“Cissa, where are we going?” Alice giggled as she stumbled over her feet, Narcissa pulling her by the hand and a blindfold over her face.
“It’s a surprise, my love.”
Narcissa smiled at Alice’s pout and continued leading her toward the surprise she had put together. It was Alice’s birthday and she had spent the whole day watching from afar as her friends doted on her. And her Alice deserved to be doted on but Narcissa yearned to be the doting, treating her as she deserved to be treated, celebrating her wonderful girlfriend in ways only she could.
“Stand right here and hold on for a moment,” she told Alice as soon as they got to the right hall.
“Whatever you say, my lady,” Alice replied mischievously, bringing her hand up in a salute like they’d seen on the muggle movies they had snuck out to watch last summer.
Narcissa rolled her eyes and turned her back to her girlfriend walking in front of Barnabas the Barmy tapestry three times, just like she had been told, keeping the image in her mind of what she was looking for.
The wall opposite the tapestry slowly started showing a door and Narcissa breathed a quiet sight of relief that it had worked, the small niggling doubts finally put to rest.
“Narcissa? Are you done yet?”
“Such an impatient Gryffindor,” she said fondly, walking back to Alice and putting her arm around her waist.
They walked towards the door and Narcissa pushed it open, pleased that the room looked exactly how she wanted. Stopping her girlfriend from walking any further and making sure the door had closed behind them, Narcissa stepped behind Alice and wrapped her arms around her and her head leaning on her shoulder with her lips barely brushing her ear.
“Happy birthday, darling.” And with that Narcissa flicked her wrist to undo the blindfold and basked in Alice’s speechlessness.
Oh how Narcissa loved making her girlfriend speechless.
She had asked the room for a meadow with all of Alice’s favorite plants and flowers. The meadow had a small creek near the corner and the perfect spot in the middle to lay out the picnic blanket with all of Alice’s favorite foods. What was meant to be the ceiling looked like the night sky and the stars lit the room and created the perfect atmosphere. It was breathtaking and perfect for Alice.
Eventually, Alice comes back to herself, turns around, and squeals, “Thank you thank you thank you,” punctuating each gratitude with a kiss.
“Only the best for you.” Narcissa smiles and laughs before capturing her lips in a longer, more passionate kiss.
Alice hums and leans into it, but before they can get too carried away she pulls back and softly says, “I know you have more planned, love. We can kiss later. I wanna see the rest of my surprise.”
They clasp hands as they walk over to the picnic spot and Narcissa calls for her elf to bring the basket and blanket. Narcissa feels intoxicated off the love filling her heart for the girl who can’t stop laughing as they continue to give each other pecks while setting up the blanket.
“You distract me too much, baby.” Alice laughs as they once again lean into each other’s space as if pulled in by gravity.
Finally, the food is laid out in the blanket and Alice’s smile grows even wider when she realizes it’s all her favorite food.
The girls fill the quiet of the meadow with their resounding laughter as they eat and catch up. It had been a while since they were able to have a moment alone so they had quite a lot to share.
Later, once they’ve both eaten their fill they lay down on the blanket and look at the stars. Alice never did have a knack for astronomy but Narcissa loved pointing out the constellations to her.
“Show me your favorite again,” Alice requests.
Naricissa points up to the sky and whispers reverently, “That one right there is Aquila. It has many meanings but my favorite is one derived from Roman culture. It’s an eagle and was considered god of the skies. It represents freedom, beauty, and strength.”
Narcissa rolls over onto her side and voices something she’s only ever thought about in the privacy of her own mind, “One day I’m going to have the strength to leave my family and have the freedom to fully and wholeheartedly be the girlfriend you deserve to have.”
Alice sits up abruptly at that and her face shutters as she turns her head. Narcissa frowns and tries to not let anxiety overcome her as she kneels next to Alice, close but not touching.
“Hey. Alice. Look at me.”
Alice looks up and her face is pained as she says, “They’re your family. I won’t ask you to abandon your family for me.”
“I will do anything for you,” Narcissa says fiercely, “I will let the world burn before I voluntarily leave your presence. You have taught me what the word family really means. You are my family far more than they are. You feel like home. You are my home far more than that wretched place is.”
Narcissa pauses and leans forward, cupping Alice’s cheeks in her palms and staring into her eyes with an intensity in her own.
“You’re my sun and I am nothing but a sunflower drawn to your beauty. I would be foolish to let my sun go and I am many things but a fool is not one of them.”
Alice’s eyes were watery as she gave a wobbly smile. “You and your fancy words are going to be the death of me.”
Narcissa smirked and then leaned forward, connecting their lips together. It wasn’t the most romantic kiss, what with the tears on Alice’s cheeks, but it was one of promise. A promise from each of them to the other. The kiss was them saying ‘You are my everything. You are my forever.’ without words. This kiss was the start of a better future for both of them.
Narcissa couldn’t wait.