Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (unless I'm schizophrenic, I suppose I could just be JK on Thursdays! Who knows!) Seriously I just own the plot.

Review Responses:

Errisar - This story will have 27 chapters and will sadly be the last in this series! I am quite sad about that actually, as well as being delighted that I ever finished it! However, I have started work on a new fic all about Bill and Charlie Weasley which begins in their school days so I'll still be writing. It will in fact be set in the same alternative universe that this one is but will focus on the Weasley family. Glad you liked the progression of Sev and Narcissa's relationship, here are the Death Eaters (well a couple of them anyway). Thanks for the review!

Aki-Ame1 - Two days? Wow! You must have liked it, I'm flattered. I doubt I will be rich and famous like JK one day but I live in hope! Did it really distract you from your school work? Never takes much to distract me! I read your story and I don't think you're a crappy author, I left you a review actually. Thanks for reviewing!

Dark Comet - Yes I agree with Ginny too, those two are adorable! Sorry about the Death Eaters, it must be said they don't exactly add to the cuteness but they do start Narcissa and Severus talking to each other about things and the end gets a bit fluffy as well as being sad. Thanks for the review!

Bonezz - I agree they are cute, but Lucy probably is spinning in his grave! LOL! I think Draco will always be protective of his mother, she means the world to him. Thanks for reviewing!

ilovesporks - Punctuation? What's that then? LOL! Yes I know my punctuation's a bit crazy, I have paragraphs made up of a single sentence! I think I fear the full stop for some reason! I do try to punctuate them better before they go up but when you've read something so many times already it just makes sense to you anyway no matter how ridiculous your punctuation is. I'm not averse to the idea of a beta reader but the problem would be timing, as you've probably noticed I update about twice a week so they'd need to be betad pretty quickly and I'm not sure if that's asking a bit much? I don't want to slow down the updates you see. Well this chapter shows Sev and Narc out together again but they had their first date in the last chapter it just wasn't really covered. This one's rather interesting though, well I think so anyway. Thanks for the review and offers of help but I don't know if it would work out very well. Perhaps you could e-mail me about it, the address is on my author's page. Thank you for the kind offer!

o0olexy - I'm glad you thought Lucius and Narcissa were believable, it was hard to strike a balance with them sometimes. Glad you've enjoyed it so far and thanks for the review!

PrincessJedi – I think they're cute too! Thanks for reviewing!

I Found a Little Courage to Call it Off

**Narcissa's Thoughts**

***Severus' Thoughts***

Chapter 13

Narcissa and Draco moved back into the manor and Severus was a constant visitor. He and Narcissa were quickly becoming inseparable and Draco seemed to have accepted him with ease. It was clear that he was very fond of his godfather; he particularly enjoyed beating him at chess, though it didn't happen often. It was one of these rare occasions. Narcissa was sat reading, or rather pretending to whilst actually enjoying watching them play.

"Ha! Checkmate, Professor!"

Narcissa and Severus met each other's eyes.

Draco caught the look, "What?"

"Draco, perhaps you could call me something other than Professor," Severus suggested.

"Like what?" Draco sounded a little defensive, it was clear that this comment had brought it home to him the new role Severus had assumed in their lives.

"Uncle Sev?" Narcissa laughed, lightening the moment.

"No!" Severus objected before that idea could go any further. "How about Severus?"

"Erm, ok," Draco replied a little awkwardly, "Do I still have to call you Professor at school?"

"Yes!"

Draco grinned at Severus' clear horror at the idea of having Draco calling him by his first name in the middle of a potions class, "Ok, I suppose I could do that, Severus."

"That sounds better," Narcissa commented.

"So Severus, are you up for a re-match?

"If you really want me to beat you I suppose we could?" Severus smirked.

Narcissa smiled at the two of them, "I tell you what I'll help Draco, let's see you beat both of us!"

Of course he did, as Draco and Narcissa simply confused the pieces by trying to send them in different directions.

******

It was about half way through summer and Severus couldn't help but notice that Narcissa was hardly leaving the house except to call on the Weasleys. He had asked her about it but she just claimed that she didn't feel like going out. They were having dinner at the manor one evening when he noticed a gold edged card on a sideboard, "What's this?" he asked, picking it up.

"Oh, it's just an invitation to some ministry party," Narcissa responded disinterestedly, "Arthur and Molly have got one too. I meant to throw it away, just put it in the waste paper basket for me would you?"

"You're not going?"

"They asked me through politeness, they don't want me there."

"When has that ever stopped you before?" Severus smirked.

"Severus! Don't tease me. I'm not going, end of story. Besides who would I go with? You? You hate these things!"

"Narcissa, I will go with you but you are going. Come on, since when do you play by society's rules?"

"Well," Narcissa considered things for a moment, "I suppose I don't and it would be quite scandalous the two of us going together! Lucius not dead a month and you and I involved in his death! Could make the whole thing quite fun! I do love creating scandal!"

He laughed suddenly, "I think you're quite mad! But I think you should go and I'll go with you if that's what you want."

"It's exactly what I want!" she kissed him, "But we'll have to get you some new dress robes!"

"What's wrong with the ones I've got?"

"You've worn them before, you always wear them!"

"Narcissa, I am not going to allow you to start buying my clothes!"

"Alright," she said grudgingly. **That's what you think dearest, I don't give up that easily Sev!**

"Don't smile like that, you look like you're plotting something!"

"Who says I'm not!?"

"Don't even think about it!"

"Thank about what?"

"Whatever it is you're thinking about!"

She merely smirked and sat back in her chair.

*******

The day of the party Severus received a large box in the owl post; it was from Paris. **Narcissa what the hell is this?!**

He read the note:

For you to wear tonight. I just wanted to make sure we didn't clash! Don't worry I think you'll like them.

Love Narcissa

xxx

He opened the box to find a new set of dress robes, cut with the same flair that was seen in Narcissa's clothes. He had to admit, they weren't bad. Black and simple, ***Well maybe the woman does have taste. Expensive taste I'm willing to bet!***

*******

He arrived at Malfoy Manor to find that Narcissa was, miraculously enough in his opinion, ready to go. She looked at his robes and smiled instantly, "Nice robes, new?"

"They were a gift."

"Have you been getting gifts from strange women?"

"Well they don't come much stranger than the woman who sent me these!"

"Oy! Be nice! I'm not feeling too self-confident tonight."

"And why not?"

"Because I have to go and mingle with a bunch of people who either hate me because I married a Death Eater or hate me because I betrayed the Death Eaters."

"They do not all hate you."

"Yeah, whatever," Narcissa entirely failed to sound either convinced or reassured.

"Narcissa if you're going to be like this all night you're going to be pretty bad company. Come on, where's the arrogant, quick-witted woman I love?"

Narcissa visibly brightened. "Maybe she just needed reminding that she was loved," she took his arm, "Alright, let's go! I'm ready to face them!"

"Good."

"Besides, I get to walk in there with the most attractive man in the room on my arm."

"Oh I see, I'm just your latest accessory," he teased.

"Absolutely!" she grinned at him.

They apparated to the Burrow where they were to meet Arthur and Molly and from there the four of them apparated to the ministry building where they were instantly greeted by Fudge.

"Mr and Mrs Weasley. Mrs Malfoy, Professor Snape, I'm glad you could make it."

"Good evening Minister," Narcissa said giving him a charming smile.

Fudge nodded to her politely and indeed most of the ministry officials seemed to treat her with respect. **Though that could have to do with the looks Sev keeps giving anyone who comes near me.** Severus had indeed been very protective of her and Molly had been just as bad. Though Narcissa could not honestly say she minded, **it's rather nice having people looking out for me.**

She glanced idly about the room, Severus had been cornered by Fudge and Arthur and Molly were talking to one of Arthur's colleagues leaving her temporarily alone with her glass of champagne, **Not going to drink too much of this on this occasion!**

"Narcissa! I heard you were here, there you are!" Narcissa heard a familiar female voice behind her and turned to see Patricia Goyle and her husband.

"Patricia," Narcissa said coldly, "Hello."

"Hello dear, I was _so_ sorry to hear about Lucius. I can't think why you wouldn't allow us to attend the funeral though!"

"I wanted it to be just family."

"Really? I had heard that Severus Snape was there."

"Yes he was, he's a good friend."

"Don't you mean _was_ a good friend?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Oh, I only meant that now apparently you two are something more."

"Yes, we are."

"How interesting..."

"Did you want something in particular?" Narcissa interrupted, growing tired of the thinly veiled disdain in the woman's voice.

"Yes we did," Roger stepped in.

**Oh my God, a talking monkey!**

"Mrs Malfoy," Roger began, stressing the word Malfoy, "I would advise you to carefully consider where your loyalties lie, you wouldn't want to go the same way as your friend."

**My friend?** "What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

"Apparently Ms Myriades didn't know where her loyalties lay either, though that's hardly surprising with her father. And she wasn't difficult to take care of."

Narcissa reached for her wand to find Severus' hand on her arm, "Ah Mr. Goyle, I was hoping to catch you, I think we need to talk about Gregory seeming to be doing his best to fail potions altogether and I must say I am not the only teacher who has concerns with regard to his limited academic prowess."

Narcissa shot him a grateful look and used the opportunity to slip away to where Molly and Arthur were watching the altercation nervously. **If I'd stayed there any longer I'd have been throwing unforgivables in all directions!**

She stayed with the Weasleys until Severus finished telling the Goyles how singularly stupid their child was and returned to her side. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, just angry beyond belief! I can't believe he'd dare to bring her up like that! They told me I should think carefully about where my loyalties lay...idiots!"

She went to take another glass of champagne from the table but found it gently removed from her fingers. "What?"

"We don't want a re-run of what happened the last time you drank too much at a ministry function!"

"Good point, though I seem to remember it worked out pretty well for you!"

"Yes well, I much prefer kissing you when you're sober!"

She laughed and grasped his hand. "What ever you say, darling. I remember the morning after that particular incident being fairly horrific anyway!"

He smirked, "I bet."

They were quiet for a moment before Narcissa looked at him sadly and said, "I really miss her, you know?"

"I know you do," he squeezed the hand that was still holding onto his. "I miss Davies and Evan too."

"You can't bring them back though."

"No. You can't."

"What happened?" she asked tentatively, appreciating that this was something Severus might not want to talk about. "I mean I heard that they died but I'd just had Draco at the time and to be honest my thoughts were elsewhere, though I was sorry to hear it."

"Evan was killed by an auror during one of the raids and I have little doubt that it was Lucius who killed Davies because he refused to join the Death Eaters."

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, holding onto his hand and trying to offer silent support.

"What for? You didn't kill either of them."

"You went through such a lot back then. You lost your two best friends, I know they were like family to you and then I, I turned my back on you when all you'd ever done was try to help me."

"It's all in the past Narcissa and to be honest," he gave her a small smile, "You're the reason the future's looking better."

She smiled at him and leaned her head on his shoulder, still holding onto his hand.

*******

Evan Rosier and Davies Brennandez were Sev's two best friends from school just in case anyone had forgotten, they have been mentioned before. Anyway if you want to know how they died then go and read 'Dark Clouds Smoulder into Red' by honest_iago, it's on my favourites page and it was written to go with this series, it's just a one shot at the moment. Please drop her a review as she's only had four reviews in the whole time it's been up! It's really good if rather short so go and read it!

Next chapter, Narcissa makes an emotional visit, gets an interesting offer and has a talk with Draco about Hogwarts. I'll update again in a few days.

Please Review!!