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Lune Project - I'm glad you thought the last chapter was romantic, it was meant to be a bit, I know what you mean about these two old friends meeting up like it's something out of the 1920's. The Three Broomsticks is a pub in Hogsmeade and I think they meet up there because it's quite busy so as to blend into the crowd unnoticed (we know Lucy wouldn't appreciate their friendship!). Draco does think that Lucy's influence is more important, he doesn't always realise how powerful and intelligent his mother is though I will tell you that he has more of an idea about that than she would think! Lucius fills his head with the idea that Narcissa's a useless dumb blonde airhead! I've always thought that Sev was Draco's potential saviour and I so hope he will find a way to reach Draco before it's too late! You got banned for ranting against people who spoke ill of my lovely Severus? I'd have given you a medal! Now tell me where these people live so I can kill them in their sleep, or at least hit them round the head with the fifth book until they see sense! It's not that brave posting stories here, I don't have to look any of my readers in the face and no one knows who I am, I was so nervous at first though! I always find myself trying to excuse the characters when they do wrong and I do sympathise with some odd people! I think it's because I understand that human beings are fallible and I like characters more when they are portrayed as being fallible. You'll see Sev, Draco and Narc's opinions on Moody and on the ferret incident which is in chapter 27! I'm quite fond of that chapter! Narcissa is never clearly labelled as a deatheater which used to give me hope but after the fifth book I'm not so sure and since I wrote this story something hit me which I had not previously considered, that is that in the second book Dobby knows about Riddle because of things he'd overheard in the manor, Draco doesn't know what's going on so who could Dobby have heard Lucius talking to but Narcissa? I suppose it could have been a guest but Narcissa seems more likely, also Draco seems to imply that both of his parents are together in book four at the quidditch world cup but that's probably just me reading too much into it but then Narc's absence is never explained! I'll explain about the bit in OoTP that makes me think this in an e-mail as I don't like to spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read it and reads this response. I love getting your e-mails and as soon as I'm done checking this chapter and writing the review responses I'm going to right a reply as I've only just got it with having been away. honest_iago has abandoned me for warmer climates! She's on holiday for three weeks so the badges will have to wait I suppose, damn it Sevvie needs help now! As for good at designing logos I do have a GCSE in graphic design but what could we put on a badge? How about a picture of Sev looking lovely, it'd be like when the animal protection charities use those cute pictures of puppies looking really sad, who could resist! Percy better get his sanity back, I'm still holding out for a good explanation of what he was up to some fanfics suggested that he might have been spying on Fudge for Dumby but much as I love that idea I doubt it's true! I light your day? Wow I'm flattered, I'm also back and updating! Thanks for reviewing! :o)

Serepidia - Yay, you got the book! Parents are great sometimes aren't they, mine just took me away for a weekend to get me over the stress of my A-levels. Did you like the book, have you read it yet?! Glad you like it and I think the past can be worked through most of the time no matter how terrible it is, the two of them will probably get through it one day! Definitely too bad that Lucy wasn't killed in France, ah well better luck next time with that one, perhaps I should send him to some radical right wing cult who could burn him at the stake for witchcraft! Sorry the update took so long but I went away! Thanks for the review!

Dark Comet - It's a good story isn't it but it left me hating Dumbledore! I kind of still liked Siri though at the end when Remus forgave him (God was Remus delicious in that fic or what!?). Ooh, you like Sevvie chapters well there's another coming up in 27 and before then we get letters from Sev! I think Harry hates Snape because he still treats him in the same way he always has, maybe having been bullied by Dudley in much the same way Sev was by the marauders makes him deeply resent the fact that he is being treated as though he is his father when actually he is pretty appalled by James' actions. Perhaps he feels that Sev shouldn't make that kind of judgement about him, particularly as it's obvious Harry doesn't act like James. Oh God, I'm defending Harry! Against Snape! Scratch the above, Harry's just an evil James clone and that's why he hates my lovely Sevvie who has never done anything wring in his life! LOL! I do see Harry's POV sometimes but I hate to admit to it and I almost never see his point against Snape! I do understand if the above is his point and reason for hating Snape but I understand why having Harry in his class can not be easy for Sev, I don't know how well I could act in his shoes and after the 'I'm going to snoop in your pensive' (as it must have looked like to Snape) incident of course he'd be nasty to Harry! That's the best explanation I've got but knowing me I missed the point and it's something else entirely! You like Dad's Army? honest_iago will be pleased, or she would if she were currently in the country! I love Pike isn't he such a darling?! The show is cool, honest_iago's left me one of her videos while she's away so I've been watching that when I've got some free time. The old comedies are always the better ones for some reason! Thanks for reviewing!

BellatrixBlack - Ooh scary! You're not really her are you? If you are then I can only say this 'Leave poor darling Neville alone!' Anyway, thanks for reviewing glad to hear you like the story! More's coming up!

I Built My Life Around You

**Narcissa's thoughts**

Chapter 23

Narcissa slept fitfully for several nights after meeting with Severus, she was plagued by nightmares in which he was dead, soulless, and it was her fault. She sat up in bed, sweating profusely, for the fifth night in a row and then fell back onto her pillows, finding that she had been crying in her sleep.

"Oh God, not again," she whispered, grabbing a tissue from the bedside table and wiping the moisture from her eyes. "This is getting beyond a joke!" She was shaking and it was not the first time she'd woken up in that state. Her conversation with Severus had left her feeling guilty and strangely afraid. It kept hitting her, how close she had come to losing the one person in the world who had always cared for her. **He is so good to even give me the time of day after what I did.**

She glanced across at the corner of the room where the umbrella he had conjured for her was leaning against the wall. She sighed and got out of bed, it was four o'clock and she didn't think she'd sleep again that night. She crept out of her room, trying not to wake anybody else. She took the staircase that led down into the library and lit the candles. **If I can't sleep maybe I can find something to read.**

Narcissa was poring over the spines of the books on one of the shelves when she heard a noise. She stepped out of the library to see a light still on in Lucius' study and voices coming from inside. **What on earth?** Had she been less tired she would probably have considered it wise to go back to bed but, as tired as she was, she didn't think twice before opening the study door.

"Lucius, why are you still up...Draco? What the hell are you doing?"

Draco was stood on a footstool muttering to himself and poring over book titles in much the same way she had been doing in the library.

He looked at her like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car.

"I'm waiting for an explanation!" she hissed.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"Get down from there, put the room back as you found it and get out of here before we wake your father up!" she whispered.

He nodded and got down off the stool, putting it away. As he did however a paperweight fell off the desk clattering down onto the hardwood floor.

They both froze as the noise seemed to echo around the silent house. For a moment Narcissa thought they'd got away with it but then footsteps were heard from the next room and Lucius walked in to the study and frowned at the two of them. "Is this a private party or can anybody join in?" he sneered.

"I couldn't sleep and I saw a light in your study. Draco was about to tell me what he was up to," Narcissa explained looking pointedly at her son.

"Er, are either of you going to buy that I was sleep walking?" he tried.

"Probably not," Narcissa informed him.

"Draco, I'd like an explanation," Lucius said, losing patience.

"I was looking for that book you showed me the other day."

"Why?"

"What book?" Narcissa asked, feeling like she had missed something significant.

"A book of curses. I wanted to find something to use on Potter, Weasley and the mudblood."

Narcissa was about to hit the roof but found herself being interrupted by Lucius.

"Not that I don't think that's an excellent idea but I do not appreciate being woken up in the middle of the night. Besides it's not a good idea to do your own dirty work, you don't want to get punished by those idiots who teach at Hogwarts. I could teach you some of those curses one day but I think they're still a little advanced at the moment. Now go back to bed," he placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, "No more creeping about at night, but as your motives were good we'll let it slip." They both laughed and Narcissa stood there with her mouth open wondering which one she should yell at first.

"Hang on a minute...!" She started

"Oh look, she's rediscovered the power of speech," Lucius sneered and Draco laughed at the remark. "Narcissa leave the boy alone, he didn't mean any harm, well not to anyone who didn't deserve it!"

Draco smirked and left the study with Lucius' hand on his shoulder in a fatherly fashion. He went into the library and back upstairs leaving Narcissa with her husband. "You make me sick!" she whispered as she swept past him and ran to the stairs at the other end of the gallery which made up the first floor. The doors of the rooms all opened off this long gallery overlooking the hallway below and at the far end there was a spiral staircase which led up to the second floor. It was up this staircase that she ran, her bare feet slapping against the stone with Lucius' soft laughter echoing in her ears.

She awoke the next morning wondering if she had dreamed it all but one look at Lucius across the breakfast table left her in no doubt that it had happened.

*******

Really short chapter I know but the next one is longer than usual I promise! Actually the next one's all about the quidditch world cup.

I know when I use terms like first and second floor it might get a bit confusing because in America and Canada and places you call the ground floor the first floor. I'm using the British way in which the bottom floor is the ground floor the next one up is the first floor and then second floor and so on. It's not particularly important I just thought it might confuse people.

Sorry the update took a while but I warned you it would. Anyway I'm back and the next update should come on Thursday or Friday of this week depending on when I get on the internet.

Please leave a review! It takes so little of your time but makes me so happy! (Gosh I sound desperate! LOL!)