Chapter 2

"It is simply wonderful" said Walburga taking the silver musical merry-go-round from the box "look Elladora" Walburga wound up the merry-go-round which began to play a sweet melody, the little baby on Orion's lap held out her dimpled hands and giggled as the horses turned automatically "thank you Alphard, we'll place it by her crib" she didn't kiss his cheek like she use too.

The birthday banner glowed different colours over the fireplace as the house-elves walked round serving hors d'oeurves carrying the silver platters on their heads, using their ears for balance.

The ghost band played in the background as people laughed and smiled, their attention hardly on the baby.

Sirius walked forward and handed his mother a gift "Sirius" she said sweetly taking the golden wrapped gift

"It's from Regulus and I" said Sirius grinning fondly at the grey eyed Elladora who had now become fascinated with Sirius

"There are Barty Crouch and his wife" said Orion he stood and placed Elladora on his chair "I must go say hello"

"Ok dear" said Walburga she supported Elladora's back as Sirius sat down lifting Elladora gently onto his knee "Siruy!" she giggled her voice like a little bell

Regulus appeared as Walburga unwrapped the brother's gift "what have you got round your face?" said Sirius amused

Walburga scowled and took her handkerchief wiping the chocolate cake from Regulus' cheeks "mother" Regulus wriggled free and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand

"Now little prince" Alphard scooped Regulus up from behind "that isn't polite" he handed Regulus a tissue to wipe his now mucky hands "you shouldn't smother the boys Walburga"

"They are my children" Walburga's voice turned from sweet to cold within seconds "I will teach and treat them the same lesson we learnt and share the same care we received"

Elladora leaned forward in Sirius's arms and reached out for the gift "someone's eager" Sirius took the gift and helping Elladora unwrapped a teddy bear in the shape of a she-wolf "like mine Elladora" he said putting the wolf's stuffed nose to Elladora's. Elladora went crossed eyed in awe "wolfy" she chimed grabbing the wolf by the paw and gripping it tight

"What do we say Elladora?" said Walburga insistently

"Thank'd yooou" said Elladora she looked up at Regulus "wolfy Reg!"

Regulus smiled and his uncle placed him down "Happy Birthday" he kissed her cheek gently blushing

"Let's toast!" Orion stepped from the crowd "to my darling little girl Elladora Black, Happy first Birthday!"

"Happy Birthday!" toasted the crowd all raising their goblets of wine "and to a long and prosperous life" added Alphard. Orion glared at him as he sipped the heavy brandy in his goblet.

Regulus and Sirius stood behind the sofa fidgeting with the frills on their robes, why they had to be itchy, they didn't know. Regulus kept staring at his feet, banging them gently from side to side. Sirius kept one hand in his pocket clinging tightly to the creature inside.

Bellatrix sat on the sofa with Elladora in her lap; the girl was three years old and was growing fast. Her hair was longer and she'd lost her chubby cheeked look, her body and limps were becoming extended and her shoes size was much larger now.

"Narcissa you will love Hogwarts" said Walburga smiling at her niece "Slytherin house has produced the brightest and successful wizards and witches, look at Orion and your father, both high men in the ministry and society"

Eleven years old Narcissa was grinning proudly to herself "I knew I'd be destined for Hogwarts" she said what a proud girl

"Every Black is" replied Bellatrix she held Elladora under her arms almost like she was trying not to crease her dress "the three Black sisters, all together, and then the boys-" her look was quiet cold towards the two brothers "and this one" this one that was what Bellatrix liked to call Elladora

"This one" said Andromeda fondly tucking some of Elladora's black curls behind her ear "will be just like us, proud to call herself a Black"

"Yes" Bellatrix's voice sounded bored "mother tell them about the Lestrange brothers and-"

"Ahhh!" squealed Andromeda pointing at Bellatrix's head "Bella there's something in your hair!"

Bellatrix touched the top of her head; Elladora was peering up at her. Andromeda was on her feet, Sirius had moved round the sofa while her aunt and mother looked at her frowning.

Bellatrix felt round and her fingers found something hairy with eight legs, she squealed and jumped to her feet trying to brush the spider off. Elladora fell to the ground with a crash and began to scream.

Orion entered the living room after he heard screams and shouts, the scene shocked him. Bellatrix was ruffling her long hair, while Andromeda stood cringing away. Regulus and Sirius were in fits of giggles while Elladora sat on the floor screaming.

"Bellatrix!" roared Orion, Walburga and Druella were on their feet trying to help. Everyone was ignoring Elladora.

The spider skittered across the floor straight towards the chimney, Narcissa raised one heavy sized four shoe and stamped the spider dead.

"You!" screeched Bellatrix at Sirius who stopped giggling "you did this" her hair was a mess and her eyes were wild. Her hand flew up and went to strike Sirius.

Orion caught her hand in mid air "strike my son, I strike you" he threw her hand down "Sirius, Regulus my study now" the boys didn't argue as they shuffled out "Elladora" the baby stopped at once looking up at her father with wet eyelashes and tearstained cheeks "come now" the little girl used her hands to pull herself up and trotted forward reaching for his hand like always. But her father took her waste and lifted her up "I will deal with them all" Walburga acted like she'd never heard.

"Despicable" hissed Orion at his sons "you are growing men, how you dare act in such a appalling manner"

"Sorry father" they both muttered together

Orion twirled one of Elladora's curls as she sat on his knee "I am ashamed"

"It wasn't Regulus" said Sirius bravely, Regulus shook his head tugging his brother's sleeve to get him to stop "I put the spider in her hair, she'd been mean to me all week in tutor class, and I wanted revenge"

Orion considered his son closely, his hand automatically pored the whisky into the glass on the desk "revenge is a good sign that your putting yourself before the lower members of this family" his eyes flicked to his daughter who was now interested in the quill and ink on his desk. The blood red phoenix feather felt soft in her fingers.

"I'm sorry Father" Orion wasn't interested in words though "punishment is still enforced in this house" Orion waved his wand and the walking stick near the door rose up and flicked hitting both boys sharply on the backside.

Regulus had tears in his eyes afterwards while Sirius pursed his lips tightly. Elladora's eyes were wide watching the scene her fingers slipped and the ink bottle tipped over the desk, over her and her father's robes.

"Elladora!" barked her father he set her on the floor and wiped at the ink "that was naughty" he took her hand and smacked it Elladora's eyes filled with tears again "Sirius take your sister and get Tula to clean her up. Now!" he snapped.

Sirius dragged Elladora away quickly as their father took out his wand.

"Sirius" said Elladora as Tula found her a fresh dress to change into, Sirius helped with the bow at the back "why did papa do that?" she pointed to the red mark on her hand

"That was a punishment, Ella" he kissed her hand gently "because you made a mess he punished you, but I've kissed it better now"

Regulus was sat on the bed "punishment is what we get when we're naughty" he explained swinging his legs back and forwards "we get punished a lot"

"Why?" asked Elladora "Cissy, Dromeda and Bella don't get pumiced"

"Punished" said Sirius clearly, Elladora mimed the word "because it's not father's job to, but they use to get in trouble, he didn't let nasty horrid Bella hit me did he?"

"But he smacked you" Elladora turned her big grey eyes to Sirius "why?"

"Because he did" said Regulus, Elladora turned to face him "why?" she asked again she liked to know everything "because" said Regulus now getting annoyed

"Elladora, he just does ok" said Sirius putting a arm around her, he'd never hit her like their father did "sometimes we don't know why, we just know not to do naughty things again"

"Right" said Elladora that didn't make sense and she was four.

Elladora stood on the stall as Tula pinned the hem of her dress "what's vocabulary mean?" asked Elladora to her mother who'd been talking to her

"Vocabulary means" thought Walburga "language, like the language we use"

Elladora nodded thinking "can we read a book after this?" she asked sweetly, she liked reading very much "please"

"Ask your brothers after their tutoring" said Walburga "Tula that stitching isn't straight! Undo the last ten inches and do them again!"

Tula flinched and unthreaded the needle gently pulling the stitching and carefully redid the line "is mistress happy?"

"Better" said Walburga sternly "don't let it happen again"

Elladora looked down at Tula, who looked extremely sad "why is Tula sad?" Tula looked up panicked; Walburga looked disgruntled "because she knows that she did something wrong and that she will be punished next time"

"Why will she be punished?" asked Elladora she was worried

"Because she will!" Walburga was losing her temper "you will learn all of this in your tutoring lesson next month"

Elladora did not speak again as Tula finished up, because punishment was constant in this house, if you held your knife wrong you got a tap on the wrist, if you were cheeky (like Sirius was) you got a smack with the walking stick and if you got angry and used magic by mistake you got magic used against you, Regulus learnt that the hard way when the vase flew at Narcissa automatically after she'd called him a little brat.

Elladora didn't get more than a slap on the hand but she never pushed her parents enough to receive more than that.

"She sells seashells by the seashore" recited the cousins together "she sells seashells by the seashore"

"Good you've been practicing" said Mr Viper "now take your positions on the dance floor, chop, chop" he clapped his hands together as they all rushed to their places "Sirius take your hands out your pockets!" Sirius removed his hands out before the snake shaped cane smacked his wrists "and together!"

Sirius stepped forward the same time Bellatrix did and they both formed the traditional waltz frame "music!" Blitz lifted the needle as the record turned the waltz tune began to drone out "one, two, three...one, two, three..."

"Stop slouching!" hissed Bellatrix between her smile at Sirius who glared up at her "I would stop slouching if you stopped been so bossy" he turned her round the floor.

"You're leading again!" said Narcissa as they passed the gold frame mirror "I'm suppose to lead this time"

"No" reprimanded Andromeda "I'm always the man"

"And back...together...back... together" whispered Regulus as he moved Elladora carefully, her first tutor lessons had been difficult on her; she'd already been tapped twice with the viper's cane "good, good now turn, just follow my lead"

Elladora clung tightly to Regulus' hands as he turned the corner leading her gracefully for a seven year old. Elladora caught Sirius twirling brilliantly with Bellatrix, they looked professional, then again he had been dancing for four years and Bellatrix had been dancing longer than that.

Narcissa and Andromeda turned past them, Andromeda winked at Elladora who smiled, she loved been the man it made her feel in control.

The music ended "that's enough for today" commanded the Viper, he looked like a snake with hazel yellow eyes and a sharp pointed face.

"You are dismissed" the viper as he was known to them left the room his black robes billowing around him

"Thank god for that" Bellatrix threw off Sirius's arms quickly pushing him away "Rodolphus is coming for dinner tonight he doesn't need to see me dancing with you"

Sirius's eyes flashed angrily "why afraid he'll find you a clumsy mare" Regulus grinned at his brother "why would anyone want to go out with you?" Elladora watched quietly

"The same reason little boy, why no one will go out with you" hissed Narcissa in Sirius's face

Regulus turned red "better to be a boy then a smelly girl like you Narcissa" he snapped

"Ha" laughed Bella mockingly "a girl will bring fortune to this family before you even reach the right age to marry"

"Come on now let's end this" Andromeda was always the peace maker "Bella we should help get you ready so that you look your best"

"Shut up" snapped Bellatrix, Andromeda wasn't as tall as her yet, so she shrunk away "when you two are old enough to hold a wand, I will be there to duel it from your hands"

"Want to bet?" Sirius got right up in Bellatrix's face, he wasn't that short anymore "I bet you don't know any spell, you stupid cow-"

Bellatrix raised her hand, while Narcissa drew her wand from the fold in her corset. The gramophone wobbled on the stand and Elladora saw Regulus' hand moving like it was him. Just as Bellatrix's arm came down, the gramophone flew across the room while Narcissa's wand tip glared red "NO!" screamed Elladora. The was a sudden gust of wind the gramophone smashed on the floor, Bellatrix was thrown backwards, Sirius was knocked forwards, Regulus and Andromeda covered their ears and Narcissa's wand flew out of her hand and skittered across the floor just as the glass in the windows and doors smashed along with the large golden mirror.

Elladora was shocked as she felt a tingling in her fingers. Andromeda and Regulus looked round at her "you used magic" said Regulus breathless looking round at the broken glass that covered the polished wooden floor.

Sirius looked up from the floor "thanks" he mimed to Elladora who smiled her pretty pearly smile.

Bellatrix groaned and sat back up "that one" she sneered standing up throwing Narcissa her wand which was at her feet "you are in trouble" she was quicker now as her hand came down onto the side of Elladora's cheek, the impact made Elladora stagger and fall backwards. She touched her cheek her eyes filled with tears.

"How dare you hit my sister!" bellowed Sirius he let lose one hell of a punch at Bellatrix which connected with her face

Bellatrix struggled as Sirius lunged at her knocking her to the floor again, pulling at her hair and hitting her in a muggle fashion.

Regulus watching his brother and cousin fight stood shocked just as Narcissa drew her wand, did anyone care about using underage magic in their family? But as he grabbed her wrist and sparks shot out the end hitting the chandelier which broke off one of its chains. Bits of ceiling hit the floor.

Elladora covered her head as a few crystal shards clattered around her one of them cutting her hand. "Mistress!" cried Blitz diving in between the mayhem to stand over her worriedly.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON HERE?!" Aunt Druella stormed into the room "Expelliarmus!" Narcissa lost her wand, just as Regulus elbowed her in the ribs causing Narcissa to gasp loudly pushing him away and into a load of broken glass. "ENOUGH!" shrieked Aunt Druella and Sirius flew of Bellatrix landing on his butt next to Andromeda who was sitting at the bottom of the wall. "Cygnus!" bellowed Druella out the door "get in here now!"

There was a clutter of glasses and Uncle Cygnus entered the room, he staggered a little, nearly dropping his smoking pipe as he saw the ball room "what?- what happened?" he asked, his eyes landed on his two daughters and Elladora who were still in the centre of the room "you three" he pointed at each of his daughters in turn "get up and get to the fire place" he then strode forward and took Blitz by the ear "clean up" the house elf landed on his knees.

"Regulus, Sirius, and Elladora" Aunt Druella was pink in the face as usual "come with me"

Regulus stood up and looked down at the blood that was on his sock, he picked Elladora up as Sirius joined them leaving the room.

"Despicable" spat Orion at his children and nieces "down right, childish, muggle behaviour, fist fighting, broken windows, blood and black eyes" he looked at Bellatrix, whose eye had now swollen and gone purple. Though the rest of them weren't without injuries, Narcissa had a bruise on her head where a piece of ceiling had hit her; she was also supporting her side where Regulus had elbowed her. Andromeda had a few cuts on her hands, while Sirius's lip and nose were both bleeding. Regulus' leg was bleeding from cut glass and he had a cut on his cheek and a few burnt fingers from Narcissa's wand. Elladora had a cut on her hand and a large red mark on her cheek.

"Your mother has seen it fit for me to serve your punishments" said Orion walking up and down past the three sisters "Bellatrix you are confined to your room for one week, no owls and certainly no boys" Bellatrix opened her mouth to complain "no!" commanded Orion "Narcissa and Andromeda, no books, no letters, no money, no dinners with friends, nothing for a entire week" Walburga entered the room and sat down, Orion didn't look at her "now, your mother is waiting for you, and be sure to tell her the truth of your punishments, because I will be Flooing and writing to her later"

The girls left the room, Narcissa and Andromeda with bowed heads, Bellatrix however looked even moodier as she closed the door glaring at her uncle.

Orion turned his piercing grey eyes to his children "I have never been so ashamed" he pinched the bridge of his nose "if I had behaved in such a way with my siblings then I would have been sent straight to bed with the broom hitting me all the way there, with no meals and no privileges for a week" he began to pace "but seeing as there are three of you in the wrong"

"It wasn't us!-" said Sirius, but their father's hand came down on Sirius's cheek, he didn't bat an eyelid.

"I don't care what happened!" hissed Orion at them "all I care about is the way you disgraced the pureblood that runs through your veins, and how one of my servants is at another house cleaning up the mess you made" the vein on his temple was pulsing as he went to the decanter

"Do you really think that's wise?" their mother was sat embroidering by the window

"I don't need your advice" he drank half the whisky in the glass, his eyes becoming wilder and untamed. "there is only one good thing that came out of today" he walked back towards them "Elladora showed that she has magical abilities which is good, no squibs" he was muttering now "as punishment, you will receive another two hours of tutoring a day for the next two months, hopefully that will show you manners"

Elladora wasn't happy as they left the room, because she didn't like tutoring lessons with the viper because all they did was learn English Maths and Science which related to Potions Making, she only got to watch as the others learnt to fly brooms, but was forced to dance and recite stupid riddles about blood status and muggles been tortured. The only thing she did like was learning from books.