n. black

*

She told him that she wouldn’t ask if she knew, but Lucius didn’t believe her. Still, he nodded, despite the reservations that he had. Everyone else seemed to believe that the blonde was as innocent as she came off. They didn’t think twice about the way that she poised herself. They didn’t see the signs that he saw. The innocence was an act. It had to be. Lucius wanted to test his theory, but he knew that it would take time. It would take effort. He wasn’t sure that he was willing to put in the time and effort for so little reward. 

He made the move that he thought was necessary, hiding the surprise when he realized that he’d made the right one. He played with his mother at times, but he wasn’t as good as she was. She usually beat him. He didn’t play at the school because he found it boring. A waste of time. Lucius shook his head when Narcissa spoke, “It’s a waste of time. Tell me…” He trailed off, his eyes flickering up to meet hers. “What do you actually get out of the club? Are you going to be a professional one day?” He was teasing her. 

The mask was back on and Lucius found it to be frustrating. Every time she showed a real part of herself, she closed back off. Running a hand through his already disheveled hair, Lucius replied, “I was merely amused.” 

𝓃

If social activities were a waste of time then why were there so many of them? Her eye roll held back, Narcissa returned his gaze with a lift of her brow and her mouth in such a thin line it nearly disappeared between her teeth. He couldn’t be serious, could he? Inquiring about her plans like he actually wanted to know. “I enjoy it. It’s a game that requires tactical thought and planning.” Which could be why it didn’t interest him.

She broke their gaze to smooth out the invisible wrinkles in her skirt that she knew had to be there. Something had to be off in her dress or appearance. A hair out of place, a weakness visible to Lucius that he was attempting to tug at. “I don’t plan on being a professional chess player, no. It’s a hobby.” It was as ridiculous as asking if she intended to be a professional prefect. He knew as well as she did what kind of lives they both had to look forward to and her path did not include a career that wasn’t chosen from a very limited list.

–

Walden liked to think he knew what he was getting himself into with Lucius. His friend dated around and fucked around and broke hearts throughout the castle. Sooner than later Lucius would be forced to settle down. What was the harm in playing the field before that happened, right? Walden knew this. If he went into it objective he’d be fine. It wasn’t as though he planned on doing anything exceedingly stupid like catching feelings or something. 

He chuckled and pressed his cheek to Narcissa’s hand. Having her agree with him lessened the knot of worry in his chest. The lack of tension made him realize how much he had worried she’d care, that it would ruin something. They were both his friends. He loved them both, he refused to pick one over the other. “We’ll put it in the Trophy Room for everyone to see. Quick call Dumbledore.

“Yeah, it was good. He’s as infuriatingly good at kissing as he is at being annoying.”

–

𝓃

The idea of following through on her quip, going to Professor Slughorn about Walden’s commendable behavior towards Slytherin house and the way he looked out for it’s younger members, was tempting. He certainly deserved something for his actions but perhaps that something shouldn’t be a reward. That would only encourage more behavior like this. 

She softened under his touch, eyes flicking up to meet his gaze before the ever present voice reminding her of decorum was whispering in her ear and her spine straightened once more. “I don’t believe that’s remotely possible.” Lucius was nothing but an annoyance. A rather attractive vexation that didn’t seem to care if he crossed lines or people. Like he thought nothing of his future whatsoever.

Just as quickly as she had promised herself she wouldn’t reprimand Walden for his behavior, she found herself speaking. Fingers moving from holding onto his shoulder to smoothing back his hair. “Do you think you’re making an intelligent decision?” Or a healthy one at that. They lived together. Had classes together. Wouldn’t the annoyance outweigh the joy of shutting him up? “It seems like it will only end poorly even if he’s infuriatingly good at kissing.”

“Maybe you need to stop being all the places I like to lurk.” Edith said with a shrug. It wasn’t her fault she and Narcissa accidentally had similar interests. Besides Edith was technically here first which made Narcissa the interloper. So, ha. Take that. Victory for Fortescues.

“I was tired and all the doors look the same!” She said, ears going distinctly pink before she made herself refocus. Don’t think about that think about the armor. “There’s this thing called fun, I’m sure you’ve heard of it? I was planning on having some before you interrupted.”

–

𝓃

“It hasn’t seemed to be an issue before this year. Isn’t that peculiar?” Their often run-ins were pilling up, leading Narcissa to believe the reason for them was her victory in their one and only chess match. With a small smile gracing her lips and a hand coming to tuck her hand behind her ear, she mirrored Edith’s shrug. “Do the placards read the same as well when you’re tired?” She had never found herself wandering into the wrong dorm. How difficult was it to remember where you lived? As if on cue, Edith’s insulting nature showed up. “By all means, please continue. I would love to know what it is you consider fun. Should I guess? Attempting to burn down a corridor perhaps? Or is that considered too tame?

…

Sirius had been doing his best to avoid any members of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black since returning to Hogwarts for the school year.  His departure from the House of Black had been anything but graceful, exiting with the dramatic flair that he was known for. For the most part, he’d so far been successful at avoiding the familiar faces. But the castle was only so big, and so he knew that it was inevitable that he would eventually encounter someone he was related to.

A familiar voice reached Sirius’ ears, and he looked up from his keys, his stomach bottoming out with dread. Of course he couldn’t be left to his task without interruption, and of course it had to be none other than his cousin. Once, long ago, he would have been happy to have the company of Narcissa. But those days were long gone, and things were different now.

“They’re mine,” he said, voice curt as he turned to face his cousin. He tucked the keys into his pocket before he crossed his arms defensively over his chest. “And? Maybe I was just on my way back to my common room.” He was aware that Narcissa was a prefect and would likely dock house points for being out after curfew, but he didn’t care.

𝓃

Narcissa should have anticipated the steeliness of Sirius’ reply. He had left. What else could you expect from someone with the ability to turn their back on their family? They had been raised with the same principles, family being above all else and the pressure to maintain their motto. Always pure didn’t lend itself the flexibility of mingling with those of lesser status. Even if you did get sorted into a house filled with them.

She knew how Bellatrix would react to running into him, a wicked tongue and a quick hand on her wand but Narcissa had never found that outward hostility suited her as much as it did her sister. Face displaying her uncertainty over how to proceed, a hold over of never having to keep her emotions guarded from Sirius before, Narcissa’s eyes trailed down to the keys being tucked away. “Did you sign on to be the assistant caretaker?” It was an attempt at finding a middle ground between them, some place where things may not be like they once were but there wouldn’t be a growing pit of dread in her stomach at the thought of interacting.

The agitation that had previously commanded them seemed to lessen under their cousin’s scrutiny. Whatever argument or sardonic remark that was initially readied had died on their lips. Regulus found it difficult to be harsh with her —- something which she no doubt knew. Still, they couldn’t help but make their presence intolerable. Fingers thudding against the wood of the table, they loomed across from her like a particularly sullen gargoyle. The seconds ticked by, but eventually, they were acknowledged. Feigning apathy, they finally sat across from her. The façade cracked when a  small smile begrudgingly forced it’s way onto their face. “You’re insufferable,” they teased. 

“It’s not that.” Honestly, they had began the assignment weeks ago. It had been turned over and torn apart in their mind, shred to pieces and started anew. And this assignment wasn’t unique; they had spent hours pouring over paragraphs and perfecting penmanship in the last week. They tended to get like this sometimes. Dissatisfied. It was something they had learned to live with, but had never prevailed over. Others tended to chalk it up to a meticulous nature, but for them it could grow consuming. “I wasn’t happy with it,” they admitted with a shrug. “I was hoping it’d turn out better if I added to it.” 

In the same way that Regulus’ mood had failed to hold up in her presence, Narcissa’s own coolness melted away the moment they sat down across from her and she was able to gleam a smile. And match it with one of her own, her walls easily coming down in the presence of someone familiar and trusted. “I practice. I assume you do as well or how else would your impression of a ghoul gotten so good?” 

It was difficult, watching them open up the slightest amount and knowing the essay in question wasn’t simply put as something they were unhappy with. In her opinion, they wouldn’t rest until they achieved perfection. “Would you look mine over and I could take a glance at yours? I’m not sure I listed all the results of adding syrup of hellebore at the incorrect time.” She had but there was no harm in sending Regulus on the hunt for something that didn’t exist if it gave them a moment to take their mind off their own work. 

* 

“I think you knew that already,” Lucius drawled lowly, his eyes flickering up from the board to meet Narcissa’s. This feigned innocence might work on some, but he didn’t buy it. She might be innocent in some ways, but he knew that she wasn’t completely. Looking back down at the board, his brow furrowed as he attempted to figure out a way to get her out of the corner that she had backed her way into. He wasn’t the best, but he played with his mother when he got the chance. 

Lucius murmured a move or two, watching as the board came to life. “What about something like this?” He asked, motioning as the pieces moved across the board with ease. 

He stopped laughing when the blonde spoke, his gaze upon her merely turning into one of amusement. Running a hand through his blonde locks, Lucius murmured, “I don’t believe there was one.” He wouldn’t dare to tell her what he was actually laughing about. She’d probably glare him into oblivion. 

That wasn’t how it was supposed to go. “I wouldn’t ask if I knew.” She disliked Lucius despite having to tolerate his presence day in and day out. The way he treated other people, his face, the words that came out of his mouth, his height, all lent itself to a lack of poise she couldn’t accept from others. At least, from people like Walden or Sirius there was a certain amount of kindness and good faith she could expect to find buried behind all of that showmanship. With Lucius, there never appeared to be much depth to his character. A surface dweller of a man. But she watched as he played the game out, lips pursing as she stifled her need to point out the obvious move that would have resulted in a quicker win. “I didn’t know you were talented at chess. Why aren’t you in the club?” She had placed the mask back on, hand twirling a piece of hair in what she presumed was an absent minded manner like she had often seen the girls in her year do. 

—

Oh thank fuck, she appeared to have forgiven him for the moment. He had a feeling it may come back to bite him again later but if it did he probably deserved it. Keeping secrets was a bit rude and rather unlike them. That stare had looked a bit hurt, but at least she was here now sitting next to him.

He leaned in as well, already forgetting the rest of the Common Room around them and the people who may see. “Lucius. I’ve discovered it shuts him up.” He muttered, a bit of the wonderment of it all creeping back into his voice. “I dunno, I just sort of… did it. A few times.” Two times, but who was counting? Besides him.

–

𝓃 Shock and surprise ran through Narcissa. channeled as a stillness to her form she couldn’t express otherwise, as she glanced out across the common room to look for the other seventh year boy they were discussing. As if seeing the tall blond would make the mess of bewilderment settle into a more believable reality. She knew Lucius was bit too affectionate when it came to others but to hear that one of his objects of affections was Walden? That wouldn’t do at all.  “He knows how to be quiet? You should get an award for such a feat. Dedication and service to the school.” Her voice crisp, sharp consonants spilling out of her mouth. Her hand came to rest on Walden’s shoulder in support for him and not her own wellbeing to not end up sprawled on the floor due to poor balance on the small arm she sat on. She wanted to remind him of the trail of heartbroken wixen Lucius seemed to lead behind him at every turn but what was the point? Walden was old enough to make his own decisions even if they did result in acting like a boiling over cauldron. A part of her was curious, inquisitive about all the parts of life she had yet to experience, so Narcissa’s face turned once more without regard for her friend’s personal space. “Was it good?” As everyone said?

==

Watching Narcissa jump made Edith giggle. She couldn’t help it. Who knew that the littlest Black startled so easily. Should she tell Regulus? Part of her felt like she probably should. But that would be kind of mean. That wasn’t her vibe.

“I’m not stalking you, silly.” She said, grinning and reaching out to boop Narcissa’s nose. “First, we share the same House so like, I see you all the time. Also I did that like, once, by accident.”

–

𝓃 Nose wrinkling at the invasion, Narcissa stepped away with a frown. “Edith.” She chided, as if the older girl had any shame at all. “I am fully aware we share a house but that does not explain why you’re suddenly lurking about everywhere I go. Don’t you have other people to be bothering?” Friends? Not younger students who clearly had no interest in being disturbed.

“By accident. Of course. My mistake for thinking you ending up in the fifth year dorms was a calculated move.” It would have required forethought. “Should I even ask what you were trying to accomplish here then?”

He winced. She definitely was mad at him now if she hadn’t been before this conversation started. No way he’d come out of this conversation without at least a few battle scars. This was gonna sting a little. “That was uncalled for, ouch.” He said, rubbing his chest as though she had hit him physically. 

“Okay, okay, I fold. I’ve been kissing someone. Sort of. It’s not actually anything serious it’s just sort of for fun. When they’re being really annoying.”

–

𝓃 Walden was just fine in her opinion. Simply giving into dramatic like he was prone to as if they had any affect on her resilience. Her anger didn’t immediately melt away at the confession like she had anticipated it would. Instead she stared, trying to work through the strange possessiveness that had taken hold of her for a brief moment. It wasn’t as though she was tied to Walden with anything other than friendship. She must still be upset over being left out of the know. And for some time too. Getting up to sit on the arm of his chair and lean in close, making sure this secret she was now privy to wouldn’t spill out into the public domain, Narcissa asked quietly. “Who? And how exactly do you sort of kiss someone?” Did she even want to know what he meant by that?

Getting in and out of the suits of armor wasn’t exactly easy. Especially since most of them didn’t like her and tended to try and make a break for it. Which hardly seemed fair. After all she’d gotten loads and loads better at not getting anything scuffed or scratched over the years. Now once she got inside she knew exactly how to sit without disturbing anything, and how to get out without causing it to tumble apart. She just… had to get the right leverage in order to get in.

“Give me a boost, will you?” She said, watching as the suit of armor she had in mind began to sidle down the hallway. “If I can get on the awning ledge, I can definitely get down there fast enough before it makes a break for it.”

–

𝓃

After years of ignoring the constant hum that was the background noise of Hogwarts, Narcissa was apt at walking down a corridor without paying much attention to the antics of others. It was necessary to get through the day unbothered. Ignoring Edith however was never a smart move. Nearly dropping her bag, Narcissa jumped in surprise at the voice that had come out of nowhere. Not nowhere. Just from the girl who could pass for a ghost. “Really.” She snapped, mouth taught in a tight line as she worked quickly to pull herself back into a composed. “Your stalking is getting out of hand. What’s next? Appearing in my room?”

          Otto was a mess of limbs and inability to do anything without causing a bit of chaos. He wasn’t graceful and he didn’t want to be graceful. Personally, he liked that he was a little bit chaotic because it was more fun to be that way. A group of people laughed as he fell. Okay, so that part wasn’t as fun. Otto knew they were laughing at him, but if he laughed with them, then it made the situation easier. He wondered how many people were laughing at him for being in love with Declan? 

          “No, I’m fine,” he shrugged, and waved a hand. He sat for a second before popping back up. “Did I hurt you? I didn’t mean to if I did. I can make it up to you.” He wasn’t sure how, but he would. 

𝓃

He had to be hurt if he was content to stay sprawled on the corridor floor and laugh at his own misfortune. Narcissa took a few steps back, quickly as Otto sprung up. She knew he was odd, that could be gathered by existing in the same place for years but his behavior now seemed a touch more off. Hurt her? He hadn’t even touched her. “Did you hit your head on the way down? A trip to Pomfrey might be advisable.” Surely his gaze wasn’t always that glassy, unless there truly was nothing going on in his head. In fact, she was supposed to bring any injured students she came across to the Hospital Wing. “How would you make it up to me?” Her curiosity got the best of her and she had to ask, wondering what Otto thought he could offer her.

          Although she was a prefect and a stickler for the rules most of the time, she was responsible. She wasn’t the type to get something sticky on a book or make a big mess. That kind of rule was for younger students. Millie was a seventh year, she knew not to stick her fingers in a lollipop and then touch a book. “And lose my spot? No thank you.” Millie looked back at her book, finding a good spot to stop reading. “I’m not eating a feast or anything. Just a bag of sweets.” 

𝓃

She didn’t make a habit of doing favors for others, things that could lead to the type of relationship where someone relied on her were messy and complicated. Narcissa preferred to breeze through life, sticking with what she knew and felt comfortable with. Studying, while a relatively easy thing to do, would not go well if Pince decided to make a scene over the scent of sweets. “I can watch your table. I would rather not hear her shrill shouts today if possible.” Or the smacking of lips in the quiet of the library.

*

Lucius only grinned when Narcissa corrected him. If she thought that he’d stop after this once, she was wrong. He’d get the nickname to stick if it was the last thing he did. The blonde boy leaned back in the armchair, his gaze flickering over the blonde. She was beautiful and there was no doubting that she knew it. However, her attitude and the priss she often put out was a bit off-putting. He’d thought several times about seeing if he could get his way with her, but he wasn’t sure it was worth the effort that would need to be put in.

He didn’t really know anything about chess. He’d played a few games here and there. Usually when he had nothing else to do. But he wasn’t a pro. He finally took his eyes off of her to look down at the board. A brow quirked as he watched, trying to catch what had gone wrong. 

“Your king was open. You were vulnerable,” Lucius murmured, chuckling at her innocence that she exuded. He had yet to see whether or not it was fake. 

The whole point of this overdeveloped demonstration was to see if anyone in their house had the potential prowess to one day beat Edith in a match. It wasn’t an opportunity for the older boys in her house to leer at her without the presence of her self-appointed bodyguards.  “Was it?” Narcissa was surprised. She had never pegged Lucius as one to be interested in such things as chess. It seemed like something he would view as too much more without very high reward. “What move could I have made? To not allow myself to be vulnerable?” Tucking her hair behind her ear absentmindedly, she flicked her wand until the game reversed a few moves, some pieces floating broken in the air. “I’ve looked at it quite a few times and I’m not able to work it out.”

          “Yeah, sure,” Otto grinned at Professor Binns. “I’ll get it done as soon as I can, I promise.” He knew that focusing on his school work was going to take some effort, but Professor Binns had told him he had potential. Binns was one of the only professors that told him he had potential. Every other professor seemed to think that Otto was a bit of a screw up. He had late homework in all his classes that he probably should have worked on over break, but didn’t. “I gotta go though.” He turned around and nearly ran into another student, but at the last second turned and fell to the ground.

The switch between classes could always be said to be somewhat of a mad rush. Tall students with long legs practically stepping on first and second years to make their way through the crowd, gaggles of girl walking four or five people wide pushing their way through the fray, and people like Otto Bagman falling swiftly to the floor as expected.  Taking a few steps back, Narcissa glanced down at the pile of limbs near her feet. “Are you injured?” She inquired, eyes searching to see if anyone else had been affected by the show of poise and grace.

“Oh, come on, not the look.” Walden complained, very close to pouting. He knew what she meant when she got that look. She’d figured out he had a secret and wanted in. That didn’t take long but then again he’d never really been great at hiding things from her in the first place. One of the down sides of only having a handful of friends. 

“Have I got something on my face, then? Have you let me sit here like a bastard with mustard on my cheek or something? I thought we had something special, Ciss.”

–

𝓃 Tap. Tap. Tap. She was still waiting. Her brow raised at his whining, the usual defense when Walden tried to hide something. He should know better. The look would continue. If she had to only look at him this way for the rest of their lives, she would. Narcissa was nothing if not committed to getting her way. 

If anyone in his own common room asked, Lucius would tell them that he’d been covering for another prefect. That was the only reason that he’d be out so late. It was a lie, of course. He’d found his way into an abandoned classroom with some swotty Ravenclaw and they’d managed to lose track of time. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure what time it was when he finally strolled back into the Slytherin common room, his tie askew and hair mussed just perfectly. He was on his way to the boys dormitory when the voice of Narcissa Black drawled him from his thoughts. 

Lucius grinned and chose to slide into the chair across from her. She was so innocent. So poised. So aggravating at times. “Cissa,” he drawled in a greeting. “What are your questions?” 

Her nose threatened to wrinkle at the unwanted nickname he had decided to bestow upon her. “Narcissa.” She corrected, sitting just a bit straighter in her high backed armchair that truly dwarfed the short girl in comparison. Not that a correction would stop the use of that bastardization of her nickname, something she only allowed those close to her to use. If there had been any other option of pawn in her game of toying with Edi, Cissy would have made some excuse about growing too tired to explain her inquires and suggested they waited until the next day for her to be properly rested to retell the moves of her fantasy match but the common room had been painfully empty for some time now. Lucius was as good as she was going to get. Though it appeared someone had already gotten there. With a quick flick of her wand, the pieces shifted. Her previously smashed and fractured set putting itself back together until they stood once again whole on one end of the board. “Watch.” Another flick and the match replayed. She had left her king open to white’s queen. A novice move. White’s pieces blocked all paths to escape. 

It wasn’t often that Narcissa cared to stay awake late but necessity required it. She wasn’t one for schemes or ploys and didn’t enjoy spending her free time _plotting _(free time should be devoted to oneself and not others) but Edith Grace Fortescue’s unique brand of convincing had driven her to action. Curled up in a oversized armchair by the fire with a chess board in front of her, Narcissa was close to dosing. The soft and barely audible sounds of the lake often led to her growing drowsy in the common room. Surely one of her housemates would find themselves intrigued by the possibility of a game, ideal one who she could mold into a much more successful chess player than they already were, and she would have a reason to not tuck herself into bed.