Disclaimer: I'm still not J.K. but heck keep waiting, you never know I may turn into her one day! Sarcasm my friend if you hadn't already gathered that. Alright, let's do this properly, I do not own these characters or the world of Harry Potter, however I do own the plot.

Review Responses:

I Built My Life Around You

Dark Comet - It is nice seeing Narc with a friend isn't it? I mean she needs some break from Lucius. She'll definitely be seeing more of Snape! I tried to see Lily's eye colour in the film actually and I couldn't make it out. I hope it does become a plot device just to spite them! I have much hatred for the film makers, they're not putting Oliver in the next film I mean come on that should be made illegal! Personally I'm hoping for a Peeves saves the day storyline just to pay them back for cutting him out entirely after having cast him! Ric Mayal just IS Peeves! Thanks for the review!

Sunrise-chick - Chapter twelve was a bit shorter than chapter eleven but it was longer than a fair few of the ones which proceeded it! Ah well, my longest chapter at the moment is chapter seventeen in which we see Sev again! I love that line! It's one of my favourites, just shows Snape has a bit of a cruel sense of humour even with his friends and he's right she is pretty vain! I'm glad you like the quidditch picture that part just kind of wrote itself, I had no idea what that gift was going to be until he unwrapped it and then I just kept typing and that was what came out. It's in the third book that Siri makes a dig at Sev's quidditch abilities, page 261, he says Sev was jealous of James' quidditch abilities. However it does not say that he was on the quidditch team, he could just have been jealous because he didn't make his house team I suppose. I just decided to make him a chaser as I liked the idea of him and Narcissa knowing each other fairly well at school also I hate those stories where he and James are rival seekers! I have heard people say that James was a chaser and that it says so in the books but I can't find any reference to that (if you can please enlighten me as I just don't know where that information has come from!) I know what you mean about having read too many fanfics sometimes it's difficult to remember what you read on fanfic and what you read in the books! I'll keep updating regularly but next week is mad with exams so I can't promise any dates, after Sunday 8th June when I hope to post chapter 14! Sorry, but there will be updates! Thanks for reviewing!

Serepidia - Glad you liked the ministry raid, that was fun to write. I'm sorry if the updates get a little less regular for the next fortnight but they might as I have exams:o( I will keep updating though and the next update will probably be Sunday 8th June, it'll be after that that'll hit a really busy time and updating will get more difficult. Hope you and everyone else bear with me! Thank you for reviewing!

Professor Charlotte Snape - I also love Sev! Isn't he the best? He'll be back again soon, chapter seventeen actually. I'm just sorry it took him so long to show up in the first place. Thanks for reviewing, more updates soon, well soon as the exams allow!

A/N: I wanted to put this up on Thursday but Fanfic was all weird! Sorry you had to wait. It's still weird but I thought I'd chance it. Oh I'm really sorry to Serepidia and Professor Charlotte Snape I did your reviews through my e-mail account but because of some stuff they were doing to the site your reviews got deleted! I'm so sorry but I did get them even if they're not on the site and I have replied!

A/N: This chapter covers a long period of time relatively quickly, this was necessary as basically nothing happens in that is that is that entertaining! Hope this doesn't annoy anyone but this is the way it is and the way it will stay!

Oh dear, I think I got a bit self-righteous there! Sorry! :o)

**Narcissa's thoughts**

Chapter 13

Narcissa saw little of her husband over Christmas, preferring to spend her days shopping and touring Moscow. She came away with an in depth knowledge of Russian culture and history, (she found herself particularly fascinated by Lenin's preserved corpse), and a whole new winter wardrobe.

The trip had been invigorating, she had not travelled for years and she enjoyed having the opportunity to sample another culture.

She had pushed the Chamber of Secrets and the heir of Slytherin as far from her mind as she could and she heard no more about either from Draco, until one morning in late February.

Dear Mum,

There's been another attack. Granger finally got it! Some Ravenclaw prefect as well. They were petrified like the others. They've cancelled quidditch and they're threatening to close the school if the culprit isn't caught! Do you really think Hogwarts will close? I haven't the time to write more now, I really hope Hogwarts doesn't close!

Love Draco

**Oh good god! Another attack! Are they not even trying to catch whoever is responsible?**

She looked up at her husband across the breakfast table, "There's been another attack, two students, both petrified."

"Oh?"

"Yes, apparently they're talking about closing the school."

"Oh dear, maybe it's time that old fool Dumbledore stepped aside?"

"Yes, well he certainly doesn't seem to be doing much."

"Hmm, I may have to have a word with the other governors about this." With that he rose from the table and left the room, **undoubtedly heading for his study to plot Dumbledore's removal.**

Lucius did not emerge from his study again until that evening when he came to inform her he was going out. **Hmm, he looks pretty damned pleased with himself, what's he up to?**

"Where are you going?"

"Hogwarts, it seems the other governors agree with me that Dumbledore must be removed."

**Right, and I'm a giant stuffed iguana in a pink tutu!** "Really?"

"Oh yes," Lucius responded before sweeping out of the room.

*******

Narcissa was asleep when her husband returned that night and so did not see him until the next morning when he seemed exceptionally pleased with himself.

"What happened at the school last night?" she asked him curiously.

He smirked, "Not only did Dumbledore have to leave but that oaf Hagrid got sent to Azkaban, they appear to think he might have something to do with all this."

"Is he responsible?"

"How should I know, I doubt it though the man doesn't appear to have the necessary brain power."

Narcissa couldn't help but worry, "Do you think they will close the school?"

"I doubt it," but he didn't tell her why he doubted it.

*******

For a few weeks Narcissa heard no news of the Chamber of Secrets and when Draco informed her that they were almost ready to revive the victims she began to think that it might all be over. Lucius however, did not seem to share her opinion. Her husband was acting even more strangely than usual but she couldn't work out what was going on.

In early June she was however confronted with the fact that this was not over. She received news that Molly's daughter had been taken into the chamber from Lucius, who seemed in a hurry to get to Hogwarts, muttering something about the old fool not being where he was supposed to be.

Narcissa was horrified, **that sweet little girl with the red hair, why would anyone want to hurt her?** Then again, living with a man like Lucius had taught her that people did not always require a reason for inflicting pain.

*******

Lucius returned from Hogwarts in a foul mood and without Dobby. She attempted a quick exit, before he could rant to her endlessly, but he noticed her and began to vent his anger by giving her a blow-by-blow account of what had happened at Hogwarts. His account told her nothing about the Chamber of Secrets business, other than that the young girl was alright, and appeared to revolve around Harry Potter and some plan to free Dobby, which he had apparently pulled off without a hitch, explaining Lucius' foul mood.

Eventually he finished what he had to say and went upstairs to his study leaving her feeling a little bewildered. **Right, so we no longer have a house elf? Oh great! I can't believe this, I mean I realise Dobby's probably better off but this is ridiculous!** She drafted an advert for the daily prophet for a cook and cleaner as a stopgap measure, house elves were not easy to get and a human servant would have to do for now. She sent the advert off and within a few days had acquired a replacement who came in during the day and left at night, the woman was clearly nervous about being in Malfoy Manor after dark.

The summer was hot and long and tedious. Narcissa had little to do and Lucius was still in a terrible mood. Eventually the end of school arrived and she was able to look forward to her son's return. However there was still the matter of the Chamber of Secrets, which she did not understand. She decided to swallow her pride and send a letter to Dumbledore enquiring into the matter.

Her letter had received no reply by the time Draco was due home so she met him off the train still wondering what on earth had happened at Hogwarts that year.

Draco had been home several days before she received any answer.

'Dear Mrs Malfoy,

It seems to me inconceivable that you should not know what occurred at Hogwarts this year, but if you are indeed in the dark over this issue let me bring you up to speed...'

She read on through the rest of the long letter, which detailed the events revolving around the opening of the Chamber of Secrets, and left her with the vague idea that she had had all the pieces of this puzzle all along, she had simply failed to put them together.

Suddenly, it felt as though icy fingers had gripped her heart and a scene flashed across her memory of her husband handing Ginny back her book with another slipped inside it. **Oh no, even you wouldn't sink that low! Hang on isn't that what I always think? He would sink that low!** Furious, she marched straight to his study and threw open the door.

"It was you. I saw you slip a small book inside one of Ginny Weasley's school texts when we were in Flourish and Blots at the start of the school year."

"So, what do you care?" he replied hardly glancing up from the parchment he was reading.

"She's a twelve year old girl. You tried to use a twelve year old to try and murder people, explain to me how you thought I would not care." Her tone was dangerously calm and she spoke as though Lucius were a very stupid three year old.

"Oh, don't be so emotional woman, she's just a worthless Weasley, there's plenty more where she came from."

"I'm not being emotional and this time there's no 'bout of hormonal hysterics' brought on by pregnancy to blame it on. What have you got about hurting children Lucius? Does it make you feel strong? Well I suppose something has to."

Lucius turned and stood up, "I think you might want to shut your mouth," he said stepping threateningly towards her.

"You know what? I can't say I do actually, you don't scare me."

He smiled in an unnerving way, "Maybe you should rethink that last part."

She found herself backing up and made herself stop and hold her ground, "You're twisted!" she spat at him.

She was never entirely sure of what exactly happened next, all she knew was that she ended up pressed against a wall with Lucius' wand resting lightly on her throat. She was horrified, for all Lucius had never treated her with much courtesy since before Draco was born he had never drawn his wand on her like this. She realised she was trembling and pressed further back against the wall unable to understand how she had fallen in love with this man.

"Narcissa, darling," he said using an extremely patronising tone he knew she hated, but then at that moment his tone of voice was the least of her worries, "If I would use a twelve year old, pureblood, girl knowing it would kill her what makes you think I wouldn't do the same to you? Or to your precious son?"

"You maniac!" she grabbed the wand pointing it away from her bringing up her other hand to slap her husband but he grabbed her arm forcing it away.

"Think about it." He said in the same tone of voice, then he pushed her against the wall leaving her winded.

She stared as he left, tears beginning to flow, **After everything that's happened I never believed he would really harm me!** She sank to the floor, head in her pale, trembling hands.

She stayed there for a long time feeling utterly wretched, sobbing quietly into her hands, wanting it all to just go away. She felt like a child who, by covering its eyes, assumes that it is hidden from the rest of the world; but she wasn't a child anymore. **Nor am I defenceless. I'll teach him to threaten me. This can't carry on, goodness knows what will happen next, I have to do something.**

*******

A/N: cliff-hanger of sorts, what will she do? Review and feed my cat. Alright I don't have a cat and reviews aren't edible and I don't know why I wrote that but I'm a bit mad so I'm going to leave it there.

Just in case it isn't clear, when Lucius goes to Hogwarts muttering about the 'old fool not being where he was supposed to be' he is referring to Dumbledore being in Hogwarts when he has been suspended.

When Dumbledore says in his letter that it seems inconceivable to him that she not know what has been happening at Hogwarts he says it because he believes that she at the very least has been told by Lucius what he was doing.

The 'bout of hormonal hysterics' is a reference to what Voldemort says in chapter 8 of Wedding Bells when Lucius yells at her for defending the child.

Lenin's preserved corpse is actually on display in the Kremlin. It's sort a shrine actually and I've never seen it, nor have I ever been to Russia, but I just thought it was the kind of thing that would appeal to Narcissa's more morbid side and dark sense of humour.

I'll try to update Sunday 8th June.

Review! Please!

That cat isn't going to feed itself!