Galleons (HP fanfic)

Lucius Malfoy and his girlfriend, Narcissa Black, walked along the old dirt road in the direction of the castle after a Hogsmeade visit, holding hands. They were lost in each others' presence and, consequently, they had fallen several feet behind their classmates.

Their breath was a visible fog in the air, and both were wearing long wool cloaks as it was a fairly chilly evening.

Actually, it was twilight; the skeletal black outlines of the slumbering trees looked sinister against the orange and pink sky, like looming shadows of death. Or perhaps it was just the soon-to-be Death Eater's surprisingly morbid imagination? The flock of crows flapping around, not at all shy of humans, didn't help matters.

About halfway back to Hogwarts, they (Lucius and Narcissa) passed by a filthy panhandler - well, filthy from what Lucius could tell, as he was trying not to look - holding a sign that Lucius didn't bother to read. Narcissa, too, averted her eyes.

"No pity for the poor?" Lucius asked, smirking, once they were a good distance away from the beggar.

Narcissa ignored him.

"Come on, Miss Black, how many Galleons do you have in your purse?" he teased.

"A few."

"A few?"

"A few hundred."

Lucius laughed out loud.

"Well you're one to talk!" she turned red and snatched her hand away, suddenly defensive. "And always beating your house elves..."

"I'm not laughing at you, Narcissa," he said, running his fingers through her long wavy blonde hair. "I really like your 'world-exists-for-me' attitude."

This seemed to calm her down; she leaned closer to him, and they were silent the rest of the way to Hogwarts.

But as they passed through the front gate, Narcissa couldn't help but wonder if Lucius was the only guy ever to like her for her personality and not in spite of it. And frankly, she could care less how he treated his servants.