It was lunchtime now, and after finishing their food hurriedly, the five set off to sit by the lake. Sirius had cheered up considerably, thanks to Narcissa, and was soon back to hexing people with James for no real reason. He had forgiven Wormtail, who was so suprised at being forgiven, actually flung his arms around Sirius as he hugged him. "Get off me!" said Sirius coldly, disregarding Wormtail until he was nothing but a heap on the ground; "I have forgiven, certainly, but I have not forgotten."

As they sat by the lake, Sirius and James discussed broomstick tactics, whilst Wormtail attempted to read a book with extreme difficulty, whilst Remus and Narcissa sat quite still, breathing in the warm air and appriceating the hot sun on their faces. Narcissa had her eyes closed, but a moment or so later something was blocking out the sun. Opening her eyes, she saw Bellatrix infront of her, looking wild. She ignored the four boys, and spoke directly to her sister. "Cissy - I'm leaving, tonight."
"Why?" responded Narcissa casually, edging up on her elbows to look at her sister better. She squinted through the dazzling sunshine.
"Because," replied Bellatrix somewhat impatiently, "The Dark Lord requires assistance-"
James snorted.
"Think he's beneath you, Potter?" said Bellatrix coldly, "I'd watch out if I were you - he is beginning to bare a grudge against you, to be sincerely honest."
"Is that a threat?" snapped James, standing up now. His right hand went in his robes and he retrieved his wand so quickly, Narcissa barely had time to blink. Bellatrix glanced at James's defiant expression, and merely laughed. "Why, yes it is."

And with that she turned away, a smug expression on her face. Narcissa went white, and felt clammy, despite the hot day. Suddenly, nothing mattered. How stupid could her sister be? She could end up getting killed, just like Regulus - decieving Voldemort or not. Why was Bellatrix making herself so vunerable? Without warning, tears of indignation begun to well up in her eyes. "She - she can't!"
"Narcissa," said James quietly, "but she can, and is. She doesn't care about your feelings - she just wanted to hurt you emotionally. Does she usually tell you when she's off to kill somebody? No. She doesn't. She's playing mind games - or something of the sort, anyway."

Narcissa shuddered. "I don't want to loose another family member ..." she trailed off, and rested her head on Remus, sighing heavily. Her blue eyes always seemed to be seeping tears nowadays; but nothing could really cure her. "This," she murmured, "is unfinished business - between Bellatrix and I."

Sirius looked inquisitively at her, his head resting against his hands. "Explain."

"I can't, dear cousin," she murmured, not meeting his intense gaze, "as I'm only partially sure she is seeking revenge."
"Revenge?" scoffed James, "for what?"
"Just something I said about Voldemort." said Narcissa calmly. At his name, Wormtail gave a violent twitch, his teeth chattering. "Problem, Wormtail?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

"No, Miss C-Cissy." He stuttered, his hands clasped together.
"Don't call me that; Kreacher does and it annoys me so; yet still he does it. . ." she trailed off as Sirius interrupted her.
"Kreacher was very close to Regulus. I wonder how he has taken the news ..."
"I guess," said James, picking up a rock and throwing it at the lake with impressive force, "he has been forced to shed his grief in solitude, rather than in front of his mistress."
Sirius nodded. "You're probably right, James."

Remus nodded in agreement, looked very tired. His hair, usually dark and vibrant, was looking slightly downcast. His blue eyes that were usually cutting edge had lost their gleam. But, it was that time of the month, so the transformations he had to go through must take it out of him. He ran his fingers through her hair without speaking, something that usually comforted her when she was at her worst. But what she really missed was his lively topics of discussion and enthuasiam, the jubliant expression he would have on his face when he talked to her. That was gone. She tried to understand what he was going through, but something about the matter was eating away at her. "Remus," said Narcissa softly, "are you alright?"
Remus shuddered. "I'm fine, thank you." he said pointedly.
Narcissa glanced at Sirius, who shrugged. "Don't look so down, Cissy," he said, doing an excellent impersonation of Lucius Malfoy, "Us Purebloods are have so much more potential than the lower class wizards of our modern day establishment."

Laughing, Narcissa got into role. "Go away, Lucius, nobody cares apart from you."
Sirius leant closer to her. "Cissy, dearest," he purred, "I think you'll find they do."

"That's enough." snapped Remus uncharacteristically. Sirius shot him an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Moony ... I was just kidding around. Everything is so tense lately - I just thought a bit of laughter in the air might, you know." He ran his hands through his messy hair in agitation, surveying Remus, who sighed.
"That's quite alright Padfoot," he said in a dignified tone, before settling against the tree again, closing his eyes. Narcissa was confused. What was wrong with Remus? She wasn't even doing anything with her cousin - that would just be wrong, in more ways than one. So what, they had a laugh together - was that really such a crime?

Evidently so.
They had no more lessons for that day, so they had planned for another trip into Hogsmede. As they began to leave the school grounds, they passed Lucius, and Sirius did yet another magnificent impersonation of him, the hair flick, his chest pushed out, strutting along as if he was superior. Narcissa almost cried with laughter with James and Wormtail, but Remus did not look paticularly amused. He kept glancing at his wristwatch edgily, eyebrow raised as the minutes ticked away faster and faster. Lucius raised his wand at them all, but his eyes rested on Narcissa.
"Narcissa, dearest," he purred, and Narcissa was uncannily reminded of Sirius's earlier impression. She tried her hardest to keep a straight face.
"Yes, darling?
Lucius looked delighted; evidently missing the sarcastic tones in her voice.
"I knew you were too good for him," he pointed at Remus with his wand, "I knew you'd come to me in the end."
"You wish," retorted Narcissa crisply, slipping her hand through Remus's. Lucius's face fell in a strange sort of way, before turning away and marching off without another word. Remus looked glum. "I've got to get going, soon."
"Aw, Moony," James wheedled, "come for a butterbeer. Just one."
"Just one?"
"Yes."
Remus sighed again. "Okay, okay."
So, off they went. Their Butterbeers had been bought and consumed quickly; so Remus ended up having more than "just one." He looked slightly tipsy, intoxxicated from the sweetness of the warm drink. He had to go after a few hours; he had to meet Dumbledore for the potion and to keep away from the others until the next morning. He seemed sorry for treating Narcissa with little respect, so he pulled her close to him and embraced her tenderly, before bidding farewell.