1960
Events of interest in the Muggle World:
May 16 – The first ever functioning laser invented by Theodore H. Maiman
May 22 – Valdivian Earthquake, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded rating 9.5 on the moment magnitude scale
Bellatrix wasn't looking forward to her ninth birthday. If her father was right, that would bring her a year closer to her time at Hogwarts. She didn't want to go to some school where she wouldn't have her sisters or parents for company, even if it was for magic. Andromeda was two years younger than her, that meant she wouldn't even have one sister for company at the school until she was nearly thirteen. Andromeda would be eleven before Bellatrix would be thirteen, as she was born in August while Bellatrix was born in December. The school year starts in September, so Andromeda would actually be eleven before starting, unlike Bellatrix. Bellatrix envied that. She wouldn't be eleven until three months after the start of the year. Why couldn't she wait until she was nearly twelve? That way she would only have to have one year of school alone.
Bellatrix sighed. As it was, her sister was only seven now. Narcissa had turned five, and Magdalena had turned three. All of them would have at least one other as company during their first year of school. For the first time, being the oldest wasn't a privilege, it was a hindrance. She would give anything to be one of the younger ones just so she would have company during her first year at Hogwarts. She'd been told by her parents that she would make friends there, but she couldn't imagine herself being friends with anyone but her sisters. She didn't even like her cousin, who was only a baby at one year old. She guessed it was because he was a boy. She tried to like him, she really did, for the sake of her Aunt Walburga, but she just didn't. Andromeda seemed to be the one out of all of the Black sisters that liked him the most. Bellatrix didn't know why.
"Mummy, what happens if someone doesn't want to go to Hogwarts?"
"Bellatrix, you're going to Hogwarts."
"Yeah, I know… but what happens if you don't want to?"
"Then they most likely grow up without learning how to control their magic, and it will probably be taken away. And in this family, they'll probably be removed from the family tree."
Bellatrix winced. "You and Daddy would really do that? If me, Andy, Cissy, or Maggie refuse to go we wouldn't be considered family anymore?"
"If magic gets stripped, you're like a squib, which is someone born to a magical family without magic. Blacks have never counted squibs as family. But none of my daughters will be removed from the family tree, because all of them will be going to Hogwarts."
Bellatrix pouted. "I understand, Mummy." She walked off and slipped into Andromeda's room. Andromeda was asleep in her bed. She went over to her and shook her shoulders. "Andy, wake up."
Andromeda was jolted awake. Her eyes cracked open. "Wha…?" She raised an arm to block her eyes against the harsh rays of sunlight coming in through the window. "Bella? What do you want?" She sat up, still in her nightgown.
Bellatrix hopped onto the bed with her and pulled her into a hug.
"Bella," Andromeda gasped. "Bella…you…you're squishing me."
Bellatrix let go. "Sorry."
"What was that for?"
"I'm going to miss you when I'm at Hogwarts."
"But…" Andromeda's expression grew puzzled. "That's not for a couple more years."
"I know. But I won't have you or Cissy or even Maggie for company anymore."
"Bella, it's still a couple years." She hugged her older sister again. "Enjoy us for those couple years."
Bellatrix nodded. "Okay."
Meanwhile, Narcissa was playing with her little sister. They were playing with Bellatrix's old blue ball, passing it back and forth to each other. They sat spread-eagled to keep the ball between their legs, but their feet weren't quite touching so sometimes the ball would roll out of their reach. Even if it was on the opposite of the room, Narcissa was always the one that went to get it. She was better on her feet than Magdalena was. Magdalena was much like Bellatrix had been, moving in short little bursts of energy and frequently falling down. Narcissa could run, so she could definitely walk without losing her footing.
After a while, it became obvious that Magdalena was getting bored of their game.
"Okay, Maggie. What do you want to play, now?" Narcissa asked.
"Bella," Magdalena stated.
"Oh, you want to see Bella?" Narcissa pouted slightly. Why couldn't she just play with her?
Magdalena nodded.
"Okay, let's find Bella." Narcissa stood and took Magdalena's hand, bringing her to her feet as well. They abandoned the blue ball. "Daddy," she started when they came across their father. "Have you seen Bella?"
"She was talking with your mother a few minutes ago," Cyngus answered. "I don't know where she is now."
"Okay." Narcissa walked on with her little sister. Finding their mother would be the next best bet. A few minutes later they found her in the kitchen. "Mummy?"
Druella looked over her shoulder. "Yes, Cissy?"
It was clear she was cutting something up, most likely preparing a meal.
"Do you know where Bella went?"
"You could check her room."
"Oh," Narcissa replied. "Duh." Why hadn't she thought of that? She led her little sister out of the room and along the hallway all of their rooms were in. Magdalena still stayed in one of the nurseries, but the other three all had their own bedrooms. She knocked on Bellatrix's door when they reached it. When she didn't get an answer, she pushed the door open but found the room empty. The bed was made, and it didn't look like Bellatrix had done much in it that day. She closed the door again and frowned in thought. She hadn't seen Andromeda at all that day, so maybe she was with her. She walked over to Andromeda's bedroom door with Magdalena in tow and knocked.
A few moments later, the door was opened to reveal Andromeda still dressed in her nightgown. "Yeah?"
"Maggie wants to see Bella. Is she with you?"
Andromeda held the door open wider to reveal the eldest Black sister sitting on her bed.
"There you are."
Bellatrix looked over. "What's up, Cissy?"
"Maggie wants to see you." Narcissa walked into the room with her little sister.
"Okay," Bellatrix replied. "Get her up here." She patted a spot next to her on the bed.
Narcissa walked over to Andromeda's bed and she and Bellatrix helped Magdalena up onto it.
"What is it, Maggie?" Bellatrix asked.
Magdalena just crawled into her biggest sister's lap and hugged her.
Bellatrix laughed softly. "I love you, too. Is that all you came for?"
Narcissa shrugged. "She didn't want to play with me anymore. She wanted to see you."
Bellatrix looked down at Magdalena. "Maggie, why don't you want to play with Cissy? She's fun, too."
"Yeah, Maggie, that probably hurt her feelings," Andromeda added.
Bellatrix looked to her blonde sister. "Come on up, Cissy."
Narcissa got onto the bed as well and sat next to her older sister.
"I'm gonna miss you, too. When I'm at Hogwarts." Bellatrix wrapped her arms around her little sister and hugged her close, careful of Magdalena in her lap. She kissed her cheek. "And if someone here," she continued, looking pointedly at Magdalena. "Thinks they're above playing with you, I'll still play with you, okay?"
Narcissa nodded. "Thanks, Bella."
Andromeda hopped up onto the bed, feeling a bit left out. "So will I, Cissy." She took Magdalena from Bellatrix's lap and plopped her down into her own. "And you, miss Maggie, should play with Cissy anyway. She loves you, you know. We all do." She pressed a kiss to her forehead. She turned her to face Narcissa.
Magdalena crawled out of Andromeda's lap, back into Bellatrix's, only to crawl into her blonde sister's lap. She sat there and looked up at her. "Maggie sorry." She snuggled close to her.
Narcissa hugged her. "It's okay, Maggie." She kissed the top of her head.
"Really?"
Narcissa nodded. "Really."
Andromeda let her head rest against Bellatrix's shoulder. "Remember what I said," she told her quietly.
"What's that?" Bellatrix asked.
"It's still a couple years. There's time for you to enjoy us before you go."
Bellatrix nodded. "I remember."
Other Wizarding World events:
January 9 – Severus Snape born
January 30 – Lily Evans born
March 10 – Remus Lupin born
March 27 – James Potter born
Unknown date – Greta Catchlove born
