Disclaimer: I just own the plot.

Review Responses:

Professor Charlotte Snape - Glad you liked the chapters, I'm afraid Lucius will get rather gitty! Though he's not in this chapter really so you can just enjoy lovely Sev! I've read OotP too and I was also like OH MY GOD when they mentioned Narcissa or Lucius, can you believe who her relations are?! I'd never have guessed that in a million years! I didn't cry at the death when I read it but since I have become a little distraught whenever I think about it, I really liked that character! I don't want them to be dead and Harry's reaction was so sad! I suppose it could have been worse but still it was awful! Thanks for reviewing!

Sunrise-chick - I completely share your view on the book I actually didn't like it at all at first and I still don't think it's as good as the others! It took a long while for it to begin to really grab my attention but I was admittedly hooked by the end. Oh was that your favourite character? I to loved that character but they weren't my favourite, I am very sad though and I agree that it should not have been them I thought that they were still needed in fact their death came as quite a shock to me. I didn't know they'd had an obituary in the paper! LOL! That is going a bit far! Ah yes one can never have too many compliments! Thanks for them! I hope you like this Sevvie chapter as it's not as peaceable as he usually is in this fic! In fact he's damned angry! However that makes me adore him even more! Thanks for reviewing! Here's the update before we both go away! Hope you're going somewhere nice! The cat says thanks for feeding it!

Lune Project - In response to your point about Sirius with Lucius not seeming to care, he doesn't. He doesn't see Sirius as a threat to him whereas the hippogriff thing was something he could seriously lose face over. Lucius doesn't take things other people have done out on Narcissa, he's only ever hurt her when she's challenged him or Voldemort and he doesn't tend to hit her very often, besides anything else what's the good of a trophy wife who can't leave the house for bruises? I always saw Lucius as incredibly cold, in this story he shows just how cold he is by the way in which he never even tries to sort out his relationship with Narcissa. He doesn't tend to physically abuse her he's so much better at causing psychological and emotional damage than at getting violent. At King's Cross I think we can assume he's irritated and thinking about his meeting with Fudge. Also the nasty things he says to Draco come later in their argument but Narcissa doesn't hear them as she's up on the next floor so she can't make out what it is the two of them are yelling at each other. Draco does have a good idea of how tense things are between his parents, for example the pained look on his face when Narcissa asks what else is new when Lucius doesn't look happy in chapter 20. It is depressing and I pity him, he deserved a better father than Lucius! I like Osiris, though I can't take credit for it that was honest_iago's brilliant suggestion! I'd like an owl for delivering letters but my mother would have exactly the same issues with the dead mice and my dad has an odd fear of birds! The actions Sev takes in book three are the only time I've disliked him, Lupin is treated terribly but now I think I understand why Sev did it and I've tried to put across his side of things in this chapter, he was still wrong but I think it was understandable. I think Lucius was smart at school, prefect, top grades and all (but not head boy! LOL! Way to go Arthur!) he expects too much of his son and has no sympathy with him. I think he thinks Draco is a long way from perfect but that he should be so Lucius gets angry with him. As for what Draco suspects you'll have to wait and see, but nothing could change the fact that Lucius was his father. The only thing I'd say to bear in mind is that Draco cares deeply for his mother and he is a very perceptive young man. Narc's comment about Pansy was just an off-hand comment, the name doesn't mean anything to her so she dismisses her but she is slightly curious as to who embarrassed her son when he so richly deserved it. Lucius deserves no one's devotion and Dippy is one crazy little house elf! However at least she's forgiving! You're right about the photograph Sev wants to remember happier times the two of them shared but it also reminds him of his friend and how she must actually care about him (despite trying to put him in Azkaban) as that photograph would probably have meant a good deal to her and there are few people for whom she would have parted with it. I don't think Pansy has much of a reason to envy Draco, besides the he's gorgeous and she isn't issue, I think she just likes to cling to him like a limpet but she may indeed be jealous of the Gryffindors! I sympathise about Latin, it's very rarely taught over here and usually only in private schools! Hang on, people were saying Sev was evil?! That's just wrong! *shakes head in despair at people's new levels of stupidity* Sev is lovely and is slightly evil in a good way but he's mostly good, he just won't easily admit it! I feel sorry for Pettigrew because I sympathise with cowards, being one myself! I have to admit if I were approached by Voldemort and asked to betray my friends or face the consequences I don't know what I would do. I don't like Pettigrew but I do feel sorry for him, there are probably many other Pettigrews out there who've simply never been tested in that way. He is a good piece of proof of all Gryffindors not turning out good and I don't think he can be forgiven but then I feel sorry for Voldy for his bad upbringing, it's very strange the people I can have sympathy with! You haven't hurt me, I adore your reviews! You're probably right about the eagle, but I still think a Raven would fit with the name better, then again if we follow that twisted logic the symbol for Gryffindor house would be a Griffin! I don't think Cho is good for Harry in the least! Then again at least she doesn't try to kill him which is what most people do! Please don't punch yourself in the head, there's nothing wrong with reading spoilers! Ernie behaves himself better in this book actually, perhaps he's grown up a bit, he is awful in CoS. Tom Felton thinks Draco will die a bloody death?! NO!!! I so don't want him to be a deatheater! Sevvie must find a way to redeem him, surely as his head of house and revered potions master he can kick some sense into the daft little bugger! I hope so! I've only read the whole book once but I've read some bits a few times! Good luck in getting hold of it as soon as possible! Narc will keep fighting, glad you liked the info on Badgers (I just think they're damned cute!) and I like the idea of changing your name to Luna Project, Luna is very cool! Thanks for reviewing!

Dark Comet - Sevvie and Narcissa? Where did you get that idea from? *whistles innocently* wait and see, all will be revealed in good time. All in good time my pretty, all in good time! (Is it time to worry when you quote the wicked witch of the west?) It's terrible what Draco's father can reduce him to. Then again Narcissa was strong and confident once and Lucius has reduced her to a quivering wreck before now, will he manage the same with her son? At least Draco has someone to be there for him! I totally hit the ceiling when I found out Narcissa's maiden name! I still can't believe it! I get the impression that JK's Narcissa is not going to be a good person but oh well, I don't mind that as long as she isn't just a silly air head or something! There were parts of the fifth book I adored but I don't think it's as good as the others but I did love Ron in this book he's more mature and more lovable than ever! Also, Neville! Need I say more? What a darling! Wheel of Time series? What's that? Thanks for reviewing!

honest_iago - Sev is a demi-god I'll tell Lune Project you're interested in making SPSW badges! Your reviews are always appreciated and we will meet again! I realise I'm writing you a review response your may never read so I won't say much other than sorry I didn't explain the Wilson's thing and I'll put that right for you. As a lovely man once said, 'Good luck against those elephants,' enjoy your holiday while I sit in rainy England tapping away on the keyboard and probably going totally off kilter without you to help me! Thanks for the reviews!

I Built My Life Around You

**Narcissa's Thoughts**

Chapter 22

Lucius returned home two days later to find his son much calmer and his wife in good spirits. Narcissa was pleased at the idea of seeing Severus again and was delighted at her son's more cheerful attitude. She and Draco had had a relaxing couple of days with Lucius out of the way. The atmosphere in the house became more tense with his return. He and Draco had both calmed down however and had returned to their usual relationship. It was clear that Draco's respect for his father outweighed whatever residual anger he held towards him over their fight. Draco had become more distant from his mother and had been spending more time with Lucius than Narcissa liked.

The next week Narcissa came down to breakfast to find Draco eating alone, "Dad's gone out. You look nice this morning, are you going somewhere special?"

"What? I look the same as I always do, I was just thinking of going into Hogsmeade."

"Oh," Draco said disinterestedly and went back to eating his breakfast.

**He didn't even ask if he could come with me.**

*******

Severus was already there when she reached the three broomsticks and he looked to be in an exceedingly sour mood.

"No one glowers quite like you do you know," she said sitting down next to him at a table he was glaring at intently.

He glanced up at her and continued to glower. **Heck, what did I do?**

"Hello Narcissa. You're looking well."

"And you're looking bad-tempered, then again what else is new?" she laughed trying to get him to pull himself out of what looked suspiciously like self-pity but failing miserably.

"What's wrong," she sighed. It appeared that all the men in her life were in bad tempers at present.

"It has not been a good year," he snapped.

"Well that's hardly my fault," she said, irritated by his cold reception.

"I know."

**And that's the closest I'm going to get to an apology!**

"So, the Lupin thing, you going to explain?"

"He's a werewolf what more is there to explain."

"Yes because that clearly sums up everything about him in an instant, how could I have forgotten that it was so easy to judge people with only a limited amount of information." She sneered, the statement had been too much like something Lucius would have said for her liking.

"He was helping Black."

**Oh, that explains things.** "Yeah, I have to tell you something about that."

"What? What do you know about it?"

"More than you probably. Black's innocent."

Severus looked about ready to rip his hair out in frustration, "Not you as well," he groaned, "has the world gone mad?!"

"Sev dear, the world went mad a long time ago. But he is innocent, Pettigrew was the leak. Lucius told me years ago, before Voldemort fell, I never told you because you didn't need to know and information was on a strictly need to know basis at that time as Lucius thought we had a spy in our midst, not that I ever suspected that was you."

"What?" Severus looked shocked. "Are you sure?"

"Certain, I met Pettigrew, he was still as scared of me as he'd ever been," she laughed humourlessly, "I didn't know what was going to happen to the Potters though."

"I didn't think you did," he said reassuringly. "But Black wasn't the leak?"

"No, he killed Pettigrew in rage for what he'd done, Pettigrew did hunt Black down but neither I nor Lucius ever understood why. He could have been trying to throw the ministry off and it went horribly wrong or something or it could have been a suicide attempt as he certainly got a lot more merciful end than the deatheaters would have given him, they were baying for his blood, he brought their regime to an end, well his information did anyway."

"I don't suppose he was an animagus was he?" Severus asked as though he really didn't want to know the answer.

"Yes, I think so. I can't remember what his animal form was though."

"A rat."

"That was it...how did you know?"

"You don't want to know!"

"Actually I do. Why do you think I'm here?"

He snorted and launched into the events of the night under the Whomping Willow. "I've been making Lupin his Wolfsbane potion all year and at the full moon just over a month ago I realised he hadn't come to collect it so I went to his office in search of him. After all we couldn't have a fully-fledged werewolf running around the school, though I wouldn't mind feeding Potter to one. Anyway, I got to his office and he wasn't there, but there was a magical map of Hogwarts on his desk, I don't know where it came from, it showed the movements of everyone on the premises and it showed him heading though a passage underneath the Whomping Willow."

"What!?" Narcissa interrupted, "How can there be a passage there?"

"I'll explain that later, now if you'll allow me to carry on?"

"Of course, sorry to interrupt."

"When I got there I found an invisibility cloak lying outside the tree, turns out it belonged to Potter, inherited from his father, explains a lot about how he and his friends managed to pull off some of their pranks at school without getting caught doesn't it?"

"Certainly does, it also explains why Draco saw Potter's head in Hogsmeade."

Severus nodded. "I put the cloak on and went down the passage which leads to the shrieking shack in Hogsmeade."

"What? I'm sorry to interrupt again but this is getting a little far fetched!"

"If you want the story be quiet, if you don't you can always leave!"

"Sorry."

"Upstairs were Lupin, the Gryffindor trio and Black."

"Right," she said, clearly at a loss.

"I listened to some idiotic tale about how they all became animagi at school."

"Not so idiotic as it turns out, eh?"

"Narcissa, Mr. Potter interrupts less than you do!"

She smiled and tried to look contrite.

"They were just stood there reminiscing about old times, about how they nearly got me killed in their fifth year! I of course thought everyone had taken leave of their senses."

"Hang on, back track a moment, what the hell happened in your fifth year? I don't remember that."

"And now we come to why there is a passage underneath the Whomping Willow. It was planted and the passage built for Lupin to use during the full moon whilst he was at school. There's a knot on the trunk which you can press to stop the branches moving."

Narcissa's eyes widened. "Wow, but that doesn't tell me how you nearly got killed."

"Sirius Black sent me down that passage during the full moon. Lupin was down there as a werewolf and, of course, James Potter had to play the hero and he chickened out of the plan at the last minute and pulled me back down the passage, but not before I got a closer look at a werewolf than I ever want to have again."

"Oh God, but Sev it sounds like a really stupid prank gone horribly wrong. I mean Black never did have much common sense..."

"Are you stupid, woman?! I could have died! Do you know they didn't even lose house points for it! They should have been turned over to the ministry for that but Dumbledore just gave them a smack on the wrist and let them get away with it!"

"Severus, they were teenage boys, they do stupid things, I'm sure they never wanted you dead!"

"Right, they thought I'd be able to take on a werewolf with no problems I suppose?!"

"I'm betting they didn't think."

"Don't make excuses for them!"

She drew back in shock at the look on his face. "Fine," she said coldly, "Then why don't you explain what happened after they discovered you were there!"

"Black and Lupin protested their innocence and I was about to take them up to the Dementors..."

"What?! Why?"

"Because Sirius Black has been sentenced to the Dementor's kiss," Severus pointed out impatiently.

"But surely you should have handed him over to the authorities first and wouldn't they have needed his evidence about Lupin?"

"I was intending to hand Lupin over to them as well."

"By 'them' am I to assume you mean the Dementors?" Narcissa asked calmly.

"Yes," he crossed his arms defensively as Narcissa tried to drink the information in.

"Sev, how could you do that?"

Something inside Severus seemed to snap with that question. "How could you try to send me to the Dementors?! How could you waltz into the cell you'd thrown me into and scare me senseless about having my soul torn away from me?! How could you leave a supposedly innocent man rotting in Azkaban? You're not one to preach morality Narcissa, I don't think you even know what morals are for! We all do things that perhaps we shouldn't but don't you dare lecture me!"

The look of hate in his eyes made her want to cry, she'd thought that they had somehow put the past behind them but this revealed to her that there was a breach between them that time alone would not heal, she just didn't know if anything could.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"Oh, and here was me thinking it was 'all in good fun'!" he snarled.

"I was drunk Severus! I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking what I was saying!"

"I don't care," he said tonelessly, all anger, and indeed all emotion, gone from his voice.

"Yes you do. You wouldn't be angry with me if you didn't."

The two of them fell silent, staring at each other, until Severus spoke again, "Did you get what you came for?"

"I suppose. Severus, I don't know what I can say."

"There's nothing you can say. Look, just forget it, I was angry with Black and Lupin and Dumbledore and I took it out on you. Just forget it, really."

"What happened, how did Black escape?"

"The three idiots knocked me unconscious, and no they're not being expelled for assaulting a member of staff. We were nearly killed by the Dementors apparently, Black was recaptured by the ministry who locked him up in the castle, from where he escaped and apparently no one knows how. Personally, I'm convinced Potter had something to do with it. And that's it, end of story."

"You really have had a bad year haven't you?" she said softly.

"Well I've had better. How about you, how was your year?"

"Same as every other."

"Shouldn't you go before Lucius misses you?"

"Yes, I suppose." **Is he saying that through concern or because he wants me out of his sight? And why am I leaving when I know Lucius won't miss me for hours yet as he's not even in?**

She rose from the table and the two of them walked outside where a light summer rain had begun to fall.

She turned to leave when he put a hand on her arm and conjured an umbrella out of the air. "Here, wouldn't want your hair going frizzy would we?" he smirked in friendly fashion and she took the umbrella gratefully.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry if I raised some painful memories in there."

"They've been being raised all year. I'll let you go, don't let Lucius drive you too crazy."

"I won't, don't get put in Azkaban for killing Potter."

"I'm making no promises."

They both laughed and she put up the green umbrella to find a small Slytherin crest on the handle. "Nice umbrella."

"Glad you like it."

"Bye Severus."

"Goodbye."

They separated, Narcissa carrying the umbrella and wandering through the streets of Hogsmeade for a long time before finally going home. The two had both given each other a lot to think about.

*******

When Sev accuses her of leaving a supposedly innocent man to rot in Azkaban he means Sirius not himself, he wasn't in Azkaban.

I used to think that Sev over-reacted in book three but on reflection I think I would have reacted the same way, what happened to him was not just some school boy prank! If you want to read a really good account of that read 'The Shrieking Shack Incident' by Blacksin.

Also the restaurant "Wilson's", honest_iago wants me to explain why she told me to call it that. It is due to her obsession with a character in an old British TV show called Dad's Army, the character being Arthur Wilson played by John Le Mesurier. Don't know if that interests anyone bt honest_iago insisted it be explained!

Please Review the next updates should be Tuesday or Wednesday next week as I'm going away for a few days.

Review and give me something nice to come home to! :o)