As it turned out, their plans to wait until Narcissa's graduation would become somewhat truncated. Scandals had a way of doing that to even the most deliberate of intentions.
Christmas brought Narcissa home from school for far, far too short a time, in Lucius's estimation. The young, semi-secret couple were determined to make the most of their limited holiday, and at the very first opportunity had fled the bustle and glamour of the opening ball of the winter season for the comparative privacy of the gardens.
Narcissa didn't even stop to grab her wrap and her frail, frilly dress really wasn't up to the temperatures outside but Lucius's arms were so warm that, enfolded in them again at last, she hardly needed the comfort of the silken dress robe he'd removed to wrap around her shoulders. They shivered together, delighted, and didn't notice the ice underfoot or the small clouds their breath made—when they broke apart long enough to breathe, that is.
They also did not notice that they had acquired an audience.
Regina Bulstrode stopped dead in the middle of the garden path and gaped at the entwined pair. She gaped louder, but they were too absorbed in one another to hear her noises of disapproval. Under the circumstances, she decided that the only appropriate thing to do was to go and fetch others—specifically, parents—who would be far louder and more determined in their censure.
Regina turned and bolted back down the path.
Lucius and Narcissa no more noticed her leaving than they'd noticed her arrive; no more were they aware of the small crowd fluttering towards them—not until their passionate reverie was broken by the shrill voice of Druella Black, shrieking, "Narcissa!"
The couple broke apart and stared in shock. Narcissa flushed bright pink and tried to pull away, shamefaced, but Lucius refused to relinquish his grip on the slim witch. He stared at the cluster of gentlemen, ladies, and parents, and the only emotion visible on his smooth aristocratic face was annoyance. "Do you mind?" he drawled crossly.
Jaws dropped. "Boy!" Abraxas barked. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I should think it obvious," Lucius replied coolly. "And you're all rather interfering. I'd be much obliged if you'd refrain."
Narcissa smothered a shocked giggle and stared agog at her beloved, wondering if he had lost his mind.
Abraxas asked him that very thing.
Lucius rolled his eyes. "I'm busy," he replied, and turned back to continue where he had left off. Narcissa gave a little squeak of horrified delight. She fluttered her hands, certain that she ought to protest, and certainly permit him to do no such thing—not in front of everyone!—but too reluctant herself to attempt any serious dissuasion.
"You take your hands off my daughter!" Cygnus Black barked, starting forward.
Lucius stopped with him a single, cold sneer. "I'm going to marry your daughter," he declared. "So I don't see as you've got any right to protest." He smirked and glanced at Abraxas. "Father, you'll make the arrangements?" Lucius suggested amiably.
Abraxas gaped and sputtered.
"Splendid," said Lucius. He put his arm through Narcissa's and tugged her away with him. "Then if you'll excuse us, we were in the middle of something." And, leaving all the appalled, gaping figures standing dumbly behind them, Lucius pulled his sweetheart deeper into the garden.
No one moved to stop him. They were all too shocked.
Narcissa laughed, horrified. "I can't believe you just did that!" she exclaimed. "What—what do you think they'll do?"
Lucius shrugged. "What can they do?" he asked.
"They…they could…" Narcissa's protest trailed off.
"Exactly," Lucius said smugly, smirking. He sprawled elegantly on the rim of a marble fountain, its usual spray replaced, in deference to the season, with a delicate ice sculpture.
Narcissa smiled back at him and allowed herself to be pulled onto his lap. "Well," she said, linking her arms around his neck, "as proposals go, it certainly has novelty on its side…"
Lucius half-bowed, not at all modestly.
"But," she raised an imperious eyebrow, "I still expect one hell of a ring."
Lucius grinned.