A/N: Hey y'all! This was written for Hogwarts. Angsty, unrequited NarcissaMolly with side pairings of NarcissaLucius and MollyArthur.

Divination Task 4: Write about someone wishing on a star.

Word Count: 995

Enjoy!

"Are you—" Molly swallowed. "Are you sure about this?"

Narcissa smiled and continued to gently brush the tangles out of Molly's thick red hair. "Are you afraid?" she asked, amused. "It will look beautiful. I promise."

A quiet laugh escaped Molly, and Narcissa's heart clenched at the sound. "I don't doubt that, Narcissa. I'm just not sure that this is something I should be doing, considering… well. I'm not actually supposed to be in your dorm, you know."

Narcissa threaded her fingers through Molly's hair. She understood the other woman's hesitation; a war was brewing, and tensions were running high—especially between Gryffindors and Slytherins, whose ideals tended to clash the most these days. Still, Narcissa cherished these moments with her friend, even if no one could know about them.

Even if a friend was all Molly would ever be to her.

"Andromeda promised to keep everyone else out," Narcissa reminded her gently. "She always keeps her promises." Not for the first time, Narcissa was grateful for her older sister; she was the only one who knew how close the two girls were, and the only one who wouldn't condemn that closeness.

Molly seemed to relax, so Narcissa continued what she was doing. She sectioned Molly's hair with careful precision and began to braid it all together, weaving in a gold ribbon with it. There was a party in the Gryffindor common room that night, Molly had told her. And there was someone Molly hoped to impress.

Narcissa fought down her wave of jealousy. Arthur Weasley was a pureblood, but nowhere near deserving of someone as good-hearted as Molly Prewett.

But Narcissa was due to marry into the Malfoy family, so she kept her feelings locked carefully away. Her time with Molly was coming to a close, but she'd make sure that the Gryffindor girl was loved. She deserved that much, at least.

"Oh," Molly whispered when Narcissa had finished with her hair, "it's lovely, Narcissa."

"You look beautiful," Narcissa agreed. She didn't have to lie, either; Molly was always stunning, but she seemed to glow tonight. There was a lovely flush across her cheeks as she looked at herself in the mirror that Narcissa wanted to run her fingertips over… but she kept her hands firmly by her sides.

Molly raised her hand to her hair, but stopped her movements before she touched it. "Do you think…" Molly's blush deepened. "Do you think Arthur would like it?"

There it was again: that horrible, all-consuming jealousy. But Narcissa pushed it down and forced a smile onto her face.

"He'd be a fool not to," she said evenly. Molly's beam almost made her words worth it.

The next day, Molly entered the Great Hall for breakfast hand-in-hand with Arthur Weasley. Narcissa supposed he'd finally noticed his admirer—and Narcissa wasn't bitter enough to lie and say that Arthur was taking advantage of his housemate's affection. In fact, he looked just as enamored with Molly as she was with him.

Narcissa returned to her own meal, unable to look at the two of them any longer. Beside her, Lucius was going on and on about his plans to join the Dark Lord after school. Narcissa's stomach churned, but she did her best to smile at Lucius when he put his arm around her shoulders.

Narcissa sat on her bed that night, staring out of the window at the stars dotting the black sky. The other girls in her room were fast asleep, the Black's mind was running wild with anxieties. She pulled her green dressing gown closer to her body and fixated her gaze on the brightest star in the sky.

The irony that she was about to wish on Sirius wasn't lost on her, but she pressed her lips together and wished anyway.

Please, she thought desperately, just make sure he loves her as much as I do. Make sure she is loved.

That done, Narcissa slipped the dressing gown off her shoulders and hung it on the headboard. Then she tucked herself under the duvet and tried not to feel too miserable. This was the best she could do for Molly… escaping her own impending marriage was impossible and irresponsible.

After all, it was like her mother always said: sacrifices had to be made for the greater good.

It was just unfortunate that Narcissa's heart had fallen for the wrong sort of person.

"I don't understand," Molly told her with a frown. Her brown eyes were clouded with confusion, but on this stance, Narcissa couldn't budge. "I know that your family wouldn't agree with us seeing each other, but I don't think we have to end our friendship—"

Narcissa shook her head. It was an effort to keep her voice even, but she'd had weeks to come up with a decision, and this was it. It was the only solution that wouldn't completely upend both their lives. "I'm marrying Lucius in a week, Molly. You know that." She took a deep breath and straightened her spine. "He and Arthur don't get on, so… we can't, either. We're finally going our separate ways."

Molly looked stunned for a moment before steely resolve settled in her eyes. "I can handle Arthur," she said confidently. "He doesn't get a say in who my friends are."

Struggling to keep the tears at bay, Narcissa shook her head. "No," she said coldly. "The world is at war, Molly, and we've already chosen our sides."

The shorter girl's eyes widened as realization hit her; she'd never been an idiot. "Lucius…?"

Narcissa closed her eyes. "Yes."

"...You?"

Narcissa shuddered. "It's... time to say goodbye."

She hurried away before Molly could respond, but she turned back when she was a safe distance away and saw Arthur pulling Molly into his arms.

She'd gotten her wish, it seemed.

Narcissa allowed a single tear to fall down her cheek before she pulled her face into the stoic mask she so often wore.

And locked her heart away.