(A/N: Warning; there's a bit of strong language at the end of this chapter.)
"Lucius? Are you almost ready? People are leaving..." Narcissa poked her head into the boy's dormitory, clasping her cloak. "Lucius?"
"In here," he called back, emerging from his four poster bed. "I wasn't... I don't think I'm going to Hogsmeade today." His expression was serious, but not particularly upset. "I was wondering- would you mind staying here, too? There are... some things I wanted to discuss with you."
"Oh, Lucius, no! I want to go to Hogsmeade," she insisted. "We can talk about it there." She darted across the room to tug on his elbow impatiently. He frowned slightly.
"Really, Narcissa, I'd rather discuss it here."
"Why? There are plenty of private places at Hogsmeade to talk. And if you don't hurry, we're going to miss everyone!"
"Narcissa," he touched her arm, still intent. "This is something I want to discuss with you when there are no distractions; please focus."
She was hopping impatiently from one foot to the other. Lucius sighed, recognizing a lost cause. "Go, Narcissa." He ducked his head and half-turned away, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I have some matters that need to be taken care of. We can talk when you get back."
"Oh, is it urgent? Do I have to stay?"
"Not at all, pet," he sighed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. He held her tightly for a moment, but released her when she pulled away. "Have fun."
"I will!" she chirped, skipping out.
Narcissa caught up with her housemates on the grounds. Bellatrix, momentarily separated from her band of admirers, paused and waited for her sister to dash over.
"Hey Bella!" she panted slightly, falling into step beside her. Bellatrix smirked.
"Lose Malfoy?"
"No," Narcissa huffed. "He said he wanted to stay behind today, and I wanted to get out of the castle. So he told me to just go."
Bellatrix scoffed with a malicious little grin. "Obviously. What he wanted to spend the time doing would be much more inconvenient in the village- though not impossible, I'd daresay-"
"Oh, enough already!" Narcissa exclaimed, eyes flashing and fists clenched. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you- Lucius and I haven't done that!"
Shaking her head, Bellatrix laughed. "I don't know why you keep insisting that! Everyone knows, Cissy-baby. You just look like a hypocrite when you deny it."
"I'm not denying anything! It's the truth!" she cried, cheeks flaming. "I would never do that, Bella, not before I'm married!"
"Is he any good? I've wondered."
"I wouldn't know!"
Bellatrix flung an arm around her little sister's shoulders. "I won't judge you! You know that. I mean, I've slept with... well. Everybody."
"That's disgusting. Mother-"
"Will never know, will she?"
"What will you do if none of them want to marry you? Since you've... you know." Narcissa flushed slightly, and Bellatrix laughed again.
"They will. They adore me; all of them."
"Well, I wouldn't risk it. Not even with Lucius. I love him, but... I'd never."
Bellatrix had stopped walking, and was starin at Narcissa curiously.
"Let's say, hypothetically, that you and Lucius have never had sex."
Narcissa winced slightly. "We haven't!"
"So then, what have you done?"
"Erm..." Narcissa was deeply regretting entering this conversation. "We've kissed, obviously. And... oh, Bella, you must never tell Mum... but I- I've let him..."
Bellatrix cocked an eyebrow, waiting.
"Take my shirt off!" she blurted quickly, then glanced around, mortified. "Not often," she continued, "just a time or two. And I know I shouldn't have, but..." She ducked her head in embarassment. Bellatrix blinked.
"Malfoy stayed up at the castle, you said?"
"Yes; he was in his dormitory. Why?"
"I... No reason. You know... I don't think I much fancy the idea of going to Hogsmeade either. But Ari is right over there- if you scurry, you can catch up."
Turning on her heel, Bellatrix headed back towards the school. Frowning, Narcissa went on to join her friends.
Obviously, Narcissa had to be lying. Bellatrix was somewhat sure that her sister was not such a gifted actress- but there was no possible way she could be telling the truth! Not at all. The situation, however, would be decidedly entertaining in either case- it simply depended on what Lucius had to say.
Bellatrix stole silently into the boy's dormitory. Lucius was sprawled carelessly across his bed, back to the door, quill scratching furiously across parchment.
"Hello, Bella," he greeted quietly, not bothing to look. She smirked.
"Hey, Malfoy. How'd you know it was me?"
"You have a very... loud presence. Even when you don't make a sound."
She had to agree with that. Bellatrix was a powerful witch, but knew little control. Magic swirled around her, almost as an aura, rippling and wild until she decided to direct it. Standing still, the energy around her seemed to crackle and swirl, giving the impression that she was never entirely immobile. Lucius, on the other hand, had a stonger grip- no less powerful, but always in command.
Bellatrix wondered what it would be like if the iron grip were to slip.
Slowly, she shut the door behind her with the toe of her shiny, crimson stilettos. "What are you working on?"
"Nothing," he replied shortly.
"Interesting thing I just heard, on the way to the village."
"Oh?" He sounded less than curious.
"Just Cissy's mindless prattle. Dear girl is still insisting that she's a virtuous little princess. But that's not right, is it, Malfoy? We all know you."
He didn't reply, but the involuntary clenching on his fingers on the quill, the pressure with which he suddenly applied to the parchment, and the way the easy langour evaporated from his body all told her what he could not say.
Bellatrix burst into laugher.
"So it is true! Merlin, Lucius, just when you think you know a man... well," her eyes shone maliciously. "Boy, I suppose."
He turned, fixing her with an icy glare. Bellatrix pressed on goadingly. "I mean, really. For all that you act so strong and forceful... you've had her under your nose for- what- five years now? I've heard rumors, you know, whispers, and I always assumed it was because little Cissy wan't enough for you- and truly, no one would blame you for wanting more-"
Lucius had risen now, and advanced in a cold, quiet rage that would have any same being fleeing for protection. Bellatrix, however, grinned cheekily.
"And it turns out that all this time, you simply weren't enough of a man for even tiny, snivelling little Cis. Funny, how things work out."
His large hand closed around her throat, and she laughed again, further fueling his fury, as he slammed her to the wall.
"You know nothing!" he spat, fingers trembling with scarcely contained wrath.
"Oh yeah, Malfoy?" she reached out, digging long, sharp nails into his robes and yanking him closer. "Prove me wrong."
For a moment, his grip relaxed, and Bella thought he would turn away.
"Coward," she giggled, tilting her head against the stone.
He snapped. Without pausing for even a heartbeat to consider his actions, he fisted one hand in her dark, wild hair, and kissed her.
Kissing Bellatrix was nothing like kissing Narcissa, or any other woman he could remember. With Narcissa, he had to be gentle, patient, and restrained. And with Narcissa, there was always a need to stop. Bellatrix, on the other hand, held none of the lady-like compuntions of her sister. With Bellatrix, there was no need to worry; there were no scruples, no limits. No need to think. Bellatrix was lust rather than love, unconvoluted, uncomplicated and predictable. She was passion without finesse, seduction without messy emotions. She was the antithesis of everything that had been tormenting Lucius for years. Lucius could learn emotion, learn to care, learn to acknowledge the bonds of polite society- but this, this, he knew. Detachment and anger and primal instincts were easy- coping was more challenging.
Some time later- it could have been minutes or hours or days- Lucius opened his eyes and glanced over at the nude form on the bed beside him. Bellatrix smirked lazily back at him, expression still clouded by contentment.
"Well, Malfoy," she sighed, turning her head back to stare at the canopy. He did the same. "I guess I was wrong."
Wrong.
Wrong.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! This was wrong. This was all wrong. Lucius's head snapped back Bellatrix, eyes wide and heart beginning to thud with just-realized panic.
"No," he whispered. His throat, so constricted with horror, barely allowed the word to escape.
What have I done?
He bolted upright, reaching desperately for his clothes, strewn carelessly across the floor. "Get out of here, Bellatrix," he managed roughly, fingers shaking as he tried to dress rapidly. "You have to get out. Now. You can't... Bellatrix, you can't tell her." His voice was hopelessly bleak as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt.
Bellatrix chuckled, warm in the back of her throat. She rolled over, clearly in no rush.
"What- wasn't it good for you?" She laughed, knowing perfectly well the answer.
Not, of course, that it was worth it. Abandoning the attempt to finish with the buttons, he shoved his legs into his trousers and fastened them with numb fingers.
Narcissa.
Lucius winced in surprise at the curious pain that ripped through him at the thought of her, and felt distinctly ill. She would never forgive him for this. Never.
"What's the matter, Malfoy?" Bellatrix taunted, stretching luxuriously.
"Get out!" he roared, picking up her robes from the floor and flinging them at her. "Get dressed and leave!"
"Ari, are you going back to the Common Room?"
"Yep!" Ari replied brightly, shifting her bags to the other hand.
"Lucius wanted to talk to me 'in private' earlier, so he'll probably want to go to our tower. I don't feel like walking down there and back up- can you ask him to meet me there?"
"Sure thing. See you later," Ari called as she broke off to head to the dungeons. Upon entering the Slytherin lair and quickly concluding the Lucius was not, in fact, there, she headed up to the sixth year boy's dormitory.
"Hey, Malfoy?" She pushed open the door without bothering to knock. "You in here? Cissy's waiting for you up at your tower and-"
She stopped cold.
Bellatrix was rising slowly from bed, tugging her skirt up over her hips. Lucius stared at Ari, face ashen, expression wrought with panicked guilt. His shirt was sloppily buttoned, and he was clasping his belt.
"Ari," he gasped hoarsely. "Xannon, wait!" But Ari had already fled from the room, determined to catch Narcissa before she snuck off to her secluded spot.
I knew. She had always known that Lucius was no good. Her heart ached for her friend, but she also felt strangely vindicated. Ari had always hate Lucius- and now Narcissa would never again defend him.
"Ari!" Lucius stumbled into the Common Room, but immediately saw he was too late.
"What've you done this time, Lucius?"
With a mingling of alarm and relief, Lucius spotted Severus regarding him distainfully.
"Er... C'mere a second. I have to talk to you."
With a sigh, Severus rose and skeptically approached him.
"I... I did something..." Horrible. Unforgivable. "Stupid."
He dropped his head, unable to look his friend in the eye, but regretfully let the images flood his mind. I know I shouldn't have.
"Can you help me?" he whispered. "Please?" Severus was silent for a long moment, and Lucius glanced up hopefully.
There was no pity, no remorse in Severus's gaze. His black eyes were cold, hardened with disgust.
"Fuck you, Lucius. Deal with your own problems." He turned on the spot, and strode from the room.