JADIS (knifed) wrote in raveled, @ 2016-10-20 12:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! decade: 1960s, ! log, bellatrix black lestrange |
WHO: Bellatrix and her father
WHAT: Let's Make A Deal
WHEN: 1964
WHERE: Cygnus's study
"Have a seat." While she sits, still sputtering with anger, Cygnus pours himself a glass of scotch and takes a long drink before he says anything else. "You need to learn control, Bella." She makes a noise of disgust. "This isn't my fault." "Isn't it? Take credit where it's due." "Mother --" the word leaves her mouth with venom "-- wouldn't care what I was up to if I were a boy. Sirius gets away with everything." "That's true," Cygnus concedes mildly, pouring more scotch into the glass absently. "But it doesn't solve the problem at hand. You can't be using that kind of curse unsupervised. You're nearly thirteen, haven't they taught you in school that --" "We don't learn anything real at school," she interrupts scornfully. "Just Petificus Totalus and some idiocy about a strong defense being better than any real offense!'" Cygnus opens his mouth, but she presses on. "If you're still not going to teach me because Great-Uncle Arcturus lives in another century, I'll figure out another way, you know I will." Cygnus closes his eyes as if praying for strength. "Bella." Her eyes are bright with tears. "It isn't fair. I know you already knew a lot more when you were my age, I heard Grandmother talking to Aunt Walburga about it. Why haven't you been teaching me?" It's a migraine-inducing question, the kind Cygnus doesn't want to answer ever, if he can help it. He prefers a quiet life. The clock ticks impatiently -- one minute passes, then two. "All right." He exhales wearily. "We'll start tomorrow, if only so that you can learn some kind of Merlin-blessed self control." Bellatrix jumps up, face suddenly gleeful, and he holds up a finger. "With stipulations. Sit back down, Bellatrix. First, you are to accompany your mother to any social functions she sees fit, no matter how useless an exercise you personally may consider them." She scowls, sliding low in the chair. "Fine." "And you will be polite and respectful towards her." "I will if she --" "No buts, Bellatrix." "Fine." "I will set up a course of study and you will adhere to it, which means absolutely nothing unsupervised." A sullen huff. "Okay." "And you will endeavour to operate with some kind of discretion in your daily life," Cygnus adds in the tone of a man who's already lost the battle. "Please." "Yes, yes," she says impatiently. "What about Arcturus?" "Please refer to him as Great-Uncle Arcturus, and he's my concern, not yours. It's not sustainable for you to be causing this much destruction. And now, I'd like you to return to your room and bring me the copy of Magick Moste Evile you've been hiding up there. It's my first edition." Her face registers open surprise for a moment and Cygnus raises an eyebrow. "Certainly," she says haughtily, and sweeps towards to the door with Druella Black-approved posture. She's almost at the door when he speaks again. "Haven't you ever heard about curiosity killing the cat, little star?" Bella turns and grins at him. It's going to be a wonderful summer. "People always forget the 'satisfaction brought him back' part." |