"How much longer, Lucius?" Francesca panted. They were curled in Lucius bed, still slick with perspiration and gasping for breath.
"However long it takes," he groaned, collapsing onto his pillows and shoving a hand through his damp hair.
"I miss this," she persisted, twisting her hips against him provocatively. He grunted.
"What, can't find anyone to spread your legs for while I'm otherwise engaged?" he asked rudely. She rolled away, showing him her back as not to let him see how the comment hurt her.
"You know that I love you. That I won't be off with someone else while you're chasing the little blonde girl. Or anyone else," she added.
"S'at so?" Lucius turned onto his side, fitting his body around hers to spoon her. "Well, you can't blame me for being surprised that that." He began to carelessly fondle her breast as he spoke. "I mean, I know you like sex almost as much as I do."
"I only want you, Lucius," she sighed, finally facing him once more. Slowly, a deviant smirk curled the corners of his mouth.
"Don't tell me that," he purred, falling onto his back and tucking his hands behind his head. "Show me."
She crawled on top of him and kissed him, then laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist, closing her eyes. "I love you."
This was, quite apparently, not what he'd meant. He placed a hand on top of her head and pressed downward experimentally, but she did not budge. "M'tired," she mumbled.
"Then go to your bed."
Her head lifted. "Let me stay with you tonight. There's no one else here."
"You know that I sleep alone. If you're tired, go."
"What about when we're married?"
"The Manor's pretty big, I think there're enough rooms for the both of us."
"You'd have us estranged before we're even wed!" she cried.
"I didn't say I wouldn't be visiting your bed on a nightly basis, but I don't like people in my room, and I sleep by myself. You know that."
"Surely you can make an exception for me?"
"Surely I cannot." He pushed her away. "If you're tired," he repeated, "then leave."
Francesca blinked several times, and he realized she was on the verge of crying. "Oh, c'mon," he cajoled, reaching out to stroke her cheek. "You know I love you, sweetheart. It's just how I am."
A large tear rolled off her eyelashes, and she sniffed. "I don't think you do."
"I do," he insisted, sitting up. "How about we go to Hogsmeade tomorrow, and I buy you a nice little pre-Christmas gift. To supplement your real present, of course." He paused, thinking. "I should probably owl something to Narcissa, too."
She could not entirely hide her scowl, and he hastily added, "What if I let you pick it out?"
This had a certain appeal to the female Slytherin. It would be jewellery, of course, and she'd choose something that the stupid brat would love, and every time the girl wore it, Francesca would have the private pleasure of knowing that Lucius hadn't chosen out of affection; rather, his true love had picked it out to privately laugh. Perhaps she would wear it first- yes, that would be even better. She would get a necklace, try it on, and seduce Lucius while it hung around her neck. After they'd made love, she would take it off, put it in a pretty box, even wrap it- then dictate a note to Lucius as he lied about how he missed dear Narcissa.
"That sounds alright," Francesca said at last, rising to her feet and kissing him once more with a wicked smile. "Good night."
"I missed you," Narcissa whispered, lips close to his ear as they stood on the station platform. Her arms were twined tightly around his neck, her flushed cheek to his cool one.
"Missed you too," he replied, slinging an arm around her waist. "How was your holiday?"
"Oh, simply lovely- but I don't want to go into that. I felt so dreadful knowing you were her all alone. And thank you for the necklace; it's absolutely gorgeous." She tilted her chin back so he could see that she wore it.
"I'm glad you like it. I thought it would suit you when I picked it out," he added convincingly. "And it does. Perfectly." He pressed a brief kiss to her lips as they made their way up to the castle amid the other chattering students.
"However did you keep yourself occupied while everyone was gone?" she asked, breath forming clouds with the words.
An image of Francesca draped nude across the table where, incidentally, Narcissa did most of her schoolwork, flashed through his mind. He quickly pushed it aside.
"Oh, you know. Studying. Essays. The boring, necessary things."
"Well," she exhaled slowly. "We're back now. And it is splendid to see you," she said with almost painful sincerity. "I... well, I was actually at bit surprised myself at how much I wanted to see you while I was gone." With a quick glance, she peeked up at him through her lashes.
He grinned.
"I wanted to see you, too." All of you. He stopped and loosened her scarf, pressing kisses to the warm skin beneath.
"Your lips are so cold!" she laughed, but rested a soft hand on the back of his head, encouraging him to stay close. Filled with an unexpected rush of affection for the small, hapless girl, Lucius wrapped both arms around her waist, lifting her to his height, and placed a brief peck on her nose before returning her to her feet.
"You ready to go back to the Common Room?"
She nodded, but was still hesitant, as though she wanted something more. Lucius paused. Could she possibly...? But no. That was absurd.
Was it?
Lucius took her by the shoulders and kissed her. Not a fleeting, light brush, but a full and proper snog that left her suitably breathless, fingers curling around the front of his cloak.
"Let's get you somewhere cozier so we can take these off, shall we?" he suggested with dark grin.
To his shock, she bit her lip and, after a brief pause, nodded. "The scarf and cloak are a bit bulky," she qualified carefully.
"Right," he agreed, wrapping an arm around her waist lest she change her mind, and steering her the remaining meters to the castle. He was fairly certain she'd meant to be led to the Common Room, but Lucius simply couldn't wait that long.
Narcissa gave a tiny squeak of surprise as they deviated suddenly from the path down to the dungeons, as Lucius pulled her instead into a nearby broom closet. However, once he shut the door behind them, she moved willingly and eagerly into his arms, lips quickly finding his.
Lucius stumbled back against the wall, throwing one hand out for balance and wrapping his other arm around her waist. Once settled against the stone, he impatiently unfurled her scarf and unfastened the clasp at her throat. Ignoring her instructions, he did not stop there; rather, he reached down to the hem of her sweater and pulled upwards. To his surprise, she released him to lift her arms, facilitating the removal of her shirt. For a moment, Lucius's heart pounded with excitement as he flung it aside. Then, he paused.
Am I imagining this? All signs pointed to yes, but it felt so real this time: her warm, soft hand running up and down his arms; the icy rivulets of water from the melting snow in her hair; her lips pressing tiny pecks along his jaw. If he was merely fantasizing, Lucius decided he really would rather not know.
He slid his palms heavily up her back, fisting his hands in her hair and tugging back gently. He dropped his mouth to her throat, inhaling deeply She smelled so unjustly good, something neither floral nor sweet, but feminine none the less. She was decadent, and he wanted to devour her.
He sucked lightly on her earlobe, but twitched in surprise when her fingers curled around his belt. Fantasy or not, he need to stop before he got carried away.
His hand dropped to cover her knee.
He should stop.
His hand slipped higher.
He should definitely stop.
"Malfoy!" The door was wrenched open, and Narcissa gave a little shriek and scrambled for her shirt. Lucius, however, did not move- he was momentarily unable to wrap his mind around the fact that he had not been imagining anything, and that Rodolphus, his so-called 'best friend,' had interrupted them.
"We need to talk, mate," he growled, tone suggesting Unforgivable curses.
"I think not, Lestrange," he spat back, looking down and noticing that Narcissa had apparently half-unbuttoned his shirt.
"Let me rephrase it for you then: Come with me now, or I will rip out your lower intestines, wrap them around your neck like a noose, and use it to drag you down to the Common Room."
"Lucius, maybe you should go. I, er... have to go to the library anyway."
"Narcissa, you just got back, you don't have any work- you don't need to use the library. Ignore him."
Rodolphus's eyes narrowed. Without another word, his hand shot out and seized Lucius's collar, hauling him forward.
"Let go of me, you stupid fuck!" Lucius snarled, managing to wriggle out of his shirt and dart away. Rodolphus flung the fabric aside, but paused in thought. Lucius was more agile, though Rodolphus was stronger. If the blond ran, Rodolphus knew he probably could not catch him. However, his eyes fell on Narcissa, who was still hovering nervously nearby.
"Hey, Cissy," he crooned, turning and approaching her with a broad grin. Her eyes widened fractionally, but she did not cower.
"If you lay one finger on me, Rodolphus, I'll hex your arm to next Tuesday."
"Cissy, do you see that?" he asked jovially, slinging a muscular arm over her shoulders and turning her to face the closet. "That wand there- that belongs to you, does it not? That one on the floor? And that one there- why, isn't that Lucius's?"
She did not reply.
"Now, Cissy, you know I won't hurt you," he assured her, placing a heaving hand on top of her head and ruffling her hair. She cringed. "I wouldn't do that, you're like a kid sister to me-"
"Alright, Rodolphus, enough. Leave her alone, I'll come with you." Lucius's eyes blazed with anger.
"Excellent," Rodolphus replied brightly, releasing Narcissa. She immediately removed herself from arms reach. Lucius gave her an apologetic look and bent down to scoop up his wand and shirt.
"Let's go," Rodolphus growled, turning to stride off towards the Common Room.
"You crossed a line," Lucius hissed once they were out of earshot.
"I crossed a line? You need to redraw your fucking lines, mate," he replied darkly, but did not elaborate. They reached the Common Room but Rodolphus did not stop there, instead marching up to the seventh year boy's dormitory.
"So are going to explain yourself?" Rodolphus demanded, crossing his arms across his chest and glaring down at Lucius.
"Explain what, exactly?"
"It smells like sex in here. Your sheets are disgusting. I checked, and looks like Francesca stayed her over the break. If I were to guess, I'd say you were fucking her the entire time we were gone, and about half an hour before the train got here today."
Lucius paled. "How- how the hell do you know that?"
"Because I'm not an idiot! And on an unrelated note, ever heard of a condom? Seriously, your sheets are repulsive."
"S'not my fault the elves haven't changed them yet today, and I don't like condoms. Francesca knows some sort of spell that keeps her from getting knocked up- and anyway, what did you expect me to do? I want sex, and Narcissa won't have sex. Francesca and I were alone for two weeks, what would you expect?"
"I expect that you do what you have to: take cold showers and jerk off every two hours if need be, but you fucking have a girlfriend!"
Lucius opened his mouth, prepared explain that Francesca was technically she, but paused. Perhaps Rodolphus wouldn't be as envious as he'd originally assumed.
"You're right." He closed his mouth, before adding, "And once she starts putting out, it won't happen again."
"Not good enough," Rodolphus countered. "You won't do it ever again, or I'm telling Bella."
"Alright," Lucius agreed hastily. "Never again."
Rodolphus sighed heavily. "You're an idiot," he repeated, "and you're going to get fucked over eventually. Sorry, mate, but it's true."
"Oh, shut up," he snapped. "I can take care of myself, and I don't appreciate being blackmailed. Until further notice, you and I are no longer on speaking terms."
Rodolphus began to laugh. "What are you, an eleven year old girl?"
Lucius spun around and punched him squarely in the nose, enjoying the snap of cartilage and consequent gush of blood. "If you interrupt me again when I'm with Narcissa again, it'll be your neck."
"F'anks a lot, assole," Rodolphus glared, mopping the blood with the back of his hand. "Where's da dibbiny?"
"Wouldn't know," Lucius replied with and airy shrug.
"Dis was a new shirb Bella bough' be for Chrissmas," he announced, pulling it off to prevent any more blood from staining it. "Now where's da dibbany?"
"Dittany won't help a broken nose. It's not my fault you never bothered to learn simple healing spells."
"Maffoy, I am dis close do killing you."
"Boo-fucking-hoo, get over it."
Rodolphus lunged but Lucius braced himself. They struggled upright momentarily, each trying to throw the other down, not noticing when the door opened.
"Oh my. Something you boys would like to say, or should I just let you hug it out?"
Rodolphus turned to acknowledge Bellatrix, and Lucius took to opportunity to shove him onto the floor. She rolled her eyes as Rodolphus swung out his leg, and Lucius sprang away.
"You two make five year olds look mature. And where are you shirts?"
"Is'sa long s'ory," Rodolphus told her, hopping to his feet. "Fix by nose?"
Bellatrix sighed at she pulled out her wand. "You need to learn how to do this yourself."
"I can'd."
"You're stupid, then. It's a simple spell."
"She's right, you're a fucking idiot-"
"Shut up Malfoy, I wasn't talking to you. Go find my little sister and leave Roddy alone. I've always had my doubts about you, but if you try to steal my boyfriend, I'll make it so you can't have sex with anyone," she snapped.
"You should talk, Bellatrix. You wouldn't know a real man if he came up to you and fucked you senseless." He shot Rodolphus a scathing look. "But I suppose one hasn't, so it's difficult to say."
"Get out of here Lucius," Rodolphus snarled as Bellatrix quickly mended his nose. "I wasn't kidding about what I said earlier, either."
"I know, and it won't happen again," Lucius replied, with no intention of keeping the promise.