You're Still The One
Part Six: Not A Little Girl

My very first Lucius/Narcissa story. Enjoy!

rating: R for sexual situations
genre: romance/drama
summary: The story of Narcissa Malfoy: life, school, friendship, and the most important of all...love.

Thanks for the reviews! Sorry it took so long for this chapter.

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Years go by so fast once you reach being a preteen. And the years flew by for Narcissa Black. One moment it seemed she was a little girl, waiting anxiously with the other first years to be sorted, and the next she was fifteen and heading into her fifth year at Hogwarts. How quickly life flew by. But for Narcissa, fifteen was really only the beginning...

"Narcissa!" Fifteen year old Narcissa heard the familiar (and tiring) yell of her sister Bellatrix, who was getting married the next day to Rodolphus Lestrange. It seemed so very long ago Narcissa had been jealous of Bellatrix capturing Lucius Malfoy's affection. Eighteen year old Bellatrix was beautiful, elegant, and making a pureblood marriage: everything expected of a female Black. Andromeda, on the other hand, who was in seventh year, was engaged to a Muggle-born named Ted Tonks and was banished from any house that owned to a Black for eternity. Narcissa's cousin, Sirius, had left his mother and father's house two years previous and lived with James Potter and his parents. Narcissa had only caught brief glimpses of her seventeen year old cousin since and they never spoke. As of now, the Blacks weren't too pleased with Narcissa either. She had dated a few pureblood boys over the past two years, but hadn't given a thought to marriage. In the back of her mind, Lucius Malfoy was still the one who made her heart race and palms sweat.

"Coming, Bella!" Narcissa called back, abandoning her summer Charms homework. Narcissa hurried down the stairs and found Bellatrix standing in the front hall, wearing her best dress robes.

"Well?" said Bellatrix impatiently.

"Well, what?" replied Narcissa, confused.

Bellatrix scowled. "The dinner, Narcissa, the dinner! The one the Lestranges are having tonight. The one you were supposed to find a date for?" Narcissa felt her heart sink.

"I...er..." stuttered Narcissa. Bellatrix sighed.

"I figured you had forgotten. That's why I took it upon myself to find you a date."

"Oh, Bella..." sighed Narcissa.

"Get dressed, Narcissa. He'll be here in a few moments." Narcissa scampered back up the stairs and quickly pulled her light blue dress robes over her head. She pulled on a pair of white gloves and blue low-heeled shoes that matched her dress. Bellatrix strolled into the room and pointed her wand at Narcissa's hair. The next second her honey-colored waves her piled neatly on top of her head, held with a silvery barrette. Another wave of Bellatrix's wand and her makeup was done. Her light eyes looked because her eyelashes were swept up with black mascara, she wore no eye shadow, but her lips were slightly pinker because of lip gloss. Narcissa lightly finger the diamond teardrop necklace to make sure it was there. Bellatrix grinned.

"Are you ever going to tell us who gave you that beautiful necklace?" Bellatrix examined the diamond.

"Um, no...Not now." A bell rang downstairs.

"That will be your date. Stay here until I call you down," demanded Bellatrix, hurrying down the stairs.

"Bella, where's Mother and Father?" Narcissa called after her sister, the thought of her parents and their whereabouts just dawning in her mind.

"At the Lestranges!" answered Bellatrix, opening the front door. She spoke in a low, quiet voice to someone. The low, rumbling murmur of a man's voice answered her. Narcissa felt her heart thumping against her ribs. Who was her date? He sounded quite a bit older...

"Narcissa! Come down!" Narcissa stumbled over the threshold of her bedroom door and went to the top of the stairs. When she saw who was standing next to Bellatrix, an audible gasp escaped her lips.

Lucius Malfoy.

He was standing there, looking more handsome than ever, if that was possible. He was wearing black dress robes and a matching cloak that had a green serpent clasp. His white-blonde hair was swept back from his face and held at the nape of his neck in a ponytail. He was smiling up at her.

Narcissa slowly made her way downstairs, not believing her eyes. After all these years, he was finally there, waiting for her. When she reached the bottom stair, Lucius hurried forward and kissed her hand.

"You look lovely, Narcissa." She smiled faintly at him, not daring to believe what was happening. Bellatrix tossed Narcissa her cloak and Lucius took it from her. "Allow me," he swung it over her shoulders and fastened the clasp, his fingers brushing her neck. They gently picked up the necklace and their eyes met.

"You still wear it," Lucius was smiling at her.

"Yes," Narcissa's voice was surprisingly clear for someone who felt like trembling. "Every day."

Bellatrix's questioning eyes peered into Narcissa's, who looked away quickly. "Shall we go?" Lucius said, breaking the silence.

"Yes, we'll be late." Bellatrix said, regaining her ability to speak first. Lucius offered his arm to Narcissa, who took it. Bellatrix held out a crystal goblet. They all grabbed it and waited. "Three...two...one," said Bellatrix. Narcissa felt a sharp jerk behind her navel and she was flying in a whirl of wind and color. Finally they landed on solid ground in the Lestranges' entrance hall. Rodolphus, a tall dark haired man, took his future bride's hand and led her into the kitchen after saying hello to Narcissa and Lucius, leaving them alone in the hall.

"Dinner's in five minutes, dearies," said the voice of a witch from the dining room, who was obviously the Lestranges' maid.

"Okay, thank you," said Lucius with a polite smile.

"Why don't you take your lovely girlfriend outside for a walk in the rose garden? It's very beautiful out there," the witch winked at Narcissa before disappearing.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Lucius looked at Narcissa, who nodded, suddenly feeling shy.

They headed out into the clear August night. The sky above was speckled with stars and the aroma from the garden was sweet. They sat down on a bench beside a large rose bush.

"You look wonderful tonight, Narcissa. Not like a little girl anymore." Narcissa smiled wryly.

"Thanks for noticing," she murmured. "So...why did you decide to be my date tonight?"

"Because Bellatrix asked me to," he said simply.

Narcissa felt her blood boil. "Well, if you don't want to be here with me, you don't have to stay!" she snapped, shooting him an icy look.

Lucius looked at her with a perplexed expression. "What are you talking about, Narcissa? If I didn't want to be here, do you think I would have accepted Bellatrix's invitation? I accepted because I knew if I didn't, I'd never have a chance again."

"What are you talking about?" Narcissa said, puzzled.

"Are you serious? There are a hundred young men who would die to be your date for a night. You're beautiful, elegant, smart, and a good person."

Narcissa's cheeks turned pink. "Do not say things you don't mean," she whispered, sitting down next to him again.

"I never say anything I don't mean." He lifted her chin and kissed her. "I've loved you for a long time, Narcissa."

"And I've loved you even longer. Ever since I first set eyes on you, when I was just eleven." She smiled at him.

He laughed and held her close to him. "I was such a prat to you back then."

Narcissa laughed too. "I deserved it. I was a conceited little girl."

"Maybe. But that was long ago. What we have is the present...and the future, if you'd like."

"I'd like that very much," said Narcissa, a sweet smile curving on her lips. Lucius took her hand and they headed into the Lestranges' for Bellatrix and Rodolphus's dinner.

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author's note: Ah yes, everything seems perfect now...But there are many twists, turns, and a rocky path ahead...