Fatal Flower

Fatal Flower, Chapter 1: the Slyth route

Shaking of a spell of dizziness, Narcissa had taken Lucius' hand. He had flashed her the most amazing smile in the world and soon they were discussing their lives while reclining in the grass. Lucius was a young hotshot at the ministry and Narcissa was afraid that her stories about her stupid Muggle stepfather and her pathetic adolescent life would bore him to death, but he actually seemed interested. Then, while she was rambling on about her real father's book collection, he reached out and removed a piece of grass from her hair.

Narcissa thought she would melt into a puddle right there. Was he actually playing with her hair? He was, oh Merlin! She completely lost her train of thought and fell silent.

"I like your hair," he told her.

"I like yours too," she replied. Oh, stupid! Stupid! Why couldn't she have said something more intelligent?

"Oh, I just wear it this way to irritate my father. He reckons I'll grow out of my rebellious phase soon."

Narcissa watched him moisten his lips and held her breath, but before anything could happen, Gibbula showed up and informed Narcissa it was time to go, giving Lucius the evil eye. As she literally dragged her friend away, Gibby said:

"Better not get involved with people like him, Cissa. He's bad news."

Narcissa smiled. She was convinced Gibbula was just jealous that she was getting attention for a change. When the girls were safely out of range Lucius turned to his friend Harry.

"You keep your hands off her this year, Angler. This one's mine."

"Skinny girl?" Harry replied, "what could you possibly want from her? Please don't tell me you've got the Marco Polo syndrome; wanting to explore untouched terrain? You're not that jaded are you, Malfoy?"

Lucius just smiled. His friend never appreciated the rare and unusual things in life, but with one comment, Lucius had made Narcissa a whole lot more interesting to Harry.

The next day Narcissa got up early for her trip to Hogwarts. She had barely slept that night as she kept going over her conversation with Lucius again and again. He'd put a tingly feeling in her insides, made her feel alive again. She was just about to go downstairs to catch the Knight bus to King's Cross station, when a large eagle owl tapped on her window. It carried a small brown package and a card. First she opened up the card which read:

From an admirer of things rare and unusual. Keep this in a shady spot and one day it will open up for you.

L.M.

She ripped open the package with great excitement, her heart pounding fast and her breath held. It contained a frail green plant that had coiled it's self around a stick. At the end of each branch there was a tiny dark bud. It was potted in a simple, round pot with a golden Chinese character on it. The owl nipped Narcissa, bringing her back to reality.

"I'm sorry owl, I have no time to reply. I'll write him when I get to Hogwarts."

The owl gave an irritated hoot and flew off. Quickly gathering her things and her cat, Narcissa left the empty house and hailed the Knight bus. Her mother didn't even bother seeing her off anymore and she was happy to leave this decrepit hell hole for another year.

"Three more years. Just three more years and you'll never have to go back there again," she thought to herself.

It didn't take long to get to the train station. Narcissa calmly walked through the wall that lead to platform 9 3/4. She had nothing to look back at, no one to wave goodbye to, so she simply took her seat in the Hogwarts express. Ten minutes later Gibbula finally arrived, flinging herself around Narcissa's neck.

"Oh my, Cissa! Did you lose weight? I can feel your spine through your robes! You have to tell me how you did that."

Triumph! Someone noticed! Narcissa gave her friend a cunning smile. Gibby sat down across from her and put her chubby little legs up. At that moment Harry Angler entered their compartment.

"Bugger off, Harry! We don't want you here!" Gibbula said.

"Hello Narcissa. How are you today?" he said, ignoring Gibbula completely.

Narcissa smiled shyly and tucked some blonde hairs behind her ear.

"Get out, you pig!" Gibbula yelled, pushing their fellow Slytherin out of the compartment. "Cissa you must be spreading pheromones or something. It seems like you won't be leaving Hogwarts a virgin this year."

"Oh shut up, Gibby! Just pass me one of those magazines, will you?"

They spent the next hour reading old copies of Witch Weekly and humming popular songs. From time to time Pantera would jump on their laps as if to say:

"Look at me! Look at me! Cats hate magazines, pay attention to ME!"

Finally the snack trolley rolled by. Gibbula bought some chocolate frogs and popped one in her mouth.

"Aren't you having any?" she said with her mouth full of chocolate.

"No thanks, I'm saving my appetite for the feast tonight."

Gibbula looked at her strangely, then spit out her frog into a tissue.

"You're right, Cissa. I could lose a few pounds if only I didn't eat so many sweets."

They returned to their reading and for the last bit of the way, Narcissa had to take a nap. Her energy returned, however when they pulled into Hogsmeade station. The fresh air and the familiar sight of the castle in the distance were enough to get everyone excited and as soon as they had reached the castle, the students darted to their familiar dorms to settle in. Then it was down to the Great Hall where the old ritual of sorting would take place once again. It was Narcissa's fifth year, though and she'd seen it all before. All she could think about was the food. All she ever thought about was food and...well maybe Lucius Malfoy.

Time flew at Hogwarts. Soon Gibbula and Narcissa were looking forward to the first Hogsmeade weekend and as usual they were hanging out by the Great Hall, collecting lists for the Slyth route. A fourth year Hufflepuff approached them.

"Eh, hello. I'm here to hand you a list." she said.

Gibbula turned to Narcissa and smiled.

"What list? What are you talking about?" she replied.

The Hufflepuff looked around and lowered her voice.

"You know, for the Slyth route. It's like the Silk route, everyone knows about it."

"There's no such thing as the Slyth route," Gibbula said.

"Yes, go away, Huffy! Nice try!" Narcissa added and both girls broke out into laughter as they walked away.

The next day they followed the large crowd going out to Hogsmeade.

"Gibby, why do I always have to go? Couldn't you go for a change?" Narcissa whined.

"No! Our contact knows you best. Besides, you look the oldest by far. Go on! Don't make him wait!"

Narcissa sighed and headed off for the Shrieking Shack by herself. There was a shady guy with a large green backpack waiting for her. She stopped several feet away from him and nodded. He nodded back. Narcissa felt a rush of adrenaline as she started walking towards him. In one swift motion she handed him a moneybag full of Galleons and he handed her the backpack. She threw it over her shoulder and headed back to the castle, constantly looking around to see if she'd been noticed, but as always, she made it back to the castle without trouble.

Several first years were already waiting for her in the Slytherin common room. One by one they collected the goods they had ordered. Then, Severus Snape, a seventh year entered the room and the first years scattered away with their contraband merchandise as Snape was quite an unpleasant person. Narcissa looked up.

"Did you manage to get my two items?" Snape said with a shifty look around the room.

"Yes," Narcissa answered and she handed him two smelly, brown parcels from the backpack.

Snape tucked them deep into his robes and dashed out of the room.

"He's just weird," Narcissa thought to herself.

Next in line was Harry Angler who had ordered no less than ten bottles of K8. She handed him the red bottles with green figures on them.

"Harry, next time you want this much K8, I suggest you get it yourself. Do you know how heavy they made the backpack?"

"Oh, come on. I only got this much because I was going to invite you to have some with me."

He smiled at her. Why was he smiling at her? What should she say? He never paid her any attention before. Thoughts were racing through Narcissa's head and she could feel blood rush to her face.

"Well are you coming or aren't you?

She shook her head as if to clear it and decided to take him up on his invitation. So many nights she'd been lonely in her dorm and this was the best looking boy in her House.

He led her down the stairs to the boys dorms. She was nervous. She didn't have much experience in talking to boys. Where was Gibbula when she needed her? It was cold down there and Narcissa trembled as Harry opened two bottles of K8.

"Are you nervous?" he asked with a smile.

Before she could answer he had grabbed her by the waist. Narcissa trembled more than she'd ever done before.

"What about Lucius?" she asked.

"What about him?" Harry said as he moved closer to her.

"He sent me a plant."

Harry threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Do you think you're the only girl he sends gifts? Are you truly that naive?"

It stung to hear those words, but she knew he was probably right, so when he leaned forward and kissed her, she let him. He pushed his tongue inside her mouth.

"Oh, Merlin. This is really happening. This is actually happening. I wonder what we'll do in Transfiguration tomorrow," Narcissa thought to herself.

Narcissa thought of many things during the minutes of the kiss. She thought of her grades and her Potions paper that was due on monday. She thought about the best recipe for a mushroom omelet and how she hadn't written Lucius since she arrived at Hogwarts. Basically she thought about anything but the kiss it's self. As Harry began touching her now, she wanted to tear herself away. She wasn't strong enough to force her arms and legs to move. Then, to great relief of Narcissa, Folbius Crabbe entered the dorm. Harry broke off his embrace and turned to the large, bulky boy.

"Crabbe, go away! Can't you see I'm busy?"

But Folbius didn't go away. Instead, he raised a finger and shook it at Harry, muttering something about protecting an investment before lunging at him. Harry was no match for Folbius who was about as wide as he was tall. Narcissa jumped back and hit the wall, trying to avoid the brawling boys. An audible crack came from her ribcage before she darted off to her own dorm. With every breath she took it felt like someone was stabbing her. She didn't hit the wall that hard. How could she have broken a rib?