Apollonius was striding up and down in the Slytherin Common room, agitated somewhat. Eventually, on hearing a door creaking open somewhere above him he looked up to see Narcissa gliding serenely down the stairs, clearly dressed for an outing, with her cloak about her shoulders all but hiding her figure.

Frowning, he cocked his head. "Cissy - where are your bags? We have to leave now! We're already running late?"

Narcissa smiled rather quizzically to him as she swept past. "Bags, Rex? Whatever do you mean?"

Apollonius sighed and turned on his heel as Narcissa went by him. "The posting Cissy of course. You do remember me telling you about it, don't you?"

Narcissa picked up a small clock from the sideboard in the commons and inspected it idly, always distracted somewhat by the pleasingly aesthetic. "Yes, Rex - repeatedly"

"Well? You're clearly dressed to travel, so where are your bags?"

Apollonius wrinkled his face and snapped his fingers with a laugh. "Of course. You want me to go up there and get them." He moved towards the stairs quickly and had already leapt up halfway, two at a time when Narcissa spoke softly.

"Rex. There are no bags." She sighed. "I am going out, yes, but not with you Rex. I've had enough of you taking me for granted. Whatever flight of lunacy you entertained in thinking I would follow you has proved just that...sheer lunacy. I don't recall you asking me to accompany you. Even so, it would hardly be the kind of proposal I would be interested in."

Apollonius frowned as he leant on the banister rail, gripping it with both hands, before vaulting over to land lightly on the floor. "But what about the posting Cissy? I haven't got time for your games right now. We have to leave immediately or I'll get in trouble"

"Oh Rex", she laughed, half derisively, reaching out to stroke his cheek tenderly. "It's always about you, isn't it? Never me. Did you really expect me to merely follow you around the world only to be abandoned again in favour of some petty ambassador? The finger on your cheek is bare, Rex. I absolutely refuse to waste myself upon a man whose passion is his work. I will be one man's great passion and he mine - you are not that man."

Turning away before he could grasp her hand and clutch it to his face, Narcissa swept away to the door.

"We'll talk about this when I get back Cissy"

Narcissa paused, her body already half hidden by the door. "Safe travels, Apollonius". And with a flick of her wrists to lift her hood, she was gone.

Her voice was soft, barely rising above the sound of the leaves crunching under their feet as the strolled under the trees that bordered the hilltop, only the light of their wands to guide their footsteps.

Lucius turned to half smile down at Narcissa, as she walked by his side, her arm linked formally through his.

"Yes, Narcissa?"

"Oh...nothing"

She leaned her head lightly on his shoulder as they left the trees and onto the bare hill, their blonde hair mingling together seamlessly.

Lucius paused and turned to look at her fully. "Narcissa, we've been good friends for a long time now. Very close over these past few months" Narcissa said nothing, but merely looking up at him, letting him continue, with a look of polite expectation. "Narcissa..." he paused, momentarily lost as she gazed up at him, her lips half quirked into a smile. He leant down towards her, his hair falling into hers, "Narcissa", he whispered softly to her as he took her finally and possessively in his arms . Leaning into his embrace, "Call me Cissy", she murmured softly against his lips.

A ladies voice, almost unseemly given the darkness, cut across the rustling of the leaves as they stirred fitfully under the influence of the night time breeze. She stood tall and proud, and though her face was hidden by the black cowling of her hood, her gaze was somehow still noticeably aimed pointedly at her companion; her tone demanded answers and would brook no dissent in her pursuit of them.

Rex stepped forwards slightly, his voice conciliatory, yet still guarded. Both professional and personal encounters had taught him to be wary.

"Cissy, I..." he began cautiously, then, the confidence which had so marked out his outstandingly brilliant career coming to the fore, "I know you've missed me Cissy. You always did pine so. For me."

Narcissa lowered her hood slowly to reveal the mane of blonde hair that so distinguished her from her already more notorious sister. As if in greeting, the gibbous moon chose then to peer through the clouds, illuminating her pale features, rendering the glaring expression as beautiful yet terrible as a graveyard angel, wrought in flawless alabaster marble.

"It's over Apollonius", came the death knell response.

Rex exhaled sharply, a half laugh, shaking his head slightly.

"There was a time, Cissy". He spoke calmly, seemingly oblivious to her stony gaze that fell upon him heavily. "When you used to call me Rex". It was a half statement, half question, hinting back, harkening. He smiled, dangerously, in the fading moonlight and reached for her arm.

Snatching her hand away coldly, Narcissa regarded him for a moment.

"And there was a time when you paid me more heed than you did your infernal paperwork. You are immensely successful and powerful. Most deservedly so. Be content, it is, after all, what you have lusted after for so very long now. Apollonius." The full name damning.

Far away, across the field, an iron bell mournfully tolled the hour.

The couple appeared with a light crack, a flurry of robes and a flash of blonde hair.

Still holding regally onto Lucius's arm, Narcissa looked around, slightly perplexed. "Lucius darling, I thought you were taking me to Hogsmeade? Where are we?" She turned to look up at him, questioning with her eyes, but not angry, merely inquisitive.

Lucius led her along the grass that now was the aisle of the ruined chapel. The weathered stone by the cliff rendered like snow under the light cast by his wand as he held it up above his head. "I thought we might take a little detour Cissy darling", was his frustrating reply. She frowned lightly and cast a hand over the broken stump of a pier, the inner stone exposed, revealing the frailty that had been it's downfall. "Lucius". She paused, smiling up at him. "You're up to something". Her tone indicated that far from being annoyed, she was delighting in the surprise that she was sure was about to come.

Lucius lowered his wand hand and gently patted hers with it, the dancing light flickering shadows all around the chapel, causing it to glint off something small that was lying on the remnants of the lectern. Gasping as she caught sight of it, Narcissa hurried forwards, with Lucius following behind.

Reaching out a delicate, trembling hand Narcissa picked up the fine filigree band of platinum, resplendent with a spectacularly large, masterfully cut, pale yellow diamond, as rare, perfect and precious as the love it symbolised, glinting with all the shades of her hair, just as Lucius's hand enclosed hers. As she turned, still speechless, Lucius lowered himself to one knee and held her hand in his, kissing it lightly, before looking up at her.

"Cissy, darling...will you do me the great honour of being my bride?"

The ring hovered in mid air as Lucius held it there with his wand. Nodding slowly Narcissa allowed Lucius to guide her hand so that the ring slipped down her finger, a magical frisson caressing her flesh as the ring sealed its eternal embrace.

Without a further word, Lucius rose and pressed his lips to hers, a kiss to which Narcissa responded with a passion which would have surprised all but Lucius himself.

As they kissed, the stars of the constellation Draco wheeled above.