This is my response to day 7 of Sinistra Black's "Seherazad/Day By Day" challenge.

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Ever since he had inherited his fortune Lucius Malfoy had been handed everything that he could possibly want on a silver platter. Often solicitous offers of shares in a profitable venture, a visit to a house in Venice, and even the odd woman were thrown his way in the hope of currying favour with the up and coming young Lord Malfoy, and he accepted them all with an enigmatic smile and no direct promises, and he knew that the time would come when he would use his influence to repay the gifts that had most pleased him, but until that time came he was happy to extend the spheres in which his power could be put to use and make allies.

Thus it came to be that Lucius Malfoy was attending yet another gathering to which invitation had been extended only the crème de la crème of wizarding society. Malfoy sat by the table between the latest in his string of mistresses- a Rookwood woman, he believed, but her identity was of little consequence to him- and Perseus Nott, an older man of similar stature and in possession of style and dry wit that made him Lucius' favoured companion. They watched as the cards were dealt out by Crabbe and Malfoy remained stoic as he took in his own hand. Across from him Goyle grinned like an idiot, placing his cards on the mahogany table and slamming down his meaty fist.

"Read them and weep. Looks like Nott won't be taking all the chips after all." The participants in the game groaned, showing their inferior selections of cards one by one. Malfoy couldn't help but shudder as the girl to his left nibbled at his ear lobe; the physical pleasure of her action was indeed tantalising, but he loved nothing more than showmanship. He watched as Judora Parkinson removed the string of diamonds from her neck and her hair, Perseus withdrew the deeds to the vineyard in Spain he had gambled, Crabbe a key to a minor Gringott's vault and his mistress a set of hair combs encrusted with emeralds.

"Indeed not." Lucius laid down his cards just as the goods were being pushed towards Goyle, finally allowing himself a slight smile. There were gasps of amazement at his fortune and laughter at his pun. The gratification of his success made Lucius generous. "I shall not claim your treasures, as the look upon dear Goyle's face is reward enough." He savoured the mirth that he had generated before gesturing towards the girl. "But fear not- Elena shall keep you company, and perhaps you will find some profit to come of the night, Goyle."

He stood and Nott followed, surveying the other tables in the room as they walked around its parameters. In the aftermath of a sumptuous dinner, the occupants of the room were indulging in what would, to an outsider, appear to be relaxed chatter but almost everyone would be pressing an agenda of some sort.

"Well played, my friend- your act of kindness shan't be forgotten." Reaching into the folds of his finely tailored waistcoat, Nott withdrew his box of cigars and offered one to Lucius before igniting them with the tip of his wand. Malfoy inhaled deeply, closing his eyes in delight as his senses were allowed yet another pleasure.

"Oh, that. Truthfully I'm bored of her already." He quirked an eyebrow when Nott gave a wry smile.

"Ah Lucius, you make me recall what it was to be young," It was with anything but regret that Nott brushed at the flecks of silver decorating his temples- they made him look distinguished and he knew it, "Although never did I have quite your reputation for rakish behaviour."

"Whatever could you mean?" Lucius feigned surprise masterfully, knowing that his companion would see beyond the feigned innocence in a heartbeat.

"Six mistresses that are common knowledge and Merlin only knows how many other girls you've had since the Malfoy estate passed into your hands; you flaunt them. Your hedonistic pursuits are the topic du jour, my friend, and you revel in it." Nott exhaled a perfect ring of smoke with perfect nonchalance, knowing full well that several pairs of eyes were now upon him but doing nothing to indicate his awareness.

"I know nothing of the matters you discuss, but I thank you for bringing my attention to these rumours." Lucius reflected upon the brotherly bond of sodality between he and Nott as the elder wizard clapped him on the shoulder. He knew exactly what his friend had left unsaid- there is a fine line between mild infamy and besmirching a family name- and was grateful for the balance between friend and father that Nott presented him with. They continued walking at a leisurely pace. Lucius knew that he was utterly debonair with his long blonde hair, stately robes and walking cane. He turned to see if any female eyes were upon him and through the haze of smoke drifting about the room he saw a vision of absolute beauty.

A young woman with deep brown eyes and golden hair that shone in the candle light stood out completely. She was surrounded by a large number of other witches, each of whom sought to emulate the enigmatic, pensive way in which her eyes flitted lazily through the room. Her skin was unblemished and her slightly parted lips a coral pink that was matched perfectly by the thick threads of pearls adorning her slender neck, arched slightly as she luxuriated in the loveseat, a glass of red wine dangling from one exquisitely small hand. Her robes were a magnificent royal purple that served only to highlight her alabaster complexion and they clung to her every curve, shimmering in the low light with her every breath. As though aware of having transfixed him, the young woman directed her gaze towards Lucius and he was rooted to the spot as their eyes met. It was as though something electric had passed between them. Another girl reached across and tapped the blonde's arm, whispering something into her ear. The moment was broken, but the spell was not.

"Who is that woman- the pretty blonde reclining beside Mulciber's wife?" Lucius did not allow a hint of excitement to colour his tone. Something must have shown in his face because once again Nott was laughing.

"That would be Narcissa Black, the debutant of the season and most likely the belle of many yet to come. She's fresh out of Hogwarts and her time in our circles started just after her graduation- you would have been in mourning at the time of her coming out party. Cygnus and Druella have two older; Bellatrix- that's her with her brother in law, Rabastan Lestrange by the fireplace- was in your year and a Slytherin, so you'll know her, and there was quite a scandal about the middle one... I can't remember for the life of me what it was... anyway she married a mudblood, and..." Nott continued to relay the status of every member of the Black family and what they were most known for, and as useful as this information could prove, Lucius couldn't help but sneak glances at the young woman he now knew to be Narcissa Black. He was enchanted as she lifted the crystal goblet to her mouth, tilted her head back in a way that caused her luxurious waves of hair to move slightly, and swallowed in one fluid motion. "You're not listening to a word that I'm saying, are you?"

"Perhaps..." He sighed as Nott's reproving look finally cracked his mask of neutrality. "No."

"Unless your attentions are anything less than noble, you would be wise to put Miss Black from your mind. After her sister Aries- no, that's not it- Andromeda eloped with that riff raff she's the family's last shot at social advancement, so she'll never consent to being any man's concubine. They'll have drilled into her how important it is to behave in a manner befitting a witch of her stature." Nott lifted a tumbler of firewhisky from a passing tray, frowning as the alcohol made its way down his throat. "This is an acquired taste, Lucius, for the palette mature enough to find pleasure in a serious drink."

"I shall keep that in mind, old friend." He made a conscious effort to remain firmly engaged in his conversation with Nott, managing to look at Narcissa only twice. On both occasions he noticed another detail about her; the incredible grace with which she moved and that there was a slight natural curl to her hair. When the music finally started to emanate from the ballroom Nott left him to find his wife and joined in the surge of couples moving towards the next room. Lucius saw that the youngest Black daughter was immediately swarmed by admirers. On some she bestowed a smile, but it was evident to the experienced socialite that she was bored by them all. Impulsively he made a beeline for her, and his expression did not betray his pride as the younger men of less noble birth parted for him.

Narcissa looked up, her eyebrows arched as she took in the latest addition to the men who sought her attention. She did not simper or giggle, instead continuing her observations in an unhurried silence. There were hushed whispers throughout the room as people noticed who had approached the most desired of the debutants.

"Yes?" When she tilted her head upwards and addressed him, Lucius noticed the well defined structure of her facial features. She was seemingly unfazed by his presence, juxtaposing with the fluttering of lashes and rearrangements of garments by the group of unclaimed girls surrounding them. Malfoy was intrigued.

"Miss Black, would you care to dance with me?" Lucius was further surprised when she did not answer immediately- he was after all one of high society's most eligible bachelors, and it was not exaggeration to say that he was handsome. Narcissa placed her glass on the table and paused for dramatic effect, ignoring the whispered encouragements of her entourage.

"Very well Lord Malfoy." Her dark eyes gave nothing away as she accepted his hand and allowed Lucius to assist her to her feet. There was a collective gasp by those not occupying the floor as he led Narcissa out, and it was with pleasure that he noticed she allowed this to have no more impact upon her bearing than he did hid. Impressive, considering that he had over a decade's worth more of experience in conducting himself publically. The neat curve of her slender waist fit perfectly underneath his grasp, and suddenly Lucius was conscious that he held her neither too close nor too informally; it wouldn't do for her to think him a lecher, but nor did he want Narcissa to think him indifferent. Never since his own emergence into the crème de la crème of the magical community had Lucius felt so nervous about such an insignificant detail.

Once they had adopted the appropriate position Lucius placed a gentle pressure on his partner's side and they moved in time to the strings music. He had prepared himself for a slight awkwardness from Narcissa, but she glided about the floor with an ease that indicated she was a natural dancer. As Lucius twirled her he thought that he caught sight of a small smile playing about her mouth, but it lasted so briefly that it was impossible to say. Lucius deemed her competent enough to cope with conversation during dance and spoke his mind.

"You are an accomplished dancer Miss Black." Her beautiful features gave away nothing.

"As are you, Lord Malfoy." He smiled in return, deciding that he quite liked the girl. Her personality was every bit as curious as her good looks were appealing.

"Share the next dance with me and I shall give you leave to call me Lucius." He watched with mild amusement as a pretty blush rose on her cheeks. Teasing her was irresistible. "Miss Black I did not have you pegged as a shrinking violet."

"I too am comfortable with progressing to informalities, but my parents are staring at us in a most disconcerting fashion." Narcissa laughed openly as he raised an eyebrow. For the first time he registered exactly how young she was, and also that in such close proximity her beauty was intoxicating.

"Then let them stare!" Following the exact rhythm of the piece playing, Lucius wrapped his hands firmly around her waist and elevated Narcissa above him for two beats, revolving her slowly before setting her back down and returning to their original position seamlessly. He noticed the way her hair bounced as she landed.

"What are you doing?" Narcissa laughed in delight as he repeated the motion, her eyes sparkling. "Everyone is looking at us."

"No, they look upon you because of your beauty. I am merely assisting them by allowing a better view." Lucius felt a strange tenderness as she ducked her head and decided that he would not proceed too quickly in this venture; his companion's inexperience was oddly endearing and he did not wish to press her too firmly. They finished the remainder of the dance without further conversation.

"Well, Miss Black? Am I to partner you again?" Lucius found himself hoping that she would consent- Narcissa moved with skill and was an interesting companion.

"Indeed, Lucius." Narcissa's voice remained level, but after addressing him by his given name her she tensed in a way that would have been unnoticeable had he not been holding her.

"Excellent." They modified their pose to that of the next number, a faster dance, and somewhere along the lines a non-verbal pact was made that they would not part ways for the remainder of the set. Gradually the couples on the floor thinned, but Narcissa did not indicate that she was growing tired and Lucius, eager to retain his newly found partner, did not ask if she wished to rest. Finally the band started to play a slow song that was to be their last.

"Narcissa?" She looked up at him expectantly. "Would you object- that is to say, shall we continue?" This particular dance required a closer position than the others and Lucius felt that it was only gallant to offer his young companion the opportunity to opt out of something she may consider too intimate.

"Yes." She had nodded, business like, and stepped forwards. Lucius heard the soft rustle of her gloves against his velour cloak. Securing her more tightly to him, Lucius couldn't help but smile when he noticed that it took Narcissa several seconds to relax against his body. He looked down at the golden tresses of hair beneath him and wondered idly what it would feel like between his fingers. Chastising himself, Lucius redirected his line of thought, which was nearly impossible as the scent of roses- her scent- gently permeated the air around him. Narcissa moved very nicely indeed, and so it was with regret that Lucius moved away from her as the final note of the tune drew to a wavering close.

"Narcissa it has been a true pleasure to have had your company this evening, and I do hope that I'll see you at Nott's get together on Saturday." He bowed to her graciously.

"I am glad to have made your acquaintance and shall see you there." Narcissa nodded. "And now I must bid you goodnight, Lucius." She turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowds, immune to the buzz of gossip spreading in her wake. Making his way towards the fireplace, Malfoy realised that he was already looking forward to his friend's party with more zeal than he had in quite some time. In the line for the nearest floo link, Lucius found himself accosted by his most trusted friend.

"I trust that you heeded my words earlier, Lucius."Nott's tone was light so as to avoid attracting attention, but Lucius knew that the older wizard was concerned for him.

"Indeed I did. My conduct towards Miss Black was not reprehensible in the slightest, nor shall it be." Lucius accepted his cane from a servant before stepping into the fireplace. "Malfoy Manor." Nott turned to look at his wife.

"Then what, one wonders, is his intent?"

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