Narcissa observed her sister as she silently sipped tea, obviously distracted.
"Ok enough, tell me what's wrong," she demanded, her usually calm composure slipping as she waited for an explanation. "Nothing's wrong" came the singsong reply, and Narcissa folded her arms across her chest in irritation. Bellatrix had not been acting like herself for the past couple of weeks; she had lessened her torture on Mudbloods, lessened her worshipping of the Dark Lord, and generally acted like a completely different person. Although Narcissa knew that she should be glad of this sudden change, to be completely truthful, she found it unnerving.
"Please Bella" she begged, a desperate look crossing her pointed features "I'm your sister and I'm worried about you, please tell me what the matter is". Bellatrix thought it over for a few moments and then slouched down in her chair, exhaling loudly. "Ok fine" she agreed in reluctance "but promise me that you won't laugh, no matter how amusing or ridiculous you find it". Narcissa nodded her head in agreement, and sat in patient silence as she waited for her sister to start talking. "Well, the thing is…" Bellatrix began, wondering how to word her problem "I-I know this sounds stupid, but I bumped into that Granger girl the other day, and-and…" the dark-haired witch let her voice trail off, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically shy.
"And?" Narcissa prompted, giving her sister an encouraging smile and gesturing that she should continue. "AndIthinkIlikeher" Bellatrix blurted, slapping a hand over her wayward mouth in embarrassment. She did not know where that came from, but she had said it now, and there were two ways that Narcissa could react. "You think that you like her?" Narcissa questioned in evident disbelief, trying her hardest to stir her tea in a casual manner. Bellatrix nodded wordlessly, her face suddenly growing unusually red. "You like Granger…as in, Hermione Granger?" Narcissa asked, suddenly feeling as if she was receiving some very juicy gossip. Bellatrix nodded once more, wishing that she could cast a killing curse on herself.
"Why? She's a muggle born, you hate muggle borns" Narcissa stated, wondering if years of being a death eater had finally taken their toll on Bellatrix, and if she had actually lost her mind. "I know" Bellatrix wailed, burying her head in her hands "but I just can't help it Ciss, she's so…I notice everything about her, the way she drags her fingers through her hair when she's frustrated, the way she runs her thumb along the spine of books, the way she wriggles her hips when she walks-" Bellatrix's vocal list was cut off as Narcissa held a pale hand up in the air, requesting for her to stop talking. Suddenly, a smirk overtook Narcissa's face, and she pointed at Bellatrix accusingly "you love her, oh by Merlin, how could I have not noticed, this is so exciting!" she screeched happily, ignoring the glare that Bellatrix sent her way.
"I do not love her" Bellatrix hissed, through gritted teeth "I am a cold-hearted monster, I'm incapable of loving". But Narcissa was not listening, instead smiling widely and practically bouncing up and down in her seat with joy. "Bellatrix Lestrange is in love, oooh it's so sweet!" she squealed. Bellatrix screwed her face up into a disgusted expression, her dark eyes glinting dangerously with anger. "Sweet?" she spat "how dare you describe me as sweet, I'm leaving" she declared, grabbing her cloak and gliding past Narcissa. Just as she reached the door, she spotted a mischievous gleam in her sister's eyes, and looked at her with a deadly expression. "Don't you DARE try and start anything!" she warned, her eyes burning into her sister's forehead. "Oh don't worry, I won't" Narcissa trilled sweetly, slyly crossing her fingers behind her back as her sister left the room. Bellatrix was in love, and Narcissa would be a terrible sister if she did not help her realize it.