Here is the ninth chapter, named after the song by IAMX. Enjoy =)
Narcissa walked down the stairs, her footsteps echoing quietly on the smooth stones, filling the silence. She breathed deeply, and the smell of food, drifting from the dining room, caused her a startled shudder. How silly of her, she thought as she reached for the doorknob. How very silly.
"Good morning, dear," her mother said affably as she slipped inside. Druella was daintily sipping her tea, and Cygnus glanced up from his Prophet to send a brief smile his daughter's way. Narcissa took a seat slowly, feeling awkward. She was not yet accustomed to sharing moments such as this one with her parents alone; once more, she was keenly aware of Bellatrix's absence.
"Good morning, Mother, Father," she responded regardless, reaching for a cup of tea. As she moved quietly, helping herself to some of the edibles that were laid on the table, her eyes found her father's face. He was frowning, fingering his fork absent-mindedly, his gaze fixedly focused on the headline of his newspaper. He looked tired and a bit older, but Narcissa was not really surprised.
"Anything interesting?" she found herself asking timidly.
He looked up, taken off guard. "Nothing special," he responded vaguely. "Just some trouble out there… As usual. It never seems to stop."
"What is it?" she asked, intrigued. Cissy racked her brains for anything odd she might have heard about recently; admittedly, what with her upcoming OWLs, she had not been paying as much attention as she could have.
"Merely some rash groups wrecking havoc and pressuring the government with the wrong methods entirely," Druella swiftly intervened as Cygnus was hesitating. "Nothing you ought to be concerned about, my dear. You should rather focus on the social season, now that you are free of school for two months."
"Surely." Although Narcissa hastened to agree, her eyes still searched her father's face questioningly. Cygnus shrugged and took a sip of tea, his attention falling back to his paper. Druella required no further prompting to begin listing the upcoming balls and gatherings along with their hosts' identities, and Cissy focused on her again, a tiny thrill briefly flying through her as the name of 'Malfoy' reached her ears.
"We are not going anywhere this year, are we?" she inquired. Her mother shook her head.
"Certainly not for your first summer in society, darling. Besides, I have already been off to Switzerland in the spring, and I have no desire to leave again. As for your father, he travels all the time."
"The demands of work," he agreed. "I would rather not stay too far from England."
Cissy nodded. "What about Bella and Rodolphus? Do you know if they are going anywhere?"
"I have not the slightest idea. You know your sister, she hasn't been writing very much ever since she got married at last. Actually, the last time I dropped by Lestrange Hall, she was not even home," Druella said dismissively. "Well, it is up to her husband to keep her in check now."
Cygnus' lips tightened, and Narcissa briefly wondered whether anyone would ever be capable of keeping Bella 'in check'. "I will visit her soon."
"Very good idea, dearest. But for now, hurry up and have some toast. I was planning to take you shopping for new outfits. One never has too many and you need your summer wardrobe renewed."
Narcissa smiled obediently as she slowly picked up a piece of toast. Cygnus snorted low as well, but the amusement did not reach his eyes, somehow.
Narcissa breathed deeply into the warm scent of her sister's hair, the hints of orchid and vanilla in her perfume. She held firmly onto Bellatrix for a minute or two, not caring that her sibling wriggled impatiently between her arms. Eventually, with a tiny sigh, she let go and Bella danced away, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, yes, it's good to see you too, Cissy," she said mockingly. Narcissa busied herself taking in her sister for a moment. But Bellatrix frowned back at her as though irritated, and she averted her gaze, glancing around instead.
"I'd never been here before. Lovely house," she commented.
"Lovely entrance hall," Bellatrix snorted. "But yes, I suppose – this place is nice. I like it better than the seaside estate, anyway."
"Good job Rodolphus got this one, then."
"Yes, yes." Bellatrix stepped back into the shadows of the hall. "Are you planning to stand there all day or shall I show you in?"
"You're the hostess," Narcissa couldn't resist shooting back.
With a groan, her sister led the way. She hovered for a moment, having visibly no idea of where it might be appropriate to bring her visiting sister for a good catching up. Eventually Narcissa took matters into her own hands and started pushing doors until she found a parlour and a good armchair to collapse into. Her long-restrained bitterness was resurfacing; she wanted Bellatrix to hug her tight, compliment her dress and hand her a cup of tea, just a few reassuring gestures to make her feel wanted and safe. However, a Bellatrix who commented on clothing and behaved in such a ladylike way would most likely be the result of Polyjuice Potion.
"Make yourself at home," Bella muttered, dropping on the sofa.
"We could have some tea. Where is your house-elf?" Narcissa retorted, looking around imperiously.
"Oh, please." Bellatrix leaned back with a groan. "Effy!"
With a tiny pop, an elf appeared, and Bella gestured mockingly towards it. "Be my guest."
"I would like two cups of tea."
"No, coffee for me," Bella interjected. "Make it a strong one."
"Yes, Miss, Missus," the creature squeaked before dashing off. It was promptly back with the desired beverages. Narcissa sipped her tea daintily, looking down for a minute.
"So what have you been up to?" she eventually asked. "You never did tell me."
Bellatrix fidgeted. "Oh, I've been here and there. A bit busy."
"I see." There was definite coldness in the two short words, and Cissy pursed her lips in frustration. "What about Rodolphus? How are things with him?"
Bella shrugged. "All right. Well, we're getting along, for the most part. That's what matters."
"Are the two of you going anywhere this summer?"
"Oh, no," Bella answered too quickly, and then hesitated. "Or… we might. I mean, we haven't planned anything, but we might just go. On short notice, few days at a time. Rodolphus loves that kind of thing. I think he'd like to travel more."
"That's nice," Narcissa replied quietly.
"Oh yes. Very nice."
The sisters just stared at each other for a moment. Narcissa squared her jaw, fury flaring stronger within her. "I want you to stop that, Bella."
"What are you talking about?" her sister snarled back. Her hands had suddenly curled around the arms of her chair like claws; she was tense, waves of aggressiveness rolling off her. Narcissa recoiled back, a frightened shock taking over her anger for a moment. She could taste her sibling's wrath in the air, a bitter, smothering flavour. It couldn't be a mere overreaction to her words.
"I want you to stop lying to me!" she cried earnestly. Bellatrix flinched – very slightly, but she could see it – and Cissy straightened up, determined. "I know you've been hiding things," she quickly continued. "You've been so elusive, your letters so… vague. Your only letter, I should say… I know that's partly just the way you are, but there's more to it. Don't you think I'm stupid enough to buy your half-constructed lies, Bella."
Bellatrix seemed to be struggling for words. She stood abruptly, and paced the room, her hair flying everytime she whirled or tossed her head. Narcissa set her cup of tea on the table; her hands were shaking dangerously. Her sister's rash, irrational behaviour was scaring her – Bella seemed scarcely in control, as though overwhelmed by a greater force, lying coiled tight at the core of her, adding a vicious fire to her already volatile reactions. It made no sense – nothing had happened that might have changed her so much. She would have heard about it. There had been the wedding… And then she'd been off with Rodolphus, and they'd started living their life together – without their family having any hints as to what they were up to.
An ice-cold feeling of uneasiness slipped into her as she recalled more concerns, more mysteries, these ones long past. They belonged to a time and a person it wouldn't do to dwell about – but they had been there… The sisters had been keeping secrets forever, more and more as time slipped by.
"I got to know Lucius Malfoy, at school," she said quietly, out of the blue. "He's really nice."
Bella twisted on her heel to face her. "What?"
"Nothing. It doesn't matter." Bellatrix's face was faraway. Cissy couldn't tell what might really have mattered to her, not anymore. She swallowed and then went on. "You're not going to tell me."
Her sister was frowning. "No," she said. "Of course not. You wouldn't… It would only scare you." She shrugged. "I wouldn't want to scare off my little sister, now, would I?" A short, slightly hysterical laugh bubbled on her lips.
Narcissa sat there, staring, for a moment. Then she bit her lip and stood. "I think I'll be off, then," she said shortly. "I will see you soon."
"Yes." Bellatrix nodded, and Cissy could sense her relief. It stung bitterly, made her want to lash out. "I'll find the way," she shot over her shoulder, turning around hastily and heading straight to the door.
"Goodbye," she heard her sister call from behind her. Tears sprang unexpectedly to her eyes, blurring her vision inconveniently.
"Narcissa, do hurry up!"
"I'm coming, Mother," she muttered, with a last, anxious check-up in the mirror hanging on the mantlepiece.
Druella's gaze swept swiftly and approvingly over her daughter's frame. "Very good. No need to fuss, everything looks perfect. Let us not be late."
"Fashionably late?" Cissy reminded her, eyeing warily the silver box that contained Floo powder, in her mother's hand.
"Not for every occasion. Dear me, Narcissa, you have not forgotten everything I ever taught you, I dare hope? Let us get going, dear. I would rather not make the ladies wait."
Internally sighing in resignation, Narcissa reached out and took a pinch of powder, which she tossed into the dancing flames. "Crabbe Mansion," she called as she stepped into the hearth. In a whoosh, she felt herself brutally swept away.
When she came stumbling into a brightly-lit drawing room, she felt like the ground was falling under her feet and her head floated somewhere far above. She blinked the tears away, swallowing and forcing a smile. A blurry, plump silhouette rose from an armchair and rushed her way. As she stepped forward to allow Druella space to exit the fireplace, she recognized the hostess, Arabella Crabbe.
"Narcissa, it's a pleasure!" the latter exclaimed. "Always a pleasure. You look lovely, dear."
"Thank you, Mrs Crabbe," Cissy responded gracefully, smiling.
While her mother was, in turn, being greeted, Narcissa's eyes scanned the lounge and the small assembly gathered there, swiftly and subtly. Although she had expected the disappointment, it still came sharply once she was positive that Bella was indeed not there. Walburga had also managed to excuse herself, it seemed, despite her being Mr Crabbe's cousin through her mother; then again, Mr Crabbe was not the most fulfilling company and even Arabella got a little daft sometimes… or rather often. However, Mrs Lavinia Lestrange was present with Rabastan, as well as Circe Malfoy and Lucius. Circe was languidly reclined in an armchair; though one could not say that she was counted among Mrs Crabbe's close friends, Druella had speculated that she would make an appearance, having been withheld by sickness since the spring – and so Narcissa was not surprised. Seeing Lucius did shock her a little, no matter how natural it seemed that he would accompany his mother and look after her; and Cissy quietly looked away while she was led to a seat, greeting everybody on her way.
"Narcissa Black." Lavinia Lestrange peered up at her with small, cold eyes before patting the opposite armchair. Cissy lowered herself into it with slight apprehension.
"I remember you from the wedding," Lavinia drawled. "Very pretty dress, I must say."
"Thank you," Narcissa replied sweetly.
"Hello, Narcissa," Rabastan curtly interjected, with a nod in her direction.
"Glad to see you again, Rabastan."
Small talk with Lavinia was quite the painful occasion. She gave off an unsettling aura of bitterness, without any real sense of humour to balance it into what one might call "a snarky character". She also managed, somehow, to appear unwilling to converse with Narcissa, and yet to deny her the slightest opportunity of a polite escape. Rabastan threw in a helpful word here and there to ease the tension, despite the fact that his mood seemed to darken the longer Cissy sat there in his mother's company. Narcissa glanced at the clock. Time for tea would come soon, hopefully she could make a run for it then.
She knew asking would probably be a bad idea, she could feel it and yet the question still escaped her lips: "And have you seen Rodolphus and Bellatrix lately? I was wondering if they'd be there tonight."
Lavinia sniffed haughtily. "Of course I see my son often, young lady. And I wondered the same thing, but the young couple happens to be otherwise engaged." She rapped out each of the syllables with unveiled distaste; Narcissa pictured stabbing quotation marks in the air. The words might not have been Bella's, but certainly they were interpreted as such.
"Yes, I heard they were rather busy," she responded, trying her best to sound relaxed. "I visited yesterday, but Rodolphus wasn't home."
"He is getting quite the important position at the Ministry – just like my other son Rabastan here. The two of them hold great responsibilities. But of course they still find time for their family." There was no mistaking that by 'family' she meant 'parents'.
"Mother," Rabastan muttered.
"Isn't it true, my dear? The Ministry and social engagements claimed you constantly for the past few months, and I am fortunate to be able to enjoy your company tonight."
"And what do you do exactly, Rabastan?" Cissy inquired. "Which department do you work in?"
"Public Information Services," he mumbled.
"At least our Ministry can still value those of noble blood," Lavinia declared. "Many of our valuable young men are busy building our country a future, most of all amongst my friends' sons… They are all swamped with work!" She had a breezy little laugh.
"Really," Narcissa replied vaguely.
"Perhaps you would not notice, with a household of girls," Mrs Lestrange added a bit viciously. "You are the last Black maiden, then, correct?"
"Correct–" Lavinia ranted on, only scarcely leaving her time to pronounce the word.
"My dear Rabastan here has many prospects. I am hoping he will have given me a daughter-in-law by this time next year." Her piercing glance was more than eloquent: this was not, in any way, to be taken as an invitation.
"Mother."
"Hush, dear. I only speak the truth, do I not?"
Lavinia looked down her nose at Narcissa, who smiled politely. "Well, Rabastan, you know you have my best wishes," she responded conventionally. Rabastan gave a grunt of acknowledgement and Cissy wondered at the unspoken rule that made it all right for men to act borderline rude to the individuals they were already familiar with, whereas a lady, in public, ought to never display anything but constant elegance. Taking advantage of a lapse in the discussion, she glanced at the other side of the grouping, and met Lucius Malfoy's eye. He gave her a brief smile before turning back to his mother.
"Narcissa," Druella called. "Come here, dearest, Harmonia would like to hear about your OWLs!"
"If you will excuse me," Narcissa told the Lestranges as she rose.
Harmonia Greengrass was eager to hear of the subjects she had taken, but even more so to go on and on about her son Virgil's achievements, and soon Narcissa was free to let her attention wander as the women gushed. Once more, she found her gaze drawn to Lucius' pale profile. He sat by his mother's side, watchful, as it seemed, only occasionally moving his lips in a polite comment. Narcissa noticed that a few younger girls were stealing glances at him with bated breath, and the ladies of their families also seemed quite aware of the bachelor's presence. In this mostly feminine assembly he carried himself with gallant ease, but it set Cissy's teeth on edge. She felt disgusted by these calculating or lovesick females, all moving and talking in carefully planned ways, brushing his chair as they passed. They were fake, tasteless, and air-headed, the whole lot of them. His name, money, looks and future influence made him their prized prey. She had to remind herself that he probably could defend himself fairly well.
While she brooded, Lucius looked up and she was caught staring in the most shameful way. Heat flooded Narcissa's face as she blushed deeply, and she saw the corner of his mouth curling upwards in amusement. Very slightly, he inclined his head in Circe's direction.
A small thrill went through Narcissa. Keeping her voice cool, she excused herself and rose to say hello to Madam Malfoy.
Circe looked up at her approach, and Cissy thought she saw a flicker of something cold in her gaze. She must have been paranoid.
"Narcissa!" the lady drawled. "How delightful to see you again."
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs Malfoy," she replied. "How is your health?"
"Poor, quite poor, but getting better. Vanishing sickness, all the more dreadful with the passing of years. Ah, believe me – enjoy your youth while it lasts."
Narcissa smiled. One must have Circe's style to openly speak of their age in polite society, as though daring others to frown. "You are not old."
"Neither am I youthful, alas."
She had an odd feeling; although Circe acted just as sardonic and pleasant as the last time she had seen her, Cissy sensed a reserve in the other woman, as if she weren't actually pleased to see her. Before she could start panicking quietly, however, Lucius distracted her by rising and kissing her hand.
"Miss Black," he said. "I hope you are enjoying your afternoon."
"Very much, thank you," she responded coolly – or, at the very least, with a praiseworthy attempt at coolness. The brushing of his breath against the back of her hand made her shiver. They locked gazes for a few more seconds.
"Lucius," Circe called, carrying on with a sentence Cissy paid no attention to, dangerously close as she was to switching off entirely. Mrs Malfoy was demanding her son's attention, and it seemed that the girl's presence was no longer required. "I will see you at the ball," she declared. "Take care of yourself, Mrs Malfoy."
"Likewise, dear," Circe retorted dismissively.
Lucius glanced at her and added: "See you soon, Narcissa."
Cissy all but skipped to a seat by her mother, only narrowly managing to keep her sudden joy under control. She grinned as she settled, and threw herself back into social interaction. Many small, but troubling concerns might have inhabited her mind – Bellatrix and Circe, among others –, yet for now, only one fact remained: in ten days' time she would be at Malfoy Manor for a ball, and she was almost positive that she could count on a few dances with Lucius.