Imminent Rupture
The Summer Andromeda Left
Narcissa's return from Hogwarts was met with an unusually unenthusiastic welcome, evident in the tight grip of her mother's hand as they left, which seemed to dig deeper into her skin than usual. Upon entering their home, her mother released her hand abruptly, casting a stern glare when Narcissa frowned in confusion.
After her mother departed, casting a glance back that signalled for Narcissa to follow, she reassured herself that she hadn't done anything wrong. Her passage through the entrance hallway, unscathed, served as confirmation; her obedience to family values and impeccable conduct at school were undeniable evidence of her innocence.
As worry crept into her thoughts, Narcissa couldn't help but wonder what could have occurred. Knowing Bellatrix's unwavering loyalty to the Dark Lord, her mind immediately honed in on one troubling possibility: Andromeda. Aware of her sister's different views, Narcissa felt a knot of concern tighten in her stomach.
Narcissa was aware that despite being sorted into Slytherin like the rest of their family, Andromeda didn't fully align with their beliefs. They had engaged in numerous discussions where Andromeda expressed her differing views, prompting Narcissa to want her sister’s conformity to prevent her from leaving.
Andromeda was the kindest in that house, but the most foolish as well. Once she’d met that muggle Ted Tonks, Hufflepuff, she knew she would never love again as long as she had him. Narcissa would never accept that truth, feeling disappointed in her sister’s choice.
Narcissa ceased fiddling with the cloth of her school skirt, a habit she had developed during childhood when feeling nervous and joined her family in the drawing room.
She greeted her father with a formal demeanour, devoid of any display of human emotion, and took a seat across Bellatrix who flashed her a sly grin. Bellatrix sat cross-legged in the chair, absentmindedly twirling her curly black hair with her wand. Childish, Narcissa thought.
Cygnus let out an exasperated sigh and rose from his seat at the desk. He clasped his hands behind his back, squeezing them tightly, and slowly paced back and forth across the carpeted floor of the room. Meanwhile, Druella observed her husband with crossed arms, anticipating his next words.
“Andromeda,” her father declared, his back turned to the three of them, “is no longer part of this family.”
Bellatrix uncrossed her legs and burst into a hysterical giggle, slapping the armrest of her chair. Narcissa struggled to maintain her composure, her eyes widening slightly as she tightened her grip on the fabric of her skirt.
"What—" she started, her voice barely above a whisper, only to be cut off by her father's stern tone.
“She has married that mudblood, Ted Tonks. How dare she rub dirt on our pure bloodline. Once we had heard the news, she was disowned immediately. Walburga will burn her off the family tapestry, we will go to Grimmauld Place tomorrow when the sun rises to take part.”
Once he had finished speaking, he waited for no acknowledgement and walked out of the room with heavy footsteps, closing the door harshly behind him. It was no rare occurrence for her father to walk out of tough situations, leaving the repercussions for others to bear in his absence.
Narcissa viewed herself as a mirror, her father as the surface. She embodied the principles of their family and imitated their actions, but when she encountered her father, she felt as if she shattered. However, unlike shattered glass reflecting beauty in the sunlight, her reflection was dull and messy. Each shard mirrored the mannerisms she adopted, yet remained unnoticed in its impact.
As silence enveloped the room in her father's absence, she decided to excuse herself and retreat to her room. There, she would unpack her trunk and confront the painful reality that she would never see her sister again.
In the quiet and tension of her bedroom, she wrestled with her feelings about her sister. She loved Andromeda dearly and felt her warmth would always linger beside her. But she also felt a sense of bitterness towards her for the choices she made. Andromeda's decision to go against their family's values, even at the cost of leaving their noble lineage, was something Narcissa couldn't understand. How could one abandon their heritage so easily? Now that Andromeda would be removed from the family tree, she feared she would be forgotten for the same reason she would be remembered, a traitor.
She proceeded to unpack her trunk, a task typically left to the house elves. However, her anxiety caused her fingers to fidget, and she found solace in the act of unpacking, preferring to channel her nervous energy in this way rather than through other means. As she sorted through her belongings, her hand brushed against the soft fabric of a Slytherin tie, and she brought it to her chest, giving it a gentle squeeze—a small gesture that served as a reminder of her sister.
“Oh, Dromeda… You fool, I hate you, how could you? How could you?” Tears began to stream down her cheeks, and in a voice barely louder than a whisper she uttered, “I love you, I’m sorry.”
She gently stroked the tie, then ran her fingers through her own hair, mourning the affectionate gestures Andromeda used to offer her—the only source of comfort she had ever known. Despite her grief, a small sense of solace washed over her, knowing that Andromeda would now experience the same love she had always longed to give. Andromeda would embrace someone and feel their love in return. Narcissa let out a deep sob and made her way to her vanity, intending to unload some items from her trunk there. However, to her surprise, she discovered a letter instead.
Dear Cissy,
It started.
I imagine mother and father might have already told you I have departed from our house to marry Ted. Due to this, I will be disowned and no longer part of the Black family.
I know you will never accept what I have chosen to do, and the mindset I have had since we were younger. You have always been a good daughter, and I have not. Yet, I do not regret anything that I have done. I do not regret taking the blame for you and Bella’s faults, and I do not regret falling in love.
You are invited to our wedding, if you would like to come, on September 1st. I understand if not, but remember I will still love you regardless if we are in separate houses. You will always be my sister and I will always accept you in my new home if you want to, though I assume you won’t want to come.
Cissy, I hope one day you will have a family that you’ll love and feel most comfortable in. I’m sorry I could not be part of that family.
With love,
Andromeda Tonks
Narcissa read the letter repeatedly, tears staining the parchment and causing the ink to blur. She stumbled to bed, still holding onto the paper, and succumbed to the weight of exhaustion, her heavy eyelids closing as she drifted off to sleep. She realized she wouldn't face repercussions for skipping meals that day, as there would be none served as punishment for Andromeda's leaving.
The Next Day - First Light
Narcissa dressed for the solemn occasion of witnessing her older sister's removal from the family tapestry. She wore a black dress and cloak, the signature colour of her family, and adorned her hair with a white clasp resembling a flower. Her most expensive shoes completed the ensemble. As she surveyed her reflection, she couldn't deny that she looked good, but inwardly, she felt anything but.
She made her way to the drawing room, filled with dread for the hours ahead. Upon arrival, she noticed her sister dressed in a similar outfit, albeit more messy, which reflected her personality accurately. Bellatrix showed no signs of sadness over their sister; instead, she seemed eager to witness her getting burnt off the tapestry. Narcissa avoided engaging with her, despite Bellatrix's attempts to provoke her with nonsensical remarks.
"She'll finally get what she deserves!" her sister exclaimed enthusiastically, her heels bouncing up and down in joy. Narcissa maintained a blank expression, simply awaiting their parents' arrival with the Portkey to transport them to Grimmauld Place. As soon as their parents entered and everyone was prepared, the room dissolved into swirling colors, resembling a painter's brush strokes across a canvas.
They materialized in the entrance hallway of the house, where Walburga and Orion greeted them with firm handshakes and polite conversation. It was evident that they were struggling to conceal their disdain for associating with a family that now included a blood-traitor heiress. Ironic, Narcissa thought, remembering Sirius and his friends.
“We should get acquainted first, it’s been long since we’ve seen each other. Then we should proceed with the burning.” Walburga suggested, her voice brimming with authority. Narcissa’s parents agreed, and she left the adults to their discussion, instead seeking to find Sirius and Regulus.
She discovered the brothers in the living room, with Regulus appearing formal and preoccupied with adjusting the buttons of his blazer. At the same time, Sirius sat beside him on the sofa, exuding a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. Upon noticing Narcissa, Sirius crossed his arms, his brows furrowed in a frown.
“Narcissa.”
“Sirius.” She uttered his name with a hint of disdain, memories of his behaviour during his first year at Hogwarts flooding back. A Gryffindor, a disgrace.
“I, um, I’m sorry about your sister.”
“What sorry? She’s a blood traitor. Burning her off a damn tapestry is not enough to pay for what she has done. She has tainted our bloodline.”
Sirius rose to his feet, moving closer to where Narcissa stood in the living room, his expression filled with anger. “She’s your sister. How can you speak of her like that?” he demanded. “She was kind, more than all of you, which— actually, she was the only kind one of you lot. You’re all the disgraceful ones.”
“You’ve been too influenced by your mudblood friends, Sirius. With that mindset, it’s not like you would support your brother either.”
Sirius took a step back, his mouth hanging open in astonishment. After a few moments, he regained his composure and sank back onto the sofa beside his visibly stunned brother. Regulus remained silent.
Narcissa decided she would ignore Sirius for the remainder of the day, and settled into a seat beside Regulus. He appeared to be someone who didn’t relish small talk or conversation in general, often lost in his own thoughts. However, she found the silence unbearable.
“Regulus, are you looking forward to starting school?” Narcissa asked, prompting Regulus to glance up at her, as if processing the question before responding.
“Yes, I’ll be in Slytherin and make our family proud,” he replied confidently, his words brimming with enthusiasm. Regulus was Narcissa’s favourite of the pair of them, not derived of their family values like Sirius was.
“Good.” She said, casting a glance at Sirius, who rolled his eyes dramatically. Mimicking his gesture, she proceeded to do the same. Regulus sat between them, appearing somewhat awkward as he drifted back into his thoughts.
"It's time," declared Walburga as she stepped into the room before promptly exiting again. Narcissa and the brothers trailed after her into the room where the tapestry adorned the walls, each branch showcasing different names beneath corresponding illustrations. Narcissa gazed proudly at her own before casting a guilty glance at her sister's.
The family stood behind Walburga as she raised her wand towards the figure labelled 'Andromeda’. Narcissa would have reached out to hold her sister's hand in this moment, but instead, she clasped her own tightly, withholding any comfort. Bellatrix appeared full of excitement, even volunteering to perform the task herself before Walburga firmly denied her request.
Narcissa had anticipated closing her eyes when Walburga cast the spell, but instead, she kept them wide open, observing every speck of ash swirling to the ground, the flickering flames dancing around each other. An urge welled up within her to lean forward and gather the remnants, to reclaim a piece of her sister. She wanted to declare it a mistake, to change her fate, to beg for a time-turner. As she watched the image of her sister on the tapestry burn to black fabric, she realized with certainty that this could never be undone.