𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔. 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 & 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔

𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚
𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒙'𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒗
*ੈ✩

I'M SORE. Tomorrow is Christmas, but I'm not in the mood to celebrate. Not like we do much anyways.

Five days in a row the Dark Lord demanded to see me. Surprised I'm even able to stand.

I just got back and as soon as I did, I collapsed on my bed. Bruises all over my body, even my neck but my parents pretend not to notice and now I've put on a turtle neck. Don't want to worry my sisters and cousins.

He never hurts my face, says it has to stay pretty. I shudder and stuff my face in my pillow, tears slipping. Maybe I'll have a bath.

I get up, grabbing my pajamas and a towel, limping slightly into the bathroom, running the bath. I pour the bubble bath on and climb in, closing my eyes.

"Fuck." I rub my face, tears pouring down my face. I'm so sick of my life.

I sink down into the water, closing my eyes, sub merging my head under. I let myself get absorbed by the water, maybe it'll kill me. Would that be the worse thing?

But then I think how my sisters would feel and I sit up, coughing. I gotta be here, to look after my sisters. Protect them. Perhaps my life will improve.

I get up out of my bath and pull on my nightie and dressing gown, shoving on my slippers. I search the cupboards, finding the first pain relieving potion I can find, draining the bottle.

I missed our tea, but I'm not hungry.

I walk to my room, crawling into bed and closing my eyes. I'm so close to passing out when the door creaks open.

I open an eye to see Regulus standing there, sniffling. I sit up and tilt my head. It's past nine, so he should be asleep.

"Regulus?" He closes the door and climbs on my bed. "What are you doing..?"

"I had nightmare." He rubs his eyes with the hem of his sleeves.

I frown and pull him into a hug, laying his head on my shoulder.

"Its okay, it wasn't real." I murmur into his ear.

"It scary.. had dream where Siri hated me."

"He never would!"

"Seemed real.." He pouts and crawls into the blanket, curling up beside me, I wince a bit as he presses on my ribs.

"It's okay, Regulus. He won't ever hate you."

He nods and hugs me tight and I hug him back, stroking his hair.

"Go to sleep, okay?"

He nods and closes his eyes, drifting off. Poor child, probably too scared to go to his parents. I hope I helped bim, Cissy used to come to me when she had nightmares so I'm used to it.

I wrap him in a blanket and turn away, closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep.

𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂'𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒗
*ੈ✩

I finally have time to read Lucius' letter! I close my door and snatch it up, sitting on my bed as I rip it open, pulling it out.

I'm fine. Just been occupied with important duties, Merry Christmas, I'll get you something when we are back at school. Have a good holiday.

Lucius.

I blink and stare at it. It's been what? Three weeks? And this is all I get? He didn't even bother himself to write "Dear Narcissa".

I scream into my pillow and kick the wall, hurting my toe. I tear up, jumping up and down and I throw the letter on the floor.

Meda walks in to see what I'm up to and I flop on the bed, tears streaming down my face.

"Cissy? What's wrong?" I point to the letter and she picks it up, scanning through it.

"Err.."

"First letter in three weeks. I've written to him about five times and this is all I get."

"Oh darling.." She sits beside me and wipes my tears.

"Why is he being horrid? I knew I wasn't good enough." I sigh down at my hands.

"Hey, hey no! Dont say that. He's a teenage boy, all of them are absolute arseholes."

"Meda— don't say bad words!"

"I can if I want I'm 16!" I growl.

"Mummy and Daddy say it's sin!"

"Father has said bad words many, many times!"

"Still, its unladylike!"

"Bullocks!" I shake my head and look at the letter.

"I'm going to ignore him until we get back to school." I tut, wiping the tears off my cheek.

"Good!" I nod and rub my eyes, leaning into her.

"He makes me upset."

"You deserve better, Cissy."

"Can't find better. Maybe this is the type of boy
I deserve to be with." I mumble.

"Lies! You could do so much better."

"I can't." I shake my head and she looks down at me.

"I'm fine, Meda. I'll be fine. I always am." She nods a bit, chewing her lip slightly.

"Let's go see Bella?"

I nod and she takes my hand, getting up and pulling me along to her room. Bella is already asleep with a tiny little Regulus curled up beside her. I notice Sirius in the hall as I motion for him to follow.

He shakes his head and backs away, I reach for his hand and he flinches.

I frown and take his hand and he just shakes his head again, running off to his room.

I look at Andromeda in confusion, who shrugs and we go into Bella's room.

We both climb on the bed and Bella opens an eye, looking at us.

"What?" She asks tiredly.

"Lucius is being a meanie."

"That bastard." I gasp and shake my head.

"No bad words!" She rolls her eyes and closes them again.

"I'm going back to sleep, goodnight."

I shake my head and curl up beside her and Meda, slowly drifting off to sleep.

But it doesn't last long before we are awaken by Bella trashing around in her sleep, whimpering.

I sit up and shake her, Regulus ran out of the room in fear, thinking she was possessed by a demon or something.

I shake her awake and she sits up, hugging herself. Meda is the first to speak.

"Bella..? What is wrong?" She rubs Bella's back softly.

"Nightmare."

"About..?"

"The Dark Lord.. better not say that.. he is always listening." I glance between my sisters.

"Err.. Bella, he's not here. You're okay."

She looks pale and weak, like she might throw up. I check the time, four in the morning. Her breath is rapid, panicky.

Meda rubs her back gently and she starts to calm down.

"I'm sorry for waking you up— where did Reg go?"

"I think he got a fright and went back in with Sirius." She nods and drinks some water, rubbing her face. She lays back and closes her eyes.

"Stay here, won't you both?"

"Yes, yes."

We both lay back down and one look at Meda tells me we are both equally concerned for her.