am intrigued why you feel this way? Every year, you talk of all the wonderful things you have done. You have returned home year every year with a smile upon your face and a swagger in your step. Don't tell me that you have lost your good spirit?"
"No-" Lucius paused, watching his mother as she took a seat on the edge of his bed. "-I just…I don't know Mother it sounds stupid when I verbalise it, but I just feel I am beyond this. Tests, exams, endless reading, potion practicals, the lot. I want to be free, yet I feel like I am caged when I'm there. Everything is so restrictive."
"I understand your concerns, dear. However, you must not worry; trust me when I say that your final year flies by before you have time to put pen to paper to talk about it. Just think Lucius that come next summer, you are a free man; you can choose your own path in life. I know that a classroom environment isn't for you; you take after your Father in that you're not meant to be housed in four walls, taking endless notes off a blackboard or transforming an animal into a goblet. Not everything we do in life, we enjoy. Some things just need to be done and unfortunately, school is one of them."
"I know. I am restless Mother. I want to make a difference; I want to go out there and make my own decisions in life. I can't help but show my disdain when the professors rattle on about further study and joining their Alumni clubs. I couldn't think of anything worse!"
Lucius joined his mother, seating himself gently on the bed next to her. He quickly glanced up at the clock, noting that he had around twenty minutes left before they had to leave.
"You will make a difference. You're a Malfoy; you weren't born to live passively, that I promise. But please, my son, do not let you anxieties distract you. As I said, this year will flash before your eyes and before you know it, you will be seated back on the Hogwarts Express wondering where all that time went." Venetia reached into her woollen coat pocket, taking out a small brown parcel and handing it over to Lucius. "I was going to wait to give this to you, but I think it would be rather apt for you to have this now. It may ease your concerns a little."
Lucius was curious. There was not a single tear or crumple on the packaging paper, and even the bow that sealed the parcel was perfectly done up on the top. Lucius gently tugged on the black satin material, watching the loops of the bow disappear. Opening up the paper, he withdrew a black leather box from the casing.
"Your father and I were going to have this delivered to you, but I think you could do with this now."
Lucius gently prised the box open to find a golden watch resting on a velvet cushion. Taking it out of the box, Lucius studied the clock face in awe, fascinated by the delicate hand that passed by the Roman numerals. The watch face itself had a pearl sheen and a singular gem sat at the base of each numeral.
"Thank you Mother, it is beautiful." Lucius said. "Is this where I think it's from?"
"No Lucius; we had it personally made for you. You know your father has his contacts in Switzerland and for you, you deserve the best. Now look at the right hand side of the face, for this is no ordinary watch-" Venetia pointed to the golden button that protruded from the side. "-pressing this button allows you to revisit any memory you like. This isn't just for telling the time, but a way of connecting you to your happiest moments. I know that seventh year is stressful at the best of times and every person needs a pleasant distraction. Simply pressing the button will allow you to relive whatever memory you think of, and pressing it again will allow you to return to real time."
"I swear you and Father invent things that don't even exist!" Lucius laughed. "I have never heard of these before. Does Father not have one of these? Surely he couldn't have passed up such a wonderful experience for himself!"
"No Lucius, you are the first. We wanted you to have some personalised and special for your milestone birthday. What is the point in getting you something everyone else has? We wanted something we thought you would value and that you would benefit from."
"I don't know what else to say but thank you. I am truly speechless."
Lucius opened the clasp on the watch, slipping it on to his left wrist. The clock face glowed dimly for a couple of seconds before the silver hands wound up to the correct time. Lucius felt a slight warm sensation in his wrist; it wasn't unpleasant, but it came as a surprise.
"Just look after it. It's not about how much it costs; we would replace it if we needed to, but it's more the sentimentality it will provide. No two watches are ever the same."
"Thank you. I'm sure this will come into good use."
"I am sure it will." Venetia rested her hand gently on Lucius', giving it a light squeeze. "Promise me you will write to us. I know you're a busy man, but a letter a month would be most appreciated. Your father will be away quite frequently in the lead up to Christmas and I'd like to know that you are well."
"Of course I will Mother."
"Good." Venetia pondered for a moment, so much so Lucius' intuition kicked in and he foresaw what was coming. "We want to know how things are progressing in your life. Since you split up with Emelie Pelletier what seems like a lifetime ago, your father and I are curious. It is unlike you not to have somebody you're exchanging letters with."
"Mother…" Lucius could feel a slight heat behind his cheeks. "I promise you, if there is anything you need to know, you will be made aware. I have written to girls, but there was nothing of consequence to report. They were good enough, but not anyone I'd bring home. I've never seen a future with any of them. They've been a mere distraction."
"A distraction I am sure, but at some point you might want to think more deeply about what you're looking for. I know this isn't my place, normally it would be your father's to discuss such things, but I want to make sure that you choose wisely because at your age your-"
"-your Father and I were already courting." Lucius had heard this sentence plenty of times before. "I know. However, I will court when I am ready, and only when I find a suitable match. I've got things to get on with this year anyway and I don't want a girl to distract me from performing at my best."
Venetia didn't push further. Lucius had only become more forthcoming with his feelings in recent months and she didn't want to press too hard. It was true that they worried for Lucius; many of his peers had a stable partner, yet Lucius had never shown any sort of interest in finding someone to call his own. Of course, Venetia and Abraxas were painfully aware of the girls Lucius had been seeing on a more casual basis, often ending in heartbreak for the girls when Lucius cut them off after a few weeks. They knew that Lucius had a certain allure and had no problems in attracting women, but he seemed to have problems when it came to retaining them.
"Very well. I am sure I am just being premature and everything will fall into place."
There was a knock on the door and within moments Abraxas appeared in the room, dressed in his finest black military style coat, complete with his trademark wine-red scarf.
"I wondered where you had got to Venetia," Abraxas said softly. "I am conscious of the time and we don't want Lucius to be late today of all days."
"Of course not." Venetia replied, getting to her feet. "We were just having a little discussion."
"I see you have the watch Lucius," Abraxas pointed to Lucius' wrist. "It suits you."
"Yes Father, thank you. It is a truly perfect gift. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
"I am glad. Now," Abraxas clapped his hands together. "We ought to get ready to go. I don't mean to rush you, but London is rather busy today. Goodness knows why the Ministry of Magic decided to hold a conference this morning of all mornings, but I fear that common sense isn't all that common after all."
Venetia and Abraxas left the room, leaving Lucius to gather his thoughts. As he went to retrieve his coat from his wardrobe, his eyes wandered over to the newspaper that his mother had left on his bureau. Picking it up and unfolding the bottom half, Lucius began to read the feature article of The Daily Prophet:
1971 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Over the last fortnight, The Daily Prophet has been in secret talks to decide the winner of the 1971 Lifetime Achievement Award. A panel of ten witches and wizards gathered over the two week period to discuss the achievements of five nominees. This year proved to be challenging for the judges as the nominations were stellar for each candidate and each candidate had a number of fantastic achievements that made them incredibly deserving of this prestigious award. However, after reviewing each candidate, the panel came to a unanimous decision; we are honoured to have the pleasure of announcing this year's winner Cygnus Black.
Mr Black has been an important figure in the realms of Magical History; since leaving Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1947, Black has had a plethora of successes in the literary world. A keen researcher in the magical history of Britain, Black has gone on to publish four novels that have all reached the number one position in the charts. Black's findings have greatly influenced the structure of Magical History education since his first novel was published in 1951.
The last twenty years have been fruitful for Mr Black; apart from his celebrated novels, he has also raised a young family of three daughters – Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa- alongside his wife Druella Black (nee Rosier) at their manor in Berkshire.
'I am incredibly humbled to receive this award,' Cygnus Black said. "I have always worked hard to ensure the history of our beautiful country doesn't get lost in translation over the forthcoming generations. Not only is it a legacy for our children, but for our children's children and their children thereafter. I am glad to have retrieved artefacts belonging to wizarding families from over a thousand years ago, helping to bring a forgotten time into the picture.
'Most importantly, I have had the undying support of my loving wife and my incredible daughters. They have always shown great interest in my works and have never dissuaded me from my passion. For them, this award means a great deal and on that note, I dedicate this award to my wonderful family.'
Mr Black received the bronze trophy, as well as an impressive seven-hundred Galleons, of which he subsequently spent on his family.
'The women in my life mean everything. I am already rich and for me, money is trivial. I treated each daughter to something they wanted; Bellatrix had been longing for some antique jewellery, Andromeda had wanted the Mysterious Webs and Weevils literary collection and my youngest Narcissa had gently persuaded us for a silver pendant.'
We would like to wish our heartfelt congratulations to Cygnus Black for winning the 1971 Lifetime Achievement Award. We would also like to thank our judging panel and to everyone who submitted a nomination. We received over two thousand nominations and each was a true delight to read. Nominations will open for next year's award on January 1st 1972.
Lucius was fully aware of the Black family. Bellatrix was simply unforgettable; she'd not long left Hogwarts and during her time there, she was notorious for being quick-witted and sharp tongued. Andromeda was the polar opposite to her elder sister, most definitely the outcast of the family. Lucius remembered seeing her tucked up in the library most days, keeping herself to herself whilst her sister wreaked havoc upon some poor, innocent first years.
Lucius gazed upon the picture of the Blacks, all happy smiling as the camera flashed. He traced his fingers across the paper until they landed on Narcissa. She was very familiar to Lucius as after all, she was a year his junior and they mixed within the same circles. Narcissa was somewhat different to her sisters; she often carried a rather scornful gaze, but she said very little, if anything at all, when present at large gatherings. Lucius had seen her in passing at Hogwarts, maybe had spoken to her very briefly at a couple of parties, but he knew that she was a dark horse. Narcissa rivalled her sister Andromeda in terms of her intelligence and academic capabilities, and Lucius was sure she could have given Bellatrix a run for her money when it came to dishing out insults.
Up until this point, Lucius hadn't paid Narcissa much attention. She'd always been there as a familiar figure in the background, but due to her shyness, Lucius hadn't given her much thought. He knew she was well admired by a lot of the boys in Slytherin house, but much like himself, Narcissa never seemed to give anyone a second look. Lucius was naturally curious; he wondered what she was like in comparison to her sisters, but also what she was like in her own right.
"Lucius, come down!"
Lucius' train of thought was disturbed by Abraxas calling him from the landing. Folding the newspaper back into halves, Lucius placed it back on the bureau.
"Dobby!" Lucius shouted. No longer than a second after his name was called, there was a loud pop and the house elf appeared, looking his usual dishevelled self.
"Master!" Dobby replied, his eyes beaming at Lucius. "How can Dobby help you?"
"Have my trunk sent downstairs. We are due to leave for King's Cross."
"Yes Master,"
As Dobby set out arranging the collection of the school items, Lucius exited his room, closing the door firmly shut behind him. He paused for a moment, thinking how this was the final time he would leave for a new term. Deep down, he felt a little tinge of melancholy wash over him. As much as it was true that he couldn't wait to leave, he would also miss the privacy that attending Hogwarts brought him. He knew that this year, he would need to buckle up and focus on steering his life in the right direction. Up to the present moment, Lucius knew his parents had been very lenient with him and the fact he didn't seem to follow their expectations with everything. However, once he no longer had homework and lessons to use a convenient excuse, Lucius expected the pestering to begin.
Taking a deep breath, Lucius walked forward and starting to descend down the grand staircase. He could hear his parents' voices in the distance, but all Lucius could focus on was the image of the youngest Black he'd studied moments before. He made a promise to himself that he would try to learn more about Narcissa; if there was anything Lucius loved more than anything, it was a woman full of mystery.
Narcissa took a seat in the compartment. It was the first year she was attending Hogwarts on her own, and it felt most uncomfortable. Narcissa was not afraid of travelling alone; in fact she rather enjoyed her own solitude, but it was the fact that she no longer had her sisters to turn to in times of need, or whenever she wanted to see a familiar face.
Andromeda had come along with her parents to see Narcissa off on her final journey. Narcissa knew that the relationship between Andromeda and their parents was somewhat strained, particularly once they got wind of Andromeda's romance with Ted Tonks. However, Narcissa was most grateful that Andromeda had come today, just to provide her with that last bit of normality before she embarked on his journey alone.
Looking out of the window, Narcissa's eyes locked with Andromeda's instantly; Narcissa could see that Andromeda looked exhausted, most likely due to the frequent arguments that carried over late into the night. Nevertheless, Andromeda was a Black and for the most part, she placed the part well. The pained expression altered to that of happiness as she waved at Narcissa. Narcissa waved back before she watched Andromeda turn to their father, studying their interactions as she hoped for some sort of insight into their discussion. Her family were not ones for making a scene in public, but sometimes, a simple error in someone's body language was enough to give the conversation away. However, there was nothing; not a faltering a smile or a misplaced hand gesture to give the game away, so much so that to an outsider, everything looked positively normal.
Narcissa had been so engrossed in her own mind that she hadn't heard anybody open the door of the compartment.
"We were looking for you everywhere!"
Narcissa tuned back into the present once she heard the female voice. Turning over to face the door, she was greeted by her friend Cassandra Fortier.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't feeling well and I wanted to find somewhere comfortable as soon as possible," Narcissa lied. Every year, she had met with her friends on the platform prior to boarding the Hogwarts Express. This year, however, she had wanted some distance from her parents and the only excusable way was to board the train as soon as the goodbyes had been made.
"Here," Cassandra reached into her pocket, picking out what looked like a hard-boiled sweet. "Try one of these. It's supposed to be a remedy for all sorts of common complaints."
Narcissa obliged, even though she didn't feel remotely unwell.
"I'm not sure where Artemis has got to. She did wander down the other end of the carriage looking for you, but I suspect she has been once again distracted by that boy."
"Oh? What boy is this?"
"Nicholas Scrivener. They've been sending owls to each other all summer. It's a bit pathetic, actually. I tried writing to her on numerous occasions and received in return half-finished letters, or sentences with missing words. And she's a smart girl! It makes you wonder what it must be like if you're not that intelligent to begin with."
"Well, I suppose not much different from the norm." Narcissa scoffed. "I find some people let such trivial things consume their whole personality."
"I couldn't agree more." Cassandra placed her satchel on the shelving above the seat before taking her place opposite Narcissa. "How has your summer been? I didn't hear much from you either; I presume you have been away?"
"Busy is an understatement. We holidayed in Monaco this year for a fortnight and once we returned we had about a dozen different functions to attend. My father then won an award and we've had The Daily Prophet buzzing around us ever since."
"I saw, many congratulations. After I wrote to you in early August with no response, I wondered if your parents had followed through with their threat of finding you a suitor this summer!"
"Ha, it was indeed just a threat. No, sadly for my parents, there is no male on the scene. I have told them that it isn't the prehistoric age and that we don't need to be betrothed stupidly early to guarantee a good partnership. My mother isn't overly happy, but there isn't much she can do. One daughter married behind her back, the other is probably going to marry someone she loathes and I'm not sure that's something I want for a long time."
"That would be the final nail in the coffin for your mother, Narcissa. She probably thinks she needs one daughter to follow the rules else she'll be exiled from the community," Cassandra laughed. "Of course, people will talk, but you're popular and rich enough already that I don't think a lack of an upcoming marriage will damage your reputation."
"Probably not. How about you Cassandra? I do hope your summer has been a lot less packed than mine?"
"Thankfully so. My Grandmother passed at the start of the holidays and so for most of it, my mother has been a mess. For a couple of weeks, she just retired to the study at three o'clock in the afternoon to down her sorrows in wine, and she'd only rise come eight o'clock once dinner was served. She is doing fine now, but as you can imagine we haven't really left the Manor. My mother truly took the mourning period to the very extreme; in fact, she made sure that any visitor knew once they set foot on our property! All of our curtains were black, our plants all died through lack of nutrition and my mother only left the house in a pair of sunglasses."
At this point, Artemis entered the compartment looking overly joyful. She flung her bag next to Cassandra's before plonking herself down in the space next to her. Narcissa was grateful that the space to her left remained free.
"Speak of the Devil!" Cassandra announced. "I was just saying you'd got lost looking for Narcissa."
"Yes, my apologies, I spotted Nicholas further down the carriage and I stopped for a little chat."
"Are you sure it was just a chat? Your plait is all out of sorts and your tie isn't straight!"
Narcissa smiled to herself as the colour drained from Artemis' face; she had never seen someone fix their tie so quickly.
"Well, what my parents don't know can't hurt them," Artemis replied sternly. "I haven't seen him in a week Cassandra, a whole week! Do you know how hard that is when you're stuck at home with a brother whose first love is a notebook and a sister who behaves like a nun!"
The engine of the train started and it was only a matter of moments until the train started to move forward. All three girls managed to pack in a final wave out of the window before the familiar sight of Kings Cross was replaced by ornate buildings.
"Anyway," Artemis continued at long last. "I wasn't with him for very long, what five minutes or so? I'm here now and that's all that matters."
"Yeah yeah alright, we aren't scolding you, we are just teasing." Cassandra replied defensively. "Don't get on your high horse about it."
"I won't. Just don't be a Grandma about it. I get enough complaints from my father for the frequency of owls to the home."
"I won't."
Artemis now turned her attention to Narcissa, noticing she hadn't been that involved in the conversation thus far: "You're looking well Narcissa. I can tell you've been abroad; you always come home with a slight golden glow."
"Thank you. Yes, I was just telling Cassandra that we visited Monaco. It's a lovely place; fine dining restaurants, a private beach and the casinos. I would quite fancy retiring there myself, actually. The climate does wonders for one's skin."
"You always get to visit the most fabulous places Narcissa. I can't quite believe you haven't visited the whole of Europe by now! We only ever go to Greece to see pappouli and yaya. Not that that is a bad thing; the sun is always shining and nothing is better than the freshest olives with Ouzo."
"My father always insisted we ought to be well-travelled. As much as our British history and culture is important, he wanted us to be empathetic to other ways of life too. I can't say Monaco was the best example, but sometimes it's valuable to visit somewhere else to appreciate what you have."
"I suppose that's true. Did you meet any exotic men out there? That would be something nice to keep in your memory when you return to wet and windy Britain!"
"No, Artemis. I had a couple approach me, but I'm not interested-"
"How can you not be interested in anyone Narcissa? Honestly, I would die to have men look at me the way they look at you! All you have to do is just walk past and you have them fawn at you."
"It's barbaric behaviour." Narcissa shook her head in disapproval. "I'm not just a sitting duck waiting to be picked by a man. If they want my attention, they have to make an effort. Anybody can call you beautiful, or offer you a drink, but that usually means that they don't have the best intentions."
"She's right you know," Cassandra interjected. "Look what happened to Milly Richardson. Accepted the first marriage proposal she got after courting for three months and now she's a divorced mother of two and shunned by the community."
"That's an extreme example," Artemis said disapprovingly. "It sound more like a case of bad luck there. Narcissa has nothing to worry about anyway; she has beauty and brains. She wouldn't be as stupid as to fall for someone who just wanted a play thing."
"Too right I wouldn't. Plus, I find this whole romance deal overrated. So many women lose themselves when they find a man. Even my sister Andromeda did the same thing."
"Oh Narcissa come on, lighten up!" Artemis leant forward, playfully slapping Narcissa's shin. "You sound like a bitter spinster! Love is wonderful and it makes you feel so alive, you know? Knowing that somebody out there is thinking of you, that somebody wants to spend precious time with you. How can that not be a pleasant thing?"
"I like my independence," Narcissa said with confidence. "I like routine and I like knowing how I feel."
"See you're too rigid, that's the problem. Not everything in life follows a script. Just relax and let life surprise you."
Narcissa just rolled her eyes, making Cassandra snigger. Artemis seemed to be slightly offended, but before she had the chance to speak the compartment door opened again.
"Ah, sorry wrong carriage."
Lucius Malfoy was stood in the corridor as bold and as brazen as ever.
"You're welcome to sit with us!" Artemis spoke, her voice seemingly reaching a pitch higher than usual. It was almost as if her beloved Nicholas was forgotten once Lucius manifested in front of her eyes.
"No thank you. Have you seen Crabbe or Goyle pass by at all? They seem to be incapable of following instructions."
"Sorry, no. Probably gone to find the food trolley."
Narcissa sat back in her seat, glancing out of the window as the train travelled alongside the green fields. She seemed undeterred by Lucius' presence; she'd seen him on numerous occasions before, for their parents were friendly and they happened to attend a lot of the same parties. Although she didn't know him personally, Narcissa had heard the rumours and she didn't find Lucius to be all that interesting.
"Do you know Narcissa Black?" Artemis asked, much to Narcissa's discomfort.
"Yes, we've met a few times." Lucius' gaze had shifted to Narcissa, who was now looking straight at him. "How are you Narcissa? Enjoy the summer?"
"I'm well thank you. Yes, it's been pleasant. I hope yours went just as well?"
"Yes it did. It was nice to see you at Bulstrode's party."
The party in question was pretty forgettable in Narcissa's mind. Once again, she had been dragged along as the trophy daughter, but most of the evening was spent sat down at one of the round tablets, sampling the different wines on offer. Bellatrix had turned up fashionably late with her husband Rodolphus in tow, and for the whole time they were together, all three had stayed sat at the table making small talk. Narcissa remembered Lucius and his parents had also been in attendance, but she hadn't realised he had taken much notice of her.
"I-yes and you too." Narcissa stuttered, caught off guard by Lucius' remark. She'd looked over at Lucius maybe twice, three times maximum on the night. Yes, she remembered he had worn a deep purple waistcoat with some fitted black trousers and was sat next to his mother, the life and soul of the party. Bellatrix had made some fleeting comment, as she usually did, but Narcissa had just turned back to her glass of wine and carried on talking about something less invigorating.
"Anyway," Lucius cleared his throat, noticing that Narcissa looked to be a little uncomfortable. "Thank you ladies for your help. I'm sure I shall locate the two buffoons."
Lucius closed the door and disappeared from view. Narcissa knew that this exchange was perfect ammunition for Artemis who was already looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well…" Artemis clicked her fingers. "What about that then?"
"What about it? There's nothing to say. I was just being pleasant." Narcissa replied, crossing her arms in defiance. "Our parents mix with the same people, so we're bound to see each other now and again."
"Did you see him Cassandra? He just spent the whole time looking over at Narcissa!"
"He did," Cassandra replied. "But that's probably because he knows Narcissa the most out of us three. It doesn't necessarily mean anything."
"See Narcissa, you are blessed." Artemis carried on regardless. "Malfoy doesn't normally give anyone the time of day, and yet he's stumbled on our carriage by coincidence and not only asked you how you were, but also said it was nice to see you. He remembered you Narcissa, that's pretty special."
"I think you're thinking too much into it Artemis. Besides, are you really giving a boy like him that much credit? How many girls did he charm into his sleeping quarters last year?"
"Three girls doesn't make him Casanova."
"No, but it also doesn't make him sound like he's worth my time."
"So why did you get all shy when he spoke to you?"
"Because I barely know him and it was an awkward conversation. It's not like we had some elaborate conversation; we literally said hello, later made a comment on the wine and said our goodbyes. Apart from the obvious, we don't have anything in common and I don't know him. How you can comment it was nice to see me when no meaningful interactions took place? I find it truly absurd-"
"I think he likes you. I'd bet 20 Galleons on it."
"Don't be so stupid-"
"No no, I don't think I'm wrong here. I've matched up a few people in my time. I bet 20 Galleons that by the end of the year, you'll be together."
Narcissa howled with laughter. "Oh come on, him and I? You would have to pay me a lot of money to give that brute a single precious moment of my time. I'm pleasant to him because that's how my parents raised me, not because I like him."
"Whatever. My offer still stands."
Narcissa shook her head again, turning to the window once more. The sound of Artemis' voice faded into the background and before long, the chatter was simply white noise.
Narcissa began to think about the party. Why had she remembered so vividly what Malfoy wore? The event wasn't significant; nor was the date and neither was Lucius' choice of attire. For some reason, Lucius was the only prominent feature of that night's memories and Narcissa didn't know why. She didn't deny that was conventionally attractive and he had the charm, but he was not at all what she was looking for. Perhaps, because he was so different, she found herself fixated on him. None of the other Pureblood men were quite like him; certainly, nobody was as well spoken, as famous or wealthy or even as confident. Narcissa surmised that perhaps, he was the perfect man after all, if you believed in such a notion.
The next thing Narcissa knew, the train came to a halt. She opened her eyes and noticed that it was pitch black outside, with only a dimly-lit lantern lighting up the trees.
"Come on Narcissa, we're here." Cassandra said softly. "Sorry, we didn't want to disturb you. You've been asleep most of the way."
Narcissa got up slowly from her seat, fetching her satchel from the shelf above her. As they filtered down the carriage towards the exit doors, she could see the familiar sight of the Hogwarts platform in front of her. As she stepped out into the fresh Autumn air, Narcissa took a deep breath, feeling the coldness stir within her lungs. Returning to Hogwarts was like being home, as strange as it sounded. When she was at Hogwarts, she was free and she could be herself.
All of the students, bar the first years, started to make the ascent towards the castle. As the path snaked up the hill, oil lamps guided the way until they reached the infamous bridge. First years were always stunned by the grandiose entrance to Hogwarts and indeed, it was like a fairy-tale brought to life. In the daylight hours, one could see the lakes surrounding Hogwarts Castle, as well as the luscious green forest that encased the school grounds. Narcissa knew she took such settings for granted as she had been brought up in a rural area, but she imagined for others, Hogwarts would be utterly magical. Once the students arrived at the entrance doors, they waited patiently for Professor McGonagall's arrival. If anything, Narcissa was looking forward to being let in for dinner; falling asleep on the train meant she had missed lunch and her friends hadn't had the foresight to purchase something for her to consume later.
Professor McGonagall, as timely as ever, opened the doors, allowing the students to filter through into the castle. The warmth of the Great Hall could be felt as they made their way down the entrance hall and once they turned into the Hall, they were greeted by the familiar long tables, the bright and bold fireplaces and of course, the teachers themselves at the other end of the room. Once everyone was seated, they knew it was a matter of waiting for the first years to receive their introduction from Professor McGonagall before being led through the Great Hall, eagerly awaiting the Sorting Hat. Until that moment, there was a real buzz in the room as friends began talking to each other, sharing stories of their summer holidays.
Lucius, who was sat at the back of the hall with his friends Richard Goyle and William Crabbe, was looking forward to the Sorting Ceremony being over. He acknowledged that the event was only interesting if you were a first year, but for others, it was a largely mundane experience. Perhaps it was his experience as a Slytherin; Lucius knew that other houses, notably Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, took it in their stride as they welcomed their newest members to their houses. Most of the time, in comparison, Slytherin house would mark the allocation of a new student with a clap, perhaps a verbal congratulations from a sibling or friend, but that was the extent of their warm welcome. Like most of his peers, the buffet was the part of the ceremony most anticipated.
As Lucius glanced down the table, he found Narcissa sat on the opposite side some distance down from himself. He studied her as she spoke, smiling and laughing with her friends. Lucius found himself drawn to Narcissa; there was something about her, something he hadn't seen in anyone else. He secretly had enjoyed bumping into her on the train; of course he'd planned to try and come across her organically once at Hogwarts, but he hadn't expected to see her so soon. Lucius did think he'd come across a little bit clumsy, but he didn't mind the chink in his usually flawless exterior, as he knew Narcissa's friends were too busy being transfixed on him to notice his awkwardness. As he watched on, he noticed how graceful Narcissa was, how she seemed to light up the room with her smile and how beautiful she was.
"So what d'ya think Malfoy?" Crabbe elbowed Lucius. "D'ya think they'll be good for the picking?"
"Yes," Lucius replied, albeit he hadn't heard a single thing Crabbe had said. "Naturally."
"See Goyle, Malfoy's always right!"
Lucius zoned out of the conversation again, looking over in Narcissa's direction again. He noted she was no longer speaking, but instead looking up at the windows opposite her. She must have felt his eyes on her as Narcissa turned to look at him. Lucius felt so foolish to be caught, but he didn't look away to try and cover his actions Instead, he gave a genuine smile. There was a moment where Narcissa seemed to not react, but soon enough she returned the favour with a warm smile, however the eye contact didn't linger long enough to arouse interest in Artemis or Cassandra.
I quite like you. Lucius thought to himself. I quite like you.
Why is he looking at me? Narcissa thought to herself. Maybe Artemis is right? Surely not. It's probably just Malfoy looking for another casual hookup. Just smile, be polite. Is he still looking at me? He is. He'll forget about you Narcissa. Focus on what matters. He's just a boy. He's just a silly, lustful boy.