Hogwarts
"He loves me.. He loves me not.. He loves me.. He loves me not..."
"It seems he loves you not," came a familiar voice, so close that it made Narcissa start, and she dropped the now petal-less flower she had been holding.
She stood hurriedly, and turned to see the tall, handsome figure of Lucius Malfoy leaning on the back of the armchair she had, until recently, been sitting in. A blush spread across her cheeks. He'd managed to creep up to her silently, again, and startle her. Again. And judging by the look on his face, he'd been there a while.
The blush darkened, contrasting with her pale skin and bleach-blonde hair.
"It's just a game."
Lucius smirked at the defensive tone in her voice.
"Ah. You can keep.. hoping.. then." He spoke critically, as if he believed hope was for the weak.
Narcissa scowled. She knew it was just a stupid little kids' game, but it gave her something to do while she waited... No, not waited, just sat...
The thing was, Lucius was the main reason she often wandered down to the Slytherin Common Room at night. While Bella was in bed either hers or someone else's, Narcissa might have a chance to talk to Lucius without her sister there to embarrass her.
"Maybe I will," she retorted with a glare.
Lucius almost laughed at that.
Almost.
He moved slowly around the dark green chair to stand beside her, facing her. He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face.
"Maybe you should."
Narcissa was still trying to tell herself that Lucius was just playing with her again when he leant in to brush his lips against hers, before turning, and walking away, back to the boys' dormitories.
When, with a typically-Lucius swish of his cloak, he was gone, she sank back into the chair. Feeling something beneath her hand, she picked it up.
It was the flower, with one, small, purple petal still attached
Smiling wearily, she plucked it from the plant.
"He loves me..."