Saepe dat una dies, quod totus denegat annus.*
WALTHER
– Proverbia Sententiaeque
Poor old Slughorn hadn’t believed
his own bad luck. He had been forced to ban his favourite student – and Senior
Prefect – and, what was certainly worst, Captain from the team, the best
player! Lucius hadn’t defended himself, as a matter of fact, he had hardly
listened. His mind was more pleasantly engaged; he kept gazing over at
Narcissa, his stomach did one back-flip after the other, while she was
determined to pointedly look anywhere but at him. That was okay. In fact, it
was brilliant. She could have been gloating, but instead she seemed to be
nothing if not embarrassed.
He didn’t
know what terrible headaches he caused Professor Slughorn, who had to write to
Abraxas Malfoy. But even if he had known it, he wouldn’t have cared the
slightest bit. All he cared about was that enchanting girl over there. If he
had been in love with her before, he now was madly in love, at least. The
fierceness and resourcefulness, the sheer determination she had shown betrayed
a capacity for genuine passion underneath that icy exterior, thrilling him all
the more.
They were
dismissed at last, and he hurried to follow her. “Go out with me, Narcissa.”
She
stopped in her tracks and whirled around. “What is wrong with you?!”
“Nothing.
I’ve just given up my only hobby, and I did it gladly. Now you can no longer
demand that I stay away from you.”
She
sneered. “Can’t I?”
“Why are
you so scared of me?”
“I am not
scared of you!”
“Great!
Then you can go out with me.”
“Which
part of no is so hard for you to understand?”
“You’ve
done all that only to get rid of me. You must have a reason.”
“Yes, I
have indeed! I can’t stand you!”
“Oh, you
don’t like anyone, but only for me do you make such an effort.”
She gave
a small, reluctant laugh. “Because you are more persistent than the rest!”
“Come on.
In five minutes, I’ll have to face my team and make them understand that
they’ll get a new Captain, in the last two months of the season –”
“You
could have avoided that easily enough.”
“You made
me choose between Quidditch and you, and I can’t manage without you.”
“Oh please,
just stop prattling, Malfoy!”
He gave
her his most heartfelt smile. “Come on, Narcissa. You’ve said it yourself – I’m
persistent. I won’t stop asking you, no matter how often you say no. If nothing
else, do yourself a favour and take a short-cut.”
She
groaned and closed her eyes, lightly shaking her head. “And if I agreed to go
out with you once, exactly one time, under the condition that
you’ll leave me alone after that?”
“Deal!”
He was beaming at her.
“I can’t
believe I’m doing this.”
Still
shaking her head, she turned on her heels and started walking back. He cried
after her, “Was that a yes?”
She
hadn’t stopped shaking her head, sighed once more and marched back to
Slughorn’s office without uttering another word. She contemplated her decision
– going out with Lucius Malfoy – how could that have happened? How could she
sink so low? Good Lord. And what the hell was she doing here?! He
deserved his punishment! He had it coming a long, long time! But her
behaviour in the library didn’t sit well with her this way or that; it wasn’t
like her and she resented his power over her to make her do something so silly
and underhanded. At least this part of the disaster she could remedy.
She knocked,
the Professor asked her to come in. She explained what had happened – omitting
all details relating to the true cause – smiled her sweetest smile, pretended
repentance, promised to come to his next party, and got away without further
consequences.
That had
been for several reasons on the Deputy Headmaster’s part. First – this was the
first time ever that the youngest Miss Black had put a toe over the line. As
much trouble as he had had with the eldest, so perfectly behaved was Narcissa.
The next but much more profound point was his immense relief. Slughorn would
not have to inform Malfoy senior, giving him no reason to withdraw his money,
which practically ran half of the school. He was also more than grateful that
Malfoy junior could remain Team Captain – he had grown fond of the cup on his desk,
and there was nobody comparable in talent to replace the boy. The only problem
would be Minerva McGonagall, but he would manage. He’d rather challenge his
colleague than Abraxas Malfoy.
Very,
very slowly, and feeling utterly beaten down, Narcissa trotted back to the
dungeons. Had she really just agreed to go out with Lucius Malfoy? She was
going to be the national laughing stock! This aspect didn’t truly bother her,
let them laugh, what was some morons' opinion to her? What was by far
worse – her self-respect was beaten. She had promised herself to never go out
with him, all the more since… – Heat crept into her face, remembering the
previous night’s dream.
And
anyway, what was that poetry book supposed to mean? She had wanted to sink into
the ground when he had quoted that particular piece, as if he had read her
thoughts, as if he had known that she had just had a sleepless night because of
him. Was he a Legilimens? She gave it a thought, but concluded that this was
highly unlikely. He was too lazy to voluntarily learn something so demanding.
Sheer dumb luck had made him find a line that would knock her out cold!
She
crossed the Common Room and passed the object of her nightmares, who was just
about to justify himself in front of his team-mates. In passing, she said as
casually as she could, “Professor Slughorn sends his regards, Malfoy. He wishes
me to inform you that there has been an unfortunate misunderstanding. You’re
still Captain, you won’t be banned, and you can wipe off that smug grin,
Harper.”
From the
corner of her eye, she saw Lucius Malfoy shoot up and head for her; she tried
to reach the girls’ dormitories before he could reach her, but since she
forbade herself to run and he had no such scruples, he caught up with her ten
feet before her sanctuary that boys couldn’t enter. She took a deep breath and
looked at him. “What is it?”
“You’ve
talked to Slughorn then?”
“No, he’s
just so impressed with your Chaser qualities, he can’t do without you.”
He winked
at her and smiled. “Sure. Thank you nevertheless.”
“For
what?”
“For
being the bearer of good news, if you don’t want to be credited with anything
else.”
“Is that
all? Because I need to go.”
“That
would be all – for now.”
Narcissa
turned around and escaped, thus missing her date’s enthralled face,
staring after her. Lucius’ mind was blank, a clean slate; he was almost dizzy
with elation. She had said ‘yes’ – at last! Yes! Yes! Narcissa – his
Narcissa – had finally agreed to go out with him! She had even put things
right with Sluggy – she needn’t have done that! Out of the sheer goodness of
her heart, she had spared him! Oh Narcissa, lovely, gracious, wonderful
Narcissa! He could hardly grasp his own luck!
* Saepe... Frequently, a single hour grants what has been
denied the whole year.
*****
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