Ad Mortem Festinamus

June arrived and with it the OWL exams, respectively the NEWTs for the Seventh Years. Narcissa felt fairly well-prepared, she would undoubtedly be the best student in her year, but she couldn't say if she could reach her own aim and get more points than this legendary boy. Her big idol - a student in the nineteen forties, who had achieved 1245 points in his OWLs, 45 points more than technically, even theoretically possible. For her own encouragement, she had once more read in the old annual. The name of the boy had been Tom Riddle, indicating that his father was either a muggle or a muggleborn - 'Riddle' was no name of any ever so unimportant wizard family. So she had at least one advantage, having grown up with magic from the very first breath she had taken.

The boy looked exceptionally handsome on the photo, dark wavy hair, piercing eyes, and his jacket flashed the Head Boy badge. She scanned the article - an orphan, Slytherin prefect irrespective of his pedigree, Head Boy, most brilliant student as far as the records went back. 'Chapeau', she thought to herself. Handsome, clever, single-minded - he reminded her of someone else... Oh no. For once, she would not think of Lucius Malfoy! This was becoming ridiculous! How fortunate that the school was about to end so soon, he'd graduate and then he'd be out of her sight, and this nonsense would end at last!

Lucius Malfoy, the object of her unwanted daydreaming, thought he was fairly well prepared for his exams, too - he would pass them, without brilliance, but well enough not to be ashamed. He had lead his team to win the Quidditch Cup the fifth time in a row, with him being Captain the last four times, which would have been a sufficient reason for sheer felicity, hadn't it been for his greatest achievement. What was the sordid Cup compared to the fact that he had gained the most gorgeous girl's agreement to attend his graduation ball with him!

Indeed, without quite knowing how it had come about, Narcissa had agreed to go to that ball with Lucius Malfoy. She calmed herself by thinking that she had only done that in order to tease Andromeda, though she couldn't dispel her remaining doubts. Being her parents' daughter meant that she had been to more balls than she could bear anyway - she had never enjoyed them, being forced to socialise with people she disliked. But she would have been forced to go to this one either way because of her sister, so why shouldn't she accompany a good-looking, charming boy?

She hadn't told anyone, and had asked him for the same discretion, secretly enjoying to see how a dozen girls made fools of themselves to incite him to ask them. As it seemed, he would go on his own - his mates couldn't believe it - but he claimed to be too busy with his exams to bother. During the two weeks of the actual examinations, he saw far too little of his adored for his liking, but he consoled himself with the prospect of that very last night he'd ever spend in Hogwarts, determined to try and get a kiss from this sweetest of all witches. He knew that he was a good kisser - if he could make her kiss him, she would enjoy it, and if she enjoyed kissing him, she might not be so reluctant to see him again in the holidays, and if she -

And then there was the big day, all exams done, the graduates bestowed with the solemn parchments, their parents had arrived and fetched their daughters festive evening robes. Ignorant of her sister's plans, Andromeda had helped Narcissa to do her hair and don her robes, cracking jokes how flattered she was that Narcissa should make such an effort only to celebrate her graduation. Narcissa smirked in silence and appraised her own reflection in the mirror, slightly amazed. No, not just slightly - thoroughly astonished, more like. It was strange. She had been aware of the fact that she was pretty, and being her father's daughter, she had worn stylish robes on every possible and impossible occasion, but she had never really cared; when she had spotted her own reflection, she had merely thought, 'Oh dear, what a waste of time to spruce yourself up like a wedding cake'.

This time however, she tried to look through someone else's eyes, through his eyes. She did look good, didn't she? Looking now, she was genuinely surprised. She was looking really good! She had asked her mother to bring her light blue robes and her pearls, and for the first time really, she realised that she had a great figure in this. It underlined her small waist, her décolleté, it matched her eyes; and Lucius Malfoy must be blind and gay if he didn't like it!

"My little Cissy," Andromeda said, beaming proudly. "I know you're doing me a favour to come tonight. And I reckon I'll need you as my backup."

Narcissa wondered whether this was the opportune moment to inform her sister that they wouldn't be sitting at the same table, but before she had opened her mouth, Andromeda went on, "I'm going to tell them, you know?"

"Tell them what exactly?"

"Tell them that I'm engaged, of course!"

Narcissa stared at her in incredulity. "Are you out of your mind? Tell our parents on the very eve of your graduation ball that you want to marry a muggleborn?!"

"I got to tell them, sooner or later anyway, and they'll be much softer in front of four hundred witnesses!"

"Andy," Narcissa said in a moment of sincere concern, "Papa might not scream as loudly as he would otherwise in front of strangers, but he will resent you the stronger for bringing him into such a predicament!"

"My engagement is no predicament!"

"No, but if you confront Papa with it in the Great Hall during a public occasion, he will find it a humiliation, and that lowers your chances exceedingly!"

"Always one step ahead, Cissy... But leave it all to me, and stick up for me in the opportune moment."

Narcissa thought that they had decidedly different ideas about the opportune moment, and since she wouldn't be there for a start, and also because she wanted to avoid a scene in the Common Room, she said, "I won't be sitting at your table, Andy."

"Of course you will! You're family!"

"But I have been asked out by someone else. Someone with a table of their own -"

Andy was briefly perplexed and groaned then, "No - no - god, Cissy, tell me you haven't - not with that total jerk!"

"Lucius Malfoy has asked me out and I have accepted, Andy, and that's the end of the discussion."

"Cissy! You can't! You mustn't! He -"

"He isn't the big bad wolf, and I'm not Little Red Riding Hood. There's no call for worrying for me tonight, Andy. I'll do what I can for you because you'll be the one in need of rescue."

"Be sensible, Cissy! Where's your cleverness when you truly need it! That idiot has taken advantage of more girls than I would count, and you're too good for that! You're much too good, Cissy!" Andromeda's cheeks had flushed with anxiety. "You're - listen, you know I love you - I may have faltered in showing it to you, but you are very, very important to me. You're a wonderful person, Cissy, but he doesn't care for such subtleties! He wants you as a trophy, that's all, he wants to show off with you, make his stupid pals envious, he only uses you!"

"I know all that, Andy. But the trophy thing works both ways. I'll be the one wildly envied tonight by all your fatuous classmates. Now come on, Ted must be waiting for you, and so are our parents. You don't want Papa to get his first fit while Dumbledore is auguring the banquet."

When she realised that her warnings and protests were useless, Andromeda left, but not without a whole lot of admonitions. Narcissa waited five more minutes and walked over to the Common Room, too. Lucius had sat in an armchair and waited, jumping to his feet when he saw her, with a look bordering on awe. He opened and shut his mouth a few times, finally gasping, "Can I say just one thing?"

"Sure," she replied, wondering where her voice had gone.

"Wow!" He watched her up and down. "Wow! You - you - you'd be gorgeous in a rice sack, Narcissa, but this is - oh Merlin!"

"I suppose that means you are all right with the robes then."

"All right? No! I'm delighted!"

She ignored the other students in the room and their stares. That was just what she had expected. He stepped forth, made a deep bow, took her hand and blew a kiss on the back of her hand. He produced a light green orchid and pinned it on her dress - she caught her breath when he accidentally touched her bosom to fasten the clip. She felt a little dizzy and got nervous, but he took her arm, tucked it under his own and they floated out and upstairs before she could think much further. She didn't register all the open mouths they met, all she could focus on was willing her heart to beat not quite so hard, but Lucius did notice them, bent towards her and whispered in her ear, "I'll curse any of them for looking at you in this fashion, if you want me to."

If you want me to... She had no clue what he was talking about, feeling his breath tickle her skin and she closed her eyes for a moment. "I give you permission to do whatever you like," she breathed despite herself, hoping that this was the right answer to whatever he had said.

"You cannot imagine how much I have craved to hear you say those words, though I had hoped they'd come in some other context."

She gave a little start and blushed. "Why, what have you asked me then?"

"You haven't listened?"

He sounded disappointed and she hurried to say, "I was a bit distraught, but - you must not take that amiss, please! I'm just awfully nervous! All these people - I hate these public functions..."

"You look enchanting, you are enchanting, and I'll take care of all the rest."

"You are good with compliments, aren't you?"

"I swear to God, I've never meant anything half as sincerely as anything I've ever said to you."

"I bet you've always been successful with this line."

"My success tonight is that you are here with me. And perhaps you'll appreciate my compliments more after you've met my father. He hasn't uttered a single nice thing in the past eighteen years since I know him. And I dare say he wasn't much more friendly before that either."

"The proper thing to say now would be to claim that he cannot be that bad, but after all I've heard about him, I will spare my breath, eh?" She laughed heartily. "But if it calms you - I'm accustomed to ignore the harshest insults and smile still. I don't think your father could say anything to offend me."

"So I'll just hope that he will not surprise you!"

"Ames parentum, si aequus est, aliter feras, Lucius."

"I'm afraid you'll sing a different tune soon!"

They had reached their destination and entered the Great Hall, which was ridiculously decorated by this year's decoration committee, but Narcissa noticed this only marginally. Lucius looked around, spotting their table and his father and whispered in a tone bordering on resignation, "There we go. I want you to know that I'm already sorry for whatever it is he will say -"

They stopped at their table, Lucius made small, stiff bow to his father and said coolly, "Father? May I present Miss Black to you? Miss Black - this is my father, Mr Abraxas Malfoy."

The old wizard greatly resembled his son, the same sharp features, the same eyes. He looked her up and down, sneered and said carelessly, "I doubt any of us will have to memorise names. We won't meet again, will we?"

Lucius sharply drew his breath, but Narcissa smiled all the more sweetly, "Surely you must be right, Sir. I'm pleased to meet you nonetheless."

"Black, Black - are you one of old Cygnus' daughters?"

"I am indeed, Sir. But it really is of no importance, since we won't meet again, eh?"

He looked amused, and made no further remark until they had taken their seats. Just now, Narcissa noticed the incredulous looks of the other students at their table - that Yaxley guy, his parents, his girlfriend and two of his younger sisters. She coldly beckoned at them, and gave her companion an encouraging smile.

Abraxas Malfoy still observed her closely, but far more intriguing for Narcissa was that she had spotted her family at a table nearby, or rather say, only Amandine Black was sitting there, her father was standing in front of Andromeda and her boyfriend. They seemed to be arguing, Cygnus Black's face was deep red, Andromeda gesticulated wildly, and her mother's expression was somewhere between pain and shock.

Oh Andy, she thought, absent-mindedly shaking her head. What had her sister thought, eh? That their parents would embrace Ted with open arms? Had she truly believed that tonight would be the perfect occasion to introduce her muggleborn fiancé and say, 'Mama, Papa, I know your attitude, but I also know that you'll be happy for my sake because I'm engaged to marry'?! Knowing Andy, this had probably been her exact words, unfortunately.

Lucius followed her gaze and said so lowly that only she could hear him, "Looks like trouble."

"It does."

"Are you worried?"

Was she? This wasn't her business, but Andy's. If she wanted it the tough way - there you go. "Not really. They're ruining their own evening, not mine."

More and more students arrived, in ten minutes, the ball would officially begin. Lucius poured her some wine and they had a toast, but despite her indifferent professions, Narcissa couldn't drive her gaze away from her family. By now, Amandine had clapped her hands to her eyes, Cygnus was dragging on his middle daughter's arm, this one struggled with him, and the awkward fiancé appeared to try and mediate, but only worsening his future father-in-law's wrath.

Mr Malfoy senior demanded her attention again, swiftly dispelling Narcissa's concerns by remarking, "I suppose the young lady over there is one of your sisters?"

Narcissa smirked. "Oh well - she was and she is, but she might not be tomorrow."

The entire Yaxley family giggled spitefully, but Abraxas Malfoy merely smiled. "Quick at repartee, Miss Black. So tell me - you seem to be clever, how come you are here with this loose fish that claims to be my son?"

"Thank you, Father," Lucius snapped pointedly.

Narcissa would privately admit that she had underestimated old Mr Malfoy's temper, and also began to think that she shouldn't have come in the first place. No matter what she would do or say, it would give a reason to someone for gleeful misinterpretation. She had no mind to ignore the father's gibes and let herself be reduced to one of Lucius' silly cows, but if she protested, she would give that one a false impression. In front of the Yaxleys, she didn't want to appear either interested in the 'loose fish', nor helpless, and that her own family was getting worked up merely thirty feet away wasn't prone to make her less uneasy either.

She pulled herself together and addressed Abraxas, "Sir, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I hope you will understand that I desire to discuss neither my intelligence nor my decision to be here tonight. I'm sure, everyone who knows me would inform you that I am taciturn and ill-humoured, so it might be best if I said nothing further at all."

He soared with laughter and crudely patted his son's arm. That one smiled stiffly, but catching Narcissa's warm gaze, he relaxed a little. He contemplated whether he could dare to take her hand, which was so close to his own on the table that they nearly touched. He shoved it over to hers, inch by inch, straining to be as unobtrusive as possible, and when he was finally there, this light touch sent shivers down her spine. She turned her head to give him another smile, but in this moment, her other hand was roughly grabbed and she found her mother standing behind her, looking awfully upset.

"Fiona, Maxwell -" She beckoned at the Yaxleys, forcing herself to smile. "Good evening, Mr Malfoy - Mr Malfoy -"

"Enchantée, Madame," Lucius said and jumped up to make a bow.

"Yes, yes... Ma chère," she flatly addressed her daughter, "I am so sorry to disturb you, but your father 'as decided zat we will leave now!"

"Now?"

"Yes, now. Please!"

Narcissa looked over, seeing how her father coerced Andromeda to follow him out of the Great Hall. "Maman," she muttered imploringly, "je comprends, mais -"

"Je t'emprise, Narcisse! Je t'emprise! Ton Papa - il demande ce que tu viens avec moi, tout de suite!"

Lucius stood up. "Madam Black, please allow me to take your daughter home after the ball. I assure you I'll take care of her safety and she'll be back by whatever time you fix!"

"C'est pas possible, Monsieur Malfoy, excusez-moi. Narcisse, vite!"

Of course, she did obey, beckoning at the rest of the party. "Well, the greatest pleasures are short. Good evening to you. Look, Mr Malfoy, you were right to presume that there is no need to recall the past five minutes. Good evening to you, too." She gave Lucius a last apologetic glance. "Good night, Lucius. Thank you very much for everything. It was brief, but delightful."

She rushed to follow her mother, who waited in the corridor and grabbed Narcissa's arm. "You knew zis, Narcisse?!"

"About the engagement? She told me only recently!"

"You knew she was seeing zat boy! I would not 'ave believed it possible!"

They hurried out of the school, along the sweep way towards the gates, Narcissa protested that all her luggage was still in her dorm, but Mrs Black merely said that they'd send for it in the morning. Once they had left the boundaries, she stopped and squeezed her daughter's arm even tighter.

"I can disapparate myself, Maman!"

"You will stay right by my side, ma petite!"

She resolutely grabbed Narcissa's arm and in the next second, they stood before the family mansion, but Mrs Black made no halt and pulled her on. Mr Black and Andromeda were standing in the hallway and shouted at each other, Narcissa had never seen her father so angry; usually, he was a serene elderly gentleman, and even when Bella had provoked him to become angry, he hadn't lost it so completely as now. His face was purple, the veins on his temples fit to burst, he spitted while screaming.

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Ames parentum... Love your father if he is just, otherwise endure him.

Je comprends... I understand, but...

Je t'empris... I bessech you, Narcissa, I bessech you! Your Papa - he demands that you come with me at once.

C'est pas... That's not possible, Mr Malfoy, excuse me. Narcissa, quick!