Chapter 1-Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa
Cygnus Black watched in awe as the midwife came towards him with a little bundle in her arms. She offered it to him. He accepted awkwardly knowing that his wife Druella (or Ella as he liked to call her) was watching. Ella laughed weakly at his movements, causing him to glance over. His eyes were glazed and happy as he gazed back at the little miracle in his arms. His daughter, his baby girl. She was his first child and was definitely a Black. Her deathly white skin, raven frizzy hair and her dark midnight black eyes. She was as dark as her surname yet beautiful.
"What shall we name her?" He asked Ella.
"Bellatrix Ophelia." She answered immediately. Cygnus looked back at the baby in his arms and agreed that Bellatrix suited her, he wasn't entirely happy with naming her after a warrior or a woman, from that muggle playwright Shakespeare, who died at the bottom of a pool but he had to concede his wife had done all the work and agreed that the name did suit her.
"Bellatrix Ophelia Black." He said testing the name on his tongue. "It fits nicely dear." He turned back to Ella and smiled as he sat down on their bed with her. Giving her little Bellatrix.
"Cygnus, you old fool where is my little niece or nephew." Walburga stormed into the room, she always had a tendency to do that.
"Oh shut it Walburga. I have just spent 12 long painful hours in labour, trying to push this child out, I don't need you screaming at me asking where she is. Where do you think she is? With her parents of course which is where she is supposed to be. Honestly, do you think I am that careless?" Ella yelled back at Walburga who looked rather stunned.
"Ella dear, it's alright, calm down. Walburga just wanted to see Bellatrix."
"I know Cygnus its just urgh I have a headache and I'm exhausted." Cygnus smiled at his wife, she was quite young only 21, he being 22 was ready for children, and she was still a flighty young witch (although only year younger than him, she acted like she was still 19). At that moment Bellatrix began to cry, the midwife hurried over.
"She needs feeding ma'am." She said quickly.
"Oh of course," Ella said flustered but hastily unbuttoned her shirt (Cygnus had taken Bellatrix back by now). He handed Bellatrix back to Ella and she began to suckle. Cygnus kissed Ella's cheek and put his arm around her. Ella had tears of happiness in her eyes. Walburga smiled one of her rare smiles as her husband (and second cousin) Orion came in behind her looking fondly at the little family.
"Don't they look happy dear?" Orion asked her hopefully. Despite them being related he greatly wanted children.
"Mmmm, you know how I feel about children Orion." Walburga spoke sternly but her face held a smile. Orion felt that he was slowly winning the war against his wife where the matter of children is concerned.
Walburga turned to leave making a mental note to floo her mother (Irma) and father (Pollux) and give them the happy news. As her and Orion went downstairs they were practically knocked away as a perky Lucretia and her husband Ignatius Prewett rushed through the door and upstairs to see Druella and Cygnus.
"Lucretia! How is little Molly?" Orion asked beaming at his wife's look of disgust.
"For some reason she has ginger hair. Oh well it's quite cute." She beamed. Orion had always liked his sister; she was always nice and had hardly any enemies. She was the sort of person that could mingle with any crowd and not be uncomfortable. It was understandable as she was quite a pretty girl, soft bouncy brown hair, the trademark Black family midnight black eyes (though hers were quite warm and loving), pale skin (another trademark) and a pretty smile that showed all her teeth. Ignatius was definitely a Prewett boy; the Prewett's look very similar to the Blacks, brown/black hair, brown eyes etc.
"Ginger hair always is cute, for a Weasley." Walburga laughed nastily as Lucretia paled knowing exactly what the former was saying, she was implying that Lucretia had followed in the footsteps of their relative Cedrella having an affair with a Weasley! She was one of the few that didn't like Lucretia. Before Lucretia could respond a shout came from the door and in burst Alphard Black (Cygnus and Walburga's brother).
"Cygnus! Ella! Where is the bundle of joy?" Alphard yelled happily, he stopped though when he saw Walburga's stormy glare.
"You idiot! They are upstairs happily looking after Bellatrix!" Walburga snapped she had never really liked Alphard he was always so bubbly, kind of like Lucretia.
"Oh so it's a girl! How wonderful for them isn't it Wally?" He laughed at her stormy expression.
"Alphard Phineas Black! Leave. Now." Her eyes became dangerous slits. As her hand gripped her wand so tightly that her knuckles went white.
"Walburga, dear. How about we go and uh… let the others meet Bellatrix hmmm?" Orion asked quickly, rightly fearing that Alphard would soon be in St Mungos with multiple injuries that would be better not to describe.
"Fine!" she snapped but quickly grabbed his hand as he lead the way out, they were of course off to 12 Grimauld Place, the family home while Cygnus and Ella were residing at Black Manor (Alphard lived at another manor belonging to the Blacks with Druella's brother Evan Rosier the 3rd). After they had left Lucretia burst into uncontrollable giggles.
"What Lucy?" Ignatius asked.
"Walburga blowing up like that, it's so funny."
"Did I hear my dreaded sister in law leaving?" a voice sounded at the stairs. A weak kneed Druella was walking down holding a bundle with ebony black hair.
"Oh Ella she's beautiful." Lucretia gushed taking Bellatrix as Cygnus helped Ella sit down.
"Thank you Lucy." Ella smiled at her cousin in law. She was very content for now; she had a beautiful home, a loving husband and a wonderful daughter to dote upon. Life was good and happy.
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Bella was a happy two year old sitting on her Granny Irma's lap waiting for her daddy to bring out a baby! Her mummy used to have a really big tummy and daddy had said that her baby sister or brother was in there.
"Why did Mummy eat the baby?" She had asked always inquisitive and curious. Daddy had laughed and told that Mummy hadn't eaten the baby but that was where the baby grew until it was old enough to come out. Bella didn't really understand but she was happily playing with her Granny's hair and talking to Lucy (Lucretia Prewett) and Iggy (Ignatius Prewett) while she waited.
"Bella someone wants to meet you." Cygnus came out of the room he shared with his wife beckoning to Bellatrix to follow. She got unsteadily to her feet as her Granny helped and walked very unbalanced to her daddy who scooped her up and carried her inside.
Inside her mummy was lying on the bed with a little bundle.
"Who is that?" she asked.
"Your sister Andromeda." Ella smiled at Bella as the little girl crawled up to her and snuggled next to her looking at Andromeda.
"What's her middle name Mummy? Because mine is Ophelia so what is hers?"
"Druella, after me." Ella beamed at Andromeda who was her mini me. Bellatrix looked confused but then looked at her sister and smiled.
"She looks like you Mummy!" she laughed happily, being a two year she was really always happy especially if her daddy was with her. He was her favourite person in the world.
"That's why Daddy said to make her middle name Druella." Ella laughed as Andromeda opened her big brown eyes and looked straight into Bellatrix's black ones.
"WOW! Can I go get Lucy and Iggy and Granny and Grampy to meet Andr…Andro…Andra…um how do say her name again?"
"An-Dro-Me-Da. How about you call her Andy though." Cygnus smiled at his wife as Bellatrix jumped off the bed and promptly fell on her bottom, but quickly got up again and ran out the door to get them.
"She's a big bundle of energy isn't she?" Ella smiled at her husband as he leant down and kissed her sweetly on the lips.
"Ella, we hear you have little Andy to show us." Lucretia came in holding Bellatrix. She was closely followed by Ignatius (who was holding Molly, Bellatrix didn't really like her), Irma, Pollux, Walburga, Orion and Alphard bringing up the rear.
"Her name is Andromeda Druella; Bellatrix found Andromeda a little challenging to say so Cygnus shortened it."
"Oh Druella why do you insist on not naming children after ancestors?" Walburga frowned disapprovingly.
"I just don't do it and it's not as though it's a tradition it has just sometimes happened in the family." Ella retorted huffily. Clutching Andromeda tightly to her and kissing her forehead before handing her to Irma.
"Oh Cygnus darling, she looks just like Druella and a lighter version of Bellatrix." Irma smiled happily as she handed Andromeda to Lucretia.
"Ella! She's beautiful just like Bella was. Oh Molly what do you think of her?"
"I think she looks like Druella." Molly grinned happily as her mother hugged her tightly and shot a look at Bellatrix that plainly said Look my mummy loves me, more than your mummy does. Bella gasped and quickly left the room fighting tears. Her mother loved her! Didn't she? She certainly acted that way. Or did she? Now that Bella thought about it her mother had a lot in common with Auntie Walburga, mean and nasty. Her mummy was good at hiding it though because daddy hadn't noticed but Molly had and Bellatrix hated it.
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"Bella, Bella, Bella. Lucy said to come and get you. We have a little sister her name is Narcissa Persephone!" bubbly two year Andy ran into four year old Bella's room. Even for a four year old Bellatrix Black acted as though she was at least eight. Ever since the day Andromeda had been born Bella had resented her mother and loved her father, Andy was a lone wolf, she didn't really have her mother or her father's favouritism. She didn't seem to care she was happy playing with five year old Molly who visited often, when Molly wasn't around she hung around Bella, Bella didn't mind though she liked Andy a lot.
"Narcissa huh? Wonder who she looks like. Let's go see!" Bellatrix put on a fake smile and to an untrained eye it would seem like she was happy but Andy could tell she was upset but didn't press.
Bella and Andy made their way downstairs, Bella holding Andy's hand the whole way. Before they got to the bottom they were met by Molly holding her mother's hand and beaming at Andy.
"Molly!" Andy practically launched herself at Molly.
"Hey Andy. Bellatrix."
"Molly." The two older girls nodded, they had had a rivalry going since Andy's birth.
"Girls how about we go see Narcissa?" Lucretia asked. Bellatrix nodded so they walked to her parents' room.
"Bella sweetie, Andy honey, this is Narcissa your new sister." Cygnus smiled at his daughters. Bella looked at the bundle in her daddy's arms and gasped when she saw bleach white dead straight hair.
"Why doesn't she have brown or black hair?" Andy asked, just as inquisitive as Bella had been at that age. Cygnus shared a brief pained look with Druella who silently shook her head.
"That just sometimes happens Andy." He smiled at her, very father like. Lucretia was of course as happy a child at Honeydukes. She absolutely loved babies and of course was always over to help Druella look after them.
Andy and Bella made their leave up to Bella's room; they shut the door behind them. Bella sat on her bed and held her arms for Andy to come over. Andy lay down with her head pillowed in Bella's lap.
"Why do you reckon her hair is white Bella?" Andy asked softly.
"Because Mum is an evil manipulative woman who cheated on Dad. He knows but keeps it quiet from others. I think she ran off with Mr Malfoy when she had that 'business' trip." She made quotation marks with her fingers. Andy looked confused and of course she would, you have to remember that she is only two.
"Bella, what does maniplulative mean?" Andy asked.
"It's manipulative and it means someone who gets people to do what they want for their own gain." Andy still looked confused, well she was two. Bella just sighed and shook her head; Andy understood that as don't worry, I'll fix everything.