Floriculture

Hydrangeas, also known as hortensias, are like nature's mood rings. They can change color depending on the soil they're planted in. If the soil is acidic, these flowers paint themselves in shades of blue to purple. But their colors go beyond just looking pretty, they seem to tell stories about human feelings too. When a hydrangea blooms in blue, it might symbolize coolness or saying sorry, while purple hints at a deep desire to really understand someone. It's almost like these flowers are whispering secrets about emotions through their beautiful petals.

“Cissa,” Severus placed a gentle hand on Narcissa’s shoulder. “You’re staring.”

“Right, sorry,” Narcissa said as she sat up straighter and tore her gaze away from her sister and cousin. Feeling Severus's hand linger on her shoulder for a moment longer before he withdrew it. She forced herself to focus on the conversation at hand, though her mind kept drifting back to Andromeda and Bellatrix. Andie looked out of place, yet, she was laughing. Meanwhile, Bella looked ticked off, and it was only the start of the school year.

Later in the common room, Narcissa sat alone in the loveseat while the boys sat across from her. They were making comments about her staring into space, she could hear them of course, but she chose not to respond. 

“Cissy?” Andromeda sat next to her. “Are you feeling okay?” 

“Good,” Narcissa replied curtly, though her response lacked conviction. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to avoid Andromeda's gaze. “Why were you talking to Sirius?” 

Andromeda's expression softened, her brow furrowing with concern.“I checked on him, he got into a fight,” Andromeda replied. “Why?”

“He’s…” Narcissa looked at her friends and then back at Andromeda. “Nothing.”

“No, let’s go,” Andromeda said, taking hold of Narcissa’s wrists, firm yet it didn’t hurt. Andromeda walked to her dorm room and Narcissa entered. Andromeda wasn't about to let the matter drop. She crossed her arms, with a look of disappointment. Narcissa barely said anything. 

“Why?” The question was repeated and this time. Andromeda's arms remained crossed as she regarded her younger sister, waiting for an explanation.

“Lucius said he’s not worth the trouble anymore,” Narcissa replied relunctantly.

“And you listen to Lucius?” Andromeda raised an eyebrow.

“Narcissa bristled at the implication. "How could I not?" she retorted, frustration creeping into her voice. "My own sisters barely talk to me, and I don't understand why."

“Well–”

“Lucius is the only one who talks to me properly, you spend your time talking to some boy,” Narcissa’s voice was rising. 

“He’s not some boy,” Andromeda sighed. “We’re getting off-topic here, what about Sirius?”

"What about him?" Narcissa echoed, her voice tinged with frustration. "He hangs out with those... those…” She wasn’t sure if she should say the word in front of Andie. 

“Those what?” Andromeda seemed like she was going to scold Narcissa.

“Jerks,” Narcissa mumbled instead of what she wanted to say. “They make fun of Sev you know!”

“He's still your cousin," Andromeda reasoned.

"Not for long if he keeps acting like that," Narcissa countered, her resolve firm.

Andromeda sighed, the weight of the situation evident in her features. "You sound like Bella," she remarked.

Narcissa's eyes widened in surprise at the comparison. "You make it sound like an insult," she muttered, taken aback.

"It's complicated," Andromeda admitted, drawing closer to Narcissa, and bending down to meet her eyes. "You'll understand when you're older."

"But I'm only two years younger than you," Narcissa protested.

"And that's two more years of experience," Andromeda replied softly, her gaze unwavering. "I promise I'll tell you someday, Cissy. But for now, try not to hate him. Try to understand him."

"It's hard," Narcissa admitted, her frustration melting away. "He's supposed to be like us."

“We haven’t our own identity yet, how can he be like us?” Andromeda asked.

“He’s a Black, so are you,” Narcissa answered.

“That’s the family’s identity, but who are you, Cissa?” Andromeda placed a gentle hand on Narcissa's chest, her touch comforting. "You can't be like anyone else yet. You're only twelve."

Narcissa felt a lump form in her throat as she considered her sister's words. "You make it so hard to be mad at you," she murmured, pulling Andromeda into a hug. "Please, fix things with Bella."

“Not when she doesn’t want to listen,” Andromeda teased.

“Please, the boys keep talking about tryouts and Sev barely talks about his books,” Narcissa sighed. “I don’t know how long I can keep echoing their remarks until they realize I have no opinion about it at all.”

Andromeda chuckled, returning the embrace. "I promise I'll try," she said. "And as for the boys... just be yourself, Cissy. That's all anyone can ask."

"I'm assuming Bella met him?" Narcissa ventured, her curiosity getting the better of her. “The boy?”

"No, but she's... aware of him," Andromeda replied cryptically, her expression guarded.

Narcissa furrowed her brow in confusion. "Should I talk to her?" she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Andromeda shook her head. "No need," she reassured her younger sister. "But if you want to, she loves you, you know."

Narcissa offered a small smile in response, grateful for Andromeda's comforting words. "I know," she replied softly

It’s been some time since and Narcissa found herself staring outside as she worked on her homework. Lucius and Evan were busy practicing. Sev, Avery, and Mulciber were somewhere in the castle and none of her roommates had decided to do their essays early. So she was alone in the library with her thoughts.

Alice Forestecue slid into the seat across from Narcissa, undeterred by her dismissive tone. "You're not normally this dazed, Black," she remarked, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Narcissa arched an eyebrow, unimpressed by Alice's intrusion. "I see you still haven't figured out how libraries work," she retorted dryly. "You sit down and shut up."

Ignoring Narcissa's quip, Alice leaned in closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. "Are you coming to watch the tryouts over the weekends?" she asked, excitement in her tone.

Narcissa couldn't help but feel a slight tug of amusement at Alice's attempt at subtlety. "Good try," she chuckled softly. "At whispering."

Alice rolled her eyes, undeterred by Narcissa's teasing. "Yes or no?" she pressed, getting straight to the point.

"Obviously yes for the Slytherin tryouts," Narcissa replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "Why are you even here, Fortescue? I have an essay to do."

A mischievous grin played across Alice's lips as she leaned back in her chair. "Well, your cousin sent me to convince you that muggle-borns, and blood traitors are not as bad as they sound," she revealed, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Narcissa's expression hardened at the mention of her cousin's involvement. "They sent a richie rich pure-blood to do that?" she remarked wryly. "Kind of defeats the purpose, because what you'll end up saying is just your opinion."

Alice's grin widened, undeterred by Narcissa's skepticism. "So, you want to talk to muggle-borns?" she asked, her tone teasing.

"No."

As Alice continued to press, Narcissa's irritation deepened. "I said no, Fortescue," she reiterated firmly, her patience wearing thin. "Can't you see I'm trying to work?"

Despite Narcissa's clear refusal, Alice persisted, her tone bordering on insistent. "But it'll make it easier for you," she argued, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.

Narcissa shot Alice a pointed glare, her irritation bubbling to the surface. "Merlin, no, I'm not one of your friends," she snapped, her annoyance palpable.

Undeterred by Narcissa's sharp retort, Alice continued to push, her persistence unwavering. "But if you just–"

"I said no!" Narcissa interrupted, her tone firm and final. "Can't you take a hint?"

Alice sighed, her expression softening with understanding. "Look, Black, I know we don't exactly see eye to eye on everything," she began, her voice tinged with sincerity. "But maybe if we talked about it, we could understand each other better."

Narcissa hesitated, her annoyance momentarily overshadowed by a flicker of curiosity. "I don't know," she admitted reluctantly. "It's not that simple."

"Maybe not," Alice conceded, her gaze earnest. "But it's worth a try, isn't it? We might surprise ourselves."

Feeling a sense of defeat mingled with resignation, Narcissa let out a heavy sigh. "I'm leaving before anyone sees me with you," she declared, pushing back her chair and gathering her belongings before quickly exiting the library.

As Narcissa hurriedly made her way out of the library, she could hear the sound of footsteps trailing behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Alice following close behind, her expression determined.

"Wait up," Alice called out, her voice echoing through the corridor.

Narcissa quickened her pace, determined to put some distance between herself and Alice. But Alice was persistent, closing the gap with each step.

"What do you want, Fortescue?" Narcissa asked, coming to a stop and turning to face her pursuer.

Alice halted a few feet away, her expression a mix of frustration and determination. "I just want to talk," she replied, her tone surprisingly earnest.

Narcissa eyed her warily, still wary of Alice's intentions. "Talk about what?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

"About us," Alice said simply. "About why we always seem to be at odds with each other."

Narcissa scoffed. "Isn't it obvious? We come from different worlds, Fortescue. We're not supposed to get along."

"But maybe there's more to it than that," Alice countered, her gaze steady. "Maybe we've been judging each other without really knowing each other."

Narcissa's expression softened slightly, her defenses faltering. Despite her reservations, there was a part of her that was curious about what Alice had to say.

“I believe you’ve disturbed her enough,” Severus said. 

Oh, thank Merlin. Narcissa felt a surge of relief as Severus intervened, grateful for his timely interruption. She quickly moved to his side, intertwining her arm with his as they began to walk away from Alice.

"Let's leave, Sev," Narcissa murmured, her voice soft with gratitude.

Severus nodded, casting a brief glance at Alice before leading Narcissa away. As they walked, Severus maintained a thoughtful silence, his gaze focused ahead as if lost in contemplation.

"Sev," Narcissa began tentatively, "do you ever... wonder about who you are?"

Severus turned to her, his expression serious yet with a hint of understanding. "All the time, Cissa," he admitted quietly. "Especially here, in Hogwarts. It's... it's not always easy, is it?"

Narcissa shook her head, a small sigh escaping her lips. "No, it's not," she agreed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Sometimes I feel like I'm expected to be someone I'm not, to fit into a mold that doesn't quite fit me."

Severus nodded, his gaze turning distant for a moment. "I know what you mean," he said slowly. "But... I also know that we can't change who we are. No matter how hard we try to hide it or pretend otherwise."

Narcissa frowned, a knot of unease forming in her stomach. "But what if who we are isn't... accepted?" she asked hesitantly. "What if it goes against everything we've been taught to believe?"

Severus regarded her thoughtfully, his dark eyes reflecting a depth of understanding. "It's a difficult question, Cissa," he admitted. "But ultimately, we have to choose our own path, regardless of what others may think or expect of us."

Narcissa nodded, absorbing his words with a sense of resignation. "I suppose you're right, Sev," she conceded softly. "It's just... hard, sometimes. To go against everything you've ever known."

Severus nodded, his expression growing serious. "It's important to remember, Cissa, that not everyone will accept who we are," he cautioned. "There will always be those who judge and criticize, but ultimately, we have to choose whether we want to be true to ourselves or conform to the expectations of others."

Narcissa considered his words, a solemn expression crossing her features. "That's a deep thought for a twelve-year-old," she remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice. "I think you think too much, Sev."

Severus offered her a small smile, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "Maybe I do," he admitted quietly. "But I believe it's important to question things, to seek understanding. It's the only way we can truly find our place in this world."

Narcissa nodded, a sense of determination stirring within her. "I suppose you're right," she conceded, a determined glint in her eyes. "Well, I guess I have a lot of thinking to do then."

Severus chuckled softly. "Just don't think too much," he advised, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Sometimes, it's okay to just be."

Narcissa offered him a grateful smile, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence. "Thank you, Sev," she murmured. "For always being there. I hope you never change."

Narcissa's eyes widened in concern as she noticed the bruise on Severus's arm. "What's wrong with your other arm?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Severus sighed, his expression grim. "Potter," he replied tersely, his tone betraying his frustration.

"Have you been to the infirmary?" Narcissa pressed, her concern growing.

Severus shook his head. "No, I thought I could handle it," he admitted, his voice tinged with reluctance. "Plus I saw her chasing you."

Narcissa's brow furrowed in determination. "Come on, let's get you to Madam Pomfrey," she said firmly, taking his uninjured arm and gently leading him toward the infirmary.

Severus sighed as he recounted the events that had led to his injury. "Potter and his gang thought it would be funny to charm one of the staircases to turn into a slide when I stepped on it," he explained, his voice tinged with frustration. "I didn't see it coming, and I ended up falling and injuring my arm."

Narcissa's eyes widened in disbelief as she listened. "That's reckless," she exclaimed, her tone incredulous. "They could have seriously hurt you!"

Severus nodded grimly. "That's Potter for you," he muttered, his expression darkening.

“I’ll talk to Sirius,” Narcissa said.

“It won’t do anything,” Severus mumbled.

As they made their way to the infirmary, Severus's arm hanging limp at his side, Madam Pomfrey immediately sprang into action upon seeing them. She ushered Severus onto a bed and began examining his arm with a stern expression, scolding him gently for not seeking medical attention sooner. Narcissa hovered nearby, her worry evident as she watched the healer tend to Severus's injury.

After Madam Pomfrey finished tending to Severus's arm, she turned to Narcissa with a stern look. "Make sure he takes it easy," she scolded. "And keep an eye on that arm, Severus."

Narcissa nodded, her concern for her friend evident in her eyes. "I will," she promised, glancing over at Severus with a reassuring smile. "You'll be okay, Sev."

"What happened?" Lucius asked, Evan was right behind him. They were drenched in sweat and Narcissa refused to let them get closer to her and Severus.

"I'll tell you later... after you shower."