Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N This story is set on Sunday, 27 October 1968; I assume that Bellatrix was born in early 1951, Andromeda in autumn 1953 and Narcissa in summer 1955, making them 7th, 4th and third year students respectively (there are no exact dates of their births given, are there?). This part of the story - in contrast to the one to follow - is light and harmless with almost no trace of conflict.


One bright October morning, three girls left Hogwarts castle together. As they proceeded and the crowd, that had formed around the entrance of the castle, dispersed on the way to the village of Hogsmeade, they provided an entertaining sight for the onlooker. All slim and with a light gait, they walked hand in hand, the tallest on the one, the smallest on the other side so that they had a vague resemblance to pan pipes. Although all three had long, thick hair, their colour ranged from dark, to light brown, to blonde, starting from the tallest. The same observation could have been made in regard to their eyes, all heavily lidded, but - as an overly enthusiastic poet might put it - having the colour of charcoal, hazelnut and the sea respectively. Despite these differences, anyone watching would have known them for sisters.

ʻWhere should we go first?ʼ asked the middler, addressing the tallest to her right.

ʻItʼs Cissyʼs first visit to Hogsmeade,ʼ said the girl in a deep, melodious voice. ʻI guess itʼs only fair to let her chose.ʼ

ʻI?ʼ squeaked Cissy. ʻHow would I know? You are far better at deciding than I am.ʼ

Both smaller sisters turned to look up at the third.

ʻThen I suggest,ʼ said the girl gravely, ʻthat we just go from shop to shop, quite systematically. We can rest at the Three Broomsticks, before we explore the countryside. Itʼs quite warm for October.ʼ

Her smaller sisters nodded reverently while the first roofs of Hogsmeade became visible before them.

ʻOh, but it looks lovely,ʼ exclaimed Cissy. ʻHow small these houses are. There must live queer little witches and wizards.ʼ

ʻThatʼs the countryside,ʼ said the tallest a little contemptuously. ʻThey lack style and dignity. I donʼt think thereʼs a single noteworthy wizarding family living here. But at least, we are among ourselves.ʼ

ʻAnd itʼs far more picturesque than some big place,ʼ said the middle girl cheerfully. ʻDidnʼt Grandfather once think about buying property here and building a villa?ʼ

ʻIndeed,ʼ answered the tallest. ʻBut the locals couldnʼt cope with the announced splendour and made so much mischief he gave up on the project.ʼ

ʻIt would have been funny to live right next to the school,ʼ said the middler. ʻWe might even have been able to go home overnight.ʼ

ʻThat would have been lovely,ʼ agreed Cissy, turning to look at the towers of the castle mostly hidden by trees.

ʻIt might have added to our dignity,ʼ said the tallest. ʻBut this is hardly necessary. We are one of the noblest wizarding families anyway and our name makes us respectable.ʼ

ʻI do hope we are not just respected for our names,ʼ interjected the middle sister. ʻIʼve got a personality beyond it, havenʼt I?ʼ

ʻHave you?ʼ asked the tallest, looking disapprovingly down at her, just as they reached the first shops. ʻLetʼs go into the new shop by that Flume,ʼ she added, pointing.

ʻNew?ʼ asked the middler. ʻIʼve already been there last year and-ʼ

ʻTrue,ʼ interrupted the tallest with a smile. ʻItʼs been new when I first went to Hogsmeade, but thatʼs now... four years ago.ʼ

ʻHoneydukes?ʼ read Cissy the sign above the shop. ʻIsnʼt this written too on the packages Professor Slughorn always has around?ʼ

ʻExactly,ʼ said the middler merrily. ʻHeʼs patronised him and now reaps what he sowed.ʼ

ʻDonʼt talk so disrespectfully, Drommy,ʼ chided the tallest at once. ʻThe Slughorns are an ancient British wizarding family and have a right to be respected.ʼ

ʻI respect Slughorn,ʼ said Drommy defensively. ʻHeʼs a brilliant wizard and a great teacher. I just pointed out some of his more... special character traits.ʼ

Cissy giggled, but the tallest gave her sisters a quelling look as she ushered them into the crowded shop.

ʻOh my!ʼ exclaimed Cissy. ʻThereʼs more than at Sharkskin in Dragon Alley.ʼ

ʻYou know, Bella,ʼ said Drommy, addressing the tallest, ʻwe could get Sirius something. Itʼs his ninth birthday in a week.ʼ

Bella frowned and joined Drommy before a barrel of Every Flavour Beans. She looked over the shop in a disdainful manner, obviously feeling infinitely above the average student, who eagerly emptied the shelves.

ʻThatʼs a good idea,ʼ she finally said, even smiling thinly at her sister. ʻWhat should we get him?ʼ

ʻBest something that only Honeydukes has,ʼ said Drommy, giving the Every Flavour Beans a derisive smile. ʻCissy, what do you see here for the first time?ʼ

Astonished, Cissy drew nearer to her companions and looked shyly around.

ʻI... probably some chocolate? What tastes...ʼ

Drommy laid an arm around her little sisters shoulder and squeezed herself through the crowd to several shelves at a wall where hundreds of different kind of chocolate were displayed.

ʻUrg, pomegranate chocolate,ʼ said Bella, who had followed her sisters. ʻHow can anyone eat chocolate with fruit flavour. Thatʼs disgusting.ʼ

ʻBut Bella,ʼ protested Drommy, ʻlook, thereʼs already much gone from the strawberry flavoured chocolate and the peppermint-ʼ

ʻPeppermintʼs all right,ʼ grumbled Bella. ʻBut when I want to eat strawberries, I donʼt eat chocolate.ʼ

ʻYou donʼt have to eat it,ʼ said Drommy cheerfully, taking a small bag from a box. ʻWhat do we want to get Sirius, Cissy?ʼ

Cissy scrutinized the shelves and then with a furtive glance at Bella who had gone several feet a away to look at a jar with Acid Pops she pointed at a chocolate.

ʻGet this,ʼ she whispered, tiptoeing to speak in her sisterʼs ear. ʻSirius loves melon.ʼ

Drommy also looked carefully over to Bella before she quickly broke off a large junk and hid it in the bag.

They repeated this several times, though - after adding strawberries and pineapple - with more openness as they proceeded to peppermint, honey and caramel.

ʻHave you finished?ʼ asked Bella, ambling over to her sisters again. With a wicked grin, she held out the sweets in her hand and added, ʻDo we want to send him some Acid Pops too?ʼ

ʻVery funny,ʼ said Drommy dryly. ʻWho doesnʼt want his tongue burnt?ʼ

ʻHeʼs a horrible nuisance of a boy,ʼ said Bella, shrugging.

ʻHe actually never listens to me,ʼ said Cissy sadly. ʻHeʼs so disobedient.ʼ

ʻHeʼs a witty boy,ʼ disagreed Drommy, grinning. ʻHeʼs much fun.ʼ

ʻYouʼve got a sick sense humour,ʼ snapped Bella.

ʻI?ʼ snapped Drommy back. ʻWho wants to give him Acid Pops?ʼ

ʻNever mind, I was joking,ʼ said Bella a bit grumpily, going away a few steps to put the Acid Pops back in place.

ʻYou never tried to babysit them,ʼ whispered Cissy to Drommy. ʻIf you once tried to make Sirius go to bed, you wouldnʼt think it funny.ʼ

ʻDonʼt take it personal,ʼ said Drommy, smiling. ʻBetter look around the shop to see what youʼd like.ʼ

Cissy surveyed the shop again. ʻWhatʼll you buy?ʼ she asked after a while helplessly.

Her elder sisters exchanged a glance. ʻIce cream,ʼ they said in unison.

Cissy looked relieved. ʻI take the same as you.ʼ

Just as Drommy wanted to proceed in the direction of the ice, Bella held her back. ʻLetʼs wait until the afternoon,ʼ she commanded. ʻWeʼll just buy the chocolate for now.ʼ

None of her sisters showed the slightest sign of protest and Drommy proceeded alone to the counter while Bella led Cissy out of the shop.

When Drommy had rejoined them, they continued their way down the street into the village.

ʻWe need a card,ʼ stated Bella. ʻWeʼll try Scrivenshaftʼs. I need a new quill anyway.ʼ

They walked past shops selling clothes, household devices or fireworks, until they reached a little shop that had its window full of quills, from delicate downs to majestic peacock feathers.

They entered and Bella strolled around, scrutinizing the quills sceptically while Drommy and Cissy retreated to a stand with cards.

On one reading ʻCongratulations on Passing your Apparition Testʼ, there was a wizard who continually disappeared with swirling robes and popped up on some other place on the card. Another showed a girl who pointed her wand at an elderly woman, transforming her into a cockroach, and had the words ʻOf Age!ʼ printed above. On another black card a boy took a cloak from a man in a coffin, threw it around him and vanished. It was titled ʻWe All Must Go On.ʼ

ʻCome now,ʼ said Drommy to her sister who stared at that card. ʻWe donʼt want to condole. We need some "Happy Birthday" stuff.ʼ

ʻThatʼs sweet,ʼ said Cissy after a short scrutiny, pointing at a card where a fluffy white rabbit looked out from under a tree trunk. It crept out and changed into an old woman. She blinked out of the card and turned into the rabbit again. ʻItʼs Babbity Rabbity!ʼ

ʻI donʼt think Siriusʼd like such a silly rabbit, thatʼs far too mawkish if you think about the story.ʼ

ʻBut itʼs cute,ʼ argued Cissy, smiling at the card where the rabbit just turned back into the old woman.

ʻDrommyʼs right,ʼ said Bella, having walked up behind them. ʻThatʼs junk.ʼ

Cissy looked unhappy, but put the card back. She and Drommy turned to Bella, studying the displayed cards. She flipped impatiently through the them with a disapproving impression that prevented her sisters from making any suggestions.

ʻThis will do,ʼ Bella finally said, thrusting a card into Drommyʼs hand. Cissy leaned eagerly over for a better look. The card simply showed the night sky with the stars and planets and didnʼt have any writing on it.

ʻBut thatʼs boring,ʼ complained Cissy, before peeking anxiously up at her sister.

ʻNo, itʼs not,ʼ said Bella, smiling. ʻItʼs the only card here with superior magic. The stars form into the constellation under which the recipient was born and start to twinkle so that it reads ʻHappy Birthdayʼ. Sirius is a clever boy, heʼll appreciate it.ʼ

ʻI thought he was a nuisance,ʼ said Drommy.

ʻThat doesnʼt mean he hasnʼt got brains. In fact, that makes him even more of a nuisance.ʼ

ʻBetter a clever nuisance than a stupid darling.ʼ

ʻPoor Cissy,ʼ exclaimed Bella, laying an arm around her little sisterʼs shoulder. ʻDrommy likes me better than you.ʼ

The two elder girls giggled while their little sister looked at them with big eyes that slowly filled with tears.

ʻNow Cissy, donʼt be stupid,ʼ said Drommy when she had recovered enough. ʻThereʼs nothing to cry about.ʼ

ʻFor once I agree with Drommy,ʼ said Bella and placing a kiss on her sisterʼs head. ʻYou mustnʼt prove us right when we didnʼt believe in what we said.ʼ

After several more kisses and showers of tenderness, Cissy had recovered enough to allow the sisters to step up to the counter and buy the card together with an extravagant golden quill of about twelve inches.

ʻYou never do anything inconspicuously do you?ʼ asked Drommy, turning the quill in her free hand, her other arm around Cissy, while Bella counted out the Sickles and Knuts for their shopping.

ʻWhy should I?ʼ asked Bella loftily. ʻWe have all the right to live according to our dignity.ʼ

ʻYou certainly have,ʼ answered Drommy, linking her arm under her sisterʼs as they strolled onto the street again. ʻYou are the uncontested queen of the school.ʼ

ʻNo cynicism, Drommy,ʼ said her sister, grinning.

ʻI value my life,ʼ answered Drommy, pressing her arm.

ʻYou want to go anywhere else?ʼ asked Bella. ʻOr shall we go to the Three Broomsticks already?ʼ

ʻIʼll follow you anywhere,ʼ said Drommy. ʻIs there still a shop youʼd like to visit, Cissy dearest?ʼ

ʻI...ʼ whispered her sister anxiously, only by an additional squeeze from her sister encouraged enough to add, ʻIʼd have liked to go into Gladragsʼ.ʼ

ʻAs long as youʼre not being inconspicuous,ʼ snickered Bella, leading her sisters down the street again. They filed into a large shop which had stately robes in its window. All three went to the area where witch dress robes hang and started a parade from the robes to a large mirror on the next wall with ever new robes.

ʻThey got a bit of a disappointing collection this time,ʼ grumbled Drommy after putting back her seventh robe.

ʻMy words,ʼ sighed Bella. ʻYou remember last year, when they had that gorgeous bright blue and green silk dress robes.ʼ

ʻWe should have bought them then,ʼ moaned Drommy. ʻLook at this rubbish!ʼ

She showed a frilly robe with a pattern of roses to her elder sister who made a demonstrative retching sound. Cissy looked anxiously at them, hastily putting away the robe she had just considered.

ʻI suggest we go to the Three Broomsticks now,ʼ sighed Bella, taking Drommyʼs hand. ʻThatʼs depressing here. Did you see anything youʼd like Cissy?ʼ

The little sister nervously shook her head and quickly took her place on Drommyʼs free side. The sisters marched out of the shop and up the lane to a tiny inn. They squeezed into its noisy, smoky and warm atmosphere, taking off their winter cloaks. It was extremely crowded and it proved difficult to spot three free chairs.

ʻThereʼs a free table,ʼ said Drommy finally, pointing. But when she wanted to move in the indicated direction, Bella held her back.

ʻWe canʼt sit there,ʼ she hissed.

Drommy looked up at her sister in confusion. ʻWhatʼs wrong?ʼ

ʻThat girl sitting right next to it,ʼ whispered Bella with a disgusted expression, ʻthatʼs in my year, thatʼs nothing I would want any of you to come close with.ʼ

ʻBut Bella,ʼ protested Drommy, ʻshe canʼt be that infectious. Thereʼs so little free room here. You donʼt want us to grow roots on this spot, do you?ʼ

ʻDonʼt talk about what you donʼt understand,ʼ hissed Bella. ʻHow would it look if we three sat close to something like that? Imagine the shame if such closeness became public!ʼ

ʻWe canʼt avoid closeness in a crowded inn,ʼ reasoned Drommy. ʻThereʼs simply no other place where we could sit.ʼ

Without responding, Bella firmly gripped both her sistersʼ hands and dragged them through the rows of tables, carefully watching out. Luckily, a couple just got up at a little table in a quieter corner and even more luckily there was another free chair at the next table. And most luckily, the couple didnʼt attract Bellaʼs scorn, so the three girls could sink into the seats with relieved sighs.

ʻIʼll get us the Butterbeer,ʼ said Bella, heaving herself up again as soon as she had got rid of her gloves.

ʻDo you need help carrying?ʼ asked Drommy, half getting out from her seat.

ʻNo, no,ʼ said Bella, adding with a grin, ʻIʼm a witch you know.ʼ

Cissy sighed when Bella was far away enough. ʻYou two always say such strange things and I never know if youʼre joking.ʼ

ʻI generally am,ʼ said Drommy good-humouredly, stretching. ʻWith Bella, you must take the risk.ʼ

ʻI donʼt like risk.ʼ

ʻThatʼs a pity, lifeʼs full of it.ʼ

ʻDonʼt talk like that, Drommy,ʼ wailed Cissy. ʻWhat am I to do without you?ʼ

She leant over and clutched her sisterʼs arm, tears rising in her eyes.

ʻWhatʼs the matter today?ʼ said Drommy softly. ʻWhy should you be without us?ʼ

ʻWhen youʼve left school,ʼ whimpered Cissy.

ʻBut thatʼll be several years still,ʼ said Drommy sensibly. ʻThereʼs no reason to think about this now. And youʼve got all the children in your year. Youʼve got friends there, how could you not?ʼ

ʻYouʼre my best friend.ʼ

ʻSomething wrong?ʼ sounded Bellaʼs voice from behind them as three tankards floated neatly down before the girls. Seeing her sistersʼ eyes follow the course of the tankards, she added, ʻYes, thatʼs witchcraft.ʼ

ʻI thought Charms,ʼ said Drommy, trying to make Cissy sit properly in her chair again. ʻCissyʼs just been missing you.ʼ

Bellaʼs eyebrows rose, but she wordlessly put her wand in her robes and lifted her tankard to drink. Her sisters imitated her, Cissy so nervously that she slopped some of the liquid down her robes. She went pink, put down the tank so hastily that even more Butterbeer spilled on the table and withdrew shakily a handkerchief from her robes. Before she could try to dab her robes with it, Drommy pointed her wand at her sister.

ʻScourgify!ʼ

The robes immediately cleared as did the table. With a satisfied expression Drommy put her wand back.

ʻAre you allowed to do this?ʼ said Bella with a thrown. ʻYouʼre not of age.ʼ

ʻOh, I didnʼt think about this,ʼ said Drommy, clapping her hand before her mouth. ʻI thought itʼs only forbidden over the holidays.ʼ

ʻDonʼt fret, Drommy, I donʼt know whether itʼs forbidden, I just thought thatʼd be logical. So itʼs probably best to leave the magic to me.ʼ

ʻBut Bella,ʼ exclaimed Drommy. ʻWe all know how you hate household spells.ʼ

ʻI donʼt hate them,ʼ said Bella. ʻTheyʼre just so silly, I canʼt concentrate on such stuff. And what do I need those spells for? I have a house-elf for that rubbish.ʼ

ʻNot everybody can be a genius like you,ʼ said Drommy, shrugging. ʻAs I must leave the glory of advanced magic to you, I donʼt mind excelling at silly spells.ʼ

ʻNo need to be so modest, you-ʼ

ʻHi, Andromeda.ʼ

Drommy turned her head towards the voice and smiled fleetingly. A blond boy had just walked past the girlsʼ table to join some friends several feet away.

ʻWhoʼs that?ʼ asked Bella, frowning at the boyʼs back as he sat down.

ʻI think his nameʼs Ted,ʼ said Drommy indifferently. ʻHeʼs in my year, Hufflepuff I think.ʼ

ʻTed what?ʼ said Bella, her expression darkening.

ʻNo idea,ʼ said Drommy. ʻI never really spoke to him, he just recently started to repeatedly greet me. Itʼs quite flattering, you know.ʼ Drommy grinned while Bellaʼs frown increased.

ʻSo you donʼt know his family?ʼ she muttered. ʻYou shouldnʼt smile at people before you know whether theyʼre worth it.ʼ

ʻI smile at anybody who says "Hi" to me,ʼ said Drommy cheerfully.

ʻDromeda!ʼ exclaimed Bella. ʻThis is no laughing matter. You donʼt know what harm you could do to the wizarding community.ʼ

ʻYouʼre not going to tell me that a community can be ruined by greeting people,ʼ said Drommy, trying to appear serious. ʻI know who I am - who we are - and I am sure thereʼd be a lot more needed to affect us.ʼ

ʻDrommy dear, all I wanted is to stress that you are sometimes being careless,ʼ said Bella, half smiling. ʻYouʼre totally right in placing confidence in our heritage. The three of us are from one of the most ancient and wealthiest British wizarding families. In addition we are very skilled witches-ʼ

ʻYes, you too, Cissy,ʼ interjected Drommy, before her little sister could sigh.

ʻExactly,ʼ seconded Bella. ʻAnd to top all these qualities of background and abilities, we are all very good-looking. I havenʼt met any witch yet who could boast an equal amount of respectability.ʼ

ʻNor a wizard,ʼ added Drommy.

ʻNor a wizard,ʼ repeated Bella with a grimace. ʻThus, it is better to stay independent than to form any ties with someone who cannot boast with similar qualities.ʼ

ʻThanks for the lecture,ʼ said Drommy dryly. ʻI donʼt have the least intention of marrying right now, certainly not any boy I say "Hi" to, and I certainly expect quite something from a man wishing to marry me.ʼ

ʻGood intentions are known to have been thwarted,ʼ said Bella gravely, taking her sisterʼs hand. ʻAnd false tolerance can sometimes prove as disastrous as prejudice.ʼ

ʻI promise to be most intolerant with marriage proposals.ʼ

ʻO Drommy, youʼre going to end badly,ʼ sighed Bella melodramatically, pressing her sisterʼs hand.

ʻItʼd be sad if we could never marry,ʼ whispered Cissy.

ʻWhy?ʼ said Bella. ʻI havenʼt met a man yet who was even close to being my equal. So Iʼm rather on my own, than throw myself away, marrying a man I couldnʼt respect. No, I could never love a man who wouldnʼt beat me in a duel. I think thatʼs what Iʼm going to do, Iʼll duel my suiters and the one surviving Iʼll marry.ʼ

Bella and Drommy burst in giggles while Cissy stared at them in shock.

ʻThatʼs what I want, you see,ʼ Bella said when she had recovered enough. ʻIf I am to change my name I must be able to pronounce the new one with as much pride as my old.ʼ

ʻI love your strategy,ʼ said Drommy. ʻYouʼd better duel for the three of us, then weʼll certainly end as old maids.ʼ

Cissy sniffed. ʻIʼd like to marry,ʼ she breathed. ʻI want children, three girls at best.ʼ

ʻPity Blonde isnʼt a wizarding name,ʼ said Bella. ʻIʼm sure heʼd be perfect for you.ʼ

ʻCertainly more fitting than Black,ʼ grinned Drommy. ʻDonʼt look like that Cissy, youʼre such a dear creature, there wonʼt be a single wizard not begging for your hand.ʼ

ʻHow about that Malfoy boy from Drommyʼs year,ʼ suggested Bella. ʻHeʼd be blonde enough.ʼ

ʻO no, heʼs too mercenary,ʼ disagreed Drommy. ʻCissy needs someone more romantic and considered.ʼ

ʻDonʼt you think the power of love would make him romantic,ʼ said Bella, trying and failing to hide her grin.

ʻI donʼt think he knows Cissy exists, heʼs too arrogant to take any notice of younger students.ʼ

ʻThen itʼs time to point it out to him,ʼ said Bella, no longer attempting to suppress her grin. ʻLetʼs go into matchmaking!ʼ

ʻI fear thatʼd prove too tricky for me,ʼ said Drommy. ʻIʼll devote my life to inventing a self-cleaning birdcage.ʼ

ʻAnd Iʼll change the world,ʼ declared Bella with grandeur. ʻI want my name to be remembered so that posterity shall forever know Bellatrix Black as-ʼ

ʻ- the sister of that ingenious birdcage inventor.ʼ

This time even Cissy joined in their laughter, reaching out for both of them and taking their hands. ʻYouʼre the best sisters in the world,ʼ she whispered.

ʻWell, considering the fact that you donʼt have many others to chose from-ʼ started Bella.

ʻ- we still are very much flattered and declare you the most darling little sister we ever met,ʼ completed Drommy, joining her hand with Bellaʼs so that the three girls formed a circle.

The picture of unity between the sisters provided a lovely sight for anyone observing them and the charmed onlooker would not have believed it possible that anything could ever disrupt this harmony.