Birth Right

Chapter 5

She'd been alone for hours when the door creaked. Light footsteps tapped across the wood, and the mattress dipped.

"Don't cry, Narcissa."

Narcissa buried her face into Bella's pillow and sobbed, inhaling her sister's scent. Andromeda sighed and began running a hand through her hair, just like their mother did.

"It's not fair." She sniffled. "Why can't she be schooled at home? The Fawleys are tutored at home."

"Mariah Fawley is ill, you know that—"

"They shouldn't have let her go!" Narcissa jerked upright and clutched her sister's sleeve. "She'll be so alone!"

"I'm sure she's making plenty of friends," Andromeda said, looking down at her hands. "She promised she'd write once the Sorting was over."

"She won't." Narcissa's voice wobbled. "She didn't even say goodbye to me this morning."

"She was just excited. We'll join her soon enough. I'll get my letter in two years, and you'll get yours—"

"In four! Four years I have to wait!" She swiped at her eyes, feeling her heart shatter all over again. "You're going to leave me, too. I'll be all alone here—"

Andromeda shushed her as she wept, wiping her tears away with a handkerchief. "It's not so bad. Being alone." She smiled softly when Narcissa finally met her eyes. "And you'll have mother and father all to yourself for two whole years."

Narcissa nodded, and when Andromeda scooted closer, she let her head drop to her shoulder. She reached out to tangle her fingers in the long chain that hung around Andromeda's neck — a thick jade pendant their grandmother had given her.

"I don't ever want to be alone," Narcissa whispered.

"You won't be." Andromeda clutched her fingers. "You'll always have me."

~*~

The train to London had seemed to take lifetimes. By the time it rolled into King's Cross, Narcissa had managed to bury thoughts of one sister, focusing only on the other. But Bella hadn't been there when she'd gotten off the train.

Narcissa had moved quickly through the crowds, careful to avoid any blond heads as she darted for her mother and father. Her parents had kissed her cheeks and inquired about her O.W.L.s. But neither had mentioned Bella, leaving Narcissa with no idea of what was keeping her sister so busy that she couldn't bother to greet her or answer any of her letters.

Bella wasn't at dinner that night, either. A slow, sinking feeling in Narcissa's gut told her that Bella knew — that Lucius had told her they'd kissed. But as she stared at the two vacant chairs across from her, her father cleared his throat and excused Bella's absence. She was at Grimmauld Place, he explained, where Aunt Walburga held gatherings once a week. Bella hadn't missed a single one in months.

Narcissa tried not to feel put out as she retired for the evening, wondering who at Aunt Walburga's was more important than her. But then she wondered if Lucius was there, and her mind drifted to the way his lips had slanted over hers, and the strength of his arm around her back.

When she finally burrowed under the covers that night, it occurred to her that it might be better that Bella wasn't home yet. Her head was still turned around, and she needed time to put this stupid infatuation to rest.

She spent the next two days burying herself in books, letters, and time with her parents. It wasn't until Sunday morning that she woke to a voice screeching, "What in Merlin's name are you doing in here?"

Narcissa bolted upright, trying to get her bearings. It took her a moment to remember she'd slept in Andromeda's bed the past two nights, staring at the ceiling and wondering where she was. But now Bella was standing in the doorway, her brows arched and her hands on her hips.