While we're Young
Thanks everyone for the likes and follows. It's great to know that people are enjoying the story. I spent a while on this chapter because for ages I wasn't really happy with it. I'm still not sure, but eventually just to post it anyway and then I can focus on the next chapter.
"Two more days of freedom, eh Prongs?" Came Moony's voice over the noise of the table. The table was filled with Gryffindors from various years who had arranged to meet for one final night of debauchery before returning to school. Frank Longbottom, the current head boy had organised it, perhaps realising that in the current climate everyone needed a chance to let off some steam. He was now sitting at the top of the table with Alice Prewett at his side. The pair had been 'just good friends' for months before finally announcing they were a couple to the table. Not that they were kidding anyone really, everyone had known about it and wondered why they had bothered with the façade. It made James wonder about how many people knew about his own secret romance.
"Freedom? Just wait until you see some of the pranks Sirius and I have planned for this year, it'll be good." James was actually looking forward to school, he had been so bored at home he had seriously considered doing his homework.
"They can't be any worse than last year surely?" Remus asked, looking at James suspiciously. He sighed, "You and Sirius are going to get me expelled."
Speaking of Sirius, James wasn't sure where his friend was. It was unlike him to miss anything that involved alcohol. "Don't suppose you know where Sirius is?" He asked.
Remus looked surprised, "No, I just thought you would know."
"Nah, he said he would be here, but was having some issues with his mum."
"Typical Padfoot," Moony said, smiling at James, "How about Narcissa? How's that going?"
James couldn't help but smile then, thinking about when he had last seen her at New Year. "It's been interesting, but it's going well. I saw her-"
"Hey guys, how is everyone?" Lily Evans asked, as she dropped into the seat next to them both.
"Eh, we're good Evans, and you?" James asked somewhat awkwardly. It felt odd having a normal conversation with Lily now, when he had once spent so much effort trying to get her attention.
"I'm good, just glad I finally managed to escape home. My parents kept asking who I would be meeting up with and what time I'd be home at. As if I'm some kid."
"Don't you just hate that?" Remus agreed sympathetically, "At least your parents don't know about all the stuff with you-know-who. My parents only let me come because it would be a group of us."
"Seriously Moony, we've talked about this. Call him Voldemort, it's not like not using his name would stop him from killing you."
"…So I guess your parent's were okay with you coming out tonight then?" Lily finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Yeah, we're not going to let what's going on from stopping us from living our lives." James stated with more confidence than he felt. To be honest he had never really thought he might be in danger.
"Sorry I have to go check something." He interrupted as he recognised a familiar figure at the other side of the pub.
"Hello Narcissa," he said as he reached the Slytherin girl's table, "What are you doing here?"
"Hey," she replied, standing up to kiss him. "Bella and I are giving Sirius an excuse to get out of the house and meet you guys."
As James looked over as a roar of applause suggested that Sirius had descended on the Gryffindor table, a bottle of firewhisky in hand. Typical.
"That was good of you." James was surprised, not at Narcissa, but rather that Bella would help her younger cousin. He looked around to see where the older Black sister was.
"Bella's just getting drinks, I don't know why she's being so helpful to Sirius lately, it's weird, but I don't think he's complaining."
"Neither am I, if it means I get to see you," he said leaning in to kiss her again.
"Oh for the love of God, shut up," Bellatrix' voice cut in as she sat down with three bottles of butterbeer, "The two of you are so loved up its sickening,"
"Gee thanks?" James wasn't really sure how to react to that. He looked at Narcissa, who just rolled her eyes. She was clearly more used to her older sister's antics.
"Rudolphus and I are getting married in three months and even we're not as pathetic as you two."
"Maybe that's a sign you shouldn't marry him then," Narcissa commented. He had a feeling this wasn't a new subject.
"Narcissa I thought we agreed, I won't comment on your love life, if you don't comment on mine." Yep definitely not a new argument, James thought, before realising what Bellatrix had said.
"Hey, what's wrong with me?"
"Nothing James, you're just great." Bella replied sarcastically. It was odd, when she wasn't acting like a maniac, Bellatrix really did remind James of Sirius.
"Bella just likes to annoy people. Ignore her."
"I always do."
"Would you two get a room!" Bella muttered into her bottle.
"Well, we could go back to mine," James suggested, as Narcissa smiled at him knowingly.
"Well-"
"James?" Came the familiar voice of Lily Evans, James couldn't help but sigh, "Sirius is over at our table if you're looking for him?"
He rolled his eyes at Narcissa "I should probably go back and say hey to your cousin."
He was surprised at the look of dislike Narcissa was shooting at Lily, "Of course, go back to your friends." She said finally.
"I thought I'd rescue you from the ice princess and her crazy sister." Lily offered as James walked back to the table filled with Gryffindors.
"She's not an ice princess, you just don't know her."
"I know her well enough, I had to sit next to her in half of our classes in first and second year. Don't let Sirius fool you, just because he's normal doesn't mean the rest of that family aren't psychopaths."
"This coming from someone who was friends with Snivellus?" James retorted dismissively before walking away. He knew why Lily was saying those things, she just didn't know Narcissa, but he hated it. He hated feeling like he would never be able to announce their relationship to a table and just have it accepted.
"So things are a nightmare at home again?" He asked Sirius as he went to take a seat next to his friend.
"Ach, they're all right, it's just mum. She keeps slyly hinting that I go to one of those pureblood balls to try and "find an appropriate match," it's enough to drive a man to drink."
"What was your excuse before?" James replied, as he grabbed the bottle of firewhisky, god that stuff burned.
They chatted back and forth as the bottle of firewhisky was passed around the table, even Evans had a shot. James was surprised, he couldn't remember Lily ever breaking the rules.
"I'm away to get another drink, he finally announced, making his way slowly to the bar.
As he stood there, trying not to sway he felt someone put their hands over his eyes.
"Guess who?" Narcissa tried to whisper, but ended up giggling.
"Cissa are you drunk?" James asked, only too aware of how much he had also had to drink.
"Maybe…Bella got tired of butterbeer and decided to order us some proper drinks. And you're one to talk, you can barely stand straight."
"True," James admitted, "Although I blame your cousin and his firewhisky for that."
Suddenly Narcissa was laughing again, "Follow me," she said grabbing his hand and leading him through a back door and series of corridors, into what looked like a supply cupboard.
"What are we doing here?"
"Prongs, I thought you liked breaking the rules?"
"I do…but…how drunk are you right now?"
"I'm not that drunk, I just felt like being…reckless?"
That was all the encouragement James really needed before he pulled Narcissa to him and kissed her deeply. A part of his brain was saying this was a bad idea; that anyone could walk in, that one of his friends could walk in and everyone would know. The other part of his brain, well that wasn't really thinking.
He lifted Narcissa onto a barrel as he continued to kiss her, his hands opening her legs and she started to unzip his trousers. "Wait, are you sure about this?" He asked, looking at Narcissa.
He felt like something had changed.
"James, let's just have some fun, while we're both still young."
They were both lucky no one had walked in, James thought to himself as he walked back to the main bar. He was trying not to smile.
"Can I ask you something?" Narcissa asked, "Before we go back in."
"Of course,"
"If I asked you to tell everyone at that table about us, tonight. Would you?"
Would he? It was a good question. He didn't want to, he knew most of the people at that table wouldn't understand. The way things were right now, Slytherin were definitely the enemy. But at the same time, how could he be in a relationship with Narcissa if wasn't willing to let the world know about it at some point. His real friends knew, they didn't care.
"If you want to, then yes I can tell them." His heart was hammering in his chest.
"Thank you. I just wanted to know if you would or not. It was something Bella said, I shouldn't have listened to her. You don't have to tell them anything, unless you want to."
"God Cissa, you almost gave me a heart attack. Of course I would tell them, the people who really count already know." For the most part.
"I'm sorry, I just…felt like I needed to ask now. I didn't mean to worry you so much," She laughed, "You looked terrified."
Suddenly James felt himself laughing as well, more at the sheer absurdity of everything than anything else.
Suddenly something clicked. "Is this to do with your parents? Did you tell them about us?" When they had met up on New Year it was a topic Narcissa had avoided like the plague.
"Yes." She sat down suddenly, the happiness seemed to drain from her. "They said they would allow it because you were a pure blood. Dad thinks it's a bad idea though, that it will send the wrong message to Him."
"To Voldemort?"
"Yes, because your family have not sided with…Voldemort they might be seen as blood traitors if this war continues. They might be targeted. I might be targeted."
"So you're afraid?"
"Yes. No, not of that. I just won't want to end up alone. I don't want my family to abandon me and then have you decide that I'm not worth all this hassle. That you don't want your friends to know, and then I end up with no one, no family and no you."
"Narcissa that would never happen. I would never leave you alone like that, and I don't think Sirius or Bellatrix would let me even if I was tempted."
"I know, I'm just being stupid. It's just so difficult sometimes."
"I know, that's why I'm here. To help with all that, to help you."
"Thank you," Narcissa smiled, standing up again, "Now I should go find Bella, she was with some guys she knows. I can't imagine that'll end well. I love you James," and with that she was walking back into the noise filled bar.
