It was three years after Andromeda's departure from the House of Black. Narcissa was now a proud seventh year who was enjoying life and ignored Sirius as much as she could.

Actually she didn't acknowledge Sirius at all if she could help it; he was a blood traitor to the family and did not deserve to be treated with respect.

Narcissa was busying herself with breakfast, not listening to the chatter around her. Lucius Malfoy was trying to catch her eye. She was going out with him now, she liked him a lot. Suave, handsome, charming, protective, powerful, he was all Narcissa wanted in a man. Though she would not allow herself become a 'good, obedient little wife'. She was a Black and powerful, she was no blind follower, she would do anything to make her family proud.

The familiar rush of wings was heard overhead as the owls delivered the post. The family owl, Umbra, delivered her a letter from her father.

Dear Narcissa,

You already know that as a Black you are expected to be married to someone within three years of finishing Hogwarts. Unfortunately due to circumstances I feel that to uphold the family honour you must marry a suitable young man within two years. I trust you to find someone of your status and you will not drag this family into ruin. Please inform of whom you think will be suitable at summer.

From,

Your loving father

Narcissa wasn't surprised; she expected it to happen sooner though considering what had happened at Easter of Sirius' first year. No matter, it wouldn't be difficult to find a suitable young man, Slytherin was hissing with them after all.

Although Narcissa didn't want her husband to be dim witted and weak. She knew she wasn't marrying for love, those feeling would come later, maybe, she was marrying to uphold the Black Family honour and to produce a pureblood heir. She would do what Andromeda refused to do and what Sirius would never do. Filthy traitors, they were no longer her family.

The Black Family Name had dropped slightly in pureblood circles thanks to Sirius and Andromeda, not an awful lot but still dropped. It was now up to her to bring the Black Family back up into its original standing if not further.

Narcissa gazed at Lucius and gave him a small smile. He nodded in reply and moved beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Ah, my Narcissa" greeted Lucius, "Will you be willing to accompany me to the next Hogsmede visit?"

Narcissa allowed her eyes to gleam and stretched her smile, "I'll be glad to, Lucius"

Out of the corner of her eyes she could see Regulus among some Slytherin second years and Sirius probably doing something stupid with his blood traitor friends.

She couldn't help but feel a pang when she realised that she couldn't discuss this with anyone. Narcissa didn't have anyone very close to her in school, they were merely acquaintances. She could not discuss it with Bella, she would just tell her to quit fussing and there was no chance that she would ever contact Andromeda again. Though she was her favourite sister.

Too bad, this wasn't about her, it was about her family, Narcissa knew that.