Narcissa Black removed a final pearl comb from her hair. The platinum curls hung loose at her shoulder blades.

"Cissa, come here would you?" Bellatrix Black called from the room across the hall. Narcissa rolled her eyes. She wasn't fond of her sister and was not happy to have her back in the house.

"Do you like this?" Bellatrix Black was wearing a long auburn gown that complemented her full figure. Narcissa studied her sister, trying to figure what game she was playing. Finding none, she sighed.

"It looks lovely Bella." Bella was never one to pass up a chance for praise, maybe she just wanted to hear how beautiful she was.

"You know I was just thinking, Well, maybe it's too much like-" Narcissa looked up sharply. She should have guessed.

"Just like whom Bella?"

"Your slag of a sister of course."

"Your sister too Bella." Bella shot her a nasty look.

"Actually now that I've married Rudolphus I suppose I'm more of a Lastrange than a Black." Bellatrix smirked.

"Pity." Narcissa turned to leave.

"Oh Cissa, I forgot, that boy called on you again." Narcissa whirled around.

"Who?"

"Ummm." Bella placed a perfectly manicured finger to her lips and pretended to think.

"Rosier I believe."

"What did he say Bella?" Narcissa growled.

"Oh something about a ball, I don't quite remember what though."

"Bella, if you don't tell me right now, Merlin I will..."

"What darling, you'll what?" Narcissa glared.

"I might be able to remember, but I just, can't quite. However, do you remember those daimonds of yours?"

"Which daimonds Bellatrix?"

"The pretty tear drop ones." Narcissa nodded. "Well, I might be persuaded to tell you if I could wear them to the ball."

"I though you were wearing your auburn necklace." Narcissa said, gesturing towards Bella's throat.

"Oh well, they don't match my dress." With a flourish Bella pulled an ice blue dress out of her closet.

"Bella, that's my dress. Father bought it for me last week, for the ball. You know he'll be angry if I don't wear it."

"Yes, I suppose he will, but not at me."

"Bella, you can't wear my diamonds and you cannot wear my dress!"

"I suppose you're right, besides I can't imagine father would approve of you being courted by a Rosier anyways."

"Courted?"

"I seem to have forgotten again, silly me." Narcissa growled.

"Fine!" she stomped over to Bellatrix, "You can wear them!" Bella leaned forwards so that they were nose to nose.

"Promise?"

"You're going to tell me about Evan?"

"Of course sweety."

"OK I promise."

"Thank you Cissa." Bella started downstairs.

"Bella, what about Evan?"

"Rosier? Oh I really can't remember." With that she disappeared down the hall.

Narcissa sunk to the floor and hit the rug. She could hear her father calling to ask why she didn't want to wear her dress, and Bella pretending to be so sweet.

"If she doesn't want to wear it father, I'd love to, it's so pretty and it would be such a shame for it to go to waste."

"No Bella, it's your sister's dress."

"Narcissa, what is the meaning of this?"

"Father, I..." She looked at Bella in the corner who was writing letters in the air. "He wanted to know if you would go to the" and they stopped. Narcissa sighed.

"I wanted to wear my green dress, because it matches the necklace mother gave me, and I though it was appropriate for my first ball." Orion Black sighed.

"Are you sure Cissa?" Narcissa glanced once more at Bella before nodding.

"If you say so. Then I guess Bella you can wear the dress." Bella nodded solemnly. As soon as their father left narcissa hurried over to Bellatrix.

"If I could go where?"

"What?"

"Where does Evan want to take me?"

"Oh, not Evan, father wanted to know if you wanted to go to the Malfoys with me.

"Bella, I hate the Malfoys you know that. What did he say?"

"Ummm." Bella laughed. Narcissa reached back to slap Bella, but she found a wand at her throat.

"Don't try it Cissa." Narcissa stood shaking for a minute, before turning to walk away. She heard Bellatrix mutter a curse at her back. She turned around and Bella went flying. She hit the wall with a sickening crunch.

"What is the meaning of this?" called Orion. He entered the room to find Bella in a puddle in the corner, and Narcissa, glaring, shaky hand clutching her wand.

"Narcissa, I didn't expect this from you." He said rushing to help Bella.

"I went through one wayward daughter, I will not go through that scandal again. Either shape up or get out."

"She was going to-" Orion sighed.

"No. You may not go to the ball, in fact you will stay with the Malfoys until the school year starts again." Narcissa looked up sharply to meet her father's angry eyes. Bellatrix was kneeling behind him smirking."

"Is Bella going to come?"

"Bella is married to Malfoy's best friend, of course she will be there. And if you try anything else..." Orion sighed. "Just don't be stupid Narcissa." Bella stood up and brushed her long black hair out of her face.

"Cissa, I just want us to get along." Narcissa, didn't look at her face, instead she turned and walked upstairs. She closed the door and slumped in front of her armoire. She couldn't believe she was going to have to stay with the Malfoys. Especially when Evan was just starting to court her. She knew he was, that was why Bella was being so mean. Or rather, meaner than usual. She hated that she was married and could no longer be courted. Narcissa glared at her mirror. Her ice blue eyes were almost as pale as the glass. Her vision blurred with tears as she remembered, her last stay with the Malfoys.

Narcissa hated Bella, but the Malfoy boy, was even worse than her sister. As a child she had thought they would eventually get married. They had spent so many hours torturing her. She recalled the platinum hair, and malicious grey eyes. She growled. If only she didn't let them get to her so.

"I will be an ice princess, while I'm there." she promised herself. "An ice princess." With that conviction, she went to bed.