Chapter 14 (I'm using this big font to fill up blank space at the bottom! Aren't I freaking clever?!)
fill up more space. Oh yeah, shout out to Lindsay: Happy Birthday!
And happy birthday to my Aunt Betsy, who's turned fifty years old yesterday! Oops, sorry, Aunt Betsy (not like she's ever gonna see this anyway, but I'm just being polite.)
just a little more, I'm terribly sorry…
there we are! Hope that didn't piss you off too much! Read and Review!
Narcissa walked into the common room, which was almost deserted, considering the time.
Except for her two best friends, of course, who were waiting for her as they played a round of chess.
"Oh Narcissa! Where were you?" Petra said, not looking up from her game of chess.
"We were beginning to get a little worried." Charlotte added in.
"Well, thanks mum and dad, but I'm fine." Narcissa took off her cardigan, and placed it around her hips.
"Ha ha." Drawled Petra sarcastically, "But where were you, really?"
"Well, if you must know, I was trapped in a dark chamber with Jeremiah Brown for three hours."
"No, really." Charlotte said, and Narcissa laughed.
"Really."
"How the heck did that happen?" Petra exclaimed, looking up from the chess game at last. "Are you guys going out?"
"Oh, yes, Petra! I've decided to drop my utter loathing for him and have sex in Ms. Jensiko's dungeon. Yes, and then maybe I'll get pregnant and it will be an excuse for us to elope! Oh, what a dream!" Narcissa mock fainted onto the couch and the girls giggled up a frenzy.
"Narcissa, you're so weird." Petra declared with a grin, but it made Narcissa laugh even more.
Spring flew by with all the quidditch games, and late night sneak outs with Ted, and when summer came, Andie could hardly believe it.
The house was quieter than usual, except for the hum of conversation. It seemed to stand still, like everyone was afraid if they moved, they'd break it. They all seemed to stay in the same places.
Andie noticed Narcissa writing a lot of letters. Probably to that boy she had gotten "stuck" in a room with a while back. She'd been noticing her spending a lot of time with him…hmmm…
Bella looked engrossed in some dark arts book her father had let her borrow. And she'd go missing for a little while, probably trying to perform the spells.
And Andie…well, she'd been doing a lot of nothing. Just studying and playing quidditch, sometimes flooing into London for a good laugh with mates. Nothing in particular.
They all seemed sort of stuck in that motion for a week or two. Until Andie received a letter.
Dear Andie,
Hello, Cuz! It's Sirius. I'm staying at James' house, and you popped into my mind. Well, your mother sort of popped you into my mind. She wrote me a letter, you know, making sure everything was well. She's a great broad, your mum.
I'm writing, because I was thinking about why I left. My family expected me to be something I wasn't, and they wouldn't love me unless I was that something. Andie, Uncle Hieronymus treats you like shit. I don't think you should have to put up with it anymore. I know he hits you sometimes, I know he insults you. Everyone in the family knows, and they say it's your fault. It's not Andie! If you need to, you can come stay here. James' says it's fine.
I worry about you. You're like my little sister, you know? Make sure you make the right decisions. If your dad starts getting drunk and nasty like he always seems to, come here.
Also, make sure not to get pregnant with that bloke Ted. He's a nice guy, but you make sure to remind him to use protection before you shag. But if you've already made this mistake, I'll buy you a bunch of nappies and you can name the little tot after Uncle Sirius! Ha! Just kidding, love.
Be good.
-Sirius
Andie stared down at the letter with curiosity, reading it through a few times. Her cousin sure was a softie underneath it all. She smiled, but knew she had to write him back and get rid of the owl that sat awaiting her response. She knew she'd be in deep shit if Bella or her father got a sight of her writing to banished family members (yes, there were more than one.) So she'd have to destroy any evidence to slip away from a bash in the face.
She placed the letter under her invisibility cloak she'd received after Bella had abused her privileges to it (she'd inherited it as the oldest girl but used it to sneak brownies from the kitchen when she was eight, and her mother said Andie should have it if Bella couldn't use it correctly.) and wrote a letter back.
Sirius-
I'm glad to know all goes well, and I'll remember you offer if things get to bad around here.
And just so you know I AM pregnant, and could use the extra nappies. Except, Ted is not the bloke who knocked me up. It was Snape! Yes, me and Snivellus are so deeply in love, we've decided to marry next weekend. Hope you can make it! Ta!
Love,
Andromeda Quinta Corrinda Snape
Andie couldn't help but give a little giggle as she tied the letter to the owl's foot, and waved it out her huge window. She loved Sirius, and was very disappointed she did not get to see him at family reunions anymore. She sometimes wished she could launch into the past when her and Bella and Narcissa and Sirius…they were mere children and seemed to be exempt from their family's ignorant judgments. If they ever did something they considered wrong, it was blamed on them being children. But it was all different now…they were being forced to grow up so fast. And Andie didn't like it at all.
Dear Bellatrix,
My father doesn't like me to write you, since my training process is so intense. He thinks I need all my time to concentrate on studying for my initiation. But all I can concentrate on is you face…your eyes and your lips, they swarm in my mind. I cannot wait to see you again, to hear your voice, to see your face that I dream of each night…
Two days. Can you believe it? Two days until we wear the mark on our arms, and carry a huge responsibility on our shoulders. As Death Eaters. It is an honor, a remarkable one, and my excitement is something I cannot explain to you. But I don't need to, I'm sure you feel it too. I'm proud of all the progress we've made, and you've truly lived up to the potential I saw in you.
And since it is such a large responsibility, I've made a decision. I am not returning to Hogwarts in the fall. No, I see greater, more important things in my future, for which I do not need a degree.
So, I must tell you what I think. I know we are only sixteen...but we are considered adult's in the dark lord's eyes. So I think we should live as adults…. We should get married…before the school year starts. We could have a beautiful summer wedding! I have enough money to pay for it, and the rest of our lives. I'm in love with you, Bella, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I'd give you a fruitful, successful future, and take care of you. Please say yes in your next letter.
I love you,
Rodolphus Lestrange
Bella sat staring at the letter with extreme shock…he loves me? He wants to MARRY me?? She felt herself go faint as she hit the floor.
"Did you just hear that thump?" Narcissa asked Andie, straying her eyes away from the ever entertaining exploding snap.
Andie shrugged, "Hmm. Maybe Mum and Dad have made up, huh?" She laughed, and Narcissa shook her head.
"That's sick." Narcissa muttered. "It sounded like it came from Bella's room. Shall we go check on her?"
Andie's face darkened, "Eh, she probably blew herself against the wall doing all that dark magic. No worries."
"Oh, well, I'm going." Narcissa stood up, and swished her blond hair around, leaving the room.
"What do I have to loose?" Andie muttered, and followed her.
When Andie came round to the doorway of Bella's luxurious room, she saw Narcissa hovering over her limp sister who lay on the floor, and skimming a piece of parchment.
"Whatcha got there, Cissa?" Andie asked, entering the room with extreme caution.
"Bloody hell!" Narcissa mumbled, and handed it to Andie with trembling hands.
"I knew it. Fucking Death Eaters." She said half way through, and then her jaw dropped, "Married? They want to get married?? She's freaking sixteen years old! She's only going to be a sixth year! What is she thinking?"
"Well, I don't think she wants to get married, Andie. Probably as shocked at the idea as you are." Narcissa nodded down to her sister.
Andie bent over, and smacked Bella across the face.
"Hey, imbecile, get yourself up." She said, and Bella stirred, seeing the blurry image of her sisters.
"Whaa…"
"So, decided to completely dedicate yourself to being an evil bitch? Good! I don't care, we're getting rid of you!" Andie yelled so close, Bella felt her warm breath linger on her skin.
"You're right. I am a bitch. It's not like I've been keeping your dirty little secret forever!" Bella hissed, sitting up, causing Andie to back off.
"You say that like I don't harbor any of yours. You say I have no respect for my family, no honor…I could hand you and Dad in right now, couldn't I? Show them everything. But I don't. Because you're my blood, you stupid fuck!" Exasperated, she turned her back to her sister, but not before she had asked, "Are you going to marry him? Waste your life?"
"I…I don't know. I mean, we've only been going out a couple of months…I've never had another boyfriend before."
"Don't do it Bella. Like you said, you haven't even lived yet!" Narcissa said quietly, retreating from her quiet sister watching pose.
Bella smiled, "I know. I don't know. If I break it off, it could be the end of our good relations with the Lestranges. Father would be very angry."
"Do you love him?" Andie asked, turning around, a grim look painted across her round face.
Bella stared, her lip quivering, at Andie, before burying her face in her bony hands, "I don't know. I really don't."
"Well, then there's no point in marrying him, is there?"
"Well, do you love Ted?" She shot back defensively.
But Andie smiled, "Yeah. I really do."
Bella shook her head, and Narcissa gasped, "Oh, really! Andie that's great, why didn't you tell me? How long have you been, you know?"
"Nine months, I think."
Narcissa frowned, "Why didn't you tell me, but you told Bella?"
"I didn't tell Bella, she just found out. I was really worried. But this isn't about me. Bella what are you going to do?"
"Maybe I should talk to father."
Andie laughed, "I could tell you his answer to that, Trixie."
"I think you should talk to Mum. She's really a lot smarter than you think." Narcissa said sweetly, "But, talk to father. See which opinion comes off as more sensible, and you will know what to do. It will show what you really feel. Don't just think about making father happy Bella. Because I know that's what you're thinking about. Father's not the one who's going to have to live your life, is he? He's not the one who will have no degree and wake up every morning next to someone who he's not even sure he loves!"
Both Andie and Bella looked astonished at Narcissa.
"Thanks, Cissy." Bella whispered.
"Oh, and something else too." She said, tucking a piece of hair behind her pointed ear, "Please don't become a death eater, Bella. I love you to much to watch you become a servant. You're too strong for that. "
Bella blinked the tears that were threatening to drop, "I don't think that decision was ever in my hands, Cissa."
"Oh, bollocks!" Andie interjected feircely, "I'm not ever going to become a death eater, and neither is Narcissa. You put it in your head that Father was going to make you become a death eater. You make your decisions, Bella. That's why their called yours."
"Andromeda, you never understood anything of what father is expecting of me. He gave up on you years ago! I love him, and I don't want to disappoint him." Bella cried out, and crossed her arms.
"Do you really love him?" Andie said lowly, coldly, "Or is it fear? Are you just afraid that he'll never love you, like he's never loved everyone else? Well, let me tell you, Trixie. He never did love you. You're his little pet. He says sit, you sit. He says lye down, you lye down. Play dead? Of course you'll obey. But this isn't playing anymore. You're his little trophy daughter, and you're gonna die trying to follow his orders. You're playing for the big boys now."
Andie swished out of the room, awkwardly leaving Bella crying on Narcissa's shoulder.
Bella tapped her mother's bedroom door lightly. She didn't have to ask herself why her parents had separate rooms. Last night's china smashing fight sure had made the answer to that rather evident.
"Oh, hello, Bella. Come on in." Her mother sniffled. She was in her night gown.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon. That fight must have been worse than she thought.
Yes. It was very bad. Her mother's eyes were puffed from crying, and there was a huge, deep purple bruise on her left cheek, and a cut going through it.
He'd been wearing his rings last night.
"Oh mum, why don't you heal that?" Bella asked, almost reaching out to touch it as her mother let her in and closed the door.
"Oh, well, your father hid my wand." Her mother said shakily, sitting on one of the two velvet chairs by the draped window, which she guessed was probably where Narcissa and her mother sat and had long, deep talks.
"Maybe this isn't a good time…" She hesitated, but her mother insisted, and took her hand.
"Oh, no, no don't be silly! Sit down. We hardly ever get to talk."
"Mother, you can use my wand if you want. It would be no trouble at all." Bella assured, not being able to bare looking at the wound any longer.
"Well, if it's no trouble." Her mother smiled, taking the wand Bella offered her. She pointed to her cheek, and whispered, "Inrifmaro Felsha." And her smooth, pale flesh replaced the hideous, purple gash.
"Now, mother. I doubt it's of any surprise to you that in two days I will be initiated as a Death eater." Bella announced uneasily, and her mother nodded solemnly.
"No, it's not a surprise, sweetie. It saddens me deeply to see you following in your father's footsteps, and disappoints me to see your bubbling potential fizz to serve you-know-who, but it is no surprise to me." Her mother replied melancholy, and she felt her heart pound sadly.
"Oh. Well, I've come here for your advice, mother." She said, and reached into her white dress robe pocket, and pulled out the letter, handing it to her, "I'm in desperate need of it."
"Well." She said, eyebrows rose, after she had read the letter, and folded it into her lap.
"What do you think?" She asked, trying not to sound too needy.
"I think the better question is; what do you think? What was your reaction to this letter?"
"Er…I sort of fainted."
"Shock. Why?" She said, a smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm only sixteen! We've only been together a few months! I don't think I could drop out of school." Bella squealed tensely.
"So you're not ready."
"No, I'm not." Bella said in realization.
"So then," Shrugged her mother, "Don't marry him. Don't drop out. You didn't need my advice for that, did you?"
"Well the thing is…"
"I knew it couldn't be that simple." She laughed.
"Father. He'd be disappointed if I didn't; wouldn't he? It would ruin our good relations with the Lestranges!"
"No, I don't think it would. You're not breaking up with the bloke! Just say something you know he'd listen to. He's really involved with dark arts and you-know-who, and seems to think that this would please him. But say, you think it would please you-know-who more if you kept the lookout around Hogwarts, be his eyes. See what Dumbledore is up too, if the other side is recruiting in Hogwarts. Stuff like that."
Her eyes lit up, "That's brilliant mum!"
She grinned modestly, "I try."
"Thanks mum!" Bella got up to leave.
"Bella? Please, sit back down. I have one more thing to say." Bella obeyed, plopping down, "I got married to your father when I was sixteen. I know I can't stop you from following in your father's footsteps, and you wouldn't listen to me if I said don't because I have no experience serving the dark lord. However, I know all about this. And I warn you, do not follow my steps. They were foolish, and now I pay the miserable price. Live to make yourself happy, not your father. Because eventually, he'll die, and you'll be left alone with your foolish mistakes, every day. Don't marry someone this young, unless you're absolutely positively sure you're head over heels bonkers in love with him, and have no plans for the future except his plans. Do you understand?"
She nodded, absorbing the speech.
"Good. Off with you, I'm going to have a bath."
"Father, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah." He beckoned, not looking up from his paper work.
"I got a letter from Rodolphus today, and I'm not sure what to do." She handed the letter over to her father's firm grip, and he read it carefully.
"Oh, Bellatriss! This wonderful!" He was slurring his words a little bit, but Bella shook it out of her head he was drunk.
"You think I should do it!"
"Of course I do."
"Don't think I'm a little young?"
He looked at her like she was an ape, "Same age your mother was."
"Well, father, she's miserable." She hadn't meant to say it. It just slipped out. But once she had, she wanted to smack herself. But it looked like her father might do it for her.
" She's perfectly happy, you lil bitch! Our marriage is not any of your god damn business, you hear me, girlieee??" He screamed, the glass on the chandelier above their heads smashing, "Now, you listen to me." He walked around the desk, shoving her against the wall. "You're going to marry Rodolphus Lestrange and be happy and rich and you're going to do it now."
His breath was hot, and smelt of rum, and Bella quivered as he pressed up against her, crushing her lungs, "Wanna know why?" Yes, he was clearly drunk. He slurred every word, "Because thas how we plan it. Me an Lestrange…when yous weres lil babies, we promise you would get marry…and Lestrange told his kid to start flirtin wit you…now you can get marry! Okay?"
He struggled to step backward, and Bella was about to cry. Father never yelled at her. Always at Andie or Mother.
She ran out of the room. That couldn't be right. Rodolphus was set up…to try and get her to go out with him so they could get married?
He might be lying because he was drunk. A tear that had been yelling to come out all day ran down her cheek, and Bella hoped so to God.
She would go to the Lestrange manor now, and she would figure it out
Okay. You were probably wondering where the stuff at the top was. I played a trick on you! BOO! Here it is!
Disclaimer: Dude, I wish I was J.K. Rowling! I could finally fulfill my life long dream of feeding all the starving children! Or…I could buy a house in every country. Okay, I'm going to go with the house thing! Oh, I'm just kidding, you know that. Not about not being J.K.R. …Oh, I'm going to shut up now. Not really here's more…!
AN: I realize this all was very quick, and most of the chapter was centered around Bella. But don't worry. This is just a very substantial point in the plot, and I need to concentrate on it for now. I hope drunk Hieronymous was believable (no, that wasn't just a desperate cry for a beta reader!) and that you all liked this chapter. It was pretty long, I think. And a lot is going to occur in the next chapter, so look out! It's coming soon.
Oh yeah, and as always, REVIEW YOU BUMS! Just kidding! Love ya!
Oh, and I urge you all to read and drop a review for my new sappy L/J fic, "You Got Post!" because it could use some new reviewers, and I know you guys are the best at that:
SoccerGirl(do I really need to put the numbers? LoL):
Bella, as evil as she may be, is naturally human like the rest of us. Jeremiah and Narcissa are cute together. But you'll see what happens with that. wink You are right that girls have a thing for bad boys! I know I do…what is up with that?
Magic Crystal Rose:
Sorry for the wait! Thanks for your review.
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it, especially the part with Bella (it was really interesting to write as well!) and I tried this chapter to put the "" things more to show change of perspective/scene. Thanks for the suggestion.
Beaaaaattrrrrriiizzzzz(hehe just kidding!) Bea:
It was really sad. Here's the next chapter love. You're coming home tomorrow. YaYs! I miss you! And I have a really funny fight between me and Stephanie. All right. No more personal stuff here!
I LOVE YOU ALL EQUALLY! is just sitting here being weird