Chapter 1: The Gryffindor conundrum
Chapter Text
1.
A Gryffindor. As a Black that’s a death sentence. As the heir it’s a call for something worse. Bravery is worth nothing if it cannot be used to achieve greatness. So that’s what finds them here. Bella’s room. The head girl badge sits carefully on her robes. As soon as the door closes, they all relax. Before a word can be said, muffling charms and wards are torn from their mouths, as if on instinct. You can never be too careful, when the consequences are pain.
“What am I going to do?” The question was from Sirius but the voice was uncharacteristically timid. The sisters made eye contact, trying to find an answer to the seemingly impossible question. “It’s going to be okay, Siri.” The words no matter how sure they seemed, ‘lacked the conviction that is to be expected of the most noble and ancient house of Black’, Narcissa couldn’t help but think as she rose from her seat near the window. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders, lightly.
“We can tell Aunt Walburga that you did it as a ploy.” Bellatrix said, “say that you wanted to get political sway. The Blacks already dominate the dark faction of the Wizengamot. Say that as the future Lord Black, you’re trying to convince the light.”
“That won’t work.” Andromeda said. “If that was the plan, he would have made us instead. He’s Heir Black. He shouldn’t have to do it himself. That’s what Walnutty will say.”
“But they wouldn’t believe it. It has to be Heir Black. If it isn't, the light won’t believe it.” Bellatrix insisted.
“That would mean we can’t talk to him. Even when we do, it’ll be insults.” Narcissa pointed out. “It’s better than the consequences,” Bellatrix argued.
They all knew she was right, even if they don’t want to admit it.
“Remember Siri, that even if we say something about it, we don’t mean it.” Andromeda relented.
“It’s just like warlock’s bluff, see? Pretend so no one else finds out. So we can win.” Narcissa said. Bellatrix nodded, as she leaned down to ruffle his hair. Andromeda moved closer, kissing his cheek as she finally moved away from the bed she was sitting on. Narcissa’s arm tightened around his shoulders, before she let go.
“Ok.” he relaxed as he said so. “Ok.” he sighed.
“Good night, cousins.” he said as he made his way to the door. “I’ll walk you. It’s past curfew.”
Chapter 2: A betrothal: however legal
Summary:
Bellatrix is to be married to the heir to the most noble and ancient house of Lestrange. Sirius is enraged. Narcissa is scared. Andromeda is resigned. Regulus is frightened. Bellatrix? She's determined.
Chapter Text
“They can’t make you.”
“Siri-”
“They can’t. It’s not right, Trixy. You can’t do this.” Sirius couldn’t lose the helplessness in his voice, no matter how hard he tried. “You’re a person.”
“I’m a woman.” Bellatrix corrected. “And I'm not from the main line. I’m a tool for you to use. As the future Lord Black you are going to need the connections.”
“Merlin, I don't care about that.The connection isn’t worth losing you. You shouldn’t have to endure the bloody Lestranges for this. Hell, not even Snivellus deserves it.” He couldn’t stop once he got started, the words flowing before he could think.
Narcissa’s hand tightened around her sister's. It was instinct. Something inside hoped to find comfort in her. Bellatrix squeezed back. “It’s ok. We’ll be ok.”
“You shouldn’t have to make the choice.” Narcissa argued.
“It’s not a choice.” Andromeda’s words were hollow. Any disturbance could lead to disaster. “It’s something you have to do or choose death. We shouldn’t have to.”
“You never will. Either of you” Bellatrix swore. The words were spoken with such conviction, as if sheer will could force it away.
“They can’t actually make you can they?” Regulus said, voice wobbling. “You could run.”
“If it’s not me, it’s them.” Bellatrix argued.
“It’s worth the risk. The time we could buy.” At that, Bellatrix laughed bitterly.
“All the money in the Black vaults could buy us more time. We can’t afford to tighten the hold they have on our nooses.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Bella. I’m Heir Black. If something untoward happens to our parents, it’ll fall on me. You’ll be free.”
She smiled. “I can’t ask that of you.”
“You aren’t asking. We’re offering.” Narcissa states, clear, like the perfect pureblood template she was beaten into.
“Ahhh Cissy, you do love me.” Narcissa pushed away the arms her sister tried to wrap around her. “I’m not joking, Bella. I’ll do it myself if I have to.”
“I know. I love you too. But it’s done. We still have some time to think about it. It’s only Samhain.”
“Ok.” Narcissa said, as she tried to wipe the tears in her eyes.
“Do you know what we should talk about?” Bellatrix said, smile turning from bitter to teasing in the way only a shield could. “Alice Fortescue.” The blush that filled her cheeks was worth the dour conversation.
“Fortescue? Oh the horror? A half-blood Gryffindor. You may actually outdo Sirius.” Andromeda joined in sharing a look with Bellatrix.
“Wait as in quidditch captain, the one that Siri and his friends follow around like little ducklings?” Regulus asks.
“Reggie! And you can’t talk, Andi. A half-blood Gryffindor is way better than a muggleborn hufflepuff.”
“At least I did something about it. But you, Heir Black, take the cake. A half-blooded, penniless Gryffindor who’s a werewolf.”
“It’s my job, future head of the house and all.”
And they fell into comfortable conversation, something that could be normal. To pretend that it was normal. Even when they were all doomed by the Black name.
Chapter 3: The unforgivable lesson
Chapter Text
No one was willing to break the silence. To admit what Regulus learnt meant that they were risking something they didn’t know was possible. The others knew, of course they did. They wanted to know whether they were playing too close to the line. They were.
“Is it true?” he started, voice shaking, “they’re illegal?” His voice isn’t the only thing that shakes. It’s ironic that he’s mimicking the after effects of the cruciatus curse. “Reg, you know what they do is wrong,” Narcissa broached cautiously, “you know that it wasn’t alright.”
“That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have told me, Trixy. Do you know what it is like to sit there and pretend they haven’t been used on you?” Regulus argued, “that all our ‘curiosity’ is purely theoretical?”
“What were we meant to say,” Sirius answered back, “oh Reggie, you know in fourth year, you’ll have this lesson, and they’ll talk about these horrendous curses but we gotta pretend. Because if they know, it’ll get worse and they can’t go to Azkaban because they are the Lord and Lady Black,” chest heaving, as he glares at Regulus.
“You know that’s not what I meant, Siri. It’s just... How close?” The silence that followed was sombre, as if the answer was going to hurt. “How close were we to breaking? To submitting to ‘The Black Family Madness’?”
“Close. Thought Bella passed the line a few times.” Narcissa whispered, her words carrying in the emptiness. “Trixy, is that why she has that look in her eye? And everyone says that she’s gonna end up in Azkaban?”
“Yeah. But she has practice, and we always stock up on nerve potions, extra strength. And we always find a way out, us Blacks, are nothing if not stubborn, you know that, Archie.”
“Don’t call me that, Daffy.” His eyes narrowed, “is that why you guys always keep secrets? And why you always cover for each other?”
“Yeah, united front and all that. We can’t all be Gryffindors, right, Reggie?” Sirius joked. His face tightening, “Andy’s gone with Ted, so she’s safe. And Druella the Drunk and Cygnus the Condemned know Bella is a law unto herself. They can’t risk using too much on Cissy ‘cause she has to build the connections to Malfoy the Melodramatic. I’m heir Black so they can’t cause any lasting damage. You are the model son, so they won’t touch you.”
“You know that I’m not the perfect kid, Siri, they don’t hurt me ‘cause you take the blows.”
“They won’t push far with me, they know they can’t risk it without scandal.”