Fandom: Harry Potter
Relationships: Familial – Narcissa Black and Sirius Black
Warnings: alternate universe; Gryffindor!Narcissa Black; and original characters (Hazel Brown and Valeria Pierce)
Prompt: (AU) Different House
Summary: In her first year, Narcissa Black was Sorted into Gryffindor.
To Love a Lion
001. So, It Shall Be
"Black, Narcissa!" called Minerva McGonagall as she looked up from her list of new students, glancing over the group in question.
When her name was called, Narcissa Black squared her shoulders and she lifted her head up before walking forward. This was the first impression people would remember her by. She was determined to show fearlessness and elegance before her Sorting, unlike some of her year-mates had shown nerves and shakiness. Those actions weren't a good first impression.
As a daughter of the House of Black, Narcissa was held to high standards. She was the youngest of her sisters and she was the youngest female in her family. It was her duty to leave a flawless first impression before being Sorted into Slytherin. It was the best way to secure a good pure-blood marriage for her. Her parents had their sights set on either Lucius Malfoy or Sirius Black.
Unfortunately for her family, Narcissa disagreed with their plans. She wasn't going to be the Slytherin Ice Princess they expected her to be. Narcissa had decided she wouldn't be a Slytherin when Lucius Malfoy was Sorted there. She wasn't going to be in the same House as Malfoy and no one in the family could make her.
When she was seated on the stool, the Sorting Hat was lowered over her eyes, blocking her view of the Great Hall and the numerous students. Taking a deep breath, Narcissa forced herself to remain calm. She was nervous. She would be the first Black to break the tradition of being Sorted into Slytherin.
"Interesting, very interesting," the voice of the Sorting Hat whispered in her ears. "You're ambition is worthy of Slytherin."
"Not Slytherin!" Narcissa demanded, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want to go to Slytherin, and she would be damned if she let this Hat force her there.
"I understand, child," the Hat said, a chuckle in his voice. "I'm just trying to decide where to put you. You won't do well in Hufflepuff, and you're not much of a Ravenclaw. That leaves Slytherin or Gryffindor."
"A Gryffindor I shall be," Narcissa stated. She didn't have much against Gryffindors, but they weren't the smartest of individuals. That would be changing as Narcissa joined them.
"So, it shall be GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat said, shouting the last word.
The hall filled with silence as Narcissa took the Hat off before passing it to a stunned Professor McGonagall. With her head held high, Narcissa stood up and she walked towards her new housemates. A few Gryffindors traded looks before a weak applause followed.
As Narcissa took her seat, her eyes drifted over to the Slytherin table, where her sisters were seated. Bellatrix had her eyes narrowed, glaring at her youngest sister, while Andromeda raised an eyebrow, studying Narcissa.
Turning, Narcissa found her cousin, Sirius Black, staring at her with wide eyes and his mouth open.
"Black, Sirius," Professor McGonagall called, pulling his attention.
With one last glance at Narcissa, Sirius turned forward. He shook his head, turning from Sirius to Heir Black as he walked up to the stool for his own Sorting.
A moment later, Sirius was joining Narcissa at the Gryffindor table with a sheepish grin.
"At least we're in this together," Sirius whispered as he sat down next to his cousin.
Narcissa smiled. "Promise to have my back?" she asked in a whisper.
"I swear," he nodded. "And you?"
"I will, I swear it," she promised.
The two shared a smile as they felt their magic bond.
"How much do you wanna bet I get the worst howler?" he asked with a grin.
"Only a fool would take that bet," Narcissa stated. "Aunt Walburga is something else."
They shared a laugh before they turned their attention to the Sorting. They followed the example of their housemates by clapping each time a new student was placed there.
...
Unlike most of her family, Narcissa didn't have a problem with muggle-borns or muggle-raised students. She wasn't particularly fond of them because they lacked the basic understanding of their new society. They were ignorant of the culture and the traditions in their new world. It wasn't their fault. It was the government's fault, mostly that of Albus Dumbledore and his allies'. Instead of ignoring them and their questions, Narcissa offered explanation and books.
Narcissa received wide eye looks as she setup her area. Four candles were placed around her bed, on dresser, and her desk – blue towards the west, green to the north, yellow to the east, and red to the south. She placed a hairbrush under her pillow with another in the drawer of her bedside table with an assortment of hairpins and hair-ties.
"What are you doing?" asked Lily Evans, a pretty redheaded muggle-born with unique green eyes. Her hair was worn in loose waves.
"Performing a Blessing," answered Marlene McKinnon, a dark pair pure-blood with hazel eyes. Her dark hair was pulled back in a twisting bun.
"It purifies the space," added Hazel Brown, a blonde half-blood with blue eyes. Her blonde hair was cut short and pinned back with several clips.
Alice Monroe shook her head in disgust. "It's how she gets rid of the muggle germs," she said. She had dirty blonde hair that hung like straw, and she had plain brown eyes.
"No, it cleanse the space," Marlene stated, crossing her arms. "A Blessing clears away negative energy and any residual magic."
"You're no better than Black," Alice declared. "You're Dark, just like her."
Marlene pressed her lips together. "Blessings are Neutral magic," she said. "There's nothing Light or Dark about them. A Blessing is about sanctify and making the space your own.
Alice shook her head. "You're Dark, end of story," she declared. Without another word, she stormed over to her bed. She crawled onto the covers before closing the curtains.
Lily tilled her head to the side in thought. "I've never heard of a Blessing before," she said. "Is there a way I can learn more?"
"I-I have some books you can borrow," offered Valeria Pierce, a muggle-raised half-blood with black hair and dark eyes. Her hair was pinned on top of her head.
"Thanks," Lily said with a smile. "I'd love to learn more – about everything."
Valeria slowly returned Lily's smile before she pulled a few books out of her truck. "M-my grandmother had me read these," she explained. "S-she doesn't want me to embarrass the family."
"Which family?" Narcissa asked, curiously. There were a few traits the girl possessed that looked familiar – her eyes, her high cheekbones, and her her eyebrow ridge.
"P-Prince," she replied.
Narcissa nodded. That made this girl the daughter of either Eileen Prince or Aelia Prince.
...
Out of her roommates, Narcissa found she lot along best with Marlene McKinnon and Hazel Brown. Both of them were related to prominent pure-blood families, though either of them among the Sacred Twenty-Eight Houses. The Brown family immigrated from Wales during the sixteenth century, and the McKinnon family immigrated from Scotland in the seventeenth century.
Both Marlene McKinnon and Hazel Brown acted as a young pure-blood woman was expected to. Marlene wore her dark hair pulled back and up, favoring a twist or a french braid, while Hazel Brown wore her short blonde pinned back. Their robes were neatly pressed and made from the finest mineral. When socializing, they were polite, rarely shunning anyone and they kept the conversations appropriate, staying away from bloodism and alike topics.
Naricssa was trying to get along with both Valeria Pierce and Lily Evans. While lacked the magical upbringing with the manners and customizes taught to them, they were both trying to adapt to the new world they found themselves in. Valeria had the books from her grandmother to assist both her and Lily, they lacked the experience.
The second morning, Lily asked where she could purchase a special hairbrush and she asked to borrow some hairpins and a hair-tie before needing help with a hairstyle. Narcissa was happy to give her the requested hair-ties and hairpins while Marlene took over styling Lily's hair.
All the while, Alice Monroe and her childhood friends, Margret Prewett and Evelyn Carson, looked on in disgust, ridiculing their actions. A few other muggle-borns watched in fascination, wanting to learn more.
...
It wasn't until breakfast on the second morning a pair of owls delivered scarlet envelopes to the Gryffindor table: one for Sirius and one for Narcissa. They were seated next to each other when the owls landed.
Exchanging a look, Sirius and Narcissa reached out to the letters.
"Who wants to go first?" Narcissa asked her cousin with a small smile.
Sirius returned the smile. "Ladies first," he said.
With a shrug, Narcissa opened the envelope.
"How dare you!" the voice of Druella Black shouted. "You've embarrassed me, your father, and your sisters! You're an embarrassment to the House of Black. A Black in Gryffindor. Your father has never been so ashamed."
The letter ended by bursting into flames.
Narcissa turned to look at her cousin. "You're turn," she said. There wasn't much of a point in reacting in public. It would only serve to "embarrass" and "shame" her family more. Honestly, she didn't feel much about the howler. She knew it was coming the moment she decided to go somewhere else other than Slytherin.
Next to her, Sirius opened his letter.
"What is wrong with you, Sirius Orion Black!" shouted the voice of Walburga Black. "You had one task – one! And you ruined it. You're supposed to be a Slytherin. Not a bloody Gryffindor! You're a screwup! Thank Merlin, we still have Regulus. He's a good son, unlike you!
"Never before has there been a Gryffindor in the family – and now there's two. You've even corrupted your cousin down. My brother has a daughter in Gryffindor. Do you know what this has done to her marriage perspectives? You have ruined her future! Now no one is going to want a Gryffindor for a bride. You are a disgrace to this family!"
Like the previous letter, this one bursted into flames when it ended.
"You're was worse in terms of volume," Narcissa stated, "but it wasn't worst in terms of words."
Sirius laughed. "Yes it was," he disagreed. "You're only an 'embarrassment' and a 'shame' to the family. I'm a 'screwup' and a 'disgrace', and I've 'corrupted' you thereby destroying your life."
"Fine, you win," she said with a fond smile.
They shared another smile before returning to their breakfast.
...
Their time in Gryffindor was pleasant. It took awhile weeks for their housemates to adjust to the Black cousins. Narcissa befriended her roommates. Marlene quickly became her best friend. Over pranks and jokes, Sirius befriended a few of his own roommates. He was closest to James Potter and Remus Lupin.
Sirius played a huge role in her survival. They spent the winter holidays locked up in Gryffindor Tower together. They spent nights in front of the fire, doing their homework together and drinking hot chocolate. On Christmas morning, they exchanged gifts before heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast with the other remaining students and staff.
Due to her friendship with Marlene, Narcissa was had an enjoyable first year. The hardest part of being a Gryffindor was being cut-off from her family. Narcissa was close to her sisters, and she was her father's favorite daughter. Overnight, she went from a member of the family to a parasite. Thanks to the generosity of Marlene and her family, Narcissa had a place to go for the summer break when her parents refused to let her come home.
This was written in response to Shop for a Prompt Challenge from Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenge Forum.
Prompt: (AU) Different House
Words: ~2,000
