Secrets Well Kept

Chapter Two || Narcissa

Narcissa had always been the quiet one of her family. She didn't argue with Bella like Dromeda insisted upon doing, nor did she argue with either of her parents. She was not as outspoken, and proud in attitude as Bella.

She looked different from both her sisters as well. Dromeda and Bella had the same dark hair, even the same streak of white, their eyes were both shades of brown, whereas she, herself, had blonde hair, and her eyes were blue.

Her one similarity to her sisters was her house, but that was not a surprise, all of the Black family had been sorted into Slytherin.

As she entered the Great Hall and headed towards the Slytherin table, she spotted her sister, Andromeda taking a seat at the table, and to her displeasure, Lucius Malfoy slipping into the seat next to Andromeda.

Lucius's pursuit of Andromeda had been driving Narcissa a bit mad. She knew her sister well enough to see that Andromeda did not like Lucius, although Narcissa herself could not see why. The Malfoy boy was handsome, smart, and definitely, a Wizard her parents would approve of. She had never quite been able to work up the courage to talk to Lucius though.

Making her way towards the Slytherin table, she took a seat on the bench across from Andromeda and Lucius.

"Hey Cissy, how was the train ride?" Andromeda asked; Narcissa had noticed that Andromeda had scooted away from Lucius.

"It was fine," she replied. "And you?" she asked her sister, although before Andromeda could answer for herself Lucius had thrown an arm around Andromeda's shoulders, a smile on his face.

"The trip was just fine, me and Andromeda I here had a little fun-" Lucius began to say before getting an elbow to the ribs from Andromeda.

"Get your arm off of me, Malfoy, and don't tell lies," Andromeda said in a low voice, one that Narcissa recognized from when they were younger when Andromeda had defended her from Bellatrix.

Lucius had the smarts to listen, and for good measure, he scooted a bit away from Andromeda, who had gone to acting as if nothing had happened.

"The train ride was fine," Andromeda said to Narcissa, nodding a bit.

"That's good, I-" Andromeda was cut off as the first years filed into the Great Hall led by Professor McGonagall. Their cousin, Sirius would be starting this year.

The sorting hat was placed upon the stool, and after a few moments, it began to sing.

"I have sat on many heads,

I have sorted many minds

into their houses that they belong

and never have I been wrong.

So try me on, and I will see

which house it is you belong.

Be it Gryffindor, the brave of heart,

Or Slytherin, where lie those of ambitious goals.

Perhaps it is Ravenclaw, those wise and cunning folk,

Or Hufflepuff, where their loyalty is just.

Do not worry, for I am the Sorting Hat,

And I know just where you belong."

Besides the first years, everyone applauded, and the hat did a sort of bow to each of the house tables. Professor McGonagall stepped forward, unfurling a scroll of parchment before beginning to read off names.

"When I call your name, you will step forward, take a seat on the stool, and put on the hat," the Professor said. "Adams, Lewis!"

A short boy with short red hair scampered up to the stool. A moment later the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

As the kid hurried to the table that had begun to clap loudly, the brash Gryffindors shouting and cheering.

"Adrian, Markus!" McGonagall said.

A boy with messy brown hair, and who was slightly taller than his classmates came up and sat down. After a few seconds of thought,

"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat, as the boy came to the table, and Narcissa and the rest of her house stood up to cheer for their new housemate.

She sat down though as McGonagall called, "Black, Sirius!"

Her and Andromeda's cousin walked confidently to the stool, before taking a seat. The hat took a few moments longer than before, and then, as Narcissa got ready to stand and clap again.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted, much to Narcissa's surprise as she shot a glance at Andromeda who seemed equally surprised. Uneasy murmuring that was drowned out by the Gryffindors shouting, as Slytherins whispered as to how strange it was, a Black sorted into Gryffindor.

Narcissa was so surprised she hardly heard the next few people being sorted, she faintly heard McGonagall call, "Evans, Lilly," and a girl with red hair step up to be sorted.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.

Several more students got sorted, as Narcissa's mind reeled. A Black sorted into Gryffindor. It'd never been heard of. When her Aunt and Uncle found out that Sirius had been sorted into Gryffindor... well, she was glad she had been sorted into Slytherin. She didn't hear any more of the sorting, and soon Dumbledore had stood to address the student body. Soon the feast was on its way, and before long the plates vanished, and Andromeda was standing up (with Lucius quick to follow suit) and calling out to the first years.

"First years, this way now, I'll be showing you to the dormitories," Andromeda said, gesturing them to follow her.