A.N: Special thanks must be given where it is due. My fantastic writing partner-in-crime Dallas graciously permitted me to include Catarina Lestrange in this chapter because she's the only mother I can ever accept Rodolphus having. And thank you to all those who have favourited, followed, and continue to read.
PART 4
1967
The fragile peace of the Yuletide Room that united the three unique sisters began to fall into a chasm of darkness when Narcissa was in her second year at Hogwarts and Bellatrix was the sixteen year old who thought she could break every rule and get away without consequence. That was when genuine anger seeped through the cracks and muddied everything.
"Cygnus and I simply cannot permit it. She is only sixteen," Druella stated icily for the third time. The ever-composed Catarina Lestrange sat opposite the woman with a serene smile on her red-painted lips while the three girls stood in the shadows obediently, observing the interaction with rapt attention. Andromeda felt Bellatrix' nails bite into the flesh of her forearm and distractedly noted the sudden sensation of a warm liquid trailing down over her wrist as she continued to bury her own nails into her sister's upperarm. There couldn't be any outbursts of furious objections from their little gallery of three or the attempt to secure Bellatrix a place at the Lestrange Manor for the second half of the winter holiday would be sabotaged no matter how much kind wheedling Rodolphus' mother did.
Everyone in the room knew that the Lestrange matriarch got under Druella's skin like no one else could. Despite her composure, her daughters knew the signs: an irregular tick just above her left brow, made more pronounced by the shadows cast by the flickering fire; white knuckles bent on shattering the porcelain tea cup in her clawed hands; and the pinch at the corners of her mouth as if she'd bitten into something decidedly sour. Druella Rosier was rattled.
Setting her own cup down on the trolley beside their seats, Catarina seemed unperturbed by the other woman's continued refusal. "Druella, if you are concerned for your daughter's maidenhood, you need not worry."
Andromeda clenched her jaw against the pain that doubled in her arm as she glanced over at her sister knowingly. Narcissa's gaze sought her oldest sister out as well. Even Druella spared the girl a glance for a moment before redoubling her efforts to dissuade the woman from her request. Druella may not have known in that moment but Andromeda and Narcissa were well aware that any concern for Bellatrix' virginity was long overdue. There was nothing anyone could do about it then.
"The concern is more in upholding the traditions of our bloodline but the reminder of that risk is dully noted."
"I do not wish to tread on the traditions of your prestigious bloodline but I must remind you that the arranged marriage dictates that your daughter will take up the Lestrange name, become mistress to the Lestrange holdings, and carry on the Lestrange bloodline and traditions." Andromeda didn't miss the vicious grin that bloomed on her sister's face even as she witnessed her mother's tick grow more pronounced as the colour drained from her face.
"We will look after your daughter as if she were our own, as she one day will be. My husband and I wish for Bellatrix to get accustomed to the Manor and the traditions of our family even now. The bond between my son and your daughter must be strong. I am sure you understand." Catarina rose from her seat and by the time she turned to acknowledge Bellatrix, the girl had torn her fingers out of Andromeda's arm and deftly wiped away the blood left on her nails.
The smile the woman imparted on the three of them was so genuine it took all three of them by surprise. For a second Andromeda was helplessly trapped in the thought that that was what a real mother's smile looked like and what it felt like to be the recipient. It was a foreign feeling but not unwelcome. When the regal woman turned her attention back to Druella, the absence of such a smile left a hollowness in Andromeda's chest.
As soon as they were dismissed, Bellatrix broke away in search of Rodolphus as Andromeda and Narcissa knew she would. No doubt he was enjoying the far more civil relations between his father and theirs. As Bellatrix' dark hair disappeared around the corner, Andromeda reached her hand toward Narcissa only to drop it just as quickly back to her side. The impulse was strong but her little sister had made it abundantly clear that she wasn't a child anymore and refused to be handled as one.
"Do you think we should follow her?" Andromeda questioned aloud.
The shrug that Narcissa gave in return was graceful rather than uncouth on her. "It wouldn't make a difference, really. You know she'll simply ignore us or shout at us to leave her be."
Rodolphus was in their home and that was all that mattered to Bellatrix at the moment. Despite her vocal denial of emotional attachment, it wasn't hard for her sisters to see through her façade. Of course while they were ensconced at Hogwarts, Bellatrix' preoccupations didn't concern her sisters overly much. Narcissa had her own relationships to cultivate and Andromeda was caught up in navigating school without drowning in her contradicting thoughts.
"Perhaps Rabastan has tired of adult conversation and will entertain us," Narcissa offered lightly.
Andromeda nodded. Though Rabastan wasn't her favourite person, it would be far better than escaping into the library only to be chastised for being unsociable yet again. The sisters strode toward the drawing room where they knew the men to be, certain that Bellatrix and Rodolphus had already come up with an excuse to be alone. However, just outside the closed doors, Andromeda felt a feeling wash over her, a jolt of unease that shivered down her spine.
"Cissy."
The blonde glanced at her sister, concern evident in her gaze but Andromeda couldn't articulate her feeling. With a gasp, she simply knew.
"Andy—" Narcissa's hand was held aloft and useless as the middle sister turned on her heel and headed for the staircase at a pace just shy of a jog. As she watched her sister's tension radiate from her in nearly palpable waves, the twelve year old sighed and slowly followed after. She never could quite read her bookish sister these days but that didn't mean she wouldn't keep after her anyway.
Andromeda wasn't aware that Narcissa chose to trail after her. She was only intent on putting her nerves to rest. But with each step she took up to the second floor, the deeper the pit grew and the hungrier it became, snatching up her hope and reassurances too easily. Yet the pit couldn't prepare her for the sight she laid eyes upon when she shoved open the door to their room.
What had once been a brightly lit room with the most absurdly coloured decorations and collected Christmas oddities was a shadow of its former self. It had lost its flare over the years as the girls had grown up and found less and less appeal in the chaotic colours. But the lack of decour hadn't been the binding force of the room, not since they were young. Though it had never been said aloud, each of them had been well aware that their own desire for a place to share and protect together had been what kept them going back year after year.
The glaring wrongness of the room Andromeda looked in on wasn't pinned to the shredded tinsel or the questionable mold creeping over the wreaths in the far corner. What consumed the girl's vision was the sight of her sister pressed into one of the overstuffed cushions they'd acquired, letting Rodolphus Lestrange silence her mouth with his. Dried mistletoe began to crumble between Bellatrix' fingers where she gripped at her lover's back, trying to pull him closer.
The very rare stirring of rage began to flood Andromeda's system as she barked, "Rodolphus get off of her! Now!"
She had forgiven her sister for countless things she'd done in the past, but in that moment, Andromeda was certain she would never forgive her for this. She strode into the room as the two broke apart. Rodolphus was mystified by the murderous look on Andromeda's face but she bore him no mind. She knew he couldn't be at fault for this. He hadn't know. He couldn't have. And a part of her was certain that if he had, he wouldn't have let this happen. He had respect for other people and their wishes, something Andromeda knew then that her sister cared nothing for.
"You have ruined it," Andromeda seethed as she stood over her sister. "Everything."
Bellatrix had the audacity to look smug from her position the floor. "Stop being such a child and grow up, Andy. You're just jealous."
There was a small gasp at the doorway; Narcissa caught up to everything unfolding in the room. Andromeda didn't register the sound over her own internal scream just before she kicked out, catching her sister in the side. The sick irony of the situation didn't escape the fourteen year old as Bellatrix gripped her side and struggled to get to her feet.
"Don't bother getting up, sister," the words dripped like sweet poison from her lips. "All you're good for is lying on your back like a muggle whore."
"Andy!" It was Narcissa that protested in shock. Andromeda felt just as stunned by her own words as everyone else the moment they left her mouth and she slowly backed away at the black expression consuming Bellatrix' visage. The whiplashes of fury had vanished, leaving a dull ache like betrayal that stuck to Andromeda's insides as she quickly made a retreat. If there was a remedy for this, the middle sister had a feeling it would be difficult to find.