Chapter IV - Vacation...
"You called, Father?"
Bellatrix Black knew that it was one of two things: She either did something to make him extremely proud, or he found out that she had been covering for Andie's night escapades. Her extremely busy father didn't have time for anything other than that. She was cold inside, fearing the worst, but her face betrayed nothing. Her mind was blissfuly blank, as she focused on her father's equally neutral face.
"Sit." He pointed at the chair in front of his work desk.
He didn't seem furious, but Bellatrix couldn't discard the possibility that he was simply luring her into a false sense of security. It had happened before, he could be fishing for clues. He might be suspicious of Andie, and now called her here to confirm. Well, she would betray nothing. Andie did not deserve to be cast out for having a bit of harmless fun. She knows that her sister could use every bit of freedom she has before she was faced with the marriage ultimatum.
"Did you take a look at the list I gave you?"
Oh.
So it was about her marriage ultimatum. She did not sigh in relief, or else it would make it obvious that she'd been worried about another matter entirely. Instead, she allowed her own feelings of frustration to build up, and feed the glare in her face. She did not glare at him, obviously. The inocent desk was at the receiving end of her fury, as she recalled the pathetic choices she'd had been oh-so-kindly given. "Yes, I did."
"And?"
She scoffed, then finally raised her eyes to meet her father's. He looked at her with expectation, optimism. It served to immediately drain her righteous fury. She did not want to fail him. "Father... must I marry? I was already offered a position at the auror force as soon as I graduate." Her tone of voice was persuasive. He never ceased to tell how great of a witch she was, he boasted her skills for all his friends, she was his own pride... Certainly he would grant her this.
He sighed, and closed his eyes. She dared hope. But when his gaze was fixed on her again, she imediately deflated. His condescending sad smile was the answer she did not want. "I know that none of them will ever be trully worthy of you, my Bella."
She threw her head back to stare at the ceiling. The same speech. Over and over. If she looked at his deep, dark brown eyes that matched her own, she'd lose the nerve to say "If you know, then why don't you just let me be?" Her exasperation didn't fade this time. She glanced at him again, and saw that now he was simply matching her frustration with his own. "Cassiopeia Black didn't marry!"
"And what does she have to show for?" His glare pierced into her, cutting deep along his words.
"I will accomplish things. I am the brightest witch of my age, Father. I'm only saying-"
"I know what you're saying" He said, in a comforting manner. Then got up to approach her. "You think that you don't need marriage to honor our great name." He smiled gently at her, and placed his right hand on her left shoulder.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, looking up at him"Father, I'lI go down in history! Bellatrix Black. The greatest witch of her generation. Fiercest law-enforcer, turned Minister." And she believed that. It's in her blood, she just knew she was destined for greatness. There was no one that could match her talent and intelect at Hogwarts. All her professors recognized that she indeed had a bright future ahead of her. Marriage would do nothing but hold her back. She would have no freedom to pursue what was rightfully hers: Power.
"Well, this isn't just about us, dear. And it certainly isn't about you." She was about to cut him off, but he raised his left hand in a placating manner, that served to settle her nerves. She waited for him to explain what he meant. "The ministry is infested by muggle lovers." See, if she was there- her thoughts were interrupted by his rather blunt "You'd be a puppet to a broken system. You'd be enforcing laws that goes against our very beliefs."
She did not believe that, but she knew that it would do nothing to disagree. "Bella, I cannot pass my position in the winzegamot to you, but if you have an heir-"
"Why is that? I am the eldest Black."
"It's TRADITION." His voice held finality. His eyes were steel. "We do not change it. It's through tradition that we honor our family values. The sovereignty of the house of black is stablished through male heirs. I did not make the rules! But if I make an exception here, what will the future generations do? Make exceptions to marry talented half-bloods?"
Bellatrix shuddered, then looked down. He was right, there was only so much she could push. She sighed, then tried pleading again "Father, please. I promisse I'll make something of myself, regardless of the ministry. I don't have to be an auror. I have talent enough to pursue any carreer I desire. And I'll be successful in anything I choose."
"I know!" He knelt to be at her eye level "My warrior, I know. I'm aware of all the things you're capable of!"
Her eyes filled with tears. He managed to make her feel the pride of the house of black fill her entire being. And at the same time... "Why?" She asked, voice devoid of emotions, as she started to compartmentalize. She would not cry. Crying is weakness. She wasn't weak. Her father smiled when she sucessfuly steeled her expression into one of perfect composure.
"If we were in a world where there was no threat of a mudblood infestation I'd let you live your life free of responsibilities to our house." He shook his head, then got up again. His posture was one that comanded attention. Whatever he was going to say, she knew that he was about to trust her with something important. "Muggle lovers seek to suppress our voice in the winzegamot. Now, more than ever, we need to stablish our power. If our branch of the family do not produce eligible heirs for me to pass down my chair, we will lose space for more muggle-lovers."
Well, there is Sirius and Regulus, when they get older... and Cissy is already fond of Malfoy, so that's something, there's no need to add pressure to Andie either. She thought but didn't interrupt her father on what was clearly a very important revelation.
"They wish to banish the dark arts, Bella." Her eyes widened. That's... That's certainly undoable. Right? The unforgivables were one thing. Not everyone should use those as if they were any other spell. But to banish everything on the 'dark arts'? "They are trying so hard to make the wizarding world more welcoming to mudbloods, that they are destroying everything sacred to us. It's not just about Hollidays. It's about our power. Our rights."
That sounded serious... "Why? That makes no sense! Many spells we use for the healling arts have branched from what they label dark."
Her father had a bitter smile "Exactly. It started by labeling. What is light, what is dark. Then the ostracizing of everything 'dark'. Now they are at the phase of prohibition."
She recognized the pattern from Hogwarts. Everytime the Dark Arts were mentioned, non-slytherin students made a face, and shunned the topic as if it was insulting. Fucking mudbloods. They are destroying our world! She shook her head
"It will enter school material." Her father continued, claiming her attention once more "What is acceptable, and what is not. Brainwashing the next generation into accepting the muggle way." Disgusting. Her face contorted to match her thougths. "Haven't you ever wondered why Hogwarts never seem to settle with one professor of the matter of defense against the dark arts?" It was weird... Almost as if it was- "It's because Albus wants the kids to be ignorant to what they accomplish with the dark arts. Most of the winzengamot is on his side."
So the reason she had to marry, and could not be free to pursue her own dreams and ambitions... Was a bunch of muggle lovers that wanted to destroy their traditions? Blood traitors? Mudbloods? Fury didn't begin to describe what she felt. They were ruining her life. "This is our world. They have no right to barge in and tell us how we should live our lives, what kind of magic we should use. Magic is ours!"
He smiled at her "Then you understand?"
She did, and she hated it. A bunch of mud and blood-traitors effectively destroyed all her future plans. She had a responsibility to her family. She could not let these muggle lovers win any ground. Dark magic cannot be banished! "I understand." She said, voice laced with barely contained rage.
"Don't worry, Bella. I've been in contact with a very powerful wizard. I've been telling him about your tallent, and resourcefulness... He is getting ready to wage war against the filth who seek to undermine us. As soon as you finish your education at Hogwarts, and fulfill your role as my eldest Heir, he will make time to meet you. If you impress him, and I know you will, you may earn a place amongst his ranks."
War. War is good. I can make my name then. She smiled "Very well, father. I'll do as you say."
His bright smile was enough to make her feel better about the whole situation. There was relief in his expression. It showed that he didn't want to force her into marriage, any more than she wanted to marry. It was duty. Duty to their family. To their blood. "I knew you would see reason. I'm counting on you, my daughter."
She rose to her feet, and was imediatelly pulled into a hug, which she retributed gratefuly. "But I don't want to choose. I hate all of those dimwits. I'll trust you to chose the one who is going to bring us the most prestige." She said as he let go of her.
It was as if she said that all the mudbloods of the world had suddenly died. She had never seen this expression on his face, and she made him proud often. "You are the perfect heir, my Bella. I wish traditions didn't forbid me from crowning you head of the house. You deserve it. More than anyone."
She smiled at him, then dived back into another hug. She could live with that. As long as he knew it. "Maybe once we get rid of the muggle threat we can bend traditions a bit without the risk of tarnishing our motto."
He laughed "Maybe one day..." He kissed the top of her head, as she let her whole weight fall into his tall, sturdy frame. Hiding her face in that comfortable place between his neck and shoulder.
When Bellatrix entered her room, Andie's worried eyes found hers. She had been pacing, it seemed. Her anxiousness was almost palpable in the air. And I rekon that my expression really isn't helping. "What did he want?"
Bella sighed, and threw herself face first into the bed. She laid still for a few seconds with her face smothered by soft pillows.
"What is it, Bella?" Her voice was worried. "Did he take it out on you?"
She shook her head, unwilling to do anything else to answer properly.
"Bella, what happened?" She really didn't want to raise her head right now. So she just closed her eyes, ignoring Andromeda's question.
She was going to get married next year. One thing was to accept responsibility... Another was to cope with it. I'll get married next year...
Twelve months away, yet she already felt suffocated. A feeling that went beyond of what the pillow was doing to her airways. She felt like crying...
And that angered her. She wasn't a damn weepy weakling who cried over nothing. Get over it. Father said you are going to join a powerful wizard in battle.Maybe after they send all the mudbloods back to their own world, she'd be free of her responsibility.
The thought of a man touching her made her skin crawl in a terrible way. She did not want to be intimate, but that was the purpose of her marriage wasn't it?
She felt the bed shift beside her body, due to her sister's weight. Andie. At least maybe she will be free to marry someone she loves. Without a word, her sister caressed her mass of curls. Untangling some strands, then running her fingers through it. She was soothing in her actions. She seemed to know that Bella wasn't up to talking, but could definitely use the company. Bellatrix's mind shifted to focus on her sister's presence.
"Did I tell you who I saw at the bar yesterday?"
Bella shook her head. Andie's soft, quiet voice, coupled with the gentle fingers working on her hair, served to calm her down. That terrible feeling she couldn't name was slowly fading away.
"Albus Dumbledore."
Bella was shocked. Immediatelly she pushed herself off of the bed, only to turn and face her sister to see if she was serious. She had an amused smile on her face, but didn't seem to be lying. "You're joking."
She laughed, and shook her head "I swear. I saw him dance and everything."
"Albus Dumbledore... dancing..." The mental picture sent Bella into a fit of giggles. "Se-Seriously?"
Andie was still laughing. She couldn't speak properly so she simply nodded. Both sisters spend a good minute just laughing at the absurdity of it. With a sigh, Andromeda threw herself in the bed beside Bellatrix. Face to face, Andromeda started the tale of her latest escapade. "He was already there, when I arrived. Talking with this young woman... Well, young for him. She didn't look like a student, or anything."
"Huh... It's still weird. Why would he be at that bar? People there isn't exactly his age."
"As I said, he was there with someone. And it was jazz night, so the ambience was actually nice for a chat."
"..Or a date. Do you think that the old coot is snogging a girl young enough to be his grandniece?"
Andromeda made a face "Eww noo..."
"But you said he danced, and everything."
"Yes, because she challenged him. I caught a bit of their conversation, before it went all... buzzy."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, actually. Maybe it was a privacy spell. I never heard anything like that before."
"...Interesting." A privacy spell that makes conversation sound buzzy. Who invented that? The old man, or the woman with him? "So a privacy spell, to hide their conversation. Are you sure it wasn't a date?"
"It wasn't a date, Bella!" Andie laughed, because after all, the idea was actually funny. Dumbledore dating... "You haven't seen them, they were acting like colleagues. Even when they danced, it was this fun lindy-hop thing."
"Lindie what?"
"Lindy-hop" Bella made a face. How does Andy know about it? "That's what other people called anyway. Albus seemed to know what he was doing. And the woman was also amused by it."
"Who knew. Our old headmaster likes to frequent muggle bars on his free time"
Then her expression sobered up. Of course he would like that. Her mind imediately did a one eighty as it reminded her that it was because of people like him that she would not have a chance to have her freedom. Damned Half-Blood. She scowled
"Bella?"
"Albus is going to destroy our education, Andie."
"What? Because he went out dancing?"
"Because he went out dancing at a muggle bar."
"It is on our side of the world. It's not like it's against the rules"
"Haven't you realized yet the danger of this invasion? The more the muggles get settled in our world, the less freedom we have!"
"Actually, I think it adds to our freedom. It brings more options."
"At the cost of magic! Did you know that Dumbledore is aiming to forbid dark magic from being practitioned?"
Andromeda frowned "He can't do that. Most families ancestral magic is based upon it. Being related to blood rituals, and all."
"But he wants to. if he suceeds or not, it will depend on how much support he gathers in the winzegamot."
"And... he won't gather. Right? It's a ridiculous notion. Who even told you that?"
Bellatrix shrugged "Father. He said that most of the winzegamot is jumping at the opportunity to make the wizarding world more welcoming to muggleborns."
Andromeda rolled her eyes "Bella, father is always mad about muggleborns taking positions in the ministry. About muggleborns in general. But don't you think that he blows things out of proportion? The dark arts cannot be forbiden. Half the spells we use is based upon it. Who knows what else we can discover yet by studying it?"
"Exactly, Andie. Many things can be accomplished if we are allowed to keep growing into our power. The ministry wants to stop that, to coddle weak mudbloods. Because it is unsettling for them."
"That's what father says."
"And he knows what he is talking about. Or you're oblivious to the talk going around the halls at Hogwarts, even? We are the evil snakes, just because we use dark magic! These talks just show what's going on in the winzegamot"
"They think we are evil because you insist on calling other people filth, and mud." Andromeda deadpanned.
Bellatrix let out a laugh "Then call us bitches. Call us idiots, or something equally insulting. Evil, Andie, is something now being associated to dark magic. As if anyone who practices it is evil. What do they know about it? They don't even care to look at what the spells can do. They hear about the unforgivables and just assume that everything in the 'dark arts' is equally nefarious"
Andromeda had no argument for that. "Ok, so maybe the ministry is daft. But it's not like the muggleborns are to blame. They aren't asking to be coddled."
"They don't need to. They are quickly becoming the majority, and the minstry is just taking in their views as if they are the most important thing in the world..."
"What's this about, Bella? You never seemed to care about them..."
"Not until I was forced to marry because of them!" She spit, venom in her voice. "I will marry in one year, Andromeda. All because we need an heir to take over father's spot at the winzegamot."
Andie gasped. "Bella... No. You don't have to-"
"OF COURSE I HAVE TO!" She got up and started pacing. Like a caged animal. Angry at the world, at those mudbloods who forced her hand. At Dumbledore for being an old fool. At the Minister of Magic, for allowing this idiocy to even be considered... "It's my responsibility, Andie. I'm the oldest."
"And you think that father won't ask me to marry just because you do?" She asked, with as much heat as Bellatrix. "You know that's not how it works. For Cygnus is all about prestige! The more heirs, the more prestige we bring to the house of Black."
"That's not it."
"IT IS! Fuck, Bella. He is just manipulating you into doing what he wants you to do..."
"SHUT UP, ANDROMEDA! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"
"I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GIVING UP YOUR HAPPINESS BECAUSE DADDY ASKED YOU TO!"
Bellatrix was shaking. It wasn't her father that wanted her to give up her happiness. It was those damned mudbloods that forced her to. "You don't know what you're talking about." She repeated. Her voice was low pitched. Husky. It was a sign that Andromeda shouldn't push it.
And she didn't. She wouid never make that mistake again. Bella had a temper as bad as their Father's, and stinging jinxes that were just as strong. "Like you do..." She said, her voice wavered, betraying tears that her eyes hadn't yet delivered. "Daddy's girl." She said, then promply banged the door on the way out.
Bellatrix screamed.