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Review Responses:

Trillium - Not only are you not behind you were in front of everyone else for reviewing the last chapter! In fact it had hardly been up four hours before your review came! Don't worry about liking Lucius it happens to me all the time! Even though he's evil I still find myself sympathising with him sometimes, though he doesn't deserve it. Narcissa does look like she's fighting a losing battle but at least Draco didn't let go of her hand at the end. Draco is making her very sad though! But give them time and their relationship may improve. I refuse to believe my Percy could behave in such a manner, sending the Weasley jumper back! I was heart broken! How could he? Oh but I still love him! Draco was totally not there in the fifth book! I was most annoyed! I hadn't noticed how many people it took to take out the three of them but now you mention it it is a bit surprising, perhaps they are more talented than we would expect! I'm sick of seeing those three hexed like that! It really does seem like the Gryffs could find a better way of dealing with them and what was Harry expecting? After what happened to Lucius and the fact that it was kind of Harry's fault was Draco likely to be pleasant to him? I feel really sorry for Draco I think that last scene between him and Harry at Hogwarts was infinitely sad, I pity him, he seems to be unable to think for himself he's been brainwashed by that evil father of his! To me that scene is one of the saddest in the book, I just hope that after Harry left Sev talked to Draco a bit. My hope for Draco lies with Sevvie! I also think it must have been awful for Narcissa to have to go and find her son in that state on the train for the second year in a row, I thought Ernie's comment about wanting to see her face was horrible! Anyway, I'll stop ranting now! Thanks for reviewing!

Serepidia - Glad you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for the review!

Professor Charlotte Snape - Glad you liked the chapters, Sevvie's not in for an easy time but he will cheer up eventually! Draco is scarily turning into a mini-Lucius, can no one save him? Thanks for the three reviews!

I Built My Life Around You

**Narcissa's Thoughts**

Chapter 25

Narcissa awoke to find Draco and Lucius quietly eating breakfast, "We're getting a portkey in two hours," Lucius informed her.

She nodded and sat down, she had had little sleep and her rest had been plagued with nightmares, images from the previous night and fears of a future which looked more uncertain than it had for years. Lucius looked at her with something bordering on concern in his grey eyes and she gave him a weak smile. Last night had been traumatic but that was just what it was, last night. **It's the morning and it's time to deal with things, not to freak out and fall to pieces.**

They were all quiet and subdued, Minister Fudge came round to see if they were alright twenty minutes before they were due to leave, he was clearly worried about the events of the previous night but he was able to assure them that there had been no casualties. Narcissa offered the man some tea, grateful for the presence of another human being as it meant she could not simply retreat into herself as she wanted to. **Not a course of action which will help anyone!**

They arrived home at just gone twelve and after a spot of lunch Draco went straight to bed, Narcissa was headed the same way when she saw Lucius sat at the desk in his office with his head in his hands, he rarely left the door open and she took advantage of the situation to wander in uninvited.

He turned to look at her and silently rolled up his left hand sleeve and showed her his arm. The mark, it was clearer, not by much but the difference was noticeable. She sighed and looked him in the eyes; he looked concerned and tired, any sympathy she could have felt though was blocked out by the memory of the small children levitated in the air, terrified and crying out.

"It might not mean anything," she said, more wishing than believing it to be true.

He sighed and shook his head, "Maybe. I'm going to bed."

She nodded and left to go to her own room on the next floor.

*******

Narcissa spent the afternoon asleep. Back in her own bed she was able to sleep easier, even when Voldemort had been at full power the thought of what her husband and the others could be doing rarely kept her awake at night. Not much could disturb her sleep patterns unless it was a threat to herself or her son.

She went down to dinner but Draco and Lucius both failed to show up, after checking they were both asleep she ate alone and then headed back to bed. She left Dippy with orders to make Draco something to eat when he woke up but if the empty vial by Lucius' bed was anything to go by he had taken a strong sleeping draught and would sleep until the morning.

She read for a while to prevent herself from thinking then settled down to sleep. She awoke the next morning feeling fully capable of facing whatever the world had to throw at her, **and lets face it the world loves using me for target practice!**

Draco was at breakfast and Lucius joined them after about half an hour. Narcissa ate quickly and headed back upstairs. **The best way to deal with this is to find out as much as I can about what's going on.**

She wrote a letter to Minister Fudge asking him if he had any news on the dark mark or anything else. **The man may be a fool but he's the fool everyone reports to!**

She then wrote a more difficult letter to Severus.

Dear Severus,

Doubtless you have heard about the events at the World Cup, I was wondering if you had heard anything beyond the basic facts of what happened. I know the deatheaters didn't send up the mark but that leaves the question of who did? Lucius seems worried about it, he thinks it may mean Voldemort is back.

Severus, his mark is clearer, it's not as clear as it once was but it is clearer. I don't like to ask, but is yours the same?

Do you know what this means because all I can think is that Lucius is right, but I don't want to worry you with his paranoia, which I hope is all it is, but it the only explanation that makes sense.

Take care of yourself, I get the feeling we are headed into dangerous times. If you hear anything please write to me, if you doubt my trustworthiness then all I can do is offer you my word that anything you tell me will not reach my husband.

I do understand if you don't trust me.

Write back to me soon,

Narcissa.

She sent the letters and sat back to reflect on them, she hated bringing up Voldemort with Severus, she knew it made him feel terrible, but she had to know what she was up against.

*******

She received a reply from Fudge first, which was entirely useless in one respect but rather interesting in another.

Dear Mrs Malfoy,

Please do not concern yourself with the events at the world cup, we are sure that the dark mark was sent up in order to cause exactly the kind of panic that it has. The best thing to do is ignore these people and show them that we no longer fear them. I have launched an investigation and we hope to catch those responsible as soon as possible.

I am sorry that you and your husband should have had to suffer, you were my guests and I was not around in all the confusion. Allow me to apologise but I had many things to deal with. Of course I will keep you updated with any information which we gather.

On a different note I thought that you might be interested to know, seeing as you have a son at Hogwarts, that this year it will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament. Durmstrang and Beauxbatons have both agreed to take part and we are very excited at the idea. I am sure it will be a thoroughly enjoyable event for us all. We have added a new age limit of seventeen for safety reasons and ensured that no one will be harmed during the event.

Anyway, do keep this information under your hat as it is not public knowledge just yet.

Yours sincerely,

Cornelius Fudge

Minister for Magic

**Interesting, the Triwizard tournament. It must be about a century since that was held. Should make Draco's school year more interesting, they must intending to host a Yule ball that'll be why his school list includes dress robes this year. Probably means he'll spend Christmas at school.**

Narcissa went into the dining room, opened the french windows and called out to her son who was flying round the garden, "Draco, come here a minute!"

He landed in front of the french windows and jumped lightly off his broom and on to the patio. "Hey, what's going on?"

"I just got a letter from Fudge and I have solved the mystery of why your Hogwarts letter asked you to bring dress robes, I think you're headed to a Yule Ball!"

He raised a questioning eyebrow, "Oh you mean the Triwizard Tournament? Dad said, hasn't he told you?"

"No, he hasn't, I just heard from Fudge." **Like Lucius would tell me anything! Then again it probably just slipped his mind with everything that's been going on.**

"Pity about the age limit, would have been fun to enter, especially with that prize money!"

"Don't you even think about it! I don't care what safety features they've added, under no circumstances would I allow you to enter!"

"Mum! I can look after myself!"

"Sure you can!" she laughed.

*******

Two days later Lucius announced that they were going to Diagon Alley to get Draco's school supplies.

Diagon Alley was busy as usual with the back to school rush, they bought the needed supplies quickly and then headed to Madame Malkins to get some school robes and some new dress robes, as Lucius put it, "No son of mine is going to go out looking like a Weasley!"

Madame Malkin showed them robes after robes with Lucius dismissing most of them and sending Draco to try on several. Finally he stopped at some black robes with a high collar, "That will do."

"He looks a vicar!" Narcissa exclaimed, "I preferred the Green with the Black trim."

"This looks more intimidating."

"He's a teenager going to a school dance, he's not supposed to look intimidating!"

"A Malfoy should always maintain a level of intimidation."

Narcissa sighed in irritation and Madame Malkin looked fit to kill. Draco was getting thoroughly sick of trying on robes and was at the point where he'd have agreed to wear anything. Narcissa decided to give in, "Fine whatever you say, we'll take them."

Madame Malkin looked relieved when they finally left. Diagon Alley had become too busy to tolerate any longer and even Narcissa found herself longing to be back in the manor. Apparently Lucius shared this longing as he all but dragged Draco away from the latest broom in the window of quality quidditch supplies and insisted that they go home before the crowds drove him completely mad. **Personally I think it's a bit late for that!**

The remaining days of summer passed quickly and soon Draco was heading back to Hogwarts leaving Narcissa alone with an increasingly irritable Lucius.

*******

In the next chapter Narcissa has a plan.

Chapter 26 should be posted on Wednesday.

Please review!! Make a poor fanfic writer happy!