“Ah, Narcissa.” Severus inclined his head in greeting and gave her a wry smile. “I’m afraid mine has been just as unsatisfactory. I do so loathe these sorts of events.” He raised an eyebrow. “But I find it has rather improved with your company.” He held out a hand expectantly. “Chocolate Cauldron, please. Obviously.”
Severus offered his arm to his friend. “Now. Shall we find something to amuse ourselves?”
“Oh Sev, don’t you go trying to sweet talk me, too,” she teased, lifting an eyebrow. “But I can’t say I disagree. I mean, the crowds I don’t mind. It’s just... the people in them. I’d rather be in a ballgown with a champagne in my hands if I really had to be surrounded by so many people.” A wistful sigh. She missed those balls already. Being spun around all night, passed between conversations with impossibly important people. She handed her friend the treat, smiling as he took it. “I don’t really know why I asked,” she teased. Perhaps she was still unlearning the niceties of her life that summer. The expectation that she seem less than herself. More ignorant. More naive. Less observant.
She shook off the odd moment of reminiscence, sliding her arm through Severus’ before walking forward. “Tell me, what would amuse you Severus?”
At long last, a friendly face. There were so many faces she didn’t recognize. Or, rather, that she recognized, but didn’t care to know. “Severus,” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “Do tell me your day has been better than mine? I seem to have lost Lu, which has caused nearly every... impossibly unsuited suitor to beg for my attention,” she complained. “Would you like a Pumpkin Pasty? Or Chocolate Cauldron? I’m not going to eat these.”
“Did you know Mother sent me with a little under 100 trunks and an agenda for every single day that I’m here?,” Narcissa asked, laughing as she stood next to her cousin. She never would’ve complained about Druella around just about anyone else, but around him, she let a soft chuckle pass her lips as she sipped her cider. “I’m wondering how long I should wait before tossing it in the fire. Thoughts?”
“Was this supposed to help me look forward to this year?,” Narcissa asked, scrunching up her nose as a child ran by her with chocolate on their face. How nice it must be to have been allowed a childhood. Merlin, if she’d ever been caught with chocolate on her face... She shook off the dread that always came along with remembering her parents. Sitting on her chest, in her stomach, like a heavy weight.
Instead, she focused on the, to be quite frank, filth that was surrounding her. “So far all it’s done is make me wonder why on earth every child has decided to scream like a banshee as they run past me? Am I lost on an inside joke?”
while ophelia wasn’t the most excited for school to start, she was very excited to be able to get out of her house. the rowle manor was giant and it made it easier to avoid her father, but considering she didn’t have the best relationship with her family she was ready for a break. hopefully it was going to be a good school year, but she wasn’t exactly keeping her hopes up.
she headed through the crowds of people, with a butterbeer in her hands. it was great seeing everyone so happy and excited before the stress of classes. she stopped by one of the games to watch a younger student attempt to win. “do you think the games are rigged?” she asked the person standing closest to her. “or do you think they’re fair for everyone?”
she wasn’t entirely sure why she’d entertained the idea of watching people play these games. maybe she was only there for the chance to laugh at someone else. it had been a far too serious summer. druella had written an agenda for her, from the time she woke up to the time she fell asleep - every action was planned. calculated. the only freedom she had was in her dreams, and even those were more often nightmares.
suddenly, she became aware of somebody speaking to her. though she wasn’t above ignoring the voice entirely, she decided that may not be the best way to start a year of school. “is anything really fair for everyone?,” she mused. “i’m nearly certain that they’re rigged. why would they risk everyone winning every time? where would the challenge be?”
Andromeda looked around for a second, ice cream cone in her hand. Where in Merlin’s name had her friends gone? She’d just gone to get herself a snack, now she was lost in a sea of people with her companions nowhere in sight. She sighed, she should have just gone with her sisters, at least they wouldn’t have left her alone.
She stood on the tips of her toes, trying to find someone in the crowd, but felt a bump on her back at the same time. She couldn’t even say anything before she felt herself stumbling. Had it not been for the person in front of her, she would have fallen face first into the pavement. “Oh Merlin!,” she exclaimed as she tried to hold onto the person. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
Well, she certainly hadn’t come around to seeing the charm in such events. What was the purpose of this thing but to be surrounded by people who hadn’t even been vetted. How was she meant to be suffocated, stifled even, by people who she would associate with anyway? Was there any sort of security? Didn’t they know who she was?
So, rather than partaking in what she’d been promised were very fun events (didn’t they say that every year?) - she was narrowing her eyes at the passers by, all but daring one of them to approach her. None of them did. Merlin, she really did love being her.
But, unfortunately, she was out of Butterbeer, the only thing making this day partly worth it. Besides, she should probably find at least one familiar face. If only because her mother had drilled into her that aloof loneliness was only attractive for so long. After that, you might be thought stupid. And not in the good way. It was during her quest for a familiar face that she was nearly toppled over by someone. Blimey, she thought, steeling her jaw. This was exactly what she’d feared, gripping her wand beneath her dress before piecing together that it was her sister. “Gracious, Andy,” she said, holding her chest. “I nearly prepared myself for a duel there!”
“ and remember, the most fatal flaw one can have is the flame you must extinguish immediately. the flame that burns within you, pushing you to be human. you are so much more - and so much less - than human. ”
It was cold the day Narcissa Irma Black was brought into the world. It seemed prophetic, almost, noting the icy heart the girl would grow to have. She came out quietly, without too many cries and even as the Healers washed her off gently she was soft. Soft in her appearance - surprising blonde hair which was a stark difference to that of her sisters and parents and cheeks that held a blush of their own and would for the years to come. Soft in her expression - equal parts afraid and curious at once. Soft in her noises - small baby coos passed her plump pink lips as the last of the blood was wiped off of her body. Upon the announcement that Druella Black had given birth to another girl, Cygnus chose to turn the other way, storming towards his office rather than in to meet his daughter. Yet Druella held Narcissa Black in her arms, staring at her with a plan sparkling behind her eyes. She could barely even open her own eyes by the time her mother was planning the future her little girl would have. Because power, overt and strong like that which Cygnus so desperately wanted, was important. But an understated power - the kind that came with being underestimated while simultaneously being placed on a pedestal - that was what the dark-haired woman saw when she looked into the soft eyes of her daughter.
And that was exactly what Narcissa Black became. Molding herself into the strict and unbending expectations her mother had for her. She sat there while her hair was curled and allowed her outfits to be chosen for her. She curtsied and nodded as was deemed necessary and as her mother had predicted, the pedestal she built for her youngest daughter seemed as high as she'd hoped it would be. The problem with being held up so high is that there is a very long way to fall, and while the Pureblood society practically idolized the gorgeous girl, many were waiting for her to crumble. But there were many conversations between Druella and her prodigal daughter. Conversations where she continued drilling into her how good she was. How she was perfect and beautiful and that the world wasn't going to be ready for the powerhouse she could be beneath curled eyelashes and pretty pink polished nails.
As she entered Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat exclaimed "SLYTHERIN" before being placed on her head. And she knew, of course she knew that's where she'd be. Everyone in Hogwarts knew that's where she'd be. What they didn't know, what nobody knew, was the monster of a girl she hid behind her demure facade. The girl inside knew how much she was worth and she knew that if she used her strengths as well as her mother had taught her to she would be unstoppable. And her mother had taught her well. So well, in fact, that Cygnus Black himself stood impressed before his daughter at times, listening as she spoke clearly and concisely, reaching points with a kind of precision that was hard to find even in skilled politicians and socialites. Being the youngest daughter brought no extra praise from the man, but having the skills he would have valued in a son did earn at least a bit of his respect. So she tried and tried and kept trying. Her sisters, Bellatrix and Andromeda, were the two most important things in her life and the reason she tried so hard. It was the only way she could think of to protect the two of them, because if she met every standard Druella tried pushing on her, perhaps that would keep her from pushing those impossible pressures onto Narcissa's sisters. And maybe she wasn't strong in a lot of ways but she'd always been strong in that way, not only meeting but exceeding the dreams Druella had for her.
It came as a surprise to no one when it was announced she would be marrying Lucius Malfoy. Since birth they'd known, honestly. The two beautiful well-mannered Purebloods whose children would be beautiful - why wouldn't they end up together? Why would she be able to make her own decisions when she never had before? But Narcissa had always given her all to the things she was told to do, following the rules she was given without a second thought. She never stopped to think of the impact it may have on her future, because of her mother told her to do it she would do it. So she abandoned the ideas of the fairytales she'd hidden beneath her floorboard as a child. Abandoned the idea that she might be the princess who gets her prince one day. After all, she told herself every morning as she slid her lip gloss on, she was already a princess. At least that's what everyone told her she was.
MISCELLANEOUS:
aesthetics: the glimmer of sun reflecting off a mirror, black patent stilettos, powder on the end of a brush, earl grey tea, vanilla beans, pressed flowers, a music box with a squeaky hinge charmed to be perfect, the scent of an old book, French music, Latin books, tulle skirts, starry nights, satin dresses, pressed flowers, a silver dagger hidden a garter belt.
personality:
( + ) : intelligent - while she keeps her intelligence silent, narcissa privately excels in studies. she’s fluent in five different languages (english, french, spanish, latin, and mandarin), which she hides from the world, allowing her to melt into the sidelines of any room, and understand most anything that could be said. her silence comes from cruelly, who told her that she could reach high places, climb to the very top, and no one would see her as the threat she was
( + ) : protective - when you have found yourself in narcissa's good graces, let it be deeply known that she would go to the ends of the earth to keep you safe. let it also be known she fully expects the same treatment back.
( + ) : charismatic - as a child, narcissa was raised in a highly social, incredibly exclusive scene. her voice, dripping like gold, seemed capable of selling ice to an Eskimo. she knew how to get what she wanted and nobody was brave enough to deny it from her.
( - ) : vengeful - once wronged, twice stung. narcissa doesn’t forgive or forget, and is - in fact - known as one to take revenge, and take it when the time strikes right even if that time arrives years on. crossing her isn’t going to end well, whether she enacts revenge or gets someone else to do it for her.
( - ) : manipulative - as mentioned before, she’s no stranger to finding ways to get others to do her dirty work. it comes along with the territory when she’s constantly underestimated. whether it’s a ‘oh, would you possibly do this for me?’ or good old fashioned blackmail, she’s a master of manipulation.
( - ) : self-preserving - barring a few lucky people, nobody matter more to narcissa than… narcissa. having been raised by her mother to believe that she was the center of her own universe, what chance did she have to stay selfless? she’s her own priority, and very few people have experienced the other side of her.
amortentia: lucius’ cologne, freshly cut daffodils and a crisp snowfall
boggart: her reflection, looking disheveled, dirty, unkempt, the noticeable absence of her diamond ring on her left hand. she is powerless. no longer feared. no longer safe. what is she without those things? once she casts ridikkulus, the boggart quickly shifts into her reflection in a wedding gown. her future is exactly as it’s always been planned. stable. safe. steadfast.
patronus: narcissa’s patronus is a fox. the memory she uses to conjure it is of herself and her sisters in their family home as children.
The fox is a natural trickster, and brilliantly charismatic. Those with this patronus are often more reserved, but do have the social capability to speak to just about anyone. They are strongly ambitious and observant of the behaviour of others, watching key points in what others do and storing them for further reference, when they may need them. They are good talkers, meaning they can convince people to do what they want and make them think it was their idea in the first place. The happiest memories of a fox is getting what they want, and a person who thinks on these things fondly may very well have a fox as their patronus. The most common house for a fox patronus is Slytherin.
psychology:
Moral Alignment: Neutral Evil
Temperament: Choleric
Element: Fire
Primary Intelligence Type: Spatial Intelligence
MBTI: ESTJ
sugar-and-ice personality: A character with a Sugar-and-Ice Personality has two distinct sides, one cold and distant, the other warmer and open.
sour supporter: She has no faith in you as a leader and nothing but scorn for your plans — until everything's on the line, and then she'll stand with you to the end.
rich bitch: She has all the money in the world, but it can't buy her a soul.
the baroness: Cold, ruthless and utterly sadistic inside, no matter how warm and soft she may appear. Don't get on her bad side if you value your life.
alpha bitch: Usually considered popular, but sometimes the Alpha Bitch only thinks she's popular, and the adoration she perceives is actually fear of her wrath.
woman wearing a queenly mask: Similar to the Iron Lady, a woman in power must carry herself with aloof detachment and remain unmoved whatever the crisis, or no one will respect her authority.
rich in dollars, poor in sense: A wealthy person who lacks common sense because of their sheltered and pampered lifestyle.
high heel face turn: If there is a lone female among the cast of villains, she is overwhelmingly likely to be the one who betrays them and turns good, because Females Are More Innocent.
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