Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter series.
Sorting
The scenery flew by in blurs of color as the train sped along the track in route to Hogwarts. Narcissa gazed out the window and felt rather dizzied both at the distorted vision and the prospect of starting school in a few short hours. She turned her gaze to the occupants of the train compartment and was reassured immensely. Next to her, Andromeda was leafing through one of her new spell books while Bellatrix was sprawled out on the opposite bench looking utterly bored.
It was just the three of them as Bellatrix had kicked the lesser pureblood company out after she tired of them within an hour of travelling. Narcissa, though she had complained, was secretly grateful that Bella had done so. For once she didn't feel like hearing the idle gossip and discrete threats of blackmail, nor did she feel like watching Rodolphus Lestrange's hands mysteriously disappear under her sister's robes on numerous occasions. Luckily, Bellatrix had somehow managed the sense to kick her almost-maybe-sometimes-definitely boyfriend out as well. (If Bella wasn't careful, Narcissa had warned, people would start talking about her. Andromeda had noted that as Cissy would soon find out, people frequently did talk about Bellatrix. The eldest sister had smirked and reasoned that it was better to be well known and talked about because then you at least had a reputation for something.)
Narcissa could scarcely wait to forge her own path ahead, though. After hearing her mother complain loudly about Bellatrix and Andromeda's complete disregard for social niceties, Narcissa was determined to fill Druella Black with pride. She always did. Hogwarts would be no exception.
Still, she was more fidgety than usual. This did not go unnoticed by Andromeda.
"Cissy, what's the matter? Bella is sitting stiller than you."
Narcissa drummed her fingers against the glass as she sighed, "Suppose I've forgotten a set of dress robes."
Bellatrix laughed, "Merlin, Cissy… you only packed a thousand. Besides, you can always write mother and ask her to send you them. Knowing her, she'll probably buy you a new set."
Out of the corner of her eye, Narcissa saw Andromeda smile in agreement.
"Speaking of dress robes," she decided, shutting her book with a snap, "We'd better change. We're nearly there, I think."
Narcissa jumped at her sisters words. It would not do to look the least bit unkempt upon entering Hogwarts. She slipped into her plain black robes with contempt. Bella eyed Narcissa and frowned similarly.
"I still think it was stupid not to buy you your Slytherin robes while we were at Malkin's."
Andromeda, now adorned in her silver and green differed, "Ah, but Narcissa is not quite the arrogant fool that you are, Bella. She will want to pay attention to the societal preambles of sorting. She wants everything to be proper and official."
Narcissa wasn't sure who her sister was trying to snub but didn't reply, because in any case, the words were true.
She shook her head at Bella who was still in her travelling clothes, refusing on the basis of stubbornness to change into her Slytherin dress robes until the very last minute. And maybe not even then if she didn't feel like it.
Andromeda's assumption proved to be true as the train soon came to a stop in the Hogsmeade station. The three sisters exited the train and Narcissa felt her stomach lurch unexpectedly as she saw the smoke of the Hogwarts Express billow into the night sky. But she was more than eager to be inside the castle. She had dreamed of the day when she would walk through the corridors of the school with her sisters. The Black trinity of power, pride, and purity… they would be a name to be treated with reverence and fear.
Her visions were interrupted rudely by the loud boom of "Firs' years. Right, now, over 'ere. Come on, you lot."
Narcissa gave her sisters the pouty expression she was so practiced at. But Bellatrix was looking over her little sister's head, her face scowled in bigotry as she muttered, "Stupid oaf."
Andromeda shook her head at both sisters and resolved to patronize Narcissa by patting her on the head. "There, there… Bella and I have raised you right, you'll be fine."
"Unless you're sorted into Gryffindor," Bella added sternly, "In which case, you will not be fine."
Narcissa stared up at her sisters, jealous for a moment as they linked arms.
Andromeda kissed Narcissa on the cheek and laughed, "We'll see you in a bit, Cissy."
"And you'll look so good in green and silver," Bella noted, kissing Narcissa's forehead in an uncharacteristic display of affection.
Narcissa smirked. "But I already do."
With that she hurried off to where the half-giant was holding a lantern to gather the first years. She looked around through the black robes to find faces that were familiar and might ride across the lake with to the castle.
But in less than a matter of minutes she recognized a clustered group of purebloods she knew thanks to her mother. They called her over eagerly, and Narcissa made sure not to look the least bit relieved. She knew them all, some just by their last names, but she wouldn't really consider them her friends. That hardly bothered Narcissa, however. After all, she hadn't come to Hogwarts with the idea that she was going to make friends. What did she need friends for when she had her sisters?
Having boarded the small boat she travelled across the lake with a chilly breeze. The coldness of the air made her breath foggy and gave away her small gasp as she caught sight of the castle when they rounded a bend. She had seen pictures, of course, and her sisters had told her stories, obviously, but Narcissa was still entranced because she knew the potential her family had risen to inside those walls.
In no time at all, they had departed the small boats and had been ushered into the entrance hall only to be greeted by a woman of such severity Narcissa knew her by Bella's loathsome description alone. As Professor McGonagall explained tersely about the school's history and the importance of sorting, Narcissa concentrated only on steadying her nerves so that she would not make a fool of herself when they finally began the sorting. Closing her eyes, she recited her family heritage starting from Phineas Nigellus and ending with Bellatrix, Andromeda, and finally, Narcissa. Black.
When she opened her eyes, the doors to the Great Hall swung open and Narcissa promptly refused to join in the whispers of excitement the other first years had produced upon seeing the grandeur for the first time. Narcissa Black was used to nothing less than grandeur. Still, she did not look forward to the long walk down the room to the stool where there sat a ratty old hat. She knew she wouldn't trip; she possessed a poise that her older sisters could only envy. She wasn't afraid of the other students staring; she was a Black and should thus be stared at in fear and reverence. Narcissa was only worried that by some sick joke of Fate the Sorting Hat would send her home, or worse, put her in a house other than Slytherin.
She really didn't have to worry about that, though. Narcissa was far too superior to be in Hufflepuff. While her intelligence was surprising to those who judged her too quickly, Narcissa was by no means a bookworm and therefore had no worry of Ravenclaw. And, well, Merlin knew she had never managed the level of bravery that came with the Recklessness that was Bella, so Gryffindor was an impossibility. Narcissa caught sight of her sisters out of the corner of her eye and she drew up her chin proudly. In a matter of minutes she would be sitting with them in the true house of any pureblood.
Still, as McGonagall called, "Black, Narcissa" her stomach leapt with anticipation.
Putting on her best smirk (she had practiced for hours while her sisters were finishing their packing) she strutted her way up to the front of the great hall. McGonagall peered down her nose through her spectacles at Narcissa as though scrutinizing the girl. Though, from what Bella had related concerning the teacher, Narcissa was hardly surprised but simply smiled with such a subtle condescension McGonagall's mouth became a thin line.
Narcissa sat on gracefully on the stool, her back straight and her legs pristinely crossed at the ankles as her mother had instructed her so many times. She looked up at the ragged old hat with disdain and as McGonagall placed it on her head she wrinkled her nose. It had once belonged to Gryffindor, after all, her inner Bella sneered with contempt.
But as the hat was placed on her perfect blonde crown, everything went silent except for a raspy voice.
"Another Black… dear me… but you'll be wanting the house of your ancestors, then…"
Narcissa was smug, as if she would be in any other house.
She waited expectantly to hear the hat proclaim her house across the Great Hall.
As the Sorting Hat cried, "SLYTHERIN" Narcissa breathed out slowly.
McGonagall removed the hat from her head and Narcissa had to concentrate very hard on not showing an excessive amount of excitement. Her sisters, however, had never learned the art of being subdued and cheered the loudest amongst the sea of silver and green. They really would never learn how to behave.
But as Narcissa slid onto the bench between them, she was secretly glad for their obnoxious attention. As they beamed down at her with knowing smiles she felt as if she knew that she had made her family, and more importantly, her sisters proud.
"Well, Cissy," Bella taunted, having gone five seconds too long without being snarky, "That wasn't quite as quick as my sorting, but you certainly beat Andromeda."
Andromeda rolled her eyes and pointedly ignored her older sister. "Well, I for one am very happy that my favorite sister is now in the same house as me."
"Don't be mean, Meda," Bella mocked, swatting her sister's arm, "It's not my fault if the Sorting House considered putting you in Hufflepuff."
"Hufflepuffs are loyal, Bella," Andromeda chided, able to do so only because the possible placement into the house of the badger was a complete fabrication on Bella's part. "And loyalty is a very admiral trait, you know."
Bella laughed scornfully, "Yeah, loyal to mudbloods and bloodtraitors alike."
Andromeda softened since Bella would obviously never back down, "Well let them have their faults then. All that matters is Cissy."
"The only thing that has ever mattered," Bella muttered as she shared a glance with Meda.
Narcissa sighed dramatically, she turned her back to both of them to watch the rest of the sorting. She cheered respectfully whenever a Slytherin was announced, and booed appropriately whenever "Gryffindor" was called. She listened to Bella's running, muttered, commentary with amusement.
"I've never even heard of him before," she hissed as a small boy was sorted into their house.
Narcissa frowned in worry as she asked in a hushed tone, "They wouldn't let a mudblood in Slytherin, would they?"
Bellatrix scoffed, "Of course not."
"Probably a half-blood," Andromeda reasoned wisely.
"Not much better, though," Bella added spitefully. "Watch out for that one, Cissy. I'd hate for you to dirty your robes."
Narcissa nodded, not entirely sure what her sister meant, only that her sister meant well and right.
When the sorting finished, the feast began. Narcissa looked at her sisters on either side of her and then up at the green and silver banners over their table. There was certainly cause for celebration.
Author's Note: I must once again apologize for the late update. (I've gotten rather bad about this, haven't I?) But the next chapter is unlucky 13 and I am appropriately excited to spread the unluckiness, though, for the Black Sisters I think it might prove lucky. Anyway, the Black Sisters have corrupted me (finally!) because earlier I took a 'Which House Do You Belong In' quiz. I cheated so that I would get Slytherin. And, to uphold some of the house values, I'll give an unabashed author plug; I just posted a Rodolphus-Bellatrix oneshot (The Mark, In Fidelity). Check it out if you fancy them! As always, your reading and reviewing is so appreciated!