The Dark Lord's Pet Princess

11. Knowing Their Place

Larissa didn't see Bellatrix for the rest of the summer holidays. And to her disappointment she didn't see much of her other cousins either.
Andromeda had gotten a job at the Ministry, which pleased her parents, but Larissa knew she had only taken the job, because Ted was working in the same department.
And Narcissa spent a lot of time at the Malfoy Manor, so that she could be with Lucius.

However, there was some positive news for Larissa, as she received a letter from Hogwarts revealing that she had been chosen as the new Slytherin Prefect, which pleased her parents, and got them off her back for a while.
Regulus would also be starting Hogwarts that year, so Walburga was focusing a lot of her energy on preparing him, so that he wouldn't end up like Sirius.

When they arrived at Hogwarts, it became clear that Regulus was not like Sirius, as he got placed in Slytherin like the rest of the Black family.
With Andromeda gone, Larissa had only Narcissa to talk to, and she was Larissa's least favourite cousin.
So Larissa realised that she was going to have to spend more time with her roommates than normal.
And to avoid ending up in an arranged marriage like Bellatrix, Larissa decided that she would need to find an appropriate boy for herself. But after spending a lot of time with the boys in her year, she realised that her future husband was not going to come from her year, because she hated them all.

This meant that Larissa had to start looking at the boys in her house, that were not in her year.
However, Larissa soon came to realise that she had no feelings for any of the boys in Slytherin, as they were all self absorbed jerks.
She knew that there was no point looking for a partner in another house, because they would never be accepted by her parents.
So eventually Larissa gave up looking, and accepted her fate.

"You look miserable" commented Lucinda Travers one morning at breakfast.
"Sorry" mumbled Larissa.
"You're not home sick are you?" Asked Clara Nott.
Larissa chuckled and shook her head, "How many 5th years do you know, that get home sick?".
"None" replied Clara.
"Exactly".
"What's making you miserable then? And don't tell me you are stressing about OWLs already" said Sophia Greengrass.

"No, I'm not worried about OWLs, not yet anyway. My cousin was matched up with Rodolphus Lestrange and they got married this summer. So I can't help wondering about when my parents will put me with a boy" revealed Larissa.
"Seriously? That's what's bothering you. We are still at school you know" reminded Sophia.
"She's right. You can't get married while you are still a student" added Lucinda.

"I know that, but I can't not think about the future" admitted Larissa.
"But we've still got like 3 years of Hogwarts left. There's no point worrying about something that far away. Whatever is going to happen, is going to happen, and worrying about it now, is not useful, because it won't change anything" replied Olivia Rowle.
"I fully expect my parents to match me up with someone one day, but I'm not going to worry about it now, because that would be silly" said Lucinda.
"I suppose you're right" sighed Larissa.

"Besides, you're a Black, so you must have known that eventually you were going to be married off" said Sophia.
"I have always expected that that would happen, but watching my cousin get forced down the aisle, made it real for me" admitted Larissa.
"We come from important pure-blood families, and what matters most to our parents is continuing that blood line. We have no say in the matter. It is our duty to do as our parents command. A woman is only good for one thing, and that is to marry well and be an obedient wife, before providing her husband with children" replied Sophia.
"I wish things were different for girls like us"
"Me too, but things aren't going to change any time soon".

"I wouldn't be so sure about that" Clara said quietly.
"Why? What have you heard?" Asked Lucinda, as she lowered his voice.
"Well, I overheard my parents talking about You-know-who and his death eaters. They are increasing their attacks, and more people are disappearing. Those who stand up to him, vanish soon after" revealed Clara.
"I heard that he is recruiting and trying to build up an army" added Olivia.
"If this dark lord really does create an army and take on the Ministry, then things will be very different. There will be no more Mudbloods or blood traitors at Hogwarts" replied Sophia.

"I don't see how this dark lord helps us, as women. We are still going to get sold to pure-blood men, no matter who is in charge" sighed Larissa.
"Not necessarily. If everyone is a pure-blood, then maybe our parents will let us choose our own husbands, because there will be no more rotten apples to avoid" replied Lucinda.
"I can't see that happening, if I'm being honest. My mother runs every part of my life, and no dark lord is going to change that. She is going to make me marry, whom she wants" revealed Larissa.
"Well, you are a Black, so things are different for you" reminded Olivia.
"Yes. And in my world, different does not mean better" mumbled Larissa.

"Like I said earlier, there is no point worrying about who your parents will marry you off to, because you are still too young to get married for the foreseeable future" stated Olivia.
"I know... Breakfast is nearly over, we should get going or we'll be late to Transfiguration" sighed Larissa.
"After you Miss Prefect" mocked Lucinda.
Larissa rolled her eyes as she got up from the table, closely followed by her classmates, who all took their leave from her because she was a Black.