When it rains, it pours.
☆ January 1st, 2022 ☆
☆ Alice ☆
When the Black Sisters show up in New York, they bring a storm with them. It hadn't rained in four months, until December 31st.
When it rains, it pours.
They go to a popular bar frequented by celebrities when they want to be photographed. In fact, they crash a party Alice's band has thrown for the New Year.
Bellatrix Black shows up first at 9PM, as the first boom of thunder parts the crowd with a jolt. When she steps out of the limo she makes sure she's seen. She waves and cackles at the flashing cameras surrounding her. She wiggles her fingers with a coy smile at the heads peaking through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Bellatrix comes in blood-red lipstick and a skintight black dress. She wears large bracelets around her wrists and a large ruby on her ring finger.
Next, at 10, is Andromeda Black, and she brings the first strike of yellow lightning cutting the sky above the buildings. It splits the stainless black plain and hides itself behind the clouds. The crowd looses their shit, scrambling to get as many photos as they can. She smiles a wicked grin when she's asked questions, none of which she answers. Andromeda holds her head high and walks with power that demands attention. She shows in a green slip of silk, her hair has been dyed, half tied up at the back of her head so her shiny brown waves cascade down her back. She wears dangly silver earrings that shimmer in the blinding lights.
Narcissa Black rolls in 11 with the rain.
Alice is by the window when she does, she's been there for the past twenty minutes, not daring to hope.
When the final limo comes, she knows that god had decided to smite her, because Narcissa shows up with a clear umbrella in hand. Like she knew.
It's been two years, and somehow Alice is still surprised that Narcissa has changed. She's wearing an intricate white dress that hugs her skin, it's covered in black lace around the trim. The socks that cover her legs are a sheer black, held up by garters that disappear under her dress. Her boots are a shiny black that stop at her knees. There's a large dark cross necklace around her neck. Her snow-white hair is half up, parting for two braids tied with black ribbon. Narcissa has on black eyeshadow and eyeliner to frame her eyes, but when they skid across the crowd and stop on Alice, they're the same. Narcissa twirls the handle of her umbrella around her fingers, adorned with silver rings. Alice hates that after all this time her first thought is,
You came back to me.
Because she's here. At her party. In her city. Narcissa is here.
Alice hates her, and it changes nothing, but she came back. She crashed back into her life like Artemis, Aphrodite and Hera rolled into one. Danger, beauty, and a promise.
And she brings rain.
Nobody knows what to do when they show up. They can't leave, it would cause a scene, so they just do more shots. Sirius starts it, seeing Bellatrix through the window and wordlessly making his way to the bar, jaw clenched. Her band mates, Lily, Mary, and Marlene sat surround her at a table by the window. All of them speaking in hushed voices. Bellatrix dances with their guests, arms thrown over her head. Narcissa and Andromeda sit at the bar. Andromeda drinks wine, Narcissa champagne. They talk to each other. Like this is normal. Like they didn't disappear for two years. Nobody bothers any of them. Everybody sends them nervous glances the entire time, because nobody's seen them for two years. They left everybody with two deaths and came back with a storm.
At midnight on New Years, everybody gets a notification from three previously wiped Instagram accounts.
"New posts from @Narcissa.Black, @Trixies, and @Love.Andy!"
The posts are the same, all tagging the same account.
"Debut album 'Toxine' out now!"
@hellsangels.band
The account has two posts, one of the three sisters posing for a promotional photoshoot, leaning on each other. Above them, in big loopy cursive letters reads 'TOXINE'. On the bottom of the photo the words read 'HELLS ANGELS' The next post has two photos attached. One of the tracklist:
" TOXINE
1. FAMILY TREE (INTRO)
2. ULTRAVIOLENCE
3. LABOUR
4. VIGILATNIE SHIT
5. NDA
6. PTOLEMAEA
7. DEALER
8. DYING ON THE INSIDE
9. A&W
10. BROOKLYN BABY
11. PARIS, TEXAS
12. CARMEN
13. FAMILY TREE
14. CLASS OF 2O13
15. STRANGERS"
All with the same line through it. And then the caption- "Miss us? Toxine out on all streaming platforms now! @Narcissa.Black @Trixies @Love.Andy"
Alice hand shakes when she swipes the screen with the pad of her thumb. It's the different album variants. The first one has the same photo of the three of them on the cover, the actual disk being white. The circle in the middle is black with a white heart in the middle. The second one has a photo of Bellatrix on the cover, hands in her raven hair. Wicked grin on her face. The disk is the same crimson of her lips, with the same heart in the middle colored to match. The third one is of Andromeda, her hair the same it is today, staring off camera with a grin playing on her lips. The third, of course, is Narcissa. The photo is black and white, they all are, but the white of her hair stands out against the dark background. The camera is positioned just enough above her that she has to peak through her eyelashes to look into it. Alice knows it's a photo, and she knows it's insane, but she swears she can see the blue in her eyes staring right into her soul. She looks at the actual Narcissa, and then back at her phone. She finds looking at Narcissa a perilous task, like staring directly into the sun.
Under all of the album variants are the bonus tracks that come with each one. It's obvious that they're personalized, solo songs if Alice had to guess.
"TOXINE ALBUM VARIANTS
ANDROMEDA
1. HIM & I (FT. TED TONKS)
2. GROWING PAINS
BELLATRIX
1. UNPUNISHABLE
2. MASCARA
NARCISSA
1. BACK TO BLACK
2. MIDNIGHT RAIN
Alice isn't sure how long she stays reading that until Remus plops down at their table, causing her bandmates to snap out of their stunned silence.
"I hope you brought shots." Marlene says, looking extremely fed up. They all turn off their phones and look at Remus like he's there personal savior. She doesn't miss how Remus has positioned himself so that she can't see Narcissa.
"Peter and James are getting them. Sirius is on the phone with his brother, apparently he knew." He gestures flippantly behind himself. Alice allows herself to take a moment to appreciates Remus Lupin, because he's the only one of them who's calm right now.
Lily perks up, her eyebrows furrowing, "He knew?"
They all share a look. Regulus is a secretive person, he has been since they were in school. But he's had a strong place in their large circle for years, having made up with Sirius first. Alice doesn't know him very well, but Lily and Remus are close with him so she's always regarded him high enough. Right now, though, she'd like to ring his little fucking neck with her bare hands. The fucking cunt. Remus nods, shaking his head like he can't quite believe it either. They're saved by the bell a moment later when James and Peter come back with a round of shots. She doesn't know what's in them, but none of them wait to find out. As soon as the tray hits the table everybody knocks one back. It's strong enough, but it doesn't do much to calm what she's feeling right now. James takes the seat next to Lily and Peter pulls up a chair next to Remus. For a moment they all just sit there. They're far enough from everybody else that the music isn't too loud, so they all hear it when Mary breaks the silence.
"Alright. What the fuck?" Mary crosses her arms and leans back in her chair, black eyes blazing. They all share a huff of agreement, Alice stays silent.
"I know. A band? I didn't even know they did music." James says.
She would, honest to god, rather split her head open than have this conversation right now. "I did."
The table turns to look at her, almost like they'd forgotten she was there. Mostly, she just gets a lot of sympathetic looks. Her skin crawls. She feels Lily's hand on her knee and meets her knowing look. It's not pity, it's a warning.
"Do you want me to call Benjy?" Their driver that they sometimes use to leave events they attend as a group. "Tell him you're leaving early? Or Frank- It's better if you leave with Frank if you want to go."
Alice does, in fact, want to leave. Lily knows this. She often does. And Alice should probably listen to her. Because leaving her own party early because her ex(?)-girlfriend who's rumored to be her ex-girlfriend crashed it isn't a good look. Especially while she's in a PR relationship with one of her best friends, Frank Longbottom. She should really leave with him. Have him pick her up. Make him take her out to ice cream or some shit that Frank would definitely do because he's an angel. At the very least she should have Lily call Benjy. They could leave as a group. Sirius would probably make Regulus take her car home. It would all be less suspicious that way. But honestly she could not care less what the fucking press thinks right now. So instead, she ignores everything that she most definitely should do, and stands up.
"No. Thank you. I'll drive myself home." It comes out stiff, almost robotic.
Alice doesn't waste time leaving the club. The rain pours down, soaking her dress. She doesn't even feel it. She smiles and waves at the paparazzi surrounding the door, because there was literally no way around them. She knows how to fake a smile, so there's no worries there. There's only one person who can tell the difference. When she gets to her car she fumbles with her keys, dropping them on the pavement several times and genuinely cursing the sky before eventually getting it open.
She drives for a while. Unwilling to go home where she has nothing to do with her hands. She's grateful her windows are tinted, because she's not sure if she's crying or not. She considers calling her mum, or Frank. If she called one of her friends they'd probably sneak away and answer it. But she doesn't. She doesn't do much, actually. Her mind wanders, she takes pointless turns. Mostly, she tortures herself with the memories of a relationship that died two years ago.
Two years ago, when Narcissa's parents drove their car over a bridge. Cygnus Black died immediately, behind the wheel. Druella, despite her bad health, swam up and just barely made it to shore. But she died in a hospital in France a year later. Alice doesn’t know if Narcissa was there. What she was feeling. She hasn’t seen her in two years.
Two years since she left their shared home without a word while Alice was taking a nap before the ball drop. Narcissa dropped off the face of the Earth after that. The new year of 2020 bringing the formal resignation of the Black Sisters from their modeling agency at midnight, all at the same time. There were no interviews, no statement, they left everything behind. Nobody heard from them. Narcissa left her phone at home, as well as as all of her belongings except the car she'd left in. They would've thought that they were dead, but they heard from their former manager, Tom Riddle, that in their resignation letter they all said that they were leaving it all behind. There have been little snippets of them since then. Sightings of one of them at a gas station in Spain, or getting coffee in France. But aside from that nobody has physically seen the Black Sisters since they left.
This was a big deal for the media, obviously. The Black Family is notorious for literally everything, and the Black Sisters were the poster children for modeling. Even if you'd never seen a magazine cover or watched a runway show in your life, you knew who they were. Bellatrix, the oldest. The picture of seduction. Temptation. Coy smiles and frizzy curls. Andromeda, the middle child. The brunette with curly hair and a naturally sophisticated appearance that could fit anything. Bellatrix, eldest. The picture of seduction. Temptation. Coy smiles and frizzy curls. And Narcissa, the youngest. The modeling agency's sweetheart. Girl-next-door, delicate. Undoubtable the most beautiful woman in the world, an angel on Earth.
Alice hated the media then, selfishly. Because they pretended to be hurt. They didn't know them. They didn't know her. They weren't there. They weren't left behind with an entire life and a four year relationship.
She's drawn out of her thoughts when her phone lights up the dark car from the seat next to her. She swears the rain stops.
Incoming call...
Unknown
Alice doesn't even hesitate. There's only one person who's ever memorized her number.
"Narcissa."
"Hello Alice." She releases a breath she didn't know she was holding, her head involuntarily leaning back onto the headrest. There's tears in her eyes. She'd know that voice anywhere. "I'll be at a restaurant tomorrow for breakfast at 5AM if you want to talk. Don't worry about the press, it's out of the way and the place will be empty when you get there. I'll text you the address."
Her first thought, stupidly, is that Narcissa isn't even a morning person.
"Why are you here Narcissa?"
There's a beat of silence.
"Isn't it obvious baby? I'm here to ruin your life again."
The line goes dead. Alice listens to the entire album in one sitting, staring blankly out of the windshield. Because she knows, in her heart, that she couldn't say no to Narcissa if she tried.
☆ January 2nd, 2022 ☆
☆ Narcissa ☆
The restaurant Narcissa had them meet at is empty when she gets there. She knew it would be, having called ahead of time offering a absolutely ungodly amount of money to the owner to close it for the day. Nobody sees her enter. She'd have known if somebody did, Narcissa Black is only seen when she wants to be. Andromeda and Bellatrix have been caught at various locations in photos over the years, but Narcissa's always been good at hiding. She's always had this ability to put herself in boxes. To stow herself away, to cut her flesh off into bite-sized pieces so that she's more easily digestible for people. So naturally, most of her remains hidden. Untouched. Clean.
She arrived early, even though she knew Alice would be late. She wanted to see the place before Alice got there. Now, at 4:40AM Narcissa pulls the sheer-white curtains closed as the first streaks of the early winter morning sunlight falls through. Regulus called the place "dingy" when he gave her the address, but she finds it rather cute. It's owned by a rather lovely couple, Arthur and Molly Weasley, with their many children. It's a small building, tucked in the corner of one of the less-populated streets in New York. Inside, it's surprisingly clean. The did her research on the couple before coming here, out of boredom mostly, and found the listing for their old house online with the photos of how it looked while they lived there. "Messy" would be kind. Regardless, the restaurant is in a bakery-style. White walls and black diamond checkered floors. Creme colored square tables pushed to the sides, lining the walls with windows that start around the middle at stop at the ceiling. Narcissa ignores the watchful, sheepish gaze of Arthur Weasley behind the counter and examines the menu.
Eventually, she settles on a small bowl of strawberry yogurt with fruit on it. Narcissa scares him a bit, she thinks, rather crazily triple checking that it doesn't have apples in it.
If there's any food Narcissa absolutely can't eat, it's apples.
She finds it hard to eat most things, actually. Modeling was never kind about those things. But apples trigger something in her brain. She gets this visceral image, akin to how somebody would imagine eating a human skull, of her teeth breaking against the soft skin, pushing into the flesh of the fruit. She imagines the seeds planting in her and bloating her stomach until she can't even walk a runway anymore. Not that she's been on one within the past two years. Old habits die hard, she supposes.
Once she's gotten her fruit she orders a black coffee. Narcissa's already had two, she really hates waking up so early, but she's still tired so she decides another can't hurt. When she sit's down at one of the tables near the door she waits. She stares at the wall. She lets herself poke and prod her food. She doesn't eat it. She doesn't plan to until Alice arrives, it's all for show anyway.
Narcissa knows Alice will come. Like a gut feeling, she knows it as surely as she knows that birds fly through the sky. When Narcissa calls, Alice comes. It's been two years, and Alice had certainly changed, but she just knows.
As she waits her nervously toys with the ring on a silver chain around her neck. It's a simple band, made of silver with a small diamond in the center. It's a ring she was given by her father when she was eleven. and started Hogwarts Academy. Her sisters got one too at the age, purity rings. It was a custom in the church they grew up in. Usually it was only for the girls but her cousins had worn them as well. Narcissa remembers it all vividly, the interviews, the questions. Like it was any of their business what a 13 year old model was getting up too. Not that it would've been anything at that age anyway. She didn't even consider it before, but the adults in her life seemed to think about their sexuality quite a bit. She wasn't stupid. She knew that even though she wore that ring around her finger the looks she and her sisters got weren't innocent. The photos were unassuming enough from the outside, each reflecting how the media viewed their particular brand of beauty. Narcissa's were especially conservative. But even then she knew the roll the was playing.
People saw her as the girl-next-door type. Blue eyes, blonde hair pulled back into pigtails adorned in blue dresses and a foreign French accent to make her interesting. A sweet, innocent, Christian girl who was far too naive to know what you were thinking. But she knew. However distantly, they all did. Even if they never spoke of it.
The ring is too small to fit her now, which is telling. She still has the indent on the ring finger of her right hand from years of wearing it. As far as she knows she's the only one who's kept hers. Aside from Regulus, who keeps his in a box somewhere only he knows. Andromeda threw hers out of Ted's car window when she ran, Bellatrix burned hers along with all her old clothes. Even Sirius threw his somewhere, though he's never said where. Narcissa kept hers though. She wears it everyday. Not because of it's actual meaning, it's far too late to give herself over to purity, but because it's a harsh reminder. It's a reminder of why she left modeling behind. Why she decided to do what she actually loved instead. The band, Hells Angels, is her way of reclaiming her fame. Her image. She won't be what they want her to be anymore. Tom Riddle can go roll around in his metaphorical grave.
She seems to have lost track of time again- something that seems a pattern for her mind- because she only looks up an hour later when Alice shows up. She's late, as Narcissa suspected, but it doesn't even matter.
Her eyes are on Alice the moment she's in the door, like a moth drawn to a flame. She realizes only now how little she'd let herself look at Alice the night before. Because it's different now, somehow.
It's the first time, and everything at once. Only it isn't, and she's changed, in ways that only somebody who knows every inch of her body would know. She's still Alice- nobody could take that from her, it would be like trying to take the air out of the lungs and expecting the body to stay alive- but she's different now. She looks the same, achingly beautiful in the way she always was. Her auburn hair which she'd been growing out whilst they were together has been cut to her chin. She has bangs now too, and they suit her. Anything would really. Narcissa can't see a world that Alice doesn't immediately light up. Her eyes are the same green they were before, but there's something sad in them now. Guarded. Exhausted, maybe. Narcissa can see the crease between her thin eyebrows and the frown lines aside the curves of her red, lipstick stained lips. She wonders if they're because of her. She hopes not, but she knows better.
She always knew that she'd hurt Alice. Her problem was always being too selfish to leave.
Until, of course, she did.
There's something in the way she stands, too. Her arms are crossed over her chest, a black hand bag hanging from the bend arch. Aside from that there's something else. Something more. Alice isn't as light as she used to be, presence wise. She's awfully radiant, even now, but something in the way she stands feels like she's apologizing for it.
Even still, Narcissa's heart stops. Her breath catches in her throat. There isn't a painting in the world that compares to Alice Fortescue.
Alice surveys the room, her eyes stopping at Narcissa. They widen, a smile plays on her lips. It's so small she can hardly see it, but it still feels sad to her. As Alice walks to the table, Narcissa feels herself grow greedy. She drinks up every single thing Alice does. Every rise and fall of her chest. Every step. Every time her eyes shift from one thing to another. When they're alone, Narcissa's entire world belongs to her. There's not yet a force strong enough to break that. She's kept up with Alice over the years, obviously. It was a bit stalker-ish, if she's honest. Everything Alice did in the public eye she saw.
But Alice being here is different. She's here. And she's real. She looks so real now. So human. The way she rests her hand on the back of the chair while she moves to sit down. The small contemplation between setting her bag on the floor or hanging it off her chair. The way she takes off her sage-green trench coat and lets it fall behind her. The dark circles painted under her eyes. The blush on her cheeks, the reddening of her nose. While she was away, Narcissa could pretend that Alice wasn't real. Or that she was this mythical being in her past. She'd see her in hindsight in a dreamy sense, never quite right. She was always too bright. Too happy. It made her feel less guilty. In her mind, Alice was still happy. She still loved her. In her mind she never ruined things.
For a moment they just stare at one another. Narcissa's hands in her lap, clasped together. Alice's mirror hers with more politeness she's ever seen her possess. She loathes it with great generosity.
"You still drink your coffee black." Is what Alice chooses to say. Almost instinctively, Narcissa raises her hand to sip her drink.
"Yes. Well. Old habits, and all that." She sets it down carefully, drawing attention to her bowl and waving a flippant hand. "Do you still drink tea? I thought I'd better wait to give your order."
Her French accent slips when she speaks. She didn't speak much English while she was with her sisters, aside from rehearsals they tended to stick with French.
Narcissa makes a big show of taking the small spoon out of the set and taking a small bite of her food. It's fine, she tells herself, I can handle this. It's harder when there's people present. When there's windows, even though they're covered. But she feels this need to prove herself to Alice. To say, See? I'm eating. Aren't you proud of me? You can trust me again. I'm all better.
"Tea's fine. Waffles too. Do they have waffles here?" Alice says hurriedly. Narcissa almost smiles at that, Alice was always a nervous eater.
She orders Alice her waffles, and they lapse into silence again. She's not sure how she expected this to go, if she's honest. For now seeing Alice is enough for her.
"It's a great album. Really, Narcissa. One of the best I've ever heard."
Her heart tumbles, flips, and runs laps behind her ribcage. It physcially gets up and holds onto her bones like it's a jailcell.
Narcissa.
She only ever liked her name when Alice said it.
"You listened to it?" She breathes and it comes out in a whisper.
"You didn't give me much of a choice. Showing up to my party. A bit dramatic, don't you think?"
It was dramatic, of course it was. They're from the 'Most Ancient and Noble House of Black', they're born with flair. It was Andromeda's idea to do it on New Years. Her and Bella were always at each others throats, but they agreed on that. Narcissa followed, of course. She'd have followed them everywhere. Always the sheep in a family full of stars. Her only conditions were New York and Alice's New Years party. Outside of that, they could choose her outfit, entrance, the time. Hell, she'd have let them choose where she lived. They didn't, evidentially. She ended up buying a decent penthouse that cost an insane amount of money, but it was sophisticated enough. Clean, white walls and sleek furnishings. A house. Not quite a home. She hasn't lived in one since she left. But it's expensive, and pretty, and makes her feel powerful.
"I should tell you," She changes the subject. "I'm betrothed to Lucius Malfoy."
Narcissa sees it. She's prepared for it for months, breaking the news. But she never handles Alice's sadness well. It feels like she's just kicked a puppy. It makes her physcially sick, the way Alice's face contorts. She tries to keep her cool, Narcissa can tell, but Alice has never been good at hiding her emotions. She wears them on her sleeve, Narcissa used to think that'd be the death of her.
She should've known.
Loving Narcissa was her death sentence. Nothing else.
It was the first time a female member of the Noble House of Black eloped. They signed the papers, quick and easy. She cried the entire night. Alone in a king-sized bed in the middle of England. She always knew she'd marry Lucius Malfoy. The second Andromeda told her that she was seeing a transfer student from Brooklyn, she knew that she'd have to take her sisters place. Even after their parents died, they all had to make sacrifices. Their parents had set up their trust in such a way that it could only be accessed if they were married to a man of her fathers choosing. Originally, Lucius had been for Andromeda. That fell through for obvious reasons, so he became hers. Bellatrix had to marry Rodolphus. Which she did, before they died even.
He's dead now, Rodolphus. She never looked into it. She doesn't want to know. Anyway, Bellatrix got her money, and got to be with her girlfriend. Rita Skeeter.
Narcissa could've just given it up. Her trust, the house, all of it. Technically she had a choice. She just made the wrong one.
"What?" It comes out broken.
"I had to marry him to access my trust. I would get a divorce, I planned too, but it's more PR than anything now. Both Andy and Bella are in relationships. Lucius is a respectable man." She says, shrugging her shoulders like it isn't a big deal. Like it doesn't kill her.
Alice nods at this, a little too fast. "I'm in a PR relationship too. Frank."
"I know." If she's surprised by this she doesn't show it. "You also dated my cousin. Was that PR too?"
It's sarcastic, and petty. She knows this. But she remembers the day that it broke the news. Sirius and Alice. Lead singers of the Valkayries and the Marauders. Not even two months after Narcissa left. She knows it's her fault, she knew it then too. But she's never prided herself on being fair. Alice crosses her arms defensively. Part of her wants to cheer. It's easier when Alice is angry at her, she can handle other peoples anger. She's far too used to it by now.
"No, that was real." Her glare is daring. "Mad?"
"No," It's not an outright lie. The pit in her stomach isn't anger. "Sirius wears more makeup than I do though."
Alice scoffs, though there's a small smile there. "Does Lucius still wear ribbons in his hair?" Narcissa doesn't answer, she just smiles a bit. So Alice continues. "Anyway. We broke up. He has a boyfriend now."
Narcissa nod solemnly. "Tragique." She deadpans. "I had a dress made for the wedding and everything." And then, "Lupin?"
"Remus."
"Thought so."
They lapse back into silence. Alice has eaten only half of her plate that was brought at some point. She loathes it. Because she doesn't want to believe that Alice has changed. Alice two years ago would've eaten the entire plate. It's such an odd thing to be worked up over, especially considering Narcissa gave up after a quarter of her bowl. But it hurts, knowing that they're both different. She desperately wants to tell Alice that she's the same, but she'd rather not lie again.
"I should go." Alice says, moving to stand up.
Narcissa feels her heart sink, but she expected it. She lets Alice get halfway to the door, but because she just can't help herself, she speaks.
"Do you still write about me?"
Alice stops dead in her tracks, she looks back. She looks back like it hurts her.
“I never stopped writing about you Narcissa,” Her heart stutters painfully in her chest. “I just stopped believing it would bring you home.”
And then she leaves.