September 1, 1973
Later that night, the party in the Slytherin common room is reaching its apex. Most of the younger students, tired from the day's journey, have retreated to bed, while the older students celebrate the beginning of the school year. Music is playing throughout the room, and a spirited energy exists in everyone in attendance. From one of the the upper floors, MAFALDA holds a drink and stands at one of the balconies, overlooking the scene.
SEVERUS: (approaching her) Not joining the party?
MAFALDA: (turning to him and smiling) I thought you had gone to bed.
SEVERUS: (leaning against the railing) I didn't think it would be wise to miss the first party of the year.
MAFALDA: How right you were.
SEVERUS: But why in Merlin's name aren't you on the dancefloor?
MAFALDA: (laughing) It's times like these where I just like to observe from a distance.
SEVERUS: And why is that?
MAFALDA: (earnestly) Look around you. Listen to the music. Feel the energy in the air. Now, I've been to my fair share of parties in other Houses, and nothing, I repeat nothing, trumps a Slytherin party. The Gryffindors just end up trashing the place, the Ravenclaws have their upscale masquerade balls, and the Hufflepuffs do God-knows-what in the basement, but here- this is the strongest party scene you'll come across. You know why? Because only Slytherins know where the house-elves keep the firewhiskey in the kitchens. Only Slytherins can cast strong enough Silencing Charms around the common room so that no one can hear the music from the outside. And of course, only Slytherins know how to properly dance.
SEVERUS: (laughing) So let's see, then. Go ahead, come on.
MAFALDA smiles, finishes the rest of her drink, and then descends the stairs to the main level of the common room. At the center, several students have made a clearing for a makeshift dance floor. NARCISSA stands towards the side drinking heavily with LUCIUS.
MAFALDA: Cissy! Let's go.
NARCISSA raises her hands and dances while making her way the center of the room, where she and MAFALDA stand in the middle of the eerie green light that illuminates the entire room.
MAFALDA: Ready to show them your skills?
NARCISSA: Is that even a question? (She turns to face the crowd and shouts loudly) Who's ready for the first party of the year, Slytherins?
Everyone cheers loudly as the music grows louder. Together, NARCISSA and MAFALDA begin to dance intricately to the fast music, and soon many of the others join them. From above, SEVERUS watches and smiles slightly.
NARCISSA: (reaching though the crowd and finding LUCIUS) Hey.
LUCIUS: (putting his arms around her) Hey.
NARCISSA: (slurring her words) Are- are you ready for all of this?
LUCIUS: (nodding sarcastically) Yep, I think I am.
NARCISSA: You know what I mean. I'm scared, Lucius. I'm scared.
LUCIUS: Scared for what?
NARCISSA: For the future! For what we're gonna do with Bella, for what's gonna happen with us, for-
LUCIUS: (placing his hand on her face) Nothing's gonna happen with us.
NARCISSA: Just- I need to- I-
LUCIUS: What is it?
NARCISSA: Just- just tell me everything's going to be okay.
LUCIUS: Everything's going to fine.
LUCIUS bends forward and kisses NARCISSA in the middle of the dance floor, and the party continues to rage around them.
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The Marauders Rise (II)
FanfictionIn 1973, the Marauders enter their third year at Hogwarts and are immediately thrown back into a world of magic and mayhem. James, Sirius, and Peter, under the guidance of Minerva, devise an unorthodox way to help Remus during his transformations, a...
