house of black

chapter 5: death by daisy chain

1967 Black Family Estate, Early June.

Bellatrix: 15

Andromeda: 14

Narcissa: 11

Sirius: 7

Regulus: 6

It was the beginning of June, meaning the weather was starting to warm up in England once again. Andromeda and Bellatrix had just returned from school with Narcissa anxiously waiting to be sent off with them next term. That, along with the weather, meant Sirius, Regulus and Walburga made the routine trip out to the Black Estate. It was a journey that the boys rather enjoyed. Being cooped up in the city all the time made the boundless grass of their cousins' large estate seem like a special treat.

Not that Sirius was particularly fond of his cousins, with the exception of Andromeda. Bellatrix was wild and Narcissa wasn't interested in playing his rough games. One time he had accidentally knocked her over in a game of tag and his Uncle screamed so much his entire face turned red. Andromeda was much more fun. They often ran around together, hiding in the trees and plotting against imaginary enemies. Regulus always tried to join in, but ultimately ended up reading or drawing on the grass with Cissa. Not that he minded. Narcissa and Regulus were quiet and cautious in the same sort of way. Where their siblings enjoyed fighting and chasing, their fun was going inside unseen to steal sweets from her father's office or cookies from the kitchen before hiding in the bushes to eat them together.

Perhaps that's why seeing her cousins made Bellatrix so angry. Both her sisters had a partner to play with, and she was left out. Too old for games, but not old enough to engage with the adults. The best thing she could try and do was dominate (and thereby ruin) the younger children's games.

When they finally arrived, all five members of the Black family waited for their cousins in the drawing room. Narcissa was sitting on the rug while Andromeda sat on the couch above her. Bellatrix lounged in an armchair in an incredibly unladylike fashion, much to her mother's annoyance. Their father stood near the unlit fireplace, watching his youngest play with her dolls.

Sirius, Regulus and his mother stood in the doorway. Their father was unable to join them on this excursion due to being unwell. The three of them were tall, gaunt and looked slightly out of place in the grand house. Regulus wasn't old to feel it yet, but Sirius was. He saw the way Bella snickered at them under her breath and glanced at her father.

Narcissa, always polite, rose and walked to them, shaking both her cousins hands and smiling at her Aunt who did not return the gesture.

"Welcome" she said brightly. "We've been waiting for you to arrive!"

Her mother watched and nodded slightly in approval. Andromeda raised her eyebrow slightly at Sirius, who resisted the urge to grin back.

"We have. You were due to be here at 10. Sharp." Cygnus stated without looking at his sister. Narcissa's smile dimmed slightly. Regulus glanced at her silently.

"My apologies." Walburga said, but everyone knew he did not mean it.

"Perhaps you need to strive towards better timekeeping." Cygnus said before he was interrupted by his youngest daughter again.

"Papa, can I take Regulus to play? I've been waiting awfully long- I want to show him the garden." she asked, turning around and fixing her father with a big eyed stare, even making her bottom lip quiver only slightly.