Chapter 3

Christmas: The Time for Idiots

A gust of icy wind and snowflakes blew through the Entrance Hall. Blue eyes met grey ones.

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Blondie." Lucius smiled, cupping Narcissa's cheek with his hand. She leaned into his touch, saying quietly, "I just hope Andy and Bella don't find our father's stash of fire whiskey again. Not like last year. Two drunken sisters under the Christmas tree definitely isn't merry."

"Now, now, Blondie. If you join them this year, I'm sure it'd be very merry indeed." he smirked.

Narcissa raised her eyebrow. "Are you actually encouraging your girlfriend, that's me, to get embarrassingly drunk and do reckless and possibly dangerous things? I'm shocked."

"I would give anything to see you, miss totally composed, embarrassingly drunk. But I would, of course, save you from doing anything too reckless or too dangerous. Couldn't," - he kissed her forehead - "let that" - he kissed her cheek - "pretty face of yours" - he kissed her on the nose - "get un-pretty." he gave her a short, sweet kiss on her pink lips.

Narcissa smiled against his lips. "Un-pretty?" she sniggered, "Now I know for sure you're crazy."

"Hey, it's Christmas. That means you have to be nice to me." Lucius pouted.

Narcissa grumbled something.

"Oi, what's that grumbly mumbly stuff supposed to mean?"

Narcissa grinned up at her boyfriend, "It's not actually Christmas yet, Luce." she reminded him.

"Cissy! Come on!" Narcissa's younger Andromeda came skidding through the entrance door. "The last carriage is going to go without us if you don't hurry up and say goodbye already!"

"Go away Andy! The carriage isn't going to go anywhere without us! Now run along and tell Bella to get off my back and stop sending you to deliver messages. Off you go." Narcissa shoved her little sister back towards the entrance door.

"Just hurry up, okay? Bella's snogging Rodolphus in the carriage and it's really, really awkward. So please, as a big sister, save me from the awkwardness!" Andromeda cried as Narcissa closed the door on her.

Lucius's eyebrow was raised, "Lestrange snogging the face off your sister? I admit, I'm scared."

"Oh shut up." Narcissa said, pulling on her gloves. "But I guess I should go save Andy from being scarred for life."

"You should." Lucius tucked a golden strand of hair behind her ear. "Have fun, alright? I'll see you after the holidays, Blondie." He lowered his lips to hers. Narcissa snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

After a while, the lack of air became an issue and the two Slytherins broke apart. "I'm off." Narcissa leaned up and gave him a last quick kiss on the cheek before picking up her bag and walking out into the ankle deep snow.

Dragging her feet she traipsed over to the last, horseless carriage still standing there, and got in. Andromeda was huddled in the very back corner, her face hidden behind a book - an event which almost never happened. She peeked over the top as Narcissa came and sat down next to her. "What the hell took you so long? I'm dying here!" she hissed, nodding towards the couple snogging each other senseless.

Narcissa smirked, "Hey Bella!" she kicked her big sister's leg. "Quit eating your boyfriend. It's disgusting to watch!"

"Fuck off, Princess." Bellatrix muttered between breaths.

"No actually, it is. I'm pretty sure Andy is going to be sick any moment now."

"Do you want to die?" Bella growled.

"Not particularly, but may I just point out that you just probably scarred our baby sister for life?"

"Hey!" Andromeda tuned in "I'm not a baby anymore! I'm fifteen thank you very much!"

"Hush, Andy. That's off the point." Narcissa rolled her eyes.

-S-

The entire Black family sat around the dining table on Chestnut Avenue, Sheffield. Narcissa's two younger cousins Sirius and Regulus had come for Christmas dinner with their parents, Uncle Orion and Aunt Walburga. Oh what fun this would be.

"Stop fidgeting Sirius, sit up straight." Aunt Walburga scolded her ten year old son. "No, stop playing with your knife. You're behaving like an untamed muggle. Stop it." she hissed, slapping his hand. He frowned up at her.

"As I was saying…" Narcissa's father growled, staring pointedly at his sister. "I sincerely hope that these past few months of school have been satisfactory and successful?" he asked his three daughters and his nephew. They all nodded in unison.

"Answer properly if asked a question." Druella Black said with a stern nod of her head. "I feel that discipline and manners are suffering at Hogwarts." she frowned as an afterthought.

"I got an E in potions." Andromeda said quietly.

"Why not an O, child?" Cygnus Black wanted to know. "Are you incapable of getting such a grade?"

Andromeda looked down at her peas.

"Ummm…" Narcissa tried to divert her parent's stern eyes from her younger sister. "I got an O in transfiguration a few weeks ago."

Aunt Walburga nodded in approval, her double chin bobbing on her chest. "Transfiguration always comes in handy, dear."

"What about you, Bellatrix?" Druella addressed her oldest daughter. "How has Hogwarts been treating you?"

Bella shrugged. "Good, I guess. There's a lot to study for with the NEWTS and all coming up. Long hours in the library had better pay off." she scowled.

"Regulus here's had a successful term of Quidditch. Slytherin's got the cup in the bag, he tells me. Isn't that right, son?" Uncle Orion nudged his son in the ribs. Regulus winced. Nodding he said. "Beat Gryffindor within the first half hour of the game. Next match we play Ravenclaw, and I'm assuming Gryffindor will come out top against Hufflepuff, meaning that if we win against Ravenclaw we'll be playing Gryffindor at the end of term match. No doubt in my mind that we'll be taking home the cup this year."

Orion's laughter boomed through the quiet house. Narcissa suspected he'd had a bit too much wine to drink. Aunt Walburga gave her husband a disapproving look, turning to Bellatrix. "Bellatrix, darling, tell me, are you still courting that lovely Lestrange boy from last year? What's his name again? I'm afraid I can't recall, it's the age getting to me, you know?"

Bellatrix nodded, staring fixedly at her hand that had disappeared somewhere inside her aunt's rather large one. "Rodolphus. That's his name, and yes, I'm still…courting him."

"It's called dating, mummy. Regulus told me." little Sirius pointed out. All the adults just stared at him in disbelief.

Regulus sniggered, leaning back in his chair. "Thanks for that midget." he ruffled his brother's dark hair. "And as we're already so nicely on the subject of dating, I hear that Andromeda and Narcissa haven't been doing too badly themselves lately."

Bella snorted, "All Andy has is a bunch of secret admirers and knowing Narcissa this thing with Malfoy isn't going to last the month."

Cygnus Black chocked on his wine, but before anyone could comment Regulus had started again. "Secret admirers, ey? Didn't look too secret when Rabastan was being all flirty in Herbology and the whole school knows Diggory has the hotts for you. Well…come to think of it, most of the guys in our year want something or other from you." he smirked. Andromeda buried her face in her hands.

"Hold your flaming Hippogriffs!" Cygnus Black shouted out. "What did you say about our Narcissa courting a Malfoy?"

"That she's dating one…? Well, Bella said it, not me, but that's off the point. Don't tell me you didn't know?" Regulus grinned, evidently having way too much fun. "Everyone knows!" he made a large gesture with his arms. "They've been together for…how long's it been Cissy? Two weeks? Yes. That's about right." he nodded.

Narcissa sunk into her chair. Idiot. That's what her stupid cousin was - a compete idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

"Why in the name of the Great Salazar didn't you tell us, girl?" her father boomed loudly.

"This is fabulous news! Such a joyous gift on Christmas!" her mother called. "You simply must invite the young gentleman over for tea! I'm assuming that we're talking about young Lucius here, are we?"

Andromeda and Bellatrix both nodded, though the latter looked decidedly surly.

"The Blacks and Malfoys will once again be joined!" Uncle Orion slapped his hand down on the table.

"Oh I can already hear the wedding bells ringing!" Aunt Walburga bobbed happily on her seat.

Yes, this was exactly why she didn't tell her parents. She knew they'd react like this. She'd just known it! Regulus was such a damned idiot! She'd kill him later if she could get her hands on him.

"I think a toast is in place!" Cygnus picked up his goblet. "To Purebloods!"

"To Purebloods!" Everyone shouted back at him.

Uncle Orion threw up his goblet a second time, sloshing wine down his robes. "To Slytherin!"

"To Slytherin!"

"And to the Noble House of Black!"

-S-

In the meantime at Hogwarts…

"We wish you a merry Christmas; we wish you a merry Christmas; we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!" Headmaster Dumbledore rocked singing from side to side on his chair.

"Total nutcase." Lucius muttered.

"Right you are, mate. Right you are." Finn chuckled, grabbing a handful of Rum Balls.

"Minerva, my dear, do join in with me!" Professor Dumbledore's jolly voice reverberated around the Great Hall. "Filius has done such a charming job with the music, it would be an utter shame not to sing along!"

"So, um, what're we doing today, Professor?" Josh Vaisy, a fifth year Ravenclaw asked, interrupting the Headmaster's singing .

Dumbledore chuckled, popping a sweet in his mouth. "Well, Joshua, as it's Christmas I sure you'd all enjoy a day out at Hogsmeade. How does that sound? But make sure to be back before eight!" And he was off singing to himself again.

"Sweet!" Lucius and Finn high-fived each other under the table.

Later, at five in the evening the two Slytherins were strolling down the road headed for Hogsmeade Village.

"Is it just me or is Dumbledore's getting nuttier by the year?" Finn grinned, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair.

"No. It's not just you. He's definitely on the whacky tea." Lucius commented, throwing a snowball from one hand to another.

"I don't think it's whacky tea; my bet's on the sweets he pops!" Finn imitated placing something in his mouth and then doing a crazy little dance.

"Very true. Father tells me they're muggle, so no surprises there." Lucius shoved his snowball in his friend's grinning face. "But, anyways, did you get anything for Madison? You know, for Christmas. That's what we're supposed to do as boyfriends, right?"

"Oh yeah, ages ago! Got her a sparkly hairpiece-thingy. She likes that kind of stuff. She pointed it out to me in October, I think. But why are you asking anyways? Don't tell me you didn't get anything for Narcissa; seriously Luce, that's an epic fail, man!"

"Oh really, you think?" Lucius snapped. "It's Christmas freaking day tomorrow morning!"

"All the more reason to rush. Come on!" Finn grabbed Lucius's arm and dragged him down the street, ignoring all protests and threats. "All the shops will be sold out or closed, Darcy! There's no point, I'm doomed!"

"Not if I can help it mate! You're too young to die at a woman's hand!"

"And too handsome!" Lucius moaned, a vision of Narcissa ripping out every single strand of his beautiful hair, flooding his mind. Him and his hair were doomed. "Goodbye world, I'm sorry you'll never be able to see me in my full handsome beauty! Farewell!"

"Quit being so damned melodramatic, Malfoy. You're nearly as bad as your girlfriend. Now, how about some shoes?" Finn asked, stopping in front of 'Soles & Laces', Hogsmeade's nicest shoe shop.

Lucius shook his head. "Don't know her size. What else?"

"A nice authentic Hogsmeade basket maybe?" Finn pointed at a small store called 'Mrs. Wicket's Wicker Baskets'.

Lucius just looked at him. "Seriously, mate?"

Finn shrugged. "I don't know what she likes she's not my girlfriend."

"Jewellery. She has a soft spot for jewellery. All girls do. How about that store…what's it called again? 'The Crystal Cave'?" Lucius started heading down Main Street when Finn caught his arm again.

"No, man. I know a much better place than that. I can get you a special deal there, and the quality's ten times better." he pulled his friend down a side street where the snow hadn't yet been shifted and Christmas lights shone through the windows. They came to a stop in front of a little green door with a brass knocker. The sign over the door read: Pendor Decor.

Not a single candle burned behind the windows. The little shop definitely didn't look like it was open for business.

Finn let the knocker fall three times on the door; then he waited. Nothing.

"It's closed, Finn, come on. Drink's on me." Lucius's shoulders slumped. He'd just have to write her a Christmas card or something.

Finn just waved in his direction. "No, no, Luce. I'm sure someone's home. There always is. Don't worry, just give me a sec."

Lucius watched as his friend tapped on the window and prodded the door knob with his wand. "Oh, come on. Open up!" Finn muttered irritably. The broad shouldered blonde took three steps back from the house, picked up a handful of little stones and started flinging them at the first floor window.

"Dude, what're you doing!" Lucius hissed looking around them to make sure nobody saw his friend's attempted vandalism.

Finn flat out ignored him. Instead he let out his high pitched whistle which he usually only ever used on the Quidditch Pitch. "It's me! Finn!" he flung another stone which tapped off the glass. "Open up!"

Suddenly the shop lights flared up and the front door was flung open. A stout figure of a woman stood in the doorway, arms planted on her hips.

Lucius gulped. Now they were in trouble. Big, big trouble.

"Finnick Sebastian Darcy!" the woman screeched. "Did your mother not teach you manners, young man?"

"Merry Christmas to you too, Auntie Mabel." Finn walked towards her, his arms outstretched for a hug.

"No, no, no. I will have none of this nonsense, Finnick. Not in my house!"

Lucius watched as Finn unleashed the full force of his puppy dog on this woman Mabel. "I have a favour to ask, Auntie Mabel."

"No, Finn! No apology, no favours." she poked him in the chest with her wand.

Finn completely ignored her - more than clear - statement. "But you see, it's for my friend Luce here." he pointed at Lucius, who took a small step back. He did not want to be dragged into this.

"Oh, well…" the elderly woman huffed. "If it's for a friend, then I guess I must let you in." she stepped away from the door, letting them both enter.

The shop was, as the exterior suggested, on the small side. Not that that mere fact made it any less grand though. The walls were draped in ivory silk and a chandelier of millions of sparkling raindrops hung from the ceiling, casting little rainbows to fall all around the room. The floor was polished mahogany of the finest sort, the kind, Lucius thought, that you would also find at Malfoy Manor. About ten huge, crystal glass cabinets were placed around the shop displaying sparkling items of jewellery and gemstones. Lucius discreetly walked over to one and peered in. Only by looking at the jewellery he could tell that it was the sort his mother would buy. He'd have to remember his shop for the future, just in case he'd need to get into her good books again.

"Now," the little woman tottered over to the cream coloured desk, "what's the problem?"

Finn cleared his throat. "Umm…Luce?"

Lucius spun around, hands behind his back like a five year old caught stealing a cookie before dinner. "Yes?"

"Oh!" the woman squeaked "Mister Malfoy, I didn't recognise you there! You know, my sight isn't what it used to be." she shook her head, walking over to one of the display cabinets. "I remember well the first time your father came to me, totally frantic he was. Had forgotten his wife's birthday. Poor guy was terrified she'd rip out his hair." she clucked.

Lucius raised his eyebrow. Well, well, well, wasn't this good material to use for blackmail. His father forgetting something, now that never happened. But the fact that he forgot something as important as his mother's birthday was very interesting indeed.

"Still comes here every year to get his wife's birthday present. Lovely man, he is, your father."

Lucius rubbed the back of his head. "Well…um…you see…"

"Lucius has got himself a very similar problem here, Auntie Mabel." Finn interjected for his friend. "Idiot forgot to get his girlfriend a Christmas gift."

Mabel tutted, picking various items of jewellery out of the cabinets "Men these days."

Finn smirked at his friend. "Exactly Luce, men these days." he shook his head in a mocking manner.

"That's quite enough from you, Finnick. Mark my words, your mother will be hearing of this."

Lucius sniggered, "Yes, Finnick, you were a very naughty boy. No desert for you tonight."

"Boys!" Finn's Auntie Mabel turned around to them, sparks sputtering from her wand. "What is it with Slytherin men and constantly mocking each other? Seriously now, you're seventeen, pull yourselves together!"

"Slytherin men are always pristinely put together, isn't that right boys?" came the raspy voice of a man from the top of the stairs.

"Don't encourage them, Onyx!" Auntie Mabel screeched madly, "Make yourself useful and brew us some tea." she shouted up, but quickly turned back to the two teenagers saying: "You would like tea, wouldn't you?"

There was no way in hell Lucius would have said no to this woman. She nearly scared him as much as his own mother.

After a few moments a twiggy, white haired man came down the winding stairs levitating four cups of hot tea in front of him. "Ah, now who do we have here?" the old man, supposedly Onyx, said. "Lucius Malfoy, I take it?" Lucius nodded. "Well, I'm Finn's Uncle Onyx…well great uncle, but that just makes me feel old." he chuckled lightly, leaning against the countertop. "You probably can't remember me but I met you when you were still a tiny mite, no taller than my knee. Your father brought you with him one year to get Adonia her birthday present. But anyways, tell me, Lucius, how is your father keeping up? Abraxas is such a busy man, shame he doesn't have time to pop in for a spot of tea now and then…" Onyx trailed off.

"Father's fine. The Ministry's keeping him busy enough these days, mother's not so happy about it though." Lucius shrugged.

"Ahhh well, that's married life for you I suppose…" Onyx smirked.

"Onyx!" Mabel smacked him on the shoulder.

"See what I mean?" the man indicated to the woman next to him. "After nearly forty years of marriage you'd think the abuse would get less, but I'll let you in on a secret boys: I never does!"

Finn and Lucius sniggered as Mabel slapped her husband across the head.

"We weren't actually here to have a lovely family get-together." Finn took a sip from his tea, before putting it back down. "Luce needs a Christmas gift for his girlfriend or he's a dead man."

Lucius snorted. "Thanks for the comforting words, mate."

"What? You were the one going on about how doomed you and your precious hair were. I'm just stating the facts. Narcissa will literally rip your throat out if -"

"Are you saying I can't defend myself, Darcy?" Lucius raised a pale blonde eyebrow. "I'll let you know I'm very skilled with offensive and defensive spells. I'm not scared of Cissy…well, not really anyways."

"Yeah, but Bella…well let's just say even the Bloody Baron respects her."

"You think you need to tell me that after she fucking burned my Transfiguration essay just because I bumped into her?"

"Boys, boys, boys!" Onyx rapped his knuckles against the counter. "Do you want a present or not?"

Lucius nodded. He really did need this or Finn would be proven right. And that would not be a happy day for Lucius.

"Well," Mabel gave her wand a little flick and a silver tray lined with dark green velvet floated over. "I took the liberty to choose a selection of the prettiest items we have here. Take your pick, Mister Malfoy."

The tray came to a stop in front of him, bobbing at elbow height. Lucius picked up a golden necklace with a milky moonstone hanging by a single ruby. "Not really for her." he muttered, placing it back down on the velvet. Next he placed a charm bracelet on his palm. The charm hanging from it was a glittering snowflake, he smiled slightly at the memory of their shared snowball fight hardly two weeks ago in Hogsmeade. "I'm not sure whether to go with a necklace or a bracelet to be honest with you…"

"Well, we do have matching sets. So maybe you could give her the necklace for Christmas and the bracelet for her birthday. How does that sound to you?" Onyx suggested.

Lucius nodded. "Silver would suit her better than gold. She's a silver sort of girl."

"Hmmm. Well I think I have just the right thing for you, boy. Made them only last night, a very beautiful set if I may say so myself. Let me just get them." Onyx shuffled into a back room. He returned with two silver boxes in his left hand. With his free hand he pulled out his wand from his back trouser pocket and gave it a little flick.

The two boxes floated out in front of Lucius, nudging the tray away with little bumps. "Now this set," Onyx said opening the first box "is perfect for the proud Slytherin lady. I assume she is a Slytherin, yes?" Lucius nodded his head, a strand of platinum falling in front of his eyes.

Inside the box lay a thin silver chain with a dark emerald dripping from it. Lucius remembered his mother having worn a similar one a few Christmases ago, only that hers was far more extravagant. Next to the necklace sat a bracelet, snuggled into the silver cushion. The bracelet had miniature emeralds peeking out from between what must have been thousands of tiny diamonds. He could imagine Narcissa sitting in class and raising her hand to answer a question only to watch the light bounce off the smooth facets and send millions of little rainbows jumping off the classroom walls and her fellow students' faces.

Onyx opened the other box hovering patiently for its turn. Inside lay the exact same set, and yet it was so different. The dark emerald green, Slytherin's royal colour, was replaced by the clearest blue. It was the kind of blue you only ever get to see when the sky is cloudless. But Lucius knew it from somewhere else too, somewhere that wasn't quite as innocent as a clear summer sky, but from somewhere that was just as pure. Narcissa's eyes. It was the exact shade, he would have sworn it to the great Salazar!

"I'll take it." he said, watching as the candlelight flickered off the jewels, imagining it to be Narcissa's glittering eyes as she laughed by the lake.

"Are you sure, boy? Positive that it's the one?" Onyx asked.

"As positive as the smile on my mother's face when she sees a beautiful dress."

A small smile tugged at Mabel's lips. "Just the words Abraxas himself used the first time he came here so many years ago..."

-S-

Back at the Black's residence…

"Now you girls behave yourselves. I don't want to get a letter from the Ministry or St. Mungo's saying that they've got you there. You hear me?" Druella Black looked at each of her daughters in turn, her eyes fixating on Bellatrix. "No getting drunk this year, you understand?" she glanced at Andromeda who quickly turned her attention to her feet. "We'll be gone for the weekend and we're taking Bibsy, so you'll be responsible for cooking and keeping the house orderly, alright?" The three girls nodded. "Good, I'll be off then." she said with a small smile, grabbing a handful of floo powder. "No nonsense." their mother warned before stepping into the flames and vanishing.

-S-

"Anyone up for hot coco?" Narcissa asked, pushing herself off the sofa. Andromeda shook her head, not taking her eyes off her pile of love letters. "Bella?" Narcissa asked more loudly. No answer. "Bella!" she kicked her sister's leg.

"Ouch! What the hell Cissy?" Bellatrix threw a pillow at Narcissa's head.

"Do. You. Want. Hot. Coco!" Narcissa said loudly and clearly, as if talking to a half deaf person.

Bellatrix gave her one of her 'looks'. "No thanks, Princess."

"Your loss." Narcissa shrugged, strolling into the kitchen.

"So how many is it this year?" Bellatrix asked Andromeda, as she leaned back down in her armchair.

"Huh?" Andromeda glanced up from her stack of letters.

Bella rolled her eyes. "Letters. How many letters? For you. From boys." she pointed.

"Ummm…" Andromeda flicked through them briefly. "…thirty-three. Though four of them are from the same guy, so I'm not sure if that counts as one or not."

Bellatrix scoffed "No idea how -" she started, but was cut off by the sharp sound of the door bell.

"I'm not getting it!" Andromeda shouted quickly, crossing her arms in a defensive manner.

The doorbell rang again.

"Cissy!" Bella called. "Get the door! Narcissa!" But all she heard from the kitchen was Narcissa humming a happy little Christmas tune to her self.

"Ugh. You're all so lazy you know that?" Bellatrix grumbled moving towards the door.

"That's rich coming from you miss bossy!" Andromeda called after her. Bellatrix was about to throw some sort of hex at her little sister when the doorbell rang again. This time longer and with more force.

"I'm on my fucking way!" she screamed. Bellatrix flung the door open, looking just about ready to strangle the person on the other side.

"Bella! How lovely to see you!" Lucius flashed a wide smile, seeing her raging face.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she snapped back.

He raised a pale blonde eyebrow. "Merry Christmas to you too, Bells. You really are so charming; make everyone around you feel ever so welcome. What's your secret?"

Bellatrix glowered up at him. "Don't call me that." she said curtly.

"What?" his mouth twitched into a smile. "Bells? Hmmm…I must admit, it's not one of my more original ones. How about…Elf?" he watched her scowl deepen, but still continued. "Fitting, no? Oh no!" he held up his finger. "I know just the one! Pixie! That's it! I shall call you Pixie from now on. You know they're wicked little things, Pixies are. Just like you." he touched the tip of her nose with his finger.

A deep and threatening growl emerged from the depths of Bellatrix's throat.

"What's going on here?" Andromeda skipped up behind her sister. "Oh hey, Malfoy." she smiled upon spotting the visitor.

"Good evening, Miss Black." he replied, tipping an imaginary top hat. Andromeda blushed furiously.

"Suppose you want to see Narcissa?" Bella asked stepping away from the door to let him pass. He nodded, brushing the snow from his cloak. "In the kitchen humming away to herself." she pointed at a door. "Have fun."

Lucius pushed the kitchen door open. Narcissa was leaning against the countertop with a cup of hot coco, securely wrapped in her hands. Her eyes were closed and she was humming softly to herself.

"What you singing?" he asked quietly, still standing in the door way. Narcissa's eyes flew open and she squealed, rushing towards him.

"Hey! Watch that hot drink of yours, Blondie. Don't want you to get burned."

"Oh yea." she set the mug down on a counter and turned back to him grinning widely.

"What, no squealing and rushing into arms now?" he pouted.

Narcissa rolled her eyes and started squealing and rushing towards him again.

"Merry Christmas, Cissy." he said, swinging her around in his strong arms.

"You too, Luce." she smiled up at him as he placed her back on the ground.

"How about we go for a stroll around the park?" he suggested, taking her hand and leading her back into the hall.

"It's ten at night, Luce." Narcissa giggled. "I don't think it's very safe."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You've got a wand haven't you?" She nodded. "And you're sure you know how to use it in the very unlikely case that we should be attacked by a raging muggle?" She nodded again. "Well then," he said. "I don't see where the problem lies. And anyways, I'll be there to protect this damsel in distress." he grinned cheekily, wrapping Narcissa up in her cloak.

"Very well, you charmer." Narcissa said opening the front door. "Bella! Andy! I'm going to the park with Luce! Don't burn the House down, you two!"

"Home alone, ey?" Lucius asked, closing the door behind him.

"Mmmm…mother and father went off to a Christmas party at a friend's house." she rolled her eyes. "Just like every year. And just like every year they took the House Elf."

"Sounds like fun." he sniggered, earning him a glare of daggers. The two teenagers entered the park gates. "So, how did you even get permission to leave Hogwarts and come here?" Narcissa asked.

Lucius smirked. "Being Head Boy has its perks."

"What, no boastful recollection of every detail?" Narcissa raised her eyebrow. "Wait, what exactly did you do?" her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Let's just say that I had one good with Slughorn. Nothing illegal, I assure you, Blondie."

"I'm glad." Narcissa smiled. "So is Finn with Maddy now, or did you abandon him at school?"

"Nah, he had to stay. Poor sod would've gotten permission too, if he hadn't been caught by McGonagall as he tried to sneak out the gates. Now she has him writing lines at Christmas. Dumbledore and Slughorn think it's absolutely hilarious; blaming it on the magic of Christmas or something like that."

"Poor guy, no doubt Maddy will be furious with him for getting into trouble in his final year."

Lucius grinned, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "I'd be terrified if I were him. Madison's scary when she's mad."

Narcissa sat down under a leafless Oak tree. "You can say that again."

Lucius let himself down next to her, leaning his head against the stem. "Have a fun Christmas, Blondie?"

"Fine I guess. Family came over for dinner. Bella being aggressive. Andy with her letters. Regulus being an idiot. The usual, you know?"

"Sounds like you a exhilarating time." Lucius grinned. "Hogwarts was…Christmas-y to say the least. Dumbledore was on some carol singing-hype, McGonagall was being a party pooper and Flitwick started dancing with a House Elf. The usual, you know?"

"Yeah, I know." Narcissa smirked at the image of her Charms Professor waltzing around the Great Hall with a House Elf. "Oh, by the way. My parents know about us. And so do my uncle and aunt. And little Sirius. Everyone does."

Lucius laughed lightly. "You say it as if it were some terrible fate."

"You have know idea of what my mother and dear Aunt Walburga are capable of. If you did, you'd be scared too. Believe me."

"So, who spilled the beans? Bella?" Lucius guessed. "She doesn't seem to like me much…" he thought out loud. "No idea how someone could not like this," he indicated at his toned body "but then again, Bella is a bit strange, if you know what I'm talking about…"

"For once it wasn't Bella trying to wreck havoc." Narcissa sighed. "It was that idiot of a cousin of mine, Regulus. He, course, thought it was hilarious."

"Black finds a hilarious side to everything, even falling off a broom." Lucius said, remembering their last Quidditch match against Gryffindor when Regulus, his best Chaser, got knocked off his Comet after being hit square in the chest by a Bludger. That guy must be immune to pain or something because he just laughed it off and got back into the air before Mister Rambolt could blow his whistle.

"Yeah, I remember that." Narcissa chuckled thinking back to the same match. "He's an idiot at the best of times."

Lucius watched her, mesmerised at how the light of the moon made her skin look like the delicate surface of a butterflies wing.

At how the wind lifted single strands of golden hair and played gently with them around her head.

At how little dimples formed just over the corner of her mouth as she talked and laughed.

And at how the stars seemed to have fallen into her eyes, dancing and twinkling just for him to see. He felt honoured. Privileged. Lucky.

She shifted in the snow and he snapped out of his trance, the image of her glittering eyes burned into his mind. No, not burned. Burning is too harsh, too cruel a word to describe her. Imprinted. That was the right word. The image of her glittering eyes was imprinted into his mind.

"Narcissa." he cleared his throat. Reaching into his cloak pocket to pull out a square, light blue box. "I…um…got you something. Seeing as it's Christmas." Where in the name of Merlin and the Pride of the Slytherins had his smooth charm gone? He felt like an uncoordinated muggle, or what he thought it would feel like to be an uncoordinated muggle.

"Oh," Narcissa blushed, ducking her head. "You didn't need to, or anything."

Oh yes I did or you'd have had me for dinner, thought Lucius as he opened the box. He heard Narcissa's sharp intake of breath. He smirked; just the reaction he was waiting for.

"Here, let me put it on for you." he said as he gently wrapped his hand around his girlfriend's slender wrist, pulling it closer to him. Narcissa watched as his graceful hands had no problem opening the miniscule clasp. She could feel the cold silver being wrapped around her warm wrist. Watched as the moonlight was caught by the jewels and flung back in every which way possible. The bracelet was so…so…beautiful. Perfect. Charming, Delicate. Precious.

"It's…it's beautiful, Luce. I - I don't…I…thank you." she smiled up at him.

"Merry Christmas, Narcissa." Lucius smirked, and before he knew it she had him knocked to the ground (snow swirling everywhere around them) and was giving him the softest of soft kisses….Which somehow, sort of turned into a full blown make out session. Oh yes, this was definitely the his kind of Christmas.

And poor, poor Finn was made to sit at a hard desk and write out lines. With McGonagall watching him. Without making out to his girlfriend on Christmas.

Poor guy indeed.

AN: Alright people I'm back from England! It was so much fun! Anyways: I'm sorry it took so long to update but as I just said, I was on holidays. Buuuut wasn't it nice of me to make the chapter extra extra long? *smiles proudly* Sorry, no Maddy this time but therefore you got Luce, Finn AND Regulus, now if that's not worth something..

Also, I have bad news. Well, it's actually two bad messages. One can and one can't be fixed.

Bad news no.1: I fear that while I was out on a walk with my dog Merlin, my plot bunny saw a patch of extra juicy grass and decided to run away. Help! I have no idea what to put into the next chapter, any suggestions? I'd quite like to get out of the whole christmas theme, because there's only so much you can write about how pretty snow looks.

Bad news no.2: School starts on Friday again. Now this wouldn't really be a problem if it were any other year. But it's not. It's exam year. And i mean BIG exams. The ones you cant afford to fail. And being a Slytherin sort of girl I'm competative and ambitious meaning that I will NOT fail and NOT come second. Meaning that I will pull a Hermione and study, study, study. I have no idea how much time that leaves me with to write, but I will try and update as fast as possible. No promises though.

I thought I'd just tell you that, not that you think I've forgotten you or something. :)

Thanks to all those who reviwed and PLAESE don't stop! I always start grinning when I get a review alert in my inbox, and if i'm happy i'll update faster, making you happy in turn. You see? leaving a nice Review has logic!

alicerosemalfoy