Author's Note: This is for the 180 Song Titles and Quotes challenge on the HPFFC forum. I've picked twenty-five quotes/song titles and will write twenty-five one-shots about Narcissa Black Malfoy, throughout her life. Some of the quotes will be incorporated into the story and some will just be the title and basis for the one-shot. The first one is "Your Purpose Isn't To Look Pretty and Lie On Your Back."

As always, let me know what you think! :)


Black Rose

Narcissa Black was everything a proper pure-blooded witch should be. Her eldest sister, Bellatrix, was just a bit too fiery and passionate to be considered proper, and her middle sister, Andromeda, was too outspoken about what she disagreed with (which was the majority of the commonly held pure-blood beliefs) and that was a cardinal sin according to their mother, an expert on proper behavior.

But Narcissa was a perfect pure-blood witch. Both of her sisters were beautiful, but Narcissa's beauty was softer, more elegant, more enchanting. Andromeda was brilliant, but Narcissa's intelligence was understated and less obvious, a welcome trait in a pure-blood witch. Bellatrix was intense and fiery, but Narcissa was demure and soft-spoken. Her mother laid her hopes at Narcissa's feet, and her father reserved his approving smiles for her. Narcissa herself was overly proud of her accomplishments as a pure-blood. She didn't focus on the truth, that her sisters had their own beliefs and ideas and didn't blindly follow their family, as she did. She didn't dwell on the fact that her sisters tired of her and excluded her from their secretive talks and their mischievous pranks. Narcissa Black thought the best thing in the world to be was perfect, and so she aimed her standards impossibly high, never doing anything a proper pure-blood witch should not do.

It was hard. And her sisters didn't understand.

"Come on, Cissy, live a little!" Bellatrix would urge.

"Cissy, can you not be so perfect all the time?" Andromeda would gripe, only half-teasing.

As Narcissa paced the luxurious garden of roses in her backyard, she noticed Andromeda practically running to get to her.

"Cissy, want to go on a walk with me?" she said giddily, grabbing Narcissa's hands.

Narcissa grimaced. "Andy, it's wet outside. My slippers will be ruined!" She gave Andromeda her best pout.

Andromeda rolled her eyes. "Then go and change into boots! Borrow a pair of mine if you don't want to ruin yours. Come on, Cissy, I have so much to tell you!"

Narcissa was ready to protest, but the look in her sister's eyes stopped her. "Fine," she spat, with only a touch of venom. "But I'm wearing your boots!" She tossed a smile over her shoulder at Andromeda and headed up to her sister's room.

A few minutes later, she was back, wearing the boots and an expression of distaste. "Let's go," she said grudgingly.

Andromeda giggled and started down the winding path in the woods at the edge of the garden. "Come on, Cissy!" she called, already in the woods.

Narcissa walked quickly, trying to catch up with her sister. She would never admit it, but the darkness of the woods terrified her. When she reached Andromeda, she spoke, her words lingering amongst the trees: "What did you want to talk about?"

Andromeda grinned at her. "Well, I met this guy and-"

Narcissa's squeal interrupted her. "Who?"

Andromeda's expression suddenly became guarded. "That's not an important part of the story."

Her younger sister rolled her eyes. "Andy, it's vital to the story. What's his name?"

Andromeda noticed the petulant whine that had crept into Narcissa's voice and sighed. "His first name is Ted. That's all you're getting. Now can I continue?"

"Ted….Ted Robertson is cute, Ted Hawthorne maybe, although his mother is apparently psychotic, hm, perhaps Ted Notts, that would be lovely," Narcissa trailed off, thinking of more pure-bloods named Ted, until she noticed Andromeda's ferocious look. "Okay, well, continue."

"Thank you," Andromeda said dryly. "Now, anyway, he introduced me to law and oh, Cissy, I love it!"

Narcissa stared at her blankly. "What are you talking about?"

"Ministry law!" Andromeda explained impatiently. "It's the perfect career for me. Ted showed me transcripts of trials, and told me how I could become a Ministry lawyer, and it was so helpful, much more helpful than that hag McGonagall ever was."

Narcissa shook her head in disbelief. "Andy, please. We don't need careers."

Andromeda frowned. "It's not a matter of need, it's a matter of want."

Narcissa waved her hand impatiently. "Regardless, you're not getting a career. You're a pure-blood witch."

Andromeda regarded her icily. "And what, pray tell, do pure-blood witches do?"

"We marry wealthy pure-blood husbands, have children to carry on the line, and behave properly in society," Narcissa recited without hesitation.

Andromeda's eyes narrowed. "Oh Cissy," she said acidly. "Your purpose isn't to look pretty and lie on your back!"

Narcissa moved to slap her, but Andromeda grabbed her wrist. The sisters stared at each other, anger and hurt and disappointment flashing in both of their eyes. After a pregnant moment, Andromeda dropped Narcissa's wrist in disgust and turned away, leaving Narcissa standing on the path, alone.