Oh I am so sorry I have not updated. I kept getting distracted with everyone else's much better fan fictions. Then I was in bed for a couple of days sick. I also have a GCSE exam on Thursday and a piano exam in a couple of weeks
So here is the next chapter
Please review
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Chapter 12 – Confessions and Stories
Narcissa stroked her sleeping son's hair; he was laying in one of the twin beds in Andromeda's guest bedroom. Narcissa noticed how her hand was shaking from nerves and shock.
Andromeda came in, she was wearing her pyjamas, she never used to. The Black sisters always wore night dresses…how things change thought Narcissa.
"I've said goodnight to Nymmy, Ted said he's getting ready for bed too…I was hoping we could talk for a bit" she whispered Narcissa nodded. "Lets go sit on the stairs…we used to always talk on the stairs" said Andromeda.
It was true Narcissa remembered when she was a child; she sat with her sisters on the staircase when they were supposed to be in bed. They could listen in on the adult's conversation.
Narcissa followed Andromeda out of the room and they walked down the stairs. Andromeda sat down on a step in the middle of the staircase. She patted the carpeted space next to her. Narcissa sat down.
"Now Cissy…please tell me, what happened" Andromeda said
"Well…" Narcissa sighed, "You know, you must know what sort of person he is"
"He beats you" said Andromeda
"Yes…over trivial things, like answering back and asking questions"
"But you've never walked out before…why today?"
"He…he…he gave me the cruciatus curse!" she said
"HE WHAT!" said Andromeda raising her eyebrows "What started all this?"
"Today I went to visit Azkaban. Lucius has told me again and again not to go…but I wanted to see Bella so much and I also wanted to find the doll"
"Doll, what doll?" asked Andromeda
"Bella…the ones Mother gave us, Bella, Cissy and Annie"
"Oh of course…do you have them?" she asked
"Yes…all except Annie"
"Naturally Cissy, I have Annie" Andromeda laughed
"You kept her?"
"Of course, she was my favourite toy…she was my friend when I was by myself, wouldn't throw her away now, would I?"
"True" Narcissa smiled
"So go on…you went to Azkaban to see Bella…"
"Yes…and Lucius warned me not to go because it would make him look bad…gossip and all. He said he had managed to keep out of Azkaban and he did not want his hard work to be ruined by his stupid wife. But I went. Then when I was heading Bellatrix's cell someone grabbed my hand. Someone in another cell…Sirius" Narcissa looked at Andromeda. She was staring wide-eyed
"Sirius! Our cousin, my goodness Cissy, your certainly reuniting with lost family members today aren't you?"
Narcissa laughed slightly
"I suppose you're right…I never thought of it like that"
"So go on…you saw Sirius?"
"Yes he was telling me he was innocent, and how I believed him and then I said how I saw Potter and Evans in Diagon Alley on the day they died"
Andromeda looked downed and sniffed down heartedly. Narcissa did not know how to respond to this so she continued to talk as if she had not seen anything at all.
Narcissa retold the story of how she had met with Bellatrix. How Bellatrix had been separated from her beloved husband. How she had bravely entered the steadily rotting mansion and rescued the hidden doll. Narcissa also mentioned the sabotaged necklace that had belonged to her mother. This was mainly to see how Andromeda would react to the woman who had thrown her from the house. Her face was expressionless though.
"When I got back to the Manor my mother-in-law," she started in a voice of utter contempt "had told my husband I had sneaked off. So naturally he jumped to the worst conclusion. However, he seemed to believe my lies that I only went to Bella's house and not to Azkaban.
'Later on I went down to the drawing room where Claudia was unfortunately. She told me to play the piano."
"Oh no" Andromeda smirked the traditional Black smirk. Blood is thicker than water thought Narcissa.
"Well as usual I played my very unpractised, dreadful playing which Bellatrix enjoyed used to take comfort in reminding me daily."
"Oh I remember that, Mother made us practise the trio pieces."
"I think she drank too much to realise we didn't like playing together at all"
"To be honest I don't she gave a damn if we did"
"You played the best Annie" Narcissa said
"Are you sure, I remember Bellatrix being better"
"No she just played the easier bits to make sure she played it right" Narcissa argued
Andromeda smiled "So go on, what happened" she patted Narcissa's hand
"Well Lucius came in when I was playing, which I admit was rather distracting but he had been quite kind to me the day before so I was quite relaxed. Anyway Claudia stormed out and Lucius stayed. When I finished he was all compliments. He sat next to me and remarked how beautiful I was! He told me that people were vile for being so jealous when saying rude things about me. I can't think why though, unless he thought he was going to get lucky" Narcissa giggled shrilly and covered her mouth. Andromeda did not smile
"What did you do?" she asked curiously
Narcissa lowered her gazed to her hands "I of course was the silly foolish girl. I believed him. You know, you think being married and having a child these couple of years would have smartened me up a bit but no. I'm still the silly naïve school girl I always was"
"That's because you entered a marriage to early. Seventeen is no age for it Cissy"
"You were eighteen – that's only a year older"
"Yes well I suffered the consequences didn't I? Besides I chose to get married I wasn't forced into it" she said, "So what made Lucius turn"
"Well I was in this happy love struck mood and decided to celebrate with Draco…then he found out. He had asked the prison to send letters to him if anyone in his family entered Azkaban. He never told me this and he received a letter from the prison guard all about me turning up. Talking to Sirius. Talking to Bella. Well Lucius was furious. I knew he was going to hurt me so I told Draco to run to the house. I bet the poor thing knew what was going to happen. Lucius apparated me back to the house. He beat me up. Then Claudia came to watch the spectacle. I punched Lucius. He turned his wand to Draco!"
"Oh Merlin" gasped a shocked Andromeda placing a hand in front of her open mouth
"I screamed and kicked in Claudia's grip. Thankfully her pure blood propaganda helped for once. She said that Draco was Lucius' only heir and was worth too much… Lucius pointed the wand at me at…Andromeda I have never felt pain like that"
"The cruciatus curse? Narcissa why are you speaking so casually this is an unforgivable curse. Just take a quick trip to the Ministry and get him locked up"
Narcissa shook her head
"Draco needs a father"
"Yes a father, not a psychopath who won't think twice about using an unforgivable curse on him when he is old enough. Why not file for a divorce. Then remarry. You're still young. Marry a nice guy and give Draco some siblings" Andromeda said putting an arm around her sister "There is no one left to disown you Cissy. Bellatrix is in Azkaban. She'll never get out"
Narcissa smiled sadly "If only I had your courage, or your brain Miss Ravenclaw. I can't go to the Ministry; he'd just buy his way out of Azkaban or a divorce. Then Draco and I would suffer the consequences of our actions even more. No…I'll go back to Lucius soon, I just need to get away for a bit"
Andromeda sat thoughtfully and silent
"Cissy…what made you come here? I mean I'm glad you are but what about one of your friends. No they'd all be on Lucius' side but Francesca…yeah Frankie, are you still friends with her?"
"I was until about a week ago"
"What happened?"
"Well, she gave me a little advice of her own following her methods to sort out inconvenient marriages" said Narcissa lightly
"In other words, she told you to kill Lucius just like she killed her husbands"
"Yes. I naturally refused and said some things to her, and you know how Frankie hates being insulted"
Andromeda nodded
"Do you remember when she got the crush on Sirius, back in your third year" Andromeda whispered
Narcissa sniggered "Of yeah. Merlin I almost about that, she was heart broken when she saw him with that blonde girl"
Andromeda giggled
"Those were the days weren't they Cissy"
"You make us sound like pensioners" Narcissa stifled a yawn
"You must be tired Cissy. Come on, got to bed, we'll speak more tomorrow"
Narcissa stood up and walked to the top of the stairs. She looked down at her pretty long lost sister who continued to sit on the steps.
"Annie?" whispered Cissy. Andromeda looked up. "Thank you"
Andromeda grinned.
Narcissa went into the guest bedroom. She got into the bed, took one loving glance at her sleeping son before drifting off into her own dreamless sleep.