Anyone can be cruel.

Three months into the school year.

I strutted through the halls, my head held high, and a smirk on my face. That was my way, the Malfoy way. Being a Malfoy was almost like having a disease, in the case that it allowed you to get away with everything. It was an excuse to be a bastard. If you did anything wrong or cruel it was forgiven because that is our way, because I am a Malfoy and Malfoys are nothing but cruel. However, I was not the only one like this.

I watched James Potter and his gang strut down the hall, his smirk identical to mine. "Oh no, Potter." I thought. "There's only room for one smirk in this hallway."

"Weeeeeeell! If it isn't Useless Malfoy, how kind of you to slither by." He smiled sarcastically.

I shook my head and sneered. "My pleasure, Potter. I see you have added a new member to your fan club. Please do introduce me to this new fan girl." I motioned to the small boy with dark, curly hair, obviously a first year.

James smiled and patted the boy on the back. "This is Sirius, Sirius Black."

A Black, yet another embarrassment to their family tree. "How does it feel to betray your family?" My lip curled. The boy, Sirius, laughed.

"Pretty damn good!" He cracked an attractive smile. He definitely was a Black. Whether he liked it or not.

"So you're proud to be an embarrassment? A traitor?"

His eyes darkened but his smile did not waver. "Damn straight. They're right foul gits, the lot of them. They're the embarrassment." The Marauders laughed.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw that the four Blacks come into the picture. And from the look on James' face, he saw them too. Bellatrix's eyes were narrowed as she glared at Sirius, Andromeda had a look of sad disappointment on her face, Narcissa and Reguals' faces remained unreadable. Something told me that they heard what Sirius said.

I leaned against the pillar, watching the show.

"Speaking of new arrivals," James gasped in faux surprise. "Do tell us, Bella dear! Who is this lovely little lady?" He clapped his hands together and batted his eyes at Narcissa, a ridiculous grin spreading across his face.

"Don't you dare bring her into this, Potter." I thought, my fists clenched at my sides. I stole a glance at Bellatrix. "Stand down, Lucius. Bella has this one."

Andromeda grabbed Narcissa's hand. "This is Narcissa." She said, coldly.

James raised an eyebrow. "You sure she's a Black? She's awfully…Blonde."

Bellatrix looked as if she would blow up at any minute. "Positive." Andromeda said, tightly.

James' gaze drifted toward Bellatrix and he smirked. "What's the matter, Trixie? Did I hit a soft spot? Mummy and Daddy not sleeping in the same bed anymore?" Sirius stopped grinning and looked at his cousins. Even he knew that this was going too far.

Bellatrix moved for her wand but Andromeda stayed her hand as if to say, "Not yet, Bella." The dark sister nodded and resumed her glaring. The Blacks began to walk away.

"And you think Sirius is the embarrassment! I guess you forgot your daddy is seeking blonder pastures!" James shouted after them.

Bellatrix stopped in her tracks and screamed. "THAT. IS. IT. POTTER." She threw hex after hex at the marauders, sending them running and screaming.

"Bella! Stop!" Andromeda shouted. Narcissa and Regulas leaned against the same wall as I.

"It's pointless Andy! She's not going to stop once you've got her going!" Regulas yelled, laughing. He turned to Narcissa. "Maybe she'll listen to you, Cissy. Go on, give it a try."

Narcissa nodded. "I'll step in when I think she's gone too far." She stole a small glance at me. I smiled at her. She didn't smile back.

Bellatrix caught Sirius by the hood of his robes and pointed her wand to his face. "Give me one reason as to why I shouldn't blow your face off, Sirius!"

Narcissa left the wall and placed a hand on Bellatrix's shoulder. "He's not worth it, Bella." She said, her voice cold and soft. Bellatrix paused, still holding onto Sirius. She rolled her eyes and sighed, lowering her wand. Before we knew what was happening, she slapped him across his face, the sound bounded off the walls in the silent hallway. She stormed off towards Andromeda and Regulas, satisfied.

It was just Narcissa and Sirius, staring at one another. Finally, Narcissa spoke. "I wasn't embarrassed, Sirius. Not until now." She picked up his wand, handed it to him and walked away the three other Blacks following.

So no, I was not the only cruel one at Hogwarts but people tend to get stuck on names.

Later that night I waited in the common room. It had become a sort of tradition for Cissa and me. Not to mention that this was the only time I could see her without the worry of being spied on. I felt the couch sink slightly as Narcissa sat down. She said nothing and stared at the wall, as if she was listening to it make a grand speech.

"I'm sorry about earlier today." I said.

She nodded and smiled, her eyes not leaving the wall. "Thank you."

All was quiet. I spoke, determined to get something out of her. "I know about your father, about how he fell in love with a blood-traitor." I said.

She nodded, still smiling, still listening to the wall. "Yes, I know too."

"Is that why your mother made that statement about custard?" I asked.

"She's not my mother." She said.

Strangely enough, that answered my question. I tilted her head to face me. "Narcissa, please. Let me help you." She was still smiling, her eyes filled with clouds. "I just want to see you again. Just tell me what is wrong. Let me fix it." I said.

"Never leave me again." I nodded and hugged her close, sheltering her from the world.

Cissa never did tell me much about Druella Black. Only that she was a woman who loved a man who loved another. And Narcissa felt sorry for her.