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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 3, 2004 18:09:22 GMT -5
It was only the night before when she had found out the true reason for a certain Malfoy's absence. Found out that the reason he had left was in fact a defendable one, and one that did not warrant such an attitude from she, herself, Narcissa Black.
But what else was to be expected? She may be a witch, but she was mind-reader. Only when she had rambled on about his ignorance of her had he finally given in to tell her of the disastrous news. She had slept little that night because of it. Now, in the following morning, she sat at the near emptied Slytherin table in the Great Hall -- after a sumptuous breakfast, mind you -- a few of her friends sitting around and chattering quietly whilst she sat straight-backed, a book between her two hands.. yet her focus ultimately elsewhere. She could not forget Lucius' words; the news he had told her so suddenly after she asked to be informed. Nor could anything she say fix what had happened. Accepting the inevitable around the midnight hour of the recently-passed evening, Narcissa flipped a page of her book, eyes scanning the words easily, though not taking in their true meaning. The book was titled, if one could read the spine, "Amelia Vahltrout: A Biography". It so happened that Vahltrout was a witch reknowned for her studies in languages -- having since learned to speak a variety of Giant, and effective speaking with House Elves. It would have enthralled Narcissa, usually, as she herself envied the languages of the world, though she took a particular liking to French. Not with so many things on her mind at the current time could she focus, however.
Where was he now? The question hardly needed an answer. Likely catching up with his studying and homework he had missed: thankfully, it was now a weekend, and a Hogsmeade trip was planned, though she doubted he would have any interest in attending with her. Even such an expedition hardly held her interest for more than a few minutes; her friends' chatter about the various stores and whatsits they would like to buy hardly even entering her ears. She had more important things to worry about. Shaking her head slightly, she pulls her loose french braid over a shoulder, eyes not lifting from the pages of the book she held, lips eversoslightly moving in a silent murmur.
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Post by Lucius on Sept 3, 2004 23:24:53 GMT -5
Honestly, Lucius was curious as to how Narcissa would be taking the news that she had found out last night. Since, after she had caught up to him in the hall, he had left soon after and they hadn't really talked. So he kind of wondered what she was going to say the previous night, and how she was feeling this morning.
Morning? Well, wonderful. He had almost missed all of breakfast and he was quite hungry, after skipping dinner and not eating much at his parents for certain reasons. Jumping out of his bed, the rest of the dorm gone...long gone, he let loose quite a string of curses for various things and various reasons. After managing to get a shower in before breakfast was completely up and dressing he started down various corridors to get to the Great Hall. Sure, his hair was still damp and when he ran a hand through it, the almost platinum blonde locks stayed against his head. An unusual look for him, but at this moment he didn't care all too much. Now that was unusual. Looking at the nearly empty table with now wide away silver eyes, thanks to the shower, he noted Narcissa sitting amongst a group of friends. Sitting down the same bench as she he looked at the table.
It was amazing how long the food would stay put out. Not that he was complaining right now, as he decided that a glass of coffee would work very well for this moment. And that actually seemed to be enough right now. At least that is what he decided, as Lucius said at the table, eyes staying fixed on an unknown place on the wall, sipping the coffee. Not even caring that the caffeine filled liquid was burning his tongue, since his mind was preoccupied.
((Muahaha...caffeine is bad at this time of night.))
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 1:42:36 GMT -5
His mind wasn't the only one, however, that had a thing or two to ponder about.
Flipping another page of her book, she hardly glances up from the pages to notice that Lucius had come into the Great Hall, late mind you, and looking as if he had stepped right out of the shower, no doubt. Which caught the attention of a few of her friends, needless to say that it wasn't everyday one saw Monsieur Malfoy imperfect and not completely kempt and prim. It, too, even caught the attention of Narcissa. For which, she decided hastily, to return her focus to her book and the writings of a certain Amelia Vahltrout. Ah, so he had come to sit on the same bench as herself. No doubt to make her feel guilty for her actions. Damn. She was thinking of him again. Note to self: Remember to keep focused and composure at all times, do not be led astray by distractions. Such was the thread of thought of her own for the current time -- focusing more on that than paying attention to the line in her book she had reread half a dozen times over.
Blinking to release herself from her trance, she finally begins to read down the rest of her page. To no success. Calmly, she lowers her book slightly so that the bottom edge rested on the table as she cast a quick glance at Lucius before looking straight ahead at a different spot on the wall, ignoring the alluring scent of coffee that she had, up until now, ignored.
"Well well, Lucius. Aren't you the sensual one this morning? Wet lockes and all." She said with a small hint of amusement, teasing in a playful manner that she was reknowned for. It kept her from saying straight out, that is, how sorry she was for behaving so badly this past evening. And not to mention how ridiculous his own actions were. Hold your tongue, Narcissa, honestly.
Fingers clench on the edges of her book for a moment, her posture immaculate. "I'm.. I'd like to apologize for my behaviour last night, Lucius. It was most uncalled for and quite improper." .. Not to mention it broke her heart to act coldly on such standards for herself when everything else inside her was warning and telling her against it.
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Post by Lucius on Sept 4, 2004 12:50:12 GMT -5
Ah ha, so that was what drew attention to him. His damp hair. Oh well, Lucius had expected that to happen...not that he minded too much at the moment. Which honestly, he didn't mind it much at all. Besides, he doubted it looked bad on him.
Once he heard Narcissa speak, he gave a slight smirk. Glancing side ways he noted that her gaze was kept squarely on the wall, much like his had been but in a different place. "I thought I'd try something new," he started with a smirk, more than a hint of sarcasm evident in his voice. "Honestly I think the slicked back style works for me," and with that he drew his slender fingers through his hair once more. Conceited? Maybe, or perhaps he was just trying to ignore any comments about how he looked right now. But really now, only his hair was different than usual...was it that noticeable? Apparently so. Oh, the attention he got was quite enjoyable usually.
"That's all right," Lucius said with a slight nod her way. "You had no way of knowing what had happened," he said not feeling the need to elaborate and let anyone here know of the death in the family. Once again he let his eyes drift off as he slowly sipped on the cup of coffee. It would be amazing if either of them could bring themselves to talk about what had happened, with how stubborn they were.
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 13:03:32 GMT -5
It was this sort of reconciliation, this confirming of her thoughts that led her to allow a wave of relief sweep over her - he had obviously condoned it not so terrible that she had no chance of knowing what had happened until he had told her. Nevertheless, her expression remains more or less the same, though her blue-grey gaze drifts downwards to rest on the pages of her book once again, lifting it slightly for the bottom edge to be off the table yet again.
Lifting an eyebrow at him, she finally turns her head to look at him fully, a small, hidden smile on her lips. "Well, be that as it may, I still like when it's dry and prim." And with that, she glances back at her book, only to replace the leather bookmark between the pages she had been staring at for the past few minutes and snapping the book shut quietly. Rising from her seat at the bench, she casts a quick glance over to the doors leading out of the Great Hall before walking over the short distance to where Lucius sat, quite obviously having no intention of leaving until he was ready to do so himself. Wrapping her arms loosely about his neck, she leans over one shoulder to put her cheek near to his, sighing contentedly.
"I may be wonderful, amazing and good at most anything.. but mind reading, my dear, is still far off." Pressing a light kiss to his cheek she then stands up fully yet again, unwrapping her arms and resting her hands on his shoulders gingerly. A snicker or two from her friends had followed, but they soon resumed speaking excitedly about the upcoming trip, basically ignoring the newcomer and their friend entirely.
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Post by Lucius on Sept 4, 2004 19:50:33 GMT -5
"You know you like my hair right now," Lucius said with a small smile, though still didn't remove his gaze from the spot on the wall that was just oh so entertaining.
As he felt her arms wrap loosing around his neck, he smiled slightly and kissed her hand gently, the rested his right hand atop hers. Leaning his head to the side slightly, so that his own cheek was against hers he smirked slightly hearing the sigh. "Ah, well my love I am quite sure you will become wonderful, amazing, and good at mind reading in no time flat," he said and let her arms slip out from under his hand as she stood up.
Looking over to the side where her friends had snickered he scowled slightly, but turned back to face Narcissa. Turning around on the bench to look directly at her, and taking her hands in his instead of having them resting lightly on his shoulder, he gave her a small smile. "Well I take it you are done with breakfast," he said and stood, up releasing one of her hands and placing his around her shoulder still holding her other hand. "And I can just eat during the field trip," he commented, which was as much of an open invitation she'd get to go with him there.
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 20:08:18 GMT -5
".. I must already be a mind-reader, I suppose. For I expected somewhat of an answer like that.." She says with a small smirk of her own in return for his comment about her being able to mind read, clearly amused and having forgotten nearly everything about the night before.
Narcissa nods at his words about her being finished with breakfast, though noticed that he himself had hardly eaten anything and only had a bit of his coffee. Thus, when he stood to place an arm around her shoulders, she leaned into him slightly, if only to guide him back to the table, her hand loosening from his and gesturing at the table where still a vast array of breakfast foods were displayed. "Come come, Lucius, you need a good breakfast. And you didn't even finish your coffee.." She said with a small hint of a frown, looking down at the half-empty cup left at his spot at the table that he had abandoned upon standing up.
Casting a wayward glance at her friends, they had since begun standing up from the table, snatching an extra roll or two for later before nodding formally to Narcissa and Lucius, making their way out of the Hall, no doubt to grab their cloaks and other whatnots to prepare for the walk down to Hogsmeade. Narcissa could care less, however, as she was perfectly content to be here with Lucius' arm around her shoulder. Yet.. he hadn't eaten. And that fact refused to let her alone. "Go on, now. Most of it's still warm. We can grab some lunch later on in Hogsmeade."
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Post by Lucius on Sept 4, 2004 21:13:16 GMT -5
"Oh, you my dear must be the most talented person in the world," Lucius said with a smile at her comment about being a mind reader already. This was quite nice, since the awkwardness of the night before seemed to be forgotten by the both of them now.
When she leaned into him he knew right away she was trying to lead him back to the table to eat, so he allowed her to make him sit back on the bench. "I assure you that I'm perfectly fine," he said with a smile. "And I can have breakfast down in Hogsmeade, since whatever I eat first will technically be breakfast." Though, knowing that wouldn't go over well most likely, he grabbed the cup of coffee and started to drink it, watching her.
"I've finished my coffee now," he said arching his eyebrows, "or does that not satisfy you?" he finished in a smirk once more. Standing up showing he expected on leaving the Great Hall anyway, he gave a slight shrug. "Besides, I'm not hungry right this instant," and his stomach gave a quiet complaint to that comment though he started off anyway.
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 21:23:16 GMT -5
She could not help but grin in spite of herself as he allowed her to lead him back to the table, and while he sat, she did so as well, sitting with poise and an attentiveness that only after years of practice and strict discipline had she managed to perfect. Watching him drink down the coffee, just as he was watching her watch him, Narcissa can't help but think that in some small way, she had won. Not a battle or a fight, but showed some kind of power or hold over him. And that, it seemed, consoled her.
Stubborn. Both of them. For as soon as he stood, she noticed his determined aire and stands up as well, though with an eyebrow quirked curiously. Following him off down the aisle leading to the doors, she catches up to walk alongside him, leaning slightly into him again, her opposite hand coming to tap his stomach lightly with her palm. "Liar." She states simply, a smirk of her own to match his, glancing up at his face with blue-grey optics that were now glittering with some sort of unseen amusement. Walking out of the Great Hall, she noticed with mild surprise that some students were already gathering, talking in excited voices, cloaks on to ward off the late-autumn weather.
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Post by Lucius on Sept 4, 2004 21:59:07 GMT -5
Had he really let her win such a victory? Lucius didn't know but it sure did seem that way, since Narcissa seemed oddly satisfied that he had drank the cup of coffee.
He continued to walk down the aisle, and then as she leaned into his slightly he wrapped his arm around her shoulders once more. Though he slowed slightly and tensed his stomach muscled as she tapped his stomach lightly. "I am a liar now?" he asked arching an eyebrow and looking down to her.
((Sorry it's so short.))
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 22:26:08 GMT -5
"Your stomach speaks the truth." Narcissa comments offhandedly, tilting her head just enough to glance up at his face and show her small smile.
Some professors were amongst the students, ushering some along while others sheparded groups of excited third-years, their eyes wide with curiousity and anticipation, some even too excited to utter a single word. Narcissa kept her posture as she walks past a few such clumps with Lucius, seeing no need to lower herself to encourage them or tell them that Hogsmeade was actually quite a small wizarding village considering the wizarding world as a whole was so diverse. But no, such comments would be kept to herself for she was happy as a clam right where she was. He, too, though he had shown no signs of knowing, held a power over her that was ever-heightened with each silent look of appreciation, or even small gesture of affection. Thus, the two were even.
"I need to get back to the common room for my cloak.. I won't be a moment."
Sliding out from under his arm almost reluctantly, she sidles down the hall towards the stairs and descends down to the dungeons, and soon enough into the Slytherin Common Room.
Snatching up both her cloak and Lucius', which had been hanging neatly at his bedside, she pulls on her own, hanging his over her arm whilst she makes her way back up the stairs and to where the masses of students were forming. Approaching him, she extends her arm with his cloak draped over it, more than happy to have done the favor.
{No worries xD I foresee that mine shall be equally as short in the near future.. heh.}
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Post by Lucius on Sept 4, 2004 22:43:18 GMT -5
"You speak to stomachs?" Lucius asked with a smirk, arching an eyebrow down at her as she smiled up to him. "And you can't read minds yet...but you talk to stomachs. My, my, my...you are amazing."
As they walked through the crowds of people being herded this way and that, he scowled at the younger students and their jittery actions, not to mention the fact they seemed down right idiotic. Pfft. He hadn't even acted that way in his first year, of course not. After all, his parents had taught him the proper way to act and he did so almost all of the time except on rare occasions. When she slides out from under his arm he gives a slight nod and waits, chatting with a few people though they leave soon enough, being very eager for the trip.
When Narcissa arrives with his cloak he suddenly dawns on him that his hair is still damp...and that it would be much colder outside. Pulling out his wand he muttered something and pointed it at his hair, which became dry almost instantly. Placing the wand back in his pocket and running a hand through his slightly long hair to straighten it. "Happy?" he asked with a small smile taking the cloak from her arm. "Thanks," he added with a nod putting it on.
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 22:53:22 GMT -5
When she had returned, she notices him raise his wand to be pointing at his head and her stomach gives a most unwelcome lurch-- oh. It was to dry his hair. That made more sense than she cared to admit. Luckily for her, her expression was the same and thus she was safe from him knowing that she actually worried about him for that moment. Not like he would do anything like that, anyway. She had no reason to jump like that -- or rather her stomach -- but it still happened. Maybe.. it was because she more than cared for him... Pushing away such thoughts immediately, she grins snidely.
"As per usual, your charm, wit and sarcasm astound me." She says in a near-monotone, meant in a joking manner as her grin gave away such.
"Muchly so." She replies in regard to his swift hair-drying method, admitting to herself that she actually did enjoy when his hair was dry compared to when it was damp. This, however, she would keep to herself. Fastening the clasp of her cloak more securely she starts off along with the masses being herded through the doors which were swung wide open, admitting a low gust into the hall, fluttering robes, cloaks and hair alike. Narcissa, luckily, had her hair tied back in a braid slung over a shoulder, and thus had no such problem with the wind.
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Post by Lucius on Sept 4, 2004 23:07:31 GMT -5
"Well, my charm, wit, and sarcasm are all amazingly astounding things, as with everything else about me," Lucius commented smirking though his tone was slightly serious. Though his smirk quickly turned into an actual smile, almost like he couldn't help it since if he could then it most likely wouldn't have shown since there really wasn't a reason for him to be smiling. Well, there was...
"Do you like my hair that much better dry?" he asked though it would seem random to almost anyone else and like a pointless question. As the door was opened, and his hair began to blow in the wind he was immediately glad that he had dried his hair. Or else it would be very cold. "Chilly out here eh?" he asked in a slightly blank tone.
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Post by NarcissaBlack on Sept 4, 2004 23:18:59 GMT -5
Looking up at him as he asks about his hair, Narcissa raises her eyebrows before settling for a mock-pensieve expression, half-turning while walking to fiddle with some strands of his hair as an artist might with a masterpiece. After a moment's contemplation, she lets out a small noise of indifference before looking back ahead, finally allowing a broad grin to settle across her features. "In fact I do, if you must know."
Nodding in response to his comment on the weather, she wraps her cloak more tightly around herself, grateful for the thick, warm, expensive fabric that it had been made of; even grateful for the small embroidery near her left collarbone bearing the insignia 'N. B' in a cursive script of sorts. Glancing around at the others, she easily caught sight of other students who were not so fortunate in their robes and cloaks, easily labelling them to be having hand-me-downs and other such nonsense. Honestly, it was as if they didn't even /try/ at making their robes look posh. Did some people have no pride? Apparently not. And with a lifting of her chin she suddenly grew aware of the appraising eyes of other students in her house -- specifically males -- and shook it off to be nothing but the usual. It wasn't as if Lucius didn't get his own looks, afterall.
The weather was cold and constant, as if to warn of the upcoming winter months, an occasional dried-out leaf blowing past to further acknowledge the fact.
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