Chapter Fourteen: The Return

Author's Note: This chapter is based off a role play between my best friend and I, she as Bellatrix Lestrange, and I Narcissa Lestrange. Also, credit goes to my Ice Princess Liv, who helped with getting the character of the Dark Lord correctly.

Even 5 years after her husband's death, Narcissa still was not truly herself. Now that her brother-in-law and sister had escaped Azkaban, she was still a little off. However, her sister and her husband were now living with Narcissa, and her children Evander and Clara. She had often been a bit cold towards her sister, almost in anger, because she had been gone for so long. Even though she loved and had missed her dearly, the woman that appeared to her on her doorstep was no longer the woman that Narcissa had spent hours with in their youth.

Apparating back home, she carried a few parcels, things that her sister requested she get for her. It was hard housing fugitives, even if they were family. She had kept Perseus' death a secret from Rod and Bella, it was bad enough they found out about Rab's the way they did. As angry as she could be with her sister, she still didn't want to cause her anymore pain. Going in, she walked straight up to her sister's room, knocking lightly on the door.

It was taking Bella a long time to get used to being free from that place, she jumped at shadows and loud noises hurt her head so badly she'd cover her ears with her hands. She couldn't be left alone for long and was literally glued to her husband's side, but she was now even fiercer than she had been before she went in and of course The Dark Lord was more than pleased with the brutality she'd shown when she'd killed her own cousin with little or no remorse. It was that event that had saved her from harsh punishment when the Prophecy was lost and she'd sat with a smug expression as the others were punished and she was not.

The knock on the door made her jump and she dropped the book she was reading from her lap and covered her heart with her hand, it could only be Narcissa, no one else was that stupid to knock her door. The sound of the shower going from the en-suite bathroom was still going, Rodolphus was still in there and wouldn't walk out naked and give her sister the wrong idea, Bella was a little possessive over things she said were hers.

"It's open, Cissy."

Narcissa walked in with a clear look of disdain on her face. It was like her sister didn't appreciate anything anymore, considering she was risking her life for her sister and brother-in-law. When Bella had told her Sirius was dead, Narcissa had made a face. Yes, her and dear old Sirius had never quite agreed on anything, but Bella didn't understand; They wouldn't come after Bella since Sirius was thought to be working with the Death Eaters, but they'd come after Narcissa. Shortly after their imprisonment, Uncle Orion and Aunt Walburga passed away, Regulus had been dead for some time now, and Sirius was the only living relative and male heir of the Black fortune. Though she didn't care about the money, the Ministry could have seen that as a way to gain control, since the blood traitor was disowned and Bella was incarcerated. This could have put her in a difficult spot, Ministry people could drop in at any time.

She handed the parcels to Bella and grimaced slightly, turning to leave the room when she stopped; she hadn't warned her sister of the room, Perseus' room. Evander and Clara weren't even allowed; not her in-laws either. Only one other person had been in that room, and he was now dead. Swallowing, she pursed her lips.

"The room next to mine... Is off limits. Even to you and your Dark Lord."

Her tone was cold and icy; she didn't want anyone to defile her angel's room.

Bella saw the look and rolled her eyes at it, after all the years they'd been apart she'd expected a little more love from her baby sister considering how many times she'd looked after her when they were younger, but no, that was asking too much of the cold hearted blond. What Narcissa didn't know was killing her cousin had been more difficult that she would ever say. She'd tried to walk away, three times she'd tried and he'd gloated her every time until she snapped and the green light from her talon shaped wand had hit him in the chest. She'd felt guilt for a few minutes, but she'd hardened to such feelings and it faded fast.

She took the parcels from her sister's hand and placed them on the table, not looking to see if she'd got everything, Cissy wasn't stupid enough to make mistakes.

"Don't I get a hello Bella? How are you feeling, Bella?"

She rose her eyebrow at the blond and turned away, sitting back in the chair and picking up the book she'd been reading.

"You're not the only one who misses him you know."

She muttered the words under her breath, shaking her head and hooking one leg under her other.

To Narcissa's words she snapped her head up, that glint in her eyes as she looked at her and tilted her head making her look like some carrion crow with an evil glint in its eyes as it sees the rabbit fighting for breath in a trap.

"Oh. . . Why? What would be in there that would make my little sister so damn bold as to tell my Lord he can't go where he pleases?"

Narcissa turned around; anger and ice filled her features. Her sister was so ungrateful; no matter what Narcissa did, it would never be good enough. Before she knew it, she whipped her wand out and blasted her sister out of the chair, fury blazing every inch of her body. Her voice rose out of anger, and hurt, and every emotion that she had hidden her whole life.

"How dare you speak to me as one of your insolent Death Eater comrades?! How dare you tell me what to do in my own home?! I AM NOT YOUR SERVANT BELLATRIX LESTRANGE! I AM YOUR SISTER!"

With every word, her anger rose. She only attacked Bella once before, and many years ago. Narcissa rarely ever showed such fury, not even with her family. She had had enough; this was her home, and NO ONE was going to tell her that some murderous psychopath was going to go anywhere he wanted in the home. She never meant to hurt her sister, especially in this delicate state. But no, Bella wasn't delicate anymore, and Narcissa was the only one brave enough to show her defiance to her sister. Bella wasn't calling the shots anymore; Narcissa was.

"Your beloved Dark Lord does not, and will not own, nor run my home. I am the Lady of the house, not you, not him, not anyone else. That room is off limits, and my children, will not be subjected to that either. It is no one's business, but mine in that room."

She glared down at her sister. For some reason, she was blaming Bella for everything that had happened. She had pushed Rabastan to stay with the Death Eaters and to go with them on that night they were captured. She was the first born, the perfect child, and Narcissa had never been able to compare, even with her mother-in-law. Now it was finally all out, and Narcissa felt even more spiteful by the second.

"I tell you this now, sister. I have done what I could to keep this family going since you lot were imprisoned. I have done everything I could to keep us standing afloat. Now, how do I get repaid? By being treated the way you treat that muggle filth."

She began to pant, and the tears started flow, what slipped out next, she would regret for the rest of her time with Bella.

"And if you think I will let anyone into Perseus' room, no matter who they are, and then you are truly mad."

It all happened so fast Bella had no time to react; it was something she wasn't expecting so she wasn't at all prepared for such an attack with such fury. Once before her sister had rose her wand to her and at the time she'd refused to hurt her baby sister who she was so much closer to then than now, but that was then, a different time and Bella herself had been a different person. Always easy to anger with a temper of a Horntail, but she'd been able to control it better then, now after her stint in Azkaban and the things she'd endured she couldn't control her emotions anymore and unleashing them was like having a hell beast lose in the house.

She'd hit the wall with a horrible crack, something had obviously snapped, a rib? Her wrist? Either one the pain was not important as she staggered to her feet with a cackled laugh.

"Oh my my my, little Cissy is getting all angry at me."

It was her rib that had snapped and she winced as she stood, holding her hand to her side and giving her sister a death glare.

"That was a stupid thing to do little sister."

She growled in a dangerously low tone, her voice holding a death threat of Narcissa dared to move an inch.

It wasn't her fault Rabastan had died and was Narcissa really stupid enough to think she was the only one who missed him? He was one of her closet and best friends, she adored him like a brother she'd never had, she'd lost him too and it hurt but of course her little sister only saw her own pain. She was of course the more favored daughter, her father had doted on her and she'd adored him in return, her mother-in-law and she were extremely close, Bella loved the older witch dearly and she and Brook had spent many hours lost in conversation. Brook always taking Bella in and comforting her if she and Rodolphus fought even if it was Bella who started the fight.

She took a few shaky steps forwards, even without a wand Bellatrix was dangerous now, those talon like nails would crave through skin like a knife through butter. The dark amusement that had been glinting in her eyes faded at her sister words; did the blond really feel sorry for herself? After all she and her husband had been through, Narcissa was really standing there feeling sorry for herself. Bella was on her like a creature from hell, her hand wrapped around the younger witches throat and she slammed her up against the wall she forcefully the paintings shook.

"Oh yes, it must have been so hard for you in this huge house with your loving children at your side little sister, I bet it was heart breaking to get up every morning and see the sunshine and hear your babies laughter, while I shared a six by six cell with rats, while I was chained to a wall and beaten and violated in the most horrendous ways for fourteen years by the wardens in the darkness, alone without anyone but a fucking Dementor as company and YOU DARE feel sorry yourself!"

The last part of Narcissa's sentence hadn't passed her but she'd get to that in a moment.

Narcissa never flinched as her sister attacked her, the anger and fury still evident in her features. That was the only time she was like her sister; she felt nothing when angered or threatened. She glared into her sister's eyes. She had only known learned of much of the brutality that Bella and Rodolphus had faced, but it didn't faze her nonetheless. Yes, she did feel sorry for herself, but more so for her sister. Her sister would never truly be able to love, or be compassionate again. Narcissa had given Bella the world when she returned, but it was too much. As much as Narcissa really loved Rabastan, it was another man that had come into her life, who now gone, and deceased.

"You know NOTHING of went on in this house Bella! You know nothing! It wasn't always all fun and games when your son is asking where his father is and when your daughter has no interest in you! You have no idea what it was like knowing you couldn't save your husband and sister from destroying their lives!"

She panted lightly, the rage welling up a bit more inside of her.

"And now your precious Dark Lord wants to brand my children all to punish me! And you bloody well don't protect them! Clara is only a CHILD! Evander is just 16! How dare you allow your own family to get marked against their will?! How dare you let the price be my dead body if he isn't marked by the end of the summer!?"

She was letting it all out now, things she had not voiced and had hidden well within her thoughts. It devastated her that Bella was so eager to throw her nephew to the Dark Lord to be branded, and it pained her that if he wasn't, she would die. It pained her to see how her darling daughter, just 10, idealized her Aunt Bellatrix, and aspired to be like her one day. Wouldn't she ever be good enough for anyone? She still had a firm grip on her wand, and she pushed the elder witch off of her and away. She was sick and tired of everything, and she wanted out. But if she left, her children would be in danger, and she couldn't do that.

"Rabastan isn't the only one I am missing. I have lost a great deal while you were gone. And it was entirely my fault that they are dead. I could have saved them, just like Rab, but nothing, I could ever do or say, will bring them back. You lot can have the run of the place, my children and I will stay elsewhere. Defile the room, I don't care anymore."

And with that, she fixed the room and healed Bella's broken rib with a few flicks of her wand and left. She couldn't deal with all of it anymore; she had to leave.

The grip Bella had on her sister's neck was tight enough to bruise, but not tight enough to do any real damage, a little tighter and she'd choke her. The anger she saw in Narcissa's eyes only fueled her own. How dare she feel sorry for herself! How dare she think her life has been so hard, they'd both lost people, not just her. She'd like to see how little Cissy handled Azkaban, the thought made her laugh, the blonde wouldn't last a week. Despite everything that had happened to her, Bella didn't feel sorry for herself, she wore her scars with pride that she bore them for her Master. She'd never broken, she'd never given in, neither had Rodolphus and apart from her Dark Lord, Rod was the only other person in the world she actually honestly loved and cared about. Her love for her sister was hidden deep inside.

"Protect them? Protect them from what? From joining a cause our family has believed in for hundreds of years? Your son is a strong boy and you fail to see the potential he has, with the right training he could better than me. And your daughter doesn't see you as anything because you are weak, and she, she is strong. She'll be trained to perfection, I'm training her myself, darling. Didn't you know? She loves to keep her Aunt Bella happy."

She was being cruel now, using the one thing she knew would hurt her sister more than anything. Her own daughter wanting to be more like her aunt than her mother. Of course Bella only fueled Clara's fire, telling her how brilliant she could be.

She dropped her grip as she was shoved away, she could have retaliated, but she didn't. She held her hand to her throbbing side. She stayed silent now, her dark and twisted mind gripping onto the reason this fight started in the first place. The room next to mine is off limits. She ran the words over in her head. If Narcissa hadn't said anything about the room, Bella wouldn't have thought anything of it; she had no interest in snooping about. But now it has been brought to her attention, she wanted to know and she would look and she would find out.

She was aware of Rodolphus watching the two of them, the noise having carried over the sound of the shower and when Narcissa left, Bella acted as though nothing had happened. She dropped her hand from her side and looked around, her eyes falling on his face. He had one eyebrow raised and a towel around his waist, his expression saying

"What the hell just happened?"

She skipped over to him and kissed his cheek, nuzzling into his neck in a rare show of affection. "Just a little brat having a tantrum, love. Nothing to worry over."

She'd be looking into that room next to her sisters, and who was Perseus?

Narcissa had taken Bella's words and became even more furious than she had before. They were using her children to keep her line. Yes, blood purity was very important to Narcissa, but the mass murders and tortures, just weren't her thing. She had wanted to spare her children from all of that, not wanting them to become blood thirsty maniacs like the man they idealized. Narcissa knew that Clara was brilliant, and she had a fire that Narcissa never held. But her only daughter, her little girl, wasn't a ruthless killer. She was only 10 years old! How could they begin training her? No one had said a word to Narcissa about it, and it angered her more. She stopped outside the room, the one she kept off limits to everyone but herself. Unlocking it, she walked in and locked herself back in there, setting herself in the rocking chair.

So much had happened in that room; she wanted to keep it the way it was, letting no one defile it in anyway shape or form. She didn't hold a single picture of Perseus around the house, only in here. She hadn't wanted him to be forgotten, but more of just her baby. Evander was so little, he never remembered Perseus. The only time he had acknowledged he had existed, is when he and Brooklyn were painting together, and she had him paint the would be two year old in the picture. Clara never knew he existed, and she didn't plan on telling her until she was much, much older. Thinking back to what had just happened; maybe Cissy was in the wrong to behave the way she did. But so much was at stake, her life, Bella's life, and her children's lives. Yes, the Death Eaters were winning, but they were last time too, and look what happened. Narcissa was afraid to lose anything else.

Her neck began to hurt; she hadn't realized the pressure that Bella had on her neck until now. That wasn't her sister anymore; that was a half-crazed blood thirsty maniac in Bella's body. She wasn't the person she used to be, and it hurt Cissy more than any physical punishment in the world. She looked over to the night stand and picked up the picture of Perseus, just after he was born. He had been so beautiful and innocent, just like Evander and Clara. But they wouldn't be innocent any longer; they would be killers and murderers.

Narcissa began to cry. Everything she had held most dear was slipping through her grasp, and there was nothing she could do to protect any of it. She normally sound proofed the room, but today she had forgotten all about it. She let loose everything she felt; her body trembled as the sobs racked through her. She hadn't cried or showed any emotion in so long; maybe it was time she showed some. She didn't think that her own sister would evade her wishes and go snooping about the house, trying to delve into something that she never spoke to anyone about. She didn't think that she would push her nephew and niece so hard into becoming something that they weren't. She cried harder; her children's innocence would be no longer there. They'd age before their time, and as their mother, she would be damned if she ever let that happen to them.

A mother's love could be very deadly.

Bellatrix had never had the gift of being able to be a mother, so she didn't understand the way Narcissa was acting. She couldn't fathom out why her sister was getting so upset over her children being wanted by The Dark Lord, this was an honor and the blonde was treating it like a curse. She couldn't understand it no matter how hard she tried. Rodolphus had said Narcissa was always over dramatic, always wanting full attention and was jealous she hadn't gotten any from the people she wanted it from. That just confused the dark witch even more. And she'd spent the better part of an hour trying to figure her sister out but she'd only ended up with a headache. She had a feeling Rodolphus had grown to dislike her sibling.

She rubbed her side as she sat in the chair by the window looking out at the grounds. Narcissa had actually broken her rib. She'd attacked her and thrown her across the room and in Bella's defense she hadn't said anything to warrant that treatment. She jumped as Rodolphus hands rested on her shoulders, she found it so hard to relax and she jumped at the smallest noise or shadow. She tipped her head to the side and rested her cheek on his hand with a small sigh.

"Ignore the stupid woman, Bella. She's just having some sort of episode."

He said as he kissed her neck and she responded with a sweet little moan. But Cissy didn't have episodes, she was always so controlled, so calm, and who the hell was Perseus?

She wiggled away from her husband before things got a little too hot in the room.

"I have to talk to her, Rod. As much as I would love to Crucio her, she's my sister and I do care . . . I do."

Was she trying to convince herself or him? She had a soft spot for her little sister she always had, but since she'd come back from Azkaban, it wasn't the same. Neither of them were the same.

"I'll not be long."

She stood on her toes to reach him, pressing a kiss to his lips and moving away before he grabbed her.

"Don't be long, witch."

Was all he said before he settled on the bed to wait for her.

She closed the door behind her and wandered in the direction of her sister's bedroom, she didn't do this often, go looking for the person who just attacked her for no reason but she wanted to know who this person was that Narcissa had slipped out about. A lover maybe? She's laugh in her sister's face if the blonde dared to tell her she'd been loyal to Rab the time he was in Azkaban. Lies. She wasn't stupid.

She stopped as she heard the sound of sobbing coming from the "off limits" room. Tilting her head she tip-toed to the door and pressed her ear against it that was her sisters sobs, she'd know them anywhere. She was about to open the door but stopped, instead she crept into Narcissa's bedroom and settled herself on the bed to wait for her sibling; she'd try the easy way first and ask. But Bella wanted answers, and she'd get them no matter what.

Narcissa had stayed in his nursery for what seemed like hours, crying and letting everything out. She hadn't notice the bruises that began to form on her neck and clavicle. Her sister was no longer her sister; she would never understand what it felt like to lose a child, or to have your children be put in the front of a dangerous situation. She would never be able to fathom that fear, the anger, and protectiveness it produced. And Rodolphus, for some reason Narcissa thought that he had blamed her for his brother's death, as did Evander for the longest time. She had half a mind to cut all ties with everyone, and take off with her children. She would rather die for them then let them be subjected to the cruel and merciless Dark Lord.

She had heard some footsteps outside the door, but she didn't care anymore. People were bound to find out how she failed as a mother and a wife. She was already a disgrace of the inner circle, since she had done nothing to keep the Dark Lord's work going. She wasn't a Death Eater, she wasn't marked by death and destruction like the rest were. She devoted her life to her family, and that's how it should have been. Luckily, none of them knew of her affair that happened only a year ago already, and how she had fell hard for someone, who had not cared for her in the same context. She had been the only one at his funeral, who was truly and deeply sad that he was gone.

Eventually, she left the room and sealed it. She needed to fix her appearance and check on her neck, just in case she had to hide any bruises. When she opened the door, she saw her sister sitting on the bed, in all her glory as usual. She glared slightly at her sister; she was tired and she just wanted to be left alone right now. Her blue eyes were red and swollen; the bruises on her neck fit Bella's fingers perfectly. She never said a word, and just stood their glaring at her sister. Being a mother had changed Narcissa, and not in the way that Bella or even herself expected. She turned and went into her private bath, trying to get the swelling of her eyes and neck to go down before anyone saw her.

Why had her sister waited for her in her room? Was she having one of her rare moments of lucidity today? At this point, Narcissa didn't care. She had told herself for the last 14 year that Blacks' don't cry that they are strong and ruthless. But, she couldn't keep it up anymore. She was an Ice Queen that was slowly beginning to melt. Everything she had loved most dear was gone. Even her dark Bella, was now too dark for her to handle. Whatever Bella had to say, she needed to get it out into the air now, before Narcissa took off completely.

Bella was happy to sit there all day, she gotten used to just thinking over things in her head as she sat in her cell in Azkaban, she could wait all day of need be. She leant back on her hands, tapping her foot on the floor and humming softly, she wasn't crazy, she wasn't insane as they all thought, she was troubled. Yes she was a little unhinged, she was a little eccentric but she had good reason to be. The horrors she'd faced most other people would have died, and a woman in Azkaban. . .The wardens were around her like sharks around blood. There'd been times she was too frightened to close her eyes. She often drifted into memories and those memories haunted her dreams every night and she'd wake herself up screaming thinking Rodolphus' arms around her were someone else, or something else. But of course no one knew this, no one knew of her panic attacks and her tears she'd cry when it was only her and Rodolphus, to everyone else she was emotionless, but truth was, Bellatrix was emotion. They burnt so brightly inside her she got overwhelmed and couldn't cope with it, turning it in rage and anger.

She was darker now than she'd been before; her mind was twisted and cunning. She'd do anything for her Lord, she'd slit her own wrists if he asked her too, and she couldn't even begin to think why her sister was being such a brat about her Master wanting her children. She'd be more than willing to give hers to him, but . . . She didn't have any, and she never would.

She looked up as the door opened and gave her sister the sweetest smile, it was sinister and frightening. She looked at the bruises and whereas before she would have felt sorry and guilty for hurting her sister, she just tutted and rolled her eyes.

"Could have been avoided you know, pet. Those bruises. You have only you to blame for throwing me across the room."

She stayed sat on the bed and kicked off her boots, crossing her legs and wiggling about a little to get comfortable.

"Come out, Cissy. I want to talk to you."

She made a grumbling noise as she pushed herself from the bed and crossed to the bathroom door, trying to handle and without any regards for her sisters personal space, she opened the door and wandered inside. She lent on the sink and watched as the blonde tried to hide the face she'd been crying.

"I know you've been sobbing like a little girl, I heard in the "off limits" room."

She spoke the words with a little taunt in her voice but hide with a pouting expression.

"Cissy, come and talk to me."

Narcissa tried to ignore her sister most of the time, but as persistent as Bella was it was hard to do. She dabbed at her eyes with a cool cloth, trying to take the swelling down. Only moments before Bella mentioned the bruises, Cissy had finally noticed them. She felt the anger swell up again, and she was doing her best to keep herself calmed and not lash out against her sister. She heard the door open without warning, and saw her sister peering at her in the mirror. Cissy gave her a small look, as if she needed to back off. But, there was no personal space when Bellatrix was around.

At the taunting words, with that pitiful look on Bella's face, Narcissa snapped again. She tore away from the with, a fiery look in those blue eyes of her's. She was tired of being treated like an imbecile, and if Bella wanted to know everything she would tell her, especially with the comment of the room.

"You know Bella; you will never understand how I feel. Yes you've experienced horrors far worse than anyone could imagine, but don't you dare mock me for my pain! Want to tell me how horrible of a mother I am because I let my child die!? That's right, Bella! My three week old son died in the "off-limits" room! It was his nursery! My son, the only child to truly look like me has been dead for years now! You'll never understand how that feels Bella! To have your child ripped away from you because you didn't check on him often enough to make sure he was still breathing and eating correctly! YOU'LL NEVER KNOW!"

She panted slightly; the tears began to form again.

"You'll never know what it's like to lose your husband to death. You'll never know what it feels like to not know that he's just around the corner or in a next door cell living the same fate as you. You'll never feel the guilt I felt while you rotted in Azkaban and I was out her in the safety of the world! You'll never know what it's like for the people you love, to not love you as much as they do your elder sister because she gave herself to the cause! You'll never know what it's like when your children are asked to be trained to kill people! Your innocent, precious children, who are only 10 and 16, are being thrown to hands of a ruthless dictator that if they don't do what he wants, he'll kill their only family left; ME!"

Narcissa sat herself on the edge of the garden tub, rocking back and forth slightly, the sobs racking her body.

"You'll never know what it's like to bury your husband, with your children at your side. You'll never know that for 14 years I told myself 'Blacks don't cry Narcissa' and how I bottled everything up. You'll never know how faithful I stayed to Rabastan when he was sent to Azkaban, even with Lucius here. You'll never know that after he died, I fell in love with someone who never returned those feelings for me, but protected me and my children. You'll never understand or know any of it Bella. Go ahead and taunt me and torture me and everything else. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not a part of this cause, and I want my children out of it. They don't even understand it all, and for you to corrupt my 10 year old daughter burns me Bellatrix. She is your /niece/ not your Death Eater in training. She is a /child/, not a warrior."

She looked to her sister, a fury blazing in her eyes. She had told Bella everything, and had even heard some of things that Rodolphus had been saying about her.

"And for your husband to say the things he does about me is despicable. I was the one who took care of his parents while you both were incarcerated. I still talk to Evan as much as I can. If you both won't respect me in my home, you and your husband and that Dark Lord of yours can get out!"

Narcissa didn't snap very often at least she never used too before, the final realization that her little sister had changed so much since she'd been gone dawned on the dark witch and for fleeting moments she felt pity for the youngest Black, not for what she'd been through, oh no in Bella's eyes what didn't kill you made you stronger, but she felt pity that Narcissa felt pity for herself. Bella wasn't uncaring of her baby sister, she did care about her, and she just found it hard to show it.

Bella stayed silent throughout the whole speech, a miracle in its self for the raven to stay silent without a sneer or interrupting of any kind. But she didn't, she lent her back on the wall in a casual manner as she listened to her sister speaking. The only time she was about to argue was when Narcissa mentioned Clara, without any knowing Bella had grown close to the girl and though she wouldn't admit it, liked spending time with her and was touched when Clara would look for her and tell her she'd rather spend time with her aunt because her mummy was boring and acted like and old person. Ever so slowly and ever so subtly, Bella was stealing the girl away right from under her sister's nose. Clara was young and easy to twist and bend to her own will. She had her own little minion, and she liked it.

She wasn't interested in her sisters sexual or love affairs, it bore little to anything she could gain from it, but she did feel a stirring of hurt for her sister due the fact she'd lost a child. She was a woman before she was a Death Eater and as a woman she felt that motherly instinct sometimes despite not having any of her own, she'd always wanted children and used to have a soft spot for them, she recalled the day she first held baby Evan in her arms, the warm feeling it had given her, so she felt a pull of something like sympathy for her sisters loss. She ignored the last part of the speech, it was stupid to even say it, was her baby sister going to demand The Dark Lord to get out of her home, of course not, stupid girl was just ranting and she couldn't talk about Brook, she still loved her deeply and talking of her made her cry, so she avoided the topic

Every so slightly she softened, moving away from the wall and placing her hand on her sisters shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me, about your son? I care not for any of the lovers you've had and lost, but you could have told me about losing your child, 're right, I never know what it's like to lose a child, but I know what's it's like to be denied one."

She leant over and wrapped her arms around the younger woman, it was a rare show of affection from the unhinged woman, but for now she seemed incredibly lucid. The hug was gentle and caring, but this was Bellatrix, so it may have been more than it seemed, she was an expert in the art of manipulation, she'd had long years to prefect it in Azkaban. She'd pull a person into a false sense of security and when they least expected she'd go in for the kill; this may have been one of those moments.

She let the blonde go but didn't back off, standing closer than was polite but then she never did have personal space boundaries. She hushed her sister in an overly sweet manner, Narcissa being sat on the edge of tub and Bella standing between her legs made the dark witch seem even more intimidating that she already was, but she kept her tone soft as she placed her fingers under Narcissa's chin and lifted her head gently to make her look up, meeting her blue eyes with her own almost black ones.

"You don't have a choice in this, love. He's chosen them to be a part of the inner circle and there's nothing you can do to change his mind, there's nothing I can do to change it either, even if I wanted to."

Her thumb brushed down the soft skin of the Narcissa's cheek as she held her in place.

"Accept it and deal with it, you're a Black, act like one."

Her tone had hardened again, but she kept her touch tender and kind.

"Be proud of your children, Cissy. I am."

She lent down and placed a kiss to the other woman's forehead before stepping away and pushing her wild curls from her face.

"They'll be marked and I've already started training Clara with simple spells, if my Master ordered it of me, I'd kill you myself. Just a warning little sister, I love you my sweetie, but if you're not with us then you're against us. I'll stay silent . . . For now."

Narcissa froze at her sister's touch and her words. She knew Bella better now than anyone, including Rodolphus. She hadn't told her sister anything for the mere fact that her sister didn't understand. Yes, Bella had been denied children, but it was different when you carried a child for nine months, having the opportunity to hold them and love them and care for them, and then suddenly, they perished, and there was nothing you could do about it. Narcissa knew what her sister was doing to Clara, and she was so young and impressionable, and she would put a stop to it. She had already spoken to Evan about all of it, and they had planned to send Clara off to France for holiday with them. At 10 years old she didn't need to have a dark mark; this was all to punish Cissy for never taking one herself.

Feeling her head being moved up, she looked into her sister's eyes. They didn't dance anymore, but were cold with darkness. Bella told her to act like a Black, but she herself was no longer a Black. She would not be told by anyone how to act in her own home, and she would not be told how parent her own children. She stood up and got right into her sister's personal space, grabbing her wrist and glaring into her eyes,

"When you have raised your own children, you can tell me how to raise mine. You will keep your mouth shut or I will murder you myself. I'm not the pushover little sister anymore, Bella. Not when my children are threatened. Keep your hands off my daughter, she is a child. A ten year old will not be marked nor part of the inner circle. I'd rather die than let that happen to my child."

She let go of her sister and stormed off to Rabastan's old study, her bruises a bit more prominent as time went on. She didn't care if it was stupid to defy the Dark Lord; she was their mother, not him. She began writing a letter, one that would get Clara shipped out of the country until this whole thing was done and over with. She refused to let her daughter be tainted, and she had an idea to protect her son as well.

Narcissa's sudden mood shift started the dark witch and she took a step back from her younger sister. Narcissa was a few inches taller than Bella but now Bella was bare footed after kicking off her boots she'd shrunk about five inches and had to look up as her sister stood over her. That was Narcissa's first mistake, Bella suddenly felt trapped and cornered and she didn't like it. She shouldn't have stepped back but she had and now she felt her back against the wall, she growled a warning. She was about to lift her hand to push her sister away, but Narcissa must have read her body language and caught her wrist in a tight hold. She inwardly flinched at the mention of her not having children, it was a tender spot for her, but the hurt was short lived and she burst into a fit of crazed laughter.

"Oh Cissy you are funny sometimes, you kill me? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard."

She was still cackling as Narcissa walked away, but there was no humor in her laugh, it was dark and eerie, a sound that would chill the blood and make the hairs of one's neck stand up. She let her sister go, the laughter fading as she was left alone in the room. She wasn't about to let her sister make a stupid mistake, Clara was going to be marked and that was that, the girl wanted to be a Death Eater and Bella had already began to warp her young mind. She was only ten years old, the perfect age to be groomed and twisted. The raven would fight the dove for the control of the chicks and the dark witch was stronger in magic than her light sister.

She left the room, not before she made it clear her sister knew what she was up against. She walked from the room with a regal grace, going to the balcony and pushing open the doors to step into the terrace where her sister kept caged doves. With a flick of her wand the bird fell to the bottom of its cage, dead. Humming a lullaby she opened the cage and took out the dead bird holding it almost tenderly in her hand. Still humming she pulled her dagger from the bad around her calf, sticking it into the bird and staining its feathers red. Looking up to the nesting ravens in the tress nearby she flicked her wand again, being a skilled witch as she was, charming animals was a simple thing to do. She called to the huge black bird, coaxing it into the bedroom and shutting the doors when it finally perched onto the back of the chair. She tossed the bloodied dove carcass on the bed, the white satin sheets going crimson from the wounds in the dead bird. She left the room, leaving her bloody hand prints on the wall, shutting the raven in the room as a message to her sister.

Narcissa had finally had a deal made with her in-laws; Clara was to leave for a holiday with them in a few days, and her training would be put on hold until she returned… In four months. She had to do something from keeping her daughter from becoming dark and twisted, like her aunt. After the incident with Bella, Cissy had steered clear of her and Rodolphus, and shut herself in her room most of the time. Evander had been branded, and Cissy refused to be there when it happened. Of course, no one needed to convince him of it, but Cissy felt broken and defeated by all of this. Her sweet little Clara was no longer sweet anymore; she had grown to be fierce, and mouthy, something Cissy had worked hard to not let happen as Clara got older. Of course, this was all of her Aunt Bella's doing, and she had taken great pride in it, boasting it about to the other Death Eaters and the Dark Lord himself.

Finally, she had had enough of it all, and set out to the room where the Dark Lord was holding himself. For as malicious and powerful as he was, he was actually quite good looking in his younger years. Maybe she was stupid, maybe she was brave, or maybe, Narcissa was a bit of both. She had to try and protect her daughter as much as she could. Evander was old enough to truly defend himself, Clara was not. Reaching her destination, she knocked on the door. How odd; she had to knock on the doors in her own house to get permission to enter.

"Enter."

The voice was cold and smooth; the Dark Lord had a way of using his words and tone to his advantage. If it only could be that simple. She walked in, her blonde hair shining brilliantly in the sunlight, her ice blue eyes filled with a confidence and sadness that no one could overlook. Even after all of her years in Azkaban, Bella's beauty never faded, but Narcissa's had in the coming months since their return. She strode over to the middle of the room, standing quietly just observing him. The Dark Lord turned around and gave her that sickening smile, the one that made a person's insides shiver in disgust and fear. He gestured to the chair, and without saying a word Narcissa sat down, folding her hands neatly. Even though he was the greatest of his time, Narcissa was skilled, and could block him out of her head. She was taught by the best, only no one ever knew of it.

"What brings you here, Narcissa? I should hope that my presence in your home should not offend, but indeed delight you?"

She shook her head, clearing her throat her voice would be soft, yet firm.

"No, my Lord, I've come to speak about my daughter… And her training that I was not aware of."

He turned to look at her, his cold eyes trying to pierce through her, but she kept her calm, and kept eye contact with him. He gave the smile again and began pacing towards her.

"Ah yes, your lovely daughter Clara. She will make a fine member of the inner circle. I had hoped to have her branded with my mark at the end of the summer, just like her elder brother."

Narcissa froze, her stomach twisted into several knots. Her little girl… her sweet angel would no longer be so innocent and pure. Many of the elder Death Eaters spoke of the intolerable pain of getting the Dark Mark; how could a 10 year old handle that?

"My Lord, I hope to not… offend you in any sorts, but I don't think my daughter should have to be branded at such a young age."

The fury that flashed in his eyes never went unnoticed by the middle aged witch. He had seen this as an act of defiance, when she saw it as an act of protecting her family.

"Narcissa you are ever so bold. It is my word that prevails all, and Clara shall be a Death Eater at the end of the summer."

Narcissa began to panic; her daughter didn't have to go through all of this just yet, it was mad to put a 10 year old through all of this! She had to think of something and something quick.

"My Lord… She is only 10 years old… She has no magical training other than the few spells my sister had taught her… Wouldn't it be a bit more prudent for you to wait until she has had her magical education and more training the brand her, so that she may be able to fight and defend herself in battle?"

She had nailed it right on the spot. She knew that he could not protest that, he had always spoken of educating the young of the ways of bloody purity and magical production. If he had seen into it, he would know that Narcissa was right. Was it truly the best idea to brand a 10 year old? She would never be able to attend meetings and her magical education would be most valuable when she learned more advanced dark magic.

"Hmm… I suppose I see reason Narcissa. It would be more prudent to wait until she understands more, but I need followers now. How do I know you won't try too… take her from me?"

Narcissa knew she wouldn't be able to protect her daughter for long; a four month holiday with her grandparents that would only give her until Christmas to be away from them. Perhaps maybe that the Dark Lord would spare her for now, but Narcissa had highly doubted that. He had seen something in the young girl that sparked his interests, what it was, Narcissa didn't know. She began racking her brain, when he again spoke, his tone quiet yet forceful,

"Make the Unbreakable Vow to me Narcissa."

She looked to him, and stood. Her pale features etched with worry. He had that smile again, and began circling around her like a vulture over a carcass. Her eyes followed him, never showing a drop of fear towards him.

"I know that you fear for your children Narcissa. I know that you are doing your motherly duties of protection, but why would there be any need, to protect them, from me?"

She could feel him getting closer to her, and her breath hitched in her throat. Bella had to of said something, there couldn't be any other way he would have known.

"Make the Unbreakable Vow, Narcissa. Prove yourself to me."

She had no choice; she would make the vow, if that's what it took to protect her daughter from being marked just yet. She nodded, her voice was still soft, but held its place,

"I will."

He smiled that wicked smile and summoned for someone, presumably another follower.

Rodolphus came into the room, bowing to the Dark Lord and sneering at Narcissa. They no longer were on civil terms, and never really had been, but now, they definitely weren't civil to one another.

"Rodolphus I have a task of you, as bonder of an Unbreakable Vow. Narcissa here feels the need her daughter's training should be put on hold, until she has completed most of her magical education, and once Clara is in her 6th year, she shall be branded as one of my own."

Rod gave a disgusted look towards me, as if to say I was the one who was mass murdering the innocent people of the world. He had agreed Evander and Clara should be marked and trained, and for me, to defy this, was unheard of. He nodded to his Lord and pulled his wand out. The Dark Lord outstretched his hand; Narcissa took his cool, pale skin in her own, keeping eye contact with him.

"Do you, Narcissa Lestrange, swear to hand your daughter over to the Dark Lord when the time comes for her to be branded?"

She paled a bit more with every word spoken, but she had to answer:

"I will."
"Do you swear that you shall, to the best of your abilities, allow the Dark Lord's wishes to be performed when the time is to come?"

This was it; her daughter's fate would be sealed after this. She had made the deal with the devil. There was no turning back now.

"I will."