Castle of Pride

Part 1 of 2

Andromeda Black-Tonks glanced apprehensively at the clock hanging in her kitchen. Her sister, Bellatrix, was due at the homey Surrey bungalow at any moment. In the meantime, Andromeda watched her daughter, Nymphadora, innocently baking chocolate chip cookies for her Aunt Bella.

She sighed and tapped her foot on the linoleum floor.

"Don't you want to help, Mum?" Nymphadora asked sweetly, licking cookie batter off her sticky fingers.

"No, I'm a little preoccupied at the moment," Andromeda responded apologetically.

She was, in fact, preoccupied thinking about her older sister. Bellatrix, who was steadily becoming more and more involved in the Dark Arts, requested to have a talk with her Hogwarts-bound niece. Andromeda had reluctantly agreed, reasoning that her daughter had the right to meet her Aunt, and that sooner was better than later, given that Bella was liable to start annihilating Muggle-borns at any given moment.

"When is Aunt Bella coming?"

"Any moment now," Andromeda said, glancing at the clock again.

The prehistoric stove made a hoarse noise. Nymphadora gleefully grabbed a pair of gloves and fetched the ambrosial cookie pan. "I hope she likes them!"

"I'm sure she will, Nymphadora," Andromeda said pleasantly.

Nymphadora sat on her knees on a rickety wooden kitchen chair, transferring the cookies from the cookie pan to an old, chipped serving plate as she reprimanded her Mother.

"Mum!" she barked. "Remember? I don't like that name. I like Dora. Okay? Call me Dora. You told Aunt Bella my name was Dora, right?"

"Sorry, I might've forgotten," Andromeda responded. "She may call you Nymphadora, but don't get too whiney and try not to complain too much."

Nymphadora snorted ignorantly and picked up her black cat, Mica, who was roaming aimlessly around the kitchen.

The doorbell rang; Nymphadora smiled broadly, dropped Mica onto the floor (she hissed irately), and ran to the door to greet Bellatrix. Andromeda hung back, closed the oven, and calmly hid a few things that were lying around the kitchen, hoping to make it look less cluttered.

When Nymphadora opened the door, she was faced with an extremely tall, daunting woman. She was wearing a long black cloak and had long, deep auburn hair that shrouded her mysterious face. Nymphadora recognized the woman's sharp yet pretty features from photos her mother had shown her. Nonetheless, she looked slightly different. In many of the photographs, Bellatrix had looked graceful and proud. In person, she loomed over her niece with the intimidation only someone with truly bad intentions could render.

"Are you...my Aunt Bella, Miss?" Nymphadora asked squeakily, trying to exert good manners and make a good impression despite her nerves.

"Yes, I am. Are you Nymphadora?"

Nymphadora's usual feeling of annoyance when called by her full name was shaded by intimidation. "Yes, Miss," she said. "Would you like to come in?"

"Yes, that would be nice," Bellatrix responded airily.

When Bellatrix walked into their small house, she instinctively tutted with disapproval at the piles of new books and Hogwarts robes that hadn't been packed yet. She subtly kicked away a new cauldron that was in her way in order to walk into small wallpapered sitting room. She reproachfully observed the unmoving pictures of Ted and Andromeda's wedding on the mantel, and at the strange Muggle contraptions littering the life of her pureblood sister.

When she was done investigating the sitting room of her sister's family, Bellatrix walked back into the small, disorderly foyer. There, Andromeda was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, looking at her sister as if she didn't know her. When she and Bellatrix made eye contact for the first time, there was palpable tension in the air.

"Andromeda," Bellatrix nodded curtly.

"Bella," Andromeda responded with an identical, brief nod. Bellatrix flinched subtly, as if being called Bella was something she no longer tolerated.

Nymphadora watched this awkward exchange with uncharacteristic fear. She was dreading the conversation with her Aunt Bella more and more as each moment passed.

"Bella, this is my daughter, Dora. She's eleven, starting Hogwarts tomorrow. I hope you two have a nice talk and get acquainted properly. I will be upstairs - I have some work to do."

With that, Andromeda exited the room and closed the door, but remained planted directly outside the room in cautious consideration of her daughter. She only had a vague idea about why Bellatrix could possibly want to speak to Nymphadora about, and she had a feeling it wouldn't be anything compliant with Andromeda's more liberal opinions.

Andromeda tactfully pressed a glass in between her ear and the kitchen door in order to amplify their conversation. She sat with her back against the wall and listened intently, ready to interrupt if anything was to get out of hand.

In the kitchen, Andromeda had left Bellatrix and Nymphadora in a considerable amount of awkwardness. "Do you want a cookie?" Nymphadora offered Bellatrix suddenly, holding out the plate of warm chocolate chip cookies.

"No, I'm fine," Bellatrix responded. A moment passed before she suggested, "Shall we sit?"

They sat down across from each other at the small wooden table. Nymphadora immediately noticed that her cozy kitchen felt twice as small with her Aunt's overwhelming presence. Nymphadora watched Mica scurry silently across the linoleum floor and out of the dog door.

Nymphadora's attention was diverted as her Aunt started to speak. "Nymphadora, Andromeda told me shortly after you were born that you had, well, powers; special powers. Is it true you can change your physical appearance at your will?"

"Yes, that's true," Nymphadora said quietly. When Bellatrix didn't start talking immediately, she added, "Would you like to see?"

"Yes, I'd love to," Bellatrix replied with a sense of eagerness.

Nymphadora shut her eyes tightly in concentration, and envisioned a mane of thick, beautiful blond hair as opposed to her normal light brown bob. She also imagined a bigger nose, freckles, and big blue eyes. When she opened her eyes, she fingered the ends of her Veela-esque locks and smiled at the astonished expression on her Aunt's face.

"That's fascinating," Bellatrix murmured enviously. "I've read about Metamorphmagi before, but I've never met one, let alone seen one transform; truly, just fascinating."

Nymphadora grinned broadly at her Aunt's admiration and praise. "I can do it again, if you want!"

Bellatrix shook her head ever so slightly, as if coming out of a trance, and stared at Nymphadora intensely. "No, I'm sorry, I actually came to talk to you about something quite important, although I did find that display quite brilliant."

Nymphadora nodded, inviting her Aunt to continue with a mixture of interest and apprehension. As she listened, she changed back into her much preferred natural physical appearance.

"I visited you to talk to you about Hogwarts, and your family," Bellatrix said gravely. "You know about Hogwarts, I suppose, from your Mother? You know the different houses? I'm sure you're inclined to a certain house, perhaps--" Bellatrix trailed off, looking at her niece expectantly.

"Oh, you mean, what house I want to get into?"

"Precisely."

"I haven't given it much thought, really. I know my Mum was in Slytherin, but I don't know where I'd like to be. She hasn't told me to want to be in any particular house - she hasn't even said which one is the best one."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Bellatrix's mouth.

"That's partly why I'm here, Nymphadora. Did you know that almost all of your magical family, aside from my foolish cousin Sirius, got into Slytherin? It is the best house. You see, wizards and witches with extraordinary talents belong in Slytherin. You would fit in perfectly, aside from the fact that your father is a Muggle-born."

Nymphadora immediately acknowledged this subtle yet disapproving remark against her caring, considerate Father. Her stomach churned with irritation. In that moment, she couldn't comprehend why her Father could be looked down upon by anyone for simply being born into a Muggle family. However, Nymphadora resisted her urge to say something, and listened intently as her Aunt continued her speech.

"You're a Metamorphmagus, firstly, which would aid you in life after Hogwarts if you wanted to delve into a spectacularly powerful sort of future. Slytherins are very wise, and loyal, and cunning, but most important, they're powerful. We play the most significant roles in determining the future. Don't you want to feel important, Nymphadora? Don't you want to live, truly live, unlike any bookworm Ravenclaw or listless Hufflepuff?"

Bellatrix was grinning fiercely, taking fewer breaths and speaking rapidly and eagerly. Meanwhile, Andromeda was becoming increasingly infuriated as she continued to eavesdrop. She didn't know why she was so astonished to hear her sister's biased and old-fashioned views; after all, she was expecting her sister to say these things, but hearing the manipulative words spilling out of her mouth was simply vile.

"Nymphadora, you are a Black at heart. Despite your Mother's--ahem--disloyal tendencies, which landed you with an unfortunate half-blood status, you are still a Black. Blacks are the noblest, bravest, purest family there is in the magical world. You are a part of the family, Nymphadora, but you have to live up to your name. I highly suggest being placed in Slytherin should be a goal for you. You must fight ruthlessly; do whatever it takes to earn what you want and gain power. Status is holy in the wizarding world. To be successful, to be admired and envied by all around you - you must be determined."

Nymphadora's recently blue eyes were as wide as saucers and as innocent as a newborn puppy's. She had no idea what her Aunt was talking about. In an effort to keep her sheltered from her family, Andromeda had told her surprisingly little. As far as she knew, her mother and father had attended Hogwarts in different houses, which had caused problems along with their very different family histories. She knew her mother had a much larger family than her father, but never knew how much history it had. She was amazed, and intrigued.

"What do you mean?" she asked, trying to show as much interest as possible, though she was predominantly perplexed. "Who do I fight?"

Bellatrix's eyes shifted slightly. "You'll learn that a little bit later," she said quietly, "if you choose to pursue a stronger, more powerful lifestyle. Like me."

Nymphadora was still extremely confused, but she didn't say anything for a moment. "My Mum always said that Hogwarts is the 'Castle of Pride.' Does she mean that I should be proud of my family? Proud of being a witch?"

Bellatrix's face contorted nastily. "No, I would disagree. I wouldn't say Hogwarts is the Castle of Pride; I would say Slytherin is the House of Pride, and you should make it a goal for you to join their prestigious league. That seems more correct to me, and my priorities." She paused for a moment. "Your mother and I have quite different opinions."

Nymphadora cocked her head. Having no siblings, she'd always assumed that brothers and sisters shared secrets, planned similar lives, had no contradictions, and were very similar in most aspects and opinions.

"Oh," she muttered in simple realization. "That's interesting."

As Bellatrix glanced at her watch, the sleeve of her cloak fell back slightly and revealed what looked like a tattoo. Nymphadora glanced at it and was further fascinated by the uniqueness of her Aunt; she seemed so dangerous and rebellious, and so unlike anyone she had ever met.

"I have to go," Bellatrix said abruptly. She stuck out her left hand rather gruffly, as if uncomfortable with showing any more sign of affection or leaving without closure.

"It was very nice meeting you, Nymphadora, and I really hope you think about what I've told you." Bellatrix smirked in an amused sort of way. "It's alright if you don't understand a bloody thing I've said, but you probably will once you've attended Hogwarts, hopefully, as a Slytherin. Do you have an owl?"

"My Mum does," Nymphadora answered. "Can I send you a message sometime?"

Bellatrix nodded. "I suppose that would be alright. Send me a letter if you get into Slytherin, or if you come to understand what I've told you tonight and you want to talk to me about it more in depth later."

Nymphadora shrugged. "Well, alright. If you have to go, you can leave now. Do you want some cookies...for the road, or something?"

Bellatrix laughed at the naïveté of the eleven-year-old. "No, I'm fine. Thank you, Nymphadora."

With that, Bellatrix spun in a half-circle, twirling a draping black sleeve around herself like a python winding around one's neck. She disappeared with a small noise, leaving Nymphadora staring awestruck at the empty space Bellatrix had left behind.