Chapter One

"You're drooling," Bellatrix warns and Narcissa snaps her head to her sister sharply, closing her mouth with a snap.

"I am doing no such thing," she says bitingly. She fixes her composure in a matter of moments, making her face entirely unreadable. She frowns at her older sister, feeling a blush grow on her neck and trying to keep it from showing. Bellatrix was able to read Narcissa better than just about anyone else, and Narcissa feared suddenly that her older sister knew exactly what had been in her mind only moments before.

"Practically salivating," Bellatrix says, sinking down onto the couch beside Narcissa and taking the Herbology textbook Narcissa had been reading out of her hands and tossing it back behind the seat. She nods over to the Slytherin quidditch team that had been making its way back into the commons room, sweaty and covered in dirt splotches from practice. "Which one is it? Beater? Chaser? Don't tell me Keeper is your taste, I can tell you from personal experience that Rookwood is an absolute bore in bed. Moans like a goddamn dementor and wiggles about, but honestly it was hard not to yawn in his face."

The blush she had been trying to contain sprouts in splotches across her cheeks. She purses her lips tightly, giving Bellatrix a disapproving look. "Were you born without shame?" she accuses.

"Just tell me which one of those strapping wizards has you blushing like a bride," Bellatrix says. "Or you can let me keep guessing. Is it the little Lestrange? Do those dark little eyes get cold-hearted Cissa's little knees a-trembling?"

Narcissa can't help the look of repulsion that ripples across her face. Not that Rabastan was repulsive-he was rather handsome looking with dark curls and thick brows- but Narcissa knew that Bellatrix only brought him up because she was currently dating Rab's older brother, Rodolphus. She knew the comment would make Narcissa feel strange and incestuous and Bellatrix loved prickling emotion out of the little blonde girl.

Bellatrix laughs, catching the flicker of emotion across Narcissa's face that most people would have missed. "Mm, so we can knock chasers out of your interests," she says. "Unless it's Corbin you're after. Though I can't imagine why. He's an idiot. The absolute sod thought that he could replace mimbulus mimbletonia with venomous tentacula in potions the other day, and rightly it exploded in his face."

"I'm not interested in any of them," Narcissa says with a huff, folding her arms tightly.

Bellatrix yawns languidly, leaning back and laying her head in Narcissa's lap. "You're never interested in anyone. Or so you claim. But I know you couldn't possibly be that much of a bore. There must be some of my blood coursing through your body."

"Not a drop," Narcissa snaps, pushing Bellatrix from her lap. "Now let me get back to studying. I'm not interested in anyone and I was not drooling."

"Cissa, cissa, my darling little Cissa," Bellatrix says, pulling the unwilling Narcissa into her arms. "We must find someone to warm you at night or I'm afraid you'll freeze up. You're too cold. Too inhospitable."

"And if I was warmer?" Narcissa asks sharply, turning to face Bellatrix. "If I was more familiar with boys' beds? You'd skin me alive and murder whoever I was with. So don't tease me when I know you'd scold me if I followed your advice."

Bellatrix frowns but then nods. "You're right," she admits. "I would murder any boy who dared touch you. But that doesn't make you any less of a bore."

Narcissa grumbles unhappily. Her eyes flicker back to the Slytherin team in the corner, not willing to admit the sharp pang she feels. They were all casual with each other, laughing and going over strategy, Narcissa assumed. There was a game coming up against Gryffindor, and despite the laughter, Narcissa knew they took this game with an intense seriousness. Her eyes fell on the tall blonde boy in the center. She couldn't help it. The boy held such an intense confidence and magnetism that he would draw anyone's attention. Not to mention how handsome the boy was. He had a sharp long jaw and pale grey eyes that were the color of a frozen mountain stream. Most particular of all, however, was his long silver hair. Despite how rough the entire team looked, including this boy, his hair remained somehow untussled and carefully arranged. Narcissa bites her bottom lip before remembering that Bellatrix is right beside her. She darts her eyes away from the quidditch team quickly. It wasn't quick enough, however, and Bellatrix catches her short stare. She narrows down the boys and frowns.

"It can't be," Bellatrix says incredulously. "I refuse to believe it. Malfoy? Malfoy's the one that's got your blood pressure rising? The little prissy prince with all his fine hair and malignant attitude? Don't do this to me, Cissa. Take Crabbe. Take Goyle. Take them both for all I give a damn, but not Malfoy for the love of Merlin."

Narcissa looks at her disapprovingly. "And why not Lucius?" she demands. "He's wealthy, he's handsome, he's pureblooded, and he's one of your friends." She gives Bellatrix a pointed look. "So I don't know the hell you're rambling on about. And Goyle? Really? He and Crabbe are trolls." She gags intentionally at Bellatrix. "Absolute barbarics."

"But Malfoy's so…" Bellatrix complains, trying to find the word.

"Uninterested in you?" Narcissa suggests. "Yes, I quite like that about him."

Bellatrix rolls her eyes at Narcissa. "It's not like I've ever been interested in him, either," she notes. "It'd be like making love to a statue. He's so cold and calculating and condescending."
"All things you've accused me of being," Narcissa says, looking over to Lucius unashamedly now, her eyes moving slowly along his athletic physique and enjoying how his clothing moves against his body as he laughs. "We're quite similar I think."
Bellatrix looks at her, wrinkling her nose distastefully. "Well, I'm happy at least that you're not a complete prude like Andi," she notes. "And I'm also excited that I might have an excuse to pummel Malfoy. Oh, it'd be a true savage delight to rough that boy up a little, especially if he has the audacity to try anything with my baby sister."

Narcissa glares. "He hasn't done anything," she rebukes her sister. "We've hardly had more than a single conversation. You can't really murder him over that. And he's your friend, Bella. So I don't believe you disprove of him as much as you claim. I doubt you have any real concerns about Lucius more than you don't like the idea of me being interested in anyone."

"He's three years older than you, that's a real concern," Bellatrix says haughtily. "You're much too young to date, anyways. And Lucius is a prick. A vain prick. I mean, if his cock is the size of his ego, you might be alright in the end of things, but I wouldn't bet a galleon on that."

"Don't be vulgar," Narcissa scolds sharply, shaking her head at Bellatrix. "And don't be so hypocritical. Minutes ago you were begging me to show interest in a boy."

"Yes, but not Malfoy."

"Lucius is a perfectly logical choice," Narcissa says, turning her gaze away from Lucius so she can face Bellatrix. "The most logical choice. And he… well…" She shrugs, feeling a sudden loss of words. The blush rushes back to her face.

"Oh, I see," Bellatrix says, grinning wolfishly. "You're simply lusting after him. That's what this is. You're pretending that this is all about logistics and similarities, but a quick tumble in the sheets with him and you'd be right cured and thinking clearly again."

Narcissa nearly chokes, feeling flushed. "I'm not… I don't…" she stammers, trying to find a justification.

"Not that I'll let it get that far," Bellatrix continues. "You're far too young for sex, Cissa. Too young to snog, even. Truly, I think that hand-holding could wait a few years as well. You can remain chaste and virgin till your wedding night like a proper little pureblood."

"Like you?" Narcissa asks brightly, trying to take control back in the conversation.

Bellatrix glares at her. "I'm not like you," she says. "Plus, Rods and I already have a scheme worked out. If all goes well, we'll be engaged this summer. Before pa has the chance to pawn me off to some little terror or brute."

"Do you love him?" Narcissa asks. Normally, she'd never dare pose the question, knowing Bellatrix's tendency for mood swings and anger when it came to her volatile relationship with Rodolphus. She hoped that Bellatrix was distracted enough today, however, to give her an honest answer.

"Just let mum and pa match you to some nice little ministry man and you can leave all the sex and lustings til then," Bellatrix says. "And if you're not happy with his little prick, you can seek out Malfoy later and have yourself a bit of fun on the side."

Narcissa lets out a long sigh, disappointed to see the quidditch team gathering their things from the corner and retreating to each boys' respective room. "You do realize you're a hypocrite, yes?" She asks Bellatrix. "And you're terrible at giving advice."

"Oh? Were you looking for advice? Well, if it's advice you're after… damn. You're right. I can't give you any bloody good advice because on one side, I think it would do you good to have a fling or two. It'd loosen you up a bit. But on the other side, you're my little monkey and I don't want to even think about a boy touching you, because boys are all asses and you're better than all of them."

Narcissa smiles and leans her head against Bellatrix's shoulder. "You don't have to worry about anything, you know. Lucius is hardly even aware that I exist, and I'm not one to cloy my way to gain someone's attention. My feelings are hardly a thing, they'll go away in a week or so. I just… think he's beautiful, is all. God, I think he's beautiful." A sigh escapes her lips and she lets a bit of vulnerability show on her face. "I can't help it if my heart stops sometimes when looking at him. I'd stop it if I could. It makes me feel foolish."

"Well, now," Bellatrix smiles. "There's something I can help you with. I doubt you'll think he's half as pretty if I bruise him up a little."

"Don't you dare," she shushes angrily. "You'd really hurt him just because I like looking at him?"

"I'd do anything to protect you," Bellatrix nods, gathering her things and standing, grinning at Narcissa.

Narcissa grabs her hand, feeling a little bit silly and desperate. "Please don't hurt him," she pleads softly. "And please don't tell him I like him. It's just a little crush and it'll go away, but I would simply die if he knew. Please, please, just leave it all alone."

Bellatrix grins and Narcissa knew she liked the power of the moment more than anything else. There's a hint of something in her eyes and Narcissa feels a pit in her stomach as she wondered if she could trust Bellatrix with this secret. "I'll think about it," she says, looking down wolfishly at Narcissa. She pulls her hand back and bounces off, heading off down the hallway.

Narcissa sighs, sinking back into the couch. She sinks her head into her hands, taking a moment to gather herself. There was a reason she kept her face so guarded. Emotions were a weapon that people could use against you. She hated Bellatrix for a moment for being able to read her so easily. Lucius had been her little secret, and she had been able to deny it while it was just a thought and not vocalized. But now, thanks to Bellatrix, it was out, and somehow it made this longing inside her feel even more real.