Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter series.

Changing

Narcissa stood at the top of the staircase and gazed down at the swirls of colorful dress robes of lesser, more common purebloods. The pleasant tinkling of laughter floated through the air with the clinking of champagne glasses. The air smelled of soft lavender with a hint of ever present pure magic that soaked Narcissa's skin like the light of the grand chandelier overhead. She waited for her escort, smug with the knowledge that the party's elegance barely rivaled her beauty tonight. And Malfoy Manor was a fine place indeed.

From behind, a throat was cleared and with a gentle twirl of her dress, Narcissa faced the handsome heir of the great home.

"Lucius," she said softly, a smile gracing her lips. "I had expected to see you earlier."

Lucius chuckled as walked towards her to take her hand in his. "Forgive me, Ms. Black, I was merely admiring the view."

As he pressed his lips to her hand, his eyes glimmered and Narcissa was certain he wasn't talking about the same view she had watched.

"Yes, and isn't it wonderful?" she teased, her eyes both demure and knowing.

While Lucius held out his arm to Narcissa, he smiled, "I have yet to find a view I like better."

Narcissa smirked but took the compliment just the same. They descended the staircase like royalty and she couldn't help but hope that she would, in maybe just a few years, own the lovely estate.

Lucius seemed to read her mind as he asked, "Do you like the house?"

"Lucius, it is hardly a house," Narcissa laughed appreciatively. Her sisters had always made fun of her love of finery, but she didn't mind the difficulties of the wealthy. Feeling as if her dreams were in reach, she sighed, "It's a palace."

Lucius chuckled again as they reached the bottom of the tall, sweeping staircase. He slipped his arm around her small waist to lead her through the crowd. When they were in full view of a group of young girls Narcissa recognized from the Slytherin common room, Lucius stopped and stared happily down at her and murmured, "And you, my dear, are a princess."

"Only if you're the prince," Narcissa replied coyly.

His face radiant with power and contentment, Lucius pulled Narcissa into a kiss. It was chaste enough so that Narcissa didn't protest to such affections in the presence of others, but long enough to cause the on looking girls to hiss with envy. The sound was warm in her ears.

After her fill of their jealousy, Narcissa slowly pulled away from Lucius so that she held onto merely one hand. "Lucius, it's not even midnight," she scolded without much conviction.

Lucius twirled his fingers within hers and grinned, "Ah, but I will not wait another year more to have you."

And with all the practice of a female Black, Narcissa stifled a pretend yawn, "I'm afraid my parent's might not approve."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Of me?"

"…maybe," she paused, her eyes lingering over the crowd of potential pureblood men. She found all of them inadequate and undeserving of her compared to the wizard that stood next to her. (In her mind, Bella sneered that even and especially Lucius could hardly be considered worthy.) Also, she knew the Malfoy ego rivaled that of the Blacks so she wouldn't flatter him. "You see, they don't want me to be too hasty or too sure of myself. They think I should… shop around, for a bit. I can't help but agree with them, at least a little." She fluttered her eyelids innocently, so rapidly that they were sure to make him dizzy.

With a low growl, Lucius pulled Narcissa to his side and murmured, "You belong to me and me alone."

Narcissa laughed lightly and twisted her fingers through his. "Mr. Malfoy, I hardly belong to anybody. At least not until there is a ring upon my finger," she said simply, then leaned in closer to giggle into his ear, "And I have very expensive tastes."

Lucius stroked her chin lazily as he replied, "I would have it no other way. But you'll have to wait another year or so for such official declaration."

Narcissa was the one to raise an eyebrow this time as she said, "Just because we're still at school, Lucius, is not reason that I shouldn't have a lovely engagement ring to flaunt. Especially as it seems you have a fan club."

Lucius kissed the bridge of her nose and muttered, "But you are not without your own fan club…"

Narcissa shrugged, "I guess I'm doomed the same attention as my sisters."

Lucius wrinkled his nose. "Yes. But I'd prefer it if you don't remind me of your relations… Being a brother-in-law to Bellatrix Black is enough to scare me out of an engagement."

Narcissa laughed, "Bella will be flattered. But what about Andromeda? Certainly she's not as bad?"

"No…" Lucius agreed slowly, "Still, there's something in her scrutinizing gaze. Like she knows everything just by looking at you."

"She does."

Lucius rolled his eyes. "You three are ridiculous excuses for proper pureblooded women. In fact, if it weren't for you I'm sure your family would be quite displeased."

Narcissa grinned; she knew it was true. And just as this had been said, Andromeda walked up looking utterly beautiful and bored.

"There you are, Cissy," she smiled warmly. "Lucius."

Lucius gave a low bow and a trademark smirk. Andromeda matched the latter. "It's almost midnight, you know."

"How time slips by when is with such intriguing company," drawled Lucius.

Andromeda gasped overdramatically, "Don't talk about my little sister in such away." Clearly Meda had been around Bella too long, Narcissa realized.

"Did you want me for something?" she asked Andromeda to halt the pointless snubbing. She couldn't help but think that Andromeda could play an annoying third party entirely too well.

Andromeda's eyes gleamed as she was clearly smug with the same thoughts. "Bella wants you too, so no need to be rude, Narcissa."

She sighed loudly, thinking of kissing Lucius on the stroke of midnight. Leave it to her sisters to interrupt such a perfect little dream just because they felt like it. Of course, Narcissa could never mind them too much.

"She might not," Lucius differed, "But I will have reason to be rude if you are thinking of taking away my date, Andromeda."

Andromeda laughed and linked arms with her sister as she scoffed, "She may be your date, Malfoy, but she is my sister."

As Narcissa was whirled away through the crowd and up another, quieter staircase she whined, "Really, Meda. You might have the sense not to interrupt; you're as bad as Bella."

"Interrupt what? Your Lucius time; give me a break, Cissy," Andromeda rolled her eyes.

"Bad as me?" Bella asked from her position on the floor. She was sprawled out so her dress robes would be properly wrinkled, but Narcissa thought she looked comfortable. Of course, Narcissa would never voluntarily lie on the floor. As if to prove the point, Andromeda sat next to Bellatrix and played with the unruly dark curls.

"Less than an hour left," Andromeda murmured so that Narcissa could just barely hear.

Narcissa was struck by a peculiarly melancholy sound in her sister's voice.

Bellatrix only laughed, "Oh yes! An hour left and then another year rolls in, next year another, and then another… and so many years will pass in this same way until we are old and grey. Well, except for Cissy who will be sure to find the best hair and skin saving potions."
Narcissa tossed a heel in Bella's direction, but sadly missed.

Andromeda sighed again.

Bellatrix frowned and added, "Nothing will change. Nothing ever changes with numbers. It's only time that really matters in the end. And even at that; so what? Don't worry yourself away, Andromeda; it's not becoming." Bella finished in a rather accurate imitation of their mother.

"Oh, Merlin, don't get me started on that woman. Mother's been giving me death glares all evening whenever she catches me talking to friends rather than potential suitors," Andromeda laughed as she leaned against the balcony, far too casual for her surroundings.

"You expect anything differently?" Bellatrix replied slowly, looking at her sister just barely. "You're half-way through your seventh year; Druella's getting antsy."

Andromeda frowned, and Narcissa didn't like it. It was exactly the look that only Andromeda could possess; the look of one about to talk back to Bellatrix.

"I can't enjoy myself for one evening without some matchmaking creep breathing fire down my neck because I don't have a ring on my finger?" she replied coolly, but it might have been better if she'd yelled.

"You don't seem like you're enjoying yourself," Bellatrix noted. It was an accusation and the mood of the air changed rapidly.

"I'm talking to my sisters, aren't I?" Andromeda sneered back.

The silence that followed the words stung.

Finally Bellatrix exploded in frustration, "So then go snog Rabastan or somebody in front of Druella for five minutes and be done with it for the evening. When you're finished you can come back and complain!"

"Oh, sorry, Bella," Andromeda shot back, "you'll have to forgive me if I don't want to throw myself at the first pureblood man I see."

"Good," Bellatrix replied cruelly, "Because the first, second, and third pureblood men you see tonight are probably already taken!"

"You would know."

Bellatrix eyed Andromeda dangerously but the latter didn't so much as bat an eye.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Bellatrix hissed.

Andromeda shrugged. "Nothing."

Narcissa watched fearfully as her sisters locked eyes and exchanged brooding glares for a matter of minutes.

Hoping to ease the tension she said softly, "Come on, you two. It's a party; if you're going to fight, go outside at least."

She gave an uneasy laugh to which Bellatrix snorted derisively.

"Since Meda doesn't seem to want to look for eligible men, I'll be waiting outside," Bella spat.

"So go ahead and freeze to death, Bella. I'm not going to fight you when I know your head's full of nonsense and your breath smells of fire whiskey," Andromeda said coldly with an air of superiority.

"Let me freeze, but you might just burn," Bellatrix snapped. She was sitting upright, and her wand was now clenched in her fist.

Andromeda eyed her sister's wand with disinterest, probably because she, like Narcissa, knew that Bella wouldn't stoop to attacking her with magic. Raising an eyebrow Andromeda noted, "Mother won't be very happy when her eldest daughter disgraces the family name with the reckless behavior of a common Gryffindor."

Bellatrix reluctantly pocketed her wand but snarled at Andromeda all the same. With a swirl of her dark hair she got up and stormed out of the room, leaving Narcissa feeling pained and Andromeda with tears glistening in her eyes that she quickly tried to hide from her little sister.

"Talk about a mood swing. What's got her wand in a knot?" she muttered, flicking imaginary dirt off of the banister.

Narcissa sighed and put a comforting hand on her sister's bare shoulder.

"She's just restless."

"She's always been restless," Andromeda retorted.

Narcissa smiled. "Well, that, and I walked in on her and Rodolphus an hour ago…"

Andromeda laughed, "So the subtle whore comment probably didn't help."

Shrugging, Narcissa replied, "Probably didn't hurt; Bella's never understood subtlety."

Andromeda merely scoffed in agreement so Narcissa continued to ramble on for want of an end to her sister's silence, "You know, I thought that after she got out of Hogwarts she would calm down, a little. I mean, since she has more freedom. Well, maybe she doesn't think so if she's worried about the wedding. But… who knows if she even worries about that. Probably not; Bella's never worried about-"

"Narcissa," Andromeda interrupted solemnly, "Bella is changing."

Narcissa felt her stomach plummet; the words were foreign and made her skin grow cold.

"Meda, don't be silly," Narcissa laughed shakily, "Bella can't change."

She couldn't because Bellatrix was resolute. An unmoving pillar in a rapidly spinning world. Bellatrix was conviction to everything that mattered; their values, their family, their blood. But most of all, Bella couldn't change because Narcissa needed her to remain the stronghold that she always had been.

"You're the one who's changing, Meda." The thought had slipped out before Narcissa could stifle it.

In a matter of seconds the blood had drained out of Andromeda's face and she looked weak and about to crumble as she turned to Narcissa.

"Don't say that, Cissy," she whispered. If Narcissa hadn't known better she would have thought that Andromeda was begging. And Andromeda never begged. "Please. And don't dare ever say that to Bella."

Narcissa frowned in confusion as she managed, "But… what-"

"Just… don't put ideas in Bella's head," Andromeda said even more quietly, looking at the ground. "Everyone knows there's a storm brewing up there already."

Narcissa looked into her sister's pale face, searching for an answer. When she only found a confliction that stirred her stomach, Narcissa said, "I don't know what you're talking about, Meda. But you are wrong… about Bella."

Andromeda hugged her arms closer to her as she mumbled, "Then maybe she's always been like this and I just couldn't see it."

Narcissa opened her mouth to reply but Andromeda tapped her chin deftly. "You're just lucky because even if she does change… you'll never see it."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Narcissa demanded, annoyed that her sister insisted upon treating her like a baby.
The response was simple, "You've never properly looked into her eyes."

Narcissa faltered for a moment, but then shook her head. Andromeda was wrong.

"And… well, who knows what the New Year will bring," Andromeda continued, her voice barely above a mumble.

"Nothing will change, Andromeda," Narcissa said slowly and carefully, "Bella promised.

Narcissa knew it because she needed it to be so. Nothing would change. The New Year was just a number on the calendar, nothing more. Times might change, but not her life, not their life. Nothing could deter the power of three.

"Then why have three become two so suddenly this evening?" Andromeda asked defiantly, practically reading her mind.

Narcissa was filled with an empty hopelessness. They were always together when the clock struck midnight. Always.

Minutes passed by, minutes that felt like hours, and Narcissa and Andromeda sat in silence. One contemplating the past, the other, the future. The last moments of the year were drifting away rapidly. The happy noise from downstairs floated up tauntingly, and Narcissa regretted leaving Lucius for this gloom festival. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and decided to find him again. As she went to leave, however, Andromeda caught the edge of her dress.

"Don't leave me."

Something in her sister's eyes terrified Narcissa more than anything this evening. Andromeda was finally pleading.

Narcissa tapped her hands on the banister before replying, "Of course not. If you want me to stay."

Andromeda sniffed, "Do you think I want to welcome the New Year in alone? One sister is better than none, Cissy."

Narcissa smiled weakly and was caught in an unexpected embrace. She supposed Andromeda was more stressed about the blatantly apparent lack of proposals than she let on because she hardly ever acted so… distraught.

"Last five minutes of the year and you want to spend then sniveling?" Narcissa teased. It was the sort of thing that Bella would say, so it was the sort of thing that cheered Andromeda up.

"Who's sniveling?" Andromeda challenged, her chin raised arrogantly once more.

Narcissa felt her body go numb as the last minute was counted out loudly by the crowd below. It wouldn't be the same if Bellatrix wasn't by her side laughing wildly at anther year so foolishly spent like excess galleons.

Thirteen, twelve, eleven…

There was the mad pounding of feet as somebody charged up the long staircase.

Nine, eight, seven…

And Bellatrix was there, smirking at Andromeda, but there all the same.

Three, two, one…

Narcissa didn't move as the rest of the manor whooped and cheered for the New Year. Nothing to note; just another year; nothing would change; nothing could change. She wouldn't allow it.

Andromeda seemed content in smirking back at Bellatrix.

"Damn all sisters to hell," Bella growled to cover up the vulnerability in her return.

Narcissa had never been happier to hear that profanity inclined tongue.

With an arm around either sister she spoke softly, so as not to disturb anything.

"Happy New Year."

Author's Note:...I know I promised to have this in before 2010 rang in, but I stumbled over a bit of Writer's Block and my own celebrations. Timeline-wise, in my mind this was their last New Years celebration together as it was Andromeda's seventh year and I've always pictured her leaving that summer. Sorry to go angsty on you; hopefully this was a little bit more focused on Cissy since Bella's been hogging the spotlight lately (what's new?). Next chapter will be fluffy and funny... maybe. I hope everyone's New Years celebrations were well spent and that 2010 is a grand year!