She wasn't going. Of course she wasn't going. Lucius Malfoy was insane if he thought he could harass her like this. He had behaved unseemly. Grotesquely, even. It was infuriating to think about and each time her mind recalled the scene, an intense red blush would burn across her cheeks. She was sure Lucius would find satisfaction in the effect he had on her, and she didn't want to give him the chance to see her so unbalanced again. She wouldn't go to Hogsmeade with him, and it wasn't like he could drag her against her will.
On the other hand, however, she was curious. What was his final request? It had to be something indecorous. Right? And she would never risk her reputation with a boy who had proven to be so improper. But what was the final request? Why wouldn't he tell her at the beach? Why had he insisted she go with him to Hogsmeade instead?
Narcissa groans to herself, flinging herself onto her bed. It wasn't fair the effect Lucius had on her. He didn't know the crush she had been cultivating for him from afar, and this interaction with him had complicated her feelings. Surely he wasn't as uncivilized as he had seemed the other day? That would be a disappointment to her. From what she had witnessed of him from a distance, he had struck her as confident, intelligent, and capable. He did have a reputation for a string of romantic interests, of course, but Narcissa had just taken that as an example of a lack of maturity. With time, Lucius would settle for more consistency. She was sure of that. He was a pureblooded heir and there were expectations and requirements that came with that.
But his behavior on the beach… It was clear that she had caught his eye, and that was something that would have excited her if it had been under other circumstances. But the way he had looked at her, the way he had spoken to her… What if he saw her as another one of his conquests? Just a pretty girl for him to attain. Narcissa sneered to herself as she thought about it. She tried not to be judgemental, but she had always despised the frivolous type of girl that had intwined herself with whatever boy flirted at her. That was not the type of girl she was.
What if Lucius thought she was that type of girl? It made her stomach turn.
Narcissa groans and sits up in bed. Fine. She'd go to Hogsmeade. If only to set Lucius straight. She would not let him go on believing she was the type of girl he could tease or look at the way he had at the beach. She would not let him believe she was that type of girl. And she owed it to herself to regain some of her dignity back. Anything to end this ridiculous blush that kept appearing on her cheeks when she thought of him.
At least he had done one thing for her. He had cured her of her crush she had had on him. Narcissa was not one to take interest in a boy quickly, and this had been a lesson for her. From a distance, Lucius had seemed an ideal candidate. In person, however, he had been a great disappointment. She would be more careful from this point forward. Her heart was not something she'd give away easily, and she would not settle for anything less than perfection.
Damn him, though, for being so damn good looking.
Narcissa lets out a breath. She wouldn't think of that. He was handsome and that meant nothing. She wouldn't make herself stupid just because it made her heart beat a bit quicker to watch him fly during his quidditch games. Narcissa Black was no idiot. She wouldn't make herself a fool for a handsome boy.
Narcissa gets out of bed and goes to her closet. She needed the perfect outfit for this Hogsmeade trip. Something that let Lucius know both that she was a respectable girl and that she was far out of his league. Something that made him want her but also told him she was untouchable. It was a tough order to fulfill and Narcissa pulled out nearly all of her outfits before finally settling on an innocent little white dress with a neckline that scooped a bit farther down than was proper but balanced it by the simplicity of the cut. The dress had always looked sweet on Narcissa and she made sure to keep her makeup simple and neat so as to not be suggestive to Lucius.
She waited until nearly the last minute before coming down. It was better to make Lucius wait for a bit and Narcissa composed her face to be cold and detached. She would need all of her skill at control to get through the day today, but she was confident she would win this battle against Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius sits, waiting down in the common's room and looking impatient. That impatience, however, leaves his face when he sees Narcissa. He grins at her with the same lascivious nature he had on the beach and Narcissa shoots him a chilling look. Best that he didn't get too confident with this excursion.
Narcissa pauses, leaning down to fix the hem of her dress. Keep him waiting for a bit longer. Give him a chance to wipe that look from his face. Eventually, however, she makes her way down the stairs. "Well," she says with a calculated, emotionless voice. "Are we going?"
"You kept me waiting," Lucius smiles, holding out an arm for Narcissa that she ignores. "I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't show."
"I considered it," Narcissa replies, staring forward as they leave the commons. "I don't keep company with boys who've acted in the manner you demonstrated the other day, Mr. Malfoy. I will not have my reputation questioned."
"And yet you showed," Lucius says and from the corner of her eye, she can see the smile on his face.
"To set the record straight," Narcissa says, stopping and turning to face Lucius. This was the wrong decision, however, and at the sight of his devastating grey eyes, Narcissa felt her resolve quaking. She hoped that he didn't catch the quick moment of hesitance and she adds more ice in her voice to compensate for the slip. "I am only here to hear what your final condition is, Mr. Malfoy. Once I have heard that, I will be on my way. I am true to my word, and provided that your final condition is not one that will do damage to my reputation, I will fulfil your condition and then we will be done. This is a gracious response considering this deal was made with less than honest conditions on your part, Mr. Malfoy."
"You can call me Lucius," he says softly and Narcissa catches a hint of something in his voice.
"I will not act so improperly."
Lucius lets out a sigh. He takes her arm gently and Narcissa doesn't resist as he leads her out towards the long walk to Hogsmeade. "You're right," Lucius says and Narcissa looks to him with a bit of surprise. "I did not behave properly the other day. I made you uncomfortable, and I think I gave you the wrong impression of me. I hope I can change the way you've come to view me, Nar-Miss Black, and I am grateful you accepted my invitation today so that I can present a better view of myself."
"It was no invitation," Narcissa says sharply. "I was extorted into being here."
Lucius sighs and Narcissa almost feels sorry for him for how difficult she's being. "Then I promise to make this quick so that you can have time with your friends at Hogsmeade, if you want."
Narcissa resists letting out a sigh. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of softening now. Not after that feeble attempt at an apology. He would have to do a lot more than that to elicit any sympathy from her.
"Narcissa… Can I please call you Narcissa? I feel like a fool trying to make a solid apology to you and calling you "Miss Black" like you don't mean anything to me."
Narcissa looks him over for a long moment before giving him the smallest nod. "You may call me Narcissa, but only on a probationary status. If you insult my reputation, however, you will lose that right." She looks at him sharply. "You may not call me Cissa, though. That I will not allow."
His eyes dance across his face but he nods. "Alright, Narcissa. That's more than fair. Though I hope I can earn that right. Cissa fits you far more and it's a disservice to you to not call you that."
"Careful," Narcissa cautions, but allows him to continue.
"Well," Lucius says, letting out a weighty sigh. "It's true. I do owe you an apology. I made you uncomfortable the other day and I encroached on your privacy. I'm sorry for that. Truly. Though I must say, I'm not sorry I stumbled upon you that day. You were a sight out there in the water."
"Lucius Malfoy," Narcissa fumes, feeling her cheeks starting to flush. "Don't you presume that-"
"Hush now, Narcissa. I didn't mean anything improper. I meant that you looked peaceful out there in the water. There truly was a moment where I thought you were one of the lake's mermaids making a rare appearance at the edge of the water. I don't think I've seen that side of you before."
"You do not know me, Lucius," she says, though the chill is gone from her voice. "Before this week, we've only exchanged a few words with each other. You don't know every side to me."
"That does not mean that you have gone beneath my notice, Narcissa."
Narcissa looks up to him, unable to stop herself. She had thought that her attraction to the boy had been fully one-sided, but perhaps he had noticed her.
"All the same," Lucius continues, "I behaved like a brute. I know I have a few brutish tendencies, but that's not a side of myself I should have led with. Though, I think it may be a challenge to catch your eye the ordinary way. You don't give much time to boys, do you?"
Narcissa's throat tightens. "And why should I allow myself to be distracted from my studies? I am not some frivolous girl seeking out validation from any boy who will present her with attention, Lucius. My time and attention is a valuable thing and I do not give it away carelessly."
Lucius grins and Narcissa wonders what it is about her statement that pleased him so. "I'm glad you found it in you to allow me this portion of your time and attention, then, Narcissa."
"Need I remind you that I was extorted-"
"You still came," Lucius interrupts. "You could have easily ignored me, Narcissa, or even reported me to Slughorn, as you threatened to do. There was no real looming extortion to persuade you to join me today."
Narcissa purses her lip. "I will be honest, then," she says. "I was mostly driven by curiosity. I wanted to know what your little condition was and why it had to wait until Hogsmeade for you to tell it to me. And I wanted to set the record straight between us, Lucius. You caught me at a moment of vulnerability and I did not want you to have presumptuous thoughts when it came to my reputation."
"I know you value your reputation highly."
"I do," Narcissa says with a nod. "I understand the importance of reputation, better than most Hogwarts students do. An outstanding reputation is not something that I am willing to part with."
"Do I threaten that perfect reputation?"
Narcissa's eyes dart to his face- his handsome, mischievous face. "I don't know how to answer that," Narcissa admits honestly, caught off-guard by the question.
Lucius smiles slowly. "You're a smart girl," he says. "I'm sure you'll see your way clear about it sooner or later. Let me know if I can help you figure it out."
Narcissa scowls, but she finds herself softening to this boy despite herself. She had been wrong about him. He was not a good choice for her or for her reputation. Yes, he came from a pureblooded family and was an heir of substantial name, but he played by different rules. No, it was more than that… Narcissa was suddenly certain that Lucius Malfoy was playing an entirely different game than she was.
"Are you going to tell me, then?" she asks. "What this final condition of yours is? Or are you frightened I'll make a run for it as soon as my curiosity has been satiated?"
Lucius laughs. "Terribly frightened, I'm afraid, so it's going to have to wait until the last possible second. Now, come. Let me buy you some chocolate to make up for my animalistic behavior."
"Mmm," Narcissa says, but she lets herself be led towards Honeydukes. Hesitantly, she reaches out and takes Lucius's arm. She didn't know what prompted the movement, and even Lucius looks surprised at the touch, but she kept her arm there. She wipes her face clear of emotion, staring forward and ignoring Lucius's eyes that are clearly searching her face.
Lucius wasn't right for her. He wasn't the gentleman she always supposed him to be. He could be the very thing to lead her away from the life she wanted. She knew in her heart that she was beginning a dangerous game and that this handsome blonde haired boy could easily be the one to tarnish her immaculate reputation. And yet, here she was, holding onto his arm.