As was the case with most young girls, Narcissa had been planning her wedding for ages. For quite a long time, and like the other women in her family, she assumed that a husband would be arranged for her, in order to keep the bloodline pure. The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black wasn't open to just anyone, and the family name had been mixed and mingled with only the most prominent wizard families throughout the United Kingdom. The notion that someone would be found for her had vanished when Narcissa met Lucius Malfoy, though. He was everything she had ever wanted in a man, and more importantly, his status would serve to impress her family, and win their approval within seconds of meeting. She considered herself lucky to be with him and not be stuck with the leftover Lestrange brother.

It didn't seem as though Andromeda wanted him either, which was a good thing. Lucius talked of him being just dreadful and from what Narcissa herself had heard of the other sibling, that family was sparse in the way of looks, charms, and brains. In spite of the recent marriage of her oldest sister, Narcissa still thought that Bellatrix could have done better. When she had been at Hogwarts, there were plenty of boys after her and the family name, but she had gone and settled. Honestly, the young blonde resented her for it.

Andromeda was different, though. She wouldn't be settling for anyone and although Ted Tonks' veins ran filled with tainted blood, he made her sister happy and that was all Narcissa could ask for. Andromeda meant so much to her that she could have gone and married a Hippogriff and Narcissa would have found a way to celebrate. “It doesn't matter if you [i]want[/i] to get married,” she retorted with an airy laugh, “you [i]have[/i] to. It's your duty.” She spoke with more than a hint of sarcasm then, and although she was traditional, being forced into marriage was archaic and unnecessary.

When the older girl mentioned a surprise, Narcissa sat up, very much interested. “What is it?” she asked, grinning as she poked lightly through her sister's suitcase on the bed. From the bag, the brunette produced a parcel and placed it in her hands, the weight of it was light and Narcissa wondered what it could be. Before she asked another question, Andromeda was already unwrapping the paper, folding it back to produce a gorgeous, silver-colored dress. The fabric managed to sparkle in the low light, twinkling like a bright star and Narcissa couldn't believe that such a piece was for her. 

“You made this?” she asked, bouncing off of the bed and over to the mirror with the silky dress, holding it up to her body over her clothes. She turned from side to side, inspecting the garment from all angles. “This is beautiful,” she turned back to her sister, who was continuing to unpack. “Thank you.” She may have been rich, but Narcissa had manners, and this gift, which wasn't even for Christmas, was incredibly thoughtful. “I'll have to get you something extra before the holiday. Perhaps something that will get you out of that house more often!”

Narcissa called out to one of the many elves that were scurrying their way around the manor and handed the dress off to the creature with instructions to put it in a safe place in her room. The blonde knew that such an incredible gift could be entrusted with the help, even if she didn't like that their grimy hands would be on the fabric. She saw them less as sentient beings and more as mobile features of the house, the little odds and ends that kept things running smoothly. Narcissa never really had picked a favorite, but the one she had given her dress to had been following her around since she had been small. If the bug-eyed creature hadn't been in the house, things simply wouldn't have been the same.

Turning back to Andromeda, Narcissa accepted the flower from her sister. “When do I get to meet Ted?” she asked, tucking the daisy behind her ear. The white petals and yellow center matched nicely with her white-blonde hair and she examined herself in the mirror once more before coming back to sit on the bed as her older sister talked of actually missing Hogwarts. Personally, Narcissa couldn't wait to be out of that place, and she hoped that she wouldn't have to see it again for as long as she lived. At this point in her life, the castle was just stifling and stagnant, something she had grown bored with. Then again, when none of her friends were around, even the most fun of activities and places could have come across as dull.

“I would love your notes, Dromeda,” Narcissa nodded. “The class is at the crack of dawn and I simply can't stay away with that old bag droning on and on...and on, and on, and on.” She giggled softly and made herself comfortable, ready to give the dark-haired woman the rundown on the current state of the school. “Gryffindor is set to win the House Cup [i]again[/i]. I swear, it's been rigged by Dumbledore. Quidditch is fine, Slytherin has won most of their matches even if they do look sort of pathetic without Malfoy out there as seeker. Trelawney set fire to the Divination's room a few months ago, something with tea leaves. Don't ask me how something wet could just spontaneously combust that way, but that woman managed to make it happen. Honestly, it's kind of a mess.” 

Batting playfully at the scarf in her face, Narcissa breathed a happy sigh. “Lucius is...lovely.” She flopped back on the bed once more, smiling as she thought of him. “He writes me all the time, can't wait for me to graduate so we can get married and travel. He's set to get a job at the Ministry with his father.” It was quite the accomplishment and Narcissa couldn't have been more proud of her boyfriend. “You'll get to see him at Auntie's party.”