Chapter 14
Narcissa was woken around midnight by a loud crack, coming from outdoors. It was followed shortly by a long, high, piercing scream. She sat up, and hurried over to her window, which gave an expansive view of the vast grounds and lake. At first, she saw nothing, but as her eyes adjusted, she saw two figures running across the frozen lake. One was tall and large, running much faster than the other, much smaller figure, whose long hair was streaming behind her. It's Papa and Bella! She realized with a jolt of fear. Something wasn't right, though in the dark, Narcissa couldn't tell what. She grabbed her bathrobe, and raced down the steps, and outside in to the snow, still in bare feet.
"Papa! Bella! What's wrong? Papa!" She hurried over to the edge of the lake, shivering, and her feet numb. Finally, her father noticed her, just as she was about to step on to the ice.
"Narcissa!" He called, his voice filled with panic. "Stay where you are! Don't move!" Only then did Narcissa seethe growing crack in the surface, a hairline crack, spreading out like a spider wed towards the center of the lake, where Bellatrix stood, her father rushing towards her, sliding and falling, then picking himself up. Bellatrix stayed still as a rock, a grim expression on her face. Another muffled crack came from the splitting ice, just as Bella's father reached her. She remained completely motionless as he picked her up, and began sprinting back to shore. Still, Bellatrix didn't move. She was dead weight on her struggling father. Suddenly, Narcissa felt her self being wrapped in a cloak, and lifted. Her mother held her close, shaking not from cold, but fear. When they were ten feet from the bank, a deep fissure formed in the ice, right in front of them, revealing inky black water dark as death itself. Pernicious paused, and with his remaining strength, he hurled Bellatrix the distance to the shore. Bellatrix landed safely, but the momentum sent her father sliding over the edge into the frigid water, strong currants pulling him under instantly, forever trapping him under the ice. Narcissa heard her mothers mournful cry, as she dropped Narcissa and ran to the edge of the water.
"Non, non! Mon mari! Revenir! S'il vous plaît!" She screamed desperately, tears pouring down her face. "Non... S'il vous plaît…" She whimpered. Then she looked up. "Bellatrix, dear. Are you alright?" Bellatrix was standing calmly, surveying her mothers and sisters hysterics with disinterest.
"Yes Mum, I'm perfectly fine. Now, can we go inside? It's getting rather chilly." Serena nodded dumbly, and allowed herself to be led by the hand, rendered helpless by shock. Narcissa followed, her grief replaced momentarily by disbelief. Why was Bella so calm? Surly she wasn't that terrible- was she? Narcissa shook her head rapidly. No, no, she reassured herself. Bellatrix would never… Even Bella couldn't do such a thing to her own father… Once inside, Bellatrix settled their mother and put her to bed. Finally, Narcissa couldn't take it any more.
"Bellayoudidntreallydothatonepurposedidyou?" Bellatrix was silent. Narcissa staggered back in horror. "Did you?" She whispered. Still, Bellatrix didn't make a sound.
"Bellatrix!" Narcissa screamed. "You didn't! Bellatrix! Answer me!" She shrieked. Tears were pouring down her already wet cheeks.
"Fine! I'll admit it! I used a spell to crack the ice! I knew he'd try to come save me! So he did. And I knew…" Bellatrix paused, unsure of how to continue. "And I knew he'd die. And that I wouldn't." She said quietly, looking down. Then her head shot up. "But I had reasons! And not to mention," Her eyes glinted cruelly, "He deserved it." She spat. The she turned and ascended the stairs to her bedroom. Narcissa felt her knees give way. So this is what her life had come to. Her oldest, innocent sister was disowned and her father, her father, had been murdered by her remaining sister. She lay down on the floor, and sobbed long into the morning. By nine AM, Narcissa had managed to cry herself into a fitful, restless sleep, haunted but the image of her father's face as he disappeared under the ice. She woke to the last voice that she ever wanted to hear, saying the wrong thing.
"Cissy! Wake up Cissy!" Narcissa open her eyes groggily. Bellatrix sat in front of her, grinning. Narcissa was so disgusted and enraged with her sister that she vomited all over the floor. "Gross, Cissy!" She said cheerfully, sliding back a few inches to avoid any mess.
"I hate you, Bellatrix. Go die somewhere." She croaked. Bellatrix scowled playfully.
"That's not a very nice way to start Christmas, little Cissy." Bellatrix shoved a parcel towards Narcissa. It felt heavy. "Merry Chri-" But before she could finish, Narcissa hurled the package into her face.
"Go to hell!" Narcissa leapt up and began hitting, biting, scratching, and kicking every part of her sister that she could reach. "I hate you!" She screamed, over and over again. "I hate you! I hate you!" She was sobbing by now, and Bellatrix remained completely still. Finally, Narcissa collapsed, still whispering 'I hate you'. It was the opportunity Bellatrix had been waiting for. With an almost lazy gesture, she raised her hand, and, with nails she kept filed to a knife sharp point, she raked her nails across Narcissa pale cheek, leaving four long gashes down the side of her face.
"Touch me again Narcissa, and I'll kill you too." With that, she got up and left. Narcissa remained on the floor of the foyer she had once loved, bleeding and weeping. She stayed there for almost an hour, until her mother wandered in.
"Oh baby, don't cry," She sat next to her daughter, and began stroking her hair. "You're father died to save Bella. I'm sure there's no better way he'd have liked to go. He gave up his life so she could live hers." Narcissa shook head, still facing the floor, to hide the scratches.
"No Mum. Bella killed him. She wanted him to die; she led him out on the ice." Serena gasped.
"Don't you dare say that Narcissa! It's not Bella's fault at all. Actually, she's probably suffering the most, feeling guilt that she needn't feel. If you add to that burden, I will punish you severely." She admonished. Narcissa looked up at her mother with watering glacier-blue eyes.
"Believe what ever you wish Mum. She did."
Three days later, Narcissa stood, dressed in all black, by her mother and sister. It was her father's funeral. Narcissa stood in the front of large chapel, and well over three hundred people stood behind her. Narcissa knew very few of them, if any. She tried to focus on what the man up front was saying, but her mind kept repeating the words: Papa's dead. Bella killed him. Papa's dead. Bella killed him. Suddenly, a loud bang emitted from the back of the church. Heads turned. Narcissa could see nothing, but she heard the familiar voice of a young woman.
"That's my father! You have to let me in! This is my father's funeral! Let me in!" Narcissa gasped. Andromada! Two men at the doors held her back, refusing her entry. Narcissa glanced at her mother, but her mother's eyes remained resolutely towards the man who had stopped speaking. Narcissa couldn't bear it any longer. She broke away from her mother's side, and tore down the aisle.
"Dromada! Drama!" Andromada's head shot up.
"Cissy baby! Cissy, tell them to let me in, please!" Narcissa kept running.
"Let her in! Let her- Ow!" Someone had grabbed her around her waist, and was pulling her back.
"Oh no you don't, Cissy!" Bellatrix was dragging her back towards the front of the chapel.
"Let me go Bellatrix! Let Andromada in! It's you're fault she's here! You were the one who killed-!" Bellatrix jabbed her wand to the back of Narcissa's neck.
"Stupefy!" And the world went dark.
Narcissa woke twenty minutes later, laid across a pew. Serena turned and placed a hand on Narcissa's forehead.
"Good. You're awake. Can you walk?" She nodded weakly. "Good. It's time to leave."
But it wasn't really, at least, not for Serena, Bella, and Narcissa. They were expected to stand outside, thank everyone who came, and receive words of 'comfort'. After the first twenty unfamiliar people, her vision blurred, and Narcissa kept her eyes down as she murmured 'Thank you,' and shook hands. Forty five minutes later, the last guest stood before her.
"I'm sorry to hear about your father's death, Narcissa."
"Murder," She corrected, the clapped her hand over her mouth, and looked up slowly, dreading to see who she had probably just offended terribly. "I mean- Lucius! What are you doing here?" And had he seen the fit she had thrown? Oh, who cared? She didn't care what he thought anyway. But Lucius didn't look angry. He looked sad.
"Come here, Narcissa," He pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her, so that her cheeked leaned against his shoulder, and his chin rested on her head. Ur She realized with a start that Lucius was the first person to hold her since her father's death. It was nice: She felt cared for. She stayed in his arms as long as she dared, then pulled away. She looked up at Lucius hopefully.
"Lucius, I know it may sound crazy but-" He held a finger to her lips to quiet her.
"Hush, Narcissa. Yes I believe you. Actually, I know for a fact that Bellatrix killed your father on purpose." He said seriously. "But," He continued quietly, "No one else is going to believe it, and it would be for the best not to go bandying it around. I could cause… Trouble." Lucius looked down at her solemnly. "I have to leave now," He glanced over at his parents and sister, who Narcissa hadn't noticed before. "Just…" He hesitated. "Just don't do anything rash, and instead of trying to attack Bella," He touched the fading scratches on her cheek gently but meaningfully, "I would be wiser to stay away from her. Okay?" Narcissa nodded in agreement, the gloom settling back over her.
"I-I'll see you at school Lucius. Bye." He smiled kindly at her over his shoulder.
"Good bye Narcissa."
When Narcissa arrived back at Flocon de Neige, she headed immediately to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed. "Ouch!" She quickly leapt back up. Something hard in her pocket jabbed her side painfully. She reached in side and pulled out a small box that hadn't been present when she left. A note was attached. It read:
Narcissa,
Again, I'm sorry about you're father's…Death. Still, I thought I should give you this.
Lucius
Narcissa opened the box, and inside was a necklace unlike she had ever seen. A plain, thin gold chain glimmered in the low lighting, but it was the pendant that intrigued her. Seven snakes of different coloured gems intertwined, sliding over one another as if alive, but never leaving the diameter of an invisible circle of two centimeters. Any other time, Narcissa would have been fascinated, but she simply tossed the necklace onto her bedside table, and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
When Narcissa woke the next morning, she immediately put into action Lucius's words, avoiding Bellatrix with a passion. Serena disappeared for long hours during the day, coming back tear-streaked or drunk. Narcissa knew for a fact that her mother was violently anti-alcoholic, but Narcissa didn't have much time to worry. Before she knew it, Narcissa and Bellatrix were back at platform 9 ¾, waving goodbye to their mother. Bellatrix instantly boarded, but Narcissa sought out her friends first.
"Cissy! Oh, Nalini, look! There she is!" Ari rushed over to Narcissa, and kissed her on each cheek. "Bonjour, Cissy! Guess where I've been over Christmas break?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Paris! Can you believe it?" Ari was bouncing excitedly, but when she saw Narcissa's forlorn expression, she stopped. "What wrong, Cissa?" But Narcissa shook her head.
"I just, er… Didn't have a great holiday… But any way, Nalini! Where were you?" Nalini's long chestnut shone brightly, and her skin had a healthy golden glow. She had obviously seen lots of sand and sun.
"Oh! Well, my Mum and Father and I went to Hawaii, in America, you know. And there was this incredibly hot surfer guy named Aidan, and he taught me how to surf… Are you sure nothing's wrong, Cissa? You're acting a bit strange." Narcissa sighed.
"I'll tell you later, okay?" Ari narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Cissy, is it serious? Was it… It was Lucius, wasn't it? I knew it!" Ari looked as if she was about to say more, but she didn't get the chance.
"No, Adrienne, it had nothing to do with me. Now, if you'll excuse us. I have some exceptionally important matter to discuss with Narcissa that I do believe is of far greater relevance than your mindless banter. Now, if you will…" Lucius picked up Narcissa's bags, enjoying Ari's look of disbelief and rage as Narcissa obediently followed him to the train. He led her to an empty compartment, and after her had stowed their luggage in the over head shelves, he stuck his head out the door.
"Severus. Crabbe, Goyle. C'mon!" He hissed. The three of them entered, as well as Bellatrix. Narcissa sat up.
"If she's going to be in here, I'm leaving." She tried to get up to leave, but Lucius easily held her down with one hand, and helped store baggage with the other.
"You both stay. As I said, we've got some important issues you need to know about. So you may as well stop struggling…" He put his free hand on Narcissa's other shoulder. She slumped in her seat, defeatedly.
"She killed my-" Lucius interrupted her.
"I know. That's what we need to talk about. Your behaviour isn't helping…" He side stepped a kick aimed at his shin. "What the hell? Stop it, Narcissa!" He dropped his chivalrous act, and dropped into the seat next to her, still holding tightly to her shoulders. "Listen, this is important, and you're not leaving." Narcissa scowled. How dare he presume he could keep her there, simply because he felt like it? Filled with rage, she reached over and slapped Lucius.
"Let me go! I'm not going to sit her with Bellatrix! She killed my father!" Narcissa screamed. Lucius clapped a hand over her mouth, more surprised than angry, and he grasped both her hands in one of his.
"Shut up Narcissa!" Instead, Narcissa sank her teeth into Lucius's hand, drawing blood. "Shit! Narcissa! Calm down!" He still didn't remove his hand, and ten minutes after the train left the station, Narcissa, humiliated and tired of struggling, collapsed on the seat, and stared out the window morosely. Lucius took his hand from her mouth slowly, and when he realized that she wouldn't scream, he dropped his hand to his lap.
"Look Narcissa. If this weren't important, we wouldn't be keeping you here, but you have to hear this, so wait." Narcissa pouted, and refused to look at any of them. She heard Goyle speak from somewhere behind her.
"This is not a trivial matter, Narcissa. Bellatrix made her decision, and she will have her consequences. Lucius made his decision as well, and the rest of us made ours. There's not much an option for any of us, especially not after this evening." Narcissa turned around slowly, suspiciously.
"Why? What's tonight?" Lucius quickly joined in.
"See, that's what we were trying to-"
"Lucius!" Snapped Narcissa. "I was talking to Goyle." She stated defiantly. Lucius's eye's narrowed.
"Well, that's just too bad now, isn't it?" He hissed. "Seeing as I'm answering." Narcissa felt the colour flare into her cheeks.
"Maybe I don't want to hear…" She mumbled. Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Drop it, Narcissa. You're hearing whether you want to or not. So hear it is: The five of us," Lucius gestured to the rest of the occupants in the compartment. "And a few others have joined what you may call a… Club." Narcissa snorted, recalling the conversation she had over heard at the Christmas party.
"More like a cult, if you as me." Narcissa muttered. Lucius glared at her coldly.
"And what, pray tell, do you mean by that?" Narcissa shrugged in feigned innocence.
"Oh, you know. Nothing. But don't mind me. Please, do continue." Narcissa smiled sweetly. Lucius kept talking.
"Alright. But you have to understand, what your sister did was not a baseless act. She and I made a choice, and she's seems to be well on her way to-nevermind." Buthe flashed a secretive grin at Bellatrix, who smiled wickedly back. "Any way, I can't give you many details at the moment, but you need to stop acting like this. Alright?" Narcissa stood.
"Whatever. I'm leaving now." She tried to walk out but Lucius grabbed her wrist. She turned and gave him a stare that could freeze waterfalls.
"Lucius, if you don't let me go, right this instant, I will scream so loudly, that this whole train will be-" Lucius interrupted again.
"Yeah, sure. And you're not going to tell you little friends about this, right? Especially not Ari." Narcissa was silent. "Right? Dammit Narcissa, you can't tell any one!" Still, she didn't say anything. "Shit. Okay, okay, how about this. If you can keep your mouth shut, I will…" Lucius paused, thinking hard. "What do you want me to do?" Narcissa sat back down, considering the question.
"Well… I would like to know more about this cult you all have joined, for one thing. For another, I need you to swear to me that everyone else in my remaining family is totally safe, and that they won't end up like m-my Papa." Narcissa ducked her head to hide the tears which came to eyes whenever she thought of her father. She heard Lucius let out his breath next to her.
"Come with me. Narcissa. I need to talk to you alone." Lucius stood and led her to a compartment farther down the train hallway. Once inside, he closed the door and slid his wand down the seam where the door met the wall, securely locking it. Then Lucius turned back to Narcissa. "Sit." He commanded. She did, and he sank into the seat across from her, resting his elbows on his knees, and his forehead in his hands. "Okay. This may not be easy for you to understand, but I cannot promise you that. I can promise you that I will do all that I'm capable of to keep anything from happening to you and your mother, but Bellatrix is on her own. And this 'cult' that you want to know more about, well, to keep the first promise, I can't tell you any more than I have. It's complicated, Narcissa. Really complicated. I just… I don't want to get you or your mother in any danger. It's really important that you don't tell anyone else. Everyone who should know does know, and if one person, one person, tells one of the professors, or if that idiot of a headmaster finds out, we're all screwed. And please stop calling it a cult, Narcissa." He looked back up, propping his chin on his fists. "I swear to you Narcissa, I will do anything and everything within my power to keep you and your mother safe, okay?" Narcissa chewed her lower lip nervously.
"Erm… Actually, I just wanted to be sure the Bellatrix wouldn't attack Mum or I. Is there… some other danger?" Lucius let out a short, harsh bark of laughter, and leaned back in his seat, covering his face with his hands.
"Bloody hell." He mumbled. "'Is there some other danger'. Yes, Narcissa! There is!" He jumped up and started pacing. "Look, if you and your mother keep up the way you are, then probably not as much, at least, not for the same reasons. But Narcissa," He looked at her meaningfully. "Stay away from Andromada. Okay? Try to act like she's not really you sister, like you don't know her. Try to separate yourself from your cousin Sirius, too, though I know you're not fond of him… And I'm still not exactly sure of all the details, but if you can just trust me, I think you'll be fine. But like I said, don't tell anyone, especially not Ari, and stay away from Muggles and mudbloods, alright?" Narcissa stood up and nodded.
"Great Lucius, now you've got me all worried," She muttered, only half joking. His placed his hands on her shoulders in a reassuring manner.
"Don't be. I'm not trying to frighten you, I'm just asking you to do this one thing. For me." Narcissa looked up and knew that this wasn't going to happen often. She knew that Lucius was far too independent, far too proud, to ask her for anything he didn't desperately need, or wasn't terribly important.
"Yes, of course." She breathed. "Anything." Lucius gave a small smile, as he gently pushed her hair away from her face.
"Good." As he bent towards her, Narcissa closed her eyes expectantly. She felt the tip of their noses touch gently, and then his lips press against her's. Tentatively, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and then… CRASH!
"Ouch! Ari! Get off me!" Muffled voices came from the other side of the door. Narcissa dropped her hands to her sides, and turned towards the sounds.
"It wasn't my fault, Severus! You were the one who was-" Severus's voice grew louder. Lucius rolled his eyes and pulled out his wand.
"Don't give me that, Ari! You were coming here to-" Lucius slid open the door, and leaned casually against the frame.
"Good afternoon, Severus. Adrienne. Any particular reason you two are… On the floor?" Ari and Severus were sprawled awkwardly on the floor, Ari obviously having fallen on top Severus. "Anything we should know about you two?" He raised one eyebrow, keeping a strait face. Only his eyes glimmered with amusement. They both scrambled up, but Ari scowled accusingly.
"Don't you dare Lucius. We saw you and Narcissa snogging in there, didn't we Severus?" Severus nodded sheepishly in agreement. But Lucius just smirked. "And you were watching? The smug looks disappeared, and the both stalled.
"Erm, ah, well, I was just, you know, walking by, and I happened to run into Severus. Literally." Ari rubbed her bruised arm. "So really-" Lucius interrupted.
"Cut the shit, Adrienne, I saw Severus waiting outside and I saw you watching too." Ari sneered.
"But we still saw you."
"So?"
"Oh, you don't care if the whole world see's you and Cissy doing… inappropriate stuff? What take Cissy for, a slut?"
"No, I don't, and it wasn't 'the whole world', it was you two spies, who, for some unknown reason, pry into other people's business…" The rest of the four hour train ride lasted this way.
By the time the train arrived in Hogsmeade, Narcissa was nearly in tears. Finally, she couldn't take it any more.
"Will you two please shut up! I'm so sick and tired of your bickering! Can't at least pretend to get along with each other for like, twenty minutes?" They paused, and then Ari made a face at Lucius.
"Cissy's pissed off, and it's entirely your fault Lucius! If you could just stop being so obstinate and shut your mouth for-" Ari started.
"I'm obstinate? I can't shut up? If you think that's the case, you're delusional…"
"I'm not delusional! I-! Wait a minute where did he go? Where're Severus and Lucius? They… They're gone!" She looked wildly around, but as she had said, they had completely vanished. Narcissa noticed that Bellatrix was no where to be seen either, and Narcissa had a good idea where they were. But she kept her promise, and said nothing.
(A/N: Happy holidays everyone! I expect hate mail due to Bellatrix… Okay. To my beloved reviewers:
Stacy: Yeah, weren't Lucius and Mahalia great? She was based off the oldest sisterin a book I read, who was also terrible to her youngest sibling… I just needed someone in the plot who could totally control Lucius, you'll find out why eventually…
GentleRaven: Thanks so much, I feel flattered. Glad to hear you liked it.
Alaskagirl24: Thank you!