"Narcissa- Please, Narcissa, wait," Lucius called, trying to restrain himself from sprinting after her. "I didn't think- Narcissa!" She was preparing to flee into her dormitory by the time Lucius stumbled into the Common Room.
"You said we wouldn't get caught!" she hissed, turning around with flashing eyes. "I'm surprised Professor Dumbledore didn't strip us of our positions then and there- I'll never have any chance of being Head Girl now, and if he writes home to our parents- My mother will kill me!"
"He won't write- he honestly didn't seem that upset, Narcissa, wait-" His heart was pounding as panic began to grip him. She was really angry, and he did not take this as a good sign. It was too soon for her to be so upset with him; he hadn't even done anything wrong, really! He reached out to touch her arm but when his hand made contact she whirled around, eyes blazing. Lucius immediately stepped back.
"First you take me to London on a Hogmeade weekend, but I didn't say anything about that, and I agree to go out at night and we get caught by the Headmaster himself! To you ever do anything that's not against the rules?"
"We don't have to again!" he said quickly. "I swear I'll never break another rule." Please, please don't say 'too late'.
"I'm not sure if I believe you," she replied stiffly.
"You can pick where we go next!" he offered hopefully. "You can always pick, if you want."
Narcissa paused, and her anger seemed to melt away. "I don't-" she sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost my temper. I did have a lovely time, both times. The fireworks were beautiful, and that restaurant was very nice."
Lucius wait for her to become angry again. Girls never stayed unhappy for such a brief period. There would be a 'but...' and then she'd start screaming and he'd have to buy her expensive jewellery to shut her up.
Wasn't that how it always went?
"I didn't mean to sound ungrateful, I'd just prefer it if next time, we didn't risk getting in trouble."
"Absolutely," he agreed. She stepped shyly towards him, and reached out to take his hands.
"Thank you," she said with a little smile. "I did have a very nice time tonight. I haven't seen fireworks since it was a little girl. So thank you." With utmost care, she lifted herself onto her toes and pressed a tiny peck to his cheek. "Good night."
As she turned to retire for the evening, Lucius stared, momentarily dumbstruck. "Hey, hang on a second!" he exclaimed at last. She paused at the foot of the stairs.
"Yes?"
He strode confidently towards her and she did not withdraw, but when he took her gently but firmly by her wrists, she gave him a warning look.
"It's only fair," he told her reasonably, and captured her chin in his hand. Frowning, Narcissa pursed her lips, but Lucius forced himself to ignore her tempting pink mouth. Instead, he turned her head to one side, examining the silky, rounded flesh of her cheek. His thumb brushed over the spot several times as he absorbed the flawlessness of her face, and he leaned down so that they almost touched, letting his breath lightly brush her before moving in to place a careful kiss upon her skin.
"There. Good night then, Narcissa." He was smirking as he drew away, knowing that she could not object to the gesture.
"Er... yes," she stammered, looking flustered and confused now. "I'll see you in the morning."
As Lucius settled into be that night, he could not quite wipe the grin off his face.
"Hey. Rodolphus. Hey. Wake up."
"Mmmfhugg..."
"Wake up!" Lucius hissed, shaking his friend's shoulder.
"The fucking school better be burning down," Rodolphus warned groggily, one eye cracking open. "What the hell do you want?" He speech was slurred with sleep.
"Don't you want to hear how things went last night?" he asked eagerly. Rodolphus slumped into his pillowed with a deep groan.
"Fine. Whatever," he yawned.
"Well, things were going well, really well, and I was about to kiss her, but the bloody Headmaster showed up and made us come back inside."
Rodolphus didn't respond.
"Hey, wake up!" Lucius shoved Rodolphus.
"I'm awake, I'm awake!" he protested, not opening his eyes.
"Well, so Dumbledore made us come back inside. And Narcissa was a bit irritated, but then, then," he could barely suppress the excitement in his voice. "She came over and kissed my cheek! Right here," he pointed enthusiastically to the spot. "And I kissed her back and then she went to bed," he finished warmly, checking to see Rodolphus's reaction.
Where before is eyes had been shut and his replies lethargic, his gaze was now fixed firmly on Lucius, his expression murderous.
"Are you telling me," he began slowly, "Are you actually telling me, that you woke me up at..." he groped for his clock on the bedside table. "That you woke me up at six thirty in the fucking morning, to tell me that she kissed you on the cheek?"
"Well... You have to get up soon for classes anyway," Lucius pointed out reasonably.
"WHAT THE FUCK, MALFOY!" he roared, half-sitting up. "IF YOU EVER, AND I MEAN EVER, WAKE ME UP FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN A LIFE OR DEATH MATTER, I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU! I WILL RIP OUT YOUR FUCKING EYES AND SHOVE THEM DOWN YOUR FUCKING THROAT! I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU WERE THINKING, BUT DO IT AGAIN, AND YOU WILL FUCKING DIE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"
"Do you think you could have said 'fuck' any more times?"
"YEAH, I FUCKING DO! FUCK YOU, MALFOY!" And, with the aim of a skilled beater, he hurled the clock he was still holding at Lucius's head.
"OUCH! WHAT THE HELL?" Lucius staggered back, hand pressed to his now-thoroughly bruised forehead.
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!" Rodolphus was on his feet by now, hands balled into fists. Enraged, Lucius ducked down and lunged forward, his shoulder catching Rodolphus in the midsection and the momentum sending them both back into a wardrobe. Rodolphus gave a grunt of discomfort as his head smacked against the wood, but it not stop him from curling an arm around Lucius's neck and flinging him to the ground. A well-aimed kick to the shins caused Rodolphus to hit the floor as well. Lucius used the other boy's brief disorientation to spring upon him, cheerfully sinking his fist into his nose and feeling cartilage snap. Rodolphus gave a snarl of rage and jammed his elbow into Lucius's solar plexus. As Lucius gasped for breath, Rodolphus pinned him to the floor. The other seventh year boys watched with mild interest from their own beds.
"Don't wake me up this early again," he snarled, blood dripping from his broken nose and his hand curled around Lucius's windpipe.
"Fine!" Lucius wheezed as darkness began to creep into the corners of his vision. "Fine, I won't!"
Immediately, his grip slackened and he rolled aside, wiping his nose on his arm and wincing as Lucius gulped in lungfuls of oxygen.
"Here," Lucius panted, reaching for his wand. "Episkey."
Rodolphus's nose mended itself, and he nodded. "Thanks. Sorry about the bruises."
"No problem, I've got a potion for them somewhere." Each boy dragged himself to his feet, cringing and moving gingerly.
"You can take a shower first," Rodolphus said, sinking down onto his bed.
"No, you really should get that blood cleaned up," Lucius countered. Rodolphus nodded again.
"Yeah, alright. Do you think they'll have those sausages with breakfast this morning?"
"I dunno. Hope so."
"Good morning, gorgeous," Rodolphus said loudly as he strode into the Common Room, cutting a straight path to where she sat and causing smaller students to scatter. Before Bellatrix could so much as utter a 'good morning' in reply, Rodolphus pulled her to her feet, curled an arm around her waist and tilted her back, kissing her in the most dramatically intimate manner her could manage. Lucius, who had exited the dormitory right after him, rolled his eyes and made a rude gesture when Rodolphus straightened up, smirking.
"What the hell?" Bellatrix gasped. "What in Merlin's name happened to you, Malfoy?"
Lucius scowled. He had been unable to find a healing potion and had intended to ask the Snape boy for one as soon as possible. The blackened welt across his forehead and finger-shaped bruises around his neck really looked worse than they were. While she was examining Lucius in shock, Rodolphus took the opportunity to gingerly touch the knot at the back of his skull. Bella, however, saw the movement and quickly made the connection.
"You two are so stupid," she huffed, sitting back down.
"Rub my neck?" Rodolphus asked, sinking to the floor in front of her and dipping his head to give her easier access. She sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes, but eventually complied.
Out of sheer habit, Lucius's eyes began to roam for Francesca. She could do things with her hands that never failed to astonish him, and his scalding shower had not eased the soreness of his early-morning scuffle as much as he would have liked. However, he immediately stopped himself. He'd simply have to do without her hands for a while.
"Lucius?" he glanced over to see Narcissa approaching him cautiously. He couldn't help grinning- It was the first time she'd gathered the nerve to leave her little study corner or group of fifth year friends and approach him in the middle of the Common Room. He rewarded her efforts by briefly squeezing her hand (he doubted she'd permit him to do more) and bidding her 'Good morning'.
"What on Earth..." she breathed drawing close to examine his bruises. "I've got some salve in my dormitory you could use," she offered. Lucius's smile grew. This was even better.
"Yes, thank you."
She turned to go retrieve it, and Lucius followed a bit behind her. Once she rounded the first turn in the spiral staircase, he cast the spell and plodded along after her. When he reached the room, Narcissa was shuffling through her trunk, searching. With a broad smirk, Lucius silently sat down at the foot of her bed and waited for her to notice him.
She sleeps here. The blankets were still unmade, and there was a dip from where her head had rested. He stifled a tremor of arousal that darted through him at the thought of her lying here, eyes closed and hair around her in disarray.
"Oh!" Narcissa had whirled around with the vial in her hand, and was staring at Lucius in shock.
"How... How did you get up here?"
"Handy little spell. Is that it?" Lucius gestured towards the potion. Narcissa nodded and held it out to him, but instead, he tilted his chin back, obviously waiting for her to put it on him.
Narcissa bit her lip. She saw his intentions, but wasn't sure if she planned to comply. After all, he could very easily apply it himself with a mirror.
But then again, it was only his forehead and neck... Nothing too wrong with that, nothing that would require the removal of clothing or intimate touching. Perhaps...
No, that was too obviously his plan! She, Narcissa Black, would not pander to such guileless plotting. If he wanted her care, he was going to have to work a bit harder than simply following her up here and plopping down on her bed!
Then again... those were quite dreadful bruises. She wasn't sure what had happened, but it looked as though he'd been attacked. Probably by Rodolphus, and she hated Rodolphus... who, incidentally, didn't have a scratch on him. Lucius had probably done something tiny that another person wouldn't have noticed, but no doubt was enough to set off Rodolphus's volatile temper.
Or maybe Lucius had provoked him. She wouldn't put it past the blond.
But it looked as though Rodolphus had tried to strangle him! He probably just coughed or something, and that awful Lestrange got mad about it.
"Narcissa?" Lucius looked up at her questioningly.
"Er... Yes, alright, I'll help," she decided at last. Lucius gave a satisfied smirk, and, much to her surprise, stretched out on her bed and folded his hands neatly across his abdomen.
"Thank you," he purred, watching her with half-closed eyes and a feline grin. "This is terribly thoughtful of you."
While his words were cordial, the look in his eyes certainly was not. Narcissa swallowed, and thrust the vial into his hand.
"By holding the mirror," she announced. "I'll help by holding the mirror."
Immediately, the devilish smirk vanished, and Lucius sat up scowling. "But I'm infirm!" he exclaimed, though this was not entirely true. He'd actually been growing increasingly firm, just not in a place her eyes were likely to stray.
"Which is why I'm helping you," she announced primly, lifting a mirror from her bedside table. "There," she held it before him. "Is that a good position?"
It was on the tip of his tongue to reply that no, that was not a good position- a good position would be her straddling him while he thrust up into her, but he managed contain himself. "A bit more to the left- No, my left, not your left. There." Rather irritably, her dipped his finger into the potion and began to dab it on his bruises. Rodolphus really had left quite a mess.
"How did this happen?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"Oh... Rodolphus lost his temper. As usual."
Narcissa gave a little satisfied nod. "I guessed as much. Why?"
"Er... I accidentally woke him up early."
"By coughing?" Narcissa guessed.
"Something like that," he muttered, frowning and applying more salve to the purple spot on his forehead, which refused to entirely fade. "Dammit-" he glanced up swiftly. "Sorry. I just can't get this one bit..." For a split second, his eyes flashed to her lips, but he quickly thought better of asking. Narcissa, however, had already guessed.
Pureblood witches were, very frequently, born with the curious ability to, quite literally, 'kiss better' minor injuries. Blood-traitors carried the idea into the world of Muggles, although of course those kisses were nothing more than a soothing technique, for once the magical blood was diluted, it was often one of the first capabilities that failed to be passed on. The magic would not manifest until teenage years, when a witch became physically able to bear children. It was generally only seen in descendants of the oldest, most untainted lines.
Narcissa knew her mother possessed the ability to, and no doubt so could Lucius's. Bella had once laughingly announced that she could do it, and had used it as and excuse to kiss every inch of Rodolphus's face (and Narcissa guessed quite more than that) after a particularly rough Quidditch match. Narcissa, however, had never tried.
It would be good information to have... Just to see if I can do it, she told herself reasonably. Without a word, she set down the mirror and disappeared into the bathroom, only to emerge a second later with a damp cloth. She tried to keep her motions clinical as she wiped away the gelatinous remains of the potion on his forehead and neck, and attempted in vain to ignore the way Lucius's eyes slid shut, and how he leaned into her touch.
"Alright," she sighed at last, taking his face in her hands. "I've never tried before, so it may not work," she warned. Lucius did not reply- his eyes were closed and he waited in blissful anticipation.
Was there any trick to it? Narcissa wondered. She picked the spot that still looked the most tender, and carefully placed her lips to his skin, waiting.
Lucius grinned victoriously when she kissed him lightly, but was actually startled to feel the soreness quickly drain away, not only from the bruise, but the dull throb that otherwise would have led to a miserable headache in half an hour. In fact, he didn't feel any pain at all now; not even in his neck or the muscles of his shoulders.
Narcissa drew away. "Did it work?" she asked, noting with pleasure that the briuse had vanished.
He nodded. "It was great."
"Any where else...?"...I can kiss? She immediately pushed this thought away. She was just trying to be a good nurse.
Yeah. My dick.
"I think that's the only place I saw..." he drifted off, unwilling to say 'No'.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, shoving his fists in his pockets so he could stand before her. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." She did not step back when he stood, causing them to be quite near one another. He stared down at her, one corner of his mouth curled into a rather roguish smile.
"Planning on being a Healer when you leave school?"
"I- I hadn't quite decided yet."
"Well, you have time."
She nodded in agreement, looking up at him with her big, blue eyes.
He was, of course, preoccupied with her lips, but had not at all been intending to kiss her. The moment wasn't quite right for a first kiss, but suddenly, he felt as though a hand at the back of his head was shoving him forward, pressing his mouth to hers. Before he could even comprehend what had just happened, her hand flew up and stuck his cheek with a resounding crack.
Immediately, he drew back, eyes wide. Narcissa looked as shocked as he felt, and was staring at her hand uncertainly. Lucius turned as she opened her mouth, unwilling to be berated for something he'd felt nearly no control over, and strode from the room. True, he'd been thinking about it, but had hardly meant to... However, he nearly collided with Bellatrix at the top of the steps. She shot him a scathing look as he rushed down the stairs, but grinned as she skipped next to her sister.
"You're quite welcome, Cissy," Bellatrix crooned, dancing around her bed and carelessly sweeping Narcissa's bedside table clear so she could sit on it impertinently. Narcissa scowled as the objects crashed to the floor, some breaking, but instead decided to question her sister.
"Welcome for what?"
"Getting rid of Malfoy for you."
"What do you-" she stopped. "You made me hit him!" She had thought the slap had merely been a reflex- it had been far too crass an action than what she would normally indulge in, but her feelings on the brief kiss had been somewhat mixed.
"Better than that- I made him kiss you!" she crowed. "See, it was entirely inappropriate that he be hanging around in here, so I figured this was the quickest way. He was considering doing it anyway," she finished with confidence.
"Bella- why?" she cried. "Why would you do that?"
"Eh..." Bellatrix shrugged. "You know, Malfoy's really hard to humiliate. But now that he's after you, it's almost laughably easy..." she looked up, grinning. "I couldn't resist."
Lucius felt slightly dazed as he stormed out of the Common Room and up towards the Great Hall. Hopefully he could eat before Narcissa arrive, though he knew he couldn't avoid her forever...
He'd never had a girl not want to kiss him before. Not to say he'd never been slapped, but it was usually after doing something far worse than that... Well. Generally it was when he broke things off after a night of great sex. However, there was one occasion where'd he'd made a request that apparently Sherise Selwyn had found offensive... Not, of course, that it was his fault that her best friend had been almost attractive as Sherise herself, and it had not been an outlandish request by any stretch of the imagination-
But anyway. Narcissa.
Was there no end to the ways he could fuck this up? He stabbed viciously at a little sausage on his plate. Perhaps she hadn't been pleased with his kiss, but actually striking him seemed a bit extreme, and out of character too...
Unless she had a secret violent streak. He'd never tried masochism was pretty sure he didn't want to be tied up or anything too submissive, but maybe a bit of smacking and hair-pulling actually wouldn't be so bad. And she could wear those kinky shoes.
No! No, no, no! He wanted to bang his head on the table. He wasn't even going to be kissing her at this rate.
"Lucius!" He glanced up to see Narcissa hurrying towards him, a look of irritation and determination of her face that he really didn't like.
"Lucius," she was slightly out of breath when she reached him, and he cut her off.
"Look, I shouldn't have done it, okay? I don't know what came over me. So if you've come up here to yell at me, I really don't-"
"I didn't come up here to yell at you," she said quietly. "I came up here to do this." Before she could change her mind, Narcissa moved closer, tilted his face upwards, and pressed her lips to his.