Prologue
The three Black sisters were the light of their parents' life. Cygnus and Druella Black couldn't have asked for more beautiful little girls. Bellatrix was the eldest daughter, adored by her younger sisters. Andromeda, with her dark hair and heavy-lidded grey eyes, could easily pass for Bella's twin sister; however, she was a year younger than her older sister and had a much sweeter personality. Narcissa was the baby of the Black family, and indeed looked the part with her silky blond hair and innocent blue eyes.
The day Bellatrix was born was one of great happiness for the Black Family. Her mother and father, Cygnus and Druella, doted on their new baby. She would be spoiled, of course, as all Black children were. Their moods were only slightly dampened by Cygnus's sister; she hadn't been able to produce an heir yet and was overcome with jealousy at Bellatrix's birth. But Cygnus's parents, Pollux and Irma, were overjoyed to have their first grandchild.
"Druella, my parents will be here any moment. Is everything ready?" Cygnus asked his wife.
Druella looked magnificent. She had just had her baby the week before, but she was already up on her feet, keeping everything in order. Druella's long black hair had slight hints of blonde streaks in it and it was curled and piled on her head in an orderly fashion. Her blue eyes stood out from the darkness of her face. She was only in her twenties, and she always looked absolutely stunning.
Druella had dressed little Bellatrix in a pretty green gown to match her parents. She hoped that everything with Cygnus's parents would go as perfectly as she wanted it to be. They would fall in love with little Bella. They would dote on her. Cygnus's sister Walburga and her husband Orion would come over as well. Walburga, who was uptight and disliked her sister-in-law, would fall in love with Bella as well. It would be perfect. Walburga would put on an act in front of her parents and pretend to love Druella. But they already knew there was hatred there.
Druella did have two more girls, but never any boys. Cygnus didn't mind; he was more than happy with just his girls and wouldn't trade them for the world. Walburga had two boys, and of course, she ran it in Druella's face at every chance she got. Walburga was always trying to out do her. Her parents even liked Druella better than her.
Soon Walburga gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby boy, and she got all the attention she so desperately craved - but only because she had a boy to carry on the Black Family name. But it didn't matter to Cygnus, because no matter how much Walburga tried to make him jealous, it would never work. He was too happy with his three beautiful roses.