This is a short chapter. I didn't want to go any further, so I decided to cut it off. The next chapter will be longer.

Hope you like it.

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When Narcissa woke up a few hours later she felt drowsy. She slid off her bed and headed to the bathroom. She frowned when she saw her face. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her eyes red from crying. He hair was messy and in tangles.

"You're pathetic Narcissa Black." She said to herself.

She turned the water on and cupped her hands, splashing the cold water onto her face. She brushed out her hair and applied a bit of makeup to try and take attention away from her red eyes.

She checked the time and saw that her third class of the morning was going to start in ten minutes. If she was quick she could make it to Charms and not be late. She grabbed her cloak and clasped it in the front and then headed out of her dormitory.

Narcissa stopped at the bottom of the stairs, hesitating there for a moment. Sitting with his back to her was Lucius, the boy she had just spent an hour crying over.

She stuck her nose up in the air and walked into the common room, heading straight for the door.

"Narcissa."

His voice stopped her dead in her tracks. "What would you like?" she asked, turning around and sneering at him. "If you wouldn't mind, I have a class to get to."

Lucius looked tired, his eyes were rimmed with red like hers were and he had black circles under his eyes. She had never seen him look like that before. "I'm a prefect, I can write you a note." He replied. He gestured her over and despite what her brain was yelling her feet carried her to the seat beside him.

"I know you were upset this morning." He said, frowning slightly. He was holding a long piece of parchment in his hand. It wasn't in very good shape, most likely because of the way he was gripping it at the moment.

She didn't say a word in response.

"You must believe that I have feelings for you. I don't give gifts to every beautiful girl I meet." He said with a tiny smirk. "Here." He thrust the piece of parchment at it and she took it, raising her brows. "What is this?" she asked.

"Just read it." He replied. Narcissa opened it slowly and recognized the worn Malfoy seal. She scanned the slanted cursive, her lips turning down further and further as she read. "Merlin." She gasped when she finished, handing it back to him.

"I-I had no idea." She said; bring a hand up to fondle her necklace. She stared down at her Mary Janes as he started to speak again.

"You see, I wasn't with your sister this morning to hurt you. I was just as surprised and hurt as you were."

"You could have told me, or run after me when I left." She murmured, frowning. "Do you really think you would have listened to me then?" he asked. She shook her head. "No, you're right."

"So, where does this leave us?" she asked, standing and straightening out her skirt. "I think we're both smart enough not to go against your parents' wishes." She said, holding her head high as she spoke.

"I'm afraid you would say that." He said, standing as well. She looked up at him, feeling small again as he towered over her. "I'll see you around, Narcissa." He said, giving her a soft smile. He bent down and kissed her cheek. "Bye." He turned around and left, heading up to his dormitory.

"Wait," she said, but he was already gone. "I need a note." She said, falling back down onto the chair and covering her face with her hands.

"Miss Narcissa?"

She felt a hand on her knee and she removed her hands from her face. "Hi Rodolphus." She said, giving him a tiny smile. "I'm really sorry about yesterday." She said.

Rodolphus shrugged and offered her his hand. She took it and he gently lifted her to her feet. "Did you hear everything?" she asked. He nodded and rested her hand gently on his bent arm. "I knew something was up. Lucius might seem like an arrogant prat to some people, but I can't see him doing something like that to you."

Narcissa smiled up at him. "Thank you Rodolphus, you're too sweet." She said. "You know," he started. "I may not be a prefect, but Flitwick's got a soft spot for me. I'm sure I can get you into his class late without punishment." He said.

"Thanks, that would be great." She said. Together, the two walked out of the common room.

As they headed to Narcissa's Charms class they talked about flowers, the weather and other trivial things that had nothing to do with Lucius Malfoy.

Narcissa was glad that Rodolphus was there. He was easy to talk to and he didn't remind her of Lucius in any way, even if the two wizards were best friends.

Rodolphus dropped her off at her classroom and told Flitwick that she had been helping him wrangle a poisonous plant that he was studying in Herbology. The Charms teacher nodded his head and told Narcissa to take her seat.

"Thank you." She mouthed to Rodolphus as she took her seat.

"No problem." He replied, giving her wink and making his way to his own class.

As Narcissa got out her quill and began to take notes she smiled to herself. Lucius was perfect and she knew nobody could ever replace him. But, Rodolphus was quite a catch.

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Don't worry, this is still a Lucius/Narcissa fic. Narcissa doesn't really have feelings for Rodolphus either.

Please review!