Fanfiction || Amphierotic Bloodlines || Bellatrix/Narcissa || Part Eight

[cuzimastripper]

Title: Amphierotic Bloodlines
Author: Sapphire Smoke cuzimastripper
Beta(s): supershineygirl (chapter two), dolfynrider (chapter three & onwards)
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: NC-17
Length Thus Far: 65,190 words
Main Pairing: Bellatrix/Narcissa
Sub Pairings: Narcissa/Lucius, Narcissa/OC, Bellatrix/OC, Bellatrix/Rodolphus
Summary: Growing up in the 1960s in a family that expected nothing less than perfection, anything less than such was deemed unfit for a young woman of their status and was punished severely. A house that was classified as 'noble' had dark secrets hidden within those walls, a fear that only the people within experienced. The confusion young girls have growing up was more than intensified in there: it bordered on practically unbearable. This is a story about growing up, about surviving abuse, and about finding salvation and love from anyone you can, even if it’s from the last person on earth you know you should ever hold a deep affection for.
Warning(s): Lesbian incest, graphic child abuse, dubcon, sex between minors, anorexia nervosa, character death (minor), first chapter is un-beta’d
A/N: For NaNoWriMo 2010. This story is entirely from Narcissa’s POV (though not in first person) and will only include up to her graduation from Hogwarts. I may do a sequel later to cover her adult years, but for now I think this is more than enough.
Other Parts: PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR | PART FIVE | PART SIX | PART SEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

Bellatrix made sure it was impossible for Narcissa to get close to her after that.

Not that it was particularly hard, however. The last week until the end of the school year was filled with so many exams that Narcissa could hardly think straight. She already struggled in school and with what happened with her sister looming over her head it only made her less able to concentrate. The most she could hope for was that she at least scraped by with passing grades.

Narcissa tried to get her alone countless times, but Bellatrix made sure she was always around a lot of other people. It was awful; she would barely look at her anymore. Not out of spite or anger, but out of shame. But it didn’t matter why, all that mattered was that she was trying so desperately to pull away and it frightened Narcissa because she knew that come after the first week of their summer vacation, Bellatrix would be married and living in some nice, big house that Rodolphus’ parents provided them with. She wouldn’t have to speak to her again because she would never see her; not at home and not at school. Bellatrix would completely disappear from her life and there would be nothing Narcissa could do about it.

She couldn’t deal with that possibility. It made her throat constrict and her chest heavy; it felt like she couldn’t breathe.

Narcissa knew that logically that shouldn’t be the kind of reaction that she has to this kind of situation. She was basically forced to have sex with her sister, but it didn’t even matter to her anymore. She’d have sex with her a thousand times if that meant Bellatrix wouldn’t leave her alone.

Maybe it was the way they were raised; being beaten into compliance for most of their childhood. Narcissa watched how it destroyed Bellatrix’s mind and maybe this was how it affected her: by making her completely dependent on the one person who desperately tried to protect her from it. All she knew was that she’d do anything, anything, to keep her from leaving her.

After school had ended, preparations for the wedding were in full swing. Andromeda wanted nothing to do with the ordeal, her anger with Bellatrix for whatever reason making her bitter. She told Narcissa that she was glad she was leaving and then watched in confusion as Narcissa burst into tears and fled from the room.

One day when their parents were out shopping for some last minute accessories for the big day, Narcissa finally managed to corner Bellatrix in the kitchen. She was sitting on the counter (something that would surely get her a beating if their mother ever caught her), digging into the nut brittle. Her eyes snapped up when she realized she was no longer alone in the room.

“Go away, Cissy,” she mumbled, eyes no longer trained on her but at the floor as she nibbled on her food. “Just go, I can’t do this now.”

“So when can you do this?” Narcissa asked, voice small and meek as she peered up at her, folding her arms into herself self-consciously. “When you’re married; off living a life of luxury? We both know you’ll have no need of me then.”

If Narcissa hadn’t been desperately listening for a response, she would have probably missed the barely audible reply of, “I always have need of you.” But Bellatrix covered it up with a loud crunch of the brittle as she slid off the counter. Her eyes flickered over to her sister, then she rolled them slightly. “Stop blocking the exit, I’m of age now. You know I could move you if I wished it with just a mere flick of my wand.”

“You’d use magic on me?” Narcissa asked, in a tone that both of them knew that she didn’t think she would.

“Look, I told you we can’t do this,” Bellatrix told her as she put the plate of food back on the counter. “I’m trying to protect you, I wish you’d respect that and didn’t feel the need to be so suicidal all the time.”

“You wouldn’t kill me,” Narcissa told her confidently, taking a step towards her. Her heart was beating erratically, her mind racing as she tried to figure out something to say that would make her sister stop pulling away from her. She didn’t want to beg, but it wasn’t beneath her either.

“You don’t know that!” Bellatrix exclaimed, looking up at her sharply. “You know how I can get, how can you be so sure that one day I won’t snap and kill you just because you won’t give me what I want?!”

“Because I’m going to give you everything you want,” Narcissa told her softly, honestly. If that’s what it took to make her stay, she would. Bellatrix looked at her disbelievingly before letting out a short laugh and shaking her head like Narcissa just told her she could fly to Mars.

But Narcissa stepped forward, a pleading look on her face. “Anything Bella…” she whispered, needing her to know it was true. “All you’d have to do is ask.”

Bellatrix laughed again disbelievingly. “So if I told you to get on your knees right now and service me here in this kitchen, you would?”

Narcissa looked at her for a moment before she crossed the last remaining distance between them and sunk to her knees in front of her. She didn’t even think twice about it. But Bellatrix didn’t receive that well and she grasped Narcissa’s arm, forcing her to her feet. “Have you gone metal?!” she exclaimed. “What the bloody hell is wrong with you?”

“Bella, please,” Narcissa begged breathlessly, fear in her voice that even that didn’t work. “Please, I can’t lose you. I wouldn’t be able to live with it. I’ll do whatever you wish, I promise you. Anything!”

“Did you hit your head on something?!” Bellatrix exclaimed, looking at her like she couldn’t believe this was happening right now. “You’re acting insane!”

“Why?” Narcissa exclaimed, grasping onto her sister desperately. “Why is it insane to want only to please you?”

“Because it’s not your job to!” Bellatrix shouted as she tried to pull away from her, but Narcissa wouldn’t let go.

“Bella, please, I’ll do anything,” she begged, grasping her sister’s cheeks in her hands, making her look her in the eyes. She needed Bellatrix to understand that she wasn’t going to go anywhere; that she couldn’t. “You can treat me however you wish, I’ll be your sodding slave if you need me to be, just please don’t leave…”

“What’s gotten into you?!” Bellatrix shrieked, seemingly afraid of her sister’s new radical behavior. “Have you been dosed with something? Narcissa!” It was her turn to grasp her sister’s face, but all she did was search her eyes fearfully like she was hoping to find the source of this change in her sister behind her chocolate eyes. All she found was honesty.

“I’m not under a spell or anything,” Narcissa assured her. “I’ve just… I’ve realized I can’t live without you. I can’t! I’d die, I just know it…”

Bellatrix pushed away from her, running her fingers through her long, unruly dark curls. “You’d survive perfectly well without me, if not better.” She turned around, throwing her hand up to indicate Narcissa. “Look what I’ve already done to you!”

“You’ve done nothing!”

“Bullshit! You’re acting like I’m the reason you breathe in the morning, Narcissa! This isn’t normal! Something’s wrong with you!”

“You’ve always been the reason I breathe in the morning, Bella!” Narcissa exclaimed loudly, grasping her sister’s hand to pull her to her. She looked at her pleadingly, needing her to understand. “If it weren’t for you, I’d probably already be dead. You were the one that would get in the way of Mum’s beatings, taking them for yourself. You’re the one that protected us both from harm when we were found out. You’re the reason I’m able to have any kind of happiness in my life and any sense of normalcy! You’re the one that taught me what it means to love someone unconditionally!”

“What are you saying?” Bellatrix asked, taken aback.

Narcissa swallowed, holding onto her sister’s hand tightly, terrified that she would run after this admission. “Bellatrix, I’m…” she took a breath before finishing, “I’m in love with you.”

Bellatrix stared at her, mouth agape.

“I know you didn’t mean for it to happen and neither did I, but it did! I know we fight and I know it hasn’t been easy, but being with you has been the happiest time in my life. I feel safe with you, I feel loved, and I feel protected. No one has ever made me feel as amazing or as desirable as you have, Bella. And I know you have a disease spreading inside of you, this kind of darkness, but even though I fear it sometimes, I know that it’s a part of you and I accept it and love it just as much as I love the rest of you,” Narcissa told her, practically all in one breath.

Bellatrix only just stared at her in response, mouth still agape.

“Please say something,” Narcissa begged.

Bellatrix blinked for a moment before she breathed, “Oh my god, you really have gone mental, haven’t you?”

“I haven’t gone mental!” Narcissa exclaimed, offended that she would think that even after she explained. “Bella, I’m in love with you. Head over heels, disastrously and hopelessly in love with you! I need you in my life, you! You’re the one I want to grow old with.”

Bellatrix shook her head, her throat constricting. She looked like she was fighting with the urge to cry and pulled away from her. Narcissa eyebrows knitted together in distress, but then Bellatrix turned around quickly to face her, hands thrown up in anger in helplessness as she exclaimed loudly, “How can you tell me this two days before I’m about to be married?!”

“I…” Narcissa started, but she was interrupted.

“I mean what do you expect to happen now? We run away together, live happily ever after in some cottage by the water, shunned by everyone in fucking existence because we’re shaking up with our own flesh and blood?” Bellatrix exclaimed angrily. “No one will ever understand, Cissy. No one. It doesn’t matter if we love each other, it can never happen!”

“Rodolphus is allowing you to have affairs!” Narcissa exclaimed.

“How do you…?” Bellatrix started, then shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, though I wish you wouldn’t spy on me! He… yes, he allowed me to have affairs, but I hardly think they would include shagging my own sister!”

“He doesn’t have to know!”

“And what about you, huh?” Bellatrix asked suddenly. “What about you and your desire to have a husband and bear children, what happened to that?”

“You act like I still can’t do that,” Narcissa said, confused. “You will still have a husband and have affairs, why can’t I?”

“Because your arrangement might not be like mine!” Bellatrix told her. “I have a husband that doesn’t desire to have any kind of romantic or sexual dealings with me; yours may not be like that!”

“Do you think I’m so simple that I could only love one person?”

“No, I think you’re insane for loving me,” Bellatrix told her before letting out a long, aggravated sigh as she leaned over the kitchen counter, covering her head in her arms. “I’m not right, Cissy,” she mumbled. “I accepted a long time ago that it wouldn’t allow me to be loved. Not truly.”

“Then you were wrong,” Narcissa told her softly, coming up behind her. She wrapped her arms around her torso and leaned over, laying her head on her back. She kissed her shoulder once and whispered, “You are so much more than just your disease. If others can’t see that then that’s their problem.”

“And what of your disease?” Bellatrix mumbled. She didn’t move to stand up, but she slid her arm out of the way so she could lean her cheek on the cold marble of the counter, staring at the wall. Narcissa didn’t answer, she didn’t know how to. “Come on Cissy, you know what you feel for me isn’t healthy. It’s becoming an infatuation. You’re too attached. Even if you spoke this way about your husband, it still wouldn’t be right; to believe you would die without him.”

“I accept your faults, why can’t you accept mine?”

“Because yours is keeping you from living a normal life,” Bellatrix told her, standing upright. Narcissa moved with her, but chose to lay her chin on her shoulder. Bellatrix shook her head and looked out the window as she slid her hands over Narcissa’s, which were resting on her torso. “Mum fucked all of us up,” she muttered.

“Andy-” Narcissa tried, but Bellatrix cut her off with a laugh.

“You know nothing of Andromeda, Cissy. She’s as fucked as we are, trust me. Probably even worse. She followed shortly after me; I guess it was only a matter of time before your abnormality surfaced.”

“What’s wrong with Andy?” Narcissa asked, shocked. Andromeda had always seemed so… normal. She was angry with Bellatrix all the time, but Narcissa just figured it was sibling quarrels. She didn’t think there was something more serious going on. Was that why she seemed to hate Bellatrix? Did she know what was wrong with her and held it over her head?

“It’s nothing to concern yourself with. You’re better off not knowing, trust me. It’s disgusting.”

Narcissa’s eyes went wide as she spun Bellatrix around to face her. “What?” she asked. “Is she in some sort of trouble? She’s our sister, Bellatrix!”

“She’s no sister of mine,” Bellatrix said flatly. “What we do might be a sin, but what she’s found herself entangled with is an abomination against nature.”

“Bella!” Narcissa exclaimed, curiosity and worry bursting out of her. “How can you-? She’s our sister!” she repeated. She didn’t understand how Bellatrix could speak about Andromeda like she was nothing.

“Who’s your sister?” came a voice from the doorway. Narcissa and Bellatrix jumped apart as they turned to look at Andromeda, who was leaning against the threshold, arms folded across her chest. She was staring at Bellatrix with burning hatred in her eyes. “Talking about me, were you?”

“N-No,” Narcissa stuttered. “We just…”

But Andromeda ignored Narcissa. “You swore you wouldn’t tell a soul. Is this what I’m to expect of you now, Bellatrix? Your silence is no longer used for blackmail, if you remember. If you start spilling my secrets, I’ll spill yours.”

Narcissa whipped around, facing Bellatrix this time with an astonished look on her face. What did Andromeda know? “What is she talking about?” she asked.

“Don’t concern yourself with it,” Bellatrix told her, but pulled Narcissa to her protectively and put her hand on her head, stroking her hair. She was staring at Andromeda like she dared her to say anything as her other hand reached for her wand.

“Oh typical Bellatrix,” Andromeda spat, watching her being protective of her youngest sister. “It’s always been about Narcissa, hasn’t it? Do you really think she’d allow you to hold her like that if she knew what I knew?”

Bellatrix couldn’t help but smirk, amused. “Probably.”

Narcissa looked back and forth between her two sisters, completely lost. “What’s going on?” she asked. She looked up at Bellatrix, “What does she know, Bella?” She was beginning to become frightened of what kind of knowledge Andromeda held over her.

“So did you have a good laugh?” Andromeda asked, walking towards them, her face contorted in anger. “Was it fun for you, to share my business around? Who else have you told?!”

“I haven’t told her anything,” Bellatrix replied calmly. “And if you knew what was good for you, you’d quit while you were relatively ahead, Andy. You forget that I no longer have the Trace on me.”

“I’m not scared of you,” Andromeda spat. “And you’re a filthy little liar, you always have been! You don’t think I know how close the two of you are; you tell her everything! Why should I think this is any different?!”

“Because I don’t plan to make my baby sister sick to her stomach by knowing what you’ve been doing!” Bellatrix exclaimed, holding onto Narcissa tighter as if to shield her from Andromeda. “You call me a filthy liar? You’re just plain filthy. The things you do are meant for dogs, Andromeda! You’re no better than a sodding muggle, though I wouldn’t be surprised if you did th-”

“SHUT UP!” Andromeda screamed, pointing her wand at Bellatrix. “Shut your mouth, if Mum heard you-”

Bellatrix laughed. “What are you going to do? And Mum isn’t here, so save it…”

“Well if she did, how do you think she’d react to your secret? Yours is far worse than mine, I can assure you. Even the mere whisper of it would get you kicked from the family tree, you and your precious little Narcissa, mum wouldn’t even be able to bare to look at you anymore. You think I’m dirty? You’re fucking disgusting.”

“What the hell is going on?!” Narcissa shrieked suddenly, making both sisters turn to her as she slammed her hands down on the counter, trying to get their attention. “In case you both have forgotten, I’m here too!”

“Trust me, Bellatrix never forgets about you, dear…” Andromeda taunted, giving Bellatrix a pointed look. Narcissa’s stomach sinks to the ground. She knows. Maybe not the extent of it, but she knows something.

“Shut your mouth, you filthy mudblood lover,” Bellatrix spat. “Leave her out of this!”

Narcissa’s eyes went wide and she stared at Andromeda, feeling ill. “Oh my god, have you been…?” she couldn’t even say it. The thought made her stomach churn.

“SHUT UP!” Andromeda screamed, lunging towards Bellatrix, pushing Narcissa out of the way. Her wand pointed at her throat, but Bellatrix didn’t look in the least bit alarmed, she merely laughed.

“Secrets out,” she cackled. “Andromeda: the harlot blood-traitor, spreading her legs for every willing mudblood she can get to take her. Which, I’ve got to say, has been a startling amount. It’s disgusting that you would even allow that filth to touch you, let alone be inside of you.”

“As opposed to you, the girl who masturbates to a childhood picture of her sister?” Andromeda shot back, throwing down her cards as well, looking furious. Her grip on her wand tightened, but Bellatrix didn’t move, she just smirked at her. “She was six in that picture, Bellatrix. Six! What kind of sodding pedo are you, anyway?”

Narcissa’s eyes went wide as she looked at Bellatrix, who was quickly becoming angry now that the age was out in the open. Narcissa saw her eyes darken, her hand reach for her wand. Knowing what was about to happen she quickly grabbed Bellatrix’s hand tightly, holding it to her chest as she covered it with her other hand. “Bella, breathe,” she told her. Bellatrix ignored her. “HEY!” Narcissa exclaimed, pulling on her hand hard to get her attention. “Look at me! You need to calm down.”

“How can you touch her after knowing what she did?!” Andromeda asked, looking at Narcissa like she was just as disgusting.

“SHUT UP, ANDROMEDA!” Narcissa shouted, turning to her. “You don’t know what’s going on right now so just leave before you get hurt! Bellatrix is sick and you’ll only make it worse!”

“Mmmm…” Bellatrix purred, smiling devilishly as she rolled her neck against Andromeda’s wand, closing her eyes like it was giving her some sick satisfaction from being threatened. “You’re just jealous,” she told her with a predatory look. “I bet you were so disappointed to find it was baby Cissy in that picture and not you. You’ve always hated that I loved her more…” She took a step forward and Andromeda automatically took a step back, but kept her wand at her throat.

“You’re fucking disgusting,” Andromeda told her, but looked a little wary of Bellatrix’s change in personality. It was obvious she had never seen this happen to her sister before. “I don’t wish your nasty little fantasies on her, or myself. Thank god you’re getting married, then you can be out of our lives forever.”

Narcissa slid her hand into Bellatrix’s robes quickly, grasping her wand. Bellatrix quickly reached to stop her, but Narcissa threw it across the room before putting her hands on her shoulders, attempting to pin her there. “Move, Andy!” she exclaimed as she pushed her out of the way, putting herself between the two of them as she tried to keep Bellatrix in one spot.

“Tsk, tsk, Cissy,” Bellatrix taunted. “You know you’ll have to be punished for that later. Or is that what you want?” she smirked at her before licking her lips. “Such a naughty girl, you are.” She leaned forward; looking like she wanted to bite her but Narcissa used all her strength to push her back against the counter. She did know one thing though: if Bellatrix really wanted her wand back, she would have no problem getting it. She was always stronger, which made Narcissa realize that she desired something else over hurting people when she was in this state.

“What the hell is wrong with her?!” Andromeda exclaimed, looking at Bellatrix like she had been inhabited by a demon, which was roughly the equivalent anyway.

“I told you to get out!” Narcissa yelled, before turning back to Bellatrix. “Hey, hey. Look at me, Bella. Not at Andy, look at me. Come on,” she coaxed, her heart beating in her throat. Bellatrix did finally look at her and she tried to give her a soft smile. “What do you want, Bella? Tell me.”

“Her.” Bellatrix’s eyes snapped back to Andromeda and she smiled wickedly before hissing at her loudly. Andromeda jumped a mile.

“No you don’t,” Narcissa told her, trying to keep Bellatrix’s focus on her. “You and I both know that if you wanted to hurt her than you would have gotten your wand back already. You know it’s not wise to hurt her, you know this, Bellatrix! Look at me, LOOK AT ME!” Bellatrix turned to face her again, her eyes void of most emotion. “She isn’t worth it. Hurting her would defeat the purpose of your plans, would put your marriage in jeopardy, and would tear us apart. You know I’m right.”

Bellatrix looked at her for a long time before a small smile hinted at the corner of her lips as she asked a little childishly, “Not even a little? Oh mother may I?” She laughed sardonically.

“No,” Narcissa stressed. “Bella, please. You have to focus. Don’t let it win.”

Bellatrix just smirked and leaned in, pressing her lips to her ear as she whispered, “You know how to get rid of me. Release.”

That scared Narcissa more than anything else. Not because of how she needed to get rid of this other Bellatrix, but because it used to not be that way. It made it so much clearer that it would only be a matter of time before either violence or sex didn’t work anymore; that she’d be stuck that way forever. Narcissa could only pray that it was a far time off.

“I told you,” Narcissa breathed, so softly to make sure only Bellatrix could hear her since Andromeda was still across the other side of the room, looking warily at them both; she had no idea what was happening. “I’d do anything you want. I love you.”

“Ah, love!” Bellatrix exclaimed, shooting away from Narcissa and twirling a little on the spot, mocking her. “Such a fool’s errand. You should know better, Cissy.” But she smirked, all but forgetting Andromeda for a moment as she reached her hand out to her. “But I do appreciate how you can be so compliant. The color suits you.”

“I’m sure,” Narcissa said flatly, but grabbed her sister’s hand, starting to pull her out of the kitchen. She was stopped though when Bellatrix halted in front of Andromeda, seemingly remembering she was there.

Bellatrix tapped her cheek twice, a little roughly. “You got lucky, dearie. But next time, remember that she may not always be around,” she told her with a wicked grin before she cackled and pushed past Narcissa, making her way up to her room.

Narcissa looked back at Andromeda, who was staring at her dumbfounded. “What…?”

“I told you, just stay away from her,” Narcissa said, angry with Andromeda for turning Bellatrix into that person again. She bent down and picked up Bellatrix’s wand, stuffing it into her robes. “I have a handle on the situation; deal with your own affairs. I certainly want nothing to do with them.”

She turned to leave, but Andromeda exclaimed, “Narcissa!” When she turned around, Andromeda asked, finally showing some real concern, “What’s wrong with her? Really?”

“I don’t know,” Narcissa told her honestly. “It’s been happening on and off for years, but I’m handling it.” Andromeda went to open her mouth but Narcissa cut her off, “And before you ask, I won’t tell Mum your secret. We all have things we don’t want her to know. But don’t expect me to look at you like you’re a person anymore. What you’re doing is unforgivable to our race.”

And so she turned her back on her sister, shunning her for so many reasons. While she realized she was a bit of a hypocrite, she felt that being a blood-traitor was worse than what her and Bellatrix were doing. At least they were both pureblood. She was her sister and she loved Andromeda, but she wouldn’t stand by and condone her smearing their family name. She was also a risk for Bellatrix, who she needed to protect. If Andromeda was a trigger, then she needed to find a way to keep her from going off. Because the more she did it, Narcissa figured that the time between now and when the disease completely took over would start to shorten.

When she got to Bellatrix’s room, she was waiting for her. She tossed Bellatrix her wand which she caught easily, then locked the door behind them. Bellatrix cast “Muffliato” on the room before she started to undress, layer by layer being discarded to the floor. Narcissa stayed still for a moment, however.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked softly, worried that Bellatrix would want to have sex with her, and she didn’t want her to do that when she was in this state.

Sex after what happened already wasn’t the most satisfactory conclusion, but Narcissa did her best to push what happened in the kitchen out of her mind. She had a job to do; it was only her that could fix Bellatrix now.

“Come over to the edge of the bed and get on your knees,” Bellatrix ordered with an excited gleam in her eyes, looking at Narcissa like she’s her finest pet. “I’m going to teach you a lesson.”

Narcissa swallowed but complied, knowing that this option was much better than what Bellatrix could have possibly done to Andromeda to make her symptoms go away. She watched as Bellatrix spread her naked legs on either side of her head, sitting on the edge of the bed. Narcissa couldn’t help but stare at how wet she was already; her scent was surrounding her. All thoughts of the kitchen flew from her mind.

“You like that, don’t you?” Bellatrix taunted, grasping a fist full of Narcissa’s hair, roughly pulling her face closer to her. Narcissa’s nose was only a fraction of an inch in front of her sex. “Kiss it,” she demanded. Narcissa leaned in automatically; placing her lips on Bellatrix’s clit as she softly kissed her. “With your tongue, Cissy! Are you stupid?”

Narcissa narrowed her eyes at being called stupid but did as she was told, letting her tongue slide up Bellatrix’s dripping sex. She couldn’t stop the soft groan that fell from her lips after that. Oh my god, Bellatrix tasted amazing; she had never imagined she would taste like that. Her sister cackled and wrenched her head away from her then, causing Narcissa to let out a sound of annoyance at being thrown around.

“ Incarcerous,” Bellatrix said, pointing her wand at Narcissa. Suddenly her hands were bound tightly by rope behind her back. “There, that’s better. Bondage suits you, Cissy. We should do this more often.”

“Hey!” Narcissa exclaimed, trying to get her hands free. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”

“As I remember it, you said you’d do anything,” Bellatrix replied with a wicked smile. “Be careful what you wish for, babes. Besides,” she said, running her fingers softly through Narcissa’s hair before she roughly pulled it again. Narcissa whimpered, but it wasn’t entirely unenjoyable, “You look absolutely mouth-watering sitting there, bound on your knees, being subservient. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you secretly enjoyed it.”

She leaned down before licking up Narcissa’s neck and whispering in her ear, voice sultry, “Tell me the truth, Cissy…”

“It’s…” Narcissa breathed, then whimpered as Bellatrix lightly bit her neck. “It’s not entirely horrible,” she admitted.

“Mmm… that’s what I thought,” Bellatrix said with a grin before leaning back, then coaching her mouth between her thighs. “Now tell me you’re sorry for taking my wand.”

“I’m sorry,” Narcissa breathed automatically, feeling Bellatrix’s wetness on her nose she was being held so close to her. The smell was intoxicating her.

“Good girl,” Bellatrix purred. “Now show me how sorry you really are.”

That was the first time Narcissa went down on her older sister. It quickly became one of her favorite things to do, no matter how it ended up coming about. She loved the way Bellatrix tasted, the way she would squirm and moan, pressing her hips into her face and beg for release. And when she came, Narcissa would greedily drink up every drop that she offered her.

Bellatrix was furious with herself again after it was all over, but Narcissa just held her, refusing to let her go, as she told her that she would always be there to bring her back from the edge. She told her that she loved her and she would never leave her, no matter how Bellatrix acted when she found herself in that state. She may not be the most romantic or caring person when she’s like that, but she was still her.

And Narcissa loved Bellatrix like she’d never loved anyone else in her entire life.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Suck it in!”

“I can’t… Cissy! You’re going to break my sodding ribs if you don’t-!” But Bellatrix’s words were cut short as Narcissa gave one last hard pull to the corset strings, lacing her up as tight as she could. Bellatrix nearly choked on her own breath.

“Oh stop fussing, you’re going to look absolutely breathtaking when I’m done,” Narcissa told her with a sad smile as she tied up the laces. Yes, her sister would look gorgeous, but that wasn’t what was making her heart sink. Today was the day: her wedding day; the day when Bellatrix would no longer be Ms. Black… but become Mrs. Lestrange.

For what was supposed to be a happy occasion, it was immensely heartbreaking for both of them.

“Yeah, if I’m able to stay conscience,” Bellatrix muttered as she wiggled a little, trying to get comfortable. She put her hands on her stomach and made a face of distain as she looked in the mirror. “Good god I look like a freak. No one’s waist should ever be this bloody small.”

Narcissa gave her a half smile, a look of understanding as she placed her hands on her sister’s waist and her chin on her shoulder, looking at her in the reflection of the mirror. “But you look really beautiful,” she told her softly. Bellatrix gave her a small smile in return, grasping her hands to put them around her waist, laying her own on top of them possessively.

“I wish this day would just get itself over with,” Bellatrix told her, sighing. “I feel no need to be paraded around like some sort of prized poodle.” She looked absolutely livid over her situation and Narcissa leaned up on her tip toes, kissing her on the cheek.

“Is it absolutely ridiculous to say I wish I was the one marrying you?” Narcissa whispered in her ear. Bellatrix chuckled.

“A little, yeah. You know I’m going to make a rubbish housewife. The whole house would be in shambles; you’d have a flippin’ cow.”

“Oh come off it, you know I’d be the housewife,” Narcissa said with a giggle as she stepped back from her. She tried to smile as she started fixing the bobby pins in Bellatrix’s hair, but her lips turned down into a frown almost automatically. Them together like that, forever; it was a beautiful wish that would never be.

Bellatrix caught her expression in the mirror and started sympathetically, “Cissy…” but just then the door to Bellatrix’s bedroom was opened with a bang, making Narcissa jump nearly a mile.

“Christ, what are you doing to her, you worthless girl?” Druella exclaimed, striding over to Bellatrix and pushing Narcissa out of the way roughly. She stumbled back, a glare on her face as her mother started fussing with Bellatrix’s hair. “She’s a Black, not a sodding prostitute. Why on earth would you do her hair this way?”

“Mother, the way Cissy did it is perfectly fi- OW!”

“Shut up and just do as you’re told. And stand up straight! No bride in this family has ever gotten married looking like a hunchback and you won’t be the first!” Druella exclaimed as she furiously started pinning Bellatrix’s hair differently. The pins were jamming into her skull and Bellatrix looked like she was about to explode as she clenched her fists.

Narcissa worried that Bellatrix was going to let the anger take over so she quickly grabbed her hand, running her thumb over the back of it to try to calm her. She tugged on it a little to encourage her to look at her, trying to convey love and support in her eyes. She feared what Bellatrix would do to their mother if she snapped. “Breathe,” she mouthed to her silently, almost as an order. Bellatrix looked like she was fighting a battle inside of her but briskly nodded to her, trying to fight it for her sake.

Druella didn’t notice the exchange, but she did notice their links hands. “Honestly girls, if you weren’t sisters you’d look like a pair of dykes with the way you two touch each other.” She looked at them disapprovingly and slapped their hands, making them untangle from each other. “We’re not emotional, we’re proud and strong. All this touchy-feely nonsense is beneath us and you both would do well to remember that. At least Andromeda understands that, I never see her attached to someone the way you two are. It’s disgusting to look at; you are no longer children. Stop.”

Bellatrix’s eyes flashed and Narcissa wasn’t sure what to do anymore. Touching Bellatrix has always worked as a way to ground her, at least for a little while. But they were saved by Druella finishing with her hair. “There,” she said, stepping back from Bellatrix. “Now you no longer look like a cheap whore, thank heavens. It would have been terribly shameful to our family if anyone saw you like that. Narcissa, finish helping your sister get ready and I expect the pair of you downstairs as quickly as possible. Don’t doddle.”

Druella left the room as quickly as she came, the door closing with another slam that made Narcissa jump a little. But she hastily grabbed onto both of Bellatrix’s hands, standing in front of her. “Hey… are you alright?” she asked, warily.

“One day I’m going to murder her, Cissy. Mark my words,” Bellatrix said flatly, trying to breathe and calm herself. “I’ll make it look like a horrible accident.”

Narcissa gave her a half smile before leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. When she pulled back she whispered, “If only.” They were only words of course; Narcissa didn’t really wish death upon her mother. She did hold some love for her, as miniscule as it was; she was her mother after all, and what daughter doesn’t hope that they would be closer with their mother? Narcissa wished more than anything that she would be kinder, love them all more, but she knew it was a feeble hope. They would never be close; that was a sad fact.

“Not ‘if only’, Cissy,” Bellatrix told her seriously. “I will. One day.”

Narcissa looked at her, disappointed that this was the person she was quickly becoming. “Murder isn’t the answer to everything,” she told her, a little angry as she stepped away from her. “It’s not a joke; ending a life is…” but she trailed off, sure that Bellatrix already knew what it was like to end a life. It sickened her.

“No, Cissy, you don’t understand,” Bellatrix told her, grasping her hand to pull her back towards her. “With Mother and Father gone, I’d be your legal guardian. At least until you turned seventeen. Wouldn’t you want that? For us to live together again, if only for a few more years?”

Narcissa looked at her like she was being ridiculous. “Aunt Walburga would be mine and Andromeda’s legal guardian, not you. She’s our Godmother.”

“Then I’ll kill her too.” It was said so seriously that it shocked Narcissa.

“BELLA!” she exclaimed, stepping away from her furiously. “The whole world can’t revolve around you and I; you can’t just kill people to have your way! And what of Sirius and Regulus? How do you think they would feel if their mother was killed? God, you don’t think do you?!”

“They’d probably think I was doing them a favor,” Bellatrix retorted with a smirk. But Narcissa didn’t find it funny in the slightest and started to storm out of the room. She didn’t get very far however, because Bellatrix grabbed her hand, once again pulling her back to her. “No, come on, Cissy. Don’t leave like that.”

“Death is not a joke, Bellatrix!” Narcissa shrieked. “What you’re doing, what you want to do, what you’ve done, it’s not something that can just be forgotten! Doing horrible acts like that shreds your soul apart and you wonder why you’re going mental?!”

The grip on Narcissa’s wrist tightened, making her wince. Bellatrix stared at her, anger in her eyes. “I was going mental long before I did anything, and you know it. Mum’s the reason I’m like this, Mum is the reason we’re all like this! She’s only going to tear you down more; shred your soul, bit by bit, the longer you stay in this bloody house. I’d be doing it for you!”

“I NEVER ASKED YOU TO!” Narcissa screamed. “I never asked you for anything and yet you continue to parade around under a banner that says my name as you make excuses for yourself! I don’t want you to kill her, Bellatrix; or anyone else! Do you hear me?! I SAID NO!”

Bellatrix stared at her for a long time, jaw locked. Narcissa wondered if she was going to fight her on the matter, since she was usually the one in control out of the two of them. But surprisingly she let Narcissa’s wrist go, shaking her head as she stepped back. “Just forget it,” she mumbled as she sat down on her bed, grabbing her stockings.

Narcissa blinked. Did she really have some sort of control after all?

Maybe part of it made sense; Bellatrix was the one who said that everything she did, her whole life revolved around her. Logically, that would give her some kind of power. It was odd though, having Bellatrix not fight with her. It had become so routine in their relationship that it had become an odd comfort of sorts.

She walked over to Bellatrix, sitting down next to her as she watched her pull up her stockings. “I’m sorry I yelled,” she said softly. “But you just… you scare me sometimes. You know that, don’t you?”

“It’s a kill or be killed world, Narcissa,” Bellatrix told her as she fixed the bunches in her stockings. “You’ll learn that when you get older.”

“I’m nearly fourteen!” Narcissa protested, hating when Bellatrix made her seem unintelligent due to her age.

“Speaking of,” Bellatrix said, switching the conversation as she turned to look at her. “How’s Paris for you?”

“What?” Narcissa asked, suddenly confused.

“Paris,” Bellatrix reiterated, a small smirk on her face as she grabbed her heels, slipping them on, “for your birthday.”

Narcissa still didn’t understand. “I’m not following. You know Mum would never pay for that.”

“Cissy,” Bellatrix said flatly, but amused. “I’m getting married.” She said it like that was supposed to mean something, but Narcissa still didn’t understand.

Then it hit her.

“No… no! You couldn’t, you wouldn’t… would you?!”

“I’m going to have more money than I’ll know what to do with,” Bellatrix told her with a smile, glad for the excited look on her sister’s face. “What else would I want to do with it than spend it on you?”

Narcissa squealed excitedly, jumping into her sister’s arms and toppling them both over onto the bed. “Oh my god, you’re going to take me to Paris?!” she exclaimed, more excited than words could ever express. “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god; I love you!”

Bellatrix laughed, turning so they were both lying on their sides, facing each other. She grasped Narcissa’s hand and brought it up to her lips, kissing it. “Just the two of us,” she told her with a grin. “I already ran it by Rodolphus; he said it was fine if I spent the weekend with you for your birthday. To be honest I don’t think he really cared much either way.”

Narcissa’s smile was from ear to ear and she leaned in, kissing Bellatrix with as much passion as she had in her. When they broke she whispered against her lips, “You’re the best sister ever.” She bit her lower lip as she grinned before leaning in and kissing her again, feeling so much that she didn’t know how to express in any way but that.

Narcissa could feel Bellatrix’s smile as they kissed. She ran her fingers through her hair as she pressed up against her tightly; kissing her like she was trying to devour part of her soul. But Narcissa already knew her soul belonged to her sister; it always would. Bellatrix encouraged her to get on top of her as their tongues intertwined. Her hands roamed the curves of her sister’s tiny body and she moaned quietly against her lips as she felt Bellatrix’s do the same.

It was almost anticlimactic in a way; the two of them tangled up on Bellatrix’s bed for the last time before she was to be married. It was deeply upsetting, but it only made Narcissa feel like she had something to prove. She needed Bellatrix to know that no matter who she found herself tied down with that she would always be hers. But try as she did to prove that to her, Bellatrix stopped her hand once it slipped inside of her knickers.

For once she wanted to pleasure Bellatrix when she wasn’t sick. She desperately needed that memory before watching her sister walk down the aisle, but Bellatrix didn’t seem to want that memory for herself.

“No, not in these clothes; he’ll know,” she told her breathlessly, guiding Narcissa’s hand back out. Narcissa looked hurt and Bellatrix could see it so she leaned up, kissing her tenderly before whispering, “Please don’t look like that, you know I want to. My body always burns for your touch, Cissy. It’s all I dream about when I close my eyes at night.”

“I just…” Narcissa whispered, feeling emotionally all of a sudden. “I just wanted it to be special, just once, before you’re married. It’s never…” but she trailed off, looking away shamefully. She knew she sounded like such an idiot.

Bellatrix closed her eyes, guilt washing over her features. Narcissa knew she shouldn’t have brought it up; she knows how much Bellatrix hates to be reminded that she takes things without asking when she’s sick. “Hey, no,” Narcissa pleads softly, leaning down to kiss her softly. “I don’t… mind, it’s-”

“You do mind, clearly,” Bellatrix told her, face becoming sour as she tried to sit up, but Narcissa wouldn’t let her. Taking her wrists in her hands she pinned her down to the mattress. Bellatrix cocked an eyebrow at her in response.

“Bella, I know you’re sick. I know what I have to do to make you better when you are, and I know I’m the only one that can. I’m not complaining,” she told her seriously, softening her eyes. She hated that she had to always reassure Bellatrix about this; she wished she had magical words that would rid her of her guilt. “I know it’s… unorthodox and I know you feel badly about it, but please don’t. I’d let you take anything you wanted from me if it allowed you to be free from your disease. I love you and that’s what you do for someone you love. Please stop hating yourself for it.”

Bellatrix’s eyes softened as she looked up at her sister. “You don’t understand,” she told her softly. “I remember everything that she does. Everything she says to you. I hate the way she treats you, Cissy.”

That was the first time Bellatrix completely separated herself from her disease. While Narcissa used to do the same, calling it ‘the other Bellatrix’, now it worried her to hear Bellatrix do the same. Narcissa had accepted that it was just a part of her sister that grew inside of her; spreading like some sort of infection. She knew it wasn’t another person entirely. She’s heard about things like that though; where someone would have another person sharing their body almost. They’d have different names and such and wouldn’t remember what the other had done. But Bellatrix… hers wasn’t like that.

“Bella it’s not… it’s not someone else,” Narcissa told her softly, sympathetically. “You do know that, don’t you?”

Bellatrix stared up at her, her pained expression framed by her beautiful curls. Narcissa reached up and brushed one off of her face and Bellatrix took hold of her hand, stilling her. “It’s easier if I pretend it is,” she tells her softly. “You don’t know what it’s like to not know where it comes from.” She paused, then revised. “Well, I guess that’s not entirely true, is it? I know I can be her when I’m…” she falters a little and sighs, not wanting to reveal too much to her sister. “When I’m with them,” she explains, “I’m passionate. It’s… a passionate cause and I know I can get a bit carried away with it all. But that I understand; that I embrace and fall into completely because it allows me freedom. But around you, being that way to you? I don’t know where that part of me comes from and I hate it because all I’ve ever wanted was to build a better life for you; to make you feel safe and happy, and I know when I’m like that I don’t make you feel either of those things.”

Narcissa’s thumb traced the defined curve of her sister’s cheekbone as she looked down at her. It was so rare that Bellatrix opened up to her completely and the last thing she wanted her to do was run from it. Bellatrix did feel, as much as she’d like to pretend otherwise sometimes. “I know I’ll always be safe with you, Bella,” she told her quietly. “You wouldn’t be willing to kill for me if you thought that even a part of you could truly hurt me.”

“I’ve hurt you, Cissy. You know I have.”

“Not really, no. Emotionally, yes. But I think I’ve hurt you just as much in that area. But physically; you know it’s nothing that I can’t handle. We grew up with Mum, remember?” Narcissa told her, trying to smile at her to lighten the mood. “You and I both know you would never come close to doing what she did to me, to both of us. Even when you’re sick, you protect me because you believe me to be your property.”

“You shouldn’t have to be anyone’s property, Narcissa. That’s the point. I shouldn’t treat you like you owe me something.”

“I owe you everything,” Narcissa told her seriously before she leaned down and kissed her again. “You’ve saved my life in so many ways,” she breathed before she let her mouth connect with hers more fully, not wanting to hear any protests on the matter.

It was hard, watching her sister be plagued with guilt over things she had no control over. It was hard to see her struggle everyday to stay sane. It was hard to see her shred her soul by doing unspeakable evil all in Narcissa’s name. It was hard to think about how tomorrow this house would no longer hold her sister in its walls. It was hard to think that, come tomorrow; Bellatrix would be married and off living her life. It was hard to realize that her fourth year at Hogwarts and onwards she would be alone.

It was all so hard.

So Narcissa kissed her deeper, needing Bellatrix to feel something besides the guilt, besides the pain, and allow her to truly live in the moment and not think about tomorrow or the years after. Here, in this moment, they were nothing more than two people desperately in love. Whether kin or not, it didn’t matter, if anything it only showed that love knew no boundaries.

As Narcissa gently squeezed her sister’s breast over her wedding gown Bellatrix gasped softly, pulling her lips away for a moment before resting them on Narcissa’s neck. Her heavy breath panted into her ear as her mouth littered her neck with kisses that were sure to leave love bites. Narcissa closed her eyes and her grip tightened on Bellatrix’s hip as she let out a soft moan, her breath tickling Bellatrix’s ear. She could feel Bellatrix’s hand between them, sliding over her stomach slowly; teasingly.

“Do you trust me?” Bellatrix breathed into her ear.

Narcissa could feel her heart rate increase at those words. “Yes,” she whispered, not hesitating for a second. She bit her lip and her fingers gripped Bellatrix tightly as her sister’s hand slipped over her underwear. Even over her knickers, Bellatrix’s touch seemed like fire. She opened her mouth to speak, not knowing what her intentions truly were, but Bellatrix pressed her lips to her ear and explained before she had the chance to speak.

“You wanted something special,” she told her, her fingers gently teasing her over her panties. Narcissa bit her bottom lip and buried her face in Bellatrix’s neck, whimpering softly as she spread her legs for her. “I won’t go inside you; I won’t break your hymen… okay? I just… I just want to…” Bellatrix breathed, losing her own words in the process as she slipped her fingers under the confines of Narcissa’s underwear. Their groans echoed one another.

Bellatrix’s touch was so unlike her own. It seemed Bellatrix already knew her body much more intimately than she ever could. “Oh my god,” she breathed as her sister’s fingers slipped through her wetness, circling over her clit lightly. She had never felt anything like it; this was nothing like masturbating. Every touch from Bellatrix made her blood rush through her veins, her hairs stand on end. Her hands tangled in her hair and she moaned, pressing her hips further into her hand.

“You like that?” Bellatrix asked before she started kissing her neck, her teeth nipping at her sensitive flesh beneath her ear. Narcissa nodded, trying to speak but words failed her as Bellatrix increased the pressure on her clitoris. She gasped hard, digging her nails into Bellatrix’s hip.

“Shh, love,” Bellatrix breathed into her ear as she sped up the pace of her fingers. “Someone will hear you.” They didn’t use the silencing spell on the door, but Narcissa couldn’t even begin to think about that, let alone anything else besides Bellatrix’s touch. She couldn’t control the sounds coming out of her mouth. She tried to purse her lips together to try to muffle them, but Bellatrix hit an amazing spot and she cried out her name involuntarily.

“Shit,” Bellatrix swore, knowing Narcissa wasn’t going to be able to quiet herself. She quickly rolled them over, straddling her waist as she continued to pleasure her. Her other hand slapped over Narcissa’s mouth, trying to silence her. Narcissa could do nothing else but grab onto her and arch her back, whimpering beneath her. “Come on Cissy, come for me,” Bellatrix encouraged, before looking over her shoulder at the closed door, paranoia setting in because of how loud Narcissa was before. But she didn’t want to stop; she wanted to finish for her.

It felt like her senses were exploding. Narcissa’s eyes popped open to see her sister on top of her and she desperately reached for her, pulling her forward to lie on top of her. She tangled her fingers in her hair as she shuddered beneath her, feeling like she was climbing a mountain of pleasure, desperately trying to reach the top so she could fall over the other side. Her moans were getting louder but they were successfully muffled by Bellatrix’s hand. Her nails dug into her sister’s skull as she felt her body start to tense. Her free hand slammed down on the mattress hard as she arched her back, needing Bellatrix to increase the pressure or she was sure she was going to die.

“That’s it… that’s it, baby…” Bellatrix encouraged in her ear. Narcissa’s fingers were gripping the sheets tightly as she screamed out explicits that were drowned out by her sister’s hand. She felt like she was flying; she could see stars and every inch of her body exploded in unimaginable pleasure as tears sprung to her eyes, overwhelming her. Her hands desperately grasped for Bellatrix, needing to feel her as she experienced something she couldn’t believe she waited so long to feel.

There was a sound, but Narcissa’s ears were ringing and she couldn’t hear it. She was in her own world until suddenly Bellatrix was ripped away from her, getting off of her like she had been burned. Narcissa tried to open her eyes, her bosom heaving and her cheeks flushed, confusion washing over her.

Then fear; unmistakable terror took hold of her as she realized they were no longer alone. She should have known; nothing good has ever come to pass between her and Bellatrix without a shit-storm raining down afterwards. It was like they were cursed.

“EW! Ew, ew, ew,ew!” Andromeda shrieked, horror on her face as she witnessed the state of her two sisters. Narcissa wanted to run, but realized her legs wouldn’t move. But Bellatrix was already on top of the situation, grabbing her wand quickly off the vanity and pointing it at the door. It slammed closed, locking itself behind Andromeda and she cast “muffliato” on the room.

Andromeda saw the anger and terror in Bellatrix’s eyes and tried to run, but she couldn’t get the door open. She was slammed up against the wall so quickly; Bellatrix’s wand to her throat that it seemed like the entire ordeal went down in a blink of an eye. Narcissa felt like she couldn’t breathe and she hastily fixed her dress, certain that both of their lives were about to fall apart.

“Repeat after me, Andromeda,” Bellatrix started dangerously, eyes flashing in fury. “What you just saw was Narcissa having a panic attack, that’s why she was flushed and short for breath. I was helping her, do you understand me?”

“You… you both are disgusting!” Andromeda shrieked, looking at them both like they were less than dirt. “God, I think I’m going to vomit…” she looked positively ill and for the first time it truly made Narcissa feel dirty for what her and Bellatrix were doing.

Bellatrix grabbed her by her dress, balling it up in her fists before she pulled her towards her, then slammed her violently back against the wall, making Andromeda cry out in pain. “I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, ANDROMEDA?!”

“Bella!” Narcissa exclaimed, watching Andromeda cough and struggle to take her next breath. “Don’t hurt her!”

“She’ll be lucky if I don’t kill her!” Bellatrix screamed, madness in her eyes. “Look at me,” she demanded Andromeda. She slapped her face before grabbing it in her hand and forcing her to look her in the eyes. “I said look at me!” she screamed.

Bellatrix’s wand dug into Andromeda’s throat and Narcissa was terrified that she would puncture her. She got off the bed quickly, running over to grab a hold of her arm. “Stop! Bella, please!” She couldn’t bare it if she watched Bellatrix murder their own flesh and blood, no matter how much of blood-traitor she was. But Bellatrix shook her off easily, pushing her away.

Andromeda winced, terror and pain in her eyes as Bellatrix slammed her against the wall again. She coughed, struggling to breathe as she pleaded, “Please… Bellatrix, stop… you’re hurting me!”

“Tell me what you saw!” Bellatrix demanded. “TELL ME! Crucio!”

Narcissa gasped in fear as she watched Andromeda scream, falling to the ground as Bellatrix used an Unforgivable Curse on her. “Bella, STOP!” she screamed, wishing that she knew how to take the silencing charm off of the room. She’d take the punishment for what her and Bellatrix did, if only Andromeda didn’t die because of it! “Stop, PLEASE STOP!” she shrieked as she watched Andromeda scream in agony; like her insides were burning.

“Shut up, Cissy, I’m handling this!” Bellatrix screamed, frantic. The curse lifted from Andromeda and she lay on the ground, twitching and crying loudly, holding herself in fear as she cowered away from Bellatrix. Narcissa could feel her own tears streaming down her cheeks.

She tried to fall down to Andromeda’s side, needing to know that she was okay, but Bellatrix pushed her aside roughly as she knelt down in her place, grabbing Andromeda’s face in her hand and forcing her to look at her again. Andromeda shook with fear, looking up at Bellatrix like she didn’t know who she was anymore; like in her place stood some kind of monster.

The scary thing was; Bellatrix didn’t switch. She was still very much her; this was no longer the disease. It terrified Narcissa to realize that the sweet person who just made love to her could so easily become a monster of her own will.

“What did you see, Andy? Tell me what you saw!” Bellatrix demanded, shaking her forcefully. Andromeda choked back a sob, tears running down her cheeks as she struggled to say the words.

“Nothing… I saw nothing…!” She choked a little and Narcissa was horrified to see a tiny bit of blood at the crease of her lips.

Bellatrix still held her face in her hand, eyes boring into hers as she told her seriously. “And it best stay that way. If I ever hear a whisper about it, I won’t just kill you; I’ll torture you mercilessly until you beg for death. Do you understand me? Even a whisper. I will not have you destroy Narcissa’s life.”

Andromeda nodded, crying as she shook in fear. When Bellatrix let her go she backed away from her quickly, huddling against the wall as she curled herself into a ball, holding herself protectively. Narcissa chose that moment to scramble over to her, trying to see if she was alright, but when she reached out to touch her, Andromeda jumped a mile and screeched, “Don’t touch me!”

Bellatrix looked down at the two of them, no sense of guilt on her face in the slightest. In fact, she looked rather bored now that she had taken care of business. “Don’t bother, Cissy. She’ll never look at you again, not after what I did for you.”

“For me?” Narcissa screamed, getting to her feet as she pointed at Bellatrix before poking her hard in the chest. “I told you to stop with that! I never, never, wanted you to do this! I would have gladly taken the punishment for our fornications before hurting our own sister!” Her tiny fists slammed into Bellatrix’s chest as she choked back a sob, every inch of her being hurt because of what this had come down to.

Bellatrix took her physical anger only once before she grabbed her wrists, stilling her. “I’m sick of your ungratefulness! You may not like the way I do things, Cissy, but I’m protecting you, both of us! If you dislike it so much then feel free to walk away from all of this; I won’t stop you.”

Narcissa screamed in rage, tears pouring down her cheeks as she tried to hit her sister again. She struggled relentlessly against her grasp before she suddenly weakened, her resolve dissolving as she slumped forward, Bellatrix catching her in her arms.

She hated this, she hated all of this, but she knew she didn’t have the strength to walk away, and what’s worse is that she knew Bellatrix knew it. Narcissa knew she had already lost Andromeda; she couldn’t lose Bellatrix as well. She couldn’t be alone. She didn’t know how to be alone.

It was sick, honestly, the way the ceremony went on after that; so normal. But that’s what their family did: sweep the indiscretions under the rug and put a smile on their face for the rest of the world. Bellatrix and Narcissa cleaned themselves up; putting on a show like it was second nature. Andromeda struggled to act normal, but every little sound made her jump out of her skin after that. She was absolutely terrified of everything now it seemed, and it made Narcissa sick to her stomach to know that it was partly because of her that it happened.

It wouldn’t be long before Narcissa would lose Andromeda forever; never speaking to her again. As an adult, part of her knew it was for the better; Andromeda wouldn’t have to live in constant fear. But even after all those years, Narcissa still held some resentment for Bellatrix because of it. It didn’t have to happen; it shouldn’t have come down to that. It sickened her to see how fast her family was torn apart.

But maybe that was the Black family curse. Happiness was something none of them would ever truly know, no matter how desperately they searched for it.

GO TO PART NINE...