Narcissa Malfoy
December 8th, 1994
Belle had never been busier with dress making, than she had this year. Of course the Hogwarts Supply list for fourth years and up had to include dress robes this year. Obviously Malkin's was overwhelmed and she had stopped taking clients months ago. This caused an influx of work for Belle. She'd been making dresses and dress robes since July. It was great for business of course, just exhausting. She considered that maybe in the future she may need to hire some help.
Minerva had warned her ahead of time, around June, confiding that the Triwizard Tournament was returning to Hogwarts and that there would be a ball come Christmas. She had a small suspicion when she'd been informed that Samantha would be very excited, not that she wasn't already.
Samantha had been assigned to be the Hogwarts Gazette's Editor-in-Chief. Something she was apparently taking very seriously. She'd been doing incredibly well with it. It had been some of Samantha's better work, she'd been given quite a bit of exclusive access to the tournament behind the scenes.
She knew Jack would find the tournament itself interesting. However, the ball part wouldn't be nearly as interesting, especially since they'd probably have to find dates. He had recently proclaimed that women his age were too immature for him, and that dating one would be quite unsuitable for his time.
Belle's thoughts trailed back to the dress robes she was working on currently. She'd finally found time to work on Sammy's. She wanted them to be like Samantha's personality. A deep garnet color with little golden stars that would individually sparkle with her every movement. It would have a synched waist and the sleeves would be off the shoulders. It was mature for Samantha.
She'd finished Jack's the night before. Simple ebony robes with crushed velvet. She'd wait to make him a tie till he got a date. She'd try to match his tie to his date's dress robes.
The bell to the store rang and for the first time Belle dreaded more customers. She'd finally felt slightly caught up.
She turned to see Narcissa Malfoy standing in the door way. Her blonde hair now had dark streaks beneath it and age had taken it's toll, but whenever Belle saw her, she just saw Cissy. She saw pain she'd suppressed for years, pain of heartbreak and betrayal.
There was also the matter of Narcissa's extended family. Belle knew you couldn't judge people off of their families, but after what her sister and brother-in-laws did, it was hard to forgive her supposed ignorance. There was no way Narcissa wouldn't have known about what they had planned to do, she and Bellatrix were too close.
She and her husband both claimed that their work with You-Know-Who was while under the Imperious curse. Belle suspected, knowing both her and her husband decently well, that not a lot of influence could have gone into it.
"Hello Belle." Narcissa nodded uncomfortably. She was dressed in silver robes and had a black handbag. Her eyes darted around the room and her hands were clasped.
"Mrs. Malfoy." Belle greeted coldly. Narcissa had never entered her store before. She'd never even greeted her since Belle's return to the country.
"My son, Draco informed me that the dress robes I originally purchased are now too small." Narcissa said without any form of real emotion. "Malkin's is too busy to take my order apparently. I was informed you could possibly take my order."
"Do you have his current measurements?" Belle asked, trying not to feel the pain just being in the same room with her brought. She would be cordial and kind, at least in a professional sense.
Narcissa reached into her bag and pulled out a little parchment paper.
Belle took the paper from Narcissa. He was just a bit shorter than Jack. "It'll take me a couple of days, but I can have them before the ball."
Narcissa walked over to Sammy's dress. "Oh those are beautiful. May I ask who those will belong to?"
"My daughter actually. I finally had time to start on them." Belle explained before walking behind her counter. She put the little paper down onto the counter before summoning her sketching quill to her hands along with a sketch pad. "My kids always end up getting whatever energy I have left."
"I believe our sons are in the same house." Narcissa mentioned looking nervously around. "They both played Quidditch together, were you at any of the games?"
"Yes." Belle nodded, Narcissa didn't need to ask, she knew she had been there. She'd seen her, looked her dead in the eye even.
Belle wrote Draco's name at the bottom of the paper. "So what color do you need Draco's robes to be?" Belle asked looking up.
"Green, to match our family crest." Narcissa explained coming to the counter, her heeled shoes making an unnatural sound on the soft wood floor. "And his date will be in a pale shade of pink."
"Any style in particular?" Belle inquired thinking green and pink could be quite a nice combination.
"Not really, sleek and simple may be best."
Belle enchanted her quill to begin sketching. She had an idea to make the lines a bit rigid and harsh, very stately.
"Honestly, it's a lovely excuse to see you Belle. I remember when you once made my dress robes, I was one of your first!" Narcissa said with a begging smile.
A bittersweet memory to say the very least. One that stung with an inconsolable pain.
"Second." Belle looked her in the eyes, trying to be as brave and face that memory.
"Yes." Narcissa's eyes darted away and her smile pursed. "Second. How could I forget?"
Belle grimaced and looked back down to the design. It was coming together nicely and quickly at least.
"I mean, even now with your more refined gowns, I can't help but think your first were some of the most exquisite I'd ever seen." Narcissa continued complimenting. "You remember, I hope. The elegant cream velour with the silver moon belt?"
"I remember."
"It was the first dress I ever felt like a woman in." Narcissa stood tall and looked back at Samantha's gown. "I hope your daughter will feel the same way, such an elegant design. Does she have a date yet?"
Belle shook her head, "Not yet, but she has plenty of friends, I'm sure one will eventually ask her." Belle knew Samantha's friend group had again expanded this year with several new additions to the Gazette. She had also read in Samantha's letters about a boy from the Beauxbatons school who liked to study with her.
"Well, if Draco didn't have a standing with Miss Parkinson, I could very well have convinced him to take her." Narcissa insisted. "Your daughter is in the same year as Draco."
Belle wanted to laugh, Sammy couldn't stand him. She said he bullied her classmates and had once called her a halfblooded monstrosity. She didn't have time to retaliate, Ginny Weasley apparently stunned him instead.
Belle nodded wracking her brain for a better response. "My daughter wrote in her paper that Professor Moody turned Draco into a ferret."
Belle swore in her mind. She didn't mean to bring that up. She was just so nervous it burst out.
Narcissa swallowed uncomfortably. "Yes, Lucious wrote to the school quite furiously regarding that incident thanks to your daughter's article. She's a talented little writer."
Belle handed Narcissa her sketchbook. She had the price listed at the top along with the estimate for timing.
Narcissa looked it over. "How handsome. I think Draco will look smashing."
"I do require the downpayment now and I will have to charge a few sickles extra for the rush work." Belle informed with a sly smile of her own.
"Of course, I assumed." Narcissa reached into her bag and pulled out the money. She placed it into Belle's hand. "I appreciate it old friend."
Belle didn't respond immediately, just looked at the money in her hand as Narcissa turned to leave. A small fury grew inside her. How could she say they were still friends? They hadn't spoken in years. How could she dare come into her place of business and remind her of traumatic memories?
Belle spoke just as Narcissa reached the door, "We aren't friends anymore."
Narcissa turned her head and her striking eyes met Belle's again. "Beg pardon?"
Belle stood a bit straighter. "We are not friends anymore Mrs. Malfoy."
Narcissa's eyes looked towards the floor. "No, I suppose we are not."
November 12th, 1971
Alice twirled around in her golden gown. It had longer puffed sleeves and a dark blue ribbon around the waist. She'd gotten the fabric for half price and transfigured it to shine. Her every movement shone color upon the walls of Alice's bedroom in the apartment above Honeydukes.
"You are going to have to hold still if I am to fix the trim Alice." Belle insisted looking up at Alice from her knees and watching her twirl.
"I'm sorry." Alice said before stepping back over to Belle in front of the mirror. She giggled a bit. "It's just that I've never owned anything so elegant before."
"Well, I'm glad you like it." Belle exclaimed with a smile and reaching for the bottom of the dress.
"Like it?" Alice asked in a whimsical daze, she stared at herself and her cheeks turned pink, "Oh Belle, I love it."
Belle had enjoyed getting to do something out of her ordinary.
The door to Alice's room opened and Mrs. Flume looked in, she had Alice's eyes and a tender disposition. You could tell that she had been a real beauty in her time as well. "Oh you look beautiful Alice!" She exclaimed.
"Don't I mum?" Alice asked with a giggle.
"Absolutely stunning." Mrs. Flume smiled proudly. "Now I believe you have another friend here to see you both."
Cissy stood just behind Mrs. Flume and looked shocked as she came into the room. "She's right Alice! You look like a dream."
Belle expected to look back and see Cissy's normal face of judgement towards her design. Instead, she seemed to be staring in a slight bit of awe. Belle took that in itself as a success.
"Do you think you could make me one?" Cissy asked as she watched Alice twirl. Belle began considering making a dress for herself as well, just based on how well this one had turned out.
An hour later she and Cissy were in Gladrags picking out fabric. Cissy had her eye on a yard of cream velour in the window. She said she'd pay for the fabric when they saw the very large price tag.
Belle had been paid by Alice's parents, but she didn't want to spend it all on fabric. The better fabrics and threads cost almost as much as she'd been paid.
"I would have thought your family would have plenty of Augury fabric you could have used Miss Brenna." Mrs. Gladrags, the owner, observed from behind the counter at Belle as she looked through the clearance rack. There wasn't much to offer there, each fabric felt cheap or it was stained.
Her family's Augury birds had feathers that could be transformed into very expensive and useful fabrics. The magical properties of Augury fabric was intensely profitable.
Belle shook her head, "It's for selling and not for personal use unfortunately. We are only allowed a little for ourselves." Belle lied, her mother would have probably sent her some, but it would have come at a cost higher than money. She'd probably have to go home for Christmas.
"Of course, you are welcome to anything you find in the storage room. Half price." Mrs. Gladrags offered nodding towards a door at the back with a large, 'employees only' sign.
Cissy was still preoccupied with the velour in the window so Belle didn't think she'd mind. Maybe she could find the perfect something back there.
"Thank you Mrs. Gladrags." Belle nodded to Mrs. Gladrags who tipped her light gray hat over her wrinkled face.
Belle entered the dark room, only a window provided light. There were trunks and shelves surrounding her. Belle began opening them. Beautiful light tulles and deep shaded velvets greeted her. Each box held something absolutely exquisite. A gorgeous gray lace really caught her attention, she could distress it and transfigure it a darker black. She had an idea, that was just her style and preference.
Half price for anything? Belle thought it was all too good to be true as she knelt to open the last trunk.
A billowing shadow emerged from the trunk, knocking Belle clear off of her feet.
The shadow transformed to stand tall above her it had the outline of fluffy hair and broad shoulders. It had a wand outstretched towards her, long bony fingers wrapped around it.
"Belle." It whispered and Belle recognized the raspy voice of her brother, Glenn. Her heart began racing as she heard his laugh. Why was he in a trunk in Gladrags?
Her name echoed from the shadow again, "Belle."
She covered her ears and cowered into the corner. What was he doing here? Why would he be here? Was he going to hurt her like he had years before when she was too young to defend herself? When she was very young, he would sneak into her room and use her as a test subject for whatever dark curse he pleased.
She wondered which curse he would send at her this particular time. She cowered her face into the fabric she held. She prepared for the torture curse or the imperious curse, she felt hot tears leave her eyes. She was frozen in place, she didn't even consider the wand at her hip.
"Hold still Belle." The shadow echoed again before raising the wand more dramatically. He was hesitating. Why couldn't he just get it over with? She just wanted him to hurt her now instead of drawing it out.
The shadow suddenly began transforming between two different shapes as the door to the room opened. It was still the shadow, but it had the head of a large venomous snake. Cissy stepped in front of Belle and the shadow transformed fully into a snake.
It was a boggart. Not Glenn.
"Ridikkulus!" Cissy's voice called. The snake turned into a slinky and began rolling around the room. Cissy began laughing heartily, before grabbing Belle off the floor and pulling her out of the room.
"Damn Boggart! I heard you screaming Belle." Cissy yelled, she grabbed Belle's hand and slammed the door. "Are you ok?"
Belle couldn't speak, just shook her head. Belle's whole body was trembling, she thought she'd never feel like that again. She was terrified beyond her imagination. He was the main reason she never wanted to step a foot inside her family home again.
Cissy pulled her close to her and held her while she shook. She ran her hand through Belle's long hair.
Cissy began yelling at Mrs. Gladrags, "What in the living hell were you thinking, sending my friend up into that room knowing a Boggart was in there?"
Mrs. Gladrags began trying to hastily explain herself. "I had no idea there was a Boggart back there."
"Oh bull." Cissy exclaimed patting Belle's hair, "You deliberately sent her back there because you hold a grudge against her family. So what if they have better fabric than your cheap knock off muggle polyester? That gives you no right to scare a girl out of her wits. What if I hadn't heard her screams?"
"I did no such thing. I do not appreciate this accusation."
"Just wait until my father hears about this!" Cissy growled practically, "That my very close friend was attacked in Gladrags for prejudice against her family. What a scandal that will create!"
"There is no need for that." Mrs. Gladrags held up her hands nervously.
"My poor friend has been traumatized!" Cissy exclaimed still holding Belle close to her and touching her cheek. "I don't think I've ever seen her cry in my whole life."
"Does she need me to escort you both to Hogwarts."
"No, she will not be escorted by her attacker." Cissy pouted her face. "You've done enough, she will however take all of the fabric she has in her arms and the white velour in the window for free."
"I'm sure I can add a bit more as well, so to apologize better." Mrs. Gladrags insisted with wide eyes and shaking hands.
Twenty minutes later, they were sitting in the Hogshead INN with two large bags of expensive fabric, more than Belle would ever need. Cissy suggested they go to the dilapidated old INN to calm down instead of the Three Broomsticks so Belle could recover privately.
Belle was still shaking as the old bar man dropped off Butterbeers for them.
"Got anything stronger?" Cissy asked, "Can't you see she's traumatized?"
He grunted before returning with two shots of something that looked rusty.
"I-I-don't drink Cissy." Belle argued looking at the drinks. "I'm a pr-e-fe-ct."
"You will today." Cissy said sliding it over to her. "Boggarts can take a lot out of a person. Dromeda taught me how to battle them, there was one in our attic for the longest time."
Belle nodded and tried to take a drink of the rusty drink. It tasted horrible, like nails.
"Can I ask you something Belle?" Cissy asked softly taking Belle's hand.
Belle dreaded the question, so she skipped to the answer, "I'm not going to explain why Glenn is my greatest fear."
"You don't have to." Cissy's eyes looked her over genuinely and with an understanding. Their eyes met and it was like she shared a similar pain. "No, what I was asking, is if that's the reason you didn't go home? If that's why you won't discuss these special classes?"
Belle decided to be honest and nodded.
"You could have told me Belle." Cissy whispered, "You could have stayed with me. Mum thinks you are wonderful and my sisters already consider you family."
"I can't." Belle shook her head, "They'd try to bring me home."
Cissy nodded pulling her hair out of her face.
"Don't tell please, not Andromeda, not anyone. The teachers don't know everything, but that's why they let me stay." Belle begged, "I'm just waiting to turn seventeen so I never have to go home again."
"I won't tell." Cissy promised raising her shot glass. "On my life, I swear I won't tell."
"Can we talk about something else?" Belle begged, embarrassed her friend now knew.
"Of course." Cissy nodded looking her eyes towards the bags of fabric. "Maybe dresses?"
Belle took a deep breath and they began discussing a beautiful and elegant dress to offset Cissy's eyes.
About a week later Belle was approached in the Ravenclaw common room. It was by her eccentric housemate, Sybill Trelawny who was a year bellow her. She had wild mousy hair and always had a look of exceptional surprised etched on her lips.
"So Cissy told us about her gown for the Slug party, It sounds positively groovy." Sybill whispered beside her on the couch, "Do you think maybe you could make me one?"
"I don't know Sybill." Belle answered knowing she had to still make her own gown, and she'd only really made Cissy and Alice's dresses because they were her friends.
"Oh come on." Sybill looked through her oversized glasses that made her giant eyes wider. "I'll pay you, real money. Cissy said you charged her fairly."
Belle's thoughts trailed, the Flumes had paid her very well and she hadn't charged Cissy at all. Cissy had saved her life, she couldn't charge her. However, she appreciated Cissy's white lie, because she could use the money and she had plenty of fabric to use now
"I'll even throw in a prediction if you want." Sybill said with wild eyes. Sybill came from a long line of those gifted with the sight of Divination. Belle didn't have the heart to tell her though that she knew she had better Divination grades than her.
"Alright, ten sickles and a tea leaf reading." Belle offered with a smirk. Maybe a reading would put her mind at ease, no matter how useless Sybill was, it would be entertaining at the least. She had a cup of loose leaf tea while she began sketching a patchwork dress with a patch representing each sign of the zodiac. She handed the empty cup to Sybill who began reading her leaves.
"I see compasses." Sybill said with a smile, "Successful business travel in your future. I also see a cow, so an abundance of creative fertility awaits you.""
Belle smiled as she continued sketching. Maybe this dress business would be perfectly lucrative. Maybe when she escaped it could be how she'd make money.
"Ah, but a fox stalks a butterfly. A friend will betray you and another." Sybill revealed tilting the cup.