Disclaimer: I own nothing. Sad, isn't it?
Author's Note: The key to a good story is a good summary. I learned that the hard way, and am learning it again; thus I changed the summary. Thanks to Jackie for being my kick-ass beta. Excerpts (in bold) taken from Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven
Why are you so stupid? Narcissa stood in front of her mirror donning her floaty satin nightgown. The party was still going on downstairs. She really wasn't in the mood. No more suitors, no more wine, no more mingling.
No more Lucius Malfoy.
So she'd left.
Stupid. Narcissa taunted her reflection. You're too stupid to know to run when mother comes with another man trailing her, you're too stupid to know—
A soft rapping at her chamber door distracted her from her diatribe of insults. She lay down in her bed, trying to seem asleep.
Someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis a visitor, tapping at my chamber door. Only this and nothing more." she murmured to herself, quoting her favorite poem.
"Narcissa?"
Thank Merlin! Narcissa thought.
It was Bellatrix.
"Come in, Bella."
Narcissa's sister entered her bedchamber, her raven hair flowing down her back.
"'Cissy, I have to leave now."
Narcissa hated when her sister left.
"Bella, don't go. Ask Rodolphus if you can stay the night."
"'Cissy, you'll be okay. You're nineteen, not nine."
Narcissa leaned forward in her bed, and Bellatrix sat beside her.
"Bella, this house is so cold. I hate being here alone with mother. She talks of nothing but getting married."
"How did you like Lucius Malfoy?".
Narcissa stared. Bellatrix was grinning.
"Bellatrix! You're awful!" she shrieked, hitting her sister with a pillow. This is what she wanted. She wanted to feel like it was the old times, before Bellatrix was married, before Narcissa's constant subjection to talk of marriage.
"'Cissy! You'll tear my dress!"
"I don't care! You'll only wear it once anyway!"
"Stop it, 'Cissy!"
"Narcissa?"
Narcissa immediately stopped hitting her sister, as her mother stepped into her chamber, looking much like a raven herself.
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore.
"Yes, mother?"
"I wasn't aware you left, Narcissa, there were other people I wanted you to meet."
I don't want to meet anymore people! I want to become an old spinster, living for the day I die! Narcissa thought furiously.
"I'm sorry mother." she obligatorily responded, looking down at her black comforter.
"Bellatrix, isn't your husband waiting for you?"
"He can wait a few minutes more." said Bellatrix dismissively.
Mrs. Black stiffened, and her posture became even more straight and dignified.
"One does not dictate how one's husband can wait." she said authoritatively.
"He's fine, mother! He doesn't mind waiting while I say goodbye to my sister!"
Mrs. Black's eyes narrowed,
"'Tis a miracle we found you a husband." she sniffed.
"Thank you, mother."
"Doubtless" said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store, caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster, followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore"
"Go, Bellatrix." commanded Mrs. Black.
Bellatrix gave Narcissa one last hug and swept gracefully past her mother.
"Narcissa, do not let any of your sister's foolish ideas get into your head."
"What ideas?"
"You must always obey your husband."
"Mother, she wasn't—"
"Narcissa, if you do not promise me, I will see to it that Bellatrix does not visit us. She is a bad influence, and an atrocious wife."
"Mother, you can't keep Bella—"
"Nevermore."
Quoth the Raven "Nevermore."
Mrs. Black smiled composedly and backed out of the room.
Narcissa promised.