A young girl ran out into the gardens, laughing happily, ebony curls flying wildly out behind her. Her eyes were squinted, a result of both the strong sunlight and laughter. Behind her, keeping pace easily, was a second girl, her skirts hitched up with one hand to her hip. She brushed away an unruly lock of dark hair, exposing her face. At first glance, the similarities between the two children were uncanny: the same bouncy curls, the same dark grey eyes, the same pointed nose. It was only upon closer inspection that one could identify the differences. The first child boasted black features, giving her a natural aura of mystery and intelligence, even at so young an age, while the second girl had a rounder, softer face with large, warm eyes.
The first child twisted around suddenly, hopping in place as she waited for her sister.
"Come on, Droma!" she called breathlessly. The younger girl, Droma, pumped her legs faster, laughing, and slipped her hand into the extended one. Together, the two girls ran, hand in hand.
"Bella! Droma! Wait for me!" came the gasps of a third child. She was much younger than the other two girls, and therefore much slower. Unlike her older sisters, she did not look all too pleased with this game of chase, and was turning very red in the face in her efforts to keep up. The little girl's physique was quite different from the older girls'; her long hair streamed behind her, so blonde that it sparkled like gold in the sunlight. Her eyes were a striking blue instead of the stormy hues of her sisters.
"Go away, Cissy!" Droma yelled over her shoulder.
"You're too little!" Bella added.
"Am not!" protested Cissy, pouting.
The three girls ran until the eldest two reached a tree halfway across the grounds. Up in the treetops sat an elaborate tree house. Droma paused at the base of the tree, allowing Bella to scramble up first. Then she grabbed the lowest hanging limb and pulled herself up after her sister.
By the time fair little Cissy reached the tree, both Droma and Bella were sitting on the porch of the tree house, panting breathlessly but happily. Cissy craned her neck to see her older sisters looking down at her. Then she looked at the lowest limb of the tree, uncertain. She teetered towards it, so that she stood right underneath it, but even on tip-toe it hung just out of her grip. Cautiously, she gave a little hop, arms outstretched in an attempt to grasp it in much the same way her sisters had. But when the bark scratched her fair palms, she gasped and backed away from the tree. She glanced up towards her sisters once more, looking dejected.
"Narcissa," Bella called down to her between breaths. "You are too little. Go back to the house."
"I don't want to!" she whined. "And I am not too little – I'm six! I'm a big girl now!"
Bella and Droma exchanged looks, laughing.
"Go back to the house. Get one of the nursemaids to play with you," Droma advised.
"But I don't want to play with the nurses, I want to play with you. You never play with me!" The longer Narcissa stood there at the base of the tree, the closer she seemed to tears. Bella gave a great big huff and rolled her eyes in Droma's direction.
"Well, that's because we don't want to play with you," Droma reasoned. "You are too little. Now, get yourself back to the house where you belong."
"Why does Bella play with you?" Narcissa demanded of Droma.
"Because Andromeda's nine, Narcissa, and she can actually do things. Now go away!" Bella answered impatiently, tired of her playtime growing shorter. Then she turned her attention to Droma.
"I can't believe I only have one year left!" she squealed, ignoring the little blonde girl bellow.
"I know! It's so exciting! You better send me lots of owls and tell me what all the teachers are like. You are so lucky to be born first."
"I bet Hogwarts is beautiful. Wish we were twins, then we could go together!" Bella exclaimed to Droma, who squealed in delighted agreement.
Down below, forgotten, Narcissa whirled around and began the long run back to the house. She stumbled blindly to the house, the tears rushing down her flushed cheeks and blurring her vision. She hated them. She hated being the little sister.
All she wished for was to be a bit older so that she could reach that first limb and finally be able to play with Bellatrix and Andromeda.
Edits: Mar. 2015
