Chapter Two – Three's a crowd

"You can't do that! You're a dirty rotten cheater Bella!" Lucius shouted as Bella claimed all of his cards.

"I made up this game, Lucy, and I can do what I want," Bella said simple staring at the nine year old boy.

"Well, your game is stupid and I don't want to play anymore," Lucius said angrily as he folded his arms and made an expression that would clearly state "HA".

The girl who was three years his senior shook her head slowly, "Nope, you can't do that, Lucius."

"Why not, Bellatrix," Lucius asked bitterly.

"Because I clearly stated in the rules that: a person must play at least ten games before giving up and you have only played three games," Bella said smugly.

"You just made that up," Lucius snapped.

"It's my game," Bella giggled as she started to pass out the cards once again.

"Well, I hate this game," Lucius muttered as he looked at his cards.

"What are you all doing?" Narcissa smiled as she came out onto the balcony.

"Playing a stupid card game," Lucius hissed as he looked up to her.

"Oh, what one are you two playing?" Narcissa asked turning to her sister.

"You don't know it. It's called 'Trix'," Bella said simply smiling at her sister.

"Well, how do you play?" Narcissa asked quietly.

"Um . . . it's rather difficult," Bella said quietly.

"It's not difficult at all. Whatever she does," Lucius said pointing over to Bella, "makes her win. Whatever I do makes me lose."

"Oh," Narcissa said slowly, "Can I play?"

"No, Cissy, it's a two person game," Bella said quietly as she placed a card down in front of her.

"Can I watch?" Narcissa asked hopefully.

"No, Narcissa. Three's a crowd. It's my turn with Lucius," Bella said angrily as she flashed her sister a dirty look.

"Fine," Narcissa said bitterly as she looked to Lucius who was staring at his cards. "Fine, I'll just go inside and read a book."

"Yeah, you do that," Bella said coldly as she waved her sister back into the house.

Narcissa growled as she stormed back into her house. How dare you sister just tell her she couldn't play with Lucius. Didn't she know that Lucius was her best friend?

"That was rather rude, Bella," Lucius said simply as he placed a card down.

"Not really. It's my turn," Bella said quietly.

"What does that mean?"

"Dromeda and I made a schedule because Narcissa hogs you all the time," Bella said coldly focusing her eyes on Lucius.

"So?"

"The two of us want to play with you too," Bella snapped.

Lucius shrugged and they continued their game.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Come on first one to the fence wins!" Andromeda shouted as she jumped up off the grass.

"We've been running for hours let's stop," Lucius said as he stared up into the sky.

"Oh come on, Lucy Goosy, you know you want too," Andromeda smiled as she grabbed his arm.

Lucius let the girl pull him up off the grass, "Fine, I'll run to the fence," he said as he got up off the ground.

"Alright," Andromeda said as she took off with Lucius right behind her.

They both crashed into the fence falling to the ground as they got there. They both broke into laughter.

"I won," Andromeda smiled before laughing harder.

"Whatever, it was a tie," Lucius said as he hit her on the arm lightly.

"Ladies first," Andromeda said as she lay down on the cool grass to stare at the sky.

"That doesn't apply everywhere, Dromeda," Lucius said as he copied her action of staring off into the sky.

"Shut up," Andromeda giggled as they stared up at the clouds.

It was then that someone walked through the front gate and stood over them.

"Hi," Narcissa smiled down at them.

"Hey Cissy," Lucius said his voice slightly out of breath from running and laughing.

"Cissy," Andromeda waved as Narcissa looked off towards the distance.

"What are you two doing?" Narcissa asked quietly.

"Lying in the grass," Andromeda said simple.

"Can I join?" Narcissa asked shyly.

"Sorry Cissy, but three's a crowd," Andromeda said shrugging slightly.

"Fine," Narcissa snapped as she stormed back to the house.

"What is your problem?" Lucius said as he sat up and watched Narcissa stormed to the house.

"She hogs you all the time. It's my turn," Andromeda said folding her arms across her chest.

"Why don't I have a say in this?" Lucius said angrily.

"Because when asked who you'd rather play with you always choose her," Andromeda said angrily as she started at Lucius.

"I do not," Lucius said as he got up off the grass.

"Yes you do. You play with her everyday," Andromeda said as she sat up. "See you're going to go after her right now."

"You made her upset," Lucius said simply.

Andromeda frowned, "Bella said that it was the right thing to do."

"Well it's mean," Lucius said coldly.

"And her hogging you isn't."

"Whatever," Lucius said as he walked towards the house.

"Where are you going?"

"Home," Lucius said quickly leaving her sitting in the grass.

He walked slowly into the house and made his way to the sitting room where Mrs. Black was reading the Daily Prophet.

"Can I help you Lucius?" She said barely looking down at him.

"Yeah, I want to go home," Lucius said as he moved over to the fireplace.

"What?" Druella said as she placed her paper down. "Did something happen? What did Bellatrix do?"

"Nothing really, they're all being crazy," Lucius shrugged.

"Well, you're mother's out at the moment and she didn't exactly want you home all alone," Druella said slowly.

"My father's home," Lucius said then shook his head. "Yeah, I guess I'll stay here."

"How about you and me have lunch?" Druella suggested as she walked towards the door leading Lucius out with her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Druella sat at the small dining room table with Lucius sitting grumpily beside her. Druella smiled at the boy that had grown on her as a son. "My daughter's are only teasing you. In fact I think they all have little crushes on you," Druella smiled as Lucius face screwed up.

"Oh, calm down," Druella laughed as she leaned back in her chair.

At that moment Cygnus walked into the room. "Awful day at work," he muttered before rubbing Lucius's hair. "And how was your day Mr. Malfoy?"

Lucius only shrugged as Cygnus kissed his wife on the cheek. "Why is he so down?" He whispered at his wife.

"Bella and Dromeda were teasing him again," Druella smiled in a whispered, as she stared at Lucius.

"Lucius, what have you been doing all day," Cygnus smiled as he sat down by the boy he considered to be his son.

"I played cards with Bella and tag with Dromeda," Lucius said as he moved his fork around his plate.

"What about Cissy? I know she can become quite upset if you don't play with her," Cygnus smiled.

"I'm not allowed to play with her anymore," Lucius stated.

"Your not," Cygnus said chuckling slightly he sat down by him.

"Yes, Bellatrix and Andromeda claim that Lucius is their playmate," Druella smiled as she handed her husband a cup of tea.

"Oh, I see," Cygnus smiled, "It seems my daughters all have little crushes on you. My word Lucius, you're on your way to becoming a little heartthrob," Cygnus teased before Lucius got up off his chair.

"Girls are crazy!" Lucius shouted in frustration as he left the dining room.

"I love that boy," Druella giggled as she leaned back in her chair.

"Are they really teasing him that much?" Cygnus replied as he took a sip of his tea. "He better marry one of them."

"It's too early to decide that, Cygnus."

"Yes, but image our name next to the Malfoy's that would be a huge achievement, would it not?" Cygnus said as he got up from the table.

"It would be wonderful," Druella nodded, "But Lucius is only a boy and our daughter's are only girls. We have to give them time to mature and learn to love."

"Narcissa's the only one I have faith on in that department," Cygnus replied lightly. "Bellatrix will always be Bellatrix and Andromeda will always be rather fickle. My hope resides in Narcissa to make the right choice."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucius left the dining room and stared to climb up a small staircase which led to the top floor of the house. It was a small floor on which each sister had a rather large corridor all to themselves. Narcissa was the east corridor and that was where he was heading. He was having enough of the other sisters and was ready to see Narcissa. She was the reason he came back day after day . . . to see his best friend.

He walked towards a wide wooden door and knocked on it loudly. He could hear the sound of shuffling feet and the door opened slowly.

"Hi, Lucius," Narcissa smiled as she threw the door open.

"Hi," Lucius said shyly as he peered into her room. There was an assortment of books lying on the floor.

"So, which one of my sisters are you playing with now?" Narcissa asked quietly.

"None, they are crazy! I've wanted to play with you all day," Lucius sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Well, two's a crowd," Narcissa pouted as she tried to shut her door.

"Come on, Cissy. I didn't want them to be like that," Lucius said as he stopped the door from shutting in his face.

"You didn't even stand up for me, Lucius," Narcissa said softly.

"I was trying to be nice," Lucius said as he leaned against the door frame.

"I hate it when you try to be nice," Narcissa said sadly.

"You're my best friend. Let's go play a game," Lucius pleaded.

Narcissa smiled, "You're my best friend too, Lucius."

Lucius blushed slightly, "Well then, come on lets go outside."

Narcissa nodded and followed Lucius.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucius and Narcissa sat on the shore of the Black's small pond. Narcissa was busily throwing pieces of bread towards the floating ducks, while Lucius stared blankly at the clouds above him. "I'm bored," Lucius sighed.

"Want to go play chess?" Narcissa suggested as she threw a few more pieces into the lake.

"No," Lucius said as he noticed the two other Black daughters rushing towards them.

"YOU'RE HOGGING LUCIUS AGAIN!" Bellatrix shouted as she came storming towards Narcissa and Lucius.

"Yeah," Andromeda agreed as they stopped in front of them.

"Sorry, four's a crowd," Lucius smirked up at them.

Bellatrix and Andromeda both frowned at Lucius in shocked.

"I'm my own person and I can play who I want," Lucius said as he sat up once again.

"Its okay, Lucius, I want them to play with us," Narcissa smiled.

"Thanks Cissy," Andromeda said shyly as she sat down beside her younger sister.

"Whatever," Bellatrix snorted as she too joined her sisters and Lucius on the grass.