Chapter 4: Family issues

Narcissa went home for the weekend to get away from Lucious Malfoy who seemed very keen to spend time with her, which she did not appreciate at all. Bellatrix and her mother were always away in meetings with the Dark Lord. One of their meetings was held in their own house, Bellatrix and Mother being proud and overjoyed to have the Dark Lord himself in their house.

Narcissa peaked in key hole and almost screamed; she had never seen Voldemort but had never expected to see a white scull with slitted red eyes and a snake on the shoulder of pitch-black robes. He was sitting at the head of their dining table with grim looking death-eaters sitting on the other seats. Bellatrix was sitting next to the Dark-lord and was looking up at him like a puppy-sick adorer.

"Pius," addressed Voldermort to a young man with a an evil grin on his face.

"Yes My Lord?"

"I believe you are head of law force in the Ministry?" inquired Voldemort

"Yes"

"Are the Aurors informed of myself being in the country?"

"No, I have been leading them into the belief that you have settled in France to collect followers"

"Very well Pius, I think we can end this meeting, everyone may go."

With that, Voldemort pressed his Dark Mark and apparated away as the Death-eaters disappeared.

Narcissa's Mother, and Bellatrix started to approach the door, Narcissa hurriedly scampered into the corner as they emerged. She theatrically looked up as though surprised the meeting had ended so early.

"The meeting ended rather early didn't it?" Narcissa asked

"What happens in those meetings are secret till you are 16, now I believe dinner is ready" her mother replied.

As they walked back into the dining room, Narcissa noticed a huge burnt, black hole on their family tree.

"What happened to the family tree?" she asked.

"Mother asked me to burn out Andromeda's portrait since she is a blood traitor piece of filth and scum" Bellatrix said giving out one of her gleeful cackles.

Narcissa shuddered, something was seriously wrong with this family.

Christmas was just around the corner and the usual arrangements and actions were held in the house of Black. Her mother could often be heard screaming with the Chef with sentences such as: "WHY ON EARTH DID I HIRE YOU IF YOU DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE BRAINS TO KNOW THAT I WANTED VEGETABLE KEBABS NOT FRUIT KEBABS, EXPULSO!" And Bellatrix was heard sending howlers to all her friends that did not support Voldermort: "THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN ONLY THOSE WILL SURVIVE WHO SUPPORT THE DARK LORD SO I ADVISE YOU BECOME A DEATH-EATER OR FIND YOURSELF IN DANGER, oh and by the way I already have one of the Christmas presents you sent me!"

This all meant that Narcissa was left alone for most of the day, which suited her just fine; she had found the perfect dress to the Christmas Ball. One of pale purples that cascaded down her body in gentle layers. She was going with Lucious and would have a dreadful time so at least she deserved to look good. She knew of herself that she wasn't as beautiful as her mother of Bellatrix but also knew that because of their almost too black hair, it was difficult to find them suiting clothes that weren't as dark as their hair.

By the time she got back to Hogwarts, she was prepared for an extremely depressing Christmas without Andromeda. Hogwarts was lit up with fairies and lights that made for a very festive atmosphere. The traditional 12 were lifted in by Ogg the Gamekeeper and placed around the main hall. Fireplaces were enchanted into every room making it stuffy and snug.

"My Mother said that I could have a broom with the dark-mark on it for Christmas. I hope that I can finally join the death-eaters and start to ruin the lives of muggle borns soon" exclaimed Emily Bullstrode to Narcissa

"Ha, that's nothing" started Melody Crouch who had overheard the conversation, "since my Birthday is near Christmas, I can get the real dark-mark tattooed on me the day after Christmas" Melody boasted.

Narcissa escaped the scene as the two purebloods started fighting about who would have the better present, instead, she picked up the Daily Prophet and gave a gasp as she saw Andromeda's name in one of the headlines, she began to read the article.

'Andromeda Tonks scarcely escaped the death-eaters grasp when she was found underground in hiding with her husband Ted Tonks and baby Nymphadora Tonks. She had run away a month ago from the Noble name of Black and is now on the run from the dark lord for being a blood traitor. Her whereabouts after the escape is now unknown. Anyone who finds her living or dead or her child or husband will receive an award from the ministry"

Narcissa sat down with her tummie doing funny backflips in her stomach, she did not know if Andromeda or was safe and didn't even know their location. It enraged her to know that she was stuck here doing nothing but pretending to be a spoilt pureblood while her sister was running from possibly the most dangerous man alive and desperately needed help. And it made her absolutely furious that she couldn't help her sister because of the letter she sent.

She tried to calm down and read the next article which was about Voldermort taking control of the ministry:

'The Ministry has experienced a series of improvements as the dark lord has taken control, all mud-bloods have been kicked out of their posts and have been repla-'

Narcissa stopped reading, she really wasn't in the mood to read all sorts of nonsense and garbage about respectable families.

The Slytherin common room was the only place that wasn't crowded with people talking about the Christmas Holidays. It was the only place that she could be left to her own thoughts, even her dorm had excited Slytherins partying in it. She was quickly growing sick and tired of all the people boasting about dresses, presents, holidays and families.

All she wanted was to be left alone and to have at least one day that wouldn't contain any spoilt purebloods or teachers moodily asking her not to appear so mournful in the festive atmosphere. She felt like saying some very rude curses at them but changed her mind knowing that Andromeda wouldn't approve of foul language.

"What's up with you?"

Narcissa looked up, she was sitting on the floor of the 5th floor girls bathroom and looked up to see a ghost of a girl staring at her.

"Who are you?" Narcissa asked.

"I'm myrtle. Some people call me moaning myrtle but they are infuriating disrespectful people. Anyway what's up with you?"

"I have just had enough of all this Christmas lark"

"Yes, there always seems to be at least one lone wolf you comes into my bathroom at Christmas" Myrtle said.

"I am not a lone wolf!" Narcissa said angrily

"Then why aren't you celebrating with your friends and family"

Narcissa tried to think of a retort but simply could not think of one. Instead she screamed:

"I understand why people call you moaning myrtle now!" and with that, she sprinted out of the bathroom.