Passing Notes
Written for the Death Eater of the Month challenge.
Prompt: Narcissa Malfoy
A/N: Here we are, another story inspired by real life. Let's just say my family has their moments. Some of this was also inspired by my good friend Maisie Malfoy, so get up, get a move on and read her stories.
It began with a broken vase, discovered in the corridor by their mother Druella. The two sisters, youngest Narcissa and eldest Bellatrix, had been rough housing in the upstairs hall, which was most unacceptable. Young ladies were to behave properly, and so they were sent to their rooms as punishment for "running around like a pack of wild Muggles", as their mother put it.
After retreating to her room, Narcissa laid down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn't fair, she thought, the both of them getting punished when it was Bellatrix who broke their mother's vase. It's not like she couldn't repair it with a charm, so why punish them in the first place?
The little girl rolled over onto her side, hearing her sister in the room across the hall. It sounded like Bellatrix was having a full blown tantrum, one which would probably result in more broken objects scattered around the room.
Narcissa sighed, reaching for her plush unicorn and curling her arms around the beloved toy. She was almost asleep when a slew of obscenities drew her attention.
"Bella?" Narcissa sat up slowly, and was greeted with the sight of her older sister wrestling with a turtle in the doorway. She had been given this adorable little creature as a present for her tenth birthday, and unlike Bellatrix's other pets, this one hand somehow managed to survive for more than a week.
Curious, Narcissa moved to the foot of her bed, watching her sister from across the hall. She appeared to be struggling with the feisty turtle, its feet flailing as she flipped it over onto its back and tied a scrap of parchment to its leg. She then sat the turtle on the floor and jabbed it with her finger, nudging it towards Narcissa's bedroom.
The turtle took its time, moving in slow motion across the hall. This sent Bellatrix into a rage, and she promptly threw herself on the floor, rolling over and over while shouting all manner of naughty words.
Narcissa drew back, hugging her unicorn plushie. Why on earth was her sister so upset? She sat like this for a long time, hoping that Bellatrix would eventually tire herself out, until finally the turtle crossed the threshold and entered Narcissa's room.
She hesitantly reached for the turtle, the unicorn held against her chest as she untied the note and began to read.
Dearest Cissy,
I don't like this because we're not allowed to speak to each other. However, I like that I can use my turtle to pass notes.
I don't like this because I won't be getting an owl until my eleventh birthday. However, I like turtles better than owls even though they are ridiculously slow.
From me, Bella
P.S. Do you like turtles? Should I paint him a different color? And what is that horrible smell coming from mother's wardrobe?
Narcissa studied the note for several minutes before deciding to write back.
She gathered some parchment and a bottle of ink, taking a moment to think things over before beginning. When she had finished, Narcissa reached for the turtle, which had crawled into her pile of plushies and fallen asleep.
She did everything correctly like a good little girl should, tying the note with a delicate silk ribbon before sending the messenger on its way. It was some time before the turtle reached her sister, and by then Bellatrix was quite bored. She fell asleep face down on the carpet, and didn't wake until the turtle stepped on her hair and tried nibbling a strand of her luxurious locks.
Seizing the turtle and pulling it off her hair, Bellatrix sat up and tore the note from its leg, ripping the ribbon in the process.
Dear Bella,
I think it was rather clever of you, using your turtle to pass notes. He's very cute, but I don't know what that smell is in mommy's wardrobe. Maybe it's cheese? Really old cheese.
Your turtle is pretty. You don't have to paint him, but maybe try turtle meditation? I heard the grown ups talking about it. Maybe it will help you stay calm.
Love, Cissy
"Turtle meditation?" Bellatrix queried, looking up at her sister. She quickly scrawled a message on the back of her sister's note and shoved the turtle out the door.
This time the turtle refused to move, and Bellatrix nearly rubbed its feet off on the carpet, forcing it to walk.
The note that Narcissa received had a single sentence written on it: "What is turtle meditation?"
Upon receiving instructions for turtle meditation, Bellatrix rolled into a ball and stayed like that for forty-two hours. Her mother had to roll her down the hallway and into the dining room, feeding her balled up child with a very long spoon.
Bellatrix has practiced turtle meditation ever since, and it did indeed calm her down. However, it was not enough to prevent the torture of Frank and Alice Longbottem, nor was it enough to stop her from eating peanutbutter toast while fighting apples. She very much enjoyed fighting apples.