The Black Legacy The Rise of Bellatrix's Prodigy (Act I Book One)

Embrace your name, love

When Druella's mother came home one evening, she greeted her with a small smile and handed her a book.
"I got you something," she said.
Druella took the book eagerly, nodding as she opened it. It didn't take her long to realize it was about He Who Must Not Be Named. The text was dense and complex, but Druella was determined to read it from cover to cover.

That year, Druella spent most of her time in silence, tucked away in her room. The library became her refuge, filled with books about Hogwarts and its history. She often imagined herself walking through the castle's halls, making friends, and learning defensive spells. Each page she read deepened her longing for her first term.

But Narcissa had other plans for her. She insisted Druella take piano lessons and never let her practice alone. Narcissa would sit beside her, watchful and precise.
"Keep your posture straight, dear," she instructed, her tone as gentle as it was firm.
Druella nodded, shifting on the bench and resuming her playing. The music itself was soothing, but her aunt's constant corrections grated on her nerves. Narcissa never seemed satisfied, always pointing out mistakes or insisting on helping with things Druella was sure she could manage on her own. Even mundane tasks like laundry weren't left to her—Narcissa handled them all, while Draco was expected to manage his himself, something he frequently complained about.

At dinner, the conversation revolved entirely around Draco—his grades, the subjects he was studying, and his accomplishments at Hogwarts. Druella remained silent, her presence barely acknowledged.

She missed Draco terribly when he was away. The days felt endless, and she spent most of them buried in books, trying to feel connected to him. She read everything she could about first-year subjects and even ventured into second-year material. The more she read, the more determined she became to excel. She wanted to make her family proud, to be the kind of witch they would admire.

Without a wand, Druella had to get creative. She used a branch from the garden, pretending it was a wand, and practiced the techniques she'd read about. Sometimes, she combined her pretend spellwork with dance moves from her lessons, spinning and twirling as if casting powerful magic. It was the only way to prepare for the day she would finally have a real wand in her hand.

Her eleventh birthday arrived on December 23rd, just before Christmas, and with it came Draco's return home. Druella's excitement bubbled over as she rushed to greet him.
"Hey, how've you been?" she asked, her smile wide.

But Draco ignored her.
"Do you want to hang out?" she tried again, her voice hopeful.
"NO, GO AWAY!" he snapped.

Druella stood still, taken aback. He had never addressed her in such a manner before. Later, she caught a conversation between Narcissa and Draco. "Draco, I must express my disappointment in your failure to maintain a friendship with Harry Potter." Draco's face flushed red, and hearing that name made Druella smile, recalling all the times he had boasted about it. She and Dobby were listening in closely. "I'll investigate Harry Potter and his little group myself," Draco shot back, "Mother, he's friends with a Mudblood." Narcissa interrupted sharply, "That doesn't matter. I will handle the situation with those kids, Draco." Then addressing him directly, she said firmly, "I am genuinely disappointed in your attitude." Nourishing the moment, she pulled him into a hug, which he accepted with a mix of reluctance and comfort. "Don't worry, dear. Mummy will take care of it," she whispered confidently, "like I always do."

Druella spun around in shock, her heart racing as she caught Bellatrix's mischievous grin. "Black Blossom, always the little spy!" Bellatrix chuckled, her voice filled with playful mockery. Druella froze for a moment, but before she could respond, Bellatrix scooped her up effortlessly, dashing through the manor with laughter echoing off the walls.