To my sisters:
May the stars always guide you home, and the flowers break your fall.
Chapter 1: Propositions
Selected Listening: Speeding Cars- Imogene Heap
December 1972, Wizarding World U.K.
Andromeda Black
Andromeda Black collapsed on the cold tile of the bathroom, brunette hair awry. She had been sick every morning for the past week. At first, she thought it was a bad stomach bug or something she ate, but as the days passed and everything she smelled brought on a new wave of nausea, an additional bad feeling grew at the pit of her stomach, an answer she couldn't bring herself to deal with. Not now. Not days before Bellatrix's engagement party. The two sisters, born not even a year apart, competed for everything. This would certainly be the last straw.
Before she could worry much more, her stomach bowled over again.
"What is taking so long? Get out of there. Bella?" It was Narcissa knocking at the door for her morning shower. The youngest Black sister had returned from Hogwarts for her last winter vacation. Of course, their father doted over her incessantly. She was the prettiest. Blonde, blue-eyed, looked most like their mother who passed away in recent years. Andromeda heaved once more into the basin and flushed it down, before coughing weakly.
"M'not Bella." She managed to say.
"I'm coming in."
The doorknob jiggled.
"No don't!" She said, but Narcissa had already entered the room and stared at her elder sister with wide, fearful eyes.
"An', I told you. This isn't normal. You need a healer." Cissa closed the door gently behind her and lowered her voice to a whisper.
Andromeda stared back, wondering if she should say something. It was risky with Cissa. She may run straight to Bella to tattle, but she was also the best occlumens of the family. She could lock her memories down like a Gringotts vault. It was her method of getting away with anything and everything. If their father went picking through their brains to see who knew first, Cissa could protect herself.
"I know...but promise you won't tell anyone?"
"Why not? We have to tell father so we can take you to St. Mungo's." That would be a problem. Although Bellatrix and Andromeda had their own jobs, their deposits went straight to the family vault. If she told her father about her illness, she wouldn't be allowed out for the rest of her life.
"No! Not father, not Bellatrix, not anyone. I have to go alone." She decided and pried herself up to a standing position. Narcissa puffed her cheeks up and placed her hands on her hips. A silly quirk she maintained from throwing tantrums as a child. It still worked.
"I don't understand. Did someone hex you? Were you stung by a blast-ended skrewt? What could be so wrong with you that you couldn't possibly tell your family?" Andromeda gave a long, exasperated look to her sister before telling her the truth.
"Cissa, I think I'm pregnant."
Narcissa froze.
"But you aren't seeing anyone...Are you seeing someone?" She asked with a glint of a smirk. "You didn't mention him in your owls."
Andromeda looked down at the floor. This would be the difficult part.
"Remember Ted Tonks? He and I had prefect duty together in school."
"He's a muggle-born! A mudblood! Even worse, a Hufflepuff, push-over mudblood." She emphasized. Andromeda sighed.
"You think I don't know that? Cissa, I know father wouldn't approve at first, but considering the situation—"
"He's not going to approve at all! I thought you cut things off after graduation. It's been three years!"
"And?" Three years. Three years of scuttling about the ministry, finding hiding spots between shifts. Three years of lying to father about why she wasn't interested in finding a suitable, pureblood match. Three years of trying her best to break up with Ted...but then he'd give her that doofy smile and tell her she was the prettiest, smartest girl he'd ever known. He was the only one she could talk to about her family issues and the only one who sat with her to grieve after her mother passed away.
"That's ample time to let him down gently...seems you've done the opposite." Cissa giggled at her own joke. Andromeda could only glare. The youngest eventually smuggled her smile away.
"If it were you, and Lucius was muggle-born—"
"He's not. And I know my rank." Cissa replied sharply.
"Are you going to rat me out then?" Andromeda waited for her response. Narcissa looked over her shoulder as if she feared the possibility of someone listening. She grew somber and finally replied.
"Course not. I have a friend in prenatal at St. Mungo's. She owes me. We can sneak out this afternoon while Bella has her meeting with Rodolphus."
"Right..." Andromeda trailed off.
"It's going to be alright, An'. Whatever it is, we're going to fix it. You're going to be fine." Her sister wrapped her in a tight hug, knowing the half-truth of her words.
Bellatrix Black
Bellatrix sat at the small tea table in the den and kicked up her pointed boots. She tore a wrapper off a hard candy, strip by strip, and imagined it screaming. She hated these ridiculous prenuptial meetings with her father and Rodolphus Lestrange, or Rol-dufus, as she preferred to call him. She didn't understand why she had to marry the least attractive, disgusting male out of their immediate circle of influence, no matter how rich his family or how involved they were with this rising Dark Lord. She preferred to be a free agent, but she supposed three hundred years of Lestrange family relics under her name would be worth the paperwork.
The house-elf scurried into the room, carrying the tray with a steaming kettle and halted when she saw Bella.
"Mistress, feet off the table." It said. Bellatrix made a cross-eyed expression and mocked the house elf's words.
"Why should I?" She asked, plopping another candy into her mouth. The house-elf turned red in the face, and its little cheeks puffed up.
"Because your father and Mr. Lestrange are on their way!" It exclaimed. "Miss Bella knows how the master hates being kept waiting."
"Sounds like your problem." Bellatrix took her feet down and watched in amusement as the elf scrambled to place everything on the table in time for her father's arrival. The witch picked up her cup and stared at the pink liquid.
"Is this more of Cissa's hibiscus crap?" She asked.
"Yes, the master requested it." The elf said, straightening sugar cubes.
When the elf turned away, Bellatrix poured the liquid from her cup onto the floor and placed the cup it back in its saucer. The two men walked in. Bellatrix fluffed her curled dark locks and did her best to look innocent and unaware. The elder man glared at the elf.
"You haven't finished setting the table?" He demanded of the elf. "And you spilled all over the floor!"
"M-master, Dotty didn't…" The elf turned around and saw the spot, immediately jumping to point at Bellatrix. "You did this!"
"Can't help it if you're clumsy," Bellatrix said nonchalantly. She looked up to see Rodolphus sitting across from her, hiding a smile.
"Clean it up." Her father gave the elf a good kick out the door. He came around to the other side of the table, sitting between them, and putting his copy of the Daily Prophet down on the table. The headline read "Tom Riddle Dies. The Dark Lord's Rise."
Bellatrix leaned onto her hand to peer at the headline while acting uninterested. Her eyes scanned the first couple of lines.
Wizard, formerly known as Tom Riddle, has denounced his half-blood heritage and claimed a new name, Lord Voldemort. He and his followers have challenged the ministry to return wizards to their rightful place as rulers of the muggle world… Her father moved the paper under his saucer. Bella hoped to see a picture of the Dark Lord one day. She wished to meet him in person, if possible. But it wasn't common for women to attend his meetings. While her fiancé enjoyed the company of their great leader, she was forced to wait in the shadows. If she could, she would ask to sign up as a Death Eater herself. She would be the best, ten times better than Lestrange. She would help plot with the Dark Lord to hunt down all the blood traitors who soiled the essence of magic.
A witch could dream…
"It's quite brilliant, what he's doing." Rodolphus continued. "Muggles have caused problems for ages. There's no reason why we should have to hide from them. They only aim to harm us." It was the most interesting thing Rodufus had said in ages. In fact, Bellatrix made it a point to only listen to him when he was talking about Voldemort.
"I agree with you, Lestrange. One hundred and ten percent." Cygnus's vitriolic tone lashed, his fingers gripped the edge of the table, and his skin turned slightly red. Bellatrix knew why. It was the same reason she was digging her nails into her knees beneath the table and gritting her teeth so hard they could shatter.
"I encourage you, sir. to accept my invitation to one of our meetings. I think you would find it inspired." Rodufus encouraged. Cygnus relaxed.
"Oh no, no, I'm sorry, I couldn't oblige. I feel a bit too old for such things. No, I'll leave that cause for you young people to further." He insisted.
But Bella did not relax. She knew the only thing keeping her father from attending was that he hadn't been sober for a twenty-four hour period since the night her mother didn't come home from her shopping trip. The night when they searched for hours, only to find her body in an alleyway, hollowed out by one of the muggle's destructive mechanisms. Those things they toted around like wands, but rather limited and messy in function. They emptied her wallet, but wouldn't find much use for the coins inside, other than to have them melted down.
Bellatrix snapped out of her gaze to find the two men staring at her.
"Anyway, the invitation is always open." Rodolphus amended.
"Right, right, well, we ought to get on with setting a date for the wedding. That is what we're here to do, aren't we—"
"Um, Master?" Dotty came in again, peeking around the corner.
"What? Can't you see we're having a conversation?"
"The-there's…young Mr. Malfoy is at the door. He's looking for Cissa. Apparently, they have a date, but she's not at home."
"Well, where the devil is she?"
"Dotty doesn't know, sir. Dromeda and Cissa left earlier. They didn't tell Dotty where they were going."
Bellatrix grew suspicious. Dromeda had been particularly avoidant lately. Going to work, coming home, rarely speaking to her or father.
Cygnus Black sighed and put his hands down on the table.
"Excuse me, while I tend to our other guest and make up for my daughter's carelessness." He rose and left.
As soon as he was out of sight, Bellatrix rose and floated off to the credenza where her father's favorite bottle of Cognac sat. She took out her wand and waved it so that a perfect serving would pour into the glass on the tray, and two ice cubes enchanted themselves into the liquor.
"Finally, a real drink."
Rodolphus watched her from across the room. She wasn't the prettiest of the Black sisters. In his opinion, that title belonged to Andromeda. The two looked almost exactly alike, save for two shades between their hair color. Everything about Andromeda was softer. Her face, her movements, her voice. He originally requested her, but Cygnus refused. Bellatrix had the right to marry first because she was eldest, and Cygnus believed she was a better fit for him. He was beginning to see why. Bella's mannerisms were sharp, her methods fierce, and her judgement exacting. Her passion for the rise of pureblood society was a stance many women didn't have the gall for.
He decided to say it plainly.
"You don't want to marry me."
Bellatrix paused in her pour and looked briefly over her shoulder.
"You got that right." She said and finished making her drink. He wandered over to her and hovered.
"I may not be your first choice—"
"Or my second. Or my third…" She drifted off.
Rodolphus waited patiently. Her eyes rolled back as she took her first sip.
"I understand."
"So what?" She asked.
"I fancy you, Bellatrix. Not romantically, but we share the same goals. The same dreams. I think that's important."
"How do you know what I want to do with my life? If you think it's to bear your family line and grow old—"
"Nothing of the sort. You can't hide it, Bellatrix. I see the way you look at that newspaper. How you pretend you aren't listening when your father and I are talking about the Dark Lord. You want to join him, do you not?" He asked. Bellatrix stared at him for a moment. He was more perceptive than she thought.
"Yes, I wish to serve the Dark Lord."
"Then you are in luck, as my family is among his most trusted followers."
"You say that a lot, but what does that mean for me?"
"It would mean that you could attend our meetings whenever you wish. In fact, I would expect you to. Sit by my side, bask in his presence."
"I don't wish to bask. I wish to be useful."
"That may come in time, but you must gain his favor first. He is reluctant to tell his plans to anyone but his closest followers. What I'm giving you is an opportunity." She glanced at him from the corners of her eyes.
"If I agree to marry you, I have some terms. Terms I would never discuss with father, mind you, so don't mention them in other company." He nodded.
"As expected. What are they?"
"I'm not the least bit interested in mating with you, Rodolphus. I'd rather kill myself then marry you if that's what you expect."
"Not even for your own enjoyment?"
Bellatrix laughed so hard she snorted, and Rodolphus waited patiently for her to finish.
"Please. I want free reign to find enjoyment with whomever I please, and you are free to do the same."
"So, no children?"
"No children." She specified. "I hate children. I would probably kill one before it became of age. I would rather place my efforts in serving the Dark Lord." The man's eyes narrowed, as he tried to make sense of the pieces that made up Bellatrix Black. He supposed he would spend his whole life wondering.
"I understand. That is what I want as well. Is that all?"
She handed him his own glass of liquor.
"That is all."
He clinked his glass against hers.
"Welcome to the family, Lestrange."
Narcissa Black
Narcissa's friend, the prenatal healer, asked her to sit in the waiting room during Andromeda's appointment. It was a smaller waiting room of St. Mungo's. This one was very private, save for a few other witches who didn't want to be spoken to. A baby girl lay in its carrier on the floor, looking a bit bored, and Cissa crossed her eyes at it. The baby smiled and giggled, but after a stern look from the child's mother, Cissa turned her attention to the stack of magazines on the side table.
Chronos, lay on top, less interesting than the new Witch's Weekly she hoped for, but the headline caught her attention.
"Trinity Professor on the Future of Pureblood Magic"
She flipped to the inside article.
Dr. Horowitz recently received a 28 thousand galleon grant from The Sacred 28 Foundation to research and provide solutions for pureblood families of the 21st century.
"Pureblood society is in danger. Wizards and witches are marrying muggles and half-bloods at triple the rate compared to 20 years ago. This could threaten the genetics of magic. Once we understand wizarding genetics, we have the potential to better form our pedigrees in the future and keep our children from making mistakes that can harm the future of magic society."
Narcissa kept scanning but didn't absorb much more. She worried about Andromeda and her potential child. Would it turn out to be a squib because Ted Tonks was muggle-born? Their father would surely banish her from the family if she carried it to term. She had heard of muggles developing safe methods of abortion, but those weren't approved for use on witches due to unforeseen, magical complications.
She noted the last sentence of the article as the door to the examination room creaked open.
Dr. Horowitz is currently searching for research assistants who would like to specialize in wizarding genetics. Additional opportunities may be open for those who would like to further their education in prenatal and women's health. Letters of inquiry may be sent to his office by January 1st for consideration for the fall term.
"Cissa, you can come in now." Her friend called. Narcissa slipped the magazine in the pocket of her robe and entered the office to join her sister, who sat on the examination table with a bit of a lost expression.
"It's not good news, is it?" She asked once the door shut completely behind her. "You'll have to give it up for adoption."
"I don't have to do anything!" Andromeda snapped. "Cissa, this is my child. I don't care if a quarter of its blood isn't magic."
"What if it turns out to be a squib? Not to mention the shame of having a child out of wedlock with a mud—I mean muggle-born. Father will not allow you to keep it. You know that."
"Please, Cissa. The stress isn't good for her." Her friend warned. Narcissa felt her fists tighten, but she didn't do anything. Andromeda's face flushed crimson.
"It doesn't matter what father thinks. I'm a grown woman. This decision is for me and Ted to make, and you will not tell anyone until I give you my final decision. Do you understand?" The sisters stared each other down fiercely without saying a word. The nurse became very uncomfortable in her own office.
"I will do what is right for our family." Cissa said and strode to the door, muttering something about "father will so hear about this." Andromeda removed her wand from her cloak.
"Jinx! Double Jinx, no jinx backs!" A white light flashed and then faded.
Narcissa turned back over her shoulder with a look of fury.
"Did you just jinx me? Did you not just claim you're a grown woman! Andromeda's preg…" Her mouth slammed shut and wouldn't let her say another word. "Andromeda's p-p…" She threw her hands down in frustration.
"Cissa, I'm not going to let you endanger my child and my future…maybe one day, you'll understand."
"What I understand is that as soon as Father finds out, no matter how he does, you will be banished from the family, and I'll be left alone with Bella. You know she hasn't been stable since mother died, something's gone wrong with her. She's…unhinged. I'm not going to leave her alone."
"I'm not going to be held prisoner any longer, Cissa, or put up with Bella's nonsense. Pretty houses with powerful people can't bring you happiness. You have to learn that. Plus, Bella and I have never gotten along."
"And you'd rather give us all up than try to make it right? Fine. Run off with your mudblood and have a great life. Forget all about us."
"Maybe I will," Andromeda growled.
Again, they stared each other down, until Narcissa's friend opened the door with a startled expression.
"Alright, well. Lovely seeing you ladies. I have another appointment."
Cissa agreed to wait in the Ministry atrium for Andromeda while she spoke to Ted. She perched at the edge of the Fountain of Magical Brethren. The golden figures, the witch, the wizard, centaur, house-elf, and goblin hovered above her.
She forgave her sister, partially. Placing herself in Andromeda's shoes, she wouldn't have acted rationally either. Although she didn't care for Ted, he was a reasonable person. Hufflepuffs usually were, and maybe talking to him would set An' straight. There was no way they could possibly keep the child.
Andromeda returned to the lobby with a somber expression.
"How did it go?" Narcissa asked. An' nodded faintly, thoughts unfathomable.
"It went alright. He's agreed to take care of the medical bills. We're looking into finding someone who can adopt the child."
"Really?" Narcissa let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, hopped up and wrapped her sister in a bone-crushing hug. "I can't imagine how you're feeling right now. I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. It was a bit—"
"Unhinged?"
"We'll call it that."
By the time they returned to the Black estate, it was late in the afternoon. While Andromeda rushed upstairs to the water closet, Cissa heard her father calling from the den.
"Cissa, there's someone here for you. Where have you been?"
"Just out with An', finishing up Christmas shopping." She hung up her scarf and coat on the hook and rushed into the other room, praying her father wouldn't use legilimency on her. Lucius Malfoy sat across from her father. They had finished afternoon tea, and the house-elf, Dotty, scraped away the remains.
"Lucius, it's good to see you." She smiled brightly.
"Is it? You forgot our date." He said sternly and checked his watch.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, was a bit preoccupied. Had to finish Christmas shopping you know?"
"You don't have any shopping bags." He pointed out. She drew up a quick lie.
"The shops owl them nowadays. That way, they aren't covered in floo when you reach home. Very convenient."
Cygnus eyed his daughter suspiciously. Cissa skipped to Lucius and took his arm.
"Anyway, where would you like to go? I still have time if you do."
"I am expected at home for a family dinner, but I suppose we have time for a walk through the manor gardens before dark."
"That would be lovely." She smiled at him. She already felt her father trying to filter through her thoughts, but she put up her occlumency walls and only thought of shopping with her sister in years past. When Cygnus realized he wasn't finding any new information, he shook himself as if waking from a dream and turned to the couple.
"Do enjoy yourselves. Wonderful chatting with you, Lucius."
The widower paced away to the den, and Narcissa apparated faster than she ever thought she could.
The two arrived in front of Malfoy Manor. Lucius waved his wand to allow them to walk through the gates, and Narcissa stared up at the home she adored. The estate stood in the middle of the countryside on its lonesome, with no neighbors, muggles or otherwise, to bother the ancient wizarding family. The couple strolled to the right where the gardens began and wrapped around the house. They paused as an albino peacock crossed their path, looked at them curiously, and waddled on.
"I wish mother never bought those things. They're odd." Lucius said as they wandered amongst the lavender and roses.
"I think they're elegant." Cissa chimed and adjusted her dark emerald scarf. "Besides, they're your mother's favorite." Lady Malfoy was a peacock in mortal skin. She wore lavish fabrics all the time, even if she was only lounging in the library. It wasn't Narcissa's choice of style, but she could respect it. Narcissa hated bright colors. Even the colors of the Hogwarts houses annoyed her sometimes. Everything at that school was so colorful, and loud, and suffocating. She wished for silence, solitude, and space.
"Yes, well, I could do without being afraid the beasts will chase me across the grounds every time I go out," Lucius whined. Narcissa laughed gently. "You think that's funny?"
"You've always been afraid of animals. I don't think you would have survived care of magical creatures if you hadn't claimed a severe feather allergy." Cissa teased.
"I wasn't afraid! Those beasts are disgusting! If I was on the school board, it wouldn't even be a class." Lucius argued like a child. Whenever he was wrong, he would outright refute the statement.
"Calm down. I was only joking." She said, pausing to sniff a carnation.
"I suppose I wouldn't have gotten out of the class so easily if you hadn't forged that St. Mungo's letterhead." He observed her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "If only your memory for appointments was that keen."
She returned a playful glare.
"I'm sorry I forgot our date." She said formally.
"I'm glad you did." He replied with a sly grin. "It gave me a chance to speak with your father at length."
"Oh, and what did you talk about?" she asked and wandered further into the beds of flowers. He followed.
"Your father seems to think your middle sister isn't interested in being wed soon." Despite their disagreement, she found herself defensive of Andromeda.
"What does it matter? She's a grown woman. She can do what she pleases."
"It doesn't matter for her. It matters for you."
She spun around to find Lucius on one knee. He took both of her hands and looked into her eyes.
"Lucius—"
"Cissa you're the only thing I've ever been sure of in my entire life. Will you please marry me?"
"Lucius, I haven't even graduated yet…I'm barely of age. You only turned eighteen a few weeks ago."
"Cissa, this is the first time I've had to go months without seeing your face, and it's dreadful. I don't want to live another day without you. Not if I can help it."
She stared down at his crystal blue eyes and couldn't help smiling.
"Alright. Okay, I will marry you."
He rose to his feet and they kissed and smiled and giggled. They broke away and paced back toward the manor. Narcissa reached into her pocket and her hand brushed the glossy cover of the magazine. The quotes about the professor's research still echoed in her mind. Her curiosity lingered.
"—and I'll owl you a copy of the Malfoy family wards, so you can read over the required vows."
"The what?" she asked.
"It's a document outlining the magical protections you'll have under the Malfoy name. Don't worry, I'm sure it would be the same for your family."
"Oh…I'm sure you're right."
"See you at Bella's party tomorrow?"
"Certainly."