Great Expectations

By A Sort of Wing

"In the meantime," she said, brushing past him coolly as she was originally going to do three minutes ago, "Maybe you can help me find my school books?"

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The pair of them spent a good half hour or so finding the required text of Narcissa's seventh and last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She would lead the way, and as she found a particular book, she would pluck it off the shelve and carry it on her hip, her arm cradling it around the side. When a book was too high for her to reach, Lucius did not waist any time stepping forward to assist her.

As the number of books increased, Lucius offered himself to be her book shelve. He took most of the thicker, heavier books. Narcissa was taking many courses this year – as a Black she was not only expected to be an image of beauty and social splendor – but also well educated, too.

Finally, after rounding up each book, Narcissia led Lucius down the staircase slowly – one arm busy cradling a Charms spell book, while the other was once again clutching to her dress. They began to make their way through to the check out desk – Narcissa being particularly watchful for any stray books those two fools forgot to put back from their escapade.

They were just about to reach the check out desk when Narcissa almost crashed into a man coming her way with bright red fiery hair. He sideswiped her at the last moment, not touching her, not making eye contact. However, his escape was not flawless. His foot just so happened to land on the bottom most part of Narcissa's dress. Just as Narcissa took a step forward, with the mans foot on her dress, the trio of them heard a large, RRRRIIPP from below.

Narcissa's eyes shot down to her once unblemished day gown, now all gone and stepped on, and ripped to boot. Her mouth became slightly agape.
"Oh, I am quite sorry, Miss!" Came a voice, presumably from the Red haired man,
"Reparo!" he muttered, and as though a needle and thread came from no where the rip was fixed, making it unable to have imagined the dress being ripped at all.

Narcissa glared at him. Not today. Not this dress.
"In such a finely packed establishment such as this," She said, eyeing her surroundings and then looking back at the pathetic young man, "one would think it common sense not to run."
Her voice was calm, but very cold towards him. Unforgiving, and perhaps, a bit snobbish.

"Weasley," Chimed in Lucius, he stepping forward to be parallel to where Narcissa stood.
"Can't seem to get anything right, can we?" He mocked, taking out his wand and flicking it lazily at the bottom part of Narcissa's dress. The mud vanished.

The Weasley man only looked defeated at Lucius before flattening his hair and walking past the pair of them, not looking back.

Narcissa's eyes followed him and his tatty clothes out of the shop.
"Do you know him as well?" She asked Lucius, stepping up to the check out desk.
"Oh yes," Said Lucius, placing the books he carried in front of a squat man who began to tally their combined costs at once. "You'll find I happen to know of a wide variety of people. One must know their community, I suppose." He added, rolling his eyes, slightly.

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The pair walked out of Flourish and Blotts that afternoon with two large sacks of school supplies, both of which being carried by Lucius' wand.
Narcissa was quiet as they strolled toward a small alleyway that branched off from Diagon Alley, where several fireplaces were imbedded right along the alleyway walls. She had noticed that every few minutes, Lucius would glance over her way quickly – probably trying not to be noticed. It was no use – he was clearly ill practiced at being inconspicuous.

Why is she so quiet??
He thought, turning his head to look forward again after another failed attempt to grab Narcissa's attention.
I was polite! I'm carrying her books, I'm escorting her home, and I even got the mud off her dress from that infuriating pest, Weasley. All of this and she hasn't spoken more than two words to me.

He frowned inwardly slightly angered, turning the corner to where the fireplaces were. He glanced at Narcissa again, and this time, found that she was staring at him, and had stopped walking all together.
"Mr. Malfoy," She said, keeping full eye contact with him as he stopped to face her. Her eyes were very blue, very striking. Then, unexpectedly, he felt the slightest warmth rise up into his cheeks – which he immediately tried to fight back.

Narcissa noticed this, and fed upon it.
"I hope you know how much your kindness has meant to me today," She continued, playing her voice up with a slightly seductive tone. It was too fun playing with this boy – sure, he had wealth, power, and high social ranking. But he still blushed over a pretty girl.

He watched as she took a step forward toward him, her eyes still locked onto his. He felt his mind begin to swim with her perfume, as it was quite embodying. Though, he would not let a simple thing like a beautiful, fetching, nice smelling girl ruin his oak-like personality. N-no, he couldn't. Right?

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Black." He said, flawlessly, with a small grin. He knew the game she played. He could play too.
Narcissa's bags slowly set onto the ground. She blinked and looked over at them, unsure of what Lucius was doing. He tucked his wand into his back pocket and bent over and lifted them, the weight showing the curves of his muscles underneath his white cotton shirt.
"Please," He said, with no strain coming through his voice, although the weight would have any ordinary man calling for a spotter.
"Allow me to put these in your fireplace so they arrive undamaged. Which one are you going to choose?"

Narcissa stared at him stupidly for a moment before regaining herself and looking down the alleyway for the first time since they reached it.
She blinked – Across the path lied two red ribbons, with bright yellow letters "CLEANING IN PROCESS. CLEAR OFF."

She looked from Lucius to the ribbons, her eyebrows furrowing. Lucius, too, was dumbfounded by the frank message.
"How am I going to get home now?" Narcissa muttered. She was not about to fly – no way, no how.

"Have you ever done Side-Along-Apparation, Miss Black?" Asked Lucius, setting the bags down again – the need for showing off long past.
"I have, actually." She said, straightening herself up slightly. "My father apparates me to family get-togethers. We don't usually use the floo network then because it leaves a rather sooty appearance that lingers, unfortunately, all night."

"Well then, with that settled..?" He said, sticking out his arm for her to take. Narcissa hesitated and looked at him.
The same fear rose up in her in that moment – she knew, any other person who was presented with a moment like this would be excited at the possibility of a new, fluttering, interest. An interest that could, someday, blossom into something one could only hope to reach- love.

And yet – here she was. The boy in front of her was handsome, strong, and would not leave her alone. But was that his duty? Did he do all of these nice things for her because it was his obligation to court a lady of the Black surname?

Lucius waited for her to come to him. But, when she did not – he felt odd. Any other girl would have been delighted to come onto his arm – perhaps for the sheer privilege. He watched as Narcissa seemed to stare at him blankly, as if she were debating to come with him or not. He knew, in that moment, that he would have to work to have this girl's trust. And for some reason, he decided that the work he would have to do was worth it.

Lucius picked up the two heavy bags with one hand, took a step and looked at Narcissa. All questioning in her mind had quieted – everything being replaced with his silver, grey, steely cool eyes. She swore she could feel his arm wrap around her waste gently, but the moment was, weirdly hazy, every feeling being overcome with a warm, awkward feeling.

All in one moment, several things happened. Lucius could feel her frame against him, his arm around her waist – his eyes locked onto hers. He did not know what was provoking him at this moment – and feared the explanation he would have to come out with when everyone regained consciousness. But, at the same time, he didn't care. This moment felt right.

He concentrated, and pulled Narcissa in tight to him – sending what seemed to be an electric shock through both of them. All at once, the air thinned and everything became unbearably tight. Narcissa shut her eyes out of uncomfort – she had always hated this feeling. Finally, when things seemed to be unbearable – air filled her lungs. They had arrived.

But where – Narcissa did not know.
When she opened her eyes, she was in a strange place which reminded her of the Slytherin common room at Hogwarts. Deep, rich greens decorated the windows with wooden floors complementing them. She stood in the center of a great, round, black rug, facing the biggest set of windows she had ever seen – a very large, silver, shining chandelier above her.

"Forgive me," Said Lucius, in almost a whisper, stepping away from her, "But as I have never been to your home, I brought you to mine. You may, of course, use our fireplace."
He smiled, mockingly. "It is very clean, I assure you."

Narcissa grinned at his attempt at comedy. She suddenly felt very awkward – what had just happened between them? It became too clear that this was her time to go. Quickly, before any questions came up.

She took out her wand and flicked it, her bags wriggling out of Lucius' hands and zooming over to meet her, quivering to make their move.
"Mr. Malfoy, I-"
"Lucius."
She blinked, "Sorry?"
Lucius' eyes shifted. "I uh.. feel like an old man when you call me "Mr". Please. Call me Lucius."

Narcissa's eyebrows lifted slightly. She opened her mouth to speak genuinely, but found she could not. She glanced at the ground, focusing on a knot in the floor. All at once she felt abruptly angry at her upbringing. She felt robbed – unjustified to speak and feel the way she truly wanted to speak and feel. And though, as always, she pulled herself together and looked back up at the boy waiting on her.

"Well, then, Lucius, I had a very nice time with you this afternoon. Thank you, again, for all your help." She said, finally, in her phonebook voice.
Lucius had noticed the change in her. He felt confused, for maybe the first time in his life. What had happened just now?

He watched as he turned away from him and went to their fireplace, nestled in the middle of the giant window setting, silver and gleaming. Indeed, very clean. Her bags followed her inside the fireplace as she took a pinch of a grainy sand like substance – floo powder.

"Ravensdale." She said, clearly and unmistakably.
"Hope to see you again, Miss Black." Said Lucius, almost to himself.
Narcissa looked at him – he was staring at the floor just as she was…

"Narcissa."

Lucius' head shot upward. Their eyes met and she smiled, slyly, at him before releasing the powder onto the floor and becoming engulfed in magnificent green flames.

Lucius stared at the empty fireplace for a moment before turning away and straightening his shirt.

"Narcissa.."

Authors Note:
Sorry about the lack of update. It was a very busy weekend for me this time around. I stayed up until 1:45 in the morning, but I got it! Book seven is in my hands at last!

In terms of this story, anyway, I wrote this last bit while listening to Hairspray's – "Without Love" so, I blame that for all of the cheesiness. You'll also be pleased to know that I have started illustrations for this story out of boredom. Yay! Those will be up shortly, as well as the next update.

Reviews! I need Reviews!
See you then.