Narcissa's Send Off
The train station was cold and slippery. The rain was pouring and puddling under Hyacinth’s storm-silk boots. She thought the weather reflected her mood perfectly. Today was Sister Narcissa’s first day of school. She would be leaving Noctis Veil and spending her days at Hogwarts, away from Hyacinth.
Hyacinth stares at the bricked pillar in front of her. She could hear her sisters laughing with each other, arguing about the latest Hogwarts gossip. A warm hand lands on Hyacinth’s shoulder, “Cinthie, I can feel you brooding from here. Don’t be so sad, we will see each other for Yule.” Andromeda placates.
Hyacinth lets out a sigh, “I don’t want to be at Noctis Veil by myself, it's far too vast for the likes of me. Mother and Father will be gone on business, and what will become of me?” she whines.
Andromeda chuckles at Hyacinth’s dramatics and embraces her in a tight hug. Narcissa gulps down her nervousness and tries to give Hyacinth a small smile, her normal pureblood facade cracking.
Narcissa was worried about leaving and begged her Mother to allow her to attend Beauxbatons, then at least Hyacinth could move into one of the many homes they own in France and Narcissa could visit on the weekends. However, Mother chastised her and said she had a plan in place for Hyacinth already.
Bellatrix cackles and pats Hyacinth’s head, “Oh, dear Cinthie, what are we going to do with you?” she asks. Bellatrix caresses Hyacinth’s face, “Don’t worry Cinthie, I’m finally graduating this bloody school, I will be home before you bloody know it” she says. Andromeda chides Bellatrix for her language, who only brushes her off in return.
Mother begins to beckon the children to hurry up, “Girls, you must make haste before the train leaves you all here!” she admonishes.
The Black sisters did not carry large trolleys with their trunks and books piling about them. The three sisters stood tall, each one carrying a small trunk that had been charmed to fit everything they could need for the school year inside. None of the sisters were allowed a pet, but they all shared one snowy white owl, named Meadow, who would find her own way to Hogwarts.
Hyacinth feels a sense of abandonment as soon as Bellatrix bids their Mother goodbye and bends down to leave a kiss a top of Hyacinth’s perfectly plaited hair. Andromeda follows Bealltrix’s lead, adding a, “Don’t cause too much trouble while we are gone, Cinthie!” before she turns into the passageway.
It was now Narcissa’s turn. The pale girl was slowly cracking under the pressure. None of the Black children were accustomed to large groups of children, bustling around and causing commotion. Hyacinth stares up at Narcissa, “Cissy, I will see you soon right? I can’t wait for the day I can join you on the train.” Hyacinth says.
Narcissa smiles and hugs her younger sister. She starts to jog at the pillar, and Hyacinth hears a loud sniffle come from her Mother. Hyacinth stares up at her, wide-eyed, “Mother are you okay?” she asks.
Mother quickly dabs a handkerchief to her face, “Come, Child, Father is waiting at home for us” she declares.
Hyacinth holds onto her Mother’s hand as the world swishes and warps around her. They land at the entrance of Noctis Veil, the mist hasn’t welcomed them in yet, but as the pair walk forward the cold mist begins to make way.
The stone path leads them through a peaceful nestling of stark white Moonfire Ash trees, the blue light emanating from the tree guides them towards Noctis Veil’s gate.
Noctis Veil is a small castle, the black obsidian walls absorb the moonlight, and the castle itself is alive with magic. The pointed towers and large windows welcome Hyacinth back in with warmth. Hyacinth skips up the steps, a sad smile settling onto her face. Mother grabs her hand and leads her to Father’s study.
The halls are lined with portraits of the family, every year since Mother and Father were betrothed. The wallpaper was a striped grey and purple stuck behind the black wooden molding. The portraits don’t move, there's a separate hall for the ones that do. Hyacinth knows they have made it to Father’s study as the portrait of her Mother at sixteen years old stares back at her.
The door slides open and Hyacinth sees her father, Cygnus Black, staring outside the window, lost in thought. He comes back to himself after hearing the light footsteps enter the room, “Hyacinth, Soleil, how was the send-off? Everything went well I presume?” he drawls.
Mother recounts the trip, Bellatrix and Andromeda’s endless bickering and chatter on the way there, she laments about how Bellatrix is gaining weight even though Mother has not been feeding her. She tells Father of Narcissa’s reluctance to go but applauds her poise. Father nods his head and takes a drink from the glass filled with a clear brown liquid and a large ice cube.
“Hyacinth, you are to stay at Grimmauld Place with Aunt Walburga. She has so graciously decided to take you in for the year. You must begin socializing with children of similar age. You will continue your lessons. You will be there Monday through Friday, on weekends you may stay at Noctis Veil, and we will have Dimple take you.” Father states.
Hyacinth stares puzzled at her Father, “But why must I go to Aunt Walburga? Can I not continue my studies here?” she whines. The last time she was at Grimmauld, Cousin Sirius, and Regulus simply kept to themselves and did not wish to talk to her.
The vein on Father’s head begins to pulsate, “Child, do not question me. You are to go there, Aunt Walburga can teach you the ways of the Ancient and Noble house of Black. Your mother and I must attend to our duties at the ministry. We will not have the energy to entertain you at Noctis Veil,” he grumbles.
Hyacinth turns to Mother, trying to see if she agrees with Father’s decision but Mother has a sort of love-sick smile on her face, that gives Hyacinth a dreadful pull in her stomach, Mother beckons Hyacinth to get her things together so Dimple can take her to Grimmauld Place.