A/N: Well, I'd like to personally thank everyone who's put up with my writer's block!! And any weird lines you see here come from the twisted mind of Queen Li when she's up way too late. Well, there are a couple from me. Mind you, this is 2:45 am (4:45 am for Li!!) Review!!

Chapter 4

Narcissa

The car ride to the station was silent. That was mostly because I wouldn't talk to Mum, Mum wouldn't talk to either Dad or me, and Dad wouldn't talk to Mum.

Nothing at all was said until we walked through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. Dad gave me a hug and said, "Make us proud, Narcissa. I want to see those high grades at the end of the year."

"And no owls from any of the teachers," Mum strictly added.

"She's a good girl, Johanna. Never gets into trouble." He winked at me. I smiled and thought, 'Only because I never get caught.'

"Oh really? Don't you remember her fourth year? When she almost killed that little first year Hufflepuff with a curse?"

"Oh come on, Mum!" I started. "I wasn't even close to killing her! That little tattle was exaggerating! Besides, McGonagall has it in for all the Slytherins."

Mum opened her mouth to say something, but Dad interrupted, "Narcissa! The train's going to leave in a few minutes! Have fun at Hogwarts and remember we love you!" He hugged me again and pushed Mum back through the barrier.

I ran onto the train and looked for an empty compartment. I opened one of the doors to find Lacienega's things inside, but no Lacienega. I set my stuff down and went searching for her. As I made my way through the corridor, I ran into Sidra and Thomas Greenleaves, two Ravenclaw sixth years.

"Oh look," I said with a smirk. "It's Sid and Tom, the best quidditch players on their team. I guess that's not saying too much, though, with Ravenclaw's record. What was it last year? No wins, three losses?"

"Why don't you just leave us alone?" Thomas yelled.

Sidra put her hand up and said, "Well, I'm sure we're better quidditch players than you, Moravian. I'll bet you've never even touched a broomstick."

A voice from behind them said, "How much, then?" I looked up to see Lacienega with a smug look on her face. She pulled out a photograph of us riding broomsticks when we were hanging out over summer.

Sidra turned around and gave a gasp, then grabbed Thomas' wrist and pulled him into the nearest compartment.

"Why do you always get on the train at the last second?" asked Lacienega.

I laughed. "Because I'm an expert procrastinator. Why weren't you in your compartment?"

"Because Draconia and Star found me. They wanted to show me something. We just started walking down to their compartment when I heard your whimsical indignity to the orientationally challenged Greenleaves. Thought I'd help you."

"Thanks," I replied as we walked through the corridor to meet Draconia and Star.

Draconia was jumping with excitement. "Narcissa! You girls have got to see it! One of our more brilliant pranks, I must say."

"What is it?" Lacienega asked curiously.

"Oh wait til you see!" cried Star.

"Yes," added Draconia. "All I'm going to say is we gave Lucius a little gift on his arm."

They walked us to the compartment and opened the door. Lucius had his sleeve rolled up and was showing whatever was on his arm to Severus. When he saw us, he cried, "Oh no, you're not coming in here, Draconia!"

Lacienega and I looked at each other confusedly as Draconia retorted and stormed off with Star. Lacienega asked, "What was that all about, Lucius?"

"Don't worry about it." He blushed slightly, but I think I was the only one that noticed.

Severus grinned. "Come on, Lucius, show them your arm."

Lucius shot him a glare as he muttered something inaudible.

"Oh, come on, Lucius," I pleaded. "It can't be that bad. Draconia told us all about it." She didn't tell us ALL about it, but if I made it seem as if she did, then Lucius wouldn't have a good reason not to show us. Lacienega knew where I was going with this and played along.

"Fine," he replied, apparently annoyed, and rolled up his sleeve once more. Lacienega started cracking up.

'A pink bunny?' I thought. I knew Draconia was mean to Lucius, but giving him a pink bunny tattoo is just plain evil. "How did she do that?" I asked. Then, it started fading away.

"Star was under Polyjuice Potion as the Dark Lord and 'branded' me with this stupid thing." Lacienega sniggered as the bunny disappeared from sight.

Severus said, "Uh, Lucius, it's gone." It took a little bit of convincing, but Lucius looked down at his arm to find his own beautiful skin again.

He let it go really quickly. "Come on, you guys. Let's go torment some weakling students."

I'd already done some of that myself, but I was up for another round. I couldn't wait to get at those Gryffindors. "Like Potter and his nerd herd?" I suggested.

Lacienega was the first to laugh. "'Nerd herd'! I like that!"

We finally agreed on Maggie Lupin, the loner cousin of Potter's lackey Remus Lupin. After being harassed by a couple Gryffindors and scaring Lupin out of her compartment, we were running out of options. " Let's see if we can track down the lady with the cart of treats," Lucius said. "I'm starving."

We searched half of the corridor until we came up to a compartment with an open door, so we stopped and looked inside. Potter was near the window, one leg on the seat, already dressed in his robes. Lily Evans was next to him, and scrawny Peter Pettigrew by her. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were sitting across from them. Snack boxes, empty and full, covered the floor.

"Wow," said Lucius. "The house elves would have a fit if they saw this lovely display." All the heads turned toward the door.

Sirius looked over at us and scowled. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

"That hurt, Black," he responded. "What makes you think I would want anything?" He

"Because every year you bother us, Malfoy," Evans said, apparently vexed beyond hell.

"Oh I do, do I?" he sneered. "Well let me tell you something, Evans. I don't have to answer to low-life Mudbloods like yourself."

Potter got to his feet. "Get out," he hissed.

"Why should we?" I asked, pushing my way in front of Lucius.

"Because he," he directed his gaze at Lucius, "insulted my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Lacienega spat out. "How much is he paying you, Evans?"

I grinned smugly. "I wouldn't date Potter for all the galleons in the Northern Hemisphere."

It was then that Potter reached into his robes. Lucius glared at him before swiping a box of Every Flavor Beans and swiftly leaving, Severus right behind him. I lingered just long enough to see Potter withdraw his wand, and motioned for Lacienega to follow me.

"We should probably go change," I said.

"Yeah." We did so. Exciting.

Now dressed in our brand new Slytherin robes, we met Lucius and Severus in the compartment. They had changed as well. I couldn't help but notice how handsome Lucius looked in his robes. Thankfully, Lacienega was the only one who caught me ogling and nudged me in the side. I gave a little cry and Lucius looked up at me. I felt my face burn up, and gave Lacienega a playful push.

Severus got up. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I have some… personal matters to deal with." He ran his fingers through his greasy hair as he strode out the door. Lucius rolled his eyes and picked up a book. We sat down across from him.

"I wonder where he's going," Lacienega remarked sarcastically.

As I became captivated by Lucius' silvery blue eyes, Lacienega gave me a hard poke in the arm and laughed. I scowled at her and punched her arm. She let out a shriek that caused Lucius to become interested in what we were doing. She then, in a look of playful anger, pulled out her wand.

I stood up and put my hands out in front of me. Lacienega got up and pushed me. I fell right into Lucius' lap. I could feel my face turn red as I looked up at him, and he stared down at me.

What a situation for me to be in. I quickly regained my posture, shoved Lacienega back onto the seat, and fled from the compartment.

I ran back up to the compartment that held my things. Part of me just wanted to tear Lacienega limb for limb. I have never felt more embarrassed in my entire life! But on the other hand, she was my friend. She was just having fun. Then again, I know she pushed me into Lucius on purpose. 'Ooh, I'm going to get her for that one,' I thought. And I knew just how, too. I love blackmail. It's a very good persuasive technique. Plus it's fun!

I dug through my trunk for five minutes before finding my camera. 'She probably got bored of Lucius,' I thought, so I snuck around the train. Eventually I came to a compartment containing a few Slytherins and a sixth year Ravenclaw student named Shannon Drander. They were gossiping as I walked in. Then Shannon looked my way.

"Is there something we can do for you, Narcissa?" she asked politely.

I looked around. "Anyone seen Lacienega?"

"Why?" asked one of the Slytherin girls.

"Because it's time for her nightly shag with Severus!" I was bombarded with strange looks. "I want to talk to her."

"With a camera?"

Damn these inquisitive girls. "Yes, with a camera! Where is she?" I was growing impatient.

"She walked past earlier with Ashlee."

Ah, yes. Ashlee Dawson. I left up the corridor, and soon I heard voices. I peeked into a compartment to find the two talking quidditch. I knew where she was headed after this, as she does it every year. I hurried back to the end of the train, and waited in a compartment next to the one with several seventh year Slytherin guys. I closed the door and listened closely for the sound of footsteps.

After a while, they were clear as anything, and then voices came through the wall. She arrived. I silently came out and peeked through the doorway. There was Lacienega, flirting with all four of those fellows. They were all interested in her, let me tell you. I sighed and wondered if all males see when they look at a girl is her body.

I saw it as an opportune moment when one of the bigger men picked her up and swung her around. I quickly jumped into the open, snapped a picture, and ran for it. Soon I heard the strides of someone behind me.

"NARCISSA!" I didn't stop until I reached my trunk again. I shoved my camera inside and faced Lacienega, a grin on my face.

She stepped inside, and slid the door shut. "What was that for?"

"For making me look like a complete arse in front of Lucius."

She stared fixedly at me with an expression I couldn't read. She opened her mouth to say something, but the door opened and McGonagall spoke first.

"What was all the ruckus?"

"Nothing, Professor," replied Lacienega.

"Oh, no, Miss Moran, it was not nothing. I could hear it all the way from the front of the train." Her eyes moved to me. "And as soon as I heard your name, Miss Moravian…" I figured I was in for it. Getting in trouble when we haven't even reached Hogwarts yet.

"It was nothing, Professor, honest," Lacienega insisted.

There was a hint of suspicion in McGonagall's eyes. "Very well, then. But if I hear anything else coming from back here, then I will be sending your parents owls right away."

We were silent until we were positive she'd left. "Yeah, Lacienega," I joked, "no more troublemaking, or I might have to slip the photo I took into McGonagall's letter."

Her eyes widened. "Oh, is that what that's for?"

"That's right. Now you'll have to be careful about what you do to me." I stuck my tongue out.

Lacienega sighed. "All right. I know you probably felt really stupid when you fell into Lucius."

'Stupid doesn't even begin to describe it,' I thought.

She lowered her voice. "But you wanna know something?"

"What?" I asked as the squeaking of the brakes sounded through the train.

"Lucius was blushing, too." And with that, the Hogwarts Express came to a stop.