Just a short chapter I'm afraid guys, but earlier than expected because you so deserve it (and maybe just a little because I feel slightly guilty by betraying you and Young Narcissa with a new multi-chap). As always I'd like to thank the generally beautiful, glorious, magical people who reviewed: the great NymphadoracallmeTonks, the youngest Gorgons (fantastic new reviewer!), Sweeney B and the very lovely MzMalfoy. I hope everyone enjoys it :)

Disclaimer: Still not J.K Rowling, and unfortunately still have no rights to Harry Potter and his world - I know, cruel world eh?

Chapter 36

The rest of the week passed peacefully enough and the lingering winter of February warmed into sunny spells that melted the frozen Grounds and promised that March – and spring – was around the corner. Between the companionship of Marius, the explanation of her sister and the nights spent behind the portrait of the Sailor, Narcissa was beginning to feel better. Perhaps she was avoiding Malfoy, perhaps because her eyes always flickered to him at meals, but she could honestly say she was doing okay.

She was keeping on top of her homework, still helping the boys with Quiditch (try-outs would be in held in just a few short weeks), even doing some reading up on the Castle – ostensibly to make sure no one was too likely to stumble upon the gang's hang out in Sailor's. She was reading a lot, and when she wasn't reading she was laughing and smiling lots with her friends. Narcissa was enjoying the Castle, its cosy fires that kept out the winter cold and its beautiful scenery that allowed glimpses of spring in. Everything was fine. Really, it was.

She barely worried at all. Much of the time she wasn't interested in her ex-lover. Most of the time affairs of the heart were of no concern to her. Things, Narcissa assured herself, could be a lot worse – things were good, no great! Almost constanly.

There was just an hour or so each night, when she closed her book, turned off the light and allowed her nocturnal thoughts to prey on her. The fact was, every day she heard some new snippet of gossip. About Lucius. Every night she took out the scrap of information about his latest girl (he was moving astoundingly quickly), or most recent wild party. He'd become part of some group. A clique, if the gossips were to be believed, of the most powerful and most pure of Slytherin's bachelors. They were mostly older boys in the clique, and they had some hierarchy. Apparently their 'society' all lead back to some boy Riddle, who had left School a few years before.

But that was all irrelevant. The point was, the boys were budding womanisers and the word was, Lucius was following suit. There was a fourth year, Aggie Nott, whose name was frequently connected with his. Narcissa had seen her around, she was blonde and petite (in terms of height at least) and had, what seemed to Cissy, the smuggest smile in the world. When she couldn't help but wonder what Lucius was doing just then… if that girl was with him… whether he ever thought of her. And that was the only time that Narcissa could admit that there was a chance not everything was entirely okay.

But when she woke up in the morning there were girls to chat to who were already milling around sorting their hair, there were potions to brew and there was always some joke going around the first years. There was a lot going on and Narcissa wouldn't waste her first year of Hogwarts moping. She'd attracted praise and attention from her Professors now that she was spending longer on her work and reading around the subjects. She offered answers only when it seemed no one else is going to, to avoid keeping her hand up all the time. She wasn't always top of the class, but she consistently did well, her grades and marks never dropping below the top 10%. She was excelling and even her parents were pleased. Her correspondence with them was frequent; owls left Hogwarts on her errands at least twice a week and returned with parchment and parcels for her just as often. They were pleased with her, proud of their youngest as she climbed the social ladder and weaved a path to greatness. However, Bellatrix had told them that she spent too much time out of the Common Room and increasingly their letters carried pressure to mend that part of her behaviour.

She was doing so well, there was no reason, they argued, to hide away. She should show off, make alliances, attract honour to their name. And then came the old argument, the mantra in every pureblood heiress' head at every function: 'Your husband, the man who will determine your future, is somewhere in that room'. And of course, that meant that they should be winning them over now, in hopes of attracting the one who offered the best future later.

So a fortnight after the fateful party, Narcissa told the girls she would be hanging around in the Common room that evening.

"Oh… well a change might be nice." Amelia smiled agreeably, though curiosity stayed at the back of her eyes.

"Definitely. Sailor's is great, but there's only so many times I can beat you all at chess. Shall we invite the boys, or is this a girls night?" Helena was definitely up for it, she flashed them all a wink over her shoulder as they all headed out of the dormitory for breakfast. It seemed she was aware of her need to forge alliances too.

"Surely we have to tell them and offer?" Amelia asked, a slight note of indignation in her voice.

Carlotta cut in here "Amy's right. We can't just sneak off or something."

Narcissa felt her lips turning up in an unconscious smile as her friends rallied around her, she hadn't been sure of such a good response. "Well, looks like we're all going back to the viper's nest." Narcissa joked with a wry chuckle. Seems we've an interesting evening ahead, she thought as the other girls laughed and linked arms as they headed up to the Great Hall.