. : Chapter One : .

--10 Years Later--

Narcissa awoke to the sweet fragrance of some species of flower. The scent pierced through her nose drifting her away from her slumber. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and then locked upon a bouquet of roses placed on top of her nightstand that was beside her four-poster. She pushed her covers to her ankles and sat up with a grin planted on her face. Quickly, she slid her size seven feet into a pair of warm fuzzy slippers, then sprang out of bed.

Careful not to wake any of her four dorm-mates, Narcissa slipped a hand beneath the plastic wrap that encircled the lengthy stems of the roses, then brought the petals right under her nose. As the roses were in mid air a tiny card fluttered to the ground. Without scrunching the elegant scarlet and cherry plants, she bent down and caught the envelope between her fingertips.
Sliding her fingernail beneath the flap, Narcissa opened the card.

"14 Beautiful flowers for a beautiful gal," she read aloud and clutched the crinkling paper to her chest.

"Who are the flowers from Narcissa?" a groggy voice called from her side.

"Well, I can't find a name anywhere, but I have an idea of who they are from," Narcissa practically giggled with delight.

She headed towards her trunk and pulled out her green Slytherin robes. Taking the least amount of time possible, Narcissa jumped back into her four-poster and closed all the curtains. From there she shed her silk nightgown and replaced it with her daily clothes. After she changed she grabbed her brush and headed towards the 7th year girls bathroom. Narcissa glanced at the mirror and began to comb her thin, smooth golden hair until it was flawless. Smiling at her reflection, she walked back to her bed and straightened the covers and pillows. With a final inspection she left the dormitory and made way to the stairs.

Galloping down the steps that led to the Slytherin common room, Narcissa, scanned the room briefly until her eyes rested upon Lucius. He was perched on the love seat closest to the blazing fire place, so she headed towards him.

Seeing her appear, Lucius stood to his feet and prepared for her to embrace him in the clamps that we called arms. Rapidly, Narcissa wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him with all her might.

"Thank you." she cooed into his ear.

"For what?" Lucius asked, clueless to what Narcissa was talking about.

"What do you mean, for what? They roses, you twit, I know that they are from you, even if you didn't sign the card."

"Oh, those roses. Yes, I must've forgotten to sign the card, silly me. But, you figured it out, I knew I couldn't get anything passed you," he attempted a smile for her benefit and looked into her icy blue eyes.

"Thank you," Narcissa rose up on her toes to meet her mouth with his, "I love them."

"I'm glad, now we need to head down to breakfast, need to make an appearance, maybe insult Pothead and his friends."

"Come on now Lucius, you can't possibly still enjoy calling those Gryffindors names. I mean, seriously, how immature can you get? 17 now are you? That seems a bit old to be acting like children,"

Lucius simply ignored her comment and headed toward the portrait then suddenly halted, "Coming Severus?" he raised his pale eye brows to a black haired, young man who was slumped in one of the armchairs.

He nodded and Lucius left, quickly enough Severus stood, his ebony robes touching below his ankles, and followed his companion out of the Common Room. Narcissa just stared after the two, and plopped onto the extensive couch, sheltering her cranium with her limbs