Hello again! Thank you so much for the follows, favorites, and reviews. I'm glad people are liking this story so far. This next chapter is a bit longer and I'm really excited to see how you like it. Please, please leave a review and let me know what you think!
- Two days later -
"Cissy... Narcissa, wake up."
Narcissa's eyes shot open and she started at the sight of her sister's face only inches from her own. She sat bolt upright on her large bed.
"Bella! Wh- What is it?" she gasped, her heart racing as she tried to catch her breath.
She had discreetly slipped away from the noisy dining room after lunch and decided to rest her eyes in the safety of her quiet bedroom. She had only been asleep for a couple of minutes when Bellatrix entered the elegant room and silently crawled across the heavy bedspread to settle in next to her sister. Bella had never really paid much heed to the conventions of personal space and this quirk had become even more pronounced since her isolated years in Azkaban. It made her seem almost childlike when she was in a quiet mood.
Still getting over the shock of being woken so abruptly, Narcissa relaxed a little and propped herself on one elbow, looking down at her sister. Bellatrix was now stretched nonchalantly over most of the large bed, her long, curly hair sprawled across the pillows. She grinned mischievously before sitting up and sliding even closer to Narcissa. Taking her sister's free hand in her own, Bella plunged into what had clearly been on her mind.
"Well, Cissy," she began playfully. "I thought you couldn't possibly mind me joining you when I have such an important question to ask you."
Narcissa had a good idea of where this was going. She took a deep breath and prepared to act surprised. "Ah. And what might that be?" she asked with feigned irritation.
Bellatrix seemed to steel herself for a moment before responding, "Do you- do you remember that spell Mother told us about? The one that reveals a- a child?"
Bella finished in a rush, looking intently down at her sister. Narcissa slowly sat up again and searched Bella's face for any indication of her emotions. "Yes," she answered slowly. "Yes, I do. Wh-"
Before she could continue, Bellatrix let out a small shriek of excitement and turned abruptly to face her sister properly. "I knew you must," she said with a cackle. "Heaven knows you used it on yourself often enough back in the day."
Bellatrix did not notice the look of reproach she was receiving, still chuckling to herself.
"Yes, thanks, Bella. I do know it," Narcissa responded shortly. "Why do you ask?"
Bellatrix rolled her eyes. Her little sister was really going to make her spell it out. "Because, Ciss, I am starting to think-" she paused and changed direction. "You remember that night a few weeks ago, in the library, when Master and…"
"Yes, yes," Narcissa cut her off with a wave of her hand. She sincerely did not want to relive that night and certainly did not want to hear any more details about it. "Are you saying-"
"Yes, Cissy," Bella said emphatically, clasping both of Narcissa's hands tightly. "I think I may be- I think there may be a- a child. His child!"
She finished rather loudly and Narcissa shot an anxious glance at the open bedroom door. She could still hear the voices of the band of Death Eaters that had paraded into her home once again at the impatient call of their master. Narcissa had decided weeks ago that it would be unwise to let any of them learn of Bella's condition. Her sister's inherent jealousy and paranoia would be the greatest aid in keeping the secret.
"Hush!" Narcissa breathed. She squeezed her sister's hands tightly in return as she softly continued, "If you are right, if you are expecting his child, we will need to be very, very careful."
She had Bellatrix's attention now and continued pointedly.
"We already know that the Dark Lord considers you to be his most trusted servant," she said tactfully, watching her sister's face light up. "Might not his other followers may become jealous upon learning of the- the extent of his favoritism?"
Bella's eyes widened at these words and she also shot a quick glance at the open door. With a sudden, violent wave of her wand, the door swung closed with a loud bang. Narcissa jumped at the sound but quickly composed herself as Bellatrix turned back to face her.
"Of course," Bellatrix said harshly. "Those scum cannot be trusted." She paused to consider this for a moment. "So what do we do, Cissy?" she asked urgently, her eyes wide and a bit fearful.
This was exactly what Narcissa had hoped to hear. Now was her opportunity to take charge of the situation. She turned purposefully and stood from her bed, drawing her wand.
"Well, first we must determine whether there is even any merit to your suspicions," she said as she pushed her long sleeves back. She paused, genuinely curious, and asked, "What brought you to this conclusion, anyway?"
Bellatrix had been watching her sister intently and now looked down at her hands with a frown, trying to find the words she was looking for.
"I'm not really sure when I started to notice it," she began slowly. "Maybe a week ago. It felt like magic, but not the way my magic usually feels. Not bad, really. Just... foreign." She looked up with questioning eyes.
Narcissa nodded solemnly and began the intricate wandstrokes once again. She already knew what the result would be, but Bella needed to see it for herself.
Bellatrix sat very still on the bed, watching her sister's well-practiced movements with uncharacteristic reverence. Narcissa suspected that she was holding her breath.
With a final sweep of her wand, Narcissa recited the incantation once again.
"Puecrescitas Fateo."
Bella stared transfixed at the wand now pointed directly at her before slowly looking down at her own abdomen. Narcissa watched her sister closely as she lowered her wand. Any moment now...
The spell took only two or three seconds this time and there was absolutely no doubt about the color of the light emanating from Bellatrix's pale skin. She gasped at the sight of her illuminated hands and turned sharply to look from her position on the bed to the large mirror on the wall.
"Light. Gold light." she whispered before turning back to face Narcissa again. "Is that it? What does that mean, Cissy?"
Narcissa straightened and returned her wand to her long sleeve as the light faded from her sister's face and hands. Not meeting Bellatrix's penetrating gaze, she stepped forward and delicately sat down upon the edge of the bed. She took one of her sister's trembling hands gently in her own and, turning to face her properly, quietly spoke.
"That means yes, Bella. You are going to have a baby."
Bellatrix sat frozen, her eyes wide and mind racing.
"I knew it," she breathed, placing her free hand on her abdomen. "I knew it. The Dark Lord's child."
"And you're- you're completely sure it is his?" Narcissa asked carefully. It seemed foolish not to check.
Bellatrix snorted and rolled her eyes at her sister. "Of course, Cissy. Rodolphus has been abroad for months and I'd hardly say any of those other swine are worth my attention."
A broad, slightly manic smile grew on her pale face and she practically leapt from her position on the bed, startling Narcissa once again.
"What do you think Master will say?" she questioned, beginning to pace around the room. "I am sure he will be pleased."
Narcissa really had no idea how the Dark Lord would respond, but she hoped for her sister's sake that he would be pleased. That might at least cause him to treat Bella, and maybe even her family, with a bit more kindness. This was another thought Narcissa tried not to rest too much hope on.
"I must tell him at once," Bellatrix said suddenly, coming to an abrupt halt in the middle of the room and then hurrying to the door. Narcissa was pulled out of her reverie by her sister's retreating figure and rushed to catch up to her.
"Wait!" she whispered loudly. "Bella!"
She caught Bellatrix about halfway down the hall; the revelry downstairs now closer and louder than ever. Grasping her by both shoulders, Narcissa pulled her surprised sister into the shadow of a nearby doorway.
"Listen to me, Bella," Narcissa whispered urgently, "These are dangerous times. Especially for the child of the Dark Lord, and for its mother. None but a select few can know about this. Do you understand?"
Bellatrix looked as though she was about to argue or dismiss her sister's concern, but seemed taken aback by the ferocity in Narcissa's usually subdued expression. Slowly she began to nod.
"Yes, Cissy," she said seriously. "I think you are probably right."
Yay! Bella knows! I was pretty excited about how this chapter turned out, so I hope you liked it. Be sure to let me know what you think!