(Untitled)

[bel_guerrier]

Who: Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy & Lucius Malfoy.
What: A conversation after a long absence.
Where: Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire.
When: Morning, October 19.
Status: Complete.

Pop!

A deceptively small figure apparated just before the doors of Malfoy Manor, draped in a billowing black cloak and carrying a rather shabby looking broom. Steps were taken

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[augury_cissy]

Narcissa had spent the better part of the morning deciding where all of the recently re-potted house plants would look best. A few house elves had followed her from room to room, lugging plants of varying sizes, but by mid-morning, she had only settled on a few locations.

One of the elves was just placing a particularly large plant by one of the windows in her boudoir, when Mopsy bumbled in and bowed clumsily.

"Mistress's sister is here to see Mistress!" she squeaked. "She is waiting in the foyer!"

Narcissa raised an eyebrow. So Bella had finally decided to make her presence known? Well, that promised to be an interesting exchange, at the very least.

She left the house elves and the plants, and made her way to the top of the stairs, immediately spotting her sister and gazing down at her.

"It's been some time."

[bel_guerrier]

The moment Narcissa emerged into her view, Bellatrix released a breath she was unaware she had been holding. The blonde was beautiful as always. Such a pretty, pretty doll, she heard herself think. Something inside the pit of her stomach warmed; it had not done so in such a very long time.

Despite the pleasantries happening inside her body, something inside her could also tell that her beloved sister was none too happy with her. She ducked her head in a subtle submissive gesture.

"Yes, Narcissa," she answered.

[augury_cissy]

Narcissa moved down the stairway, grey watered silk robes rustling softly as she walked. Well, her sister was clearly in one piece, at the very least. That was a good thing, but it still left much to be explained.

She reached the foot of the stairs, examined Bellatrix for a moment, then: "Where were you all month? You disappeared rather suddenly."

[bel_guerrier]

"I was called away," she answered, sounding surprisingly sheepish for the most feared Death Eater in the wizarding world. There was just something about Narcissa that made Bellatrix feel very small.

She shifted her weight more heavily onto her makeshift crutch. The broom creaked under her weight. She frowned.

"He needed me elsewhere," she added.

[augury_cissy]

Narcissa let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Bella and Lucius had come so close- so close- to outright arguing with each other and she didn't know how she'd be prepared to handle that after not seeing her sister for a month.

After what happened with Andromeda.

She pushed that thought aside for the moment, forced herself to take a lingering sip of tea. Forced herself to remain calm and collected and cool in the face of both of them.

"What's most important," she said quietly, "is my son. I don't want him getting into situations he isn't prepared to handle. I don't want him put in any needless amount of danger."

[augury_lucius]

Lucius nodded, draining his cup and setting it down. "My point exactly. Draco belongs here, where he will not be placed in any more dangerous a situation than we know he is equipped to deal with." He smiled once again at Bellatrix. "I shall expect my son home this evening for dinner. Do help him to pack his things, would you?"

[augury_cissy]

Narcissa looked from Lucius to Bellatrix. She would not argue with her husband, not in front of anyone, but something was nagging at her and she couldn't go without vocalising it.

"What does Draco say?"

[bel_guerrier]

"You should ask him yourself, dear sister," Bellatrix replied evenly. She seemed infinitely calmer now than she had been previously. She looked between the two fair haired people sitting near her.

"I do not wish to be argumentative, Cissy," it was the first time the nickname had escaped Bellatrix's mouth. "But please understand that this is war, and despite your husband's successes," just saying the word under such conditions made Bellatrix want to vomit, "in evading harm the first go round, things might very well turn out differently now."

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "If Draco does not have the desire to serve Lord Voldemort, that can only mean he is open to... outside... influences. Please be mindful, sister."