nothing i wont do anymore

checkmate.

December 1971 Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

It was close to Christmas, and the air at Hogwarts had turned cool in anticipation of the season's snow. Both Lucius and Narcissa had chosen to stay at school over the break- Narcissa to escape the growing tension at home from her older sisters' suspected association with a Mud-blood, and Lucius to be with her as much as he could in his final year.

"I mean, have you seen him? Parading around with those other Gryffindor boys Luce? It's utterly humiliating!" she exclaimed as they sat beside each other on the long lunch table in the Great Hall sharing a box of every flavour beans. "Apparently his mother is disgusted- his brother wrote to me- she told him to not bother coming home for Christmas. Now Regulus is terrified of coming next year, understandably."

"Want me to scare him for you Cissy? Sometimes all precocious children need is a good scare." Lucius chuckled darkly. "Me and the others would do it for you, we would."

"I know you would Lucius, you don't think I could do it myself if I wanted to? But father told me it was my job to look out for him. If he knew I terrified him I'd be flogged." She sighed

Lucius raised his eyebrows as if imagining it until Narcissa hit his arm. "You're disgusting." she said with a shake of her head. "I just thought I might get a break from him over the holiday. He does my head in. We shouldn't even share a last name, no Black behaves like that."

They were talking about Narcissa's younger cousin, Sirius Black, of course. He had started his time at Hogwarts this year and, according to Narcissa, was ruining the Black family name more and more with every day he was here. Starting by being sorted into Gryffindor. They didn't look much alike, Lucius personally thought that he looked more like Bellatrix, but they both shared their last name, meaning they were intrinsically tied together, much to her displeasure.

"Why don't you just ask Bella to frighten him? On a Hogsmead visit?" Lucius suggested.

"He's only in his first year, he doesn't go to Hogsmead." she answered logically.

"I'm pretty sure they get escorted on Christmas Eve, for gift buying." Lucius said and Narcissa shrugged.

"Bella is much too busy for that." she answered with a sigh.

Lucius hummed. "I've heard." he agreed and Narcissa looked at him curiously.

"From who?" she asked with a frown.

Lucius realised he might have said too much. He looked at Narcissa and studied her expression before deciding to be honest.

"From the Organisation." he said. Narcissa's eyes widened a little and she tugged on the sleeve of his robes.

"You're part of the Organisation?" she whispered.

"Not yet. Not officially. I'm still in school Cissy." he answered.

"Oh Lucius, you're joking." she said, eyes still wide.

"They aren't all as fanatical as Bella. You know I'm not. But their points are absolute Cissy. Don't you want to be able to send our children out into a better Wizarding Society- a pureblood society?" he asked

Narcissa nodded immediately. "Of course I do. You know that." she answered bitingly. "My family and I think that as much as you do. But I've seen Bella go off to those meetings- I've seen how they branded her skin- its horrifying Lucius."

"You wouldn't have to do anything like that if you didn't want Cissa." he assured her.

"And you do?" she asked.