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Stars encrusted the night sky, their faintly luminescent glow visible upon the ages old estate lawns despite the glowing magical spheres strategically placed for the revelling celebrants outside. The skyward pale light seemed to bathe most prominently in the farthest segment of the well-manicured lawns. It was also the quietest portion of the estate this evening -- well suited to at least one individual.
Long ghost pale fingers slid appreciatively down the edge of a page that was carefully turned when the rapidly moving gray eyes had neared the end... to begin once more from the upper left hand corner of the subsequent page. The other hand held the book firm against royal blue robes that washed over bent knees, the slightly squared toes of highly polished black shoes peeking out from the cascade of blue double stitched fabric.
So engrossed was Lucius Malfoy in his reading, that he was barely cognizant of his aching back, long pressed against the tree trunk with his head bent to read voraciously. It was not only reading he approached voraciously, but all things in his sphere of influence. Lucius felt the happiest moment of his life was when he learned to read -- each letter forming a word of meaning, part of a sentence defining information, all of which he considered would be useful sooner or later. The knowledge suddenly available at his fingertips astounded him. Over the years, however, he also learned that the most interesting books were often hidden away -- but he learned to find these too. Just like the book he now held in his hand -- discovered in the bottom left hand corner of the North East bookshelf in his host's library, behind several innocuous volumes. Lucius decided when he inherited Malfoy Manor, physically residing not that far from this very estate, he would create a secret hidden library for those precious tomes the general Wizarding world feared for one idiotic reason or another. Lucius felt the restriction of knowledge was far more dangerous than even the most vile of spells.
Lucius looked up when his light source diminished, realizing someone was standing between him and the glowing globe in the distance -- the stars were just not quite enough to provide sufficient reading light. He knew who it was before he lifted his pointy pale face. They'd been close friends for nine years -- since Lucius was five and she four years of age. Their parents visited one another often, and the children would naturally follow in their path. There was always something different about her energy than that of others, and so the future Lord of Malfoy Manor knew precisely who stood before him. He looked up at her all the same.
"I knew I'd find you out here by yourself... reading." Narcissa cast a mock expression of derision, holding in each hand a fine bone china plate of filo pastry, almond custard and vanilla cake. It was Lucius' favourite. But it was Narcissa's birthday. She sat down regally next to her friend and waited patiently for him to set aside his book.
"You're not cross with me, are you?" He inquired playfully, closing the book and setting it in front of them carefully. He treated all books with extreme reverence, believing each one had a purpose, just as the knowledge it contained.
"Of course not. I can't blame you for escaping the likes of young Mr. Goyle." She handed Lucius one of the plates and began to eat from hers conservatively.
Lucius cast her a penetrating glance as he took the plate. He felt his chest tighten slightly as he gazed at the girl with silvery-blonde hair and large pools of gray eyes. Surely she was informed of the same as he was earlier this day. Yet she was so calm. Perhaps she had known all along she was bred for duty and this day's information was not so surprising. Lucius, while aware of his obligations, would rather spend his time reading, learning and practicing magic -- pastimes not entirely devoid of benefiting his duties, he justified to himself frequently. His parents were seldom critical of their quiet son. In fact, they were seldom in his life at all when he truly thought about it. He rather believed he preferred it that way.
"So what has you so entranced this evening, Lucius?" Narcissa held the plate in splayed dainty fingers while her other hand reached for the hard cover volume ahead of her. She read the title aloud, "Chinese fireball dragons, a primer." She continued to drag the book closer to her.
Lucius' protest was lost on the mouthful of dessert he'd just placed in his mouth. With each hand occupied by plate and fork, he could not physically prevent her from taking up the book. He suspected her timing was intentional.
An amused smile spread over her thin red lips, painted for her party, as she carefully extracted the book from its false cover and read the true title, "Geomancy for dark druidic ceremonies, volume 2." She returned the book to its shell and glanced at Lucius with a knowing smirk, "You read up on dragons over eight months ago."
Lucius resumed eating and spoke after swallowing, "I wasn't aware you were keeping track of my reading materials." He never defended his actions to Narcissa -- there was never any need. She accepted him wholly for what he was... but would she after today, he wondered?
She opened her mouth as though to respond, but promptly pursed her lips together and picked up her fork. Whatever she was about to say, now lost, forged a tension between the two who continued to eat in silence.
The young Wizard felt his chest tighten again. She must know, he decided. Finished with his dessert, he set aside the plate, noting Narcissa had done the same. Slowly he rose from the ground into a standing position, his body aching slightly but largely ignored by his reeling mind. He turned to Narcissa, seated with legs crossed beneath her voluminous deep burgundy robes, accented in the finest silver thread. "I still have to give you your birthday present."
"Yes," a hesitant smile twitched on her lips as she gazed up at Lucius.
He held out his hands to aid her ascension from the grassy ground. When she slipped her tapered pale fingers into his hands, he sucked in his breath. He was no longer helping his childhood friend to her feet, he realized. Gripping her uncertainly, he pulled her upright before him.
Narcissa dropped her hands to her side and smiled sincerely. She observed him intently.
Lucius reached within his robes and withdrew a long slender black walnut box, intricately carved with vines. The top of the box bore Narcissa's full name in gilded platinum letters that glowed blue when touched. Lucius had fashioned the box before he learned what he did today from his parents. At the time, he didn't believe the gift should be discarded, but now it seemed profane.
Narcissa took the box in her slender hands, admiring the craftsmanship and running a finger over her name, pausing over her surname, glowing like a beacon. "Thank you, Lucius."
"Open it," his voice was softer than usual, and he found air difficult to take into his starving lungs. He was vexed with not knowing what she knew and whether or not those who raised her imparted the same information to her as his did to him.
She lifted the lid and withdrew an elegant yet simple platinum heart shaped locket on a chain. It was centuries old, as the style and etchings could confirm. She slipped the box into her robes.
As she opened the locket, Lucius voiced unsteadily, "Mother passed it to me... to give to you today."
"It's lovely," Narcissa's eyes widened at the two photos within the locket -- one of Lucius and one of her... taken fairly recently at a Malfoy hosted dinner party. Both tiny portraits gazed speculatively at one another. She seemed to steel herself before looking at Lucius directly and summoning an encouraging smile, "Will you put it on me?"
"Of course," Lucius took the cool necklace in his hands and with manicured nails opened the clasp. He moved to Narcissa's side, and curled his arms around her neck, sensing the heat from her body, and closed the clasp securely. His fingertips brushed her alabaster flesh as he arranged the necklace and he noted she shivered. His fingers didn't begin to tremble until after he ensured the clasp was centred at the back of her neck beneath her long silken hair. Everything had a place. And everything had a purpose.
Narcissa turned immediately and gazed up at Lucius imploringly, "You owe me one more gift, I think, today."
"What's that?" he arched a single brow in query, his eyes dropping momentarily to note the sparkling locket between her developing breasts.
"Kiss me," she replied resolutely in that tone of voice he knew indicated she would brook no refusals. He admired her determination and strength.
"I... I..." Lucius stuttered, for once in his life, and hopefully the last, at a loss for words, all cognitive thought fleeing with his courage. He took in a deep breath that didn't seem to penetrate his lungs, "I've never kissed anyone, Narcissa." Even at fourteen years of age, Lucius was always far too entranced by books, Quidditch and his studies to pay attention to girls. Up until today, Narcissa was simply a friend who happened to be a girl -- never meriting any notation of desire, want or curiosity in the physical realm.
"Me neither. But I think it's appropriate for you to kiss your betrothed on the day you find out who she is." A wan smile crossed her visage and her gray eyes softened.
Not just betrothed -- planned so long ago. Lucius' insides iced over and he managed to speak, "Are you certain?"
She nodded, "Yes. I am a..." she paused for a moment and restructured her speech, "I am as fearless as you are, Lucius. I want to know what it's like to kiss you."
Lucius stared hard at the now teenage girl he would marry in five years. She was stunningly beautiful, there was no doubt there. They were well matched, a product of careful breeding over the centuries. Their children would be perfect.
"Don't make me ask again, Lucius," Narcissa spoke softly.
Lucius swallowed hard, like razor blades sliding down his esophagus, and hesitantly stepped forward, their robes colliding in the light breeze playing around them -- burgundy and blue. He simply stared at Narcissa for a few moments, recalling the games they played, the conversations they had and how they could sit for hours at a time on a couch together reading. There was never any question they would always be friends. They never anticipated what today would bring, and how it would change everything.
Narcissa fidgeted nervously and reached out with her right hand to gently stroke Lucius' left. She was, in truth, as uncertain as he, and Lucius found a sudden comfort in that.
Lucius sucked in his breath and knowing just how far that hand would some day travel sent a shock through his mind and into his centre. It was a beautiful dainty hand, yet carried with it power and conviction not unlike his own. The hand he once grasped with his as he spun her around in the yard until she was dizzy and laughing or held onto while he experimented on her with his levitation charms. The hand that now seemed eager to express more than friendship and touch him in ways he never paid much heed yet knew would some day demand his attention. Today was that day.
Narcissa continued stroking her fingers over Lucius' and lifted herself slightly on the tips of her toes.
Lucius regarded her slender nose, tilted his head down and cocked it slightly to the side. It didn't take a genius to know that kissing directly on, face to face, was uncomfortable. He suddenly twined his fingers tightly with Narcissa's -- for strength and reassurance. Gently he placed his sealed lips over Narcissa's and felt as though the wind had been knocked entirely out of him. He was suddenly frightened, faced with the gravity of what he was doing, and fought with himself to not flee. Ridiculously, he worried their parents might suddenly appear and scold them for this behaviour. But they wouldn't -- they designed this moment even before Lucius was born.
Narcissa leaned into Lucius and pressed her lips firmly against his. When she felt them tremble, she moved her lips a little and squeezed his hand. Her eyes were open and tender, lending him her recouped strength. She must have thought it peculiar, for Lucius had never asked for aid from anyone before. But in this, understanding was obvious.
When Lucius felt her lips move against his, he found himself suddenly parting his lips ever so slightly and drawing his pointed pink tongue against her upper lip. What he did was instinct. Instinct that now bore past his essence and delved straight to his groin. He felt himself harden when Narcissa took his tongue into her moist mouth tentatively and touched her own tongue to his. With his free trembling hand, Lucius reached for her slender waist and pulled his betrothed against him ravenously.
Narcissa melted against Lucius, flickering her tongue against the soft underside of Lucius'. Her lips spread into a smile when he moaned into her mouth and made tiny movements with his hips, seeking more of her body against his.
Lucius felt something snap inside of him. He felt as though chapters of his life and knowledge were closed and filed away while clean pages fluttered down, aching to be filled with his heart's desire. Presently, for the first time, he experienced sensual physical desire. Narcissa awoke something inside of him that he had not expected -- especially not at her behest. Never more could he view her as just a friend. And she was yet more than his betrothed, arranged more than 13 years previous.
Narcissa's lips remained partially open when Lucius lifted his mouth reluctantly from hers, breathless and anxious. "I think I'll like kissing you, Lucius," she whispered innocently. She was far from innocent, however, but was far better at playing the part than the blond boy presently before her.
Lucius nodded, noting for the first time her beautiful throat and suddenly hungry to bestow upon it kiss after kiss after kiss. His erection refused to recede, in fact it persisted, and he suggested throatily, "You should return to the party. I'll be there shortly." He released her waist and hand slowly.
Narcissa smiled wide as though she clung to a joyful secret, and began walking away in the direction of the nearby estate.
"Merlin's sake," Lucius muttered to himself and rounded the opposite side of the tree facing darkness. The newly awoken feelings within him were all consuming and he found himself unable to rationally track their progression. He disliked feeling coerced or out of control. But for the moment, as he parted his robe and unbuttoned his trousers, he didn't care.
Lucius leaned against the great oak tree, withdrawing himself from the confines of his breeches. He sighed softly as he closed his eyes and began running his cool fingers along his smooth hard length. Perhaps oddly for a boy his age, he was not prone to frequent self-pleasuring or indulging vivid sexual fantasies, but now he felt himself slip into the depravity of not only his desires, but his newly discovered relationship with Narcissa, serving only to fortify these new emotions and experiences.
The fingernails of his left hand dug into the tree trunk next to his bony hip as his mind entertained thoughts of kissing Narcissa's neck, slowly removing her robes and kissing every inch of newly exposed flesh. He surprised himself with how readily he now accepted the knowledge this day brought him... brought them both. Their kiss and her encouragement aided this transition.
Lucius' eyes flared open and he sucked in his breath when he felt another hand over his. He almost choked, staring at Narcissa in shock.
"Let me," she whispered, leaning into Lucius, working her fingers beneath his so that she held his member. When he seemed resistant, she added, "I'll be your wife some day, Lucius, and we will do much more than kiss and even more than this."
The mere thought of making love to the elegant blonde next to him nearly coaxed a release from his vexed state. Lucius permitted his hand to fall away uselessly as Narcissa began stroking his flesh, repeating what she had no doubt surreptitiously observed moments before appearing at his side.
Narcissa watched her fingers move along Lucius' strained erection with fascination -- she possessed his curiosity.
"Faster, please," he whispered, thrusting himself between her lily-white fingers as he tilted his head to close his mouth over her neck, so very close to him. He breathed in her scent, memorizing it for future, for when she was not so near.
Narcissa increased the tempo, her arm moving quickly and her eyes fixed to the task. She sighed softly when Lucius' lips fluttered against her neck.
Lucius moaned, his release nearly upon him, as he kissed her pale perfect skin, nuzzling beneath her cascading hair. She tilted her head, giving him more access to her throat. He laved his tongue up to her ear and sucked on her earlobe, breathing heavily. "Oh, Gods," he gasped, his mouth drawn slack as he pumped his climax between her fingers.
Fascinated, Narcissa milked Lucius' slaked member and then used a handkerchief with the Malfoy crest stitched into it to clean her fingers. She regarded Lucius with interest as he returned himself to his trousers and buttoned them up fastidiously.
"I think I'll like you doing that to me," he grinned with mischief; his embolden nature returning like a tide that would never recede again.
Narcissa laughed a little and then drew a more serious expression. She asked quietly, "Did you know before today?"
Lucius shook his head and found his hand straying to her hair, so much like his, and smoothed it out over her shoulder. "No, I didn't. I was told that not until the girl turns thirteen does it become known. Not really a very good birthday present, is it?"
Narcissa shrugged, "At least we like one another. I don't think..." she paused, reformulating her phrase, "... Mother and Father did."
"And they still don't. I mean, they're not hostile with one another but there is certainly no love lost between them."
"Lucius?" her gray eyes moistened with solemnity.
"Yes?" he quirked a blond brow, tugging the side of his lip into what would become his trademark sneer but was merely a questioning look.
"Let's promise to love each other," she reached out and grasped his hands almost desperately with hers.
"More than friends," he intoned with conviction, twining her fingers tightly with his, his eyes unblinking and holding hers fervently. He realized then he could and would fall headlong into passionate love with this girl.
"More than..." she paused, taking in a deep breath and added softly, "...siblings."
Lucius leaned down and kissed her pert lips gently. "I promise to always love you, Narcissa."
She leaned into him, released his hands and encircled her slender arms around his neck. Her voice caught in her throat, "Lucius?" She buried her face in his cool neck, rubbing her lower lip against the silken fabric of his robe.
"Yes?"
"I'm afraid," she confessed quietly, her voice lost against his pale skin.
Lucius rubbed his hands over his sister's back in tiny soothing circles. "Me too," he professed, for the first time in his life knowing fear, and hoping it would be an infrequent experience. He was hopeful with Narcissa at his side, they could bolster one another and fend off any forces that may, in the future, potentially be the source of further apprehension. For it was not in a Malfoy's nature to be afraid.
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