Sisterly Fights
Theme 99: Newspaper


"Throw me a sickle, Bella."

"Ask mum," Bellatrix replied, not looking up from the book she was reading towards the half-open window, where her sister stood, detaching the morning's newspaper from an owl's leg.

"You can at least speak to me like I'm your sister, and not your Godforsaken house-elf," Narcissa hissed.

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. "You surprise me with your childishness, Cissy. When will you grow up?"

Ever since she had fought with Lucius the other day, it had become a habit for her to quarrel with everyone without reason. Without responding, Narcissa left the room.

Mother-Daughter Talks
Theme 72: Vex


Lucius Malfoy had platinum hair. Narcissa Black had platinum hair, too.

"Platinum cross platinum annoys me," Andromeda said, clearly vexed. "Oh, mother, must she court him?"

"Nonsense, Dromeda," Mrs. Black responded, displeased. "She has made an excellent match. Though, of course, I can not expect you to understand," she added, turning away. "When you refuse to stop seeing Marcus, of all people."

Andromeda flushed. "Mother! His position in the Wizarding world -"

"I do not care for his position, Dromeda!" Mrs. Black snapped. "He is a half-blood! You may leave."

Without word or glance, Andromeda stormed out of the room.

A Tale of Pink
Theme 98: Pajamas


Bellatrix Black raised an eyebrow. Narcissa, she was now certain, was childish to the point of foolishness.

"You bought pink?" she asked scornfully, her eyes on the fresh stack of pajamas heaped upon her youngest sibling's bed. "Mother goes too far, letting you buy such colours."

Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "I suppose you would have preferred black with skulls all over," she huffed unaffectionately.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Bellatrix replied coolly. "Anything to the sort of things you buy." She rose, leaving the bedroom.

- Narcissa was turning out to be as much of a disappointment as Andromeda.

'Sirius' Talks
Theme 74: X-tinguish


It was dark in the bedroom as Mrs. Black made her way towards her bed, the dim light of a solitary lamp guiding her.

"It's been a tiring day, Orion," Walburga Black muttered, extinguishing the lamp with a lazy flick of her wand.

Orion Black smiled grimly. "Yes... Is it true, what they say about Sirius, Burga?" There was a touch of grief to his tones.

Walburga's eyes flashed fire. "Your son crosses all limits," she spat breathlessly. "A Gryffindor to begin with. To think he mingles with blood traitors!"

Checking a sigh, Orion looked away. "Goodnight, Burga."

Useless Things
Theme 1: Herbology


Herbology. Roots. Boring.

Sirius Black groaned as he worked, James happily poking a potted plant in what could have been the eye with his wand in the meantime.

"Useless things," Sirius muttered darkly.

In response, James poked the potted plant with his wand again. It wriggled.

"Ooooh, it wriggles!"

"Prongs!"

James jumped. "Yes?"

"Help me with these roots, alright?" Sirius sounded testy. "They won't pull themselves out."

"What are you so unhappy about?" James demanded.

"Could you pay me more attention than some stupid potted plant, for once!" Sirius snapped.

"Sure," James said, poking Sirius instead of the plant.

Yes, Blue Hair Signals Trouble
Theme 96: Socks


Nymphadora had a new pair of socks this Christmas. The little girl giggled and giggled over them and, Andromeda, watching her, could not help giggling, too.

"She's turning out to be a very sweet child, isn't she, Ted?" she could not help asking.

Ted Tonks smiled at his wife, nodding. "Though, of course, a bit clumsy," he admitted. "Never saw the likes of her for -"

There was a loud crash as, a second later, little blue-haired Nymphadora bumped into the bedside lamp, sending it crashing to the floor where it lay, shattered.

"- For getting into trouble," Ted completed solemnly.

Waiting in The Rain
Theme 27: Owl


Rain.

Leaning against the windowsill, Narcissa Black shook droplets of water out of her. In noisy silence, they pattered against the pane and, a mug of coffee in her hands, Narcissa felt number than usual.

He had said he would send word. A letter, a note, anything – But he had not. It had been two weeks now and Narcissa, making her way through the frequent rains, wished she could sink in the ground with the droplets, fade into the unlit sky.

Seated there today, she craned her neck, hoping to catch the outline of a nearing owl.

- There was none.

What Mother Says
Theme 19: Wand


Like thousands before him, Regulus Black walked into the shop with eager steps and an eager countenance. As always, Ollivander noticed.

- As always, Ollivander ignored.

"Mahogany, thirteen inches, nice and flexible," the shopkeeper stated, tapping the wand against his desk. "Very nice for Charms, Mr. Black. "

"Charms?" Regulus scoffed, his keen expression suddenly replaced by one that assured Ollivander that he was, indeed, a Black to the core. "Mother finds it useless."

What Ollivander did not tell the boy as, wordlessly, he passed him the wand, was that the Dark Lord's wand had been one suited to Charms, too.

Warnings Galore
Theme 73: Warn


"Sirius Black, this is preposterous!" Walburga seemed ready to attack him any moment.

"I don't see why," Sirius said defiantly. "What's wrong with it?"

Ignoring her son's words, Walburga Black marched up to the wall and tore off the huge poster plastered to it. Guitar over shoulder, the girl in the poster showed no emotion.

"I'm warning you, Sirius!" Walburga's tones were acidic. "One more mudblood poster in your bedroom, and I'm turning you out of the house."

"I'll keep as many as I like, thank you," Sirius snapped, snatching the poster from her and storming out of the room.

Non-unmarried Snowballs
Theme 95: Snowball


SPLAT.

James Potter turned, mouth dripping snow, only to see Sirius moulding another snowball.

“Oh no you don’t, Padfoot.”

At once, James grabbed a handful of snow, and whacked it straight into his best friend. Sirius ducked – and the ball of snow crashed straight into Remus.

Sirius stuck his tongue out. “Too bad, Prongs.”

“I think the snowball loves Moony,” James said, grinning, as Remus attempted to wipe the snow off his face.

“Yeah, it’s probably going to marry me any instant,” Remus said sarcastically.

“What a tragedy when Samantha seems so interested in you,” Sirius could not help saying.

Hazel-Eyed Goblins
Theme 36: Muggle


“Who’s – that?”

Andromeda Black’s eyes seemed ready to jump out of their sockets. At her side, Sirius grinned.

"Put your eyes back in, Dro. That's Ted, works in the Goblin Liaison Office. Muggle-born."

"His eyes are hazel," Andromeda said, emphasizing the last word as if it was something absolutely extraordinary. "Hazel, Sirius."

The man named Ted turned, before Sirius could reply. "Anything I may help you with?" he asked, not too kindly - Apparently, he could tell they had no business there.

Sirius thumped Andromeda on the back. "See you later, Dro. Happy making up excuses, eh?"

The Clock Ticks Twelve
Theme 94: Allergic


With a groan, Bellatrix Black brought her silken handkerchief closer to her mouth, sneezing into it. How terrible! It was here again, the season to dread, and now she was coughing and sneezing all over the house.

She hated it. Pink. Red. Valentines. Chocolates. Love. Couldn’t they at least keep them out of the house, especially when they knew she was allergic to it all?

– Seemed not.

“Any better, Bella?” Mrs. Black asked sympathetically, as the former was treated to a steaming, home-made butterbeer.

“How much longer before midnight?” Bellatrix groaned.

Mrs. Black sighed. “Eleven hours and fifty-nine minutes, darling.”

Chocolaty Apologies
Theme 92: Chocolate


They had fought, and she had told him he was too obsessed with the Dark arts to care for her. Now Narcissa sat in her bedroom, red-eyed.

Bellatrix poked her head into her sister’s room. “You have a visitor.”

“I don’t want any,” she snapped.

Bellatrix sighed – Narcissa, she was now certain, could never grow up. In silence, she withdrew.

Seconds later, someone placed a warm, heavy hand on her shoulder. Narcissa jumped – only to see Lucius.

“I’m sorry,” he said, placing a finger on her lips before she could speak, and stowing a box of chocolates into her hands.

Our Stoves of Glass
Theme 93: Chicken


“Some farmers breed chickens,” the new Muggle Studies Professor read out nervously from the textbook. There were fifteen minutes to go before the class ended, and the past hour had already told them that she was too jittery and too inexperienced to do them much good.

“Yeah, and they have huge, wooden rooms to cook the chickens,” Sirius slipped in.

The Professor jumped. “Oh my!”

Sirius nodded. “Yeah – cook ‘em for ten hours, then they add lots of vinegar – that’s to attract vampires . And did you know their stoves are made of glass?”

Behind him, James stifled his laughter.

A Prisoner of Fate
Theme 91: Future


It was a depressive thought. Shut up, once again, with Buckbeak, Sirius pushed back his clearly unkempt mane of dark hair, grey eyes that could still easily be the envy of hundreds studying his bedroom.

It was a depressive thought. To think that he was captive here, a prisoner in his own house. Who cared what Dumbledore said, who cared if there was a thousand galleon prize for information leading to him? He did not want to stay here, locked up in his own place.

He could only hope the future, when it came, would be better than the present.

Sweets For The Sweet
Theme 90: Present


She was humming. Hands working with amazing speed as she knitted, Narcissa’s face radiated nothing but sheer happiness.

“I see someone got you a present,” Bellatrix said with a smirk, catching her pleased countenance as she entered the room.

Narcissa blushed, her eyes immediately straying to the box of chocolates next to her, well-aware that she had betrayed her delight – No good denying it now.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” she said, a little haughtily. “Seems as if he cares, after all.”

“Yes, seems so,” Bellatrix said quietly. The taste of Lucius's lips was still strong in her mouth.

No Black’s Loss
Theme 89: Past


“Sirius Black, I hate you!”

Nicola Redwood’s fury seemed to break like a storm that had waited in the wings of merry weather for days on end.

“Nic –”

“I don’t want to hear another word, alright?”

“Nic –”

“If you love Andromeda Black so much –”

“Nic, please, she’s just my cousin.”

Nicola’s eyes narrowed. “I know that, Sirius. And I know exactly what you two do together in those walks of yours. I’m over you, I hate you. You’re past even detestable.”

Sirius’s temper boiled over. “Your loss, Nicola,” he said coolly, walking off, hands tucked in pockets.

And She Hates Perfume
Theme 88: Sweet Tooth


“You should use less of that beastly stuff you wear,” Bellatrix scowled, as Lucius uncorked a bottle of scent. “I’m not Cissy, Lucius.”

“I know,” Lucius said. “She has a sweet tooth.”

“Yes - a thing for chocolates,” Bellatrix said, with distaste. “And I would prefer if you don’t assume I like you, because I meet you in secret. You know I love to avenge her Rodolphus’s early affections.”

A faint smile crossed Lucius’s face. “You’re delicious, Bella, though I shouldn’t be doing this.”

Bellatrix smirked. “Neither should I.”

Lucius leaned in, his perfume overpowering.

Miniskirt Plaid
Theme 87: Plaid


The dormitory rang with chatter. It was Christmas, and everyone had presents.

“New robes!” Myrlis Carrow squealed, exciting attention which was soon diverted as the Black sisters opened their heap of presents, Narcissa proudly displaying hers. Bellatrix was in a less pleased mood – Rodolphus had failed to send her anything.

“What did you get, Bella?” some of the girls asked her, aware that her presents were always the best: If Narcissa got fine, Bellatrix with her web of high and mighty friends and acquaintances, got finer.

“A batch of plaid miniskirts,” Bellatrix said coldly, just to drive them all away.

Only Monkeys Climb Trees
Theme 86: Daring


Sirius jumped down from the topmost branch of one of Hogwart’s most difficult-to-climb trees. Lily Evans, on her way to the lake with her friends, stopped momentarily.

“You climbed that?” she asked, stunned.

“Hold the applause, ladies,” Sirius grinned, as Alice let out a whistle. “I know I’m awesome.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “Must have taken a lot of daring, there,” she admitted, though.

“Yup, sure did,” an intoxicating voice said, as James chose the moment to jump down from the topmost branch, too.

Lily pulled herself to her fullest height. “I’ve changed my mind, Sirius – Only monkeys climb trees.”

Un-snappish Endings
Theme 85: Snappish


“Beautiful weather, no?” Regulus asked.

The silver-haired part-Veela nodded roughly. “Yes.” Her voice was stiff.

“Geraldine?”

“Yes?” she asked coldly.

Yes – That was the only word she had used for the past fifteen minutes. To say the least, Regulus was beginning to feel – odd.

“Why are you so – snappish?” he asked calmly.

Geraldine looked up, into his intoxicating eyes. “You spend more time with Myrlis than with me,” she said quietly.

“But she’s my best friend!” Regulus protested, surprised. When Geraldine did not reply, he silently wrapped his arms around her and –

“Geraldine?”

She looked away, then kissed him back.

Angry - Or Not?
Theme 84: Angry


Angry. That was what Andromeda was. She could not be anything else, because anger was always the outcome of a sensible talk with Bellatrix.

She huffed to work, barging down the Ministry hallways – until she ran straight into Ted.

“Steady there, Miss Black,” the tall man said, catching her before she fell. “Are you alright?”

Andromeda blushed. She knew Ted: He was not one to care if you had no genuine business with him. This abrupt, though brief, show of concern unsettled her all the more.

“I – Yes,” she said, pulling herself free and leaving, anger replaced by sudden delight.

Master and House-Elf
Theme 83: Fearful


“Master Regulus?”

Kreacher’s voice was small. Regulus turned to him, his eyes betraying sudden fearfulness. When he spoke, however, his voice could not have been calmer. “Yes, Kreacher?”

“What – what does young master want Kreacher to do?” The house-elf asked, oddly unsettled by their surroundings but willing as ever to carry out any duty assigned to him.

Regulus gazed at the pedestal, within which the green potion lay, unmoving. Finally, he turned to Kreacher.

“You must make me drink this at all costs. Force me if I try to back out. Is that understood, Kreacher?”

Half frightened, the house-elf nodded.

Risks Unspoken Of
Theme 82: Careful


Regulus nodded approvingly at Kreacher. “That’s – that’s a good house-elf there,” he said, his voice half mute.

He fell on his knees, next to the pedestal, and with a suddenness that suggested he felt it would be better if faster, Regulus scooped up the potion into his hands.

It felt cold. Soft to touch. Some of it dripped down the spaces between his fingers. Carefully but swiftly, Regulus brought the liquid to his lips. For a moment, he felt a shiver run up his spine, and he knew he was taking a huge risk, drinking it.

Then, deeply, he drank.