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EUPHORIA • Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard ━ S02E08: All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name

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regulus   :

His throat caught, stinging, as Narcissa spoke of his betrayal of her and his fingers pulled through dark hair, tugging and pulling at locks in response to the feelings that surged through him at her words. He wanted to pace, he wanted to get onto a broom to feel the rush of adrenaline and escape the realities of his lies, feelings that were wholly inappropriate for a Black to feel. They did not run from responsibilities, from the consequences of their actions.  “Would that it be as simple as trust.” He said, grey eyes pleading with her. “It has been a constant pain in my heart, to not be able to speak plainly with you, after everything that has transpired…” 

There had been no moment greater turmoil than the days succeeding that fateful Yule Ball where he knew his curse had failed and he had brought shame to his name. He had disappointed the Dark Lord, Bellatrix and Lucius Malfoy, the man he knew Narcissa converted and treasured in her fair heart. To not be able to tell Narcissa had been torture and torment that he had ne’er known, desiring her words of comfort, her advice, but unable to seek it. He permitted himself a small sigh, pulling his hands away from his hair and to stare at the lines that crossed his palm.

“… But the Dark Lord’s secrets are not mine to share, even the little that I know. The Ministry would no doubt love to put down our little insurrection and send us to Azkaban over the most inane of things. It was not just a question of trust, mine is undying for you, but safety. I fear the Ministry would seek to blame all connected with us and for some, innocence may be their greatest protection. I had to argue that with your position so close to myself and Bella-” Not to mention Lucius and Severus. “-that knowledge would be the safer choice.” His thumb brushed her dainty hands, seeking to bring her comfort and finding his own in the fact that she had not shirked his touch.

      such a fair heart races in conditions such as these,   searching tirelessly for a way to accept the reality of their situation,   a way to understand.   so,   that narcissa could make what she could of all this,   just as the black daughter had always done.   ❛   and   what   has   transpired?   ❜   she asks pointedly,   tempting fate,   ❛   what   is   it   you’ve   done   for   your   dark   lord?   ❜   for if regulus hadn’t been willing to divulge the existence of the death eaters before now,   she hoped,   at least,   he’d seek redemption now...   re-earn her trust by revealing what his involvement among them had been all this time.   perhaps then,   she could lend him her ear,   offer him comfort like he’d wished her to since the beginning.   it wasn’t within her to abandon him now.   it might have been easier to storm off just as bellatrix had done,   leave him to his feelings and pay it no mind.   only she,   and the family who watched over them from beyond would surely curse her for it.   and better yet,   narcissa needed clarification...    closure and reframing it as a matter of her safety does strike a cord,   prompting the blonde to nod in gentle understanding,   blue-green gaze softening in tandem.   still,   narcissa wishes she had known all along.   the idea alone that her wellbeing had rest in the hands of others scarcely sitting well with her.   an out of sight,   out of mind way of thinking may well have worked perfectly fine for others but not her.   there was a certain level of control narcissa had grown up expecting and here...   well,   she was being reduced to a frivolous,   little pawn at best.   ❛   i   understand...   and   i   appreciate   your   concern,   more   than   anything.   you   must   know   that.   ❜   narcissa reassures,   giving his hand a comforting squeeze as thoughts begin to fall from lips faster than she can quite comprehend,   ❛   still   i   wish   i’d   have   known   sooner,   i   feel   as   though   i   could   have   helped...      i   could   have   safeguarded   myself,   taken   precautions.   i   do   have   a   way   with    people   you   know   but   instead,    instead   you’ve   all   made   me   feel   so   useless...   ❜   she rambles on,   frustration mounting,   further tears and all.   it’s only upon clearing her throat,   taking an extended moment of tranquility to gather herself.   abandoning the previous line of questioning to somethinng that had eaten away at her from the very beginning,   ❛   so...   ❜   the blonde begins tentatively,   ❛   who   else   is   involved?   i’d   like   names.   ❜   or rather,   confirmation of what she’d long since theorised.

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regulus  :​

It had been a huge relief to finally get to explain everything to Narcissa, his most beloved cousin, the truth. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulder and his chest was finally free to breath a little more evenly. He had hated the necessary secrecy. That had been eaten at him and it still did, knowing that Andromeda was still in the dark but she had never been like Narcissa was to him. The youngest of his cousins felt more like a sibling to him than Sirius had, even an extension of himself. They’d never needed secrets until he had sworn his oath.

As she turned on him, Regulus blinked the pain from his eyes, reeling as if struck by the venomous tone. He flinched from her, unable to meet her gaze for he truly agreed that her anger was justified. “Narcissa, please, It wasn’t my place to tell!” He winced at the wording. He was a Black and they were not subservient. He bit his lip and corrected himself. “It was not my secret.” No, his role was to figure out who they might be able to trust to bring into the fold. He hated that it included finding out whether family could be trusted.

Following her lead, he sank into a nearby chair, body turned fully towards his cousin, leaning towards her.  “I wanted to, please, believe me ‘Cissa. It tore me apart to have to keep it from you!” It was near a plead - certainly there had been plenty of moments when he had been desperate for her comfort and ear. “But…” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “We’re serious about overthrowing this mudblood loving, muggle coddling government - nothing comes lightly. We have to be cautious, overly so even. Narcissa, I’m truly sorry, please believe me. It was torture to not be able talk to you.“ 

He reached for her hand, eager to show his sincerity to his cousin. His other hand was palm up, open to show his honesty. 

      he had lied to her,   betrayed her trust at a time in their lives when she needed it,   and him,   most.   perhaps if she were sat across from someone else,   or this...    revelation had occurred months,   or even years ago,   relief may well have sat in place of resentment but narcissa can’t bring herself to move passed it.   hung up on why of all people,   he hadn’t told her...   consequences be damned.   ❛   it’s   not   as   if   i’d   have   ever   told   anyone,   reg...   nor   will   i   do   so   now   but   do   you   not   think   that   i   could   have   used   this   information?   i   thought   our   friendship,   our   family   meant   more   than   that   or   perhaps,   you   just   didn’t   trust   me   with   it,   is   that   it?   ❜   even in anger,   there’s still a fondness in her words,   her expression,   her hurt.   looking to him as tears roll down her cheeks now,   ❛   only   i   have   dedicated   everything   i   am   or   ever   will   be   to   this   family,   and   the   betterment   of   this   family   and   yet   you   all   thought   it   best   to   shut   me   out!   ❜   she exclaims,   exasperated.   hecate,   would she rain hellfire down upon mother  &  father once returning home to brideswater.   sighing,   ❛   on   something   as   important   as   this   too.   ❜   suddenly she recedes back into herself,   pouting furiously all the while.    for narcissa was an emotional being at her core,   ruled by them despite how tirelessly she worked to prove otherwise.   and not even regulus’ reassurances could temper the overwhelming sense of inadequacy she felt in that moment.   that perhaps,   after this transgression,   she was not quite the jewel in the crown they’d each assured her she was.   for if they truly believed in their dark lord’s cause,   why had she not been privy to it before now,   and how could they have ever expected her to rejoice over the secrecy?   diminished,   she,   if a little begrudgingly,   accepts his hand in hers.   gripping on to it with slender digits as if to reassure him,   in some sense,   that she was hearing him,   despite its difficulty for her to accept.   head and heart begging to tear her in two,   ❛   i...   i   do   believe   you.   i   just...   ❜   she stammers,   ❛   i   wouldn’t   have   done   this   to   you.   i   could   never   have   kept   that   from   you.   ❜   regardless of the repercussions. 

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      no sooner had bellatrix revealed the truth of the dark lord and his growing army of loyalists than she apparated away,   leaving only a pair of cousins to settle the emotionally fraught fallout.   for as satisfying as it was to know she had,   in fact,   been right all along,   nothing in the present moment could remedy the betrayal at its core.   ❛   how   dare   you   of   all   people   keep   this   kind   of   secret   from   me?   ❜   she spits venomously.   it was a treachery befitting of her eldest sister but regulus?   he was akin to a brother,   more than that he was her very best friend in this world.   someone with whom she could relate to in every avenue of life...   or so she thought.   when instead,   for hecate only knows how long,   he and what narcissa could gather were a great many of her friends,  had been involved in an underground organisation that could well have resulted in azkaban sentences for the lot of them.   worse still,  they’d decided to keep it all from her.   leaving narcissa to wander the dark alone until now.   thoughts racing,   the blonde collapses onto a nearby loveseat,   pink lips pulled into a taut frown whilst tears threaten to spill from blue-green hues.   blinking them back as best she could,   it’s only now that she chooses to finally look up at him,   meeting regulus’ eye,   her sorrow plain for him to see,   ❛   i   might   have   expected   it   from   bellatrix   but   you   and   i,   reg...   we’re   closer   than   that   and   we   have   always   been   closer   than   that.   ❜   desperation taints her every word,   sinking to depths she’d once never thought possible but the black demanded answers.   an explanation...    a reasoning as to why she’d been kept in the dark all this time,   made to look a fool whilst others around her thrived in the knowledge and power it had provided them.   ❛   you   should   have   told   me.   ❜   perhaps it wasn’t just that the people she held dearest hadn’t told her...   but that they’d seemingly not trusted her with such information before now,   when as narcissa saw it,   her loyalty to the house of black and its cause was undying.   the first to sacrifice her own happiness in order to see them each succeed and here she stood,   repaid only in grave deception and pathetic falsehoods.   @regulus7.​

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SYDNEY SWEENEY, behind the scenes for Who What Wear

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walburga ​:

Where: Brideswater Manor

When: Late afternoon, 22nd July

Who: Walburga and @blondsblack​

To be honest, she hadn’t really stepped into the Manor to see her sister in law. She didn’t really want to see Druella, and couldn’t bare to listen to another rant about how the evening had ended. Walburga had found it quite thrilling, although she had stayed away from the fighting. Walbura didn’t like getting her hands dirty. She was a little sad about her niece getting hurt though. Whatever had gone on, that had not been in the plan. So, as soon as she’d done with her errands for the day, she’d headed to Brideswater Manor. She knew her niece would have a boat load of visitors, which was why she hadn’t gone so soon.

After speaking a little to her sister in law, she’d headed to her youngest niecese bedroom. “Cissa dear?” She murmured, a wrapped gift in her arm. “Are you sleeping?” Hopefully not , because she really wouldn’t want to wake her up.

      the guests had become tiresome.   simply inconvenient at the beginning of the day,   they were deemed entirely infuriating now...   with their want for absolution from cygnus  &  druella over the tragic events that had “tainted” their beloved ball,   narcissa finds her mood plummeting just as swiftly as the ball’s had.   her head pulsating with a precise pain,   brought on by the battering she had taken from diggory no doubt,   all as socialites and social climbers alike wished the blacks well.   it’s only when the blonde excuses herself altogether that she plays witness to peace for what feels like the first time today.   settling back on her bed to rest a while before a distinctive knock stirs her once again,   her aunt’s presence there not at all surprising given all that had happened.   with an elegant flourish of her wand,   the bedroom’s door swings open,   a smile plastered upon her plush,   pink lips out of dread she look anything less than contented in the face of her father’s sister.   ❛   aunt  walburga!   ❜   narcissa greets,   noting the gift wrapped in her arms though choosing to ignore it outright before walburga herself brought it up,   a shake of her head follows,   ❛   no,   no...   i’ve  just  been  resting.   we’ve  had  an  awful  lot  of  callers  to  the  manor  already  today  and  unfortunately  my  head  began  to  throb  so,   i  had  to  excuse  myself  and  retire  up  here  for  the  time  being.   ❜   she explains in spite of her certainty that druella will have brought it up to her sister-in-law when they’d spoken downstairs mere moments ago.   arm held out now,   she gestures for walburga to join her inside,   ❛   please  do  come  in  though...   i  hope  the  ball  lived  up  to  your  expectations?   ❜   poses the blonde,   offering her aunt a seat...   quite aware that her outlook on the summer solstice’s finale differed greatly from that of her mother.   

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regulus ​:

At: Brideswater Manor With: @blondsblack

It was rare that Regulus slept in but that was just what he had done after the events of the Solstice Ball. Denebola had eventually awoken him with her demands for love and attention which he gave all too stiffly. It reminded him a little too much of the day after a tough Quidditch Match and he was not sure whether that was a good thing or not. He certainly felt nostalgic.

But he could not wait long for he had pressing issues to deal with. Not all his friends and family were as engaged with the Death Eaters as he would like. Regulus needed to check that they were all OK. 

His first port of call had been a French Patisserie that did the most amazing croissants, buying a fine collection before apparating to Brideswater. It was late but permissible for breakfast and if not, the delicacies might be thought of as a Brunch. Arriving, he greeted his Aunt and Uncle before making his way to his cousin. “Hey, I brought some breakfast. Thought it might be appreciated after… You did get out OK?” There was a pleading note to his tone It was hard to admit that those he cared about might have gotten hurt in the crossfire. His eyes desperately flickered over her face, hoping for good news, a nervous smile on his face.

      bidding dahlia adieu,   by way of smuggling her out through the manor’s gardens,   it’s only then that narcissa’s alerted to the arrival of visitors...   each with their own wants and desires following the ball’s “ruinous” end,   deemed inappropriate from most given the tragic demise of one,   amelia bones.   it’s in lieu of this that narcissa takes herself off to a seat inside bridewater’s conservatory with the dogs,   a book in hand,   intent on taking time alone to rest  &  recover from her injuries away from the prying eyes and ears of others.   though an all too familiar voice draws the blonde from her thoughts...   her beloved cousin,   whom narcissa would rather not have see her in the present state,   heard just a few rooms away chatting with her parents before eventually making his way through to her,   french pastries in tow.   ❛   reg!   ❜   she greets,   rising from her chair to welcome him in.   regulus’ presence one of precious few she could genuinely tolerate at the moment.   his question prompts her own eyes to wander in subsequence,   blue-green hues flickering over his well-dressed form,   searching for any damage done.   relieved to find no harm on the surface,   her relief swiftly dissolves to vexation.   arms crossed,   she emits an exasperated huff,   not quite,   nor did she think she ever would be,     over amos diggory’s actions during the battle,   ❛   well,   after  amos  diggory  had  a  go  at  me,   yes.   ❜   narcissa groans,   gesturing to the bruises and black eye she’d yet to properly cover up,   ❛   and  you?   are  you  okay?   i  expect  the  night  wasn’t  without  its  stresses  for  you  all  too...  ❜   taking the pastries from him to properly unpack,   she’s curious to know what it was like for the death eaters,   to witness their lord in proper and perform such a show of strength before the rest of their world.   it was quite the spectacle. 

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      calls to brideswater had become a frequent reoccurrence in the aftermath of their summer solstice ball.   a relentless onslaught of visitors  &  gifts to the black’s grand,   country home as stories detailing the sheer horror of the night before,   tearful apologies  &  heartfelt condolences were shared...   over and over again.   a repetitious assault of varying degrees of authenticity as cygnus and druella stood receiving guests,   flowers and the like whilst narcissa,   in her injured state,   sat dutifully in the corner,   bearing a cordial smile as she greeted callers,   only to return to reading shortly thereafter.   it’s as her parents retire for lunch that the blonde feels her smile falter,   shortly falling in its entirety...   only for zispy to appear mere seconds later,   a taut buzz about the house elf as she then announces “mistress bellatrix’s” arrival.   with narcissa’s attention firmly grasped now,   she’s swift to sit up,   welcoming her sister into their family’s drawing room with a wave of her hand,   ❛   bella!   mother’ll  certainly  be  relieved  to  see  that  you  “survived”  the  night.   ❜   she wearily teases,   her mother’s woe regarding their safety well heard by the youngest,   having already been fussed over by both the matriarch and the family’s private healer over the course of the morning.   though taking the welcome sight of her sister in,   narcissa’s almost surprised by the great deal of questions that come to mind.   particularly with bellatrix’s involvement in the deterioration of the evening prior all but confirmed for her.   it was the extent of which that remained left to uncover.   ❛   so,   was  the  ball  the  roaring  success  you  hoped  it  would  be  too  or...   ❜   narcissa trails off,   gesturing in mounting frustration to the injuries she’d sustained at diggory’s hand.   fair,   immaculate exterior defaced by a mass of bruises,   tainting the surface with ever-darkening shades of red,   purple and green.   ❛   only,   i  felt  the  ball’s  meaning  was  beginning  to  get  a  little  lost  as  auror  amos  diggory  stood  spelling  the  silverware  at  my  head.   ❜   exclaims the blonde,   collapsing back in her chair,   cerulean eyes wide and pink lips forming a delicate but petulant pout,   ❛   though  i  suppose  i  should  thank  you  really.   it  was  one  of  your  ‘masked  assailants’  after  all  that  cut  the  torment  short.   a  true  show  of  strength,   you  should  be  proud.   ❜

      closed   starter   bellatrix   black  /   @wickedbellax​

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rabastan ​:

CLOSED STARTER WITH @blondsblack

where: The black mansion when: the week following the solstice ball

It was one of their house elves that had let him into the mansion itself. He walked through the oh so familiar halls as his shoes tapped across the tiles, echoing off the walls plastered with portraits and landscapes. He finally made his way to Narcissa’s bedroom, gently tapping his knuckles against the wooded door. His hand reached for the golden door handle, cold to the touch. “It’s me Rabastan.” he called, waiting for her permission to enter before even turning the knob. Rabastan really needed his friend right now, he had so much to process and talk about. Seeing Augustus, Lyra and Rodolphus, Alecto and then last but definitely worst, being attacked by the crucio curse. “Sorry to bother you so early but I was wondering if we could talk?” 

      druella had left not too long ago,   a madam primpernelle’s bag in her wake.   a gift for her daughter,   whom had spent the time since experimenting with the new beauty potions in hopes they’d help in concealing her black eye...   which seemed to have only darkened in the week that followed their grand ball.   rabastan’s voice through her bedroom door however,   was scarcely something she’d been expecting.   manicured brows furrowing in confusion as she rises from her vanity,   a gentle flick of her wand to open the door before moving towards it and him,   a faint smile playing on her lips.   ❛   rabastan...    i  wasn’t  expecting  visitors  today.   ❜   she tells him,   suppressing her surprise in a vague gesture upward,   towards her bruises,   ❛   especially  not  this  early  but  please,   come  in.   ❜   a second gesture,   arm held out as if to welcome him in to the room he already knew so well.   the house call had certainly been surprising but his presence is a welcome one regardless.   not only that but he’d said he wanted to talk and well...   narcissa assuredly had quite a bit on her mind.   ❛   i  do  hope  you’re  okay?   the  ball  wasn’t  without  its  fair  share  of  devastation...   though  i  can’t  say  i  recall  seeing  you  amongst  all  the  chaos.   ❜   the blonde continues,   feigning absentmindedness as she moves to fluff a cushion on the chair opposite the one she then sits back in,   motioning for him to join her.   it’s only the smallest of hints to what she already knows,   that rabastan was one of several people she held dear behind the masks that night.   her first,   true encounter with the death eaters and not only had she stood by them,   but she’d fought beside them too.   a very real glimpse into their future perhaps...   but it wasn’t something narcissa could remain quiet about much longer,   not with him.

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      the sunrise brings with it pain,   an insurmountable ache fanning out across her arms  &  upper torso.   peeling back the silken bed covers,   her typically unblemished,   fair skin is scattered with murky shades of red,   purple and green.   a spectrum of suffering,   causing narcissa’s eyes to roll in resentment at what had come to pass.   it’s in laying back,   propped up against the headboard that her gaze falls upon the blonde beside her...   a contented sigh passing through pink lips.   it’d likely been a mistake to have brought dahlia to brideswater,   but in the aftermath of all that had happened at the ball the previous evening,   another tryst with the vampire felt inconsequential in comparison.   narcissa needed the comfort,   she hadn’t wanted to be alone.   ❛   you’re  lucky  i  don’t  care  as  much  about  how  i  look  around  you,   you  know?   ❜   the black muses,   light humour in her words though her features are otherwise solemn.   a hand reaching to play with dahlia’s hair whilst she hoped her own was covering the black eye she now sported.   battle wounds certainly weren’t something narcissa wanted to become a regular occurrence.   dahlia however?    well,   that was one that could stay.   ❛   i  look  as  though  i’ve  been  run  over  by  a  car  and  you  still  came  to  bed  with  me.   ❜

      closed   starter   for  dahlia   blackwood   /   @dahliablackwood​

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shiv roy + being left out

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lucius :

Lucius had done quite well in holding out long enough before exiting to a balcony for a smoke. In fact, he was quite impressed with himself. He deserved this. So at the first possible oppurtunity after the crave started to hit, Lucius dipped out and headed to an upstairs balcony. He leaned against the wall, one hand hanging over the edge and the other holding his cigarette. The background noise of the ball inside meant Lucius didn’t hear Narcissa walk out. Her voice caught him off guard. Luci stubbed out the cigarette, stood up slowly and turned around. “It would appear so,” He chuckled as he looked over the woman’s attire. “You look wonderful Narcissa. Pink is quite the becoming colour,” Lucius chuckled before following her eyes back into the ball. “It is quite the wonderful evening. Were it up to me, the guest list would have be trimmed and vetted a little more… But it wasn’t up to me,” He shrugged. “I’ve just been sticking to my preferred crowds. How’s your evening going?”

      smoke had become synonymous to him,   at least in narcissa’s mind.   rendered that way from their multiple encounters in which he’d stood in a hazy cloud of it,   as if he owned them in fact.   it was almost strange to see him stub it out upon his notice of her arrival,   he didn’t tend to stand on such ceremony.   ❛   as  do  you.  ❜   she courteously replies,   cocking her head forward somewhat to reference his matching pink suit,   ❛   quite  handsome  indeed.   it  would  seem  great  minds  do  think  alike  after  all.   ❜   tempting words in reference to the two of them...   as ever,   never having looked the part more so then they did in this very moment.   her gaze flickers back to the door from which she’d just entered,   carefully considering her apt response.   ❛   i  agree.   nothing  stings  quite  like  seeing  such  disagreeable  individuals  mixed  in  with  the  likes  of  us...   ❜   the blonde begins,   alluding vaguely to what she’d come to find out in their time apart,   ❛   but  i  can’t  deny  that  there  isn’t  some  merit  in  having  them  here,   where  we  can  see  them.   something  about...   keeping  our  friends  close  but  our  enemies  closer.   ❜   blue-green hues settling back upon him,   wanting to gage his reaction in spite of how well she knew his stoic demeanour.   he appeared the one man to deny her such satisfaction,   in more ways than just one.   ❛   of  course,   my  evening’s  been  just  as  well.   a  few  surprises  in  the  couplings  here  tonight  but  i  suppose  it  livens  things  up.   i  welcome  the  unexpected.   ❜

[blondsblack]

severus ​:

Severus was thankful that the amount of blush he’d stacked on his cheeks, paired with his dark complexion, would hopefully hide the flush of red at her compliment. He never talked about fashion with his friends; didn’t have anyone around him that he wanted to share this part of himself with. But in Narcissa he recognized someone whose opinion and knowledge he respected, and compliments coming from her, who looked like she understood was he was trying to do, meant a lot more than the countless accolades he’d been met with already. “I look good in every color, Narcissa,” he answered with a smile. This tone was very out of character for him; but he’d heard such replies from people like Lucius and Larkin countless times, and thought it would make him less suspicious than standing alone in a shadowy corner like he truly wanted to. If the Death Eater were doubting his allegiance, he had to make allies, and appear jovial and happy. 

“Well, it looks well on its way to matching expectations, indeed. I’m sure it’ll be a great success as always,” he said kindly. After many years spent together at school, he’d known that Narcissa probably would notice a difference in his demeanor. Unfortunately, he hadn’t yet prepared a reason as to why he was being seen talking to everyone and enjoying himself. Perhaps he was drunk? In love? He could always make up a hallway snog. He bit his lip for a second. “Well, perhaps it’s the summery air that’s befitting me. And the champagne, of course,” he added cheekily. “I do hope you’re taking the time to have fun, though. And looking for suitors, didn’t I hear it was the whole point of tonight? Unless, of course, your eyes are already set…” he continued with a smile, knowing very well what her thoughts on the matter were a few months ago but unsure of whether or not Narcissa had changed her mind on his mentor. 

        really,   it was a delight to see severus coming into his own,   an ebullient self-confidence about him that’d been hard-pressed and rare to find during their hogwarts days.   he was a changed man,   evidently so...   stood before her now in his suit of powder blue,   warm flush and enchanted flowers sprinkled about his long,   dark locks.   he was glowing.   perhaps with the new-found knowledge of the death eaters  &  blessing of hindsight,   she could have chalked it up to the work he was doing for the future of their wizarding world but narcissa felt almost as if it were something deeper.   considerably more personal and earnest to him.   regardless,   it put a bright smile upon her face.   ❛   don’t  you  just!   ❜   she proclaims,   sincerely enjoying the severus she’d encountered this evening,   even if it was put-on for the occasion,   ❛   i  understand  this  isn’t  your  natural  habitat,   severus  but  i  like  seeing  you  this  way.   ❜   words kind and considerate for narcissa,   a rarity in and of itself for those outside of her immediate family  &  blessed few close friends.

     ❛   i’ll  be  sure  to  pass  on  your  kind  words  to  my  mother  and  aunt,   they’ve  put  so  much  work  into  this  evening,   i’m  certain  they’ll  appreciate  it.   ❜   the blonde replies,   gesturing to the grand,   sweeping crowd in a moment of familial pride.   the room was alight with light and sound,  a buzz about the attendees as drinks were shared and waltzes danced.   narcissa’s blue-green eyes take on a contented gleam at the sight.   ❛   champagne  does  always  help.  ❜   she agrees,   ❛   though  it’s  easy  to  have  fun  in  such  glorious  company  and  yes,   whilst  the  ball  is,   and  always  has,   been  about  procuring  matches,  it’s  a  celebration  first  and  foremost.   ❜   narcissa laughs knowingly,   swift in her understanding of just what it was he’d been alluding to.   the two had spoke on it previously,   severus having said he’d put in a good word,   and whilst she’d no proof he had done,   she had certainly grown closer to them both in equal parts.   ❛   but  my  eyes  are  still  set,   yes...  ❜   the socialite confirms,   her previous smile resolute in its bright nature,   regarding both him and the gossip as if he were eleanor or violet,   ❛   i’d  almost  convinced  him  to  get  you  a  birthday  present  too,   all  those  months  ago.   hecate  only  knows  whether  he  delivered  on  it  or  not.   ❜

[blondsblack]

bellatrix ​:​

To say it was shock when Lyra Burke appeared on Rodolphus’ arm was an understatement. Bella had assumed that, despite them always denying anything, that Andromeda would have been on his arm with some excuse that they were still working tonight or something. Of course she wondered where her sister was the moment they did show face, but as she had searched for the Middle Black sister, she caught the eye of the youngest. Having kept a distance from Narcissa after the revelation of the family’s secrets, she was hesitant to approach but neared anyway, noticing that there was no anger present at the moment. “Very,” She answered swiftly, following the blonde’s eye towards the couple in question. Not only had she expected Rodolphus to be with her sister, but she didn’t even realize someone like Lyra was his type to begin with. She would’ve assumed Rabastan would be the chosen son for her this evening, not Rodolphus too. “Unfortunately I think he may,” The brunette answered carefully, knowing how close her second in command was to her sister, she didn’t think it was too much to let her know what she had sort of walked into. “I did catch him taking a minute outside early tonight, he did seem rather agitated.”

      the frustration hadn’t dissipated,   not for her family’s deceit and certainly not for the situation unfolding before them.   she’d had weeks to let the former simmer however,   whereas watching lyra  &  rodolphus waltz about the ballroom in front of them all was a fresh wound.   further salt added when she considered the feelings of both her elder sister and greatest friend.   emitting a pensive sigh from pink lips,   she’s relieved to have her eldest sister beside her knowing they were all on the same page now,   no further secrets...   ❛   i  thought  rodolphus  could,   or  rather  would  be  the  one  to  pull  her  back.   rein  her  in,   given  they  spend  every  waking  minute  together...   but  instead  he’s  here  with  her  best  friend.  ❜   she replies bitterly,   exasperated as such disrespect shown to all parties involved,   particularly andromeda,   who belonged to the hosting family no less.   it was egregious.   ❛   i  know  she  won’t  make  a  fuss  about  it  either,   bella...   but  i  haven’t  a  doubt  in  my  mind  that  it’s  hurt  her.   ❜   confides the blonde,   fair features falling at the thought,   the implications of it too.   it might’ve been beyond the eldest to understand the full extent of andie’s feelings but ever since the yule ball,   and subsequent fallout,   narcissa had felt they were walking an impossibly fine line.   ❛   him  too.  ❜   she adds,   blue-green hues searching the crowd for rabastan,   whom she could only assume was at the bar drowning his sorrows in several glasses of whiskey.   her sister’s words coming as no surprise to her,   she too understood they were close...   even more so now with dark secrets uncovered.  ❛   i  just  want  to  ensure  he  doesn’t  act  out.   he  often  gets  rash  when  he’s  in  a  mood  like  this  and  i  not  only  care  for  him  but  for  his  reputation  too.   ❜

[blondsblack]

alecto ​:

If she was at all honest Narcissa Black was the last person that she wanted to see right now. Bloody perfect Narcissa Black. She really did not need another stark reminder of how much she had lost. Part of her did like Narcissa, but she always hated how she felt like they were compared to each other. It was why when the girl sauntered over to her, that Alecto felt tempted to just turn around and walk off. It wouldn’t be that much of a hit to her horrible personality and reputation anyway. “Do you hear everything Narcissa? Your life so interesting that you have to listen to others conversations.” She murmured, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her, but she did take the flute of champagne from her. Of course, she was being pretty petty, but she didn’t feel like engaging a conversation like this with Narcissa. She didn’t need the girls pity, not when she knew how close Narcissa was with Rabastan. “Of course he didn’t. I’m Alecto Carrow. No boy holds that much power over me.” Of course, there was one boy that did intend hold that power, but she was trying to forget. Alecto laughed, shaking her head. “Mama Burke, ruining yet more lives”

      such exasperation was expected from alecto,   an acute awareness in narcissa that she was the very epitome of all the redhead had lost.   everything she seemingly was not.   previously,   she’d been more than understanding of the carrow’s precarious position but in the face of alecto’s petulance,   she couldn’t resist the urge to match it in return.   ❛   no,   not  everything.   ❜   the blonde smiles,   saccharine  &  patronising in equal parts...   bordering on sickeningly sweet,   a knowing look to accompany it.   ❛   only,   gossip  is  an  incredibly  valuable...   powerful  thing  in  our  society.   i’d  so  hate  to  see  you  underestimate  that.   ❜   it’s not so much of a veiled threat than it is a fact.   the witch stood before her had already fallen such a long way and with rabastan’s outburst tonight,   narcissa had to wonder how much more their fragile reputation could take.   she was just looking out for a friend...   as she always did.   ❛   even  caius  burke?   ❜   she asks pointedly,   smile unfaltering,   blue-green hues glued to the other.   she may well have been ‘poking the bear’ but the opportunity had presented itself,   for kratista burke was a most meddlesome old woman.   one narcissa too,   had had multiple unsavoury interactions with,   the mother’s heart evidently set on marrying her dearest caius to one of two pureblood socialites.   adrastiea greengrass,   or narcissa herself.    the thought alone prompts an eyeroll,   a further sip of champagne to wash it away entirely,   ❛   well...   like  mother,   like  daughter.   ❜   she laughs harshly,   ❛   and  i  suppose  any  plan  to  get  back  at  them  all  died  with  the  fallout  with  rab?   ❜

[blondsblack]

walburga ​:

Walburga had never really spent tons of time with Narcissa. The blonde had been one that Druella had kept close to her. Walburga could kind of relate, and she supposed it would have been pretty mean of her to try to take all of Druella’s daughters from her. But, she couldn’t deny that Druella hadn’t raised Narcissa well. She was easily the most wanted woman in the room. Merlin knew the amount of suitors that Walburga had set up for her. Of course, she knew that only the best would do for her niece. But she was looking forward to the day that she had at least gotten one of the Black sisters married off. It would get Druella off of her case for one thing. And then maybe she’d be able to focus on her own son a little more. But Walburga was being a little selfish in her reasons. If she could get Narcissa a good match, then she knew it would make it easier to make a good match for Regulus.

“Mmm. Of course she had. You’re her prize possession Narcissa. But don’t let your sisters know that” She wasn’t fully sure that Druella openly had Narcissa has a favourtie, but she was pretty sure. It was some of the reason why she favoured Bellatrix. She wanted to make sure they all got a good set of loving. Even if most of the world thought that Walburga couldn’t love. “Mmm….” She mused, a little smirk on her face as she followed her niece’s gaze to across the ball room. “Aah….” She turned her attention back to Narcissa and nodded in approval. “I do so agree. You two will make a lovely couple.” Because that was exactly whom Walburga wanted to get for her niece, and she wasn’t going to settle for anyone else. 

      not only was narcissa aware of her mother  &  aunt’s efforts,   but she was immensely grateful for them too.   of course,   she still had somewhat of a one track mind when it came to marriage.   instilled within her by druella,   who had only ever had just one ideal bachelor in mind for her youngest daughter.   the matriach more than intent on the match in fact.  it was never that the blonde had been short on choice,   quite the opposite  —  always having been deemed the most wanted woman with boys thrust in her direction ever since she was a girl and they’d never relented.   only in lieu of her mother’s wishes,  it had become increasingly competitive pursuit to achieve narcissa’s hand.   very few suitors ever deemed worthy for her,   much less “the best”.   it was important she had the best,   for herself but more importantly for the rest of her family too.   in achieving a most sought after match,   it would be easier come her sister’s turns,   and regulus’ too.    

      ❛   i’m  afraid  to  say  they  may  already  know!   ❜   narcissa laughs,   rare in its earnest  &  joyful nature.   her mother’s favouritism for her always having been quite evident in the daughter’s eyes,   ❛   i’ve  long  since  wondered  if  her  love  for  me  came  from  my  looks,   which  i,   of  course,   inherited  from  her,   or  in  the  way  i  am  the  sole  member  of  our  family  who’s  indulged her  whims...   ❜   she muses,   manicured brows lifted in idle curiosity.   there was a certain kinship between mother and daughter that went unmatched by the other blacks,   a bond that even in their most trying of times,   narcissa never failed to see the importance of.   it was this very love that spurred her on even now,   cerulean gaze drawn to the man her mother wished for her to marry and then,   back to her aunt.   ❛   i’m  so  glad  you  agree,   aunt  walburga.  ❜   the blonde smiles proudly,   a slight girlish nature about her though her mind and subsequent words are far more methodical,   ❛   there  are  several  obstructions  in  the  way,   he’s  certainly  not  forthcoming  but  i  believe  i’ve  made  good  headway.   ❜   narcissa confirms,   eyes alight with the possibility and potential between she and lucius.