A diamond ring upon his finger, and a diamond pin in the topmost button-hole of his expensive coat, Lucius Malfoy was certainly a sight to see as, wending his way between tables, he finally took a seat in front of the dark-skinned beauty who was carelessly ignoring the many people stealing looks at her.

“Bella,” he said, raising her hand to his lips.

“Lucius,” she returned, half haughtily.

The unknowing onlooker would think they were meeting for the first time, perhaps for some high-and-mighty business. Nothing could be more wrong a thought: They were friends of old, friends of old who had grown to love and cherish each other, and yet maintain a strange sort of distance.

– A distance that disappeared the moment their trio, their dream team, was completed by the addition of Jenna White.

“I miss Jenna’s presence tonight,” Bellatrix said, as a waiter swooped down upon them to ask what they would like to have, and Lucius filled him in – he did not need to ask Bellatrix, because he knew her too well, because he knew her moods, knew her choices and knew her likes and dislikes.

“She is one of a kind, no doubt,” he said silkily, as the waiter scurried away. “It seems as if I have known her forever.”

“I, for one, have known her for long,” Bellatrix said. She had known Jenna for four years, now – known Jenna since the girl had only been twelve years of age, and stumbled into Bellatrix on a holiday. Their bond had been immediate – their friendship was too strong for breakage, now. “I think she was to meet the Dark Lord, tonight.”

“It is a pity the two of us can not talk to her,” Lucius remarked. “I still do not understand why the Dark Lord has told us to stay away from her. But I guess he will have had his reasons. He always does, does he not?”

“Indeed.”

His hand was on the table now, and the diamond ring shone in the light. A passing girl looked at him, seemingly unable to wrench her eyes away once she had done so, and Bellatrix rolled her eyes. “The fangirling is beginning, Lucius,” she said, with a slight smile.

Lucius inclined his head in response. “I thank you for informing me, Bella.”