This is my first attempt at a solely Harry Potter fanfic (I have a few Harry Potter/Once Upon a Time crossovers in progress). The Blacks and the Malfoys have such interesting backgrounds and are such complex characters that I couldn't help but explore it. Besides, Narcissa is one of my favorite Harry Potter characters, and despite everything Bellatrix did, she's a great villain (as is Lucius), so I wanted to write a story from Narcissa's POV. It might not be 100% canon compliant, as I'm sure I'll make mistakes, and I have a few headcanons of my own. As well, this story might feel more like semi-connected one shots than a whole story with rising action, a climax, and resolution. Anyway, enjoy Potterheads.
Narcissa Black pushed her trunk on the luggage cart as she followed her older sisters to Platform 9 ¾. Bellatrix was off in her own world, as always, and Andromeda was quietly sandwiched in between her older and younger sisters. Cygnus and Druella followed behind their three daughters. When the family reached the wall between platforms nine and ten, Bella ran through the wall, with Andromeda following close behind her. Narcissa stared straight at the wall and thought about nothing else as she ran toward the bricks. After a brief moment of darkness, it was bright again. And directly to her right was the Hogwarts Express.
It wasn't like she had never seen the steam locomotive before now. Both Bella and Dromeda had been Hogwarts students for several years now. But this year, she would be joining her older sisters on their journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was so in awe of this fact that she was startled when she heard her mother and father come up behind her. "Come on, Cissy. It's almost time for the train to depart."
"Yes, Father," she answered, following behind Cygnus.
Druella was talking to Bella and Dromeda. Narcissa approached them and lined up next to them. Druella said, "Now, I expect you both to look out for Cissy. Understand, Bella, Dromeda?"
"Yeah, I understand, Mother," said Bellatrix. She turned and boarded the train, not even bothering to say goodbye.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'll look out for Cissy," said Andromeda. She quickly kissed Druella on the cheek, nodded at Cygnus, and boarded the train. "Goodbye, Mother, Father. I will see you at Christmas."
Narcissa watched Andromeda board and turned to face her parents. Druella laid her hands on her youngest daughter's shoulders and said, "Remember what we went over last night, Cissy?"
"Ask the Sorting Hat for Slytherin. Don't trust Professor Dumbledore. Don't become too friendly with students who disgrace the name of wizard or witch," Narcissa repeated what Druella had told her the previous night.
"That's my girl." Druella kissed her daughter on her forehead.
"Have a good semester, Cissy," said Cygnus.
"Thank you, Father." Narcissa grabbed the handle to her trunk, climbed the stairs, and turned to face her parents one final time before entering the long hallway of the Hogwarts Express.
There were witches and wizards scurrying in and out of compartments, excitedly greeting their friends, or skimming through their textbooks. Narcissa walked down the corridor until she found the compartment where Bellatrix and Andromeda were seated, Andromeda having saved a seat for her. She glanced up to where the luggage compartments were, and she attempted to lift her trunk to store it in its proper place, though she was struggling given her petite stature. "Allow me."
Narcissa looked over her shoulder and saw a young boy standing behind her. He had short blond hair, gray eyes, and he was obviously an established student since he was wearing a Slytherin scarf. She scooted to the left and allowed the boy to take control of the trunk. He safely secured it in the overhead compartment. "Thank you."
"A girl as pretty as you are deserves to be treated like a lady," he said before disappearing into a compartment further down the hall.
Narcissa's heart fluttered, and she ran her hands through her long, blonde hair before entering the compartment with her sisters. Bellatrix was complaining about her rapidly approaching O.W.L. exams, as she had been for most of the summer, while Andromeda was occasionally discussing the courses she had chosen for third year. Narcissa sat down next to Andromeda near the sliding compartment door, while Bellatrix leaned against the window. Finally, Bellatrix asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"What?" asked Narcissa.
"You have this goofy smile on your face, Cissy. It's making me sick."
"Oh." Narcissa attempted to return her face to a firm composure, but she wasn't very successful.
"Merlin, some boy noticed you, didn't he?" asked Bellatrix.
"No," Narcissa said. "I mean…he helped me get my trunk into the overheard compartments."
"Just remember what Mother and Father said, Cissy. Don't befriend the wrong types of witches and wizards."
"I didn't ask him about his blood status, but he was wearing a Slytherin scarf."
"Then he isn't a Mudblood. Slytherin doesn't allow fake wizards and witches into its House. Salazar Slytherin's legacy is properly maintained," said Bellatrix.
As the train sped northward into Scotland, Narcissa couldn't help but anticipate the Sorting Ceremony. She knew she was going to ask for Slytherin, as Mother and Father had requested—she had been instructed to maintain the exquisite legacy of the Black family name, even though they were all eventually to wed into respectable pure-blood families. But there was always the chance the Sorting Hat would place her in Ravenclaw, or worse than Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Narcissa didn't know whether the color combination of yellow and black or scarlet and gold made her shutter more.
Right before they pulled into Hogsmeade Station, the girls changed into their uniforms, Bellatrix's and Andromeda's robes already adorned with the Slytherin crest. They retrieved their trunks, and Bellatrix and Andromeda went to the carriages, while Narcissa followed her fellow first years and the Gamekeeper to the boats. "We'll see you inside, Cissy," said Andromeda.
As the boats sailed closer and closer to Hogwarts, it finally sunk in for Narcissa that she was about to officially begin her magical education. Mother and Father had been teaching her some skills, or at least showing her what they considered "important magic that Hogwarts is too progressive to teach since Dumbledore is a Mudblood lover." The students finally landed on shore, and Professor McGonagall went through the spiel about the Houses, Prefects, House points, and other stuff Narcissa already knew from Bella and Dromeda. "Follow me," she announced.
Narcissa followed everyone into the castle and soon entered the magnificent Great Hall. She looked over to the far table where the Slytherins were seated, and Bellatrix and Andromeda were seated across from each other. McGonagall pulled the Sorting Hat out, and it sang its trite song before McGonagall began to read the students' names aloud. Narcissa knew she'd be sorted early with her last name beginning with the letter B. "Narcissa Black."
Narcissa took a deep breath as she stepped forward, though her stomach was twisting in knots. She took her place on the stool and noticed her sisters were eyeing her anxiously. She felt the hat being placed on her head. It grumbled briefly before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
As the weight of the hat was lifted off her head, the weight of the first challenge of bringing honor to the family name was lifted off her shoulders. As she joined her House, they cheered loudly, welcoming her into Slytherin. She sat down next to Bellatrix and observed as the other students were sorted into their Houses. Once every first year was sorted, McGonagall put the hat away, and Dumbledore stood to give his opening speech. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and welcome to all first year witches and wizards. I would especially like to welcome those students who are new to the Wizarding world." Bellatrix sneered at that comment. "I expect you all to work hard, to learn as much as you can, and to continue to achieve success. Let the feast begin!" He clapped his hands, and food and drinks appeared on the four long tables.
"That speech was so pathetic. 'I would especially like to welcome those students who are new to the Wizarding world.' Merlin is Dumbledore a Mudblood lover," said Bellatrix. Andromeda cringed a little when Bellatrix said Mudblood.
Narcissa felt a pair of eyes on her, and she glanced down to find the blond boy from the train a few seats down from her. He quickly looked down toward his food when her eyes landed on him. "Bella, Dromeda, you might know him. Who is that boy down there?"
"Which one?" asked Bellatrix.
"The blond boy five seats down. He's the one who helped me on the train."
"Merlin," Andromeda uttered. "Cissy, do you realize who he is?"
"No," Narcissa answered, suddenly embarrassed to find she was ignorant on whom he was.
"That's Lucius Malfoy," said Andromeda.
Narcissa's eyes widened. "As in Lucius Malfoy of House Malfoy? Son of Abraxas and Eleanor Malfoy? One of the most distinguished and wealthiest pure-blood families in the Wizarding world Malfoy?" Mother and Father had attended functions at Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, but Narcissa had never met their son.
"He's the one," said Bellatrix.
"Does he look at all newly sorted Slytherin students like that?" asked Narcissa.
"If he did, I would have already jumped at the opportunity," said Bellatrix. "Mother and Father would be absolutely thrilled if one of us married into the Malfoy family."
Andromeda nodded. "Indeed."
Narcissa went back to her meal, but she couldn't help but occasionally look up to see if Lucius was still staring at her. She caught him every time.
After the Opening Feast ended, Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the food and drinks disappeared. Narcissa followed the Slytherin Prefects to the dungeons. She noticed Lucius come up beside her. "Congratulations, and welcome to Slytherin House."
"Thank you, um…"
"Lucius Malfoy." He extended his hand to hers, and she shook it.
"I know. Bella and Dromeda told me who you are. I'm sorry I didn't realize it on the train." Narcissa blushed a little.
"To be fair, I did not know you are the youngest Black daughter because…"
"I wasn't named after a constellation, and I don't have dark hair."
"Yes," Lucius admitted. "And you carry yourself differently from Bellatrix and Andromeda."
"How so?"
"Well, Bellatrix is very…energetic, and Andromeda seems to be a…how do I put it?"
"A secret Mudblood lover? It's okay to say it; I see her cringe whenever Mother, Father, or Bella uses the word."
They reached the Slytherin dorms, and the Prefects gave the password. "Parseltongue."
Everyone shuffled into the common room, and Lucius headed toward the boys' dorms. "Well it was nice meeting you, Narcissa Black. I hope I see you around sometimes."
Narcissa smiled and ran her hands through her golden hair again. "At the very least, we'll see each other here in the common room." Lucius nodded and went up the stairs to his dorm room. Bellatrix came up behind Narcissa and pretended to gag herself. "Oh shut up!"