Written for February Event: Teamwork on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Prompts: (dialogue) "You're late." / "You're stunning." / "You're forgiven." and (restriction) Must take place on Valentine's Day

Word count: 1,581

Valentine's Day was closing in and the professors of Hogwarts decided to throw a Valentine's Day Party. Any student was allowed to come if their date was at least in the fifth year or if they were fifteen. This had overall caused excitement amongst the students, especially the girls. The next couple days that was leading up for the dance, were girls picking up dress and trying to get a certain guy, or sometimes girl, to go with them. Others had planned to just go with friends, while others planned matching outfits with their dates. It was also effecting Narcissa who had thought that it was the perfect place to let everyone that they were dating,

"Come on James, don't you think that it'll be nice for everyone to know?" Narcissa asked giving him a pleading look. "Wouldn't it be nice to knock that smug grin off of Lucius's face?"

"Yes, that would be a sight to see." James said. "But I don't like the idea of us coming out that way."

"And why not? It would be so romantic and those girls can finally leave you alone, once they know that you're taken."

James kissed her lips. "If I didn't know any better, I say that you're jealous."

"I have no reason to be jealous." Narcissa snorted. "I know that you love me and have no interest in another girl."

"Then we'll wait to tell everybody. If we tell them during the party, they'll think that it's just for show."

Narcissa sighed, "I supposed you're right. But you'll still be there right?"

"I promise, wouldn't miss it for the world."

During lunch the same day, James brought up the dance.

"You know, I thought that you guys would be a little excited about the party." James said. "After all, I heard that Amelia Bones would be there and that'll be the prefect time for you, Peter, to- what?"

He had stop short at the strange looks that his friends was giving him.

"Prongs we can't go." Remus said slowly. "It's the full moon."

James slowly blinked before cursing. "Remus, I completely forgotten...but I promise Narcissa that I would go with her."

"Well you're going have to cancel on her." Sirius jumped in. "We do this every month in support of Remus, not to mention it takes all three of us to be with him."

"I can't just do that! It's not that easy, not with Narcissa or with any girl. You can't promise them something and then take it back."

Sirius shook his head. "You acted as if I know nothing about women. Trust me, Narcissa will be fine with you changing your plans. Besides you can't pick and chose when you can be a real friend."

James opened his mouth to argue, that Sirius didn't quite know his cousin like he thought he did, before changing his mind. "Fine, I see what I can do."

"Excuse me?"

The blonde girl quickly turned around to stare at her boyfriend. "You're canceling?"

James winced at the tone she was giving him, which was filled with disappointment and hurt. He was walking her to her next class before giving the news, he hadn't finished what he had to say before Narcissa immediately gave her opinion. She didn't need to hear more about the why, because she knew that the way involved around his friends. While she had gotten used to the monthly disappearance that they seemed to have around the full moon, Narcissa hadn't quite got used to constant cancellations. She knew that he was still trying to balance the time he spent between them, but it was still a little disheartening when he had to cancel.

"James, you promise that you'll take me to the dance." Narcissa protest, hating that she sound so whiny.

"I know, but I had forgotten that I had other-" James quickly stopped talking as Malfoy walked towards them.

Narcissa stiffened a groan as the arrogant blond made his way towards her. Lucius Malfoy had decided upon himself that Narcissa was his and nobody else, it anger and annoyed her to no end because he truly believed it. She hated the way his eyes glanced over as he undress her mentally. Cissy had seen that look many times before with Bellatrix, who quite enjoyed it. But she did not and it always left a spark of anger.

"Hello Lucius, how do I owe the pleasure?" Narcissa asked coolly with a tight smile.

Lucius smirked before bowing and took her hand to kiss it, "Really the pleasure is mine. Though I did come here to rescue you from this filth."

Out the corner of her eye, Narcissa noticed the way James balled his hands into fist and only slightly shook her head. The last thing that James needed right now was a detention, where he couldn't go with her or his friends. Not that she couldn't blame him, Lucius always was infuriating without really trying.

"There's no need for that, we were already departing." Narcissa answered. "Though for your efforts, you can take me the rest of the way to my class."

"I'll be delighted to." Lucius said offering his arm.

Narcissa gingerly took it before they walked away, she turned her head back to meet James's eyes to say: we finish this talk later.

"She didn't take it well." James sighed waving his wand around.

"That's understandable," Remus replied. "It's becoming a regular occurrence with you always canceling on her. And that's why I've decided that's okay if you miss this full moon."

James's mouth dropped in shock, "What?"

"I said that it's fine that you miss this one." Remus said with amusement. "After all you don't want to leave her at a party with Lucius. He would surely take advantage of your absences and make his move on Narcissa."

"Narcissa isn't the one to fall for any of his tricks."

"But it's not Narcissa, we're worrying about. Lucius seems like the guy that does what he wants with or without permission."

James was silent for a moment, as he remembered what had happened earlier. Maybe he should have punched Lucius in the face when he had a chance.

"Thanks again Moony." James said with a smile

"It's okay if you go with them."

For the second time that day James was shock, he stared at Narcissa with disbelief. They had went to the Room of Requirements to discuss what was to happen on Valentine's Day. James was about to tell her that he had the green light, when she blurted it out. Even though she didn't sound like she was okay with it, the look in her eyes said otherwise. She was perfectly fine with him going with his friends, if he promised her plans on making things up to her. Narcissa couldn't still figure out why the Marauders were so secretive, but came to terms with it. Narcissa didn't want him to feel like he had choose between her and his friends, and gave him permission to do whatever he had to do with his friends.

If only she knew of the predicament that she had just placed him in. He stared deep into her blue eyes, before deciding right there on the sport.

"I've decided that I will go to the dance." James said. "The rest of the Marauders are fine with me going."

Narcissa sighed in relief, before looking guilty. "No, you should go with them. I don't want to ruin-"

"You've ruined nothing Cissy." James reassured her as he pulled her into an embrace. "I promise you I'll take you to the dance and I will."

Narcissa bit back a smile, "Are you sure?"

"Positive,"

James had lied to Narcissa when he said that everybody was fine with the decision. As he got ready for the dance, Sirius glared at him. He saw it as James abandoning the rest of the Marauders for a girl. It didn't matter that it was his cousin or the fact that Remus said it was again. Sirius saw it as a tradition and way of saying that they would be together until the very end. Sirius saw it as betrayal and refused to say anything to James before he left. This had caused James to feel upset and torn at the decision that he had made. The negative feelings almost immediately went at the sight of Narcissa waiting outside of The Great Hall.

She looked absolutely stunning with her white blond hair pulled into a loose bun and she wore black eyeliner that brought out her pale blue eyes. The dress that she was wearing stopped at her knees and was light blue. Narcissa looked slightly annoyed at his lateness, but James could still see a hint of a smile.

"You're late." Narcissa said. "People were staring at me, wondering why on earth would I be standing out here waiting on somebody. You do realize that the Blacks wait on nobody?"

James smiled at her as he wrapped an arm around her and kissed her. "You're stunning."

Narcissa blushed before rolling her eyes. "You're forgiven."