"Please."
Her hair was a set of glossy raven curls, spilling over shoulders swamped by a shapeless gown, hunched like a bird.
She ran a skeletal hand up over her face, her nails had been filed down but the marks she etched in own skin were still red and raw.
"Please, no."
They trailed over her lips, blood welling under her fingers.
Her eyes darted furtively back and forward.
Mrs Malfoy covered her mouth with her hand, containing her cry of grief.
Vacant brown eyes snapped to her face and suddenly recognition flashed within them, a feral smile spread across her face showing a flawless set of teeth.
Bile rose in Narcissa's throat.
Why would they fix her hair and teeth but not the rest of my sister?
She used to be so beautiful.
She watched in horror as her once perfect big sister wiped the back of her hand over her mouth, smearing her blood over her porcelain skin and studying it intently.
Narcissa could not contain her anguished gasp as her tongue darted out and she sucked her own blood off her hand with uncontained ecstasy.
"Sister," she whimpered from behind her hand. "Please."
"Now you have seen what defying the Dark Lord means, don't you Cissy?" Bellatrix said, a small smile on her lips as she watched her youngest sister.
"Now you see how blessed Draco is to have this mission," she continued, Narcissa could hear the pride in her voice, as she laid a dominating hand on the small of her back.
"You will not object to our lord again, will you Cissy?" Bellatrix murmured darkly, her lips so close, they brushed the sensitive skin of her ear.
Narcissa shook her head desperately, trying to contain the sobs that wracked within her chest.
"Come Cissy," Bellatrix said sweetly, taking her hand. "The elves will have supper ready for us now… say goodbye to dear Andromeda."
Andromeda.
Narcissa could not bear to hear that, that thing being called by her big sister's name. Her knees gave way and she crumpled to the floor, her dress pooling on the ground beneath her.
She sobbed openly into her hands, a crushing despair pressing down on her chest, forcing the air from her lungs.
"Stand up Cissy!" Bellatrix commanded, nudging her with the toe of her boot, before groaning and lifting her by the arms instead.
Through the pane of glass Andromeda was watching her again, -her eyes suddenly focussed and vigilant.
"She's watching me," Narcissa breathed in terror. "You said she could not."
Her hand went to her mouth, and her tongue lolled out onto her fingers. Slowly, purposefully she licked and sucked each of her fingers in turn, never breaking gaze with Narcissa.
"Why don't you wave to her, Cissy?" Bellatrix proposed, her voice loaded with malice. "She does love your company so, can't you see? Wave to your sister, the filthy traitor."
And with those words the contents of Narcissa's stomach hit the floor.
"Please."
Bellatrix smiled.