DISCLAIMER": I don't own the quotes or the characters or the universe. Shocking, right?
SUMMARY: Bellatrix locks herself in one of the bathrooms of Malfoy Manor soon after the murder of Charity Burbage.
Bellatrix hated being humiliated by anyone. Especially by the Dark Lord.
Narcissa hated that her sister could still overrule her, after all this time.
"Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime."
"Bella! Bella open the door," came the cold voice of Narcissa Malfoy from outside the bathroom door.
Bellatrix waved her wand casting a silencing charm, she no longer wanted to listen to anything. She wondered when her littlest sister's voice had become so cold, so devoid of emotion, so hopeless.
She could feel the door shake as Narcissa banged on it. They were never as close as she had been with the traitor. Andromeda had been their binding force and with her gone, sometimes Bellatrix wondered if they were sisters at all. Where Narcissa was fair, Bellatrix was dark. Narcissa was subdued and Bellatrix was bold. Narcissa was the perfect wife and Bellatrix defied the very laws of womanhood. Where Narcissa would never harm a fly if she could help it, Bellatrix took joy in hurting people. Where Narcissa remained stoic and impassive, Bellatrix's face was always flushed with emotion, her eyes dangerous, and her voice sultry.
Bellatrix slowly got up, and faced herself in the mirror. Her gaunt face, the blood-stained hands and the eyes that looked like they had lived a thousand years, none of her Black looks remained. A stream of sunlight filtered in through the window and lit up a little of her hair, turning it a medium brown. It reminded her of the traitor.
"Bella! Bella! Not so fast," screamed a little girl as she tried to keep up with her older sister.
"Oh come on! You haven't reached the best part yet."
The two girls ran through Diagon alley while their father walked slowly behind with a stoic expression on his face. His hands were stiffly at his sides as he pretended like he wasn't fond of his little girls.
When they reached the ice cream shop, both the excited girls sat down, waiting for their Father to arrive.
"Oh no, now my hair is all out," complained Andromeda trying to push her hair back into the braid.
"You're so lucky," sighed Bellatrix wistfully.
"Why?"
"Your hair is so pretty, Andy. It's not fair."
"Well, so is yours."
"No, mine is black and curly. Yours fall in these soft brown waves that go down your back."
"But yours is pretty too."
"Do you mean that?"
"I really do. And if I could, I would give you my hair."
"Really?"
"Yes, Bella."
"But why?"
"Because we're sisters silly. And that's what sisters do, they share."
Bellatrix smiled happily and chose her favourite flavour while Andromeda fixed her hair.
Bellatrix laughed at their foolishness. She laughed at the stupidity of it all and then she screamed louder than she ever had before, throwing her shoe at the mirror, consequently losing control of her wand breaking the silencing charm and falling on to the floor in a heap.
"Bellatrix! Bella! Open the door! Please!" shrieked Narcissa.
She could hear the soothing voice of the Malfoy calming Narcissa down.
She could hear he sister pounding on the door, but she paid no heed. After all those years, every time she thought of Andromeda, she hurt all over, the pain of betrayal overpowering all her other senses. And in some moments of vulnerability that no one else had witnessed before, she missed her little sister.
With a soft click, the door managed to open and Narcissa Malfoy came inside. Lucius had never seen it before, but his wife sat on the floor next to her sister, her legs folded in a cross.
"Bella, what happened?"
"She left."
Lucius wasn't quite sure what she saw talking about but Narcissa didn't seem to find it necessary to explain.
"She left a long time ago," said Narcissa calmly.
"She left us," repeated Bellatrix.
"She did."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I don't...I don't know," Narcissa replied truthfully.
"She left us for the MUDBLOOD!" shouted Bellatrix.
"Bella, forget it."
"I'm gonna kill them."
"What?"
Bellatrix's eyes lit up with a different kind of passion, one which Narcissa had never seen.
"Bella, what are you talking about?"
Bellatrix whispered, her voice dangerously low, "I am going to kill the girl and her werewolf husband."
"Bella," tried Narcissa.
"I am going to zap the life out of the girl first."
"Don't."
"What's it to you?"
Narcissa didn't flinch. In a soft voice she said, "Nothing. Nothing whatsoever."
Bellatrix cackled "I'll make her pay. The traitor."
"You will not kill my niece."
"What?" Bellatrix growled.
"You heard me."
"Yes, I heard you. Cissy, you're a fool. You and your stupid husband."
"Don't say a word against Lucius."
"Aaaah love. What a fickle stupid thing."
Narcissa scoffed. "What would you know about it?"
"Why do I need love when I have power? Power beyond reckoning."
"Love has a power that you can never have."
Bellatrix laughed. "You sound like that weasel Dumby."
"Don't kill her," warned Narcissa.
"Or what?"
"I'll make you pay."
Bellatrix smirked "I'd like to see you try."
In that moment, Narcissa knew by the expression on her sister's once beautiful face, that she had made up her mind. Narcissa had lost. Again.
Bellatrix left the room, her eyes red, her wand in her hand stroking the mark on her left arm soothingly, a wicked grin on her face, determined to kill the girl and her husband. Because after all this time, the betrayal still pierced her heart, like the sharpest arrow of a quiver, would never be able to do.
"Sometimes the one you'd take a bullet for, ends up being the one holding the gun."
A/N: Please leave a review. If you loved it or hated it, or are completely indifferent to it, tell me and tell me why. Lots of love to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed. Thanks for reading! I've always thought Narcissa and Andromeda were close, as I have shown in my one shot THE FAIRY GODMOTHER. Take a look if you want a deeper insight into their relationship that remains active through Nymphadora. This is why I feel Narcissa wants to protect her niece.