Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to J K Rowling, and definitely not me.

A/N: The third and final instalment in Life's Lessons. And also the last fic I'm posting until the end of the month. When I come back, look forward to Lucius and Narcissa getting caught making out at Hogwarts, baby Draco and his incessant crying, Lucius in Azkaban, and Draco's wedding! Remember, reviews make me happy :) Let me know how I did with the whole murder plot.

Life's Lessons – 1973
Lesson Three: Love

Narcissa's mind was still reeling from the enormity of what she'd done the previous night. She hadn't meant to kill her, but everything had just spun out of control.

After she'd fled the scene, she lost track of her sister. She just assumed that Bella had gone back to dispose of the body. She'd been far more in control than Narcissa could have ever dreamt of being. Bella scared her sometimes. She was so cold and ruthless, while Narcissa could only fake it.

Narcissa couldn't remember coming home. She didn't know what had happened, and she had no recollection of it, but she wasn't too worried, since she'd made it home, and was in her bed.

She would have to ask Bella what happened when she saw her next. A timid knock at her bedroom door caught her attention.

"Ciss? Are you awake?" came a male voice from the other side of the door.

Narcissa pulled herself out of bed, to answer the door. She wrapped her robe around her, before opening the door. She swung it open, to let Lucius in. She smiled at him softly. The smile dropped from her face, when she saw the look on his face.

"What?" she asked warily, wrapping her robe around herself tighter. She suddenly felt very self conscious.

"Your face," Lucius started, almost seeming lost for words. "What on earth happened?"

Narcissa eyes widened in horror. Her face. She'd totally forgotten about the fight last night.

"Oh dear, don't look at it," she said, hiding her face in her hands. She could only imagine what her face looked like this morning. She had the most awful image of a bloated, bruised face in her mind, and she did not want to confront reality at all.

"I got into a bit of a fight last night," she told Lucius, her voice muffled by her hands. "Bella and I were dancing with some boys, and apparently one of them had a girlfriend. She saw us dancing, and didn't like it. So she hit me."

She'd spat the events of the evening out so fast, she hadn't even time to think of the consequences of Lucius finding out.

"Where was this?" Lucius asked, hardly sounding like himself at all. To say that he was angry would be an understatement. He was absolutely livid. He couldn't believe Narcissa would do something as stupid as get into a fight at a wizarding club. Didn't she realise how this would reflect on him?

"Some muggle club in London," she replied timidly. She could tell how angry he was. She'd always been good at reading his emotions, but this was the first time she wasn't happy about it.

The relief that washed over Lucius in that one little sentence was immense. While he wasn't exactly happy about Narcissa visiting a muggle club, it was probably a good idea. Not many wizards did, so anonymity was a large incentive.

"Alright then," Lucius replied, letting out a big sigh. "Well, at least you're okay." He sat down on the bed next to her for a second, then stood right back up.

"I have something for you," he told her, reaching into his cloak. Narcissa perked up immediately. She loved presents. She wasn't forgetting that she was still mad at Lucius, but she was open to him bribing his way back into her bed.

He drew out what looked like a necklace. He held it out in his hand for her inspection. It was a necklace. A very big necklace, with an enormous sapphire attached. Narcissa had never seen such a huge gem before.

"Oh Lucius, it's beautiful, I love it," she gushed, her eyes not leaving the sapphire for a second.

"Apology accepted?" Lucius asked, sweeping Narcissa's hair away, so he could fasten it around her neck.

She nodded fervently, wrapping her arms around his neck. It was then that Lucius noticed the blood stained across her hands. Narcissa had totally forgotten about them too.

"Ciss? Were you bleeding?" he asked, taking her hands in his, rubbing the stains softly.

Narcissa couldn't help but hide her face in his chest. She mumbled something that Lucius couldn't hear.

"Say it again?"

"A woman died last night," Narcissa told him softly.

"Did you try and save her?" Lucius asked, just as softly.

Narcissa shook her head.

"I killed her," she told him, unable to meet his eyes. "It was the woman that punched me. I got so mad, and I punched her a few times. She fell to the ground, and" she paused, taking a deep breath, "I just couldn't stop kicking her."

Lucius wrapped his arms around her tightly. Narcissa was still seventeen. She shouldn't have had to deal with something like this. Lucius blamed himself. If they hadn't fought, she wouldn't have gone out last night.

"Has it been taken care of?" he asked, careful of his tone. He didn't want to upset her further.

"I think so. I think Bella did," she said, nodding her head slowly.

Lucius detached himself from her, kissing her forehead before he stood up.

"I'll make sure. You just rest," he told her, walking to the door, "I'll be back soon, okay?"

Narcissa nodded, lying back down. This was the most exhausting three days she'd ever experienced. She just wanted it to stop. Despite the trouble he'd caused in the past three days, she couldn't help but be grateful that Lucius was here. He got her through everything. He was her rock. She didn't think she'd be able to cope if he ever left her.

It wasn't always smooth sailing when they were together, but they were in love, and that's what counted, right?