A few hours and many reprimands later, Narcissa found herself, side-by-side Lucius Malfoy, in Professor Sophronia Septima’s office, the Charms professor. Lucius stood stiffly, his head high as always, radiating his arrogance out towards everyone within a ten mile radius. This time, however, his expression was tainted with humiliation. Narcissa could tell because of the slight crunch of his nose. She smiled, unable to hide the euphoric feeling of shunning his pride.
“Ms. Black!” Professor Septima snapped, making Narcissa jump. A stern lady she was, with crystal grey eyes that were enhanced by a long, pointy hat. She held up a bony finger and pointed it at Narcissa. “This is not a humorous matter! Stunning students is not allowed, and after six years here at Hogwarts, you’re expected to know that.”
“I’m sorry, Professor. I was provoked.”
“Provoked? Well if I went around stunning every witch or wizard who provoked me, there’d be none left, now would there? Now, due to unfortunate circumstances, the Head of your House, Professor Slughorn, is not present at the moment, which leaves me to take action for your behavior. And be thankful it is not Professor McGonagall you’re dealing with,” she pointed out as Narcissa opened her mouth to protest.
Narcissa sighed a subtle sigh. Why did the Head Girl of Slytherin House, Clilia Hormitch, who also happened to be her sworn enemy, have to walk by when she had stunned Malfoy? She could still see the smug look on Cilia’s face as she’d reported her.
“Your actions require consequences, Ms. Black," Professor Septima said, snapping Narcissa back into her head. "This is unacceptable. The both of you will serve detention tonight after the feast.”
“The both of us?” cut in Lucius, speaking up for the first time.
“Yes, Mr. Malfoy. If I recall correctly, you did participate in provoking Ms. Black, did you not?”
“I-“ he stuttered, blinking vigorously.
“Did you not, Mr. Malfoy?” Professor Septima interrupted.
Lucius’s jaw tightened as he held back the urge to justify himself. Narcissa began tapping her foot, her patience draining. Her stomach growled, and she grasped herself, famished.
“Yes,” he replied rigidly, swallowing hard.
“Well then, you will both tidy up the Great Hall after the feast, without magic.”
“Without magic?!” Narcissa exclaimed, her mouth hanging open. “But Professor, that’ll take hours!”
“Plenty of time to think about the seriousness of what you have done.” She turned to face Lucius. “Mr. Malfoy, if you have a problem with this arrangement, you may always disregard yourself from Quidditch practice for a week.”
“No, Professor,” Lucius quickly assured her. “I’m quite content with cleaning the Great Hall.”
Narcissa rolled her eyes. Of course, as captain of the Quidditch team, not to mention the most skilled and undefeated seeker of the entire school, Lucius Malfoy couldn’t afford to miss out on one bloody Quidditch practice. Narcissa rolled her eyes again, arms crossed.
“Very well, you are dismissed,” Professor Septima said irritably, waving her hand. “Oh, and Ms. Black, don’t force me to take away House Points when term hasn’t even started.”
“Wait,” Nixie said, abruptly swallowing a piece of chicken. “You have to clean this entire hall without a wand? By hand?”
“Yes,” moaned Narcissa, putting her head down once more. The Sorting Hat’s song hadn’t been as vibrant this year for Narcissa. But then again, neither had the actual sorting, or the food…or anything! In fact, she just wanted the feast to end so she could get detention over with.
“Well, on the bright side, at least you’re not serving detention with some Muggle-born,” Nixie shrugged, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
“He’s worse,” Narcissa complained, her words muffled.
“Oh for goodness sake, Cissy,” Vesper said, filling Narcissa’s plate with pumpkin pasties. “At least eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” Narcissa said stubbornly, pushing away her plate.
“I wouldn’t be hungry either if I had to spend my first day back with Malfoy,” Drew sympathized, popping a pastry in his mouth.
Narcissa groaned at the mention of his name. She glanced over at him. He was sitting a few seats down, his expression much like hers. He sat still and stoic, his plate empty and spotless. He as well hadn’t touched anything. It was nice to know they had one thing in common: they despised each other.
“He doesn’t, does he?” she said, meeting Lucius’s icy stare. He held her gaze, lifeless, until she ripped her eyes away and looked down. She was afraid she might stun him again.
The feast finally ended after what felt like years. Lucius and Narcissa stayed seated as the hall emptied. Nixie, Vesper, and Drew waved good-bye with sorry faces and headed towards the Slytherin common room. To make things worse, Narcissa caught sight of Cilia Hormitch’s complacency as she passed her by. Narcissa sighed. There went her friends, off to the cozy arms of their beds where they would be kept warm by the fireplace. She pitied herself. It was terrible. When the hall was completely deserted, she stood up and faced the big blonde beast.
She decided it best to say nothing and get started straightaway. Where to begin? Should she gather the goblets or stack the plates? Professor Septima had taken both Lucius’s and her wands so they wouldn’t even attempt to use any magic. Narcissa shook her head. For the first time in her life, she actually felt bad for Muggles. They had to do things like this every day. She glanced over at Lucius and froze when she realized that he still hadn’t moved from his seat.
“Do you not know how to clean a mess without your wand, Malfoy, or are you just so used to the hoard of house-elves your family has collected over the years?”
“My family doesn’t concern you, Black,” he spit out coldly, standing up.
Something about Lucius Malfoy had changed. He’d always been rude and arrogant, but never this cold. He seemed different, one might even say…tense.
“You’re awfully snappy this year. Pressure on you to win the Quidditch Cup, is there?” Narcissa taunted daringly, pushing her limit.
“Says the witch who can’t fly,” Lucius retorted, clanking a pile of plates on the side of the table.
“I can fly,” Narcissa said matter-of-factly, placing her hands on her hips.
“You’re joking, right? I don’t ever remember seeing you at a Quidditch match in all these years.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re always so focused on yourself, you arrogant barbarian,” Narcissa spat at him. “Oh, and next time you confront Drew, don’t you dare use his blood status against him. He may be a half-blood, but he’s a more honorable half-blood than you are a pure-blood.”
Surprisingly, Lucius didn’t argue back. In fact, he just stood there, staring at Narcissa and lost deep in thought. She turned around to continue cleaning before Lucius suddenly spoke up.
“You don't know the first real thing about Drew. If you knew what I know, you wouldn't be defending him so pathetically,” Lucius gritted, his eyes slashing across Narcissa's taken aback expression.
"How silly of me, but it sounds as if you were proposing the mere idea of you two having been acquainted in the past."
"Why don't you ask him yourself? You won't be acting so warm with him once you realize the truth," he smirked, snatching up a goblet.
Narcissa simply stared at him. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t remember Lucius and Drew as friends, or anything of the sort. She couldn’t even imagine it, the thought! Nonetheless, she desperately wanted to know more.
“You’re lying,” she said instead, regretting the words as soon as they’d left her mouth.
His jaw tightened at the accusation. Turning his back to her, he went on gathering the ocean of silverware that lay motionless before him.
And with that, they continued on cleaning the Great Hall. They tidied up in utter silence, Narcissa too lost in thought to say a word, and Lucius too angry to.
By the time they had finished detention, it was nearly two in the morning. Narcissa was in an intensely grumpy mood, and she dreaded the exhaustion she would face tomorrow on the first day of classes.
Together, Lucius and Narcissa made their way through the castle. It was pitch black and silent, and embarrassingly enough for Narcissa to admit, spooky. But she felt a strange sense of security, being with Lucius. Probably because if any evil were lurking nearby, it wasn’t as evil as Lucius Malfoy. That ought to scare it away.
After walking through the dungeons, they finally reached the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. They both stood there awkwardly, waiting for something to happen.
“Don’t look at me,” Narcissa whispered. “I don’t know the new password.”
“Well neither do I,” sighed Lucius, leaning against the wall.
“What do you mean?” she asked, panic overwhelming her lucid mindset.
“I mean,” Lucius started, taking a step toward her, “we get to spend our first night back to Hogwarts…together.”
A/N: WOOHOO! I finally had time to update guys! I was literally dyinggg when the queue was closed, but now that it's open I am SO HAPPY ^.^ Please, read and REVIEW. Tell me your thoughts, feel free to criticize, just be nice about it :3
What do you think will happen during their first night back together?
Do you think they will get close and cuddly, or do you think they will fight?
Will Narcissa stun him again, or maybe he will stun her?
Let me knowwwww loves xx
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