Work Text:
Narcissa Black was jealous of her sister, jealous of her happiness, jealous of how easily Andromeda had escaped the soul-sucking clutches of the House of Black.
But more than anything, jealous of her happy little fairytale romance.
When Andromeda ran away, Narcissa thought about how she would never- how she could never run away from her life with the first person she laid her fucking eyes on. That’s what being a bitter 13 year old will do to your perception.
But that was before Alice Fortescue.
Her Alice was perfect. She had the perfect smile, the perfect laugh, and the most perfect way of charming pieces of paper into perfect little animals, she gave the perfect looks and kisses, and she had the perfect eyes.
But Alice Fortescue was from a blood-traitorous family. She was a Gryffindor, for merlin’s sake! Even worse, Alice Fortescue was a girl.
Narcissa wasn’t supposed to love a girl. Actually, she wasn’t supposed to love anybody. She was supposed to marry a respectable, wealthy pure-blooded wizard, from a respectable, wealthy family. They’d have racist little pure-blood children who grew up to marry their cousin or some toujours pur shit.
She’d find this life, or it would be found for her. Growing up, Narcissa thought maybe she wanted it. That was what would make her family proud.
Still, something about it had always seemed off to Narcissa, especially after starting Hogwarts.
Her skills in Herbology and Charms were immediately apparent, so she joined the Charms Club and Herbology Committee- both inter-house. This was the first time she really spoke to anyone outside her house. And the first time she heard about others' home lives, where their parents loved each other. Where their parents loved them. Looking back, it must have looked so odd for an eleven year old to be inquiring about everyone’s parents’ relationships, but love was an odd concept to a young Narcissa. She’d thought if she was lucky, maybe she would love her husband. Unlike her parents.
Hearing all the other children speak so casually about their parents' affection made Narcissa question things about her life. Had her parents lied to her about love? No, they were her parents, they just told her truths the rest of the world was too weak to hear. Or was that another lie?
Narcissa remembered the time she’d asked her sisters about it, she’d been about 12, so Bellatrix was 14 and Andromeda 16. She recalled how Bellatrix had gotten defensive, threatening to tell her parents of Narcissa’s wavering loyalty. Andromeda, however, had a different response.
“Mother and Father lie to us at any given opportunity, I think,” Dromeda had said. “It’s like they’re obsessed with it.”
Those words stuck with Narcissa. They were why, when Narcissa found herself staring at a girl a year old in Herbology, she’d let it happen. It wasn’t like anything would come out of it, so why not spite her mother and father?
Alice Fortescue had been drawn to Narcissa, as well, she just wasn’t so painfully obvious about it. If Alice wanted to hide something, there wouldn’t be a soul who found out a single thing about it.
One day, closer to the end of Narcissa’s fourth year, Alice asked Narcissa out. Narcissa wondered what her face must’ve looked like. While, internally, she was over the moon with excitement, externally she must have looked like her mother would after being asked out. After several seconds of stunned silence, Narcissa stuttered out a yes.
They snuck off to Hogsmeade together the day after Alice’s O.W.L.s finished.
It was the best day of Narcissa’s life.
After going to the Three Broomsticks, Honeydukes, and all around Hogsmeade they climbed up the hills on the outskirts of the small village. Sitting down in an empty field near the peak, they watched the sun set.
“I think I love you,” Narcissa said plainly. She didn’t have all that much experience and it showed.
“Y’know what? I think I love you too,” Alice replied with a chuckle. Narcissa turned, and the two locked eyes. Alice had the most beautiful hazel eyes. Narcissa lost herself staring into them. In those moments, she realized just how much her parents had lied to her. But that was okay, because now she had Alice.
Narcissa hadn’t even realized it, but the two were drawing closer and closer together, until their lips met. Narcissa didn’t really know what they were doing, but she did know whatever it was came naturally to her. She felt Alice’s hands on her back. They slowly made their way up into Narcissa’s head, until they were slowly threading through her shoulder-length blonde hair.
Narcissa had never felt more.. Happy? Whole? She didn’t know what, but it was amazing.
Narcissa’s hands were cupping Alice’s face when she slowly started to pull away.
“It’s late,” she said, as she looked back towards the nearly disappeared sun.
“You’re right,” Alice said, glancing down at her watch. It had a pink strap with brass hands and was cracking on top. “C’mon.”
Alice grabbed Narcissa’s hand as they returned to Hogwarts, taking Narcissa by shock, though the blonde didn’t pull away.
They snuck into Hogwarts using the same passage they’d used to get out, saying goodbye only when the tower was up and the dungeons down.
That was a year ago. They’d gone on so many dates since then, Narcissa had lost track.
“Which one should I wear?” Alice asked, face appearing from out of her closet. She held up a strawberry patterned dress and a green one in her dorm (Which Narcissa had made a habit of sneaking into).
“The first one,” Narcissa said distantly from Alice’s bed, facing the window.
Alice sat down on the bed next to Narcissa, giving her a look of concern. Narcissa’s eyes were glassy and red. Alice put an arm around Narcissa, and her head fell onto Alice’s shoulder.
“Hey,” Alice said, rubbing Narcissa’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“My family,” Narcissa replied with a shaky breath. It was the last day of the pair’s fifth and sixth years tomorrow. Alice loved the summer holiday. She and her dad lived above her dad’s ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley. HER dad was supportive of Alice being a lesbian. Narcissa, on the other hand, dreaded going home. The mansion in the English country had acres and acres around it, but the house was anything but a home. It held so many bad memories. Not to mention her parents would definitely sell her as a child bride to “Get the pansexual out of her.”
“Could you go to your sisters?” Alice asked
“I could, if it comes down to that, I guess,”
Alice shuffled to face her girlfriend. Narcissa turned up to face her. Their height difference wasn’t drastic, but Narcissa still had to turn her head up when looking into Alice’s eyes (Which she happened to do a lot). “Cissa, just promise me you’ll be safe.”
“I will, Ali,” Narcissa kissed Alice’s cheek, wiped a tear off her own cheek, and stood up. She smiled at her girlfriend. “I’m going to breakfast. You coming?”