Written for the Hogwarts Forum
Writing Club, Showtime "Aaron Burr, Sir" ("Talk less, smile more.")
Roald Dahl Event (Word: impossible; ticket prompts: Bell, fancy, bad, flower)
Love in Motion (LuciusNarcissa)
523 words
"Talk less," Bellatrix says sagely. "Smile more. It will show him you're the perfect little Pureblood, darling Cissy."
Andromeda snorts, eyes rolling. "That's terrible advice," she says flatly. "If she does that, Lucius won't know anything about her."
Narcissa looks between her sisters. Bellatrix is the oldest, so there's no way her advice can be bad, she decides. "Just… smile?"
"And talk as little as possible," Bellatrix confirms.
The youngest of the three nods, swallowing dryly. It seems like pretty sound advice. Lucius was brought up to care for the traditional things, just like Narcissa. Surely he will see her behaving like a meek Pureblood, and it will be enough to make him fall in love with her.
"I think I'm ready," Narcissa decides, lacing her fingers together, trying for a smile.
"I can hear the wedding bells already," Bellatrix assures her.
…
"And that's when Father told me- Narcissa, are you okay?"
Narcissa smiles sweetly, nodding. "Perfectly fine."
His eyes narrow slightly. The corners of his lips turn downward into an uncertain frown. Narcissa makes an impatient gesture for him to continue the story, but he doesn't.
Her heart hammers in her chest. Has she somehow managed to ruin the evening already? She doesn't understand how. She's done everything Bellatrix suggested.
"You're quiet," he explains. "And, while you have a beautiful smile, you usually don't smile this much."
"I'm just showing my interest in what you have to say," she assures him, inwardly groaning. What if she's said too much now?
Lucius is quiet for a moment. They pass by the lake, and Narcissa shivers as a chilly breeze tickles her skin. "Do you know why I enjoy your company?" he asks, pulling his jacket off and draping it over her shoulders.
Dozens of generic responses come to mind, all things Narcissa has heard from a handful of admirers over the years. You're beautiful. You're pretty. We'll have the loveliest babies together one day.
Somehow, she has the feeling these aren't the answers Lucius is looking for. Narcissa shakes her head, remaining silent.
"You were always so witty," Lucius answers. "I loved that about you. There's this passion when you speak; have you ever noticed? Your eyes light up, and your smile reaches your eyes a little more."
Narcissa feels the gentle heat creep into her cheeks. Her lips quirk into a faint smile. "You like it when I talk?" she asks. "When I have opinions?"
Lucius laughs, pausing to pluck a pink flower from the ground. He tucks it behind Narcissa's ear, nodding. "I love it. It's why I fancy you."
Her heart flutters like mad in her chest. Getting Lucius to fall in love with her has always seemed like an impossible task, and yet… "All I had to do was be myself?"
"You're the girl I care for, so I'd rather you not be someone else," he whispers before cupping her face in his hands and leaning closer, their lips meeting in a chaste kiss.
…
"For the record," Narcissa tells Andromeda, "I'm coming to you for relationship advice from now on."
Her older sister smirks. "Told you so."