Chapter 2
There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.
(Graham Greene (1901-1994), British author. The Power and the Glory, pt. 1, ch. 1 (1940).)
August1968
It was the summer before Narcissa's first year in Hogwarts; she was enjoying the time with her sisters at Ravenden Hall thoroughly. They were playing hide-and-seek in the spacious rooms and corridors of their home. Narcissa had pleaded her older sisters to play her favorite game with her one last time and they had agreed, though Bella was already sixteen and Andromeda fifteen. It was Narcissa's turn to search for them; she closed her eyes and started to count until twenty. "One…two…"
Bella and Andromeda started to run, trying to push each other out of the way.
"Stop following me! Look for your own hiding place!" Andromeda shouted.
"I'm not following you, Andy! You stick to me like a limpet!"
They heard Narcissa scream, "Twenty! I'm coming!"
Both girls entered the first door they found and stormed into their fathers study, looking around frantically for a place to hide. There was a small cupboard where their father kept his old brooms. Bella moved in first and Andromeda squeezed into the small space beside her sister. There was no room for them to move, when Bella closed the door of the cupboard in front of their noses. They couldn't see anything; it was completely dark in their hiding-place. Their backs were pressed tightly against the hard sticks of the old brooms.
"You are too fat," said Bella.
"I'm not fat! You've got a butt like a hippo," Andromeda hissed. Bella got no chance to answer back as they heard the door to the study open, but instead of hearing Narcissa's light footsteps, they heard male voices.
"Now that Narcissa enters Hogwarts, I hope you'll keep the arrangement confidential," said Cygnus Black insistently.
"Naturally," drawled another male voice.
"That's Lucius' voice!" said Bellatrix, wondering what he was doing here.
"Shhh…I want to hear what they say." Andromeda nudged her sister into the side.
"Malfoys keep their promises. Lucius and I won't tell anybody that Narcissa and Lucius are going to marry when she has finished school," stated another man that sounded similar to Lucius, but older.
Bella and Andromeda gasped in shock, exchanging incredulous looks.
"Poor Narcissa! I can't believe she has to marry Lucius Malfoy." Andromeda whispered.
"And she doesn't know anything," Bella murmured.
Andromeda tried to move and get into a more comfortable position but stamped on Bella's foot.
"Ouch! You clumsy clot! Look where you put your foot!"
"It's too dark, you numbskull!" Andromeda retorted before clapping her hand over her mouth. Bella's eyes widened. The conversation between her parents and the Malfoy's stopped.
They heard footsteps and then the door to the cupboard was opened, revealing their parents, as well as Lucius and Abraxas Malfoy, who were looking down at the two girls.
"Shit," Bella whispered.
"May I ask, why you're hiding in my cupboard?" asked Cygnus his daughters impatiently, an expression of disbelief and embarrassment on his face.
"That's all your fault," said Andromeda to her sister.
"My fault? Are you mad? I wasn't the one stamping with my fat foot onto other people's feet!"
"Shut up!"
"First you shut up yourself!"
"It's enough!" snapped Druella.
"What lovely daughters we have. Always keen on leaving a good impression," said Cygnus.
"I think they've been eavesdropping," drawled Lucius.
Bella and Andromeda gave him their best death glares.
"At least we don't lust after young girls!" snapped Bella.
Lucius eyes narrowed dangerously but Bella didn't care; she was getting that look all the time from him in Hogwarts.
"Bellatrix!" shouted Druella.
"How much have you heard? I assume everything," murmured Cygnus.
Andromeda nodded, while Bella folded her arms, glaring defiantly at Lucius.
"That's not good," said Druella.
Cygnus decided to explain his daughters about the contract.
"Why haven't you chosen me, Lucius? Don't like women that fight back, I assume," said Bella smirking.
"For god's sake, Bellatrix, aren't you able to behave yourself?" Cygnus sounded desperate.
Abraxas observed everything with his usual emotionless mask, though he was more than glad that he hadn't chosen Bellatrix for his son.
"You mustn't tell Narcissa about the arrangement. She's too young and it would only cause problems for her in school. Moreover would it cause inconveniences in school for Lucius, too," said Druella.
Bella grinned. "I love to cause inconveniences for Lucius…"
Lucius raised his eyebrows.
"That's no game! You won't tell anyone about the arrangement, understood?" growled Cygnus.
Andromeda and Bellatrix nodded, not used to see their father angry.
The door to the study swung open and Narcissa stood smiling in the doorframe, her cheeks rosy from running. Her blue eyes sparkled and her long, blond hair was slightly dishevelled. She wrinkled her forehead in confusion, watching the occupants of the room.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were hiding?" she asked, ignoring Lucius and his father.
Andromeda moved to her sister's side. "We were but we were interrupted."
"Where are your manners?" Druella watched her youngest child.
Narcissa blushed slightly and turned in the direction of Lucius and Abraxas before making a curtsey. Lucius observed the girl closely. She was beautiful, in a childish way, as she was only eleven but he was sure that she would become a stunning woman. She would be popular in Hogwarts, he had to keep an eye on her. He was glad that she didn't know about the arrangement, otherwise he had to hide his girlfriends from her or she'd probably be hurt. He wasn't willing to deal with the silly emotions of a little girl.
Narcissa felt self-conscious because of Lucius' intense stare. His grey eyes and cold expression were scaring her.
Bella stepped towards her two sisters but turned to Lucius before she left the room.
"Fancy playing hide and seek with us, Lucius? You might find a bride in the process."
"Bellatrix!" her parents shouted incredulously, throwing worried looks at Narcissa who watched everything indifferently.
Bella rolled her eyes and closed the door behind her, striding with her sisters through the house.
"That was Lucius Malfoy, wasn't it? He's in your year, Bella, isn't he?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes, unfortunately. You should stay away from him, he's an arrogant prick." Bella wasn't happy at all that her little sister had to marry Lucius.
Andromeda snorted. "Bella is right. He thinks he's special because he's handsome, Chaser and his name is Malfoy."
"He's so full of himself! And he won't improve as he is Quidditch captain this year, that'll probably multiply his arrogance," said Bella
Andromeda shook her head. "You're in his group Bella. I wonder how you can stand him."
"I love to torment him. Besides you can't avoid him in Slytherin, he practically rules the house, as you know very well, Andy."
Narcissa didn't care much, she would simply ignore him. She had no business with him and he was already in his sixth year anyway.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Today, Narcissa would leave Ravensden Hall to attend Hogwarts. She was terribly nervous and was still trying to close her trunk that was much too full with clothes and other more or less important things. She sat down on it but that didn't help much as she was just 4'10.
Luckily the door to her room swung open and her cousin Sirius entered. He had spent the night in Ravensden Hall.
"Hey Cissy, need help?" he grinned and threw himself on the trunk. Narcissa smiled thankfully. Sirius was her favorite cousin and aside from Adhara Avery her best friend.
"Let's go to breakfast," she suggested. Sirius jumped up and grabbed her hand, dragging her behind him. Narcissa had to run in order to keep pace with Sirius as he was almost three inches taller than her.
They sat down at the table where Bella and Andy were already arguing about something, likely about the equality of Muggleborns or something like that.
Narcissa ignored their fighting as she was used to it by now and took a bowl with cereals.
Sirius was watching the discussion between the two sisters amused. Narcissa hoped that Sirius and she would both be sorted into Slytherin this evening; all Blacks had been in that house so far. Sirius only wanted to be in the same house as Narcissa but didn't care if it was Slytherin or not. He wasn't particularly fond of the house of the snakes.
Druella strode into the dining room, looking stressed. "It's late children. We must hurry! The house-elves have already brought your trunks to King's Cross and are waiting there for us."
Sirius and the three girls stood up and followed Mrs. Black to an old broom that was their Portkey to platform 9 ¾ . Narcissa felt as though her body was squeezed through a tight tunnel and the next moment she was standing on the platform, the Hogwart's express in front of her. It was crowded with hundreds of students and their parents.
Druella moved to the house-elf that was waiting in the middle of the platform, returning a few seconds later to her daughters and Sirius. "You should take your trunks and get on the train. It leaves in five minutes."
Druella gave Andromeda and Bella kisses on the cheek, giving them a serious look. "Take care of Sirius and Narcissa."
Andromeda smiled. "Don't worry, Mom."
"With her connections, Narcissa will probably rule Slytherin in a year," stated Bella grinning, earning a glare from her mother.
Druella hugged Sirius before she turned to her youngest daughter. She embraced Narcissa closely and kissed her on the forehead. "Write me as soon as you're in your dormitory tonight, ok? I want to know if everything is alright."
"I'll write immediately," said Narcissa before Bellatrix took her hand and led her through the crowd. The trunks were gliding behind them due to a Locomotor Spell that Bella was using.
They stepped onto the train and moved through the corridors in order to find a vacant compartment but Bella lost her patience soon. She opened the nearest compartment and scared away a few second year Hufflepuffs.
"That wasn't very nice, Bella," said Andromeda.
"I've told you before that I don't want to be nice. If your conscience is torturing you, go find another compartment." Bella lifted the trunks magically on the depot above their heads.
Andromeda dropped on the seat, shaking her head. "You're impossible Bella."
"And you're too nice for your own good."
Sirius sat down beside Narcissa putting his feet on the seat opposite from him. "I'm glad that Bella scared the Hufflepuffs away."
Narcissa grinned, leaning her head against his shoulder when she saw Adhara pass their compartment, pulling her trunk behind her. Narcissa jumped up and moved towards the door.
"What are you doing?" asked Bella tiredly, one eye closed.
"There is Adhara!" Narcissa tore the compartment door open and ran into the corridor where she collided with a strong chest. She let out a scream of shock and fell on her back, her head hitting the floor. Her eyes were closed and her head seemed to explode from pain.
"Rodolphus, what have you done!" shrieked Bella angrily.
"She ran into me."
"Oh shut up or I'll hex you!" Bella growled, kneeling beside her sister.
"Is she unconscious?" asked a smooth voice Narcissa recognized as Lucius Malfoy's.
"Cissy?" Sirius sounded worried.
"What's happened?" asked Adhara panicking.
"Rodolphus tried to kill her," snapped Bella.
"I didn't do anything! She is so tiny, it's easy to overlook her."
"I'm not tiny," murmured Narcissa, slowly opening her eyes. Several faces were looking down on her. She blinked a few times but her vision was still blurry.
Bella, Andromeda and Sirius were kneeling at her side, while Adhara, Rodolphus and Lucius were bending over her.
"You're lucky she's awake, Rodolphus, or I'd have hexed you," said Bella.
Narcissa sat up step by step, whimpering from the pain.
Adhara looked like she was about to throw up. "She's bleeding!"
Narcissa touched the back of her head hesitantly and looked at the blood on her fingers. Her stomach began to churn.
"Don't look at it!" said Andromeda, knowing that her sister couldn't stand the sight of blood. Bella wiped the blood off Narcissa's hands.
Rodolphus frowned. "It's not that much blood."
"Shut up! Narcissa gets sick from seeing blood." Bella jumped up and poked her wand into Rodolphus' chest who raised his hands.
"Come." Sirius helped Narcissa to get up.
"She should be taken to Mme Pomfrey. She's in the teacher's compartment, I'll accompany Narcissa," said Lucius.
Bella and Andromeda watched him suspiciously.
"Why should we let her go with you?" asked Sirius.
Lucius sneered at the boy. "Because I'm Prefect and you're just a first year who should watch his mouth or something might happen to you." And because I'll marry her.
Sirius glared at Lucius, still supporting Narcissa, who felt like her world was spinning.
"I'll go with her, no need for your help, Lucius." Bella took Narcissa's arm and accompanied her towards the teacher's compartment, Sirius at their side. Lucius watched them with narrowed eyes, not liking that Bellatrix tried to keep him away from Narcissa.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
By the time the Hogwart's express arrived in Hogsmeade, Narcissa had returned into the compartment and had dressed into her school robes. The potion that Mme Pomfrey had made her drink had healed her head immediately.
Narcissa, Sirius and Adhara were joining the crowd of first years that was standing in front of a huge man with long dark hair who looked like a giant. All the first years were watching him with their mouths open and wide eyes.
"Follow me!" the huge man shouted over their heads and they trotted behind him. Narcissa saw Bella and Andromeda getting on a carriage that was pulled by an invisible force.
"Cissy, stop daydreaming!" Adhara moved into a small boat that was waiting for them in the lake. Narcissa followed her friend and sat down beside her, Sirius at her other side. Adhara was the total opposite of Narcissa in character and appearance but nevertheless they'd been friends since their births. The Averys and the Blacks were old acquaintances so it was only natural that their children spent much time together.
Adhara had long brown hair and eyes of the same colour. She was a wild and hot tempered girl, whereas Narcissa was calm and rather shy most of the time.
The boats were gliding over the surface of the lake and all of the children were staring in awe at the castle that towered above them, illuminated by the silvery moon.
When they entered the castle Narcissa grabbed Sirius' hand for support. Adhara was jumpy and looked around curiously.
Narcissa bit her lip. "I hope all three of us get into Slytherin."
"We have to get in Slytherin, my parents would get a heart attack otherwise," said Adhara.
A tall, stern-looking woman with a huge hat appeared in front of them. "I'm Professor McGonagall, follow me."
Narcissa's grip on Sirius hand tightened as they entered the hall that was filled with hundreds of older students. They arrived in front of the whole hall and Narcissa would have loved to faint right then, as she was standing in the front row with Sirius and Adhara, all eyes seemed to be looking at her.
McGonagall fetched a stool were an old, tattered hat was resting on, the Sorting Hat her sisters had told her about. A second later the hat began to sing in a deep, seemingly male voice:
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can top them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
There was a moment of silence before applause rang through the Great Hall. Narcissa had a queasy feeling, afraid that she might be sorted into the wrong house. In her case every house except for Slytherin.
She had to be sorted into Slytherin, all Blacks had been in this house, her sisters were in this house. Narcissa knew that she wasn't the typical Black and could only hope that this wouldn't have any consequences for the Sorting. McGonagall stood beside the stool, holding a long list in her hand. "When I call your name, you'll put the Sorting Hat on and sit down on the stool."
Narcissa saw her sisters at the Slytherin table, sitting in a group of boys, Lucius and Rodolphus among them, all watching her piercingly.
"Severus Snape!"
A pale boy with black hair sat down on the stool. "Slytherin!"
Only the Slytherins applauded; the other houses threw them nasty looks. Narcissa felt a knot tighten in her stomach.
"Leonard Tonks!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Angelina Forcett!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Lily Evans!"
"Gryffindor!"
Narcissa felt as though she'd faint any second, she just wanted to sit down at the Slytherin table.
"Adhara Avery!" shouted McGonagall and Adhara gave Narcissa a fearful look before she stepped slowly forward and put the hat on.
At the Slytherin table everyone was watching her with mild interest. There was no doubt that she'd become a Slytherin as her brother Antares was a fifth year Slytherin.
"Slytherin!" screamed the hat finally and Adhara ran happily in the direction of the Slytherin table, jumping into the arms of her brother.
"James Potter!"
"This will be the next one for Slytherin, the Potters are one of the old Pureblood families," said Walden McNair, though everyone in Slytherin knew that anyway.
"Gryffindor!"
A murmur erupted at the Slytherin table and many shook their heads.
"The Potters have always had a weak spot for Mudbloods…" drawled Lucius.
"It's a shame," added Bellatrix but fell silent immediately as the next name was announced.
"Sirius Black!"
Narcissa let go of Sirius' hand, watching him move to the stool.
Sirius sat down and put the hat on his head, grinning widely. He looked like a typical Black, everyone would recognize him.
"Another Black for our collection. You Blacks are getting more and more in Slytherin, it's scary," said Rodolphus grinning. Bella rolled her eyes. There was no doubt in what house Sirius would be sorted. He was a Black and one of the most cunning people she knew.
"Gryffindor!"
Narcissa gasped, her eyes widening. No! Sirius had to be in Slytherin.
The announcement hit the Slytherins like a shock. They had lost a Black to Gryffindor.
Bella paled and jumped up. "No Black will be sorted into this wretched, mudblood-loving house! The hat is mad Sirius is in Slytherin!"
Everybody was watching her, mouths agape.
"Sit down, Miss Black!" ordered McGonagall.
"I'll set this damn hat on fire for insulting the name of Black!" A mad glimmer was in her eyes as she tried to storm in the direction of the Sorting Hat. Rodolphus and Lucius were necessary to detain her and force her down on the bench again.
"Let me go, you imbeciles!"
"Bella, calm down. You're embarrassing yourself," said Lucius.
"What could be more embarrassing than a Black in Gryffindor?"
"Two Blacks in Gryffindor?" suggested Rabastan and the eyes of all Slytherins moved to the front where Narcissa was still standing in the front row, her face completely pale. She looked like a fragile, innocent angel, not at all like a Slytherin.
"Oh god…" Bella buried her head in her palm.
"I'm sure she has many Slytherin qualities." said Rodolphus, sounding not very convinced.
"She's nice, shy, helpful, loyal and sensitive…" murmured Andromeda.
All Slytherins knew that those weren't Slytherin characteristics. They couldn't lose another Black. Lucius' face was strained, his eyes focussed on his future wife on the stool.
"I fear that Narcissa won't get into Slytherin. Look at her, she wouldn't survive a day in our house. It'll be devastating for us, if we lose another Black and I think Bella will go completely mad," whispered Rodolphus so only Lucius could hear him.
"Narcissa Black!" called McGonagall and Narcissa moved toward the stool and sat down.
"Oh god, just say Slytherin, please," Bella pleaded, looking desperate.
Lucius was tense. It would be a catastrophe if his future wife were to be sorted into another house than Slytherin. It would bring shame on the name of Malfoy.
"I'm awaiting you in Gryffindor, Cissy!" shouted Sirius, earning murderous glares from the Slytherins, especially Bella and Lucius looked like they wanted to cast a few Unforgivables at the boy.
Narcissa closed her eyes as the hat was put on her head. She had to be sorted into Slytherin, she was a Black, her parents and her sisters would be disappointed otherwise.
'Ahh, another Black…difficult…You've wit and are eager for knowledge…loyal…but I see that you know how to get what you want…'
Narcissa felt sick by now, fearing the worst.
"Slytherin!" shouted the hat and Narcissa's eyes shot open. The Slytherin table exploded into applause and Bella seemed to be out of her mind from relief.
"I knew it! I knew it!"
Narcissa moved towards the Slytherin table, a wide smile on her face. Bella and Andy embraced her immediately, almost crushing her. She sat down between her two older sisters while Adhara was sitting opposite from her beside her brother Antares.
"Welcome in Slytherin, Narcissa," drawled Lucius.
She smiled. "Thank you."
"Now we have to deal with three mad Black sisters," Rabastan said with a grin.
In that moment everybody could see that they were sisters, as the similarity of their glares was striking.
"Rabastan, I think you've just made yourself enemies." Lucius smirked, being more than relieved that his future wife had been sorted into Slytherin, not only because it would have been a shame otherwise but also because he could keep an eye on her when they were in the same house.