Apologies for the super long delay (Next chaps will be up sooner, though I'm away now for a week)

A huge shout out to my fantastic beta. You're awesome!

A massive thank you to my girl, whitedragon1988, Darkshadow-lord, Berserkeroo, wild artemis, Greyella, numberedheartbeats17, purplefriday and to all others who have and will continue to comment. Thank you for your support.

Whitedragon1988: You'll just have to stick around to find out…

Berserkeroo: Steal away Thank you for your comments, critique is always helpful. I have (in part) deliberately not covered how they're alike yet, and shown them to be 'romantic' (well, you know what I mean) with no support. I never ignore comments, and nit-picking is good. I am semi-human, so I do miss things.

Chapter Six - "Well you despise mudblood's, halfblood's and blood traitors, do you not…?" Narcissa merely gestured for her to continue. She knew she was walking on very thin ice, and she wasn't sure why she did it exactly, but she said. "That's why you turned your back on your sister Andromeda, because she was a blood traitor…" The fire rising in Narcissa's eyes, she once more raised her wand "Your point being mudblood?!" She spat. "My point being, it seems to run in the family… Being a blood traitor I mean…" And with that, she apperated back to HQ, leaving Narcissa Malfoy seething, confused and alone in Knockturn Alley.


Chapter Seven

The Snow Queen, ruler of the snowflakes, and of her winter wonderland. A land of bleak desolation. Of desperation and despair. Was her haughty nature a guise, a façade? Or was it indeed her true vocation, and reflection? Cold to the outside world, few knew the true extent of her complex nature, of what lay beneath her ice and snow. They knew of her fierce familial loyalty. They knew of her effortless grace, poise and elegance. They knew of the immense pride she held in honouring her duty, and of her high social standing. Narcissa Malfoy was a private individual. Quietly growing up; shadowed by the infernal chaos erupting from her elder siblings. She had aged gracefully, the years being exceptionally kind to her, and was now; perhaps in her most delectable of stages, like a tight bud blossoming into a soft, fragrant English rose. The cascade of ice blonde hair shimmered fluidly around her slender shoulders, rippling onto the cool blue lagoon straps of her chiffon night dress. The iridescent colours dancing a lustrous play in the cool moonlight rainbow, as it pooled at her slender feet, caressing her every curve.

Her phantom presence and the eerie glow from the moon emitting the only light, in the darkened boudoir. Blackness protruding into the shadows, and once again sinking into obscurity. Like ink staining parchment, or wine poisoning lips. Adjusting to the void of light, her azure eyes gazed across to sleeping form of perfection atop the grand four poster dominating the room. Silent. As still as a petal of life, upon a river of death. Silent. Like a long lost princess cursed into a false yet lingering sleep.

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That evening, Bellatrix had been otherwise engaged. Of course. The fates had always favoured her sister. Favoured..? Favoured her in sadistic frivolity. Maybe. Instead Narcissa had taken her bitter emotions out on those foolish enough to enter her. To disturb her. Her calm exterior hid the turbulence that threated to spill inside. Her blood boiled. Her mind raced. As she desperately tried to make sense of the words of Hermione Granger. The muddied words still ringing in her ears, like a steely chime of warning. "It seems to run in the family… Being a blood traitor" Yes Andromeda was a 'blood-traitor', and though it was true that she and Bellatrix had parted ways with their middle sister, that wasn't entirely an accurate account as to why. That also didn't explain why Hermione had said "It seems to run in the family… Being a blood traitor". She certainly wasn't a blood traitor. She had stayed true to her husband all her married life. Well, mostly. She had never slept with a muggle, mudblood, squib, half-blood or the like, and never would. The thought repulsed her…

So that ruled her out. Leaving her husband, her son, and her sister. Narcissa had sighed at this, refilling her glass for the third time, and sipping at the sweet elfish nectar. The obvious choice was her husband. Her son Draco made no secret of his disgust at anything tainted or impure. Lucius on the other hand, made little secret of his numerous and often illustrious affairs with witches, harlots and prostitutes. However, though fidelity wasn't something he bothered to concern himself with, status and blood purity were, and she was sure he would never risk his name in such a way. Which left her sister, Bellatrix. Like her husband, she too regarded blood purity and status highly. Didn't she?! However, life was merely a series of games to Bellatrix, and sex was one which she would always strive to win. Could her big sister really be a blood traitor?! Eyes closed she shook her head, no that didn't make sense. Maybe it was Draco, maybe he'd fallen for a mudblood at that horrific school. Or maybe her husband was paying for the services of a muggle. Sighing again, she'd downed her drink. This was all too complicated. Damn that filthy mudblood. She's probably spreading lies to cause factions within my family.

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In looks, the antithesis of Narcissa. Her untamed raven curls tearing around her sweet ivory complexion as she lay in her dormant state. Her fiery passion sedated, stupefying her toil and heartache, at least temporarily. A gentle breeze caused by an open window, caused her blackened silk slip to ripple against her feminine figure. A soft purr elicited as ruby lips twitched in a smirk from her dream state. Bellatrix was as ferocious an aphotic beauty as Narcissa was ethereal.

Darkness came so quickly these days. Stalking daylight like a beast stalks its prey. The suffocating breath engulfing all it touches, crushing the life out of the light.

With a sharp flick of her wand the room filled with candle light, as one by one the dozens of candles around the room came to life. Their tongues of heated energy licking at the cool night air as they writhed to an ancient and silent tune. Shadows crept across lavish tapestries and skulked against corners and crevices. Ever as gracious, Narcissa floated to the regal four poster bed of her sister, falling softly to sit next to her as she slept. Her eyes danced, animated across the face of beauty as she placed a hand an over her ruby lips, apply enough pressure to wake Bellatrix in a start, the fear in her eyes, melting as she saw the smile of her sister looking back at her.

Bellatrix moved to sit up, but was restrained, her arms and legs bound with another flick of Narcissa's wand. "Bella, we need to talk".

As her sister removed her hand from her lips, amusement turned to bewilderment, and then to frustrated anger. The fire in her eyes boiled as molten fury coursed through her veins. "Cissy let me go!" Bellatrix hissed with malevolence as she struggled against her bonds. "You'll regret this when I get free!" Finally anger turned to desperation, as her body weakened and she collapsed back on her silky pillow. "Please Cissy, please"

Smirking with satisfaction, Narcissa sat back, surveying her handy work. "You do know I could gag you Bella, so if I were you I'd behave… I could do anything to you whilst you're like this…" her eyes twinkled devilishly, almost daring Bellatrix to defy her. Daring her to misbehave.


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