Disclaimer: Forgot this for the last chapter. I don't own the world of Harry Potter. This is only for my entertainment and others', hopefully. Enjoy.
"Father told me the Ministry's about to pass the bill that lets wizards use real curses against Muggles who trespass," Narcissa said self-importantly, settling into her seat. Of course she would be the one her father would entrust with such important information.
"But that's not nice!" Sirius exclaimed. Sirius, so young, so innocent, only just graduated to the company of his older cousins — gray eyes wide and somehow deeper than those of most four-year-olds.
Cissa rolled her own eyes slightly, giving a small huff of lofty disdain. Cissa — nine years old, but already so haughty, so superior. More than any of the others, she had absorbed the ideal of the royalty of the Blacks, and taken it to heart. Cissa — already the cold, disdainful lady she would remain all her life.
Bella merely raised a scornful eyebrow. Even at seven, she already took savage pride in all she did. She had none of Cissa's reserve, none of her ladylike demeanor. Bella was a fighter, with a cruel smile and a penetrating glare.
Andie laughed. Andie always laughed, not contemptuously as Bella would, but merrily, lightheartedly. Andie, glorious eleven-year-old, about to enter Hogwarts — the first of the Black cousins to ascend to the fabled ranks of the Hogwarts students. Slytherin, of course — a given. None of the cousins knew of the late-night discussions where her parents expounded in heated whispers on her flaws and failings. Andie did not take proper pride in her family, they said. She was too carefree. Too happy. Andie — a misfit if there ever was one. Andie, who laughed.
"It's not supposed to be nice, Sirius," she explained kindly. Andie was always kind. "It's supposed to keep Muggles from trespassing."
"But stunning them would work, too!" All Black children were well-versed in spells both common and unusual, and Sirius was no exception.
"Stunning," Cissa cut in haughtily, "does nothing to teach those de — degenerate mongrels a lesson. We need to teach them not to trespass on our land." She smiled slightly, proud of her use of big words.
"Permanently, if possible," Bella added, with silky malice. No one would think she was so young — she was tainted in a way only the corrupted adults should be. They all were. Blacks were superior, and superiority came with maturity — so the Black children were mature, in their own Black way. Even Sirius, that naive little boy, had a deeper understanding of the evils of the world than any four-year-old should. Even happy-go-lucky Andie had shadows in her heart.
Love was a strange thing for the Blacks. It was not warm, or tender. Rarely displayed, it nevertheless existed, in its own way. It was a subconscious bond between them all, a unity that only became evident in the presence of an outsider. Love was a cold hand gripping another like it. Cissa and Andie and Bella and Sirius and Regulus all loved each other, and they loved their parents, but they never showed it, nor did they want to. Only Andie ever acted like she loved, and even she displayed true affection rarely. Her kindness and smiles and laughter were not love. They were Andie, just as haughty sweeps of the head and expressions of dainty disgust were Cissa, and malevolent sneers and cruel words were Bella. Just as wide-eyed questions were Sirius and plaintive wails were Regulus. Love was on a deeper level than any of that, intangible and elusive and cold. The Blacks were a cold family, even with Andie, and their love was like them. Dark and mysterious and cold.
A/N: To my wonderful reviewers, ElvenYoukai and AlyceJL — thank you so much for your praise! (I had an awful day today — I completely bombed the Chem test, I think, and I'm getting sick for the third time since Christmas — and then I got home and there in the email: four reviews! I can't say how much you cheered me up.) Alyce, as soon as I find time (which may very well be within the next few hours), I'm going to read your fic. And Elven (is that what you like to be called? your profile doesn't say anything…), do you write? You should really post something if you do. I'm going to keep an eye out. Also, thank you so much for your continued support. You're definitely my most consistent reviewer, and I haven't expressed my appreciation yet, but I really love having you there. Thanks so much.