THC: Round 8

House: Ravenclaw

Class subject: Herbology

Story Category: standard

Prompt(s): [time] Midday

Word count: 1128

Notes: Wanted to try writing Bellatrix and I think she would be fiercely loyal to her sisters somewhat like how loyal she is to Voldemort. This is before she attacks the Longbottoms and her imprisonment so while she is unstable, I also feel like she's not as crazy as what we see in the books at this point in time.

A Gift of Light

The sun sent glittering waves of light into the garden of Malfoy manor. It illuminated the flowers that swayed in the wind. A peaceful sight to behold—for someone who wasn't Bellatrix. She didn't care for the flowers. Who cared if the back garden looked nice? So much had been going on with the war that it was a waste of time to make the garden look so pristine. But her pregnant sister decided to put all her effort into doing so.

Despite it being midday, hot as hell, and Narcissa's due date fast approaching she sat and tended to the garden. Bellatrix watched from the safety of the porch, which created a nice range of shade. She had cast a spell that helped her cool down, but she was still uncomfortable in her seat. Her own husband was off doing whatever, along with Lucius. She assumed they were at their jobs, but she didn't really care to check in on that.

No one forced her to look after her little sister. She just didn't have anything better to do. So, she watched as Narcissa planted some new flowers and trimmed some others.

"We should head in to eat now," Bellatrix spoke up after half an hour or so had passed. "You also shouldn't be out in the sun so much. It's not good for you or the baby."

Some would label Bellatrix as un-loving and cruel, but she truly did love her sister. Some part of her still loved Andromeda as well, despite the fact that she married that filthy muggle. She had watched as Narcissa suffered through so many miscarriages, and it broke her heart every time. This pregnancy had lasted far longer than the rest. It looked great from what the doctors' had told them. But Bellatrix couldn't help but worry.

If she had been in her sister's place, she would have demanded someone to take care of her 24/7. Bellatrix liked being in control and rarely let her husband decide things for her but being pampered would be nice.

"It'd be a waste of such a nice day to head inside now," Narcissa called from her spot by the bleeding hearts. "I feel fine."

It should have reassured Bellatrix but instead, she felt an onset of dread. She watched her sister carefully and she looked as fine as she said she was, but something tickled at the back of Bellatrix's mind. That she needed to be prepared for something. She stepped inside to fetch a house-elf and demand some cold drinks be brought out to the garden.

"Bella!" Narcissa's voice breached through the door that Bellatrix had left opened. It had been sharp and Bellatrix could sense the pain that was etched into it. "I think...,"

She ran outside to see her sister clutching at her stomach, "Does it hurt?"

"Yes," Narcissa breathed out, "I think the baby is coming."

"Are you sure?" Bellatrix looked around in bewilderment. She had no idea what to do. "How do we…"

"The hospital," Narcissa leaned against her, "We need to get to the hospital, and we need to tell Lucius."

"You can't magically travel like this can you?" She figured floo powder and apparition would not be safe for a pregnant woman in labor.

"A muggle hospital, then," Narcissa added the pain of her contractions must have messed with her mind. There was no way they'd step foot into a muggle hospital. Not if Bellatrix could help it, she'd only take Narcissa there if she absolutely had to. "It doesn't have to be magical."

"That still doesn't answer how we'll get there," Bellatrix said mostly to herself. The Malfoy's didn't own a muggle car and even if they had she would have no clue on how to drive the thing. "I guess we'll go with apparition and hope for the best."

She apparated them to St. Mungo's and immediately someone came and whisked her little sister away. They tried to keep Bellatrix in the waiting room, but she pushed past them. No one dared to stop her, rightfully so. She held her sister's hand as the doctor examined her and they waited for Narcissa's husband to arrive. Bellatrix did what she could to help her sister with the pain. The potion the doctor had given her only helped so much.

"At least he's coming on such a beautiful day," Narcissa's eyes were turned to look out the window where the sun still sat wonderfully in the sky. "It's fitting since he's the best thing to happen to me."

Bellatrix didn't question how her sister knew the gender of the baby already. Maybe she had dreamed of the child before his arrival. It wouldn't be the strangest thing in a world of magic to happen. They did say that a mother knows best, so she just watched the scenery and hummed as an answer to Narcissa's statement. The lack of clouds in the sky added to the effect, turning the sky into a vast sea of brilliant blue for them to gaze upon.

Bellatrix held Narcissa's hand through the entire process. Even still when Narcissa's son let out his first cry. Lucius had missed the entire thing, but Bellatrix didn't think he would have stayed by his wife's side if he had made it.

Bellatrix wasn't one for children, so she understood a bit. They seemed like a lot of trouble, but she smiled down at the ugly little thing when Narcissa held him.

She only left the room when Lucius finally showed up, demanding to see his son the second he stepped through the door. Bellatrix wondered if his reaction would have been different had the baby been a girl.

The hospital had a wonderful garden much like Narcissa's. The midday sun still caused Bellatrix to shield herself in the shade. Of course, her nephew had to choose such a horrid time to be born. The air was thick with heat, defeating the purpose of Bellatrix stepping outside for fresh air.

She wondered if Draco, the name they had chosen for the boy, would really help Narcissa like she said he would. The manor was such a big house for Narcissa to be in by herself most of the time. Bellatrix's own house was one of the many causes for her seeing her sister so often. She hated feeling so alone in her own house. Perhaps she always felt that way and that's why she had grown up so protective of her sisters. She couldn't save herself, but maybe she could save them. Andromeda seemed like she had been doing well the last time Bellatrix spied on her. Hopefully, Draco would add some light to Narcissa's life. Then maybe Bellatrix wouldn't have to worry so much.