No More Secrets
Hogwarts had never felt small to Lucius Malfoy—not until now. The hallways were too crowded, the common room too loud, the classes unbearably dull. Everything seemed insignificant compared to the fact that Narcissa was now his in a way she had never been before. And this time, they weren’t hiding it.
He didn’t bother pretending he wasn’t looking for her the moment he stepped into the Great Hall for breakfast, scanning the Slytherin table with sharp eyes. It took no time at all to find her—head held high, her long, golden hair cascading over her shoulder as she engaged in quiet conversation with her sister Andromeda.
Lucius didn’t hesitate. He strode past a group of younger students who scurried out of his way and slid into the empty seat beside Narcissa, his presence undeniable. The moment he sat down, his arm casually draped over the back of her seat, his fingers lightly grazing the silk of her robe.
The conversation at the table faltered. A few heads turned. Bellatrix, sitting across from them, narrowed her eyes. Andromeda looked between the two of them, her expression unreadable.
Narcissa, however, acted as if nothing had changed. She barely glanced at him before reaching for her tea. “You’re late,” she murmured, lifting the cup to her lips.
Lucius smirked, completely unbothered by the weight of their housemates’ stares. “Had to take my time. Some things are worth savoring.” His fingers brushed against her waist under the table, deliberately slow.
Andromeda gave a pointed cough. “Well, this is new,” she commented, setting down her fork.
Bellatrix, less subtle, scoffed. “What exactly do you think you’re doing, Lucius?”
Lucius merely tilted his head, unfazed. “Breakfast.”
“You know what I mean.” Bellatrix’s gaze flickered between him and Narcissa, her lips pressing into a thin line. “This sudden… attachment.”
Narcissa finally met her sister’s stare, her expression calm, almost bored. “It’s not sudden.”
That seemed to throw Bellatrix off, if only slightly. Andromeda raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as if suppressing amusement. The younger Slytherins around them exchanged glances but wisely chose to stay silent.
Lucius turned his full attention to Narcissa then, as if no one else at the table mattered. He leaned in just enough to lower his voice, though not so much that it could be mistaken for discretion. “Are we discussing our relationship like some kind of spectacle, or are you going to let me enjoy my morning?”
Narcissa sighed as if he were exhausting. Yet, despite her exasperation, a tiny smirk played on her lips. She set her tea down, finally acknowledging him properly, her hand brushing against his on the table. “That depends. Are you planning to behave?”
Lucius chuckled. “Not particularly.”
Bellatrix made a noise of irritation and pushed herself up from the table. “Do whatever you like,” she snapped. “But don’t think for a second that this means anything, Lucius.”
Lucius barely spared her a glance as she stormed off, while Andromeda just shook her head, standing more gracefully. “I’d say congratulations, but I’m not sure either of you would appreciate it,” she said lightly before following after her sister.
That left just the two of them, with half of Slytherin still sneaking glances, whispering behind their hands.
Narcissa turned back to her tea, unbothered. “Well, that was predictable.”
Lucius, on the other hand, was entirely amused. He tapped his fingers against the table, watching her with open admiration. “You’re not concerned?”
She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “Should I be?”
He let the question hang between them before leaning in slightly, voice quieter now. “You’ve never let anyone tell you what to do before. I don’t imagine you’ll start now.”
Her lips parted slightly as if to respond, but whatever words she had died on her tongue. Instead, she simply studied him, her cool blue eyes betraying nothing.
Then, just as he was about to say something else, she surprised him. Her fingers ghosted over the back of his hand before curling around his wrist, squeezing just once. It was brief, fleeting, but the meaning was clear.
No, she wasn’t concerned. And neither was he.
For the first time, Hogwarts could watch all they wanted. It changed nothing.
The Great Hall slowly returned to its usual noise as people lost interest, but Lucius barely noticed. His focus was on Narcissa—the way she remained composed despite the scrutiny, the way she had touched his wrist so fleetingly yet deliberately. He wanted more.
Breakfast continued, but Lucius hardly cared about his food. Instead, he reached for his goblet with one hand while his other remained casually draped over the back of Narcissa’s seat. He let his fingers brush along her shoulder, tracing lazy circles over the fabric of her robe, testing the boundaries of their newfound openness.
Narcissa, as always, refused to react. She merely continued her breakfast, calmly flipping a page in the newspaper Andromeda had left behind. But Lucius knew her well enough by now—he caught the way she blinked just a little slower than usual, the way her grip on her teacup tightened for a fraction of a second.
Satisfied, he smirked.
“Malfoy.” A voice cut through his amusement, drawing his attention away from Narcissa. Opposite them, Severus Snape had settled into a seat, his dark gaze flickering between the two of them. “You seem particularly pleased with yourself this morning.”
Lucius leaned back slightly, still toying with the ends of Narcissa’s hair. “Shouldn’t I be?”
Severus raised a brow but said nothing, his gaze sliding toward Narcissa instead. “And you’re allowing this, Black?”
Narcissa finally looked up, setting down her teacup with practiced elegance. “Allowing what, exactly?”
Severus tilted his head, unimpressed. “Public displays. Affection. Him.”
Lucius let out a quiet chuckle. “You say that as if I’m an inconvenience.”
Severus ignored him, watching Narcissa closely. Lucius expected her to brush off the comment with some cool remark, but instead, she did something better. Without breaking eye contact with Severus, she reached for Lucius’s wrist—the same one she had squeezed before—and this time, she traced her fingers along the inside of his palm, slow and deliberate.
Lucius stilled.
It was subtle, almost absentminded, but it was a message nonetheless. She didn’t care who was watching.
Severus hummed, clearly reading into the moment. “Interesting.”
“I’m thrilled by your approval,” Lucius drawled. “Truly.”
Severus merely shook his head, turning his attention to his plate. Across the table, another voice joined in.
“If you two plan on making this a daily spectacle, you could at least make it entertaining.”
Evan Rosier had appeared, grinning as he dropped into the seat beside Severus. His sharp blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he took in the scene before him. “Honestly, Malfoy, you’re losing your touch. I expected something more dramatic. A declaration of undying love, perhaps?”
Lucius smirked. “That’s not my style.”
“I suppose you’d rather make people watch and suffer in silence, then?”
Lucius lifted his goblet. “Precisely.”
Narcissa sighed, as if bored of the entire conversation. “Are you all quite finished?”
Evan chuckled. “I don’t think we ever will be, dear Narcissa. This is too entertaining.”
Lucius shot him a look, though he wasn’t truly irritated. If anything, he enjoyed that their relationship was stirring a reaction. It meant it was real. It meant it wasn’t some quiet, unspoken thing anymore.
But even with all the teasing, all the commentary, all the lingering stares—they both knew that what had happened over the winter break had changed everything.
And nothing, not the gossip, not Bellatrix’s disapproval, not Severus’s scrutiny, would change that.
As the conversation shifted toward other topics, Lucius let his fingers slip beneath the table, just enough to press against Narcissa’s knee. She didn’t flinch, didn’t move away. Instead, she let out the softest exhale, barely noticeable.
But Lucius noticed. And that was enough.