It was a chilly winter's day outside the mansion that served as home for Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa Black; the three sisters that represented the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. They were a perfect, if unbalanced trinity. Nothing proved this fact more than the day the sisters received their pet cats.
The day in question was a day in mid-January. The girls were upstairs when suddenly they heard their father, Cygnus, calling for them.
"Girls! Come downstairs, we have a surprise for you!" Cygnus Black called up the stairs to his daughters.
"We're coming father!" His middle daughter, Andromeda, called down.
Little did Andromeda or the other girls know was that at the bottom of the stairs with their parents was their Uncle Alphard, in for a visit.
The girls perched themselves at the top of the stairs before spotting their uncle.
"Alphard!" Andromeda squealed, running down the stairs and flying into her uncle's arms.
The other girls were much more reserved, merely rushing down the stairs before going to hug their uncle.
"And how are my favorite nieces?" Alphard smiled.
"They are fine, Alphard, though I wish they'd act a bit more lady-like around company," the girls' mother, Druella hissed through narrowed eyes and pursed lips.
"Never you girls mind that, I've brought presents," Alphard laughed. "Now Cygnus, I know it was just Christmas, but, since I couldn't make it, I decided to bring them now since I'll be out of town on business for Bellatrix's birthday next week. So girls, consider these late-Christmas and early-birthday presents."
Alphard then pulled his glasses from his cloak pocket and perched them on the bridge of his nose. He went over to where he had brought in a large carpetbag. He first pulled out a pure white Persian kitten and presented it to Bellatrix.
Bellatrix had a glint in her eyes as she received her kitten.
"Thank you, Uncle! What's her name?" she asked petting the Persian.
"You're welcome, happy birthday. Her name is Lotus," Alphard replied.
He then returned to the carpetbag and pulled out a mewling orange and white kitten, with markings around the eyes looking like full moons, that was quieted as soon as it was put into Andromeda's arms.
"Oh, he's precious!" Andromeda cooed.
"I'm glad you like Ginger there," Alphard beamed. "Now, let's see if there's anything left for little Narcissa; oh here we go!"
He then pulled out a calm, sleek Siamese kitten and presented it to the blue-eyed blonde.
Her face lit up with as much joy as a young girl's face could hold.
"Thank you so much Uncle Alphard!" Narcissa beamed, entranced by the kitten
"I'm sure you'll take very good care of May," Alphard replied whole-heartedly.
With that, they each received their cats. The cats continued to play and be the best of friends. But the sisters, as each went across the water to Hogwarts, did not have the same bond as their cats shared. The cats all lived to ripe old ages in each other's companies. For the sisters, the solid gold line that had bonded them both literally and emotionally became blurred, until they became blinded to it right before it snapped. The Sisters Black, would never be the same .