Chapter Text
Cygnus Black was standing in his study in his most sophisticated set of robes, looking at an old photograph of his late wife.
The photo was old and fading. Druella had just graduated from Hogwarts, and they got engaged. She looked to be frail but was a true beauty with her long chocolate curls piled up elegantly atop her head. Cygnus run his fingers across Druella’s face and smiled. Little did he know that this tiny seventeen-year-old girl would be the best thing to ever happen to him. How much did he want her to be by his side today, on the day when their eldest daughter Bellatrix got married?
“Daddy,” he heard his other daughter Andromeda’s voice. “Are you coming? People are starting to wonder.”
Cygnus put the photo back on his ornate desk and followed Andromeda out of the room towards the sitting room, where the rest of the wedding party were assembled. The room was bright, tastefully decorated with expensive flowers, and full of chatter and laughter.
Bellatrix, who inherited her mother’s hair but little of Druella’s gentle personality, was standing in the middle of the room surrounded by the young groomsmen. She was wearing an elegant gown made of Italian lace, and her mother’s old tiara, and looked stunning. By her side was her new husband’s best man and brother, Rabastan Lestrange. But her husband was nowhere to be seen.
“Where is Rodolphus?” Cygnus asked of the bride as he kissed her on the cheek.
Bellatrix shrugged. “Went to deal with some business.”
“That’s just like my brother,” Rabastan laughed. “Won’t take a break even on his wedding day.” He then leaned towards Bellatrix and whispered. “Another drink, Trixie?”
“You know me too well,” Bellatrix smirked, playfully slapped his cheek, and passed him her glass.
Cygnus had then seen Rabastan brush Bellatrix’s waist in a way that would not have been appropriate in Cygnus’ day. Not between a brother and a sister-in-law.
Just as Rabastan left for the bar, Rodolphus emerged.
“Ministry keeping you busy, my boy?” Cygnus asked and shook his hand.
“I’m in charge of this convention,” Rodolphus began. “Two hundred wizards are coming from all around Europe to tackle this legal problem we found. There is an inconsistency in the werewolf legislation –“
“Oh please,” Bellatrix interrupted him with a yawn. “If I have to hear this one more time…”
“This is important,” Rodolphus protested. “As my wife-“ he began, but did not get to finish.
“All you ever talk about is Ministry, Ministry, Ministry... Would it kill you to have a bit of fun?” Bellatrix said and looked over her shoulder. “Where is Rabastan with that champagne already?”
But before Rabastan had a chance to come back, or Rodolphus explained the inconsistencies in Europe’s werewolf legislation any further, they were all called for dinner.
Cygnus stood rooted in the middle of the room, watching everyone leave for the dining room. What he saw unsettled him a little. He thought Bellatrix was in love with her husband, but the impression he just got was that she thought he was a bore.
“Everything alright?” Andromeda walked up to him and held onto his arm.
“I don’t know,” Cygnus said.
“What is it, daddy?”
Cygnus sighed. “Bellatrix does love Rodolphus, doesn’t she?” Andromeda said nothing, so he continued. “Because your mother left me with one instruction before she died. Make sure they marry someone who will make them happy.” What he did not add was that Druella wanted her daughters to marry for love. Just like she and Cygnus did. Not to go down the family route of arranged marriages and perpetual unhappiness.
“She knows Rabastan better,” Andromeda replied, which made Cygnus smile a little. He never had to explain anything to her. Andromeda was sharp! “They were in the same school year. Rodolphus is that little bit older. And isn’t as much of a wild child.”
“So, you think she prefers Rabastan?”
“Think?” Andromeda laughed. “I know that. Everyone knows that. I’m pretty sure Rodolphus knows that.”
“Why not marry him, then?”
“You’ll need to ask Bellatrix that. I’m sure he’s offered.” Andromeda said with a smirk and extended her arm. “Let’s go in before people get suspicious.”
“You don’t know this,” Cygnus sighed. “But I was supposed to marry your mother’s sister, but followed my heart instead. I’m just hoping Bella isn’t making the mistake I managed to avoid.”
“That’s a wonderful story,” Andromeda said, and her eyes lit up. “I didn’t know marrying for love was something our family did.”
“Your mother and I were the first,” Cygnus said and wrapped his arm around his daughter’s shoulders. “Let’s get to dinner.”
For the duration of the meal, Cygnus kept glancing at his eldest daughter. He saw nothing that would ease his worry about her new marriage. Rodolphus sat stiff next to her, while Bellatrix kept glancing at and exchanging jibes with his brother. The kiss Rabastan planted on the bride’s cheek after his speech had more chemistry than the one Bellatrix and Rodolphus exchanged at the altar.
Just before Rodolphus and Bellatrix left the house to go on their honeymoon, Cygnus finally caught his daughter alone. She was in her room, taking off her veil.
“Why the long face?” she said and let her hair down. “I thought you’d be glad to have me out of the house.”
“I was talking to Andromeda earlier.”
“Nothing good ever came from that,” Bellatrix smirked. “What’s her problem now?”
“Bella, be honest with me,” Cygnus finally summoned the courage to say what was on his mind. “Do you love your husband?”
“Oh, grow up, papa.” Bellatrix said with a laugh and started to undo the buttons on her wedding dress. “Turn around,” she added, and Cygnus followed the instruction. “This is a good marriage for me. Rodolphus is powerful and wants to settle down. Besides, he’s the heir.”
“I just want you to be happy. And a good marriage is what it takes,” Cygnus said and kept staring at the wall.
“Times have changed. There is more to life than being a wife. I want to do something! Achieve something!”
Cygnus gave a nervous laugh. “Don’t tell me you got yourself a job. Your mother would be turning in her grave.”
“I’m done,” she mumbled, and Cygnus turned back to face her. She was now wearing stylish dark-green robes. The perfect going away dress. Cygnus could not help but smile. She looked so much like Druella at that age.
“Not a job,” Bellatrix continued the earlier conversation. “A cause. Something I really believe in.”
“Like a charity?”
“You could call it philanthropy,” she smirked. “Something that will benefit us all. Something that will change the world for the better...”
“But there is more to life than work.” Cygnus protested. “Sometimes you just need a shoulder to lean on. Someone to hold you.”
“Well, Rabastan isn’t going anywhere,” Bellatrix chuckled.
“Bellatrix!”
“Oh, loosen up,” she laughed and placed a hat on the top of her head like nothing had happened. “Isn’t that how marriage has been done in our family for centuries?”