The Golden Snitch
Prompt: Write about the Black Sisters.
Twelve Days of Christmas Competition
AJ, Kasai; Mahoutokoro.
Word count: 562
Narcissa Malfoy stood in the new and remodeled Malfoy Manor, one she'd built back up from the ground after the war. Those who hated her family, her last name, her - they'd destroyed the grand mansion. And so Narcissa, who was cleared of all charges, had took it upon herself to rebuild the house. To start anew. She looked down at the picture frame held in her hands, smiling wryly down at it because the picture in it was something wondrous, brilliant, something that was so far gone now it was almost laughable.
In the frame sat a photograph, magically enchanted to move - and in that photograph were three smiling girls, waving at the camera without a care in the world. There was Bellatrix, the oldest, who stood with a proud smile on her face, her lovely hair splayed out onto her shoulders as she stood in a forest green dress. She'd been delighted that day, Narcissa could remember, because it was her birthday, and that meant gifts, praise, and joy - something Narcissa's current life was lacking.
Right next to Bella was Andromeda, who stood with a wide grin on her face. Her bouncy curls pulled back into a ponytail, not that it was doing much to contain the hair. She'd wriggled her fingers in the image, her signature wave back then, she said it came off as multiple different things, friendly, kind, flirtatious, hence why she used it. Narcissa could remember looking up to Andromeda when they were children, being envious of the relationship her two older sisters shared. Even in the photograph you could tell they were closer, their arms wrapped around each other but not around Narcissa - despite her standing right in front of the two of them.
Narcissa could remember dreading the photograph, having had nothing to look forward to she hadn't been as happy or excited as either of her absolutely vivacious sisters. She'd stood with her straight blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun, a clearly forced smile on her face as she waved almost robotically back up from the picture. A sigh escaped the blonde woman's mouth as she set the photo frame onto the mantel above her fireplace. Four stockings were hung off of the mantel as well, one for her, Draco, Lucius - despite his still being in Azkaban - and one for Andromeda.
She didn't know what had possessed her to connect with her disgraced sister, the one who'd married a muggleborn, who'd had a child with him, who had a grandchild and was making the line of succession so much more tainted. She'd shook her head at the thoughts, because she was starting anew, making her life better and proving she could change for the better. Basically starting a new life almost - and she decided she wanted this new life to include her sister. She paced the front room, waiting for the bell to ring and her sister to arrive - she'd prepared tea and cookies, wishing for her nerves to die down. She honestly didn't know why she was so nervous, this was her sister. They were family - she decided after taking a deep breath and walking towards the door. The bell was ringing loudly, almost tinkling above the doorway. She closed her eyes and repeated the breath and the mantra in her head. They were sisters.
And nothing would ever change that.