Narcissa slips out of the hallway, walking quickly out towards the grounds. Despite the early fall weather, the sun still beat down warmly over the castle. Narcissa made her way down to her favorite secluded place down by the lake, needing a break from all the cluster of Hogwarts and all the tedium of homework.
She jaunts around the edge of the forest to a clearing amongst the trees. Technically, she supposed, she was in the Forbidden Forest and was risking detention by being here, but she couldn't help her deep need to be alone for a few minutes and clear her head. The clearing was a beautiful place and she loved to spend an hour or two every once in a while here, sitting with her face covered in the shade but her body being warmed by the sun beams. The clearing also had the added benefit of being next to the lake and some days she couldn't help but take a dip in the water.
With the sun being as hot as it was this early afternoon, Narcissa couldn't help but feel tempted to go for a swim. When she was at home, she had her family's stables to escape to and go for a ride, but here at school, the only break to freedom she felt was going for a swim in the cold water. She took off her cloak first, dropping it next to her favorite tree before carefully removing her school uniform. She took good care of her outfit, making sure no dirt got on it. As much as she loved her breaks to freedom, she wanted to be sure she would remain the look of perfection when she returned to the castle.
Fully naked now, Narcissa moves to the water, dipping her feet in before wading in deeper. Despite the warmth of the sun, the lake remained cold and sharp against her body, the water dark and mysterious against her pale skin. Narcissa closes her eyes and lays back in the water, floating a bit away from shore. She lets out a long sigh, enjoying the contrast of the warmth of the sun on her face and the cold clenching grip of the water. She remained floating for a few minutes, eyes closed tightly and a smile on her face. Her body was letting go of tension with each minute she was out there and Narcissa felt truly luxurious.
"I knew there were mermaids in the lake," a sly, deep voice interrupts Narcissa from her peace and she jolts her face up, looking to the shore to find the intruder. "But I never thought I'd see one for myself." Lucius Malfoy stands on the edge of the lake, a cool grin on his face and Narcissa's robes in his hand.
Narcissa lets out a sharp gasp, covering herself despite the dark water already hiding her exposed body. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Lucius's grin turns into a full smile. "I found these robes laying out, entirely abandoned, and I thought I would do the gentlemanly thing of returning them to their owner."
"There's nothing gentlemanly about what you are doing right now," Narcissa hisses at him, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment. "Give me my clothes back right now, Malfoy."
"Well, now, if I were to do that, they'd get all wet," Lucius says easily, dangling her clothes over the water. "No, no, it'd be best if you came to me so I can give them to you personally."
"You're disgusting," Narcissa says, struggling between keeping herself covered and trying to remain upright and afloat. "At least turn around so I can come get my clothes with some dignity."
Lucius smiles and turns around, clutching most of her clothes in one hand while holding out her cloak for her with the other one. "How's this?" he asks, facing the trees.
Narcissa doesn't respond but swims quickly to the shore, keeping a sharp eye on Lucius to make sure he doesn't turn around and face her. She didn't trust the older boy, despite his still form.
"To think," Lucius continues as she swims to him in the water. "I came out here to just clear my mind and get some exercise. Little did I ever expect to find a mermaid enjoying the water."
"I'm not a mermaid and you bloody know that," Narcissa chirps angrily, making her way out of the water and feeling humiliated as she crosses the short distance between the shore and Lucius. She grabs at the cloak, quickly wrapping it around herself to cover her nude form. Despite her quickness, Lucius turns around as soon as he feels the cloak leave his grasp and Narcissa fears that he got a second's impression of her body. She pulls the cloak tightly around her body, intent to regain her modesty. She cools her expression, hiding the anger and humiliation she's feeling so as to not give Lucius any satisfaction in his games. She shoots a chilling look at Lucius, knowing the power behind her cold expression. "You've behaved unseemly today, Lucius Malfoy. And I had had such a high regard for you before now."
"Oh, now, Narcissa," Lucius tuts, still keeping her uniform tightly by his side. "You must forgive me. You and I both know the appeal of sirens. You mustn't blame me for being so enamored by your charms. I was simply helpless to them."
"I thought prefects were supposed to behave in a civilized manner," Narcissa snaps. "And I thought you were hoping to become head boy soon, though I doubt the possibility of that after I've talked to Professor Slughorn about this." She moves to make her way back through the trees but Lucius reaches out and takes her arm.
"Come now, Cissa. Don't act like that. This was harmless. Besides, I'm sure you don't want to discuss with skeevy Slughorn about your itinerary for today. I've heard some sordid tales of his encounters with pretty young witches, and I'm afraid you fit that description. Not to mention that I was merely doing my prefect's duty in finding out who was breaking school rules and entering the Forbidden Forest."
Narcissa looks up at him with a flush of red in her cheeks, feeling humiliated at his implications. Lucius did something next that surprised her and did nothing to help the rush of blood in her face. He let go of her arm and reached up to her face, tucking back one of her wet strands of hair behind her ears. Narcissa gaped at him, shocked at his forwardness. "Don't touch me, Malfoy," she tells him sharply, moving away from his hand.
Lucius smiles, but drops his hand away. "I'll make you a deal," he says. "You don't go to Slughorn about my ungentlemanly behavior, and I'll give you back your uniform. Well, no. I think I'm going to need one more thing from you."
"What?" Narcissa snarls, looking down at her clothing and trying to see if there was a way for her to out maneuver the older boy and make off with her clothing. Lucius sees her glance, however, and moves the bundle out of sight.
"Oh no," Lucius chuckles. "I'm not going to tell you the final condition until you've agreed to my terms."
Narcissa glares at him, trying to rearrange her cloak without exposing herself. "Like hell I'm going to do that. Give me back my damn clothes, Malfoy."
Lucius tuts once more and shakes his head. "Have fun walking back through the castle looking like that, then. Though I don't think that's the kind of attention a girl of your reputation is after."
Clenching her teeth tightly together, Narcissa weighs her options. She looks Lucius over, not answering him immediately. Finally, she lets out a frustrated sigh. She would never be able to live down the event if someone like Rookwood or Dolohov saw her. Or, god forbid, Bellatrix. She would rather risk her chances with Lucius. "Fine," she snaps angrily. "Now give me my clothes." She holds out a hand for them and her sleeve falls back, exposing the white length of her forearm. Lucius looks at the bit of skin with such a wolfish interest that Narcissa suddenly feels more naked than she had minutes ago.
Lucius hands her the bundle of clothes, smiling down at her. "Here you go, little Cissa."
"Only my family and friends are allowed to call me Cissa," Narcissa tells him with a cold formality. "You may refer to me as Miss Black, Mr. Malfoy." She shoots icicles at him with her eyes as she grabs at the bundle of her clothes, pulling them tightly against herself once more and re-covering her wrist.
"Of course, Miss Black," Lucius says with a polite nod, though that doesn't wipe the lascivious nature out of his eyes and smile. "You must forgive me, Miss Black. I'm afraid I've dispensed of all courtesy, Miss Black, though you must understand these were extraordinary circumstances."
"I will do no such thing," Narcissa snaps. "You have proven yourself to be the farthest thing from a gentleman and I will treat you as such from here on out, Mr. Malfoy. Now what is your final condition to your damnable deal? I'd rather be done with you for good."
"Oh, no, I'm afraid," Lucius says. "I won't tell you now. Not here under these circumstances." He shakes his head, putting on a mournful display. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait for Hogsmeade."
"Hogsmeade?" Narcissa demands incredulously.
"Yes. Naturally, you'll be accompanying me."
"I will do no such thing," Narcissa huffs. "And that fact that you think I will shows me just how delusional you must be." She looks at Lucius with all her emotional restraint vaporized, her feelings, for once, clear on her face.
"You will be accompanying me," Lucius repeats with confidence, "and I will inform you of the final condition then." He smiles at her. "Now, as pleasant as this interaction has been for me, I must be off. You've derailed me from quite an enjoyable walk." He looks her over one last time, his eyes lingering along the curves of her wet cloak and Narcissa feels herself blushing intensely once more.
Narcissa turns and storms in the other direction. She rushes quickly across the grounds so that no one sees her and ducks into the first girl's lavatory she finds to change before anybody sees the state she's in. As she cleans herself up in front of the mirror, now fully dressed, she's frustrated to find the heavy blush still remains on her cheeks.