Hello beautiful people! My absence has been somewhat long and unfortunately I will be missing for about another two and a half weeks. Yes, that's right. It's exam period in Australia! I had one today and there's another three to come (including a semester essay I'm yet to write *faints*). This chapter was going to be twice as long but I simply don't have the time right now. I will grace you with words after uni finishes. Wooooooo! So keen for my three month summer holiday! Be patient please, more to come sometime after Nov 16th.
Chapter Eight
Christmas decorations lined the interior of the expansive dining hall; the contrast of the festive lighting was somewhat incongruous against the sombre ambience. To an outsider, the grandeur of the room, capable of entertaining over eighty guests, would appear unsuitable to house only the three figures for supper. However, rarely was there more unless a party was being held. At the head of the table sat a pale wizard. His eyes were downcast, rolling a boiled potato around his plate like a carousel - too young to be forced into the shoes of his father – too proud to admit that he was scared.
"Draco,"
He looked up, his eyes sweeping over the length of the dining table. The boy met the warm eyes of his mother. Narcissa sat erect, her hair swept off her face in a neat updo. She was so pleased that her son was finally home. He had grown more into a man but intuition told her that he had been troubled with the Dark Lord's requests. The woman had felt guilty that the family did not meet Draco at Kings Cross Station this year. With Lucius in prison, Narcissa was burdened by society's incessant whispers. She chose to stay at the mansion and wait for her only child to return; he was old enough to understand. The Malfoy name did not want further attention from snooping tabloids. Narcissa needed Lucius. Yes, they had grown apart since his failure at the Ministry but a pureblood without her husband? Scandalous. They needed each other, deemed to live in a loveless marriage for the sake of status - just as it has always been.
"don't play with your food dear."
A screeching of silver on china stabbed their eardrums and heads turned to face the third occupant. Bellatrix was drunk off mead, leaning with her elbows on the table, food uneaten. Her salmon had been diced into mangled pieces and a capital M was carved deep into the sides of her vegetables. She was becoming increasingly impatient. Bellatrix had found out about Draco's failings with the bewitched necklace. She had punished him for his idiocy. It was a cheap attempt to fulfil the Dark Lord's bidding and it had come at the cost of media attention, suspicion and the Mudblood. At first, the Death Eater had accepted delayed gratification – her new toy would soon make up for lost time. But when the holidays arose and the girl had not come crawling back, Bellatrix began calling for her like a bitch in heat. Oh how she would punish that frizzy haired Gryffindor for her insolence.
"Remind me again why she is here." Draco called out across the room.
"She is your Aunt Bellatrix and need I remind you, Draco, that you will show respect to your family." Narcissa's voice laced with authority, pandering to her sister's unruly temper.
"I love my Aunty Bella," the Malfoy heir sang sarcastically "if she would just stop getting pissed and bugger off."
A heavy chair scrapped across floorboards and within seconds a crooked wand was mere inches away from the boy's nose. Dark orbs stared down at the blonde, her other hand delicately cradling crystal.
"My, my dear nephew, such a potty mouth you have. Surely, you did not learn that from our side of the family." The raven haired witch smirked at her kin. Her words were surprisingly eloquent despite the amount of liquor consumed. Bellatrix rolled her head back, looking at her sister from over her shoulder. Narcissa had drawn her wand, ready to defend her son.
"If you're suggesting my father…"
Bellatrix snapped her attention back to her nephew who was speaking through clenched teeth. Over the course of his life, Draco had grown used to this love-hate conflict with his Aunt. He looked up to her; she was his master's right hand servant – both feared and respected – everything he wanted to become. But he despised that she held such contempt for his father.
"Your father is a piece of shit! He has failed the Dark Lord, Draco. The sooner you see this the better." She hissed back.
"I will redeem him. All will be forgiven." He said coldly.
"What makes you so sure you will succeed, sweetie? Do you honestly think you have what it takes? You stand here with your tail in between your legs. You reek of fear."
"I've been chosen!"
"You are far from ready, Draco. Pack your things, you will leave tonight."
"Bellatrix." Narcissa had stood up but her sister cast her a dark look.
"Hush, Cissy. If your brat is so eager to get back into his routine then there is no time like the present."
"Be reasonable Bella, Severus will not want unexpected guests at this time."
"That slippery snake will do as I ..."
A colourless jet hit Bellatrix in the chest at close range. She stumbled back before regaining her balance, alcohol undisturbed. A low cackle sounded from her painted lips as she turned to her attacker.
"What is your worth, dear nephew, when you cannot even perform a simple cruciatus curse? Your heart is not in it, admit it! I'll tell you the same thing I told Potter – you have to mean it, you have to want to enjoy inflicting pain. You have no strength and for that, you're just as pathetic as him."
Bellatrix cast a blue jet towards the boy, purposely hitting the ground at his feet so he would jump.
"Let's have some fun then shall we. A duel? You win, you are ready. I win, you leave tonight and not come back until you are."
"You will not talk to my son like this under my roof Bellatrix."
The dark witch nodded approvingly as Draco magically pushed furniture to the walls, clearing a wide space for their arena. Narcissa rolled her eyes and stood to the side.
"If you would be so kind to act as mediator, sister." The last word dripping with satisfaction.
The woman paced across the room, glaring at Bellatrix who fluttered her eyelids back at her. Narcissa faced her son and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"You don't have to do this Draco." She said softly so the other woman wouldn't hear. "This is your home. Stay, for me." He couldn't meet her gaze. Draco wanted to stay more than anything. The manor was a temporary haven from the business of Death Eaters and all he wanted was some space to breathe.
"Draco! Don't get mummy to fight your battles!" Bellatrix's manic laughter resonated around the room.
The boy curled his fists into balls and stepped away from his mother and towards his deranged aunt. Bellatrix was waiting expectantly; wand poised, drinking from her refilled glass.
"Ladies first, Aunty." The contemptuous words rolled off his tongue.
"Such chivalry, you surely didn't learn that from your father."
"Stupefy!" He roared.
Bellatrix blocked the foreseen jinx and countered with a spell of her own. Back and forth they exchanged streams of coloured jets and the witch boasted her skills by drinking mid-battle, further angering her nephew. All Narcissa could do was watch on, silently cheering her son as he deflected the curses. She knew that her sister was toying with him. If she wanted to, she could have stunned Draco with her first strike but the blonde knew all too well how Bellatrix played. She had taught Narcissa herself how to construct a wall of security, providing a false sense of hope before watching their victims squirm as they dismantle it brick by brick.
Bellatrix finished her drink and threw the glass towards her nephew. For a second Draco hesitated, caught by surprise but this was all the dark haired witch needed. Pointing her wand at the rotating glass, it transfigured into a crystal serpent and bound itself around the boy's chest and arms. Draco fell to his knees as sharp splinters tore at his jacket as the snake constricted his lungs. Whimpers echoed off the walls as his face whitened.
"Say 'uncle'" Bellatrix cooed, her wand forcing the transparent serpent to tighten its hold.
"Bellatrix, that's enough!" insisted the younger sister.
The click of Bellatrix's heels sounded as she made her way over to Draco, ignoring Narcissa completely. She playfully sat down beside the paling body that now was hyperventilating, his breathing shallow from the binding of his chest. The witch stroked the crystal serpent, a triumphant sneer spreading across her face.
"Where does the Weasley boy live?" She whispered.
Draco's lips were beginning to turn a shade of blue, his face full of confusion.
"Tell me!"
The serpent shattered, shards of glass spraying across the floor. Draco fell to his side, hungrily gulping oxygen into his lungs. Tears streamed his cheeks and stung where glass had cut his flawless skin. Leaving his side, Bellatrix stood up and met Narcissa's stare. The blonde's wand was still poised after she had cast the spell to free Draco. She was furious at her sister, this had been taken too far.
"Does this mean I won?" Bellatrix folded her arms smugly.
"Get out." She extended her hand to the door.
Bellatrix turned to Draco who had managed to support his weight again. "You heard your mummy. Get out."
"Not him Bellatrix!" Her wand was now pointed at her sister's chest.
The raven witch smirked as she closed the distance between them. Narcissa ignored Bellatrix's hand on the small of her back, not wanting to draw the attention of her son.
"Now, now Cissy." She purred "There's no need to be so hostile. You know you don't want to fight me. Not after such a pleasurable day we've spent together." Her breath was hot and sweet from the mead. "Rules are rules aren't they?"
Narcissa stood strong, not allowing the tears to well in her eyes at the thought of her child leaving prematurely.
"Go pack his things like the good mother you are. Let me clean up the boy."
"If you so much hurt him again, I swear."
Bellatrix yawned and shoved her sister away, turning her back on her. The crunch of glass under heels sounded then died as Narcissa left the dining hall.
"Now, Draco, tell me where the Weasley boy lives."
The boy was now sitting up, pieces of glass prickled one side of his face.
"Why the sudden interest?" He spat, his pride hurt from defeat.
"You are not entitled to question me, dear nephew. Last chance, I'll ask one more time, where can I find the blood traitors?"
Draco ran his hand through his platinum blonde hair. He had overhead the Gryffindor trio countless times during classes where they spent their winter vacations.
"Somewhere called 'The Burrow'. Satisfied?"
"You're such a good boy." She patronised, pinching his cheeks. "But not yet. You're still here. I want you gone within the hour. Go comfort your mother; I'm sure she's heartbroken."
And with that, Bellatrix disapparated in a cloud of blackness.
O~O~O
Narcissa sat at the dining room table. She had dismissed the house elves and insisted that she rearrange the furniture herself. In her hand was an artichoke heart engraved with the letter M. The vegetable had grown cold in her hands but the witch didn't care. Despite that Bellatrix and Draco had their differences, Narcissa knew there was an exterior motive to the conflict that evening. Her sister had been restless for days, more so than usual and her outbursts had disturbed the peace of the holiday season.
A popping noise disrupted Narcissa's thoughts. From across the room Bellatrix apparated and made her way over to the liquor cabinet.
"Is he gone?" Came a blasé drawl. Bellatrix strode towards her sister, a quarter of her glass full of dark intoxicants. Her mind was racing, excited over what she had just done.
Narcissa stood to greet her sister but rejected the embrace and instead opened her hand to show Bellatrix the engraved artichoke heart.
The eldest raised an eyebrow over the crystal. "Don't be so barbaric, Cissy. Mother always said not to play with your food." She chuckled as she sipped the fiery liquid.
"Since you cannot take your own advice maybe you can explain this to me Bella." The blonde held up the unmistakable lettering. "Don't tell me you sent away my son because you want to play with a Mudblood."
Bellatrix gripped her sister's wrist tightly until she dropped the vegetable. "You're not jealous are you, Cissy?" The raven haired witch brought the strangled hand to her lips and licked the length of Narcissa's palm. It was bitter tasting and did not mix well with the warm flavours of the alcohol.
The youngest Black suppressed a silent longing and freed her hand. She wasn't jealous. How could she possibly be jealous over a Mudblood? Narcissa's suspicions were now confirmed. The Granger girl was responsible for her sister's restlessness. While the Mudblood was on her sister's mind, all Narcissa wanted to do was forget. But forget she could not, not when her right hand was a sickly reminder of that night back in Spinner's End.
Bellatrix was quick to replace one body part for another and gripped Narcissa's waist; forcing her backwards as if dancing a forbidden tango.
"So it's true. This wasn't because he is Lucius' son or that Draco will never be ready for the Dark Lord. You would rather that Mudblood here. In my home." Narcissa's voice was chilling as the woman backed her into the wall.
"Are you fucking stupid, Cissy? She has to return, you said so yourself. Do you want Draco to find out your dirty little secret?" Bellatrix began to pull at the blonde's clothes, primal desires flooding her mind.
"Everyone must be kept in the dark about this, Bella." Narcissa warned, running her fingers through those thick ringlets before pulling harshly at inked curls.
The older woman bit down on her clavicle in reply, causing the blonde to gasp aloud. "No one will know." Her tongue pressed against the throbbing pulse point, feeling the rhythm quicken. Narcissa's eyes closed as the other witch's lips moved higher.
"I can't stay, Cissy." She hushed against her ear.
"Don't tease me, Bella. Stay, this house is far too empty tonight." Fingers clung to the leather corset, pulling the woman closer so she too could taste the liquid fire.
A popping noise sounded from behind the women and Bellatrix casually turned her head, not letting go of the blonde. Fenrir Greyback stood in the middle of the room, a perverted smile running over his face as he eyed the two women. Narcissa transformed before her sister. She stood taller, her eyes darkened and an icy exoskeleton replaced cordiality.
"What is he doing here? Your dim-witted dwarfs cannot follow you around wherever they please like Snow White."
Bellatrix stepped away from Narcissa, clearly frustrated from the disturbance.
"You will have to get used our presence sooner or later, Cissy. The Dark Lord has chosen your humble home as a place of gathering."
If it wasn't for Greyback, Narcissa would have voiced her displeasure. But at the risk of being labelled 'disloyal' she instead chose to play passive aggressive.
"Next time werewolf, you will use the front door like a good little lapdog. Who knows where your soiled paws have been."
"My apologies, Lady Malfoy." Greyback growled, bowing his head with faux courtesy.
Bellatrix was careful to note the disrespect shown towards her sister and now spoke directly to her.
"I was told where they holiday, Cissy and the mutt knows the exact location. I have given that bitch a long enough leash; it's time to shorten it."
"You said that this would remain solely our business. No third parties." Narcissa glared at the werewolf, her superior demeanour never faltering.
"Do not jump to such rash conclusions." Bellatrix caressed the side of the blonde's face with the back of her hand. "He has unfinished business to tend to with a certain member of the Order. While you and Draco were having a heart-to-heart, I left for Greyback's company. It seems that we have something in common after all – a love for fire."
Curious to know what people think of Bella and Cissy's suggestive relationship so far.
It's been a while since I wrote with Hermione. I've planned out what I want to write next and she will be there. You can imagine how drained she must be without Bella's pain relief…and * spoilers*…how furious Bella will be when she realises her Muddy isn't where she thinks she is ;)
It is midnight and sleep calls. As always, thank you to everyone!