Miss Malfoy

Chapter 3

     "Watch where you're going!"

     Trixie went flying to the floor, Narcissa's unnaturally cold rebuke following her down. The youngest Black sister glared down at her, and at the mess of Trixie's books and papers scattered across the corridor.

     Cheeks flushed; Trixie gathered up her belongings. "Cissa, I-"

     "Don't you dare call me that, you filthy bloodtraitor!" Narcissa hissed.

     "Is there a problem here?" Lily hurried over, her grey boots clicking against the stone floor.

     Narcissa drew herself up. "Not at all. Just your friend here being a klutz." She whipped around, her white-blonde hair flying out gracefully, and stalked away.

     Lily bent to pick up the last of Trixie's books. "Are you alright?"

     "Yeah." Trixie watched Narcissa go, an unhappy pit in her stomach.

     "Come on, then." Lily said briskly. "We have to get to Charms."

     They were just in time, sliding into the back row just as Professor Flitwick called Lily's name.

     "Why were you late, Malfoy? Too good to show up on time?" Sirius flashed at her from the row ahead.

     Trixie didn't respond verbally, she merely showed him her favorite finger. Lily choked back a laugh.

     Trixie shuffled through her papers, trying to find her Charms notes from Beaubatons. Instead, she found a thin sheet of fancy scalloped paper. On it, in silver, slanted cursive, read:

          "Go to the Astronomy Tower at midnight tonight."

     Trixie wasn't stupid, she knew the note was from Narcissa. The Slytherin must have slipped it to her when they smacked into each other. This led Trixie to believe that the whole incident had been orchestrated by Narcissa on purpose, and gave her hope. 

    She spent the remainder of Charms wondering what Narcissa could have to tell her that was so important and secretive.

_______________________

     That night, Trixie waited until Lily, Alice, Marlene, and Rose were asleep, and snuck down the stairs in her pale grey jumper, hoping to protect herself from the night chill. The common room was mercifully empty, so Trixie strode quickly through.

     The halls were dark and quiet, but Trixie stayed alert for teachers, not wanting her grandfather to be informed about her nighttime activities. The last thing she needed was for Brutus to demand she leave Hogwarts. Of course, she was a legal adult in the Wizarding World, but he still seemed to think he had sway over her life.

     When she heard footsteps, she ducked into the nearest classroom, stubbing her toe painfully on a raised flagstone. She hopped in place, silently cursing.

     Peering carefully out, Trixie didn't see anyone. Then she looked down and saw three pairs of feet.

     Only feet.

     Nothing else.

     She nearly gave herself away with a gasp but managed to keep control. The feet meandered along down the corridor, accompanied by muffled voices.

     Normally, Trixie would have investigated, but unfortunately, she knew Narcissa was waiting for her. Once the feet were out of sight, she slipped out and pattered up the winding stairs to the Astronomy Tower.

     The giant Hogwarts clock was ringing twelve, but Trixie paused in the doorway, suddenly feeling stupid. She was a Gryffindor and Narcissa was a Slytherin. What would the youngest Black sister have to tell her that was this secretive? 

     Though she didn't want to doubt Narcissa's character, after their long friendship, their earlier encounter was still prominent in Trixie's mind. What if this was a trap?

     Trixie could imagine that Brutus probably was not pleased with her Sorting; in fact, she expected an angry letter at any point. What if this was some sort of plot planned by her grandfather? Would Narcissa kidnap her? Imperiuse her? Push her off the tower?

     Trixie took a deep breath. This was Narcissa. Her friend. Whatever had happened between them over the past couple of days paled in significance to the history they shared.

     Granted, Trixie was still furious at the way she had been treated. Narcissa, and Lucius, for that matter, were complete gits. But she was still curious about what Narcissa had to say for herself.

     Feeling like the stereotypical reckless Gryffindor, Trixie gripped the rosewood handle of her wand and entered the balcony of the tower.

     She stopped dead. Narcissa and Lucius were leaning against the rail of the balcony, mugs of butterbeer in their hands.

     "Hey, 'Celia." Lucius offered her a mug.

     Trixie didn't move towards them. For all she knew, the butterbeer was poisoned. As much as she hated to think that of her brother, she couldn't afford to be hasty. Now that Lucius was also involved, the odds of this being Brutus' plot rose higher. Ironically, Trixie mimicked her grandfather, keeping her face cold and composed.

     "What did you want?" Trixie directed her icy grey gaze to Narcissa, ignoring Lucius the way he had ignored her. It was a bit petty, but Trixie was still furious.

     Narcissa smiled, her face completely different from the sneering picture of earlier. Trixie almost softened, but remained strong.

     "'Cius and I have been keeping something from you for a while."

     Trixie snorted. "What? That you're both shallow, evil, gits?"

     "That we're both actually Gryffindors." Lucius stated.

     Trixie stared for a moment. "Is that the best you could come up with?" she scoffed. This whole meeting was a waste of time. She would've been better off following the random feet down the corridors.

     Lucius sighed. "I told you she would need more persuading," he nudged Narcissa. Then he drew his wand, and Trixie instinctively drew hers.

     However, he brother merely chanted, "Expecto Patronum." A cloudy white peacock burst from the wood, and Lucius quietly said, "You were right. We'll be down soon."

     The peacock whooshed over Trixie's head, leaving behind a fading glow.

     "Come on, we're going to Dumbledore's office so he can explain this to you." Lucius downed the rest of his butterbeer, and set the mug down, taking Narcissa's hand. "Coming?"

     Trixie didn't see any harm in playing along and going to the Headmaster's office, if that was where they were going. There was a nagging suspicion in the back of her head the Lucius and Narcissa were taking her into the Slytherin Common Room to indoctrinate her into the Death Eaters.

     She had, of course, heard the rumors that the Slytherin upperclassmen were joining the Dark Lord's ranks, and she had hoped with all her heart that her brother was not one of them. However, she had yet to see him wear any sort of shirt besides one with long sleeves, even over summer break, and she feared the worst.

     Trixie took one last look over the balcony before following her brother and his girlfriend, and to her surprise, she saw a black dog and what looked like a stag disappearing into it's depths, lit by the full moon.