Disclaimer: I just own the plot!

Review Responses:

Trillium - You were the first reviewer for the last chapter as well! Canon Narcissa does seem to have a have weak character, she sounds overshadowed by two strong older sisters and a powerful husband. If only she'd listened to the right sister! Those song lyrics certainly are haunting, I've never actually heard the song but the lyrics do fit Lucius and Narcissa pretty well! Thanks for your reviews!

Bella - I'm glad you like the story and my Narcissa! I won't be covering the fifth book, it doesn't fit in with my story and besides I don't want my Narcissa to be related to the people book five established her as being related to, it just doesn't fit with the idea I have of her for this fic. I will carry on once I reach the end of book four and I know what's going to happen so it's less running out of ideas as finding it difficult to write them! However, I think I'm over the writer's block! Basically for this story, unless it says otherwise, everything established in the fifth book is not like that here, Narcissa's relatives are not who the fifth book laid them out as being, and I would never kill the person JK killed! When I reach the end of book four this story is going to take a decided turn away from the canon. However, I have decided to do that in a separate third part to this story. I Built My Life Around You ends at the start of summer after their fourth year. So thanks for the suggestion but it doesn't fit my plot, but hopefully you'll all like what I have planned anyway! Thanks for reviewing and being helpful!

Dark Comet - Glad you liked my chapter! Narcissa Malfoy is not a woman to be crossed lightly! I too wonder what I guy would look like with part of their nose missing, I find that hard to picture! As for the look on his face when she slapped him I think a mixture, of shock, fury, indignation and hatred could just about cover it! Thank you for being so complementary! Thanks as always for the review!

Slytherin Starr-Athena - I'm glad you liked this story and my portrayal of Narcissa, she became more feisty as it went along to be honest. She needed to be that way to survive Lucius in this fic! I think your idea of her as being quiet is probably closer to what she'll be like in canon but I don't want her to be like that! Thanks for the review!

Professor Charlotte Snape - Moody did get what he deserved! Though he did get what he deserved in the book as well! I'll be sure to read your fic and drop a review. Glad you like the chapter and thanks for reviewing. Let me know when you post that story, or is it already up?

I Built My Life Around You

**Narcissa's Thoughts**

_emphasis_

Chapter 28

Several days after what she had come to term the 'Moody incident' Narcissa received another letter from her son.

Dear Mum,

I had my first lesson with Moody today, I get the impression he doesn't like Slytherin very much. He's kind of freaky, I mean besides the fact he turned me into a ferret! He showed us the unforgivables. And when I answered a question in class about what they were he just said, "Well I'd expect you to know, Malfoy," he said Malfoy like the name were an unforgivable curse in itself. He even demonstrated them on these spiders, it wasn't very pleasant to watch really!

Snape's in a terrible mood, he ran into me the other day and he told me I was just like you, hot headed and emotional. I told him I was nothing of the sort but he said that if I wasn't then I wouldn't have allowed Potter to provoke me. I'm beginning to wonder if he's alright.

What have you been up to to make him think of you as hot headed and emotional?

Got to go, potions homework awaits,

Love Draco.

P.S. Did you say something to Moody? He said my mother was as childish as I was, mum what on earth have you been up to?

She laughed, **Oh Sev, what have you been saying? As for me being childish, _please_! I'm not childish! I'm just a little immature during moments of stress.**

She decided to write to her friend and ask what he'd been telling Draco.

Severus,

Hot headed and emotional? What have you been telling my son about me? I hope you're dealing with Moody ok, Draco says you are not in the best of humours, I think he's worried about you. You are his favourite teacher after all!

You are alright aren't you, well as alright as you can be under the circumstances? You make sure you take care of yourself!

Oh, and since when do Hogwart's teachers demonstrate the unforgivables, I think my son hears enough foul curses at home without having to learn more in school, I appreciate that he is not actually being taught them but I would prefer he not know of such things. He certainly should not have to see them.

Then again, maybe he should. There are things he needs to know, things which will decide him finally on one path or another. If only I knew which path. Severus, I do not believe he is like his father, he reminds me more of you sometimes, but he would do anything for Lucius' approval and that disturbs me. On the more positive side he didn't seem to like seeing the unforgiveables cast, I suppose that's a start.

Watch him for me Sev, don't let him choose his father's path. You're the best role model he's got, then again no matter who his role models were I think you'd still be the best. It gives me hope when I see him emulate you (and he does, I know he got that glare and quick wit from somewhere, Lucius isn't _that_ good!).

Take care,

Narcissa

She smiled at the thought of Severus being secretly rather pleased that Draco emulated him, **of course he'll never admit that! He really would have made a wonderful father!**

She took another piece of parchment and wrote back to her son.

Dear Draco,

Moody sounds deeply unpleasant and I would advise you to stay away from him. Of course he dislikes Slytherin, most of the teachers do if I remember rightly! I don't think he should be showing you the unforgiveables, they are indeed unforgiveable even on an insect.

Draco it is no great feat to be able to take life or give pain or even to bend another to your will, all of these can be achieved without magic. It is simply so much easier with magic; it makes it too easy. Life is fragile Draco, taking it is something any muggle can do but no one can give it back again.

Magic, like any other gift, is something to be used with responsibility and compassion, something I do not see in your teacher if his actions are anything to go by. The true measure of someone is seen in how they treat those weaker than themselves.

If Moody mentions me again then tell him I say good day. As for his less than courteous tone when speaking our name, he is a dark arts fanatic and at his age should know that you cannot simply judge someone by their family name. There are black sheep in every family after all. Draco, the Malfoy name is not always as respected as your father would like it to be or would like you to think it is. Ignore Moody, he is a fool but a dangerous one so stay out of trouble with him.

As for Severus thinking I am hot headed and emotional I cannot think why.

Love as always,

Mum.

She was pleased with her letter, it was attempting to instil morality but it was neither preaching nor patronising and, perhaps more importantly, it should not inflame her son into writing to his father. She waited for a response only to find that she had been entirely wrong in her analysis of the situation.

Dear Mum,

What were you on in your last letter?

"Life is fragile Draco, taking it is something any muggle can do but no one can give it back again." ????

The whole point of the unforgiveables _is_ their ease mum, not _that_ they do what they do but that they do it so easily and with little preparation. It probably is better to bend someone to your will without using the imperius but still it is rather cool.

I felt it was unpleasant because of the fact it was Moody casting them. If he'd do that to a spider he didn't give a damn about what would he do to someone he disliked? And I'm not high on his favourite people list!

As to judging people by their family name, I admit there are black sheep in every family, but I think you will find that you can tell a lot about someone from their family name, surely you of all people know that?

And what was that part about how we treat people weaker than ourselves? You sound like Dumbledore or something!

Anyway, I just thought some of the stuff you said was a bit odd that's all. Heck, we all have off days.

Love Draco.

Narcissa closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, feeling like she was hitting her head against a brick wall. Draco just didn't seem capable of understanding her sometimes. **Is the difference between right and wrong really such a difficult thing to grasp or to explain? Maybe it is, after all he's been taught quite the opposite of what I told him all his life. Don't turn into your father Draco, there's more than one way to wind up soulless.**

She sighed and put his letter away with her other correspondence and went to the window. The weather was cold and wet but she felt a strong desire to be outside. She went to her bedroom and grabbed the umbrella Severus had conjured for her. She spent the next couple of hours exploring the grounds of the manor in a way she hadn't since she had first moved in, the rain beat down harder than ever and the ends of her robes were caked in mud but she didn't care. The air felt fresh and clean, the rain felt purifying as though it could wash away the sins of a lifetime, **and that's a lot of sins!** She sat down on an ancient stone bench overlooking a small water garden with a miniature waterfall. She had not been sat there long when the gardener came into sight, **I wonder if anyone ever enjoys these grounds except him, even I'm not out here as often as I used to be.** He nodded respectfully at her and continued on his way. **Even he doesn't stop to speak to me.** She sighed and got up off the bench, on her way back to the house she was intercepted by an owl bearing a letter sealed with the Slytherin crest.

**Sev, how is it you always know when you're wanted!** She smiled and tore open the envelope.

Narcissa

I suppose I have not been in the best of humours but I was pleased to hear from you. You don't have to worry about me, every time I look at Moody I remember the look on his face when you slapped him! If he gets out of hand I could always threaten to set you on him again.

It was Moody's own idea to show the fourth years and above the unforgiveables and Dumbledore managed to persuade the ministry that it was a good idea! He may be right I suppose, there are things that it would benefit certain students to see. They need to know what they are allying themselves with if they choose to support Voldemort.

Draco is not like Lucius, and I do not think he is like me! We share an interest in potions but Narcissa the boy does not emulate me! Does he? Narcissa, I am not an appropriate role model, I have made far too many mistakes in my life and if he follows my path then I believe you will end up with even more reason to worry than you have now. Tell him to pick another role model!

I'm keeping an eye on him and I will continue to do so.

Try not to worry yourself too much,

Severus.

She smiled, feeling better than she had, **at least the whole world doesn't dislike me. Oh Draco what am I going to do about you? As for Severus, he needs to realise that I admire him because of his mistakes and the courage it took to set them right. God I wish I could find a way to right my mistakes!**

*******

Next chapter we're approaching Christmas, update should be on Wednesday or Thursday.

Please review!!