Chapter One
Sounds of music and chattering could be heard from downstairs, but the three Black sisters were still locked in Bellatrix's bedroom with their mother as she finished getting them ready. Bellatrix sat in front of her mirror as Druella tugged at her curls, trying to get her eldest daughters unruly mane to lie flat. Bellatrix was used to these inhumane rituals by now, but they still disgusted her. She hated being prodded and plucked before being displayed by the wizarding community. She did, however, like to see herself in the mirror. The tightness of her black dress matched with the cold nearly-blue of her long hair made her look striking and intimidating, even though she was barely fifteen years of age.
Although Bellatrix was simmering as Druella finished with her hair, she took the abuse quietly. Years of resisting only concluded with lectures from her mother, and Bellatrix didn't want to be compared to Andromeda again tonight. Her and her younger sister were nearly twins, but there was a softness in Andromeda that Bellatrix never could manage. Even now, Andromeda sat quietly on Bellatrix's bed, gently combing Narcissa's hair and humming softly. A bit of Bellatrix despised Andromeda's peaceful nature. Andi rarely got heated about anything, and seemed to have far more patience than any one person should be allotted.
Bellatrix started to tap her fingers anxiously on the table before Druella announced with an accomplished grin, "Finished!" She scouted Bellatrix out of the chair and beckoned Narcissa to come sit.
Having just turned eleven, this was the first ball that Narcissa was allowed to attend and the waify girl was bubbling with excitement. Bellatrix rolled her eyes, but there was a fondness there. Narcissa has always been her favorite sister, and the little girl practically idolized Bellatrix in response. Bellatrix smiles to herself as Narcissa gave off a list of commands to their mother, directing Druella in how exactly she wanted to look that night.
Bellatrix went and sat on her bed, closing her eyes and taking a moment for herself before being thrust into the world of the wizarding elite.
"Cissy'll start a riot with the boys down there," Andromeda whispered to Bellatrix softly, breaking her moment of meditation. "They won't know what hit them."
"They'll know exactly what hit them," Bellatrix says sharply, protective of her little sister. "A murderous hex coming from my wand."
"Bellatrix Black," Druella interrupts their chatter. "You will *behave* tonight. You are representing our family and I will not have you—any of you— acting wild or jeopardizing our reputation."
"Yes, Mother," the three girls repeat.
Druella sighs, inspecting the three of them to make sure they look perfect. "Alright," she says, clasping her hands together. "You look presentable. Bellatrix, I want you to be looking after Narcissa tonight. I understand how overwhelming the first ball can be."
Bellatrix resists the urge to roll her eyes, knowing that Narcissa belonged out there amongst the beautiful gowns and soft music. "Yes, Mother."
Druella Stands and leaves the girls, going to attend to her hosting duties.
"Can we go now?" Narcissa bets, tugging on Bellatrix's arm. "Can we *go*?"
Bellatrix smiles softly at the little girl and nods. "We can. You ready, Andi?"
Andromeda smiles. "Just about," she says before grabbing a book and sliding it into the folds of her dress. "Lets go."
Bellatrix rolls her eyes, knowing that Andromeda will disappear some fifteen minutes into the ball and hide away in some corner reading until all the guests have left. For a moment, Bellatrix was jealous, wishing she could slip away unnoticed as well. But she was the eldest and she had an obligation to uphold her family's name. "Lets go," she says, smiling down at Narcissa who was straightening her light blue dress, a mystified look on her face.
The three sisters head down to their ballroom and entire into the crowd of the finest families in the wizarding community, all of them pure blood, and all of them incredibly wealthy. It was tradition for the Black family to host a ball at the end of the summer, and the family made sure it was quite the affair. Despite all the beautiful dresses and smiling faces, however, Bellatrix knew that this ball was used mainly for political purposes. The men met in groups, discussing alliances and motivations while the ladies flitted from group to group, spreading their gathered gossip and trading news between each other.
Narcissa, however, looked mesmerized by it all. The soft swishing of skirts as couples danced along the floor, the enchanted candles that swayed above their heads, and how truly beautiful everyone looked in such a setting. She let out a delighted sigh, taking it all in. Bellatrix smiles down at her little sister, knowing how much she had longed to join them each ball. "Go," Bellatrix urges her gently. "Join them. If you need anything at all, I'll be sitting over there." She nods at a table filled with rowdy boys who seemed to be in the middle of a game of poker.
Narcissa smiles at her and nods before disappearing into the crowd. Bellatrix shakes her head for a moment, wondering how her little sister could be so different from herself. At least Andi hated the balls as much as she did. Shrugging, Bellatrix heads over to the table of boys.
"Dammit, Regulus," Rodolphus cursed, throwing down his cards in defeat. He was a handsome boy, but Bellatrix never did like the cocky air he seemed to give off.
Regulus laughed from the other side of the table, reaching out and grabbing the stash of cash from the center.
"Not so fast," Bellatrix says, grabbing the cash from Regulus's hand. She counts out a portion and takes it, slipping it into her dress. "If you're going to play in my house, I deserve a cut."
Regulus gives her a self righteous look as Bellatrix sinks into a chair besides him. "Surely there must be a family discount."
"Watch It, Black," she says. "Or I'll take more."
The dark haired boy laughs before stashing the money away.
Bellatrix looks around the table, inspecting the group, some friends and some she didn't much care for. Lucius Malfoy sat, leisurely drinking what seemed to be a glass of fire whiskey, though Bellatrix didn't know how he got his hands on it. Besides him sat a thin pale boy named Nicholas Travers. Bellatrix didn't much like him, and wondered why the group tolerated him, but he followed Rodolphus around like a shadow and never said much, so Bellatrix tolerated his presence. Augustus Rockwood and Antonin Dolohov sat on the other side of the table, engaged in an arm wrestle, both having lost whatever possessions they had brought to Regulus in the last poker game.
"You look stunning in that dress," Antonin grins wolfishly at Bellatrix, nearly losing his advantage in the arm wrestle.
"I'll gouge your eyes out," Bellatrix replies nonchalantly, used to their tactics by now. She turns her attention to the long-haired blonde boy instead. "Lucius, dance with my sister sometime tonight. It's Cissy's first ball and it'd mean the world to her. I don't trust the likes of any of these others with her."
"I'd be the perfect gentleman," Augustus says, holding his free hand up in the air. "A *real* gentleman. Show her what a fine, upstanding pure blood is like."
Regulus scoffs. "We All know your reputation for first years," he says with a scowl.
"And blondes," Rodolphus adds. Augustus grins, taking their reprimands to be compliments. He lets out a grunt and twists Antonin's fist down, winning their wrestle.
"I'd be happy to dance with your sister," Lucius assures Bellatrix, easing her mind from the likes of Augustus. He shakes his head with a smile. "Can't believe she's going to Hogwarts with us this year. She was just a shy little girl the last time I saw her."
"Cissa has never been shy," Bellatrix laughs, sitting back. "She's Just always had a crush on you. Don't worry, she'll come to her senses soon."
Lucius smiles but doesn't say anything.
"Where's Barty?" Bellatrix asks, looking around the ballroom, hoping to find her friend. "I need someone to save me from you miserable lot."
"His father's got him locked away at home," Rodolphus says with a frown. They all knew how controlling Barry's parents could be.
"Damn," Bellatrix mutters before turning to her cousin. "Deal me in this time, Black. Prepare to lose."
The group continues on their fooling around for the majority of the night, paying no heed to the politics of the rest of the room. Slowly, the guests start to trickle out until Bellatrix is left with Rodolphus at the table. He wasn't her favorite of the friend group, but it was better than being left with Antonin or Augustus.
"I'll warn you now," Rodolphus says, leaning back in his chair. "Your dueling team is losing this year. I spent the summer training and so long as Regs doesn't ruin it for us, we're going to win."
"Too bad you do have Regulus on your team, then," Bellatrix laughs. "He ruins everything."
"Hey, now, I've got Rabs, too, and it's in our blood to be good at dueling. So I'll warn you again, you don't stand a chance." Rodolphus smiles at her, leaning forward in his chair. Bellatrix suddenly wondered if this was the first time she had ever been alone with Rodolphus. The two of them never spent much time with each other outside of the group and she really didn't know what he was like one-on-one.
"Until Reg corrupts him with all his partying," Bellatrix says with a shrug. "Face it, Rodolphus, you don't stand a chance. You're going to lose, *again*, and I don't know how your going to face your parents after disappointing them that much."
Rodolphus laughs, leaning towards her. "The challenge is on, Black," he says. "I look forward to beating you."
Bellatrix smiles, but doesn't respond.
"Finally," Rodolphus groans with relief, catching sight of his parents putting on their coats. "Now, where the hell is Rabs?" He shakes his head, searching the room for his brother. He stands, collecting his things, but stops, turning back to Bellatrix. "Anton was right, you know," he says softly. "You look beautiful. Next time, we'll have to dance at one of these things."
He leaves without saying more and Bellatrix is left reeling slightly at his final comment, not used to any sort of attention for Rodolphus. She's ashamed to realize that's she's flushed, which only makes her cheeks redden more. She grits her teeth, angry to be embarrassed about a boy and stands to go find Narcissa.
Bellatrix is surprised to find Narcissa sitting in one of the alcoves with Lucius, the two of them talking in hushed tones with each other, leaning in close. "Cissy," Bellatrix interrupts sharply and the two of them jolt back, startled. Lucius immediately pushes himself away from Narcissa upon seeing Bellatrix, getting some distance between them, but Narcissa looks to Bellatrix with a hint of rebellion in her eyes.
"It isn't over, is it?" Narcissa says.
"It is," Bellatrix says, "and much past your bedtime."
Narcissa scowls at the comment, before turning back to Lucius. "Thank you for the dance, Lucius," Narcissa says, smiling at him purposefully. "I hope I'll see you at Hogwarts?"
"You will," he promises, smiling at Narcissa before looking to Bellatrix. He looks away quickly, sliding his hands into his jacket pockets, trying not to seem too informal with Narcissa in front of Bellatrix. "Goodnight, Narcissa. Bella." He nods at both of them before heading to find his parents.
Bellatrix raises her brow at Narcissa, but the girl just smiles and strides out before her sister. "And what was that that I stumbled upon?" Bellatrix interrogates as she follows her sister up to her room.
"Hmm?" Narcissa asks innocently. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."
Bellatrix sighs, letting it slide but vowing to keep a closer eye on her little sister going forward. "Goodnight, Cissy," she says once they reach Narcissa's room.
Narcissa turns to her before shutting her door, letting a smile break across her face. "It was wonderful," she says and Bellatrix laughs, shooing her to bed.
Bellatrix stops by Andromeda's room quickly. "Put the book away," she instructs her sister upon seeing her buried in a large book. It wasn't an uncommon sight. Andromeda rolls her eyes but puts it away, curling up in her covers.
Bellatrix retires to her own room after that, taking off the tight dress and putting on a silk night gown instead. She slips beneath the covers and thinks about the upcoming year at Hogwarts and everything that it might hold.