Track: Halo - Beyonce
On a snowy December day in a beautiful ceremony, my best friend married a man she doesn't love.
Everyone was standing as Bellatrix descended the grand staircase, Narcissa and I carrying her train. At the end of the aisle, Rodolphus and Rabastan we're already standing at attention, as good looking as ever. Their eyes-and the eyes of everyone else in the room-were fixed upon us.
Paisley Crouch, our cousin, and the flower girl, was standing to the side with Sirius and Regulus, the two ring bearers. Sirius looked as though he'd swallowed a bag of dragon dung. He'd rather be anywhere but here. I shot him a look, and he straightened up, putting a neutral expression on his face.
As we reached the other side of the ball room, Bellatrix ascended the other grand staircase, while Cissy and I arranged her train as we had practiced. Narcissa then took her place at the bottom of the stairs, looking proud but heartbroken at the same time. I stood, tall and elegant, on the stair opposite Rabastan, just below our siblings, about to be married.
And at that moment, I wanted to call out, to yell, to scream. To take my sisters hand and run. To call off the entire wedding.
But I knew I couldn't. I couldn't do that to Bellatrix. I couldn't embarrass her with every important wizard under the sun watching. Although I might've considered it if I thought my sister would come with me when I ran for it. But she wouldn't.
Because Bellatix is going to do this. She has to do this. It's the right thing. And she's doing it, no matter what. Even if the cost is her happiness, she's willing to make that sacrifice. My sister is determined. No one could say anything to stop her.
If I voiced my fears, it'd make it that much harder for her.
I can't do that to Bella.
Because although the man at the other end of the aisle is not who any of us want him to be, it's still my sisters wedding day. She deserves a perfect day. I'm not going to ruin that.
One tear escaped my eye and rolled down my cheek, the product of our hopeless situation. Father saw it.
The Minister of Magic, who was sitting in the front row next to my father, was sniffling at the beauty of the ceremony. He too, caught the tear rolling down my cheek. With that, the man began bawling at the emotion and beauty of the wedding.
Father, thinking I was acting, sent me a wink for making the ceremony feel so convincingly emotional for the Minister. He then returned his attention to the bride and groom above me.
I looked down, Cissy was blinking furiously, fighting the tears threatening her own pale blue eyes.
Scanning the crowd, I noticed my Slytherin classmates amongst the many important faces that filled the seats. They were all sitting too far back to notice my and Narcissa's tears. Good.
Rabastan, however, was not. I turned to face him, standing on the other side of the stairs. He had noticed my tear, and he understood what it was for. Because we're all on the same boat, the kids on the stairs. We all get it. To prove my theory, the younger Lestrange gave me a sad smile before turning his head up to watch our siblings become husband and wife.
The little minister was nearly done saying the empty words he had rehearsed. They meant nothing to the five people standing on the stairs. We all knew the truth about this marriage.
Suddenly, I heard a new voice. "I do." The voice was deep and smooth. Rodolphus Lestrange had just signed away his happiness and agreed to marry my sister whom he doesn't love. The minister squeaked something else out, and everyone turned their eyes to Bellatrix expectantly. She hesitated. But only slightly. She then drew up to her full height, raised her head, put on a commanding expression, and said, in a commanding voice, "I do."
The new Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange leaned forward for a half-hearted kiss as the crowd rose to its feet. All were cheering a clapping approvingly. Mother and father looked over at the Minister beside them, clapping whole-heartedly, and smiled.
Only the five people on the stairs seemed unhappy.
The party that followed the phoney wedding was a swank soiree equal to those traditionally thrown by the Black family. It was incredibly dull.
Zabini was there, and he and Lara slow danced in the corner the whole night. It still brings a smile to my face.
I danced with Rabastan a few times, then handed him to Patricia. Thorfinn asked me to dance and I said no. However, he asked yet again, while my parents were watching. They looked at me expectantly, so I had to agree. It doesn't matter how good of a dancer he is or how good he looks while doing it. He's a git and I hate him. But I had to dance with him until Mother and Father turned their heads. As soon as they weren't looking, I made my escape. I danced with little Sirius for for the rest of the night.