Note: Again, please keep in mind the rating.

Chapter 8

Narcissa was silent on the way home. She was too terrified of what her father was going to do to her to dare to open her mouth. She had seen him this furious only once- the night that Andromeda's name was blasted off the family tree, and she wasn't quite ready to live through that again.

Bellatrix, happily oblivious to her sister's plight, chattered incessantly, so that she and Rodolphus probably didn't even notice the silence of the other two occupants of the carriage.

When they finally arrived home, Bellatrix and Rodolphus both excused themselves to prepare for bed. Narcissa fell into step behind her sister, and winced when her father said, "A moment, Narcissa."

She turned toward him warily.

"I require a word with you in my study."

"Of course, papa." She said in a small voice, and then followed him down the hall.

Of all the rooms in the house, Narcissa spent most of her free time in this dark, quiet space, but it held no comfort for her now- only dread. She stood in front of the desk, hands clasped before her, waiting for him to speak.

"You'd better ring an elf for some ice." He said, gesturing toward her swollen cheek as he sank into his chair.

Narcissa chewed her lip. Did he mean for her to do that now? She didn't dare to move. Instead, she remained facing forward, trying not to shake as her eyes roamed over her father.

He looked so old! Narcissa almost forgot her fear for a moment as she took in the exhausted lines on his handsome face, and the weary curve of his spine as he hunched behind the desk. He was pouring himself a glass of some very strong-smelling alcoholic potion. From the looks of him, he needed it.

Orion downed half of his tumbler before he finally addressed Narcissa, "I expected better from you."

It was worse than she had imagined. She could stand his wrath, but the thought of disappointing her father was far, far worse. "It wasn't what you think!" She stammered, " It was-" She stopped speaking automatically when her father raised his hand.

"Don't waste your breath, Narcissa. I know what I saw."

She was obediently silent. She couldn't prove to her father that Lucius was the first boy who had ever tried to touch her- and she couldn't deny that, in spite of her protestations, it really had been what her father thought. She still tingled at the memory of Lucius's mouth on her skin. Another half hour in the garden and she would have been begging him to take her again- only this time, she wouldn't have had the excuse of being drunk.

"Narcissa, I know that I have not been a perfect father." Again, he precluded interruptions, "I haven't. I didn't quite know what to do with the lot of you when your mother died, but I have tried. Plenty of men would have packed you off to your aunt and had done with you, but I didn't want to let you go. I've loved you, Narcissa, even as I've made mistakes…and I feel that I paid for those mistakes with my…" His eyes clenched tightly. The look of pain on his face was so acute that Narcissa felt her stomach twist, "With your sister," He carefully rephrased, "and I don't want to go through it again. I can't."

She nodded numbly.

"Each of my daughters is special in her own way. Your oldest sister was very charming. She could make everyone laugh," He said quickly, still looking as if the merest mention of Andromeda was like stabbing daggers in his heart, "Bellatrix has always been exquisitely beautiful…and you…"

"Are the smart one." Narcissa sighed, heavily.

"Yes." Orion acknowledged sternly. "The smart one- and that's nothing to sniff at. Beauty fades, but you could be one of the most brilliant witches of our age. Don't waste yourself on…this." He gestured weakly toward her golden hair. "Don't ruin it by being something that you're not."

"But what if this is me?" She said, hating the whine in her tone. Wasn't it possible to be smart and beautiful? Lucius seemed to think so…

As if he could read her mind, Orion said. "I don't want you seeing that Malfoy boy again."

"But-!"

"No buts. It's not you I'm worried about. I know you're a good girl, in spite of what happened tonight- but I don't trust him, Narcissa. Even before what happened today, I've heard rumors…well…He's Cassius's Malfoy's son, and that should say enough. I don't want you near him. If I catch you disobeying me, we'll have trouble." He looked at her sternly, checking to see that his words had sunk in.

Narcissa felt tears pricking at the backs of her eyes. She knew her father was right. Hadn't she discovered on her own that Lucius was just using her as a joke? But the thought of a lifetime without Lucius- of even a few days without his comfort and support felt like a sentence to Azkaban.

Failing to notice his daughter's distress, Orion changed the topic, "I'm very pleased with how things are progressing between you and the Rookwood boy. That's a good match, Cissa. You'd be wise to pursue it."

"But he's a clerk." She sneered, the sudden flare of anger subverting her desire to cry.

Orion looked surprised by her retort, "For now." He said coolly, "He certainly won't be for long if he becomes my son-in-law. I thought you liked Augustus Rookwood? For Grendel's sake, Cissa- he used to be all you talked about!"

"Yes." She answered miserably.

"He's escorting you to the ball, correct?"

She nodded again, "Well, that's excellent. Just be yourself, and I'm sure that you'll have an announcement like your sister by summertime. He'd be a fool not to take you."

"But I'd be a fool to take him." She muttered under her breath.

Orion arched a brow.

"I said, 'yes' father." She lied.

"Good. Goodnight, poppet."

"Goodnight Papa." Narcissa said, then retired to her room.

Narcissa harboured no delusions that she would sleep that night. Her mind was too busy whirring with activity. It was darkly amusing that all of her troubles seemed to revolve around boys. Who would believe that only a month ago, she'd only had one real kiss? Now her heart was torn between two men: the right choice, and the one she wanted.

Lucius's owl was sitting on her windowsill when she returned to her room. Her heart skipped a beat. If her father caught her, he'd be furious. Still, she couldn't resist knowing what Malfoy had to say. She untied the parchment and read:

Dear Narcissa:

I hope that I didn't get you in too much trouble. Please send an owl so I'll know. Would it make things better if I did my homework?

Wish 1: For you not to get in trouble.

Wish 2: For your first waltz at the ball.

Wish 3…is a secret- if I tell you, it won't come true!

Love,

Lucius

In spite of her better judgment, Narcissa sat down to write a reply.

Dear Lucius:

I'm very sorry about what happened. Father was very angry, but I haven't received any additional punishment. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I can't ever remember him hitting me before today, and he's much calmer now. He's just worried. He thinks that boys like you are only after one thing (from girls like me anyhow). He thinks that you are just using me as a conquest to boast about, or to win a bet with one of your friends.

She wrote those last few words with such emphasis that the quill nearly poked through the paper.

He's forbidden me to see you anymore. It's probably best if we don't write anymore either. I do thank you for all your assistance, and I hope that we will still be friends.

Love Always,

Narcissa Black.

She sent the owl on its way, and then crawled back into her bed where, in spite of her predictions, she managed to cry herself to sleep.

Bellatrix was awake the next morning at the crack of dawn. "Wake up, Narcissa!" she said, sweeping into the room, "Today is the day of the ball!"

Narcissa looked at the clock and yawned, "It's not for another fourteen hours!" She growled.

Bellatrix sighed, "We have a lot to do! Come on!"

Grudgingly, Narcissa followed her older sister down the steps.

She was surprised to see that Bellatrix had transformed their dining room into a makeshift salon and spa. Narcissa could only assume that her father was in on the scheme. Some of the items laid out on the table looked quite new, and there was a witch she didn't recognize who was introduced as having been sent to style their hair.

Narcissa remembered, to her horror, that she'd never had a fitting for her gown, so that was taken care of first. Then, she spent the next several hours being pampered and beautified by the staff. It was silent, but busy. To her eternal relief, Narcissa discovered that she could block out conscious thought almost completely.

Bellatrix didn't mention the Malfoys except to note that Orion and Cassius had nearly drawn their wands over the Death Eater issue before Evelyn Malfoy pointed out that it was late and the girls were probably tired.

"You're being very quiet today, Narcissa." Bellatrix said, frowning when her sister didn't respond to a question.

"I'm just…thinking." Narcissa lied.

"About Rookwood?" Bellatrix teased while making a gagging sound. "Pondering the eternal question: could he be any more boring."

"Probably not." Narcissa responded, causing Bellatrix to gape in surprise. "It's nearly six o'clock. I'm going to go put on my gown."

In truth, it was still an hour before she needed to put on her dress, but Narcissa wanted to escape to her room. Bellatrix's mention of Rookwood had dislodged a few of the thoughts that she was trying to avoid, and she wanted privacy.

She groaned when she saw Lucius's owl pecking on the glass behind her curtains. She debated not letting him in, but then she figured that the little creature would probably just try another window- possibly alerting Bellatrix or her father to its presence.

She rushed over to the sash and threw it open, letting the little grey eagle owl settle on her arm as she untied the parchment.

"Shoo!" She said, pushing the bird back onto the windowsill and trying to wave it on its way. Lucius must have ordered it to await a reply, because it didn't fly off immediately. Instead, it tried to swoop back in. Narcissa tossed it back into the ledge, and then closed the window, leaving it to peck angrily on the glass again.

She knew that she ought to have ignored the letter, or at least hidden it for later, but her curiosity was too great. She locked the door to her room, then sat on her bed and unrolled it.

Dear Narcissa:

What do you mean you aren't allowed to speak to me anymore? That's ridiculous! You are a grown woman and your father is overreacting. I'll speak with him tonight and smooth things over. I can't wait to see you, and I hope that you will, at least, be able to make my other two wishes come true.

-Lucius

Narcissa was puzzled by the letter- his other two wishes? One of them had to be the waltz, but he hadn't revealed the third. She sighed in frustration. She'd have to write him back now! She couldn't risk his showing up at the ball and confronting her father. If he did, there was sure to be a row. Orion had made it very clear that his preference was for Rookwood- and he was mad enough about the Malfoys to begin with. If Augustus told her father about the lessons…

Narcissa shivered as the thought flashed through her mind. She lunged for a quill and some parchment, and was about to put lines to paper when the door to her bedroom rattled.

"Cissa? Cissa- what are you doing in there?"

Narcissa cursed her sister under her breath, wishing that Bellatrix would learn to keep her voice down. "I'm undressed." She called back, hoping to buy some time. It was no use.

"Alohamora!" Bellatrix bellowed, and the door burst open, permitting the elder Black to waltz inside. Happily, she was too self-absorbed to notice that her sister had been lying about her state of attire. "My robes are a disaster!" She moaned, sweeping in and holding the deep scarlet gown against her chest. "Look at the sleeves!"

Narcissa looked, but couldn't tell what her sister was getting at.

"Look at the lace!" Bella snapped in exasperation, "It completely covers my hands. You can't see my ring at all." She glared as if this was Narcissa's fault. "You'll have to give me your dress."

"My dress!" Narcissa blinked. Her eyes went automatically to the ice-blue gown she had purchased during her shopping trip with Lucius. Madame Kiri had made it specially. It was the most beautiful thing that she'd ever owned.

"Yes." Bella said, ignoring her sister's shocked expression and going to where it hung. "No one's going to be looking at you anyway."

Narcissa stared for a moment, as eighteen years of sitting by and watching her sister claim all the glory warred with the spark of self-esteem that Lucius had ignited. She felt an odd sort of energy building inside. As Bellatrix reached for the hangar, it finally burst free. "No!" Narcissa shouted.

"No?" Bellatrix frowned and turned around, nearly in disbelief.

"No!" Narcissa repeated, looking shocked at her own outburst, but determined. "It's MINE!"

"Not anymore." Bellatrix said icily, absolute confidence in her voice. She jerked the dress off its hanger and started toward the door.

"Lucius bought it for me and it's MINE." Narcissa said again, clawing for one of the sleeves.

"Lucius?" Bellatrix said, eyes glittering wickedly. "What'd you do to have to get this?" She taunted, but didn't let go.

"N-nothing." Narcissa almost lost her grip. That wasn't entirely true, was it? Wasn't Lucius just buttering her up for a conquest? She was supposed to hate him- but she didn't. She couldn't. Nothing was making sense anymore. All she knew was that she liked the way that Lucius made her feel. Whether he meant it or not, when he smiled at her, when he told her that she deserved a beautiful dress and admiring smiles, she believed him. She didn't want to go back to standing in the shadows anymore. "It's mine!" She said again, tugging with all her might, just as Bellatrix pulled in the opposite direction.

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of struggle, but then a sickening rip filled the air as delicate satin split down the center of the bodice, frayed lace and crystal beads popping off and rolling onto the floor.

Narcissa gasped in horror, but Bellatrix only snarled. "Fine, keep your ugly dress…" and sauntered out the door as her sister collapsed onto the ground, clutching the ruined gown to her chest. There was no way to fix it. There wasn't time, even if she could think of a spell to replace the shredded fabric. Besides- she wouldn't put it past Bellatrix to cast an anti-glamour on her to undo it out of spite. None of her other new dresses were fancy enough for a ball. She went to her closet and tried to rummage something out.

It was hopeless.

Narcissa stared in dismay at the racks of threadbare, lumpy cast-offs that she had accumulated over the years. There was nothing even close to the beauty of the dress that Lucius had bought her- nothing even vaguely serviceable except a high-necked green gown that Bellatrix had worn to one of her pre-debutante parties half a decade before. Narcissa put it on, and then wanted to cry again. She was swimming in it. Even tying the sash as tightly as it would go, the fabric draped sloppily around her body, obscuring her curves and making her shining, glamorous hair look patently out of place.

Then, that shouldn't be a surprise. Wasn't it always out of place?

Only a few moments before, Narcissa had been caught up in the memory of how Malfoy had made her feel beautiful…but wasn't it all just an illusion? It was paint, and dye. The girl in the mirror: the girl drowning in a dowdy dress, hiding behind unkempt hair- that was how the real Narcissa looked. Bellatrix was right. No one would be looking at her. They only would have been looking at a Narcissa who didn't really exist.

Brushing the tears from her eyes, Narcissa waved her wand over her head. She felt like something cold was trickling over her skin as the hair charm that Madame Ursaline had applied was broken, and her gilded locks slipped out of their pins and muddied back into a non-descript brown that hung unevenly over her face.

Yes. That was more like it, she thought. That was what Bellatrix wanted to see. That was the face that couldn't capture Rookwood's attention. That was how she had been before everything had started to go wrong.

Lucius wouldn't even want to toy with her now.

Narcissa swallowed hard, trying to ignore how hollow that made her feel. She felt rather pathetic- she was so infatuated with him that she wanted him to abuse her trust, if only it meant that she had his attention for a little longer.

"Girls? Are you ready?"

Narcissa blinked, wondering how long she had been staring into the mirror. Her father's voice was drifting through the hall. It must be time to leave.

She hastily ran a comb through her hair- that change, at least, had become habit- and wedged a rose behind her ear. She frowned at her reflection, but she didn't have time for anything more. Bellatrix was standing in the hall. She was wearing the lovely scarlet gown (whose sleeves had been conspicuously shortened), and regarded Narcissa with a smug expression.

Orion blinked.

"You've…changed your hair back, poppet." He said carefully.

Narcissa shrugged. "I didn't like it the old way."

"And your gown is…er…not the one I thought you'd be wearing."

The youngest Black was able to take some satisfaction from the momentary panic on her sister's face. "My other one got ripped." She replied, "But this one is fine."

"Of course. Well…I believe that Mr. Lestrange and Mr. Rookwood are downstairs. Shall we?"

The two young ladies nodded and followed their father down to the great hall.

Rodolphus beamed as Bellatrix drifted down the staircase.

Rookwood looked somewhat less pleased. "Narcissa, you look…" He let his voice trail off, sounding as if he couldn't think of a compliment to complete his sentence. "You look different. I like the other way better."

She was somewhat stung by his bluntness. "Well, I didn't." she retorted.

He frowned, harshly. "That dress is hideous."

"Thank you." She growled, tersely, frankly amazed that she hadn't noticed from the beginning what a vile little toad he was. She halfway hoped that her father had overheard. Perhaps his opinion of Rookwood would change when he learned just how shallow his clerk's interests were founded.

Orion apparently hadn't hear, however. He greeted the men, and then directed them all out onto the front courtyard to board the carriage that would convey them to the party.

The Rhys-Boomslang manor was not far from Ravensden, and the trip took less than an hour. The carriage was surprisingly quiet as they rode. Bellatrix and Rodolphus passed the time curled around one another, whispering into each other's ears, while Mr. Rookwood and Orion discussed one of their cases at work.

Before long, they arrived at the house. Narcissa could see it from more than a mile away. Muggles-be-damned, the Rhys-Boomslangs had lit the castle up like a birthday cake. She smiled, feeling a little bit better about the party. Even if Lucius and Augustus were horrible, she could still have fun. She did love pretty decorations and music. If she ever had a home of her own, she would delight in throwing balls.

If. She reminded herself.

The Black carriage was behind a long line of others, so it was several minutes before they rolled up to the front of the house. Liveried Servants guided them indoors, and then relieved them of their cloaks. Mrs. Rhys-Boomslang and her husband were right inside the door. They welcomed Mr. Black at once, smiling and nodding as he introduced Augustus, and then latching onto Bellatrix and exclaiming over the news of her engagement. Narcissa was still furious with her sister, but their hosts' behaviour didn't make it any worse. Narcissa was used to this treatment: a cursory. "And you remember my youngest." From her father, and a pair of polite, but dismissive nods.

Finished with the receiving line, they drifted further inside the house. Narcissa felt a certain satisfaction from Rookwood's thinly veiled expression of unease. She could tell that he had never been to such a fancy ball before, and he was more than a little overwhelmed. He was copying Orion's every move, and casting his eyes all around the front hall, seemingly overstimulated by the unfamiliar lights and noise.

They finally entered the steps that led down to the ballroom. Orion stepped up to the servant and whispered their names, then stood at the top of the entry while they were announced:

"Mr. Orion Black. Miss Bellatrix Black, Mr. Rodolphus Lestrange. Miss Narcissa Black and Mr. Augustus Rookwood."

Narcissa followed her sister and future brother-in-law to the top step, lingered just long enough to be seen, and then descended into the swirling mass of partygoers with Rookwood following in her wake. She smiled to herself, admitting that it was almost a relief not to be stared at anymore…except…

She frowned. She felt a vague prickling on the back of her neck. Someone was staring at her- but who? She spun around. Then she froze: it was Lucius.

..ooOOoo..

Lucius was half-convinced that she wasn't going to come.

All afternoon he had imagined the scenarios- Orion Black discovering his letters, Orion Black locking Narcissa in her room, Orion Black shipping his youngest daughter back to France…His fears had grown steadily worse as the day wore on with no reply to his letter.

He really ought not to have sent it. Things were already bad enough, but he had to at least try to find out if she was okay. All night he had replayed the scene in the garden in his mind. He had relived the slap again and again, experiencing it all in slow motion: Orion's hand sweeping through the air, the sharp clap of flesh against flesh, and then the shock and shame on Narcissa's face as she was dragged away.

Lucius couldn't abide that he was the reason she'd been hurt- or that he'd simply stood there and done nothing to stop it. Surely there was something that he could have done? Something that he could have said? He had dwelled on this for the better part of the night. The conclusion that he finally reached didn't make him feel any better: He couldn't blame Orion Black for what he thought.

Lucius hated to admit it to himself, but he'd probably question his own motives if he were in Mr. Black's shoes. Lucius hadn't even been honest with Narcissa about what his true intentions were. He had pretended that he was trying to help her woo someone else. Even if that had been the truth to begin with, it had certainly changed- but he was still skulking around in shadows- still pretending that he couldn't possibly care.

He hadn't intended to fall in love with her.

Lucius sighed heavily, finally admitting to himself that was exactly what had happened. He had steeled himself against the stereotypically pretty society girls that his mother and father paraded through their home. He was immune to snobbery, polish, and coquettes…but he hadn't counted on meeting anyone like Narcissa. Like a stream of water flowing over a stone, she had seeped through the cracks in his façade and pried apart his resolve. Surely if he could make Mr. Black see that, he would understand? After all, how could he possibly prefer Rookwood- a mere clerk in his office- to the heir of the Malfoy fortune? That was what he kept telling himself anyway.

He was going to tell her at the party- if she arrived, that was.

"Lucius, if you're going to keep staring around like that, you ought to just go away and look for her." Kitty finally said in exasperation. "People are starting to whisper."

He frowned. He knew that he and Kitty were merely attending together as friends- her fiancé was once again gone on business, but he hated to think that he was making her uncomfortable. "Do you want to dance?" He asked sheepishly.

"No!" Kitty snapped, but then laughed to let him know that there was no harm done, "Now, go! You're acting pathetic!"

Lucius wanted to stay and dispute this charge, but he wanted to see Narcissa more, so he started drifting through the crowd. He arrived back in the main ballroom at the very second that the Black's were announced. His eyes swept eagerly upward. They hesitated disapprovingly on Rookwood, but then he saw her, and his expression broadened into a smile.

Had she ever been more beautiful? Lucius didn't see how that was possible. He had never seen her complexion more bright, or her lips in more desperate need of being kissed. She had descended all the way to the bottom of the steps before he realized that something was different.

She hadn't worn the dress her bought for her. It rankled him…but then he noticed that her hair was different too. It was brown again, combed, but already breaking free of its loose bindings. The gown was absolutely ghastly. No doubt it was another hand-me-down from her sister. This one was two inches too long and she tripped a little on the final stair.

It was completely adorable. Lucius wouldn't deny that he preferred the blonde- it brightened her features and suited her cool, arresting demeanour- but this was special too. This was how she had looked when she was wholly his- before he had handed her to the undeserving Rookwood- and how she remained inside his mind.

The infernal Rookwood had his arm twisted around hers, though he was practically as far away from her as physically possible while they remained so-entwined. He was jerking her toward the supper room, but Narcissa turned around. Then their eyes met.

Lucius's stomach flip-flopped as a range of motions scrolled across her face: surprise, displeasure, and finally…panic? She snapped her head back around again, probably hoping that he hadn't seen her. Her felt it like a punch in the gut, but it didn't stop him from following.

Rookwood and Narcissa stopped inside the dining room. Rookwood was still pinching the edge of Narcissa's shapeless robes, but was engaged in conversation with Abercrombie Ghoulsby, another counselor on the Wizengamut. Bits of their words wafted toward where Lucius had stopped behind a potted palm. "…sentence….rather severe…..only muggles after all….not as if one of THEM is going to believe a possessed baby doll could have done it…." The men were intent on the topic, while Narcissa was forced to stand mutely behind Rookwood like a puppy on a string.

"Narcissa." Lucius whispered from behind the plant.

Her expression blanched, and she slowly turned.

"Lucius?" She mouthed, squinting through the palm.

He pushed one hand through the foliage and gestured for her to come to him.

She shook her head violently "no", but he persisted.

She tried to tug Augustus away.

"Do you mind?" He snapped, but otherwise ignored her. She extracted her arm from his.

"I need to find the ladies' lounge." She said, but the remark received no acknowledgment. Glaring at Lucius, she slipped away.

Lucius growled in annoyance. Surely she wasn't really going to follow her father's dicate that they couldn't speak? She'd be able to explain it away here, after all. They were in plain sight! At least- they were until Narcissa ducked behind a tapestry.

Hampered by the plant, Lucius was several strides behind, but he followed her doggedly, slipping behind the cloth. He had to pause as he passed beyond the barrier. It was nearly pitch black on the other side. The ceiling grazed his head, so he assumed it was a passageway for the elves. This conclusion was confirmed when a tiny, grey body bearing a tray of champagne squeezed past him toward the main hall.

"Narcissa?" He called out softly.

When she didn't answer, he collared the elf. "A woman went this way!" He barked.

Whimpering, the creature pointed down the hall, and then toward a flight of stairs.

Lucius followed the passage, relieved to hear footfalls a little bit ahead of him. He wove after the sound until they finally stopped. He continued forward, and then blinked as he stepped out into the open night.

He was in a garden.

Once again, it took his eyes a moment to adjust. After they did, he instantly placed the tall, bare rosebushes and imposing walls of hedge.

Lucius saw a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye and followed it. "Narcissa!" He cried, louder now that they were outside. He assumed that they were well away from the party. No warming charm had been cast here, and no flowers continued to bloom. The only ornament was the jewel-like sky.

"Narcissa!" He called again. He was gaining on her. He rounded another hedge, and then nearly collided with her back.

Miss Black gasped in surprise as she was caught, but didn't try to struggle away. "Lucius!" She said in a hushed tone. Then, as if remembering herself, she stiffened her spine and rephrased, in a more formal tone: "Mr. Malfoy!"

Lucius ignored her aloof expression and threaded his arms around her waist. "You didn't answer my letter." He said, dragging her against his chest. "I didn't know what had happened. I didn't know if you were safe."

Narcissa tried ineffectively to push him away, the flats of her palms pressing against his chest. "I can't be here!" She yelped. "If my father sees us."

"Then I'll tell him the truth." Lucius whispered soothingly.

"What truth?" Narcissa asked, but he didn't have time to reply before another voice rang through the night, not too far away.

"Narcissa?" Orion Black's voice boomd. "Are you out here?" There was a dull thud, and then the sound of a house-elf yelping. "Miss and young master is this way!" It whined.

Lucius's heart clenched at the look of panic on Narcissa's face. "I have to GO!" She exclaimed, and tried to wrench away. He still didn't let her. Catching her hand, he pulled her backwards through the trees.

"This way!" He commanded.

If she hadn't obeyed, he would have carried her. The voices were getting closer, and more distinct.

"Now, Augustus, surely the elf is wrong. Narcissa's just…a bit of a loner. I'm sure she was feeling stifled by the party…"

Lucius pulled them through an opening in the hedges, and then across an open field. He was running, and Narcissa struggled to keep up, but she managed. The voices grew more distant as they neared a small, dark structure.

"The orangery." Lucius muttered. He stopped for a moment to fish out his wand, opened the door, and then herded Narcissa inside.

As soon as she was in, he closed and locked the door again, then put his ear against it, listening for any sign that they had been seen. After hearing nothing but silence, he turned back around, started toward Narcissa and advanced on her until she was flush against the wall.

He wanted to kiss her. He had never wanted it so badly, but she ducked away from his lips.

"This has to stop!" She yelped and squirmed away.

"What does?" Lucius growled. "Why?"

"Because I don't want to play anymore." She whispered desperately. He could see a tear trickling down her cheek. "I don't want to get hurt."

"I won't let your father hurt you." Lucius swore. "I'll take you away if I have to."

"Take me away?" she looked confused and stared at him for a minute, but then shook her head as if to clear it. "I can't do this Lucius. I can't bear it."

He sighed, realizing that this was the moment of truth. If she still wanted Rookwood, after everything, was he strong enough to step away and surrender?

No. He realized grimly. He couldn't. He'd convince her- or at least he'd keep trying. Nothing had ever been more obviously essential to his own happiness- to his own survival.

"I will never hurt you, Narcissa." He said, as earnestly as he knew how. "Never intentionally."

"Liar!" She hissed. Her eyes were suddenly flooded with tears, and he felt a prickle of alarm.

"Narcissa? I-"

"Is this funny for you?" She spat, swiping ineffectually at her eyes, which were now leaking profusely. "Is it something that you can brag about to your friends? Sad, desperate little Narcissa Black. Tell her she's pretty and she'll follow you anywhere?"

"You are pretty." He blinked, dumbfounded. "You're beautiful."

She lifted a hand, looking as if she intended to slap him, but let it drop at the last moment, her resolve seeming to leave her in a thin wail. "I don't have to be beautiful, or special, or…or anything. I just wanted to be left alone. I wish you'd never shown me."

"Shown you what?" His heart was thudding in his chest as he listened to the nonsensical babbling, trying to sort it out. Obviously, he had done something to upset her, but what?

"What it might be like…what it would be like to really be loved."

"But Narcissa." He shook his head, not knowing how to get it through his head. Hadn't his slavish devotion for the past three weeks been proof enough? He was Lucius Malfoy. Snide, arrogant, sometimes cruel, and always self-contained…but he had been brought to his knees by this small, unassuming girl and she didn't even realize the power that she had. There was only one way that he could think of- the wordless way that he had discovered first.

She was opening her mouth to protest again, but this time he didn't let her. He covered her lips with his, smothering her protest between the gentle, tender pressure of his lips.

Narcissa continued to squirm against him for a moment, but gradually she stilled. The hands that had been balled to fists opened, and then settled on his shoulders, drawing him close. Some tension melted from his body as the inescapable pull between them took hold. His tongue and lips continued to lavish attention on her as his fingers worked over her back and bottom, feeling the soft curves of her body hidden beneath the dress. He wanted, so desperately, to peel it away- to strip off all of the barriers between them and make her finally and completely his.

"Oh, Narcissa…" he moaned into her ear when they finally broke for breath, "Narcissa, you can't know…"

"Am I getting better?" She said tightly.

He lifted her hand and kissed each digit individually, "You've surpassed your teacher." He assured her, then moved forward for another demonstration of what he meant.

This time, she didn't bother to resist. She fell bonelessly against his chest as his fingers rooted for the fastenings of her robes and stripped them off of her shoulders, once again exposing the luscious swells of her breasts.

Her fingers raked tentatively through his hair as he lowered his lips to one pink peak and began to nip and nuzzle it to taut attention. She arched into him, and he let another palm slip downwards, this time cupping the curve of her bottom and pushing her against him.

"Is this what you want?" he panted into her ear, raising his head for a moment to feather kisses along her jaw.

To his utter disbelief, she answered, "No."

"No?" he backed away, horrified.

"No, I mean…I want….I wish…"

"There they are."

Lucius and Narcissa both spun around. To Malfoy's mingled horror and disbelief, he found that he had been caught, for the second time in as many days, with his hands on Orion Black's daughter's naked breasts.

This time, he didn't give Mr. Black a chance to go at his daughter. He closed around Narcissa like a shield, bracing as he waited for the older man to draw his wand, his tension only lifting when he saw that Rookwood was there as well.

"I told you to leave Malfoy alone!" Orion roared, advancing on the couple. His face was as red as lava.

"I told you…"

"I love her!" Lucius blurted, refusing to loosen his grasp.

That, at least, gained a moment of stunned silence from everyone involved.

"You…?" Orion blinked several times, disbelieving.

"Very funny, Malfoy." Rookwood snarled. "You've won your bet."

"Bet?" Lucius paled.

Augustus smirked, "Mr. Black knows all about it." He turned to his employer. "I'm sorry sir. I ought to have kept a better watch on her."

Lucius looked from face to face: Narcissa, terrified, shaking and shamed, Rookwood looking smugly self-important (and not nearly upset enough for a man who had just caught his date in a clench with another man), and Orion, the vein in his forehead throbbing as if it was about to burst.

"It wasn't your fault, Rookwood." Orion said in a deadly whisper. He reached for his daughter, but Lucius hauled her beyond his grasp.

"I love her." He said again.

Orion faltered, but this time, Narcissa interrupted. "No, he doesn't."

It was Lucius's turn to be shocked. In this moment of distraction, Narcissa managed to twist away. "He doesn't daddy. Augustus is right." Lucius shook his head, barely believing what he heard. He felt as if he was standing outside his body, watching someone else stare at her as she continued: "It was all a bet that Malfoy had that he could turn me away from Rookwood…that he could make me feel…believe…." The rest of the sentence was lost in a choke. "I was so stupid." She said, shaking.

"Narcissa, no!" Lucius shouted, lunging after her, but Rookwood caught him with a stunner before he could grasp her shoulder.

"You've done enough damage, Malfoy!" Rookwood spat, zapping him with another jolt from his wand for good measure.

Lucius's body curled up in pain. He could taste blood and soil in his mouth, and one of his ribs felt broken, but it was nothing to the agony ripping through his heart. "Narcissa." He rasped, "Narcissa, it's true. I didn't mean to love you, but I do."

She was being led out of the orangery, her dress back on her shoulders now and her father's cloak tied around her neck. She balked when she heard him.

"Lucius?" She asked, staring at him, but not yet daring to believe.

"It was my third wish." He croaked, "I wanted you to love me back."

TO BE CONTINUED

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment. Knowing that the stories bring a little bit of enjoyment to people other than myself are a big part of what makes writing so fun! If you haven't commented yet, I'd love to hear what you think.