The next two lessons were free periods, and then it would be Quidditch practice later on in the evening. Sirius had suggested they all make a trip into Hogsmede seeing as they had nothing better to do, and so that was the plan. Eventually, when they had arrived in Hogsmede, an icy bitterness closed in on them. James shudded. "I swear, it's them bloody dementors."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Why would dementors be near Hogwarts?" They approached the Three Broomsticks and entered; the barman looking up suspiciously. "No school?" He queried, rubbing a hand over his gold teeth.
"Free periods," replied James with what he imagined to be a charming smile. The barman looked suspicious for a split second, but then relented, serving them up free Butterbeers. Grabbing a table near the warm log fire, the four began to discuss, much to Narcissa's discomfort, Voldemort.
"Personally," James said through a mouthful of Butterbeer, "if he really is the greatest wizard of all time, then why the bloody hell does he need followers?"

"Quite simple," Remus replied simply, "because, should he not succeed, he will want them to take the blame - not him. And, because some are so stupid-"
"Like my cousin, your sister-" Sirius interuppted, looking at Narcissa.
"-they will do what he says," finished Remus, glancing at Sirius and Narcissa with wonder. Narcissa felt her cheeks burn - was it from the warm, blazing fire, or was it because of ...

"I'm so bored," Sirius whined, slamming his head on the table in agitation. Narcissa and James exchanged a smirk. Sirius sat up, rubbing his dark brown hair with wonder. "You know - that actually hurt more than I intended it to ..." The barman glanced over and tutted, no longer mesmerized by cleaning the same glass over and over again, keeping an eye on the four seventh years.

"I wonder," Narcissa said, breaking her silence, "what Voldemort and his death eaters will be getting up to."
"You sound curious, Cissy," teased Sirius, leaning back in his chair. Narcissa thought it was remarkable he didn't fall and break his neck or something. She thwacked him on the arm.
"Well - I am," she admitted, clasping and unclasping her hands. "Considering my sister, cousin and old friends will be serving him, so, I was just worrying, I mean, thinking, you know ..." she trailed off, looking at Sirius with wonder. How could he honestly not care about his brother?
"Listen, Narcissa," Sirius said, as if reading her mind. "Regulus and I never got along. It's like - I care about him, but not in the way I should. It'll be alright." He smiled reassuringly at his cousin. Still not entirely convinced, she nodded and took a slurp of Butterbeer. Remus continued to survey her with some thought, before focusing his attention on the now empty glass of mug infront of him. Narcissa glanced at him, and he was looking back, his smile radiating. After their Butterbeer's, they trudged around the shops, mainly in bordeom, when it happened. They were looking at the shrieking shack, when everything went cold. Narcissa's insides turned to ice, and her hand on the fence would of frozen had Sirius not tugged her away from it. Turning mechnically, she saw a Dementor hovering in front of her. But before it could do anything, all she saw was Remus point his wand at it and yell, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" and a force of silver coloured energy flew out of his wand and pushed the Dementor far away, until it dissapeared entirely. Narcissa trembled. "You can produce a full patronus?"
"Of course he can," James told her proudly, "he is the best in our defence against the dark arts class, after all, so it's to be expected, isn't it? Thanks for that Moony. Them things are horrible."
"You can say that again," Sirius murmured, shivering. The sun began to descend as he spoke, and snowflakes began to drift from the sky. Everything seemed to go back to normal once the dementor's presence had been evicted; a much warmer atmosphere in it's place. Narcissa looked beesechingly at Remus. "You saved our lives ..."
"No big thing," Remus shrugged lightly, with a trace of a smile. "Now - where to next?"

After watching James practice and perfect his already immaculate skills, they all marched in to dinner. Bellatrix, Lucius, Snape, Goyle, Crabbe, Rodolphus and Regulus were unsuprisingly missing. She must of winced slightly, because Lupin placed a reassuring hand on her arm, reminding her it would be okay. She could only hope so. She ate some food, watching with mild interest as Sirius tried to hex a young Slytherin. Narcissa glanced up at the table where all the teachers sat - and saw Dumbledore's chair was once again vacant. "Where's Dumbledore gone?" She queried, looking curiously at Sirius, who shrugged. "Gone to join Voldemort, I suspect - kidding!" he added hastily when he saw his cousins expression. She stood up rather abruptly. "Narcissa, I was joking." Sirius said pleadingly. She looked at her cousin's handsome face, and let her own face relax into a smile. "I know," she replied, to which Sirius relaxed immediatley. "I'm just tired, so I think I'll be off."
"Don't dwell on it, Narcissa," Remus advised, glancing at her. "Night night."
"Sleep tight," said James with a wicked smile,
"Don't let the ghosts bite." Sirius added.

Narcissa looked amused.
"Ghosts don't bite, dear cousin."
"Exactly," Sirius replied, "so - go get some rest." He kissed her forehead affectionatley, then shoved her. "Go on - you're starting to make me scared." Narcissa was slightly suprised - her cousin was never usually affectionate towards her. He must really care about her, deep down. And, at that moment, she became glad she had a so called blood-traitor as her cousin and one of her best friends.

She was waiting. She knew what was coming.
Narcissa sat up in bed, attempting to read a book Remus had let her borrow with some enjoyment, but her attention was brought to a sudden halt when, from the shadows, appeared Bellatrix, a crazed look in her eye. "Voldemort," she began, her voice silky, "Was only too keen to let me become a death eater - he approved straight away, I should say. We are getting marked after we leave school, but we'll be having a practice at what it's like to be a death eater." Her eyes gleamed, and Narcissa pulled the quilt closer to her chin.
"Practice, as in-"
"Using the cruciatus curse," Bellatrix replied simply, "On unsuspecting Muggles. After they've been tortured, we place a simple memory charm on them, and Merlin's beard - they won't know what's hit them. Voldemort was curious as to why two of the Black sisters were not interested in being recruited - so I told him your studies were more important. He seemed to approve," she paused, glancing into the long mirror by her bed, which stirred slightly, "and I told him dear Andromeda was in a similiar position - coming out with O's in almost everything - bar the dark arts, which he was dissapointed about, and-"
"And the others," Narcissa interrupted, shivering, "were they accepted?"
"Well - of course. He was dithering about Lucius, Goyle and Crabbe, but he accepted me right away. Said I was perfect - and rather pretty for a death eater, so he said he'd have to sort that. You'd love him Narcissa, he's so charming ..."
Narcissa felt rather sleepy all of a sudden. Bellatrix took the hint, rather uncannily, and got ready for bed in silence. Darkness fell over the dorm, and the mirror said into the darkness, "The dark lord never was one to recieve subtle hints."
"Shut up," said Narcissa groggily. The mirror replied "Naturally," and with that she fell asleep.