Floriculture

Viola, a genus within the violet family Violaceae, captivates with its delicate beauty and subtle symbolism. Its heart-shaped or reniform leaves, often scalloped or palmate, exude an aura of modesty and innocence, inviting admiration and evoking candor. The alternating arrangement of its leaves, accompanied by basal rosettes in acaulescent species, adds to its allure. Adorned with stipules resembling delicate foliage, Viola enchants with its visual appeal while symbolizing modesty, innocence, and the courage to take chances.

Every time Narcissa wandered past the Gryffindor table, a certain Fortescue would whisper something to her group of friends and laugh. It got under her skin, sure, but what stung more was the conflicted feeling she got when she saw Sirius laughing along with them. As winter break approached, Narcissa felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach at the thought of returning home. She was eager for the celebrations but dreaded the inevitable conversations about Sirius that would follow. After hastily packing her belongings into her trunk, she decided to take a walk around the castle once more.

The castle never failed to enchant her. She could never tire of this place. It was different from home. It was… lively. More lively than the parties back home, she couldn’t put a finger on it. Another bonus was that Bella and Andie seemed to be in good spirits here. Minimal arguments and they always eat together. Finding herself in the courtyard, Narcissa took a moment to appreciate the space. Hardly anyone was there at this point. She was just waiting for Bellatrix and Andie to finish up.

Narcissa walked around, waiting for something to happen. Spotting a lone white flower amidst the winter foliage, she couldn't help but be drawn to its beauty. Odd, normally Violets would be here, she thought.

"You want to know a fact?" came a familiar voice from behind her.

Narcissa inwardly groaned, recognizing the voice of her least favorite Gryffindor. Ignoring the urge to roll her eyes, she continued to examine the flower, hoping to escape the impending conversation.

"Violets are sensitive to the temperature," the voice continued, undeterred by Narcissa's silence. "That's why it's white."

“Oh,” Narcissa's patience wore thin as she turned to face the girl, her annoyance evident in her expression. Alice raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by Narcissa's icy demeanor.

"Really—" Alice began, only to be abruptly cut off by Narcissa.

"Oh! Did I look like I cared?" Narcissa interjected, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Come on, Black, play nice," Alice urged, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"I'm not interested in what you have to say, Fortescue," Narcissa shot back, her frustration mounting with each passing moment. "Mother says not to associate myself with the likes of you."

Alice's lips curved into a sly smile. "Really? Does your mummy need to feed you with a golden spoon too?"

"Leave," Narcissa commanded, her voice laced with thinly veiled hostility as she turned away, refusing to engage any further.

“I’m just saying, if plants could change based on the environment, so should people,” Alice chuckled, her tone teasing.

Narcissa's jaw tightened at the implication. "I'm not some potted plant you can mold to your liking," she retorted, her words dripping with disdain.

“But you've been raised to believe otherwise, haven't you?" Alice countered, her voice cutting through the tension.

Narcissa halted in her tracks, her fists clenched at her sides. "What do you know about how I've been raised?" she spat, her tone defensive.

Alice shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Only what I've observed," she replied.

With a frustrated huff, Narcissa tore her gaze away from Alice, “You don’t know me at all, Fortescue. Don’t act like you do.” 

As she turned on her heel and stormed away, Narcissa could feel the weight of Alice's words. How dare she criticize my mother?

“There you are!” Andromeda smiled warmly as Narcissa approached. “Get your things.”

“Hop to it, Cissy,” Bellatrix chimed in. “I need to get out of this place.”

The train ride back was quiet, at least for Narcissa. Andie and Bella were talking about the school, but Narcissa couldn't shake the thoughts of her encounter with Alice.

"If plants could change based on the environment, so should people…" The words echoed in Narcissa's mind. Was Alice implying that Narcissa was somehow influenced by her surroundings, that she wasn't as strong-willed as she believed herself to be?

She was a Black, raised with all the values and traditions of her noble lineage. No one could challenge that, not even someone like Alice Fortescue, and her propaganda.

As the train rattled on, Narcissa buried herself in her thoughts, over the short months, Alice Fortescue has done everything to annoy her. Alice Fortescue had done everything to annoy her. From pranks to slightly outperforming her in academics, and even snatching away house points. She was a show-off, really. She hated how Alice would criticize her for her family's wealth when Alice herself came from a well-off background. Hypocrite.

Finally, the train arrived at the platform, and Narcissa felt a sense of relief wash over her as she stepped onto solid ground. At home, the familiar sights and sounds brought a sense of comfort to Narcissa, easing the tension that had built up during the train ride. Their parents greeted them. Their father stood nearby as he surveyed his daughters.

"Tomorrow, we'll be visiting your cousins," he announced.

“They’re hosting the holidays this year?” Bellatrix asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Father nodded in affirmation before dismissing them to their rooms. Exhausted from the journey, Narcissa fell asleep almost immediately after taking a refreshing bath. The moment she crashed onto her bed, she was knocked out, completely unprepared for the events that awaited her tomorrow.

The next day dawned with a sense of nervous anticipation lingering in the air. As Narcissa prepared herself for the day ahead, she couldn't shake the jitters that fluttered in her stomach. Scanning the room anxiously, her gaze fell upon Reggie and Sirius. She noticed the stark contrast in their attire – Sirius, forced to wear pants and long sleeves, while Reggie remained comfortably clad in shorts and a short-sleeved polo. Sirius's hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, a stark departure from his usual disheveled look. Sensing Narcissa's apprehension, Reggie shot her a pleading glance before gently ushering her upstairs to his room,

“It was awful, Cissy,” Regulus said, his voice hoarse, probably from crying. “I’ve never seen them so upset.”

"They were furious," he added, his tone heavy with sorrow and frustration. "It's not fair, Cissy. Sirius doesn't deserve this."

Narcissa listened in silence, her heart aching for her cousin. As Reggie poured out his heart to Narcissa, his voice cracked with emotion. Narcissa could see the tears welling up in his eyes, the weight of their family's expectations bearing down on him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

“They hit him, I heard them, they keep using a curse on him and he was just–” Regulus started to sob. “B-begging them to stop.”

"It's okay, Reggie," she whispered soothingly, rubbing his back in small circles. "I'm here for you."

Reggie buried his face in her shoulder, his tears dampening the fabric of her robe. "They were so cruel to him, Cissy," he choked out between sobs. "I couldn't do anything to stop them."

Narcissa held him close, offering silent comfort as he cried. At that moment, she felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her. As they clung to each other in the quiet of Reggie's room, Narcissa vowed to always be there for him, to stand by his side.

Sirius opened the door to the room. 

As Sirius entered the room, his eyes fell upon Narcissa and Reggie, wrapped in a tight embrace. His frown deepened, concern etched into his features as he took in the sight of his them comforting each other.

“I’m okay, Reg,” Sirius reassured, his voice tinged with forced bravado. “I’ve been worse.”

Narcissa released Reggie from her embrace, her gaze softening as she turned to face Sirius. “Are you sure, Sirius?” she asked, concern evident in her voice. 

Sirius forced a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll survive," he said with a shrug, attempting to brush off their worries. But Narcissa could see through the facade, could see the pain and exhaustion that lingered beneath the surface.

Reggie stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Sirius's shoulder. "You shouldn't have to go through this alone, Sirius," he said earnestly, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Sirius's smile faltered, a flicker of vulnerability passing across his features before he masked it with a defiant expression. "I'm not alone," he said quietly, meeting Reggie's gaze. "I have you."

As the tension in the room began to ease, Sirius took a seat beside Reggie, his gaze thoughtful as he turned to his brother. "You know, Reg," he began, his voice softening. "I've made some friends at Hogwarts. Good ones."

As Sirius settled into the conversation with Reggie, his words flowed freely as he recounted tales of his Hogwarts adventures.

"You should see James Potter in action, Reg," Sirius exclaimed with a grin. "He's always causing mischief and leading us into trouble."

Reggie chuckled, clearly intrigued by the mention of James Potter. "Sounds like quite the character," he remarked.

Sirius nodded enthusiastically. "And then there's Remus Lupin," he continued, his expression turning thoughtful. "He's the brains of our group, always helping us out with our studies and keeping us in line."

Reggie listened intently, absorbing every word as Sirius went on to mention Peter Pettigrew, Alice Fortescue, and Mary McDonald. But it was when Sirius mentioned Lily Potter that Narcissa's expressions shifted, her eyes widening in shock.

"Lily Potter?" Narcissa repeated, disbelief coloring her tone. "But she's..."

"Muggleborn," Sirius finished for her, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Yeah, she is."

Narcissa's mind raced with questions, here was Sirius, speaking fondly of a Muggleborn friend as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Reggie's eyes met Narcissa's, and she could see the uncertainty reflected in his gaze. As the shock of Sirius's revelation settled over them, Reggie spoke up, his voice tinged with uncertainty and a hint of disapproval.

"But... you're not supposed to befriend them," he interjected.

Sirius glanced at his sibling, his expression sobering as he sensed his unease. "I know what you're thinking," he said softly, his voice tinged with regret. "But Lily... she's different. She's not like the others.”

Regulus rose abruptly, his movements tense as he cast a glance at Narcissa, his eyes reflecting the uncertainty swirling within him. Without uttering a word, he strode out of the room, his steps echoing in the heavy silence that followed. Narcissa lingered for a moment, her mind buzzing with questions and doubts. She hesitated, torn between following her brother and giving him space to process his thoughts. Eventually, she decided to follow him outside.

The biting chill of the winter air enveloped them as they stepped into the courtyard, the frost-covered ground crunching beneath their feet. Regulus stood a few paces away, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he stared into the distance. Narcissa approached him cautiously, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy between them.

"Reggie," she began tentatively, unsure of what to say.

Regulus turned to her, his expression guarded. "I don't want to talk anymore," he stated firmly, his voice tinged with frustration.

Narcissa nodded understandingly, respecting his need for space. They walked in silence, the tension thickening with each step. The awkwardness of the situation weighed heavily on them, their thoughts consumed by the revelations of the day.