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Review Responses:

Dark Comet - Perhaps people have been hit by autumn work, I'm just getting paranoid I think. I'm working on a new story and I keep convincing myself everyone will be bored by it so I'm a bit sensitive to these issues at the moment. How's the work load, you've just gone into sixth form right? I hope you're enjoying it and not finding it too hard, I loved it, personally I think it's the best years of high school! Funnily enough my own workload isn't too bad yet, I guess they're waiting 'til our guard's down to dump it all on us! Lovely Ronniekins (being adorably clueless I must say!) and no Harry! The way thing's should be, let's face it wouldn't you rather read Ron Weasley and the Order of the Phoenix? I know I would! I'm glad you like my Ron, I love him so I could never make him do anything bad! To me Ron's the perfect Gryffindor, loyal, chivalrous and fiercely protective of those he cares for. I think he's a bit more Hufflepuff with those qualities though but I mean that in a good way as I'm a big Hufflepuff fan, I think they're way underestimated! That and no one good's in Gryffindor, except for Oliver Wood, the Weasleys and Neville of course! Thanks for the review!

ilovesporks - sorry I only just got your review for chapter thirteen after putting firteen up, fanfic does that to me sometimes! Glad you enjoyed chapter 13. Thanks again for betaing! Narcissa isn't a Black in this story as it was written pre-OotP and it wouldn't have made sense to have her be Sirius' cousin and Bellatrix's sister so she is entirely unrelated to them. The different maiden name was simply to emphasise this, the information in canon only holds true in this fic if it comes from the first four books or it specifically mentions it as being true for this fic as well. Thank you for the reviews!

Averill - Glad to hear I haven't lost people's interest! More Draco in this chapter and he's happy for a change, I have stopped causing the poor boy pain! Thanks for the review!

Bonezz - I'm so pleased that eferyone does still seem interested, think I got a fit of paranoia! I loved Morgana's parents, especially her father! I'm sure there are a lot of girls who'd say Draco could owl them anytime! LOL! He could certainly owl me! How could Pansy not reply?! Well you'll find that out in chapter 17! Don't apologise for being in a silly mood, silly moods are fun! Thanks for nreviewing!

I Found a Little Courage to Call it Off

**Narcissa's Thoughts**

~Draco's Thoughts~

_Emphasis_

A/N: I'd like to say a big thank you to ilovesporks for betaing for me so hopefully my updates will be more understandable grammatically speaking from now on!

Chapter 15

A week before Draco was due back at school, his Hogwarts letter arrived with his new book list. He glanced through it disinterestedly before he realised that there was something else in the envelope. Tipping it upside down, a silver and green badge fell out and into his hand. He looked at it in amazement, seeing a black P superimposed over a silver Slytherin serpent on an emerald green background.



It was a prefect's badge. In all the excitement of the summer, Draco had entirely forgotten that they would be choosing the prefects for his year. He pulled out the remaining piece of parchment.

Mr. Malfoy,

It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been chosen as one of the fifth year prefects for Slytherin house. I enclose your badge and ask that you travel down in the prefect's compartment on the train, where the new prefects for each year and the Head Boy and Head Girl will get to know each other.

Please allow me to also convey my sympathies for the loss of your father. I look forward to seeing you return on September first,

Albus Dumbledore

Hogwarts Headmaster

**Oh my God! I'm a prefect!** Draco stood still for a moment, until Narcissa walked into the dining room.

"Sweetheart, are you alright?" She quickly crossed the room to her son's side, then saw the badge clenched in his fingers. "Oh, Draco, well done!"

Draco finally found his voice as his mother hugged him. "Thanks, Mum."

He sounded overawed, and Narcissa drew back to look him in the face. "Are you surprised?"

Draco replied, "Shocked, actually. The teachers never seemed to like me much, apart from Severus, and I doubt they let him have the final say on me due his relationship with you."

"Draco, as far as I know, it's always Dumbledore who has the final say. The teachers all make their nominations and they all discuss them, regardless of houses. Someone besides Severus would have had to have agreed with your appointment, anyway, so some of the teachers must like you. I thought Flitwick liked you anyway - you excel in his class! Besides, who could not like you?"

"Mum!" Draco rolled his eyes in irritation.

Narcissa laughed. "Oh well, I'm your mother. Of course I don't see how anyone could dislike you!"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Even though I spent the last four years at Hogwarts parroting father's ideas?"

"That was not your fault, and no one could hold it against you!" Narcissa said in a tone that left no room for disagreement on the matter. "Besides, you're intelligent, mature and responsible. Who could make a better prefect?"

"Narcissa, he's about as mature and responsible as you are," Severus laughed, entering the room to be glared at by an indignant mother.

"Precisely," she said. "Very mature and extremely responsible. I was a good prefect!"

"As Head Girl, you abused your position by giving me the password to the Gryffindor common room."

"Oh, and I suppose it wasn't you who coincidently wreaked havoc in there a couple of days later?" Narcissa asked sceptically.

"Well, I couldn't say," Severus smirked.

"You don't think I'll make a good prefect?" Draco said, sounding hurt.

"I think you'll be a good prefect. Just don't use your position to get at Potter."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You do!"

Narcissa laughed suddenly. "Oh, that was perfect! You walked into that, Sev!"

"Hang on!" Draco said excitedly. "Do you mean Potter isn't a prefect!?"

Severus smirked and shook his head, clearly delighted at this fact. "No, the Gryffindor prefects are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. Not that the second one surprised anyone."

Draco snorted, "Big surprise."

"Wouldn't you want to know who the other Slytherin prefect is?"

Draco sighed. "No, I'll find out all too soon. I don't really care. I doubt they'll be too ecstatic to be working with me, anyway."

"Well, we'll see," Narcissa said, trying to distract her son from his nervousness in returning to a house that may want little to do with him. "This calls for a celebration! Let's go to Diagon Alley and have some ice cream and I'll get you something as a reward."

Severus gave her a look that said, 'You spoil that child' but offered no resistance to the idea.

"Ok!" Draco readily agreed.

*******

Diagon Alley was crowded with people buying school supplies. Narcissa, Severus, and Draco hadn't been there for more than a few minutes before they ran into Molly with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

"Molly! It's good to see you." Narcissa greeted her friend while Severus glared at Hermione. "Congratulations on being made prefect Ron; You too, Miss Granger."

"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione responded coolly. **Well my husband _did_ want all muggle borns dead. No wonder she's not happy to see me.**

Ron just went red and muttered something to his feet.

Narcissa turned to Molly. "You here for the school supplies?"

Molly nodded. "Yes, the Hogwarts letters just came this morning."

"Well, I needed to speak with you anyway. I know Severus needs to go and place some orders at the apothecaries, so why don't we all split up?" Narcissa suggested. "Draco, stand these three some ice creams and I'll meet you in an hour outside Gringotts." Narcissa handed Draco a money bag. "Give me your list; I'll get your school supplies and something for being made prefect," she smiled.

Severus didn't hesitate to leave, arranging to meet Narcissa and Molly in half an hour to help Narcissa find a present for Draco. The two women then left, after giving warnings to the children to behave.

"I guess we're going for ice cream then." Draco drawled. "So, where'd you ditch Potter?"

"Harry's with his relatives," Hermione answered primly. "And what are _you_ doing here, Malfoy?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, were you hoping to keep Ron all to yourself?" Draco asked, smiling sweetly.

Ron and Ginny were talking to each other about something, and had not noticed the exchange. Hermione glared at Draco, but couldn't hide a tinge of red in her cheeks. Seeing this, the blonde smirked.

Ron turned back to them, oblivious of what they'd been talking about. "Shall we go then? I'm starved!"

"You're always starved!" Hermione scolded.

Draco just laughed.

*******

Narcissa and Molly were just finishing up in Madam Malkins when Molly asked, "What was it you wanted to speak to me about?"

"Oh yes, it's about you taking us in earlier this summer."

"Oh, it was no problem dear!"

"Still," Narcissa paused to find a diplomatic way to phrase what she was about to say. "I realise that putting up two extra people like that is hardly something you can afford, and I'd like to pay you back for the bother."

"I won't hear of it!" Molly said decisively.

"Well, I won't allow you to say no."

"Narcissa, you've just had to pay a five hundred galleon fine!"

"Which really isn't that much to me! Molly, I won't just let this drop. We ate your food, had you running round after us with washing and the like, and I am not used to being refused!"

"Narcissa..."

"Look, if you feel that bad about it, use the money to get something for your kids. They were brilliant about the whole thing, and I am well aware of the bad blood that exists between them and Draco."

"I don't know..."

Sensing Molly weakening, Narcissa went in for the kill. "Molly, I'll feel awful if you refuse! Just come to Gringotts with me and authorise the transaction!"

"Oh, well, I hardly like to... but if you insist," she said unsurely.

"Excellent," Narcissa took the shorter woman's arm, steering her towards the wizarding bank.

*******

At Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, Draco, Hermione, and the two Weasleys were eating ice cream. Meanwhile, Draco and Ron talked about quidditch like they'd never been wishing each other dead the year before, and Hermione and Ginny were chatting about school. Draco hardly noticed he was having fun until he suddenly realised he was sat with a bunch of Gryffindors.

~Oh God, I'm laughing _with_ Gryffindors instead of _at_ them! The world's gone mad! Then again, they're not so bad. Well, Granger's still a know-it-all with no sense of humour, but the Weasel could be worse. The kid's a bit irritating in the way she coos over Mum and Severus and follows Potter round like a lost puppy, but I don't think I get to be too choosy about who I talk to in the future.~

He glanced around him, well aware that though a few Slytherins had passed them, they had not said hello. ~I'd say they hadn't seen me but this hair's unmistakable. Oh well, my company is their loss.~

*******

Severus met up with Molly and Narcissa outside Gringotts, and found Molly protesting against something or other Narcissa had done. As he had been told of her plan to pay the Weasleys for her and Draco's food and board whilst they had stayed with them, he assumed it was about that.

"Narcissa, that's more than enough!"

"Molly, don't argue. Just get Arthur to take you out for an evening. Come on, how often do you get a night off?"

"Well..." Molly looked tempted. "Narcissa," she sighed, giving in at the look on the other woman's face, realising she had probably met her match. "Alright. Thank you."

"You're welcome. _There_ you are Severus! Have you got the potions stuff you wanted?"

"Yes, it's being delivered to the school. Have you got anything in mind for Draco's present?" replied Severus.

Narcissa frowned a little. "Actually, I'm not sure _what_ to get him."

"I need something for Ron as well. I know he'd like a broomstick, but they're so expensive. Then again, I suppose I can afford it now," Molly said, sounding a little guilty.

"Oh, drop it!" Narcissa laughed. "It's only money, and I can never repay your kindness! I do, however, need your advice."

"What is it dear?"

"Well, I was thinking about getting Draco a Firebolt, because I know he really wants one, but I'm sick of his little game of one-up-man-ship with Potter. What do you two think?"

"I think you spoil him," Severus frowned. "He has a perfectly good broom and he rarely loses, apart from Potter, who just wins everything anyway."

Molly looked a little disapproving at Severus' tone in talking about Harry, but let it slip. "Narcissa, you should do what you think is best, but you shouldn't spoil him."

"I know. I've always bought him everything he wants, because I hated the fact he grew up in such a tense environment. I always drew the line at the Firebolt, as I knew he only wanted it to beat Potter. I just don't know what else to get him."

"Well, I want to go to Quality Quidditch Supplies anyway for Ron, so why don't we go there first and _then_ look for something for Draco? I'd like your advice on brooms, actually, because I don't know which one to get him!"

"I'll give you a hand. The Comet series are good, you know. I had a Silver Arrow; it's a pity they don't make those anymore!"

*******

By the time they'd gotten to Gringotts, Draco was sick of listening to Ron and Hermione bicker about everything. Hermione was to meet her parents in the Leaky Cauldron, where they were undoubtedly being grilled by Mr. Weasley for all manner of information about the muggle world. Watching her go, Draco turned to Ron. "Hang in there. She doesn't mean half of what she says."

"What?" Ron gave him a bewildered look, and Draco just shook his head in despair.

~He'll never catch on at this rate!~

Ron was rescued from further teasing by the arrival of Narcissa, Severus, and his mother.

"Ron," Molly handed him a long box, "that's for being made prefect. I'm very proud of you."

Narcissa handed her own son a package. "I hope you like it."

The box was small and covered in green velvet. Draco opened it to reveal a simple silver watch with a green face and silver hands in the shape of serpents. "Push that button on the side, and the dial will light up with a light only the wearer can see. If you press the other button, the hands will point you north. I wouldn't want you losing your way."

Draco slowly, almost reverently, drew the watch from the box and tried it on. "Mum, it's great! Thanks!" He hugged her; unembarrassed as Ron, delighted with his new broomstick, was doing the same to his mother.

Severus had made the mistake of offering to carry their bags, forgetting how much students needed for a year at Hogwarts and how fond of shopping Narcissa was. He was laden down with bags and packages, but he smiled proudly at Draco. He personally felt Narcissa had made the right choice by not getting him a Firebolt. It wasn't that the watch had cost much less than a Firebolt, but he'd like to see his godson beat Potter without needing a new broomstick.

Molly headed off with her two youngest children to meet Arthur and Narcissa; Severus and Draco went for lunch. As he looked at the other two laughing and chatting, Severus couldn't help but smile. He couldn't think of any two people he'd rather be with.

*******

Not telling what's in the next chapter but I think you might like it! LOL! Sorry it is rather short but it's very significant! And now I've got you all wondering what it is I'll leave you to suffer for a few days! I'm too evil sometimes!

Please Review!! If you do I might be inspired to post the next par faster. Of course there's always a chance you'll hate the next part but I don't think you will.