JADIS (![]() ![]() @ 2016-10-21 16:24:00 |
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The eulogy for Cygnus Black was long and the additional speeches even more so, featuring phrases like "noted philanthropist" and "community pillar." Bellatrix, face chalk-white and eyes red-rimmed, heard barely any of them. Her mind was full of the more satisfying images of revenge and a DMLE consumed in flames. She was a little startled when it was abruptly over. People were suddenly standing up and talking, Narcissa was leading their mother to the refreshments, and at the back, a slim, dark-haired figure was trying to slip out unnoticed. The nerve. This was one of those crossroads Bella faced every so often -- to let the moment pass or to take dramatic, ill-advised action, and naturally, she chose the latter. Pushing past Rodolphus and Regulus, she strode briskly out the door and around the side of the building, drawing wary looks from the attendees. Finally, she was so close to Andromeda that it was impossible for the other woman not to notice: "Excuse me." Andromeda had been waiting for this. She considered herself to be unnaturally lucky to not have been caught sooner. It had been something of a pipe dream to come and go with absolutely no notice. The fact that it was Bellatrix who was rounding on her now didn’t surprise her at all. Her older sister had always been particularly adept at spotting things she aggressively didn’t like. With her back straight and her head held high, she only slowed down slightly, as she turned her head towards her sister. The few tears she’d shed had long since dried on her cheeks as she met her gaze with an equally cool one of her own. Ever polite, ever calm. “Yes?” "This was a private family event," Bella snapped. She had drawn her wand. "How dare you." “He was my father as well,” Andromeda calmly pointed, her own hand slipping into the pocket of her cloak to rest on her own wand. “Of course I’d come to his funeral.” "But you, you gave up that right years ago." Unlike Andromeda's near-serenity, Bellatrix's face was flushed and she was nearly sputtering with anger. "He wouldn't have wanted you here. Why is that so hard for you to understand? You don't get to have grief right now." Years of practice were coming into play, her own anger cooling just her sister’s burned brighter. She had had decades to prepare herself for this, playing out what she would say. “I get to have whatever grief I want. Having permission has never stopped me before and won’t stop me now. Wouldn’t you agree, sister?” "Don't call me that," she hissed, swiping at her eyes angrily with the back of one hand. "Grief comes with responsibility -- you didn't have to handle the bungling incompetence of the DMLE, or the inquest, or Druella, or the funeral planning, Mrs Tonks. Do you think you get to pick and choose what parts of being a Black you like? That's not how the world works." “Would you rather that I just pick the parts of myself that you would prefer?” Andromeda didn’t need to actually hear the answer to that. She was fairly certain that she could fill that in for herself. Her radical departure from the family had told her all that she really needed. "I…" A pause, and Bellatrix drew a shaky breath, wiping the streaks of makeup on her cheeks. "I will not make this a bigger scene at my papa's funeral, but Merlin help me, Andromeda, if I see you at another family event, I will make you regret it so, so very deeply." “Don’t threaten me.” Hand relaxing, she pulled it from her pocket letting both rest in front of her. If her sister were going to lash out, then she wasn’t going to fight it. “Don’t worry, Bellatrix, this is the last family event that I’ll bother attending. I don’t like to repeat mistakes.” Pushing past her sister, she continued down the street, taking a deep breath to steady herself before Apparating away from the scene. Bellatrix waited until she heard the faint pop of Disapparation before slumping against the side of the building and letting out a muffled scream into her hands. |