Tempted by Fate: A Serpent's Requiem

“Oh Lucy! Come down now! I wanna see what you look like,” Narcissa yelled.

Lucius just continued to comb through his bleach blond hair and smile at himself in the mirror. He was wearing his new dark green suit with silver stripes. The green cape was a great added accessory that made him look even more dashing in his opinion. The name ‘Malfoy’ was printed in silver on the back of it. He had his hair hanging down his back freely and with one final tap of the wand, he was set to go down to the dance.

Lucius came down from the boy’s dormitory and into the Slytherin common room. He was immediately greeted by his cousin and her annoying yet amazingly beautiful friend Narcissa.

“Lucy! You look so adorable!” Bellatrix exclaimed.

“You don’t look half bad yourself. I’m surprised you’re not daunting all Slytherin colors tonight,” he commented. She was wearing a beautiful purple dress and her long dark hair had been curled into tiny tight curls that seemed to just follow her wherever her head turned. Magic he deduced. He glanced at Narcissa who seemed to be paying him way too much attention in his opinion. Even though her staring was a bit uncomfortable, he couldn’t help but notice how lovely she looked in her long black dress. It was tight fitting showing off her curves and the front of the dress had a low v-neck that teased her breasts ever so lightly. The split on the right side was just an added bonus. Oh well…I’m only interested in one person tonight…

“So Lucius, who might you be keeping company during the evening?” Bella asked.

“Molly,” he replied coolly. Narcissa and Bellatrix exchanged horrified looks before breaking into a fit of laughter. “I don’t see how this is so funny.”

“I…sorry cousin,” Bellatrix said stifling a giggle. “I just…I thought you said you were going with that poor girl. Molly…what’s her face? Prewett?”

“You heard me correctly my dear Bella. Now if you will excuse me, I have to get to the stairs before she comes down.” Lucius left the common room, leaving the two women in enraged with jealously

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Molly stood in front of the mirror with a frown on her face. The silver dress that Lucius had bought her had her somewhat concerned. It was very, very beautiful. It was a big, Victorian styled silver ball gown that just screamed royalty, but Molly was far from royalty. Who am I kidding? She was dirt poor yet tonight she was going to be dressed as though she hadn’t a care in the world about money. What am I doing? I can’t go out there like this? What would people say? Molly sat down onto her bed and stared at the floor. But Lucius has been so kind to me…With that fleeting thought, she quickly finished dressing and with one final glance in the mirror she headed out the door towards the Great Hall.

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When Lucius entered the great hall as expected he received lots of stares and whispers as he walked by. He was used to this sort of thing by now. Everyone knew of the Malfoys and how they were all pure bloods and rich. Rich. That was pretty much the only reason some people hung around him like they did; it was either that or fear of his father.

“Hey Lucius!” It was his good friend Avery stalking his way. He was wearing an awful red suit with some black shoes. A mess…

“Yeah?”

“Where’s your date? I thought maybe you’d be here with Cissy or your cousin Bella?”

“My date will be here soon.”

“Oh I see. So who did you ask?”

“My aren’t we nosy.”

“Aw come on Lucy! It’s not like imam try and steal the girl from you. I mean, I could but because I’m a good friend…” Lucius did not hear him finish statement. He had spotted Molly making her way down the stairs in the beautiful dress that he had picked out and his heart was doing a number in his chest. Why is my heart fluttering so? The big Victorian styled gown looked very beautiful on her. The red bushy hair had been pulled up in the back with two single curls hanging on each side of her face. She was also wearing the necklace that he’d given her and it was nestled ever so beautifully between her breasts that were very perky from the tight corset.Stunning…Without thinking, his body moved forward instantly towards the stairs where he extended his hand for her to take. She hesitated for a moment and her face was beat red.

She must be nervous…She finally took his hand and he could not help himself. He kissed the back of it and bowed before looping their arms and leading her past the Slytherin table. By this time, Bella and Narcissa had already made their way downstairs and much to his delight, they were pissed off at him. Oh how I love it…Molly shifted a little as he led her toward the dance floor but he kept smiling. When they reached the dance floor, he bowed gracefully before pulling her close and leading her into a waltz.

“Molly, I know I should have said something earlier mio dolce but I was at a lost for words. You look so beautiful that there really isn’t anything I can say that would clearly define how beautiful you look.”

“Thank you,” she said softly looking away from him. Lucius frowned as he followed her eyes. She was staring at Bella and Narcissa but there was a sadness about her face.

“Molly? Ariana dear? What’s wrong?” he asked softly. She turned to him and quickly wiped her eyes.

“Oh…nothing.” She held her head down and stared at the ground but Lucius lifted her chin forcing her to look him in the eye.

“Why are you sad mio dolce?”

“Nothing…I just…I feel like I don’t really…fit in.”

“Why would you think that Molly?”

“Well…I don’t…know. I heard some of the girls…they were saying things in our common room earlier. They were saying things about me hanging out with you because you are a Slytherin.” He frowned at her before spinning her around as the first song ended.

“Do you not feel comfortable being around me?”

“Well…yes because you are my friend…my only friend,” she added softly.

“You shouldn’t worry about what others think or say about you. You are a beautiful person Molly. Being rich is nothing without good friends to share it with.” He smiled at her and pulled her close for the next song. She placed her head on his chest as they swayed to the music in sync with one another. Lucius kissed the top of her head and embraced her as they danced the night away.

About three songs later, Lucius was leading Molly off the dance floor and towards a mini bar that had been set up near the back of the Great Hall. There was a large statue of all the Hogwarts creatures made of ice and each animal was spitting up a different beverage. Lucius summoned two wine glasses with his wand and dipped both him and Molly some pumpkin juice with butterbeer. Then they took a seat at one of the round glass tables decorated with Gryffindor colors.

“Are you sure you should be sitting here with me?” she joked.

“Miei cari Ariana, no one tells me where to sit. So how about a toast?”

“Toast to what?”

“How about…new friendships?”

“I’ll drink to that,” she grinned as their glasses clanked against one another. They both took a drink and laughed at the silliness behind the toasting. Lucius just stared at her in awe. She was so beautiful and her smile was to die for.

“I love it when you smile,” he blurted out.

“Huh? Oh…well…um…It’s nice to have a reason to.” He reached over and grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it.

“I have something for you.”

“What? Another gift? Lucius please…you don’t…”

“Yes, I do until you give me a good reason not to.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver box. “I’ll open it for you.” Inside the box was a silver tiara lined with diamonds. Molly just stared at it dumbfounded. Lucius stood to his feet and walked behind her.

“Stand please Ariana.” She did as she was told, turning to face him slowly. He smiled at her placing her new gift a top of her head. “Stunning. It suits you well.”

“I…Lucius…this is too much. First the dress and now a tiara. I mean, I never got you anything and…”

“I have everything I need right here right now…princess.” He inched closer to her feeling her warm breath near his chest.

“I have never felt more like a princess than I do right now,” she whispered.

“You are a princess…always will be in my book mia bella Ariana,” he whispered. He was now standing so close to her that his lips just did brush the side of her cheek. He was about to kiss her when they were interrupted by Bellatrix.

“LUCY! LUCY!” Oh damn…He backed away from Molly and turned to Bellatrix, bowing gracefully.

“To what do I owe this…pleasure,” he said dryly. Molly stifled a laugh after catching Lucius’ eye.

“Well Lucy, I come to ask you for a dance. I also come to tell Molly that she has been summoned. Some Gryffindor chick wants a word with her upstairs. I have no idea who she is but she was going on and on about that dress she’s wearing,” she said stiffly. Lucius turned to Molly practically begging her not to leave him with his eyes but she just laughed.

“I’ll be back. Surely one dance won’t kill you.”

“You don’t know that,” he mumbled as Bella led him towards the dance floor.

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Molly exited the Great Hall and headed towards the stairs. She had no idea who she was supposed to be meeting. In fact, since she did not have any other friends besides Lucius it struck her as odd that someone would want to speak with her about anything. Something’s not right…

“Hey bitch.” Molly turned to see Cissy staring her down, her wand pointed straight at her.

“Uh…what…it was YOU!” Molly stammered. “Just…just what do you…?”

“Keep away from Lucius. He belongs to me. Got it?”

“I…I wasn’t…I was under the impression that he did not have a price tag stamped to his forehead,” Molly managed.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Stupefy!”

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Two songs later, Lucius was still on the dance floor with Cissy and he was beginning to worry about Molly.

“Lucius, calm down. You are dancing with me now. Stop worrying so much about that little witch. She’s not even all that pretty. I personally think you should be trying to get with my girl Narcissa.”

“I bet you do,” he grumbled. “Excuse me but I’m afraid I must get going.”

“But…”

“I’m going to find Molly.” Lucius dashed out of the Great Hall and climbed the stairs two at a time in search of Molly. Where could she have gone too? Those two…they wouldn’t…When he reached the top of the stairway he paused. I thought I heard something.

“LUCY! LUCY! LUCY!”

“Peeves! Have you seen a girl…a red head? Her name is Molly!” he asked quickly.

“As a matter of fact you rotten old bat, there’s a red head in that closet over yonder. Te he he.”

“Thanks Peeves.” Lucius ran over to the broom closet that was next to a grim looking suit of armor. Sure enough, when he opened it up, he found Molly sitting on the floor, her head between her palms and she was sobbing uncontrollably. Lucius kneeled down next to her and grabbed her, pulling her next to him.“Molly, sweetheart what’s wrong? What happened to you?”

“How come no one likes me Lucius? What did I ever do to anyone to make them hate me so much? And why can’t I be pretty and blonde like Narcissa or maybe tough like Bella,” she cried now sobbing even harder into his robe.

“Molly…Ariana listen to me, you have no reason whatsoever to be feeling like this.”

“What? You’re not a girl. You haven’t walked a day in my shoes Lucius! I go through hell everyday trying to fit in and make friends but I can’t. No one wants to be associated with someone like me…someone poor and shy…and…and ugly!” she sobbed. Lucius ran a hand over her back and started caressing it.

“You’re right. No one really wants to be associated with ugly people, but you don’t have to worry about that because if you were ugly then I would not have asked you to be my date. I’m a Malfoy and we don’t believe in hanging out with ugly people. We hang out with only the beautiful.” She let out a small chuckle but stayed put. She was too tired to move after doing so much crying.

“You’re…you’re really a nice guy Lucius,” she whispered.

“Oh that I am princess. Didn’t I tell you that long ago?” he whispered playfully.

“I…suppose you did.”

“I haven’t lied to you once Molly and I don’t intend on doing it either. Friends are true to one another. The day that I told you I was your friend and your rescuer, I meant it. I gave you my word and I always keep my word princess. Besides, I could never dream of hurting someone as precious as you.”

“I don’t…I don’t know what I would have done had you not showed up for me. I was…I was thinking about running away,” she confessed. He pulled her body closer, leaning to rest his head on her shoulder. His lips brushed her neck and her tantalizing scent sent shock waves through his body. Focus…

“Molly, let me confess here and now. If you would have ran off without saying good-bye then I would have come for you and dragged you all the way back here.”

“You would not.”

“I would have. If you would like to test said theory then please by all means go on ahead, but when something that I care about goes astray, I make it my top priority to get it back. Not necessarily the way of the Malfoy but the way of Lucius.”

“Something that you…care about?” she asked.

“Yes, you heard me correctly. Something…or someone,” he whispered. His lips moved from her neck to her ear. “I care about you princess. I have grown to care a lot in such a short period of time that I…I sometimes wish that I could claim you as my own…my Ariana…my princess.” She lifted her head and their eyes met, briefly before he leaned in and kissed her forehead. Then he stood to his feet and leaned over scooping Molly into his arms.

“No…Lucius wait…you don’t have to carry me.”

“But I want to.” Molly wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled as he carried her down the corridor and all the way up to Gryffindor Tower until they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady where he let her down gently. “There you go. I didn’t want you to walk because it would seem that you have been hurt, possibly a stunning spell. Why you chose not to say anything is beyond me but I will let that slide my princess.”

“But Lucius I…” He walked over to her and placed one hand on her cheek.

“Unlike most men, I pay attention fidanzata. You’re hurt but I suppose you’ll never admit it being that you are so bent on being independent.” He grabbed Molly and pulled her into a warm embrace. “You will never have to worry about them hurting you again. That is a promise,” he whispered softly.

“Thank you Lucius. Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome my princess.” She looked up at him curiously but before she could protest, he lifted her chin and leaned in brushing his lips against hers.

“Lucy…” He slipped his tongue in her mouth, kissing her gently yet passionately. He pulled away seconds later and smiled at his dazed beauty.

“Have a good night Ariana. Dolci sogni,” he said with a bow before walking off lost in thought and filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, he was full of sweet bliss from the kiss he had just given to Molly. She was so beautiful and her pouty lips were just begging to be kissed. Not only that but he was really, really starting to care for her and it was scaring him. He had no idea what it meant to be in love but he had a feeling that it started something like this. All the happy, loving thoughts were soon erased by bitter anger-anger at his beloved Bellatrix. I know she had something to do with this. I think I’ll pay her a visit. With that fleeting thought, Lucius headed off toward the Slytherin Tower to await his dear old cousin. She had some major explaining to do and he needed to give her a piece of his mind.

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AN:Translations: 'Miei cari' means "My dear" and 'Dolci sogni' means "sweet dreams". Okay. So I know I spent a whole lot of time on Lucius and Molly but it couldn’t be helped. The next chapter or two will also be primarily centered around Lucius, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Molly, but don’t fret. There will be lots more Harry…and a ton of Severus in later chapters. I have plans for dear old Sevvy. I hope you all enjoyed the update. I know Lucius seems a bit OOC but he couldn't have always been a creep right? Well that's how I feel. Don't like don't read. :P Please review…or flame. Whichever you prefer. It’s 3:30 am and I need sleep. Later folks.