the_blond_black | Revisions

1) Narcissa's interests, hobbies, favorite/least favorite classes.

Narcissa enjoys socializing with other pure-blood families and definitely enjoys attending formal parties or balls. It is a way for her to show off her aristocratic grace and style in what she feels is better than others.

However, when there's no one to talk to or party to attend, she greatly enjoys reading. It started as soon as she could read but improved when her sisters started going to school and she was left mostly to herself in their home. She enjoyed reading the normal children's stories that were approved by her family, but when she was eight and her oldest sister returned home from Hogwarts after her first year, Narcissa started to read some spell books. It proved to be challenging, but she too wanted to learn what her sister already knew and talked about. Even though she couldn't perform the spells yet, she found she enjoyed at least reading about them.

As she got a little bit older and started to get the tutoring for her head-start in Hogwarts, she often read ahead on the subjects her tutor was teaching her. It pleased her when she could show her tutor that yes, she did know what he was talking about, and she was ready to try the spell out. It is also about this time, age ten, that she went into her home's library and started to read some books about the past. Of course, these books were also all approved by her family, clear of any mention of betraying their pure-blood supremacist values. Times were different in the past, and it was interesting to read about how the wizarding world came to be how it is now. The books delved into certain important people's lives and that in itself was almost like those children's stories she read a couple years before.

This new genre of books Narcissa enjoys remained with her throughout her schooling as well. At Hogwarts, she requested a new book every time she was done with one. On average, she only requested this once per school year, about half-way through because she was otherwise occupied reading ahead for her classes. As mentioned before, in a practical sense, Narcissa did well in her classes, but was not the best at it. However, her reading ahead and interest in learning new spells did provide her with a better understanding than others in her class.

Despite her interest in learning new spells and reading ahead for her classes, there were some she did not enjoy. Though, this was mostly due to the classroom setting, or the particular subject that was being taught. While she enjoyed reading about the history of the wizarding world and other pure-blood witches and wizards lives, she did not enjoy History of Magic. She was able to pass her tests easily, but it was not because of the teacher. She, like most others, found him boring. He made the subject boring, when it should have been interesting. The mono-tone voice completely dulled any exciting events. And then there was the fact that he was also neutral about the muggles' influence on the wizarding world. She could not accept that. The muggles were the reason they were hiding, the reason why there were a lot less of them now than there used to be.

Likewise, while she greatly enjoyed charms and did very well in it, she didn't like the class. This was mostly due to her bias against half-bloods and as such, the teacher. Most of the good grades she received in it came from her reading of the subject and asking her oldest sister to help her with the practical aspects of it. If not for the teacher, this would have been her most favorite class. Considered too easy by some, the fact remains that there was a great need and purpose for charms. Charms had the most versatile collection of spells and it was the subject that most fulfilled Narcissa's desire to learn new spells.

Which is the complete opposite of the other class she didn't like; herbology. This wasn't just about the class, this was about the subject. The only plants she felt she needed to know about were already covered in Potions class. She didn't care and had no interested in learning about how to grow them or harvest them or any of that. There were other people that could do that for her rather than literally getting her own hands dirty. It wasn't a job suited for someone like her. She could just buy what plants and ingredients she needed.

Of course, while there were some classes she didn't like, there were also other classes that she did like. Transfiguration was one of them. While it wasn't one of her top classes, she did well in it. She liked this class for the simple reason that it was handy to have what you needed when you needed it. To get rid of an undesired object in order to gain something that was needed is extremely useful and could be used in a variety of situations.

Another class that she enjoyed was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Her family had no problems teaching Narcissa and her sisters Dark Arts, but while Narcissa was okay learning this at home and found the usefulness in quite a few of these spells, she also enjoyed learning how to defend against them. To learn the Dark Arts without knowing how to defend against those same spells is foolish and will only prove to get the witch or wizard killed. In addition to feeling that learning Defense Against the Dark Arts is necessary when learning Dark Arts, DADA also focused on defending against dark creatures. As mentioned earlier, Narcissa has a disgust towards any magical being that is not a witch or wizard. With this feeling, knowing how to defend against dangerous ones is naturally a desired skill.

Her enjoyment of her elective class of Ancient Runes is less because of usefulness, and is more for learning the symbols used in old spells. There are books in her home's library that date back far enough to have a few spells done in runes and so she first took the subject out of curiosity for these spells. She remained in the subject because she found it interesting and should she come across any other books like the old ones in her home, she could know what the true purpose and incantation of such written spells were.

2) Why is it important to Narcissa that she adheres to tradition?

(Note: I'm sorry if I misunderstood the question? I wasn't sure which 'tradition' you're referring to.)
It's not that Narcissa feels she has to stick to her family's beliefs and values in what is proper of a pure-blood, it's that she wants to. She was raised to believe in these teachings and the books she read only enforced these views. A big part of who someone is, is how they were raised. Of course there are still those that would go against this. If Narcissa did, there would be the issue of betraying her family, leaving all that she knows and loves behind, like her older sister did. Fortunately for Narcissa, she doesn't feel even the slightest desire to go against her family's beliefs. They became her own beliefs and nothing could change this. No matter what, in Narcissa's mind, muggles are destroying the wizarding world. It is the muggles' fault that their population lessened. It is the muggles' fault that their world has to be hidden now. She would never choose to ruin her line and go against her own values by marrying someone who had ties to these muggles that are destroying their world.

3) As someone who is very concerned with appearances; what would be considered devastatingly embarrassing?

Anything that would go against proper conduct of a wealthy and aristocratic person would be highly embarrassing. One example is being seen in sleepwear and/or with bedhead by someone she is not extremely close to. First, sleepwear is a very personal thing to be seen and around others, it's more proper to wear a dressing gown over it. Second, because Narcissa takes great pride in her hair and being the one to style her hair, she only wants others to see it if it's as perfect as she makes it. She wouldn't want anyone to think she can't take care of it herself, when she very well can.

Along these same lines, she would hate to be seen in any clothes that do not meet her standards of appearance and price. She has the money to spend so why shouldn't she? If she can afford the best, she should wear the best. To wear anything less would be demeaning to the rest of her look and her family's wealth and status.

Another example, though one of actions rather than physical appearance, is to use one of those words she deems crude. As mentioned before, it doesn't happen often, but it can should she be feeling an emotion too strongly to hold it back in time. She's above using such words and to use the word would only make her appear to be as uncouth as those around her. Not only that, but it would be a clear indicator of her feelings when she should be taking a more dignified approach to it.