Chapter Ten: Narcissa's Confession

Sirius whistled, noticing for the first time the sunshine filtering in through ceiling of the Great Hall. He eyed a raven-haired lass who happened to pass by him, her prefect's robes clinging oddly close to her skin. As a test, he gave her a barely perceptible wink, his cinereal eyes disappearing for a moment.

The raven-haired beauty stopped abruptly, and held her bag of books as though her life depended on it. Sirius looked at her longingly—wondering if there was enough time before the start of Charms to make it a date. Just then, Cornelia appeared out of nowhere—her bag of books looking as though it was ready to burst. Sirius nearly sighed wistfully, but his walk purposeful, arrived in class.

James leaned over,

"They say there's a girl who can stop a man in his tracks."

"She's like a bloody second conscience."

"Perhaps it wouldn't bother you so much if you weren't missing the first one."

Sirius sneered, and darted out of the classroom as soon as Charms was over.

Bellatrix Black was throwing darts at a picture of her sister. She appeared to have fully recovered from her unusual bout with emotions. A handsome figure appeared in her room. He cocked his head as if appraising her actions, before speaking.

"So cliché, no?"

"What do youwant?"

"Only a moment of your time, my beautiful cousin."

"Flattery is unnecessary"

"And still delightful"

"I wish you would leave."

"I wish I would tell your mother that both her daughters are enthralled with the same man, a filthy half-blood."

Bella quirked an eyebrow at Sirius and sneered elegantly.

"My aunt is quite the prejudiced little bitch, isn't she?"

"My dear cousin, I fear that my aunt is not much better."

The two were very close, Sirius' head hovering a good seven inches above Bellatrix's. For a moment, Sirius could have held her in his arms and comforted her. But, why would she require his comfort?

"How are things going with that awful Cornelia?"

"Just fine, thank you."

Bellatrix clicked her tongue against her teeth.

"You are just going to have to do a better job, aren't you?"

"No."

"Is Sirius just a little bit disappointed?"

Sirius rolled his eyes at Bellatrix's mocking tone, and continued, adopted a saccharine sweet voice for his first sentence.

"Just a little bit. And where were you last night, my dear cousin?"

"In the Room for Requirement."

"With who?"

"With whom," corrected Bellatrix rather superciliously.

"Fine, with whom?"

"Rodolphus Lestrange."

"Moldy Roldy? How absolutely appalling," remarked Sirius, encircling Bellatrix's tiny waist with his arms.

"He is not moldy Roldy," exclaimed Bellatrix rather childishly, burying her head in Sirius' chest, feeling oddly comforted.

"Oh, is he precious moldy Roldy, now? A friend of the lovely Lucius, is he not?"

"My dear cousin, I have no interest in pursuing this conversation further. My mother is arriving by floo shortly, and if she finds you here, you will have much to explain."

"I am fully clothed, my darling."

"I know."

"Is it disappointing?"

"Not in the least."

Sirius grimaced for a moment, and disappeared.

Predictably, Mrs. Druella Rosier Black arrived, glorious in her dispirited robes, dusting them off unnecessarily as she left the fireplace. Bellatrix knelt down and kissed her mother on the hand before quickly standing once more. The mother gazed upon her eldest daughter beatifically, and nodded.

"Bellatrix, why are you wearing those silk robes?"

"Mama, I am afraid that my other robes are not particularly clean, and I wished to look presentable for this fortuitous meeting," lied Bellatrix cleverly.

Mrs. Black presented her daughter with another simpering smile.

"How lovely. I heard that you have become acquainted with Mr. Lestrange's eldest son."

"Rodolphus? Yes, he was very polite during our meeting yesterday."

For a moment, Bellatrix had considered replacing meeting with sexual tryst, just to observe the effect on her mother, but thought better of it. It was the sort of thing that Sirius would have done.

"Yes, he is a very fine boy. Are you willing to marry him?"

"Whatever is necessary mother?"

"Bellatrix, I hoped that you would be more romantic about this. Us pureblood witches must be strong, but feminine. A marriage of convenience can be glorified to a loving relationship," remarked Mrs. Black in a most uncharacteristic manner.

"I am sure that I will come to love him."

"Yes, for it is only with love that one can embrace the next step. Bellatrix, I do not want to pressure you at such a young age, but there is a moment in each girl's life, where she experiences something that cements her future as a woman…and a mother."

Bellatrix listened intently, as though thoroughly captivated by her mother's words.

"Now, when you marry Rodolphus, this moment will occur."

Mrs. Black stood up as though she had corrupted her young, innocent daughter enough, and flooed home.

Cornelia had been taken out of class again to appear before the Ministry with her father. This time Barty, Jr. had not been taken out of class—Cornelia thought that her father rather valued his son's education more than his daughter's. Her mother Elladora was not an imposing witch in the least, and quite content to fade into the background, virtually invisible next to Barty Crouch's shining star.

From what Cornelia knew of her mother's time at Hogwarts, she was not entirely surprised that her mother behaved in this way. Although she could not say that Elladora had been brought up entirely in the pureblood witch mold—she had certainly done what was expected of a pureblood witch. She had found a proper pureblood husband and had her pureblood children, and now she was keeping up appearances. Cornelia found it absolutely sickening. The only thing she could say was reassuring about her mother was that she was nothing like Druella Rosier Black, friends though they were.

The Slytherins were all like that, really. At least the witches—simpering over their men. Andromeda Black had talked to her once about this strange situation.

'Dromeda was another odd fellow. Cornelia knew that her family had been disappointed when Andromeda had been sorted into Ravenclaw—although not nearly as disappointed as when Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor, a year later. 'Dromeda had told her as much rather ruefully—noting that because she was not a male and she was not an heir—there was not much of a loss to the family. Cornelia was relieved that she had at least escaped this—didn't her presence at the Concillarium meetings confirm this? 'Dromeda had told her all about the different pureblood parties—and all the girls—Olivia Avery, Lena Carrow, Rosalyn Travers—they all seemed to be of the same. All except Bellatrix.

"Cornelia—stand up straighter. The Minister is coming to stand with us and they will take a photograph," whispered her mother, poking Cornelia in the back with her wand. Her father had been displeased because the last photograph showed Cornelia ducking in and out of the picture as though she didn't care to be there. Which, she supposed, she didn't.

"Pursuant Minister Bagnold's suggestions—we have somewhat narrowed the cases in which the earlier rule will be applied. While we continue to favor the rapid disposal of cases in which Death Eaters working for You-Know-Who are implicated—this choice to send them to Azkaban without a trial will be a discretionary decision based on the recommendation of Senior Ministry members."

Sirius was channeling Bellatrix, and feeling hopeless and forlorn in his room. A curious James glanced at him, smirking.

"What is it, you worthless fool?"

"Oh, I am simply enjoying watching the glorious Sirius Black endure his first brush with humility. It is a very memorable moment."

"Shut your trap, you mocking…Marauder."

"Your barbs are sticking to my skin, Sirius," returned James, smiling easily at his friend's discomfort. He continued, striking a nerve,

"She doesn't like you. She never will. Stop all this useless flittering and return to your crowd of Hufflepuff admirers."

"I don't really enjoy these pathetic responses to what I consider to be a mind-blowing problem."

"Shall I laugh at the pun, or will you?"

"Laugh all you want, I'll show you."

"Great words, mister philosopher. Unfortunately, a wandering eye indicates a faltering mind," offered James, lounging into his bed.

"Oh James, have you been reading?" replied Sirius.

A haggard Narcissa Black entered the Heads' Suite with trepidation.

"Bella?"

"Why, hello Narcissa," replied Bellatrix, a paragon of hospitality, while whisking away the dart ridden photograph.

Narcissa was crying as she looked up at her sister.

"Are you quite alright, my darling," asked Bellatrix disingenuously, knowing perfectly well what the problem was and wondering why her sister had not arrived sooner.

"No."

"Calm down. Tell me what the matter is."

"Something horrific happened two nights ago. When I had followed your instructions."

"What do you mean?"

"It is not something one would mention in company, Bella."

"Cissa, I am not company. I am your sister, and bound to take care of you."

"It involves Sirius. He…er…took advantage of me."

Bellatrix looked sharply at her sister, as though the news had surprised her.

"Does Mother know?"

"Oh, if she did, she'd never forgive me! Or him, you mustn't tell a soul. It happened in that room upstairs, on the seventh floor."

"Cissa, why didn't you do something?"

"I was too frightened."

"So, you met Sirius in a secluded location where he promptly forced you. Is that it, my dear?"

"No, of course not!"

"What is it, then?"

Narcissa trembled, but whispered what transpired into her sister's eagerly awaiting ear.

"How did it feel?"

Narcissa looked distinctly surprised at this new angle of questions. She stared at her sister for a moment, then replied,

"Well, it was something I had never quite experienced before."

"My dear, this is precisely what I meant when I suggested adventure."

"Truly?"

"Of course, my dear. Now, you must simply continue trusting Sirius and he will open this world to you."

"But Bella, Sirius is my cousin. I love Severus, not him."

Bellatrix gave a short, cruel laugh.

"What do you think Lucius Malfoy is? A distant relation? Aunt Walburga and Uncle Orion are first cousins. Even Severus is family. If we stopped marrying relatives, our blood would become impure as those of that revolting mudblood, Lillian Evans, and the Blacks would no longer be the royalty of wizards. Besides, Severus is not naïve. He will not understand if you are inexperienced. It is your duty to make him happy. I think that you should embrace this aspect of your life with alacrity."

"But wouldn't that…make me a woman of disrepute?" asked Narcissa gingerly.

"Why, Narcissa, it is a very common occurrence."

"Bellatrix, do you do it?"

"Narcissa, now is not a moment for questions."