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Narcissa Malfoy née Black (

toujourscissa) wrote,
@ 2009-04-07 04:31:00

[OOC ENTRY] counterpart
it seems like all is dying
and would leave the world to mourn
in the distance hear the laughter
of the last unicorn

NAME: Narcissa Araminta Malfoy née Black
ALSO KNOWN AS: Cissa, Cissy
DATE OF BIRTH: November 20, 1955
AGE AT DEATH/REBORN AGE 100+/23
BLOODLINE: Purest of purebloods – The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, as well as a Malfoy by marriage
FORMER HOUSE: Slytherin (1974)
AFFILIATION: Her family, though she is still a purist.
MARITAL STATUS: Married
SIGNIFICANT OTHER: Lucius Malfoy

Name
NARCISSA: meaning "daffodil," it is also the feminine form of the name Narcissus of Greek mythology and means "self-love"
ARAMINTA: perhaps an elaboration of Aminta, which is derived from Greek αμυντωρ (amyntor) meaning "defender"

Magic
WAND: Her original wand was 12", black palm, veela hair core (not an Ollivander wand). After her wand was given to Draco and later destroyed during the final battle, she was forced to rely on a spare wand previously hidden in the Manor. A foreign wand maker later reproduced the wand with the same wood, length and core type, but Narcissa never was as at-one with it as the other, for even though her core is the same, it is not from the same veela.
BLACK PALM: widely regarded as one of the most powerful wands available. The Palm, known for its incredible durability and healing properties, is especially well suited for use in dream magic.
PATRONUS: Black panther
BOGGART: Unknown now; prior, it was Draco dead or Lucius being attacked by a Dementor
STRENGTHS: Charms, most wand-work magic, Herbology, knowledge of the Dark Arts, wordless (non-verbal) magic
WEAKNESSES: History of Magic and Divination, the first due to only preferring to learn certain parts of history and the second because she finds no magical talent is required for it, only a waste of imagination
CREATURES: Liriope, a female grey Tawny owl and Echo, a cat

Outward
HEIGHT: 1.7 m [5'7"]
WEIGHT: Around 52.16 kg [115 lbs] at her healthiest adult weight, she currently weighs around 47.6 kg [105 lbs]
HAIR COLOUR: Blonde, though more golden-hued than her husband and son's white-blonde
EYE COLOUR: Blue
DISTINGUISHING MARKS: What previously distinguished Narcissa was that she has no scars or willing marks, but the Dark Lord's temper in the last year of the war saw to it that her skin no longer remained so umblemished by scars.
APPEARANCE: Narcissa is slender with nicely developed curves, a well-toned build and a consistently regal bearing, as if a natural-born member of royalty. She is an arresting presence with the renown Black features, which are greatly softened in her case. Though her public expression is often set more neutral, she does not conceal her distaste of someone or something and thus can also be seen in public with a crinkled nose of aversion. She has small, but long-fingered, finely boned hands and pale skin that usually has a pale rose pink tint to it – except in illness or crisis, when such shade is absent and pale skin becomes translucent. She has long, pale blonde hair (golden-hued) and blue eyes which vary from a pale ice to the deepest of blues depending on her mood. Even given the obvious connotation of her name, she only has a slight tendency to be vain, in that she takes pride in her appearance. Clothing and accessories are the finest of everything, always.
HABITS: She plays with her hair and/or holds her bottom lip under her teeth (but NEVER gnaws) when highly worried/distraught

Inward
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Icy, snobbish, conceited, disdainful
PERSONALITY: Outwardly (publicly), Narcissa is an ice queen of the coldest and haughtiest degree, but underneath she is a hellcat. Predisposed to vibrant emotions, she loves as deeply as she hates and her icy disdain can be just as killing as the hottest of her rages, but few ever see this fiery side of her. Facades and metaphorical masks and hidden, contrasting layers are all integral parts of her, forming an image of woman few truly know entirely. Despite deceptive appearances, she is not a woman one would ever want to cross.

Narcissa is sharp-tongued and quick witted, though lady-like manners hold this in reserve – most of the time. In addition to her intelligence, she is a master of manipulation and that is never more clear than when she adapts to those around her, not out of a lost sense of self, but because of an acute awareness of how to play to a person's perceptions and gain an advantage. She could never be accused of lacking a sense of self. However, just as she can appear slightly less than she is, she can also be much more than one would expect. Well-read and well-traveled, aware of the world and in possession of well-thought opinions and highly passionate feelings on many subjects and about many individuals, Narcissa is an intelligent, engaging companion when she is with those closest to her. She plays the role of hostess to perfection at all of her own gatherings and is a charming guest at the gatherings of others.

She has every appearance of a reserved extrovert; coolly polite to most, pleasant to those of whom she approves and quite loving to a few, but it would be more accurate to say she straddles the line between extroversion and introversion, as she does in many other ways as well. She has never had an issue with demonstrating her emotions or showing temper where appropriate – and occasionally where not – and masterfully keeps a social exchange moving with the proper amount of interest and intelligence, or deceptive lack thereof, but she is also a very private person – her circle of intimates is small and the years have made it smaller. Narcissa simply knows how to be what is called for in a situation, to walk away from exchanges with the things she meant to achieve, large or small, and is never flustered by groups or extreme personalities. Whether she enjoys this is often dependent on the situation, as it can be a challenge she does embrace when she is outwitting someone, but it often also can be quite mindnumbing and annoying for her when focused solely on social circle sycophants.

Narcissa's political views are more born and bred belief than political, something even the second war's end did not truly dampen. She has little patience for those she dislikes, in general, and carries the Black and Malfoy derision for Muggles and "Mudbloods" because of what it signifies to her. Muggles, provided they keep to themselves, are something Narcissa would simply rather not think about, but those of mixed blood have always posed a threat to the continuation of pure lines, wizarding traditions and magic, something she has always felt needed to stop because much would be lost of their unique ways of life otherwise. The wars, however, also jeopardized those things and so her opinion of the Dark Lord was that he was a threat to the same. She has never been a proponent of aggressive politics, preferring the subtlety and refinement of quiet changes in government, having always believed steady, controlled change for more effective and lasting than epic wars and war-state governments.

Fiercely family-oriented, any person she regards as family or friend will be defended by her at all costs. That loyalty motivates all her actions and has in the past accounted for some of her actions that went against the Cause, such as Dobby's appearance to Harry and her later life-saving lie concerning Harry. While some might perceive those actions to be well-intentioned, the motivation behind them was always the protection of her family and when her family was threatened, even the Cause and the Dark Lord himself was expendable. However, despite this kind of calculation, there is a definite softer side to Narcissa as well as other admirable or simply just surprising attributes. She has a fine sense of humor for the most part (usually when not under great stress) and a grand sense of mischief (more predominant in her younger days). Those she loves will be loved always, even if she disagrees with them or is estranged from them. Though belief and family and society influenced and even dictated much in her life, Narcissa's heart and feelings have always and will always remain her own.

The description of "hellcat" suits more than her temper, for she has a natural affinity for cats and a feline manner – will hiss if enraged, has a tendency to "purr" when content, is publicly disdainful over lavish attention (but secretly adores it, welcomes it in private and really, expects it all the time) and many other cat-like mannerisms. Though not a hedonist, she is no stranger to luxuriating in the pleasures afforded to her by wealth, lifestyle and a healthy marriage.
STRENGTHS: She is definitely loyal, but to people, not a cause. Those who are family and those she considers 'family' she is loyal to without question. For a cause, she would appear loyal if it suited her goals or protected those she cared about. She is definitely a strong person; even though she has her weak moments, her forte is being strong for others when they are weak, to be a counter to those around her when necessary. Her acting ability is a great strength, because with it she can learn more than someone would imagine when she is dismissed as less than she is and therefore safe to speak around.
WEAKNESSES: She is a jealous (even possessive in ways) person when it comes to both relationships and interactions, because she does not like to share. She has a hot temper that she cannot always conceal despite her best efforts and she is extremely stubborn. She also has been known to have a weakness for younger/more innocent individuals who might seem like he/or she needs 'fixing' but has qualities that catch her attention, such as intelligence or magical talent. A mothering nature to the core, it is both weakness and strength, hinging on who receives those affections or who knows the way to manipulate those emotions.
LIKES: Purebloods, though more accurately, those with Black/Malfoy blood. Reading and the smell of well-preserved old tomes. Gardening. Journaling. Jewel-toned clothing. Orchids. Honeydukes fudge. Berries of all kinds. Thunderstorms and the smell in the air before the storm.
DISLIKES: Halfbloods (though her dislike is more for those who create those of mixed blood than those who are of it, as she feels some cannot help they are of lesser blood, as long as the do not continue the dilution; Muggles she rarely thinks about). Playing nice with sycophants (it is an art form for her, she just does not like to do it). Orange in clothing and décor (she does, however, like oranges in nature such as autumn leaves and sunsets). Pumpkin juice. Lamb (as a food). The smell of burnt things.
MENTAL HEALTH: Despite the great strain to her in the later years of the second war, Narcissa remained remarkably self-possessed and sane, though prone more to fruitless worries than before and less able to rely on others over herself. In the years after, she regained some sense of that trust, but near the end of her life the loss of family and hope put her into a depression. Now, in this new life, even though she has the memories of the first, after a period of adjustment she may regain a mental state closer to that of her better years.
PHOBIAS/FEARS: The injury or death of a loved one; the loss of all she holds dear; Azkaban
SEXUAL PREFERENCE: Heterosexual. She has never questioned it, would be hard-pressed to find a female she would have any interest in even if she were bisexual and quite frankly cannot imagine ever finding a more desirable lover than Lucius. Preferring females alone would simply never do, for men are far more appealing physically and socially (and more easily manipulated if necessary) to her and even were she of differing feeling, there would be no progression of proper pureblood lines in a union with a woman, rendering it markedly pointless in her mind. While the idea of a man begetting an heir in a emotionless, otherwise sexless union while catering to his sexual tastes with men outside the marriage bed is one that, by necessity in the past for certain purebloods has been a reality, she also finds that entire concept distasteful.
TURN ONS: Pure blood. Impeccable attire. Arrogance. Long hair. Playfulness.
TURN OFFS: Mixed blood. Unkempt appearance. Baldness. Stupidity.

Connections
CHILDHOOD HOME: Kent, England
HISTORY:Narcissa was born the last of three sisters of the Black family and was given everything as a Black. While Narcissa did receive the typical 'baby of the family' attention from her parents in addition to this, she learned how to manipulate this to her advantage. Rather than let the 'spoiled baby sister' be who she really was, as she aged she learned how to craft this image to suit her goals while developing into someone much different inside. At parties she presented herself as a perfectly turned out member of the Black family, entertaining and charming as a child and polite and social as a teen, but in her private times she chose the seclusion of the library, gardens, grounds and secret places within the manor where she could pursue the things that truly interested her.

While those who do not know Narcissa well would described her then and now as a cold creature, that too was (and continues to be) an act, for she grew up adoring both her sisters, even if the affection was not returned in the same degree and loving her family and everything about being a Black. The concept of public and private behaviors were set for her by the examples of both Cygnus and Druella, her father demanding excellence but never lacking in deserved praise and even affection in needed times and her mother the epitome of all that a pureblood lady should be, a poise and composure that Narcissa never was able to achieve to the same degree because of her Black temper.

For the attention Narcissa did receive, there were times she was left very much to her own devices and so learned early what she truly liked to do with no one around to expect things of her or boss her around. She has always had a very loving nature towards those she cares about and absolutely doted on her cousins Evan and Regulus with a maternal-like instinct that might have surprised others. When she was younger, she interacted quite well with her cousin Sirius too but Evan and Regulus were her darlings. As a child, her natural mischief was far less controlled, though she became quite good at getting the blame placed elsewhere after being the scapegoat more than once. After all, while the baby of the family could get away with more if blamed, but it did not mean Narcissa liked getting the blame.

She is a Slytherin, through and through, and enjoyed her times at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As a student there, she did very well academically and her true passion was Charms. She was made prefect in her fifth year and was also quite popular with a wide circle of social connections and friends. It was there she chose the library, common room or her dorm with a select group of close friends to be someone of more substance with them than she was with the school at large. She demonstrated a proper amount of house pride, often heard lecturing younger students on just what Slytherins did and did not do in public, urging actions that would give the house, and therefore her, the best possible image. It was yet another piece toward the crafting of the right 'personas' to suit the situation. Many faces, all meant to play to preconceived notions and manipulate situations as she saw fit.

It was during her youth she first learned of Tom Riddle, or the man who had once been Tom Riddle but now styled himself as Lord Voldemort, for his Cause was whispered about in sitting rooms and private studies of purebloods across the country. Growing into adulthood, the idea of one wizard to lead all purebloods toward a new era was not a strange one, for empires had been built by such men, but in leaving Hogwarts and becoming more aware of her family and friends comings and goings, of the whispers of this Dark Lord's words versus his actions, of the deaths that became more and more suspicious, the idea that it was still not the right wizard to lead such a Cause began to form.

The lessons of the Black family fell different on the youngest Black daughter than they may have on others, for she took from them a loyalty to family first (and not pure blood in general), which is why the rifts between family members still weigh heavily on her. To her, every burn on the family tree weakened the great house of Black, no matter the crimes of those cast off. This does not mean blood-held beliefs were cast aside, as Narcissa fully embraced the idea that the pureblooded were the elite of the wizarding world and none more than those who had the blood of Black in their veins. For her, those with Black blood would always be of utmost importance.

As expected, however, she allowed the rifts and disownments to occur with no outward objection in front of her parents, though she and Bellatrix argued heatedly over Andromeda's departure. With that argument, Narcissa learned not to speak to even family unless she trusted them implicitly with her feelings on the rifts or her feelings toward those gone. At that time, it served Narcissa best to cut out those family members, rather than voice her objections and risk being the next person burnt off the tapestry. Her life and what she had made of it thus far was something she was not willing to give up and so she once more did as expected.

After graduation in June of 1974, Narcissa considered moving out on her own as her sisters had before her, but she chose to stay, not out of a desire to stay close to her parents (although she always had been and forever would be Cynus' 'baby girl') but out of a well-concealed sentimental feeling about her home. There were places there she had claimed as her own as a child that not even her sisters knew of, secret places that earned Narcissa's attachment. What was shown, however, was disdainful surprise if asked about it, as why would she go elsewhere when she had an entire wing of a manor to herself with her sisters gone, servants at the ready and all things Black, including their library, at her disposal? Few would ever be allowed to know about the softness that lurked beneath her carefully crafted cold exterior.

While arranged marriages were not unheard of, Narcissa's marriage was not one of them. A preferred match, yes, but even Andromeda's disgrace had not stopped the line of eligible wizards eager to win Narcissa's hand, heart and bloodline. Quite used to getting what she wanted with the proper act and effort, she did not announce any chosen match for some time despite her mother's pushing. Few would have been truly good enough to be her husband and fit her family's preferences for which pureblood houses were allied with their own – even if there would be no Black name continued from Cygnus' line, the blood that mixed with theirs needed to be worthy enough. Though most did not and would not ever know it, one of the things Narcissa held out for in those few years was love, however foolish a thing might be to most and unexpected it might seem to those who did not know Narcissa at all. As she would always a Black, she refused to settle and marrying just for a good family match is something she absolutely has always seen as settling.

Her eventual choice was Lucius Malfoy, though the word choice might be quite inaccurate, for the two were drawn together quite often at first by a force they did not want to recognize. During their shared time together at Hogwarts, a youthful adversarial relationship developed quickly between them, one that had stemmed, despite their inability or unwillingness to recognize it, from a recognition of a sameness between them. Appearances were deceiving and for two who knew about the art of deceptive appearance, they were still often fooled by the outward presentation of each other. In each other, they professed to dislike qualities they had themselves, this outward contempt fed in later schooling years by their private passionate natures that became clearer to each other as attraction flared again and again. Tempers clashed just as often, however, and it was some time before Narcissa began to see the man beneath the presented face, to understand the insufferable and arrogant teenager had turned into a confident man who clearly wanted her as much as she wanted him, who was not as comfortable with private expressions as she was, relying on gifts to say what words could not. It was love, however, that she wanted more and in discovering who Lucius was, it was love that she at last knew. She accepted his proposal, however, with no declaration of feeling from him because by that point, she knew there could be no other for her even if he was incapable of loving her as she loved him, though she had faith someday he would learn.

During their engagement, Lucius' involvement in the Dark Lord's cause was revealed. Already worrying for multiple family members, most of all her sister Bellatrix due to her strange fanaticism, it was a revelation that caused Narcissa much introspection, but it did not halt any plans, only made her more certain that she would be in all things Lucius' equal for he would need not only her support, but her aid in these war times. There would never be a time where she could be fully neutral and if she did not pick a side, it would no doubt be picked for her. Giving her loyalty to a husband and family on a chosen side was far preferable to giving her loyalty to a wizard such as her sister had. She and Lucius married in 1977, in a ceremony that was as lavish as any royal joining, as befitted a Black daughter.

Their first year of marriage was not idyllic, due to the secret meetings of the Death Eaters, the late nights when Lucius barely returned before sunrise or came home injured and needed to be healed, and of course the typical fiery arguments followed by equally fiery ends to the conflict, but Narcissa fell easily into her role as mistress of the Manor. Moving into their second year of marriage, the eventuality of children was discussed, but it was a topic Narcissa met with some reservations. The war climate was not a stable one, in her mind, and even if the Cause won, there were still dangers, among them the Dark Lord himself who seemed not to care what blood his followers bore when he sought objects for punishment for perceived failures of the Cause. And, to her surprise, she felt the seeds of disgust over the murder of children and women who were not of pure blood, simply for the Death Eaters to have things to kill, though she would never mistake that for any desire to change sides. She had never wanted the deaths of others, just for individuals to stop diluting the magical world. Senseless murder was senseless murder, disgusting and pointless, but the young, idealist passion of those who followed the Dark Lord still seemed to assure purebloods the new world they sought, even if Narcissa held distaste and reservations in the means to that end. She was disenchanted further with this dark wizard as time passed and more of good families fell in the war, some pureblood names dying with those deaths, but such things she would not discuss with others and worked hard to bury such thoughts and feelings deep.

Then Narcissa learned she was pregnant. Despite her worries and fears, she was delighted to be with child and so she began to plan and prepare for the child. The baby would be the Malfoy heir, the first of several children, and even if she would be careful to ensure no more were brought in to an uncertain, war-swept world, this child would be welcomed and treasured. The Black and Malfoy families were delighted with the state of events, but that delight was short lived with the deaths of Cygnus, Orion and Regulus all in the same year. It was a blow that would prove to be too much for Narcissa.

Devastated by losing her father, whom she had loved dearly and always known the sentiment had been returned despite having no male heir, and the loss of Regulus, who she had come to worry for more and more because of the war efforts and grieved for more as a brother than cousin, Orion's death was harder felt as well, for although having been fond on her uncle, there was not the same force of feeling as had existed for her father and Regulus. Those beyond her most intimate circle would never know the extent of her grief in truth, but not long after these events, the baby Narcissa carried was lost. Though the Healers assured her that it had been no fault of hers, she felt certain that the stress of those losses brought on by a war meant to forward the pureblood movement, not pick off their kind one by one, had been to blame and it was at this point her faith in the Cause was gone entirely. It had cost her her child, her family and the continuation of the Black name.

The loss of their child, however, brought down several emotional walls between Narcissa and Lucius, teaching Lucius about the softer emotions he often struggled with and teaching Narcissa more about Lucius himself. In their shared, often wordless grief, they grew closer. It was, no doubt, this new closeness that brought the second pregnancy less than a year after the loss of the first, news brought on Hallowe'en night when Lucius sent for a Healer, no longer willing to listen to Narcissa's claims that she was simply under the weather when she nearly fainted at their masquerade ball.

With this pregnancy, Narcissa was far more cautious and reserved about planning, but also far more temperamental, which often derailed attempts to be sedate and relaxed. That state of increased temper was exacerbated by Lucius' unskilled fussing, an almost dictatorial attitude at times that Narcissa had to often remind herself covered his private worries. These reminders did not always win out and so the two were even more volatile with each other that they had always been in private, from matters of Narcissa's rest or lack therefore to Lucius increased responsibility in the Cause. But the pregnancy progressed healthily and without trouble until the end, when their unborn son decided to make his entrance into life earlier than predicted and with more difficulty than the Healers had expected.

They welcomed into the world their son, Draco Lucius Malfoy, on June 5, 1980, despite the rigors of Narcissa's early labor, a labor that would be Narcissa's last, though she did not know it then. The birth of this child drew her mostly unused maternal nature boldly to the forefront. Where before there was only opinions of the war and the Dark Lord based on her own life, now there was a son whom she loved above all others to protect and defend. Though their son was a delight to them, his birth was also a source of tension between Narcissa and Lucius, as she was determined to see Lucius do what was best for their son, not what was best for his Lord or the Cause. Now there was a child, an heir, to see survive rather than be hurt by losing a father in the war.

But with gains come losses and a few short months later, Evan was killed in the war too. Every fear she had for him as her family died one by one was proven and it left her, quite uncharacteristically, a visible mess, something that might have continued had it not been for Lucius and Draco. While she loved Evan in both a sisterly and motherly way, she had not lost her entire family. In Lucius, she had support during her grief, and in Draco a son, an infant who needed her care and attention, a reason for her to be strong despite her pain. Much of what she felt for Evan's loss was internalized, the scar of it never fully healed because of that, but she carried on with determination to not fail again at keeping those dear to her safe.

Then Voldemort fell in 1981 and despite losing her sister to Azkaban and then her mother dying, both great personal pains, the fears Narcissa had lived with concerning her son and husband were gone once Lucius successfully pled the Imperius Curse as the reason for his involvement, something Narcissa had heatedly encouraged even if to others in the Cause it would seem a betrayal. When the war ended she was allowed to regain much of the normalcy to her life and with that a cooling of war-inflamed arguments. Life became, if not what they had been promised, then at least what they deserved. For many years she was simply outwardly a socialite, wife and mother, the flawless Lady of Malfoy Manor, but silently a power broker at Lucius' side. She saw to the smooth operation of their home with a commanding touch and was a demanding taskmistress but not mean to her servants. Draco received the finest of beginning education, preparing him for excellence in school when he was of age. It was an time of their lives that was idyllic, a time they would never know again once it all changed.

She found herself pregnant once more in those quieter years, but it was a short pregnancy, never known to anyone but she and Lucius. It was after that loss, one that might not have seemed significant because of its early nature but was infinitely painful in what old pain and feelings it roused, that was the eventual reason Draco was an only child, for by the time Narcissa was ready to try again, it would be too late. Though their son wanted for nothing and was already quite spoiled, that state of affairs increased when it became clear Draco might be their only child for some time, though there was no child more perfect to them and he was certainly enough – and they told him so often, sowing in him the same royal entitlement that all children of Black blood had been no stranger to in their lives.

The greatest conflict of that era was the choice of schools Draco had, and thought the argument was epic, it was one that Narcissa won. Draco would go to Hogwarts, where he would be close enough to her and Lucius could easily serve on the board and look in on him. It was a perfect arrangement.

And then the talk started, of the dead who had not been killed, something eventually proved by the possession of a Hogwarts professor. Having been parted from Draco after having him always around, Narcissa had begin to feel the urge for another child and she and Lucius had decided to pursue trying for another, but the meaning of these events were clear. The Dark Lord was trying to return, to ruin all they had built since his apparently failed defeat, and Narcissa refused to bring another child into such instability. With the rise of the Dark Lord once more came the rebirth of old arguments and objections by Narcissa to all of it, based on how it would influence Draco's life because he was no longer a baby to be more easily shielded.

Having always known the Dark Lord possessed more power than even Dumbledore, for he had no scruples in using the darkest of magics, Lucius knew his return might well come about, but the diary he had been entrusted with could perhaps turn that rise of power in their favor. This was a plan Narcissa was vehemently against and when there was no resolution to their argument, she knew she would have to act. For a short time, a plan eluded her, until she paid closer attention to one of their house-elves, Dobby, who had always been something of a problem due to his odd behaviour. Recognizing in the house-elf the ability for independent thought, Narcissa knew she could use this and made certain Dobby heard information that he would be motivated by, even though his bond of secrecy to them was clear, then gave him orders that were both damning yet binding. If Harry Potter, so obviously living a charmed life, dispatched with the diary or even simply revealed its existence to Dumbledore, as Narcissa well knew of his connection to the Weasley family through Draco's letter home and his complaints on holidays and thus felt assured of his exposure, there would be no need to fear the Dark Lord's full resurrection. It was a plan that succeeded yet ultimately failed in intent, and though the loss of the house-elf and the destruction of the diary put Lucius in a black mood, Narcissa was not displeased. It was only later that they would suffer for that whole plan.

While the second war brought many stresses, it also brought more tragedy for Narcissa in the death of her mother, sick for some time and never really the same after losing her husband and two of her daughters. Though Narcissa had somehow always suspected her mother only held on so long in her illness in hopes that the rumblings of new war would be Bellatrix's freedom from Azkaban, it was painful nonetheless to lose her mother not long after Bellatrix and the others escaped from the wizarding prison. Every year brought more evidence and then, at last, the resurrection she had long feared. There was no option but to follow and so they did, at times paying lip service to the delusion this would still be the way to what they had wanted in their foolish years of shared ideals.

As hostilities increased, so too did her fears of what would become of Draco if Lucius were to falter and bring down the Dark Lord's or the Ministry's wrath upon their family. Though the diary punishment had been negligible, there were far greater risks now to being exposed for the activities of the reformed Cause. There was also the need to gain favour again and the chance for that came with Kreacher's arrival to her. What she learned from him was enough that Lucius took it to the Dark Lord and a plan was formed that she was asked to execute in giving orders to the creature still loyal to her, one Narcissa never intended to result in Sirius' death. Yet it did and that weighed heavily, even though she had not been the one to kill him.

When her fears were confirmed and she lost Lucius to Azkaban, then Draco into service for the Dark Lord after Lucius' failure, she took it upon herself to spend that time rebuilding the Malfoy name in whatever way possible because that was something she could do. As the Unbreakable Vow in place only saw to Draco's safety, not his future, she was no longer content to sit by and rely on others to secure that for them. It was an effort that would prove futile until after the war's end and then only a minor aide.

The last year of the war, though she did not know it at the time, was one of the most difficult and most eye opening times of Narcissa's life. In every way, the Malfoy family was shown how far in favour they had fallen, at the beck and call of a madman with a lust now for punishment for Lucius' failures. Her home was ruined with hex marks and the spilled blood of those brought to be tortured for information, the nights and days were filled with the cries of both prisoners and her loved ones, herself included when the Dark Lord's temper was fiercest following the capture then escape of Harry Potter, and the house full of the most undesirable individuals simply because they were under the command of the Dark Lord. This was a time those of her parent's era would never have imagined would come for those of pure blood.

Saving Harry's life was never about saving the Boy-Who-Could-Save-The-World, at least not in such a benevolent way as some attributed in establishing her motivations. Draco was at risk, her family had been at risk and saving them meant lying to give her and Lucius a chance to reach Draco. Lying also giving Potter a chance to still stop the Dark Lord was part of it, but that was not something she was solely depending on because she would never place her faith in a child, no matter how famous. In that night, she could only depend upon herself.

It was this action, however, that was of greatest benefit to the Malfoys after the end of the war, though Narcissa honestly had not seen that far ahead, for Harry Potter's testimony to her actions was what tipped the scale in their favor, securing freedom for all three of them because of their 'change of heart'. Narcissa's efforts to secure some individuals in her pay during the war had been mostly for naught, but one negligible benefit was the returned control of family properties and wealth under her management that the Ministry had not seized. It was with that that the Malfoy family sought to reclaim their lives, efforts that have not been easy in this post-war world far different than the world they lived in follow the first war.

Eventually, the world settled and with it came a return to some things and adapting to the changes of others. Lucius and Narcissa's social circle was smaller, but after all that had happened during their lives, this was not entirely regrettable. The traveled as they had not been able to do for many years, they happily welcomed an increase to their family with Draco's marriage and they celebrated the birth of Scorpius. Life at that point was good – not as they had once planned so very long ago, but far better than they thought would ever come to pass in their darkest past moments. They began to hope for the realization of their quietly shared dreams, old age that few before them had enjoyed and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to continue their bloodlines.

[TBD]

With the deaths of her beloved husband, Narcissa devoted her time entirely to her journals. While most of her journals had been very private and would be secured away for only the most clever of her descendants to, perhaps, one day discover in the house, these journals were meant to be passed on to future Malfoys, telling of the Black and Malfoy families, the traditions and beliefs of their lines, the wars and their outcomes in personal ways shared only between families and all the other facts a grandmother and great-grandmother would have imparted to new generations so they never forgot who they were and the families they came from. When that was complete, she died quietly in her sleep, that preservation her legacy to the Malfoy heirs of the future.

FAMILY:
Grandparents: Pollux Black - paternal grandfather, pureblood, Slytherin alumnus; Irma Crabbe Black - paternal grandmother, pureblood;
Parents: Cygnus Black - father, pureblood, Slytherin alumni, Knight of Walpurgis/Death Eater until his death; Druella Black née Rosier - mother, pureblood, Slytherin alumni
Siblings: Bellatrix Lestrange née Black - elder sister [b.1951], Slytherin alumna, Death Eater
As one of her older sisters, Bellatrix was more a role model in Narcissa's younger years than anything else. When she began to realize her sister was not exactly someone she wished to emulate in the least, there was still sisterly adoration. After Andromeda left, she and Bellatrix were able to get much closer. As her sister still regarded her as 'Cissy' (and therefore still the baby) even to the day she died, she might not have always taken her seriously, but Narcissa never let that bother her. She once felt certain Bellatrix would show rare loyalty and protectiveness when it counted, but the end of the war crushed that certainty.
Andromeda Tonks née Black - elder sister [b.1954], Slytherin alumna;
As the other older sister, in Andromeda there was another role model, one in contrast to Bellatrix and, if Narcissa were completely honest with herself, the one she wished to emulate more, even after Andromeda's disownment. However, in Andromeda there was also a confidante and genuine friendship. She adored her sister growing up and despite having to publicly disassociate herself from her sister following Andromeda's “fall from grace”, Narcissa was broken-hearted at her sister's departure. She still missed her, only she allowed no one save Lucius to learn of such a thing. After the end of the second war, she tested the waters once more and found Andromeda receptive. Though she never quite regained the relationship of their youth in the first life, they did work at it, and when Narcissa was found by Andromeda in this new life and era, she was determined past mistakes would not repeat. The two are now as close as ever and despite the years lived in their first life, Narcissa still often seeks Andromeda's counsel as the elder sister, as well as her closest friend.
Spouse: Lucius Malfoy - husband [m.1977] Slytherin alumnus, former Death Eater
In all the world, there is only one who Narcissa every fully gave her whole heart and real self to, a distinction that was hard won but everlasting. Her loyalty will always be to Lucius and Draco foremost, but the force of her passions, the hottest of her tempers and the softest of her feelings will belong forever to Lucius. When he died, her heart went with him and so too her will to live on longer than required to complete her last mission in life. In this new life, they have a chance to be all the wished to be, to have all they desired before, and perhaps far more.
Children: Draco Malfoy - son [b.1980], Slytherin alumnus
From the moment she first felt him kick, even before she held him in her arms, she loved Draco with the unselfish love a mother has for a child, only far brighter and fiercer for it being a feeling of Narcissa's heart, not her crafted image. Spoiled and indulged in the past, it all stemmed from her wish to give Draco every happiness in life, to give a kingdom to her little prince. There was absolutely nothing she would not do for him, no matter the cost to herself. He was admittedly her weak point, though she could never be described as a weak woman, as his safety, well-being and happiness always have come before her own.
Astoria Malfoy née Greengrass - daughter-in-law
Proud of her son's choice in a wife, Narcissa welcomed Astoria into the family with a warmth that grew over the years. Never having her own daughter, Narcissa strove to cultivate that sort of relationship with her only daughter-in-law.
Grandchildren: Scorpius Malfoy - grandson [b.2006], Slytherin alumnus
The heir to the Malfoy name, Narcissa treated Scorpius as such, a doting grandmother as she had been a mother, and as loyal as well, but perhaps just slightly more reserved with her affections than she was with Draco. To her mind, that was a bond between mother and child, but Scorpius still benefited from her private mien rather than see only her public one.
Extended family: Rodolphus Lestrange - brother-in-law, Slytherin alumnus; Ted Tonks - brother-in-law; Nymphadora Lupin née Tonks - niece; Teddy Lupin - great-nephew;
Sirius Black - cousin, Gryffindor alumnus;
While Narcissa did not dislike Sirius when they were growing up – on the contrary, she did love him as she loved her sisters and Regulus and Evan, even if she was not as doting – she developed strong feelings of annoyance, disappointment and the like where he was concerned once they were in school together and she saw the things he did. Part of her always felt there was something 'redeemable' about him – redeemable as defined by the Blacks, of course, not the traditional definition – but if he tested her patience or temper she was less likely to give credence to the feelings. Though her role in his apparent death was peripheral, it was a very private source of guilt the rest of her life.
Regulus Black - cousin, Slytherin alumnus, Death Eater until shortly before his death (d.1979);
Regulus was someone who Narcissa became attached to quite easily and immediately, the first to receive the scope of Narcissa's dormant maternal instincts. She was highly protective of him and would have done anything for her "Reggie". His loss affected her far more deeply than most would have known.
Evan Rosier - cousin, Slytherin alumnus, Death Eater until his death (d.1980);
Narcissa was able to temper some of her instincts to fuss where Evan was concerned, as each of her loved ones are distinct personalities, meaning those behaviours suited interactions with Evan best. She worried for him no less despite this, she simply voiced it less often, something she regretted later in life. His loss was something that continued, throughout her life, to be difficult for her to think about.
the Black family
FRIENDS: Severus Snape, Rabastan Lestrange, Slytherin contemporaries TBD
Rabastan Lestrange - brother-in-law by marriage, Slytherin alumnus;
BLURB TBD
Severus Snape - personal and family friend, Slytherin alumnus;
BLURB TBD
ENEMIES: She is a Black and a Malfoy, both pureblooded lines with strong ideals, the complete list would be far too long. For most of those who would be listed, Narcissa does not consider them mortal enemies or barely enemies at all.
PAST RELATIONSHIPS: TBA
HOME: Malfoy Manor, the manor home in Wiltshire, was Narcissa's home for all her married life. An ancestral home of the Malfoys and so noted by its portraiture, it was also host to portraits of the Black family Narcissa possessed or gained possession of when they went out of family hands, a wide range of valuable antiques and reclaimed Black family treasures and a décor that was not to be matched in the wizarding world, painstakingly restored by Narcissa after the inhabitation of the Manor by the Dark Lord and other Death Eaters at the end of the second war.
FINANCES: With the combined total of her Black inheritance and the Malfoy wealth, as well as that of Bellatrix's that the Ministry had not wrapped in bureaucratic lockdown., she was very well off with a variety of investments and properties, though the stigma of association in the war narrowed the once wide field of aboveboard business opportunities and less legitimate ventures for many, many years. At the time of her death, the fortune that pass on to the next Malfoy heir was enormous.
OCCUPATION: Socialite, though for many years following the second war, a far more reclusive one. As time went on, she regained her societal standing, or as much as could be regained with so many purebloods and pureblood lines lost.
PREFECTURE/HEADSHIP: Prefect, but not Head Girl. Despite Narcissa's ingrained prejudices, she has always had a very strong view of conduct and appropriateness that shapes her life and helped her easily enforce rules. She has a determined, extroverted nature that lends itself to making and even controlling social acquaintances, so she is something of a leader when in her element.
QUIDDITCH: Narcissa has a mild distaste for broom flying as she believes it inelegant, though she is content to be a spectator at matches.
O.W.L.s:
N.E.W.T.s:

Astrological
SIGN: Slytherin Scorpio
Scorpio is the eighth house of the Zodiac and governs the genitalia. Positive traits include magnetic charisma, ambition, drive, a penetrating mind, curiosity, intensity of focus, emotional depth, consistency, persistence, willpower, and the potential for inner transformation and regeneration; negative traits include selfishness, obsessiveness, vindictiveness, hypersensitivity, ruthlessness, cynicism, an inability to understand the word "moderation," and jealousy. It is said that Scorpios embody both the best and the worst of all that are born under the stars, and that there are three kinds of Scorpios: wicked scorpions, cunning serpents, and saintly eagles. What each Scorpio becomes is entirely up to that Scorpio.

What is said of Slytherins born under all other signs is doubly true of Slytherins born under Scorpio. (Or was it that what is said of Scorpios is doubly true of Scorpios sorted into Slytherin?) There is no middle ground here - these wizards can embody all that is the very best in the world... or all that is the very worst. They are heroes, or they are villains. They are attracted to the dark, twisted, and forbidden mysteries of the world from the day they are born, and only they can determine whether they will study the dark arts in order to oppose them, or to embrace them. However, as Scorpio is a sign of transformation and regeneration, it is not impossible for even the most evil of dark wizards to turn to the path of good... Scorpio Slytherins have uncanny wisdom, insight into human psychology, and high "emotional IQ's." They are incredibly ambitious, often exist in a state of total ego, and if misused or hurt, can nurse the wound and seethe for decades. Still, although they are often tempted to do horrible things in the name of glory or discovery, they nevertheless are often the kindest, most compassionate, and most forgiving people of all, for they have seen their own inner darkness, faced it, and do not run from it when they encounter it in others.

SUN/MOON: Scorpio Sun - Cancer Moon
The combination of your Sun sign and your Moon sign produces feelings that are deep and emotionally supercharged. The combination blends the emotional aggressiveness or intensity of feeling and determination of Scorpio, with the emotional sensitivity, tenacity of feeling and possessiveness of Cancer. You are proud and aloof, tending to rely on yourself more than you rely on others, but it is hard for you to say no and stick with no when you are approached with an emotional appeal. Not necessarily an outgoing personality, you don't go out of your way for others, expecting friends to come to you instead. By nature you are somewhat demanding, even harsh, but with an intuitive understanding of the world and of people. You can be reached by those emotional appeals far more easily than by logic or good sense. You are a magnetic individual, with a tremendous amount of self-confidence. Your emotions are very powerful, your intuitions keen, and you have a great respect for your hunches. You are suspicious, shrewd, defensive, and in affairs of heart, very sensitive and jealous. The danger of this combination is that you are too receptive, too impressionable, or too easily influenced through your feeling and sensations. There is never anything wishy-washy about your attitudes and opinions and you cling tenaciously to your ideals, loves, hates, and dreams. You are strongly opinionated and capable of defending your position by argument, although logic may not be one of your weapons in this war. Your arguments twist and turn, frustrating an opponent who would attack your position with pure reason.

Soundtrack
[‡] The Last Unicorn -- Groove Coverage
[‡] I Dreamed a Dream -- Les Miserables Soundtrack
[‡] Lucky -- Britney Spears
[‡] Bitch, Bitch, Bitch -- Jekyll & Hyde Soundtrack
[‡] Boulevard of Broken Dreams -- Green Day
[‡] Miss Independent-- Kelly Clarkson
[‡] Wake Me Up When September Ends -- Green Day
[‡] A World To Believe In -- Celine Dion
[‡] My Precious One -- Celine Dion

OOC
CHARACTER PB: Diane Kruger [un, deux, trois]
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Narcissa Malfoy, she belongs to JRK and the Potterverse. This portrayal of her was created by me so please, hands off. I do not own Diane Kruger, she owns herself.
PLAYER: Jessi

jessi_muses
EMAIL: jaza_0603[at]yahoo[dot]com
AIM: my kingdom as
GAME: Laterally

laterally
CREDIT: Userinfo/profile graphic(s)/layout/coding/etc.,

princessjessia; user and community tiny icons by _excentric_; icon credit listed with each icon; lyrics from "Last Unicorn" by Groove Coverage; Slytherin astrology courtesy of Harry Potter Astrology; Sun/Moon Astrology courtesy of Astrology Sun and Moon Combinations; name meanings and numerology from various sources; the subject lines of each of her journals are typically from works of Lord Byron

it seems like all is dying
and would leave the world to mourn
in the distance hear the laughter
of the last unicorn

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