The curious face of a brown eyed little girl peered outside through the opening of the elegant wood carvings of the front door of the home of Cygnus and Druella Black. Behind her, inside the house, was absolute chaos, of course. In front of her, lay a world waiting for chaos. At least in Bellatrix's eyes. This was the week when they would go back to Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. Well, Bellatrix would be going back, it was her third year. Her younger sister, Narcissa was making a fuss, as this would be her first year and already first impressions were taking its toll on her.
She was doing all she could to make a delusion of grandeur before they left for the train station, that would inevitably take them to the secret Platform 9 3/4 where the Hogwarts Express was waiting to take them to school. Bella HATED this time of year, with a passion. And it was all because of Narcissa and her tantrums, which was a family tradition. At every event in their lives, Cissy had to find a way to make sure all the attention was turned on her. Where Bellatrix simply wanted to get it over with and on with the REAL fun, Cissy had to throw a fit, whether it was about her or not. Of course, Bellatrix was relieved not to be center of attention all the time, but it was still annoying the way Cissy did it.
"Where IS my ostrich plume quill??? You took it, didn't you, Bella???" Cissy accused her sister with narrowed eyes.
"What would I want your stupid quill for? I have one of my own." Bella sighed, coming away from the door.
"Because Mother got you a plain old Snowy Owl quill and everybody knows only the rich write with Ostrich." Narcissa exclaimed, turning her nose up with an air of dignity and refinement. She smiled at herself in the hallway mirror. Her long, blond hair laying perfectly flat where Bellatrix's raven locks had a creative streak to them, one never knew which direction they were going to take.
"You look funny when you say that." A sudden idea struck Bellatrix. "Yes, Cissy, I know what happened to your quill."
"I knew it!!!" Cissy's eyes widened with the delight of being right.
"Yes, It is sad to say it suffered a most intolerable death...." Bella faked empathy.
"What are you talking about?" Cissy clenched her teeth.
"The ostrich it came from?" Bella's eyes lit up. "I still remember how it squirmed in agony as I tortured it half to death."
"That isn't funny, Bella. What does that have to do with MY quill?? Give it to me!" Cissy demanded, stamping her foot.
"Girls!!!!! Will you stop fighting!!! We must leave immediately or you'll miss the train!!!" Their mother, Druella, entered the room, a giant Ostrich plume in her hat. She waved her wand, making a series of suitcases come flying down the stairs, nearly hitting Cygnus, who had just entered the room.
"My feather!!" Cissy squeaked.
"What's this about a feather?" Cygnus took one glance at his wife's hat, then at his distressed looking daughter.
"What?" Druella's eyes glanced up, then back down at Cissy. "Oh yes, darling. I hope you don't mind. My feather was missing in my best hat this morning and Bella gave me your quill pen in place of it. Isn't that clever? With a bit of magic applied the right way, it attaches itself right to it. I am sure there's an extra Snowy Owl you can use.... "
"But I don't WANT a Snowy Owl... I want Ostrich! It's the best! You don't want the other wizards to laugh at me, do you, mother?" Narcissa widened her eyes, putting on her best charm.
"Oh, my! Of course not." Druella's hand fluttered to her chest. "I'm so sorry, Cissy! I didn't know what else to do. We'll buy you a new one in Diagon Alley, I promise. The biggest Ostrich feather there is."
"Yeah, that I killed." Bellatrix waved her wand at a pixie skulking in the corner. "Crucio!" The pixie landed dead on the floor.
"Enough of that." Cygnus snatched the wand out of his eldest's hands. "You're lucky it's only a pixie. Do you want to get banned already?? Patience, my dear, patience..... first you must learn the basics.... then you can do what you want."
"Yes, father." Bella smiled, wickedly.
