Another chapter, I felt like the last one was really filler because I had this part of the story in my mind at the time, but wanted something more to lead into it. Anyway I hope everyone is enjoying the story (reviews are always welcome).


"And then I said to them, if you're going to serve mudbloods in here I shall take my business elsewhere. Honestly nowhere seems to place any value on blood purity anymore."

Narcissa felt herself roll her eyes at her father's words, sitting at the top of the table, trying to impress the Lestranges; when all he was really doing was boring half the table to death.

"Well said Cygnus," her Aunt Walburga chimed in. Just like always Narcissa thought to herself. It was the same every time their families came together, her father would sit at the head of the table regaling his stories that always somehow inevitably involved the Black family's superior lineage to almost everyone else and Aunt Walburga agreeing with his every word. Usually around this point Sirius would interrupt everyone, telling them what bigots they were. However, this time he seemed to have been allowed to escape the entire façade by hiding in his room. Aunt Walburga had claimed he was ill but Narcissa suspected she simply didn't want a scene in front of another sacred 28 family.

Catching her cousin Regulus' eye from across the table she rolled her eyes, "Is Sirius actually ill? Doesn't seem fair that he manages to escape all this fun," she whispered.

"Nah, he just got into a fight with mum, called her a…"Regulus glanced up the table, "well it doesn't matter. Basically he got banished to his room after telling her that he wouldn't sit quietly through tonight."

Of course, "Wish I'd thought of that."

"Nah it wouldn't have worked, they're trying to set you up with Rabastan. Heard mum and Uncle Cygnus talking about it last week."

"They are WHAT?" she half shouted, before glancing down at the now silent table. "Sorry…I just need to get something from upstairs," she muttered, avoiding her father's eyes as she fled from the dinner table, signalling desperately to Regulus to come with her.

As they both escaped into one of the spare bedrooms Narcissa slammed the door shut before she found the nerve to talk again.

"Rabastan? Seriously Rabastan? WHAT. THE. HELL." Of course this did explain why he had been staring at her oddly all night. "What were they thinking?" She asked, cornering her younger cousin who looked as if he had regretted saying anything at all.

"I don't know, I think they just want to secure a good marriage for you. And the Lestrange family are close to…you know who…I think they were just worried about the future."

"But why now? I'm still in school for God's sake," But even as she said it Narcissa knew why. "This is Andromeda's fault, she runs off with that idiot Tonks a month after leaving school and now they're worried that the same thing will happen with me." Even as she said it she could feel her anger build towards her older sister.

As she looked over to Regulus he just shrugged helplessly, "I don't know Narcissa, but whatever the reason they're not going to force you.

"Maybe not, but they'll expect me to have a reason for saying no to a perfectly good marriage proposal. And it'll have to be better than 'he's a rat faced creep'." Telling them about James now would be pointless; her father would never see the Potters as acceptable. They were on the wrong side.

"…Look Narcissa, I know you're annoyed but nothing's happened yet. They just want to see if it's a possibility. CALM DOWN."

"You're right, I just…I'm over reacting…go back downstairs. I'll be down in a minute I just need to calm down."

As she paced back and forth Narcissa realised there was only one person in this house she would be able to talk to about this.

"Sirius," she hissed, knocking on the closed door. "I know you're in there, open up!"

"…Sirius?" She asked, edging open the door, fully ready to dodge whatever trap he had set up. Instead she was greeted with silence, the only noise coming from outside the partially opened window.

"Where the hell did he go," Narcissa muttered to herself, peering out the window as if to get some glimpse of where her wayward cousin had run off too. As she did a flicker of movement drew her eyes to a shadowy figure in the back garden.

Making her way downstairs Narcissa avoided the front room, where she could hear her Aunt Walburga's cackled laugh echoing from. No doubt they were playing another alcohol fuelled game of charades. Narcissa just felt sorry for Regulus.

As she walked into the darkness of the back garden Narcissa couldn't help but consider her idiocy. It was almost pitch black; it could have been anything she had seen. Why would Sirius leave his room and then skulk around outside the house? If anything he would be out, gallivanting around London enjoying the freedom.

Just as she was about to return to the house she caught a glimpse of dark hair out of the corner of her eye.

"Sirius…?" She asked, but even as she did the shadow coalesced into the figure of Rabastan Lestrange. Of course, just who I want to talk to, in my garden, at night.

"Not quite. I thought your cousin was ill?"

"He is, I was just thinking about something else," she said trying to edge past Rabastan to get back inside.

"What are you doing?" He asked, blocking her path, "I thought we could use this as a chance to chat. Especially considering our parents seem to think we would make such a good couple."

She looked at him then. Rudolphus had always been the better looking of the two brothers, the more confident of the two. Rabastan was too scrawny, with a pinched face and narrow mouth that reminded her of a rat. Narcissa still didn't understand why her parents thought it would be a good match. Then again her father probably hadn't considered good looks to be important criteria for his youngest daughter.

"Look Rabastan, I'm flattered but I want to finish school before I have to think about marriage." Especially to you.

"I can understand that. But surely we could try and get to know each other now, and think of marriage later," he said, still blocking any chance Narcissa had to leave.

"Look the truth is I'm seeing someone in school, it's not serious but I would like to see where it's leading."

"Who is he? I heard you were a pariah in school at the moment, that's why your parents are so desperate to marry you off. They're worried you'll turn into your sister."

Well that certainly answers that, she thought to herself. "Does it matter who he is, he's a pureblood if that's what you're asking."

"You expect me to believe that? Or is he a blood traitor? You're not dating a Weasley are you?"

"Get out of my way Rabastan, this is none of your business."

And suddenly his hand was grabbing her neck, forcing her downwards. "None of my business? You think I'm going to marry some blood traitor's left behinds," He snarled.

And with that Narcissa found herself pressed against the dirt, with one hand gagging her mouth whilst the other held her down. She struggled to move, to reach her wand, but her hands were too tightly pressed behind her. She tried to grab her wand again, trying to ignore the hand that was now under her skirt, as she did a thought struck her, I can't reach my wand, but I can reach something else.

And with that she brought her knee up, connecting with Rabastan and resulting in a satisfying squeal of pain. Pulling herself free Narcissa drew her wand with a speed that surprised even her.

"Expulso," she cast, sending Rabastan flying into the wall with a resounding crack.

"What is going on?" A voice thundered from the kitchen. Of course, Narcissa thought, when I'm in trouble no one comes but the moment I curse Rabastan everyone comes running.

"I don't know Mr Black, I just came out here to see if Narcissa was alright and she just attacked me," Rabastan proclaimed as he dusted himself off.

"Narcissa, is this true?" Her father demanded.

"What? No of course not. He attacked me." With that her father glanced at her, Narcissa couldn't imagine what she looked like; covered in dirt, scratches on her arms and twigs in her hair."

"Rabastan would you please go inside and I will deal with my daughter."

"Certainly sir," and with that Narcissa was left alone with her father.

"You have to believe me, it was Rabastan-"

"What were you even doing out here, while the whole family is inside celebrating your sister's engagement."

"I was looking for Sirius; he wasn't in his room-"

"That boy, he'll be the death of his mother." We can only hope, Narcissa added in her head. "Anyway, come inside Narcissa. We'll talk about this tomorrow. After the Lestranges have left."

"What, you're going to let him stay? After what he tried to do to me? He tried to rape me."

"The Lestranges are our guests, I'm certainly not going to insult them, or risk your sister's marriage simply because you are throwing a tantrum. Now go upstairs and get some sleep, I'll tell everyone you are unwell." Narcissa wasn't sure why she was even surprised at her father's attitude; he had always placed family reputation much higher than actual family.

"I am NOT staying in a house with that monster, and I can't believe you would even expect me to."

"What is going on?" Bellatrix asked, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. She hesitated when she saw Narcissa, clearly shocked by her sister's appearance, "are you okay?"

"Go back inside Bellatrix." Their father ordered.

"But-"

"Now Bellatrix!" And with that her elder sister retreated back inside, throwing Narcissa one last glance before she stepped back inside.

Taking a final breath Narcissa knew what she had to say. "I am not going back inside that house while Rabastan Lestrange is still inside."

"This isn't just about you, silly little girl. This is about the future of this family and I don't have time for your theatrics," he growled, grabbing her arm to drag her back inside.

"Get off me," Narcissa exclaimed, shoving her father away and retreating further down the garden path, "I'm not going back inside that house while he is still there." And with that Narcissa turned and left, ignoring her father's protests.

It wasn't until she was streets away that Narcissa stopped running. She wasn't sure where she was running to; all she knew was that she had to get away from that house.


"Nyaah, shuttup," James mumbled into a pillow as an odd knocking sound woke him up. Glancing at the source of the noise he noticed a rather annoyed looking owl pecking at his window. "It's too early for mail," he whined, stretching his hand to out to try and find his watch. Eleven O'clock, huh, I shouldn't have drunk so much with Frank last night, James thought to himself as he remembered the previous night's pursuits.

Finally stumbling out of his bed he reached over to his window, he didn't recognise the smaller owl as it flew in his window and perched on the edge of his bed.

"Alright, let me see what you've got…ouch," he said as the irritated owl pecked at his hand, "that was uncalled for. It's boxing day I'm allowed a lie in."

Unrolling the parchment:

James,

Can you meet me at the Leaky Cauldron at noon?

Narcissa

Was all it read, but James' heart lurched. He had spoken to Narcissa the day they had left over Christmas, she had seemed sure that she wouldn't be able to escape her family until at least New Years. He felt sure that if she wanted to meet up with him today it wasn't a good sign.

Throwing the owl a treat, he ran to his Wardrobe, tripping over various shoes and books lying over his floor. I really should tidy up, James considered, before grabbing the first clean clothes he could find.


As James stepped into the Leaky Cauldron he glanced at his watch, he was in time, although just barely. He stared into the shadows around the bar and as he did he found Narcissa. She was sitting in a darkened corner, lost in thought, her arms clenched against her as if she was struggling to fight off the cold.

"Narcissa," he greeted her as he made his way over to her table.

She threw herself into his arms before saying a word. "I'm so glad you came," she finally said as they both sat down in the shadows. As James looked at Narcissa he couldn't help but be reminded of the first time he had spoken to her, when all this had started. Only this time she looked worse, it wasn't just that she was dishevelled (she was) but her eyes looked hollow, as if she something had happened and she couldn't unsee it.

"Of course I came. Narcissa, what happened, you look…" a mess he finished mentally. Her hair had been scraped into a messy bun, her face was pale and, although it was covered by a large cloak, her dress looked muddy and crushed. "Well you don't look yourself," he finished lamely.

"I walked out. My dad was shouting after me and I just left. He's never going to let me go back home," she whispered, her whole body shaking.

"Why, what happened?" James asked, and then wished he hadn't as Narcissa dissolved into a flood of tears. Holding her, James waited until the sobs had stopped before trying again, "talk to me Narcissa."

"It was like I said; the Lestranges were there for a couple of nights to celebrate Bella and Rudolphus' engagement. Rabastan was there." Even as she said it, James felt himself tighten; readying himself for what would come next. "My parents were hoping to arrange another engagement between Rabastan and me, to tighten the connection between our families .I made it clear I wouldn't be marrying that creep."

James felt sure there was more to it than that; even as he looked at the girl next to him she wouldn't meet his eyes. "Did something else happen?"

"Rabastan. When I went to look for Sirius he cornered me. Said he just wanted to get to know me better. He…he tried to force himself on me. He didn't though; I got away and sent him flying into the wall. When I told my father I wouldn't stay in the same house as him, he said to stop being a Silly little girl and get back inside the house."

James didn't know what to do, on one hand he felt an anger burning inside of him that made him want to hunt down Rabastan Lestrange and kill him. On the other hand he wanted to hold Narcissa and protect her from anything else the world might throw at her. "How are you feeling?"

"Horrible. At first I was just pleased I managed to get him off me in time, but I keep remembering it. I keep thinking I can feel his hands on me. And I'm just so angry at my dad for not defending me, at Bella, at Sirius for not being there, at Andromeda."

"I'm sorry for what happened. What can I do?"

"Nothing, it just helps to have you here," Narcissa said as she leant in closer to him.

"When did this happen anyway?"

"Last night. I walked around for ages before I got the night bus here and managed to get a room. I couldn't sleep though."

Well that explained why she looks like a walking Zombie James thought to himself. "Look lets go back to mine. You can get some sleep there and I'll stay with you as long as you want." And then I'll owl Sirius and find out what the hell is going at that house.

"I need to go back and get clothes and money."

"We can go to Madame Malkin's first, I'll buy you some clothes to tide you over until you're ready to go back there and get your stuff."

"…Potter," came a voice to the side of James and he turned round to face Professor McGonagall, firewhiskey in hand, looking far merrier than she ever had in school. This was all he needed.

"Hello Professor, Merry Christmas." He greeted her, shaking her hand. What am I doing, why am I shaking her hand?

"Merry Christmas," but the teacher's eyes had already turned to Narcissa, who was still curled up in the shadows, "Miss Black I trust you are okay?"

"Yes, thanks Professor, I'm fine," was the quiet response.

Gesturing James away from the table the older woman turned to him, "Is Narcissa really okay, she looks like death."

"...She'll be fine."

"Hogwarts is still open; if something is going on with Narcissa and she doesn't want to stay at home anymore she can always return early. Both of you can." And with that she retreated back into the crowd of people at the bar, pausing for a moment to look back at the young couple.

James returned to the table he had been sharing, "Narcissa, let's go back to mine for now. We can figure out everything else later."

And for one terrible moment of silence James thought she would say no, but instead Narcissa turned and smiled at him, but the smile was empty, "that would be nice."