Pre Wedding Rituals
And so the big day came. Bellatrix's wedding.
It was the morning of Bellatrix's wedding day, and preparations were underway in the Black household. Servants scurried about, setting out decorations and making final adjustments to the ballroom where the ceremony would take place.
Bellatrix herself was in the dressing room, with her mother and Narcissa nearby to help her prepare.
"Ow!" Bellatrix snapped as her mother shoved yet another pin into her hair.
"Oh don't be silly, Bellatrix!" Druella fussed, continuing with the hairstyle.
"OW!"
"Fine! Narcissa get over here!" She called before huffing out the room. "You finish this, I have to go make sure the flowers are here!"
The door was tense for a moment after she left but Narcissa made her way over and cautiously started to adjust her sisters' hair.
Narcissa broke the silence,"You know, Andromeda is better at-"
"No." Bellatrix commanded.
"Okay, that's fine."
It had been weeks and they still hadn't talked since the staircase. Even before then, Bella and Andy hadn't been on the best of terms.
So, naturally Andromeda was banished from the bridal suite. Even though she was technically a bridesmaid, she hadn't even been included in any of those preparations.
In the mirror, Bellatrix looks almost unrecognisable as Narcissa finished up with her hair. Neat and tidy.
Bellatrix was by no means a lazy mess normally, the chaos of her daily look was quietly calculated and fed into her dark femme elegance. This was different, nothing could take away the strength behind those dark eyes but with the lack of volume, her unusually silky hair seemed out of place.
"This is perfect," Narcissa said as she looked at her sister with a smile.
Bellatrix smiled back and admired her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was tidy and neat, with not a strand out of place. The lack of volume in her hair made her look more elegant than she had ever looked before. With the help of Narcissa's styling, Bellatrix looked strong and beautiful, and she knew it.
"Narcissa, it is simply unnatural to look this refined," Bellatrix complained as she saw her reflection.
"And yet," Narcissa chided, "it does suit you."
Bellatrix glared at her sister, but she had to admit that she was right. With her hair neatly tied up and her features sharpened by the makeup, Bellatrix looked positively deadly.
"Fine, you win," she conceded, "I must admit that I look damn good."
"Of course you look good," Narcissa said with a smug smile. "All of these enhancements are only bringing out your natural beauty."
"Oh please," Bellatrix scoffed, "I'm supposed to be scary, not beautiful."
But even Bellatrix could see that Narcissa was right. With her hair neatly tied back and her features sharpened by the makeup, she looked positively stunning.
"Perhaps I can be both," she mused.
"That's the spirit," Narcissa said, finishing up with Bellatrix's makeup and stepping back. With a single look in the mirror, Bellatrix saw her transformation complete, and she couldn't help but smile. Not only was she looking drop-dead gorgeous, but her deadly reputation preceded her.
"All right," Narcissa said, turning to leave. "I'll send someone to help you get in your dress but I've also gotta go get changed."
"Off you go." Bellatrix waved her off.
Narcissa headed to leave, pausing briefly at the door. "We're still sisters after today, right?"
"Of course."
"Okay." Narcissa smiled softly and then left the room.
~
The wedding ceremony was a lavish affair, with guests dressed in their finest clothes and a stunning display of magical decorations. As each guest entered the venue, they were greeted and led to their assigned seats.
Andromeda was escorted in by Lucius, given their public engagement it was expected of them. Ever since that night, they could hardly escape each other. From afternoon teas to parties with all and any pureblood friend or relative, they were being paraded around to anyone who would host them.
Tradition states that the suitor should transport his lady from her own home to the venue and inside but given the affair was held in her own home that didn't work so Druella had put Andromeda on greeting guests by the door until the Malfoys joined them and then she was released.
"You look radiant as ever, Andromeda," Lucius said through gritted teeth as he stood next to his fiancé at Bellatrix's wedding.
Andromeda tried her best to plaster a fake smile on her face, but the tense atmosphere was palpable.
"And you, my love," she responded in an equally strained tone, "Look dashing in your finest apparel."
The two of them exchanged a cold glance that hid the unspoken tension between them. Today was supposed to be a blessed day, but instead, it was filled with bitterness and resentment.
"Andromeda, my dear," Lucius said as he walked in with her, "today is a day of celebration. Yet you seem tense," he continued, his eyes fixed on Andromeda's face. "Is something bothering you?"
Andromeda glared at him, feeling a flood of negative emotions coming to the surface. "Perhaps I am not in the mood for a celebration, Lucius," she snapped, "Especially for the business exchange of my sister."
Lucius glared back at her, feeling the tension in the air. "I would advise you to keep your opinions to yourself, Andromeda," he hissed.
"Or what, Lucius?" Andromeda challenged, her gaze fixed on him. "What will you do, if not stand there looking at me with that self-righteous expression?"
Lucius glared back at her, his anger starting to rise. He grasped her arm and dragged her into a dark corner.
"You have no right to talk to me like that, Andromeda," he barked, "I am your fiancé, and I will not be disrespected in this manner."
Andromeda rolled her eyes, feeling frustrated and annoyed.
"How typical," she said under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Lucius said, his voice rising. "What did you say?"
Andromeda met his gaze, her fists clenched at her sides. "You heard me, Lucius," she said, a dangerous glint in her eyes, "Don't be stupid, surly there's a brain somewhere behind those empty eyes."
Lucius's face darkened, his anger starting to boil over.
"Careful, Andromeda," he warned, "Remember your place. You are not my equal, and you have no right to speak to me in this tone."
"My place?" Andromeda sneered, feeling rage pulsing through her veins. "I don't have a 'place', Lucius, I have a mind of my own." As she spoke, her volume increased, capturing the attention of other guests in the vicinity. She didn't care how loud she was, feeling the need to air her grievances. "I will speak how I wish, when I wish, and none of you have the right to tell me otherwise."
"Don't make a scene." He warned.
"Oh, and I forgot," Andromeda said, her voice dripping with contempt, "Our engagement means that I am now your property, subject to your anger and judgement?"
"Perhaps you have already forgotten," Lucius said, his voice filled with hatred, "that your family swore loyalty to the Dark Lord."
Andromeda's eyes widened, feeling a wave of shame wash over her.
"That was not my choice," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But I suppose you see me as nothing more than an extension of my family."
"Perhaps you are right," Lucius hissed, his voice filled with contempt. "You are nothing more than an extension of your family, and a weak, cowardly extension at that. Do not push me any further on this matter."
"Or what, Lucius?"Andromeda challenged him. "What will you do?"
But before Lucius could respond, Narcissa stepped between the two of them.
"Enough," she said firmly, her gaze sharp as she looked between the two of them.
"This is not the place for you to work out your vendettas."
The couple stared at each other, their eyes full of hatred, but when Narcissa's gaze fell on them, they knew they had no choice but to comply.
"Very well," Lucius said, stepping back from Andromeda. "We shall not make a scene at our beloved Bellatrix's wedding."
Andromeda glared at him, her expression full of contempt. But when she met Narcissa's sharp gaze, she knew that she had to swallow her pride and keep silent.
"Fine," she finally said.
They exchanged one last look, filled with tension, before turning away from each other and moving towards their seats.
Narcissa grabbed Andromeda's arm before she could leave.
"What was that?" She whispered.
"He's an ass."
"Are you trying to get yourself in trouble again?"
Andromeda sighed, looking over a little sister. "Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, I'll be fine."
"Good." Narcissa smiled. "Now, let's go. The ceremony is about to start."
As the final guests made their way to their seats, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The ceremony was about to begin, and everyone couldn't wait to see the happy couple exchange their vows. When it was time for Bellatrix to make her entrance.