Cygnus Black sat contentedly in his leather armchair, observing the scene before him.
He wasn't one for parties, but they were a reputation-booster for any respectable pure-blood family who intended to marry off their daughters to a man from an equally respectable pure-blood family, thus, he obliged to Druella's desires.
Amongst the crowded- although, massive in its own right-ballroom, Cygnus found Bellatrix. He watched as she entertained a group of men, among them, Rodulphus Lestrange, whom he and Druella had decided the most suitable pick for their eldest daughter. Her lips parted slowly, and a dark glint rose to her eyes as she laughed.
Cygnus always found himself listening intently to the laughter of his offspring, amazed at how it reflected who the three were as people.
Bella's was the perfect mixture of fire and ice. It crackled along the entire room, shocking any and all of it's listeners. Breathy and full of gravel, yet high-pitched. The most beautiful and terrible of cackles to ever be heard, much like Bellatrix herself. Yes, if there was any way to describe his eldest daughter, it was beautiful and terrible.
Cygnus then averted his gaze to his second daughter, Andromeda.
Meda. Undoubtedly less pretty than Bellatrix, however Andromeda's laugh was one of pure ecstasy. There was something about it, quiet and soft, yet so powerful and passionate. That was the essence of Andromeda. Always there. Always the perfectly imperfect middle.
Cygnus searched the room for his last daughter.
'Cissa. Her laughter exploded from her pale pink lips, a blinding white radiance surrounding herself, and everyone around her. Cygnus knew Narcissa believed she was the white sheep among black sheep, the angel. And she would simply be nothing more than that, Cygnus thought. He watched as she smiled and threw her head back, face glowing. It never reached her eyes. Those dark, dark eyes. One part of her would always be alone.
He smiled as he examined the three girls once again, perfect divisions of himself, and wondered why he could see nothing more than servants.
He wondered what it would be like to love them.