AN: This story was actually written back in 2004. It's possible that I have posted it on here before but I can't really remember and since the fate of the website it's currently residing at is a bit up in the air at the moment, I decided to back it up here. Let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.
Black Manor 2004
The house sits situated on a large hill out in the middle of nowhere. From the outside it looks like a horrid place teeming with rabid vermin and blood-sucking parasites. Windows are still broken from the years before when little boys smashed them with baseballs and the door is only hanging on by a hinge. There are bushes in front that obscure the front porch and vines running up and down the walls, smothering the house from the outside in.
Some people say its haunted.
No one knows for sure though, because no one's dared to enter it. Once, a couple of teenage boys hoping to make themselves look brave went into it, but upon leaving the house they were never the same. Some people said the house was evil, and back in 1976 when weird lights and thundering sounds filtered down from the hill, no one thought any different.
Hogwarts, December1976
It was the middle of the seventies. A year known for Rocky, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, the Olympics, and the biggest graduation party that Hogwarts had ever seen. It was relatively known throughout the whole year leading up to her graduation, that Bellatrix Black was planning on throwing the graduation party to end all graduation parties.
Obviously, it would be by invite only.
Which was why Ravenclaw's were throwing their finished homework on the floor at her feet and Hufflepuff fourth years were stealing their sister's or brother's best herbs and handing the little baggies to her at an unusually interesting rate. It was also why everyone in the school had called a truce, even Gryffindor and Slytherin, for at least one night of fun… Or one week, depending on how much whiskey and cocaine you could come up with.
Bellatrix was living in the lap of luxury, as were her sister and closest friends. It seemed that if you had connections with Bellatrix Black, you'd turned into the most popular student over night. Even the Marauders were leaving Severus Snape alone in hopes that he could get them into the party, just in case Sirius couldn't work some Black magic of his own.
The craze had started before the Christmas holidays. The sleepy students of Hogwarts had come down to the Great Hall, dragging their feet and rubbing at their sleep-encrusted eyes. Eyes snapped open though, as Bellatrix and Narcissa Black sashayed up to the head table, their chins pointed hauntingly and smug smirks playing on their lips. Everyone watched with rapt attention as Narcissa turned to Professor Dumbledore and whispered something for his ears only. Bella's smirk widened as Dumbledore pulled himself up onto his feet and told the school that "Miss Black has asked me if she and her sister can make a short announcement."
Bellatrix nodded curtly when Dumbledore relinquished the floor to her. Then she opened her mouth and said, her voice silky smooth as it magnified across the vast room, "At the end of the school year, I've planned a… get together for a few of my closest friends. The party is for upcoming sixth years and above, and although no one under that year is permitted, all of the houses are. If you'd like to attend, I'd make sure you remain in my good graces until then."
Then, with a sharp click of their heels on the floor, the sisters made their way back to the Slytherin table to eat their breakfast of fresh strawberries and blueberries. The rest of the students had allowed them only seconds to sit in peace before wide-eyes turned to each other and the whispering and conspiring began.
Gryffindor parties were fun, Hufflepuff a bit smoky, Ravenclaw interesting, but none compared to Slytherin parties… Especially Slytherin parties thrown by a Black sister.