Authoress: Stormy Llewellyn
Chapter: Two, Define Family
Authoress' Note: Here's chapter two, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed, they really motivated me to get this chapter done and the next one started. All constructive criticism is welcome as well as what you'd like to see in future chapters.
Disclaimer: Pick up your copy of the latest Harry Potter book. Unless someone has crossed out the word J. K. Rowling and replaced them with Stormy Llewellyn then I still don't own anything.
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Narcissa waved away the skittish house elf who had a none to good past with Bella's visits. For the past hour she'd been treating her older sister as if she were sick, which in reality she was. However, it would probably take more then chicken soup to fix the woman. Prisoners were provided very little food in Azkaban, so Narcissa knew better then to give Bellatrix anything too heavy because she wouldn't be able to keep it down. Bellatrix had retreated into her thoughts since her most recent outburst and her eyes had grown rather glassy. It was probably best to distract her from said thoughts, they couldn't be pleasant.
She reached underneath the bed and pulled out an old leather bound book and a box, "I have the family photo album, do you remember taking these?"
The first few pages were of Lucius' and Narcissa's wedding day. The two of them at the alter focused on each other and speaking loving words that now made her feel bitter. Both of them twirling around the dance floor in a slow waltz at the reception. Bella smiled slightly at this and rasped, "Those were better days."
"They were," agreed Narcissa a bit wistfully.
What her sister said next dismayed her, "The Dark Lord was in his prime, he was going to restore the wizarding world to it's former glory." Of course that was what her sister was thinking of, it was what Lucius spoke of when he thought of those times too. It was always what was most important and sacrifices had to be made by all. Oh, and sacrifice she had.
On the next page were pictures of their family. Three very different girls sat together smiling and blinking (for it was considered tacky and of bad taste to wave) in front of their stern looking parents. Two of the girls were stunning, both in their own right. Bella with her dark, aristocratic looks and Narcissa with her ethereal appearance. One girl was rather plain and her picture self was not smiling but sitting rigid, frowning, and biting her lip. Her hair was long and mousy looking, she looked utterly out of place between her two sisters. Bellatrix's eyes narrowed and she hissed, "Blood traitor."
Although she nodded in agreement Narcissa could not help but think, But she's happy, isn't she? And to think we're supposed to be the 'good daughters'. Bella continued, "I can't believe you paid a visit to her and her...spawn."
"I was young," she protested.
"You were weak," disagreed Bellatrix, flipping the page shut on our estranged sister.
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Andromeda had agreed whole-heartedly to see her when she'd sent the owl. The letter she'd received in return had been warm and eager and Narcissa thought she must be lonely, though she could hardly blame her. After all. They'd been so segregated through their youth from all the other children that they'd come to rely on each other heavily. Narcissa shuddered at the mere thought of being cut off from the family, in the end they were all you really had, right? With a pinch of powder she entered the green flame and after a quick look around the study to make sure no one had seen called out, "The Tonks' residence."
Mrs. Tonks seemed rather alarmed when Narcissa stepped out of her fireplace but recovered quickly, she'd grown to expect the unexpected since her son had started attending Hogwarts. For her part Narcissa had to push her lips together to keep them from curling up in disgust. To think, her sister living with muggles! She traded her charmed life as a black for this? I swear, sometimes I think that girl is crazier then Bella, she thought in a bemused manner. "I'm looking for Andromeda." She stated coldly, but politely.
"Oh! Goodness, you must be her sister, she told me you'd be coming. Well, um, come in." She said, gesturing away from the fireplace. Narcissa stepped more fully into the room and gazed around at their decidedly bland home. Although she saw many peculiar things she had no interest in the muggle items.
"Pleased to meet you dear," Narcissa hesitantly held out her hand but Mrs. Tonks took her into a hug, much to her surprise and horror. Stiffly, she pulled away and nodded at the woman who seemed unfazed. "I'm afraid Andie doesn't talk much about her old home, she was so pleased when she received your letter."
Andromeda came into the room, smiling and pulled her into a warm hug causing her to stiffen but not pull away. Affection is to be shown only in private and even then you should never lose yourself completely, her mother's voice sounded in her head. "Narcissa, you look wonderful!" She said softly, almost hesitantly.
"You too, sister," she responded automatically. It was true, Andromeda's face glowed and for the first time in her life she seemed genuinely happy. How could that be?
"Girls, would you like some tea? I have some in the kitchen." Mrs. Tonks spoke up from by the fireplace.
"Yes, thank you Mama Tonks." Andromeda said with a smile. Narcissa's eyebrow arched ever so slightly at the way she addressed the woman and the amount of affection in her voice. Eyes gleaming she turned and grabbed her sister's hand, "Come, Narcissa, I want you to meet Nymphadora."
"I don't–."She stopped upon seeing the look on her sister's face. "Okay, let's go see her."
Bellatrix had been enraged when she discovered that Andromeda had chosen an old family name for her daughter, as had many of their relatives. Narcissa, though, saw it as a sign of hope. Maybe this would not be a wasted visit after all. Against her will she smiled at the sight of her niece who was currently sporting blue hair.
"A rare gift." She commented, secretly surprised that the daughter of a mudblood had inherited such a gift.
"Yes," Andromeda laughed, a bright and tinkling sound, "She seems to have an affinity for odd colors."
"Er," she bent at the knees and looked down at the little girl seated at the dining room table who was dressed completely in muggle clothing, "hello Nymphadora, I'm Narcissa."
"'Ello Aunt N-n-'cissa." The blonde couldn't help but let out a guilty giggle at the sound of the childish pronunciation. And yet she couldn't bring herself to correct the girl about the nickname she only allowed those close to her to use.
Andromeda beamed and sat down in a chair, pulling the little four-year-old into her lap. Just then Mrs. Tonks walked into the room with a tea pot and two cups. On the way out she smoothed out Andromeda's brown hair. Turning to her sister Andromeda said, "So, how is Hogwarts?"
"Fine. I'm beginning to wish I'd began studying for the N.E.W.T's a few years ago," Narcissa replied pleasantly.
"Ah, well you'll manage through Narcissa. You're a powerful witch and you may be beautiful but you are also intelligent. You wouldn't be in Slytherin if you weren't." Narcissa actually felt her cheeks heat up at the words. Unused to compliments about her intelligence she simply nodded.
"Speaking of Hogwarts, what did you do with Nymphadora as you finished?"
"Oh, she stayed here. Mr. And Mrs. Tonks have been a real blessing. I missed her terribly though."
She was horrified. In a low voice she hissed, "You left her here with these muggles?" Half-blood or not she didn't like the idea of her niece being influenced by these people.
"Of course I did! Well, it isn't like they're going to hurt her. They love their granddaughter which is more then I can say for my own parents." She replied sharply.
Narcissa opened to protest this attack on her parents but was cut off by Andromeda who was playing with her daughter's feathery hair. "Have mother or father said anything?"
Oh, yes, they'd said plenty but nothing that she was willing to repeat to her sister. Their eldest sister also had several things to say as well and Narcissa was sure she'd have no problem saying them to Andromeda. "No, not really." She lied quietly.
Andromeda let out a heavy sigh and nodded her understanding. "Well, what did you expect?" she asked cautiously, coming around to the reason she was here today. "They gave you the choice to stay and you turned your back on us!"
"Who turned their back on whom?" Andromeda shot back, her face red with anger, "Mother gave me an option alright but only if I agreed to go to a healer and–." She didn't finish, simply held her daughter tighter to her.
"But you could come back! Is it really worth it? Leaving everything you had behind for...this?" Asked Narcissa, gesturing around to the house with distaste, "There's nothing here for you."
Brown eyes going cold she hissed, "My everything is here." She sat her chin down on the top of her daughter's head and continued vehemently, "Believe it or not, what I have here means more to me then anything in that hell hole ever did."
The words stung even though Narcissa didn't want them to and she longed to ask whether or not that included her. Growing up the three sisters had been the most important people in the world to each other. Now knowing that these people had took their place bothered her, "But Andie, we're your family."
"This is my family," it was like a slap in the face.
"Fine. I hope you and your mudblood husband and your half-breed daughter are all very happy together. Traitor." She snarled.
"You can leave now." Andromeda said coldly.
As she marched over to the fireplace she heard Nymphadora ask, "Mummy, wha's wong wit' Aunt Cissa?"
"Nothing baby...she's just...confused right now."
And suddenly she was aware of the tears streaming down her face as she left her older sister, never to see her again.
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Alright the next chapter is in progress and it is called The Trouble With Muggles and it will be Bella-centric. I hope your all still enjoying the story and like where I'm going with it. By the way I wonder if you want me to develop the plot in present day too, or stick with the past? Although this fic will be past focused I may be willing to do a pit of an AU with the present as well.
Review, thanks for reading!