I've actually been wanting to write this fic for a long time and I finally am! I'm planning on making it a continuous story so please stay tuned for more. I've worked so hard on this so I really hope you guys like it and I would appreciate your feedback. This chapter's a little intense though so just be warned haha. Thanks guys :)
"Did you do this?" Druella hissed, pointing to a muddy footprint on the marble floor. "Well, did you?"
A young, frail Narcissa backed into the kitchen counter, timid and afraid. "I… I… didn't mean to…" she whimpered.
"You filthy, disgraceful child," her mother spat, slapping the young girl harshly across the face. "How dare you bring this filth into my house!" She slapped the girl again, this time with the back of her hand.
Narcissa let out a sob, shielding herself from the next blow with her hands.
"Haven't I taught you better than this?" Druella shouted as she took another step towards the girl. "You're lucky I don't feed you to the Dementors!"
"Mother, please, I didn't reali-"
'ENOUGH!" Druella screamed, yanking her daughter's arm and dragging her down the hall. "Maybe this time you'll learn."
She turned the doorknob and the two of them entered a dimly lit room that was all too familiar to Narcissa. It was a room hidden from the rest of the world… a room known only by the black sisters and their straight-laced, sadistic mother, for the faded, peeling wallpaper, the chains and the bloodstained floor, held memories that Narcissa could not bear to remember.
Druella shoved her youngest daughter through the door and slammed it behind them, kicking the girl in the rear with the heel of her shoe.
Narcissa cried out when her knees hit the floor. She cowered there for a moment, hoping with all of her might that if she closed her eyes all the pain would go away… but it didn't. It never did.
"Get up you foul little pest!"
Narcissa felt the heel of her mother's shoe smack into her back and she sobbed harder, trembling as she climbed to her feet.
"You know the drill," her mother spoke coldly, drawing her wand from within her dress. "Strip."
Tears rolling down her cheeks, the nine year old pulled the sleeves of her dress over her shoulders and let the piece of clothing drop to the floor.
"Now turn," her mother spoke mockingly.
Narcissa turned and placed her hands on the wall above her head, her eyes shut tight as she waited for her punishment.
The next thing she heard was the sound of the whip…
"Bella!" Narcissa cried as she burst through the door of her room.
Bellatrix sprung up from her bed. "Cissy!" she gasped. "Cissy, honey, what happened?"
The small blonde threw herself into her sister's arms, tears streaming down her face. "I… she…" Narcissa struggled to speak through her sobs.
Bellatrix turned her younger sister's mostly naked body to reveal a mess of deep cuts and burns on the girl's back. It was clear their mother had been responsible.
"Oh, Cissy…" Bellatrix spoke, tears welling up in her eyes.
The older witch held her baby sister and kissed her forehead, stroking her hair softly. "It's going to be all right," she assured her. "You're with me now. No one can hurt you."
"But… what if she comes back?" Narcissa whispered.
"Then I'll protect you."
In the brief moment of silence following Bellatrix's promise, both sisters heard undeniable echo of their mother's quickening footsteps coming down the hall.
"Shh!" Bellatrix hissed when Narcissa tried to speak. "Get behind me."
The door to Bella's bedroom swung open and their mother swept into the room, the train of her black dress billowing behind her as she locked eyes with her oldest daughter.
"Bellatrix," their mother spoke coldly, her nose turned up at them as always. "Step aside, I need to talk to your sister."
The young, raven-haired witch firmly stood her ground. She reached behind her back for Narcissa's hand and squeezed it tight. "No, Mother," she spoke confidentially. "I won't let you."
Druella stared down at Bellatrix with cold, soulless eyes that would scare off any creature no matter how powerful, but Bellatrix was stronger. She stared right back into those dark eyes, never once breaking contact.
"You're better than this, Bella." Druella spoke. "Better than her."
"What has she ever done to you?" Bellatrix cried, her hands balling into fists. "I won't let you hurt her again! If you have a problem, take it up with me! Not her!"
The dark witch's blood boiled with rage. "If you insist," she spoke through gritted teeth. She whipped out her wand and pointed it directly at young Bellatrix. "Cruci-"
"NO!" Narcissa screamed, lunging to push Bellatrix out of the way, but it was too late. The thirteen-year-old dropped to the ground in desperate agony.
"Maybe now you'll both learn," the sadistic witch spat. She then turned on her heel and left, slamming the door behind her.
"Bella!" Narcissa cried, racing to her sister's side. "Bella are you ok?"
Bellatrix gritted her teeth, fighting the pain with all of her strength. "I'm fine," she lied. It was important to her that she be strong for Narcissa.
Still in agony, the older witch pulled herself to her feet and put her arm around Narcissa.
"Come sit with me on the bed," she spoke. " I'll get you all cleaned up."
"Ok," Narcissa spoke softly, almost in a whisper. "Thank you."
Feeling less afraid in her sister's care, the young blonde allowed herself to calm down a bit as she was escorted to the bed. Bellatrix was the only person that Narcissa ever felt truly safe with, truly… protected, and for that she was forever thankful.
Bellatrix drew her wand and pointed the tip into an empty glass. "Aguamenti," she whispered, and the glass filled with water. It was no surprise to anyone that Bellatrix knew such an advanced charm even as a mere third year, for she was exceptionally bright.
Realizing that the nearest washcloth was in the bathroom down the hall, the dark haired witch ripped a piece of fabric from her own dress and dipped it in the water.
"Bella, your dress!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"It's alright, honey. It's worth it for you."
Narcissa hissed at the cold sensation of the wet cloth against her wounds.
"Hold still now, Cissy," Bellatrix spoke softly. "I'll be gentle."
Young Narcissa wiped the tears from her cheeks and sniffled a bit, attempting to steady her trembling body as Bellatrix dabbed the cloth against her bare skin.
"Bella?" Narcissa asked after a long silence.
"What is it, sweetie?" Bellatrix could hear the quiver in her sister's voice.
Narcissa waited a moment to speak. "…Why does she do this to us, Bella?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Bellatrix gently turned Narcissa around so that they were face to face. There were tears in the older witch's eyes.
The thirteen-year-old sighed heavily, feeling the burden of the question deep in her chest. She carefully placed the now bloody cloth back into the glass and moved it to the table, wrapping a blanket around her trembling sister. She then reached across the bed for her hairbrush. Narcissa always loved when Bella brushed her hair. It was something that had comforted her since she was a toddler.
Bellatrix sighed again. "Mother… wants us to be proper ladies." Bellatrix spoke hesitantly. "She thinks that doing… what she does… is the only way we'll learn."
"But I try so hard," Narcissa cried, her voice rising as new tears began to well up in her eyes. "Maybe I'm just not good enough…"
Bellatrix gripped her sister's shoulders, nearly shaking her. "Cissy," she spoke in a serious yet encouraging tone. "Of course you're good enough! You will always be good enough."
Narcissa sniffled a bit and wiped her face on her arm. "You think so?"
"I know so," Bellatrix assured. "I don't think anyone will ever live up to Mother's expectations, but that doesn't change how I see you. You're worth a million of her."
The blonde smiled as a single tear trickled down her cheek. She scooted closer to Bellatrix and curled up beside her, resting her head on her chest.
"Thank you, Bella," she whispered.
Bellatrix nodded and continued to brush Narcissa's long blonde hair. It was almost like a doll's.
Narcissa looked up, her light blue eyes meeting her sister's dark brown ones. "Can I sleep in here tonight?" she asked quietly.
Bellatrix smiled lightly. "Of course."
There was another long pause… nothing but the gentle sound of their breathing and the hairbrush running through Narcissa's silk-like hair.
"Bella?"
The older witch lifted her head a bit. "Hmm?"
"I love you," Narcissa said softly.
Bellatrix felt a warmth growing in her heart and she felt herself begin to smile. "I love you too," she whispered.
And with that, the two of them drifted off to sleep.
