Chapter 1: Harm None
|November 15th, 1953|
"Cygnus please! Just calm yourself." Druella pleaded with her husband for the twentieth time.
"There's going to be an investigation! The Ministry said plainly they'd be watching our family, if Bella had kept her damn mouth shut there would be no problem. I never did want children!" Cygnus shouted at his wife.
She cowered at his raised tones, realizing there was no point arguing with him she tried to leave the room. Even drunk he was much quicker than she, he grabbed her by the arm when she opened the door and pulled her back roughly.
"Cygnus please! Let's talk about this tomorrow okay dear?" she said trying to sound calm though her heart was pounding rapidly.
She looked towards the door and noticed that her almost three year old daughter was standing at the now open door. Cygnus had become distracted and was shuffling through a large stack of parchments on his desk. She tried to plead silently with her daughter to leave but she didn't understand her moms frantic motioning and instead entered the room.
"Mummy I heard yelling." said Bellatrix calmly.
"That was nothing sweetums, mummy and papa were just talking too loud. Let's get you back in bed, you've got to rest up to heal that collarbone as quickly as possible." Druella cooed at her little girl.
She gently lifted her daughter and turned to walk her back to her bed.
"I wasn't finished talking to you Druella!" came a cold slurred voice from behind her.
"Let me put Bella to bed, she doesn't need to hear all this."
" Hear all this what? It's her fault people are whispering about us. The Black family is a noble pureblood family! They say we're abusive, unfit to be parents! They already spread rumors that she was disturbed since her first accidental magic hurt that man so badly. Then I barely touch her and she's hurt, if she wasn't so damned fragile her collarbone wouldn't've broken. I wish you were a boy Bellatrix!" he shouted at the now sobbing girl.
" I'm sorry papa!" she didn't understand what she had done wrong but she didn't want him to be angry anymore.
Her voice touched Cygnus deeper than his wive's could. His eyes snapped open suddenly quite aware of the situation and the fact his daughter was crying again due to his actions.
" Bella, I'm sorry... I'm wrong. So wrong. Papa shouldn't be blaming you. You don't even understand do you? That's alright pea I'm sorry for shouting at you. Give your papa a kiss and let mum tuck you back into bed. I promise I won't yell anymore." Cygnus said in the softest voice he could muster.
Drunkenly swooping onto his bed he awaited his kiss. Bella approached him slowly, his heart felt the sharp sting of his daughters apprehension. When she reached him she smiled and hugged him softly kissing his cheek.
"Night papa. I love you!" said Bella.
Druella took the sleepy girls hand and led her out of the room.
Cygnus had calmed himself. He knew what he needed to do. Number one, he couldn't drink anymore. Number two he had to regain respect for his family name.