"...and then so I said, that's crazy! You can't possibly believe him! I mean, you know Evan better than I do, but even I can see that he's not being sincere."
"Mmhmm." Lucius flipped a page idly, not looking up from his textbook.
"So then she said, of course he is, why would he lie about that? And then I kindly informed her that Evan Rosier said the exact same thing to at least half a dozen girls, one of them a Gryffindor- a Gryffindor, can you believe it?- last year, and he certainly wasn't living up to his word now-"
"Francesca will you shut up? I'm trying to write an essay. Just because you're taking pathetic excuses for N.E.W.T level classes doesn't mean we all are."
"I am not!" she cried, offended. Lucius sat back in his chair, and began ticking courses off on his fingers.
"Divination, which everyone knows is a load of bull shit," he listed.
"It is not! I have to reach past the realm of-"
"Care of Magical Creatures," he spat over her objections. "Astronomy-"
"Star charts are complicated!"
"-and Herbology," he finished loudly.
"Oh," she scowled. "Fine. Be that way. It's not like I'm going to go out and get a job after Hogwarts."
"Yes, and you'll make a suitably empty-headed trophy wife."
"Well, what would be the point of me having your schedule? Lets see... Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms... You're even taking History of Magic! Who actually studies History of Magic on an N.E.W.T level?"
"I do. And I have about another hour to revise before supper, and if you can't stay quiet, I'm sure Madam Pince would be delighted to throw you out of the library."
"Lucius," Francesca sighed, momentarily defeated. Then, a wicked grin lit her features. "I have an idea. Let's play a game."
He ignored her, and she leaned over to walk two fingers along his thigh, making sure that he had a clear view down her blouse. "It'll be fun," she promised, lowering her tone to a throaty whine.
"I really don't have the time for this," he snapped. That throat was only good for one thing, and whining certainly wasn't it.
"C'mon, I know you'll enjoy it..." she drifted off as she rose out of her seat, placing a hand on his neck and sucking lightly on his earlobe.
He moved his hands irritably to her waist, meaning to push her away.
"Oh." The tiny, disparaging noise caused him to still. Narcissa Black had just rounded the corner with an armful of books, and was regarding them with a disapproving stare.
"Can I help you, Miss Black?" he asked snidely, eyes tracing her careful steps down the aisle.
"I just need to put these away," she replied brusquely. "Mr. Malfoy," she added bitterly. With a slight shake of her head, she lifted the first tome.
Then, she paused.
"Actually..." she glanced over her shoulder, the edge melting from her tone. "I could use a bit of help." Her lower lip pushed out in a pleading pout. "It's awfully high..." To illustrate this point, she lifted onto her toes and reached her arm upwards. Lucius greedily took in the way her back arched and her blouse lifted as she stretched, exposing inches of smooth, creamy skin at her midsection.
"Allow me," he offered graciously, rising to his feet. "You know, Miss Black, school dress code clearly states that you must keep your shirt tucked in at all times," he drawled lazily, moving behind her and seamlessly sliding his hand along her bare spine beneath the crisp fabric. She gave a little gasp of surprise and lost her balance- he easily grasped her hips to keep her steady, chuckling quietly. "Careful, now," he warned. Glancing down, he lifted the first book from the pile. "This goes here?" he questioned. She nodded as he placed the volume on an uppermost shelf. "And this," he raised his unoccupied hand and slipped it around her waist, "goes here." He dropped his head next to hers to brush his lips to her temple.
His fingers splayed out across her navel as he dragged her back against him, the remaining books tumbling to the floor, forgotten. Narcissa braced herself against the shelf and moaned softly as he flicked his tongue delicately along her neck.
The air throbbed around them as he pressed his knee between her thighs, and reached down to grab a fistful of her skirt and drag it upwards. His breathing grew heavy as more and more of her leg was exposed, and she tossed her head in impatience, crying, "Oh, Mr. Malfoy!" as she ground desperately against him-
"Leave your books, little girl, the librarian can deal with them."
Lucius blinked, feeling as though he'd been slapped. His hands were still on Francesca's waist, and she was smirking. Lucius realized that he was hard, and Francesca thought it was due to her blatant attempts at seduction.
"Go on," she snapped, shooing Narcissa away. The younger girl afforded them both a disgusted glare, and stalked off. Francesca gave a breathy laugh.
"Stupid child," she scoffed, but giggled again as she kissed him. Lucius returned the kiss automatically, but his mind was elsewhere.
"Hey, Lucius." Rodolphus nodded in greeting as he dropped into the seat beside his friend and began piling his plate with food.
"You're not going to eat all that, are you?" Bellatrix asked, sinking into the spot next to Rodolphus with significantly more grace. Her elegant nose wrinkled in distaste.
"I most certainly am, sweetheart, and then I'm having you for dessert," he growled, winking as he tore a chunk of chicken from the bone with his teeth. Bellatrix rolled her eyes, but Lucius thought he smile a glimmer of a smirk as she turned away.
"Hello!" Francesca chirped as she appeared at the table beside Lucius, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "How are you?" She reached out to touch his hand affectionately, and he twitched her off irritably.
"Fine," he replied briefly, spearing a potato without enthusiasm.
"Bella?"
Lucius's head shot up. Narcissa hovered beside her sister, looking uncomfortable.
"Yeah, Cissy? What do you want?"
"I'm worried about Regulus."
"Why? It should be Sirius you're worried about, the filthy blood-traitor-"
"I think he's lonely. I-"
Somehow, her words seemed to blur and become indistinct; all Lucius could see was her lips, full and pink and soft. Her tongue made a quick sweep over the lower one to moisten it, and his gut clenched. Her small, perfectly white teeth flashed as she spoke. He watched, as if in slow motion, the shapes her mouth made as it formed vowels and consonants- he wondered what it would look like if he were to-
"Alright, Lucius?" Rodolphus asked, brow creased. "What are you staring at?"
"Yes, I'm fine!" he snarled, pushing away from the table. "I'm not hungry." He got to his feet abruptly and strode off. As he moved down the path between the tables, his arm brushed against Narcissa's back, and for a split second he feared that he would be unable to keep walking.
Wrenching away, he stormed out of the Great Hall seething. What the hell was wrong with him? He could not fathom this fascination he seemed to be developing with the youngest Black, but knew it couldn't be healthy, and was determined to put her out of his mind when he went to sleep that night.