I realized as I started writing this chapter that some of my graduation dates got screwed up. However, rather than rewriting what I've already published, I'm going to stick with it. I'm sorry if this bothers some readers, and I hope this still remains enjoyable. To those following and reviewing, thank you for your support! Things are getting very interesting!

Not a whole lot could be said about the next, twelve months that passed me by. It was a little more dull without as many, familiar faces. Slug Club was my only, real escape, but even still, I kept to my studies. Slughorn frequently praised a new student at almost all of the six get-togethers we had. It annoyed the hell out of me, as it didn't take long for me to find out this first-year that had become a gem in the professor's eye, despite being a Slytherin, was also a half-blood. His name was Severus Snape, a quiet kid with long, black hair and a quick knack for potions. I didn't see him very often, but he did sit across from me on the night of the Sorting Ceremony. He never had much to say, but come the end of the year, he seemed to know particular things in potion-making I had never heard of in my six years at Hogwarts. I hated the feeling of the limelight being taken off of me little by little, and by the end of the year, I was simply a shadow cast in the back of Professor Slughorn's mind as he boasted about his youngest, potions genius.

Andromeda had become much more of a social butterfly, and she even seemed to become best pals with Emma Vanity and Ellouise Greengrass. I despised those two as it was; now, they were stealing the only sister I had left. The longest conversation I had with her was when she brought me the news that she was being arranged to marry Walden Macnair, a pure-blood that had graduated this past year. She didn't seem very fond of the man, but then again, why did it matter? We all had a duty to uphold, and as long as we kept the line of Black pure in blood, we ought to be happy.

All year, I never saw or heard from Bellatrix, and from what I gathered from Andromeda, nor had she. The only trace of her was a letter from mother, who had informed me that she was now officially Bellatrix Lestrange. My sisters were moving on, slowly casting me to the side.

I did receive two letters from Lucius throughout the year, which temporarily perked me up. Within the first week, he had sent me a parcel that was a belated, birthday present - a white-gold necklace with the pendant of a blue, diamond cat. I knew instantly it was supposed to resemble Alice, and so I had been incredibly ecstatic to display around my neck for the entire year. He also included a letter that informed me that he had been very busy taking up a position in the Ministry of Magic, following in his father's footsteps as an influential individual.

The second letter informed me of a swift promotion he had received, though as he was independently wealthy, I understood he wasn't looking for raises. He was looking for connections in high places, to make a name for himself and to become a powerful force within the Ministry.

I wouldn't have admitted it out loud, but I was still stuck on the young man. He was out there, rising up in the world, and I was still a mere student, wasting away my talents behind these stone walls on tests and silly spells.

I was an outcast. A black sheep.

Towards the holidays, I watched as Andromeda began to keep company with students outside of Slytherin, and deep inside, it bothered me. I didn't say anything, as such was hard without Bellatrix to back me up, but it made my blood boil, nonetheless.

I realized too that I should have probably made more friends, myself.

Towards the end of the last term, I made myself a promise. Next year, I would go out with a bang.

The last term was almost over. I felt pretty confident that I had made good closure with all of my classes, though we wouldn't receive our grades until tomorrow. Alice had wondered off again, which wasn't uncommon, though usually, she was back before dinner time. I had asked around the common room if anyone had seen her.

"The white cat, right?" Severus asked, slumped in the armchair with a giant book on dark magic in his arms. In my panic, I had no time to ask if he had gotten that from the Restricted Section or not. "Last I saw her, she was in the courtyard."

"Thanks," I breathed, already heading out of the dungeon before he even finished his sentence. One convenience of being housed in the dungeons was being located closer to the entrance of the castle, and right now, that was a benefit for me when trying to find my lost feline. I dashed through the entrance hall only to be slowed by a nagging voice behind me.

"Miss Black, is there a reason why you're running through the halls?"

"No," I heaved, "I mean... Sorry, Professor McGonagall. I seem to have lost my cat. I was told she might be just outside."

She gave me a scrutinizing look over her glasses before offering a curt nod. "Be quick. Curfew is in an hour."

"Thank you, professor." I resumed my speedy trek for the doors, moving in a jog towards the courtyard. A girl's laughter filled the air as I closed in on the cloister, though I stayed out of sight once I realized who the giggles belonged to. It was Andromeda, and she was perched on a stone bench next to another student I quickly recognized as Edward Tonks. The way the Gryffindor tickled her was awfully affectionate, and it made me want to vomit.

Then, he kissed her. It seemed to take Andromeda by surprise just as much as it did me. A mudblood was kissing my sister! It was...revolting! I wanted to tear the two of them apart right then and there, but I stayed hidden, once again insecure about the fact that Bellatrix was not here to support my stance. My fists clenched at my sides, and I instantly forgot why I had originally come here for. I returned to the common room in a storm of rage, and I said nothing even when Snape had asked if I found Alice. Up the stairs to the dormitory I went, and I was all the more aggravated to find that the cat had found her way into my room while I had been hunting for her.

Pissed as hell, I sat at the foot of the bed, not even acknowledging her. Even as she lovingly knocked the top of her head into my arm, at first, I couldn't bring myself to break down and show compassion. It took some of her persistence to finally make me give in. It was as if she was trying to tell me something. I liked to think it was something like:

Time heals all wounds.

August 1, 1972. It was the day before my birthday. I could tell I was being spoiled a little early when I woke up to the smell of fresh-baked cake from downstairs. The moment my eyes opened, I was wide awake. I got myself dressed into a long, summer dress of white chiffon. I was bolting down the stairs before mother could even stop me, but I could hear her calling after me as I passed through the foyer.

"Narcissa, you know better than that! There isn't even icing on that cake yet!"

However, her voice was quickly drowned out as I nearly slammed into a dark figure that blocked the kitchen door. My bare feet skidded to a halt, and for a moment, it took me time to recognize the woman that stood in front of me. She wore a long dress made entirely of black and lace, a small slit up the side of her skirt that revealed her calf. Her hair was straight and dark, though much longer than I recalled.

"Bellatrix," I stuttered, though afterwards supposed she probably warranted a better greeting than that.

"Good to see you too, Cissy," she said flatly. I remembered she was a married woman now, and curiously looked to her left hand to see the ornate, green rock that adorned it. Her arms were crossed, so getting a good view was difficult, but I could see she had grown out her nails and painted them black.

"Congratulations on your marriage," I told her, though my voice might have contradicted me. Last we saw each other, things had been pretty frightening for me, and I could tell she hadn't forgotten.

"You were in school when the wedding was scheduled," she said. "Unfortunately, we couldn't book it at any time during the summer."

"It's fine," I answered awkwardly. Even if I had been invited, I wasn't so sure I would have wanted to go. Bellatrix's actions had caused a strain between us, and it was hard to not let that show in front of the rest of the family. After all, what I witnessed still remained a secret.

"I heard Andromeda is moving out. Is she with Macnair?"

At this, I tensed. I had dreaded ever having this conversation with Bellatrix since I discovered who Andromeda's heart truly belonged to. After witnessing my oldest sister's relentlessness when it came to her hatred for muggle-borns and those who loved them, I came to realize that I could not bring myself to tell her the truth about Andromeda's true love. At this rate, I wouldn't put it past Bellatrix to kill her own sister.

"Bellatrix, dear, why don't you go ahead and give her your present?" Druella suggested as she passed through the room, though she hadn't stayed long, already heading into the kitchen to check on the cake that Mooky was preparing.

In reply, my sister put on a half-smile, and I watched as she meandered over to the polished, accent table by the front door. From it, she picked up a package wrapped in metallic, silver paper. It was topped with a green bow and labeled "To Cissy, From Bella".

I unwrapped it there in front of her, and the content inside took me by surprise. I knew what it was immediately when I pulled the top lid off. I brushed my fingers over the turquoise chiffon before I pulled the dress out completely, bringing it up to my chest. It was the exact same that Emma Vanity wore to the Slug Club's last event, though I had forgotten to ask mother about it.

"But how did you know?" I asked Bellatrix in amazement.

"Easy," she said with a small grin. "Lucius told me."

"Lucius?" I repeated, though I instantly felt dumb. He must have overheard the conversation and knew I wanted it. "You've talked to him?"

"Of course," Bellatrix said matter-of-factly. "We see each other regularly. He's a Death Eater, after all."

At this, my heart stopped, feeling as though it had been impaled. I probably should have known Lucius would take that path, being a pure-blooded Slytherin and proud of it, but he had never once mentioned in his letters that his plan was to join the Dark Lord's ranks. I clenched my grip on the fabric of my present, though soon loosened it when I realized my anger might have been a bit too obvious.

"What? He didn't tell you?" Bellatrix almost sounded as if she mocking me. She was much more sinister now than I remembered, and I knew it was being a Death Eater that had transformed her. "That's alright. You can trust me to tell you everything you need to know. Just like I can trust you to keep our little secret, right?"

I wanted to punch her square in her pretty face. She could probably tell, as she only giggled at the frustrated expression on my own face.

"It's been nice catching up, Cissy. We should do it again sometime."

Then, just like that, she was headed out the door. I looked down at the dress, still as a wand without a master. All sorts of waves of emotions filled me, though none seemed to overpower the others. I felt confusion. Hate. Rage. Guilt. Hurt.

Then, suddenly, I almost wanted to laugh. Bellatrix wasn't a part of my family anymore. She was off to start her own, new life. Without her (and soon, without Andromeda), I would be main lady of the Black household. I could be beautiful and witty like mother. I could be snarky and seductive like Bellatrix. I could even be popular like Andromeda.

Next year surely would be a different, fairy tale, and I would undoubtedly be queen.