Rule One (Harry Potter)

[caitis_musings]

“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.”
~Mario Puzo

“Rule number one – family first, last, always.”

Narcissa Black could almost hear the voice of Lord Black intoning the words in the back of her mind as she headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast.

Arcturus Black, her first cousin twice removed, ruled his family with an iron fist hidden behind a velvet glove. The epitome of a true Slytherin – and a Black – he often confused everyone with his politics and social maneuvers. He preferred socializing with the Potters and the Longbottoms even though he tended to argue with them in the Wizengamot.

Few of his family even understood his stand.

When Sirius had been Sorted into Gryffindor, some of the family petitioned Arcturus to name a different Heir. He refused, irritating many of them – Sirius’ parents not the least. Narcissa had paid careful attention to his actions, and she made sure not to alienate her cousin. Maybe she didn’t act overly friendly, but neither did she treat him with disdain. She’d even spoken on behalf of his friends a time or two.

Then again, Lily Evans and Remus Lupin each possessed a working intellect and proved to be better in some classes despite their younger ages.

Even with her younger cousin Regulus beginning his first year, Narcissa didn’t expect anything to change this year. Maybe things would thaw out now that Bella had graduated, but it should still be a standard year at Hogwarts.

That idea lasted until the Sorting when McGonagall placed the Hat on Regulus’ head.

Like the rest of the family, she fully expected the Hat to call out Slytherin after only a few moments. Only her cousin Sirius had caused a ruckus by taking so long that he almost became one of the rare Hat Stalls. Granted, he caused even more of an uproar when the Hat called out Gryffindor. Then again, Sirius Black never did like bending to the will of another.

Which, come to think of it, might be why he remained Heir of the House of Black.

So, they’d waited . . . and waited . . . and . . .

“Better be . . . Gryffindor!”

Shocked whispers raced around the hall as the Old Families took in the unexpected Sorting. A second son of Black assigned to Gryffindor?

“Oh, this isn’t going to go over well at all,” Andromeda murmured as cheers finally began to erupt from the table on the other side of the room. “Most of the family will be in a rage.” Then she shook her head as she looked at her sister. “Those who cling to blood purity anyway.”

“Suddenly I’m even more glad that Bella graduated.”

“Either way, this is going to be a tough year.”

After the surprise Sorting, sitting in the Great Hall and watching Regulus being sorted into Gryffindor, the Black sisters had to decide how to react. They could either remain remote, letting the cards fall as they might and ignore their cousin’s situation – which they’d been forced to do in regard to Sirius.

Then again, his Sorting happened when their eldest sister Bellatrix ruled Slytherin house. Neither of them had been allowed to assist him.

As the eldest Black in the House, Andromeda now controlled the Slytherins . . . and she had a very different outlook on their family duty. Bella held House and blood pride higher than any family ties. Andy intended to remind everyone of the importance of Family. They both knew how Walburga Black would respond to the idea of her youngest – favorite – son being Sorted into Gryffindor like his older brother.

Thus, Narcissa would go to stand with their cousins while Andromeda ensured their Housemates understood the stand of the House of Black currently at Hogwarts. It should turn more than a few heads. Doing her best to be subtle about it, Narcissa straightened her shoulders as she entered the Great Hall. With a slight nod to her sister, she angled left from the door – towards the Gryffindor side of the room.

“Narcissa!”

She ignored the hissed disapproval from more than one of her Housemates and continued on her path towards her cousins with a steady stride. The looks of surprise, consternation, and suspicion amused her. Too bad she couldn’t completely enjoy the confusion. As she approached the table, she spotted Peter Pettigrew about to sit down between Evans and Lupin.

Should she begin using their first names? It implied a certain . . . softening of boundaries after all.

Well, perhaps for the two of them. Potter and Pettigrew still needed to earn that level of respect.

Catching Pettigrew’s eyes, she arched an eyebrow and fought back a smile as he froze in place. When he didn’t move, she intensified her stare as she continued to stroll towards him. As if something finally clicked into place, he scrambled back and left her the seat. She took the seat across from Sirius as Pettigrew scurried to Lupin’s - Remus’ - other side. Ignoring that, she gave her cousins a regal nod as she reached for a piece of toast.

“Cissa.”

“Sirius.” Narcissa offered her cousin a cool look before turning a slightly warmer one on his younger brother. “Regulus.”

Relief and appreciation glinted in his dark eyes, so different from his brother’s. “Good morning, Cissa.”

“Are you looking forward to your first day of classes?”

“I think so,” he began, one shoulder hitching into a half-shrug. “It’s . . . kind of intimidating.”

“Slughorn will like you,” she informed him. “You’re a Black and that’s all he needs to know. McGonagall will be tough, but fair, and you’re one of hers, so that will help. Flitwick likes anyone who tries their best in Charms.”

“Sirius says Professor McGonagall is mean.”

Narcissa gave a soft snort. “Sirius tries to get detention on the first day,” she sighed.

“True, too true!” Sirius reached for some pumpkin juice, the playful tone of voice not matching the dark look in his steel silver eyes. “Consorting with the enemy, Cissa? How very un-Slytherin of you.”

“Do be . . .” She paused, rolling her eyes when her cousin grinned at her. “No, I’m not falling into that old joke. Do be sensible.” He pouted at her, but she ignored him to glance at Regulus. “We should be getting the first mail from home today.”

He went still, his eyes widening, and Sirius cursed. “Merlin’s beard.”

“She’s going to send a Howler, isn’t she?” Regulus winced.

“It’s Aunt Walburga,” Narcissa sighed. “Of course, she is.” Glancing to her left and reminding herself that power and influence often came through odd places, gave the Evans girl - Lily, she reminded herself - a polite smile. “Would you please pass me the strawberry jam?”

Something akin to shock glinted in her green eyes, but she passed the jar over. “Why are you sitting with us?” Evans - Lily - asked.

“Because Sirius hasn’t managed to successfully handle a Howler in the past two years.”

Silence fell at their small section and Narcissa proceeded to spread the jam on her toast. When the others continued to simply stare at her, she lifted her eyebrows. “Yes?”

“That didn’t answer the question,” Potter pointed out.

“Did it not?”

“Yes, it did,” Sirius corrected with a soft snort. “Cissa actually likes Regulus.”

“I don’t dislike you.”

Potter glared at her. “So, how come you’ve never come over to help him with a Howler?”

She rolled her eyes. “Potter, do try to use your brain for something other than simple pranks,” she sighed. Frowning, he opened his mouth . . . only to snap it closed when she arched a brow at him. “Last year, Sirius actively worked to get Howlers in the mail.”

“Mostly so I could mock my mother, yeah,” Sirius admitted.

“And first year?” Potter demanded.

“Again, you’re not thinking,” Narcissa informed him. “You do recall who ruled Slytherin house during your first year, do you not?” His eyes narrowed but he remained silent as Sirius made a soft growling noise. She nodded at her cousin. “Bella and Sirius despise each other.”

“It’s true.” Regulus cleared his throat when all eyes turned towards him. “And she’d have been mad if Cissa or Andy tried to help him.”

“Fortunately for me, Andy is the current Queen of Slytherin,” she continued. “She likes Sirius, and doesn’t have any trouble with helping our cousins, even if they are in Gryffindor.”

Lupin - Remus, she needed to remember to start using some of their names - offered her a cup of tea, which she accepted with an approving nod. “Why is Andromeda not over here helping?” he asked. When her eyebrows rose, he shook his head. “Not that I doubt you can handle it, I’m surprised she’s not taking responsibility as the eldest.”

A reasonable enough question, so Narcissa let her expression smooth back out as she sipped her tea. “Andy is making sure there won’t be any difficulty with the Slytherins.”

“Why?” Pettigrew asked, his squeak of a voice grating on her ears.

She considered ignoring him altogether, but then Lily spoke up. “Because Narcissa has to go back to her House dormitory at some point,” she pointed out. “Her cousins get to avoid them for the most part, but she can’t.”

“Precisely,” Narcissa nodded.

“They’re going to give you trouble either way,” Sirius pointed out, his expression darkening. “You’re helping out blood traitors after all.”

Regulus nodded, his brows furrowing. “You should go, Cissa.”

“Do stop being idiots, both of you,” she huffed, putting down her teacup with a sharp click. “Rule one.”

From the looks on their faces, Narcissa knew they’d caught her meaning. It did not mean their fellow Gryffindors understood, and she could see the curiosity and questions beginning to bubble. However, before anyone could speak, the rushing sound of dozens of wings stopped any further commentary. Everyone looked up to see the Hogwarts mail owls streaking down from the ceiling to deliver letters and packages.

One dark owl, almost black in appearance, headed their way, a scarlet red Howler clutched in his talons.

“She really did it,” Sirius muttered.

A quick glance at her cousins found Regulus already shrinking back from the Howler while Sirius glared at the owl as if considering doing something before the bird got anywhere near them. Narcissa gave him a light kick under the table, and he winced.

“I’m not going to hurt the owl, Cissa,” he grumbled.

When the owl dropped the Howler in front of Regulus, he closed his eyes and reached for it.

“Ahem.”

His eyes flew open, and he sent Narcissa a startled look. Even as the Howler began to smoke, she pulled out her wand, pointed it at the offending envelope, and murmured a quick incantation. The Howler seemed to shiver before it stiffened, falling to the table as the magic within it evaporated. Satisfaction swirled through her, a hint of it curving her lips into a smug little smile.

“That was not Latin,” Lily noted, her eyes wide but admiring.

“No, but then again, the Blacks have been here since long before the Romans ever arrived.”

“Cissa for the win,” Sirius chuckled as he picked up the envelope. Giving her a nod of approval, he flipped it into the air.

Understanding his plan, Narcissa twirled her wand in her fingers before pointing it at the envelope once more. “Incendio.” Fire flared, burning the thing to ashes. Another quick flick and even those remnants sparked into nothingness. From the corner of her eye, she caught a slight movement and glanced over to see Regulus slumping in relief. The youngest of their family sent her a grateful look which drew a true smile to her lips. “Rule one,” she repeated and got a quick laugh out of him.

Potter rolled his eyes and turned to Sirius. “No, really, what the hell is rule one?”

Letting her cousin debate whether or not he wanted to torment his best friend, Narcissa took another sip of her tea, satisfied with her morning’s work. It would be a difficult year, one where she and her sister would have to navigate the hidden dangers of their House while standing with their cousins.

Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be on better relations with the so-called Marauders . . . or even Lily Evans. While Narcissa did believe magic belonged in the Magical world, not the Muggle, she thought she might find it more advantageous to align herself with the Gray faction. It would give her more leeway in her actions even as she continued to build her own power base. It would also make her an excellent ally for Sirius when he came into his heritage.

Plus, Sirius adored his younger brother. If he never had children, then Regulus would be his heir.

Definitely a thought worth remembering.

Let Bella prance around and give her loyalty to some outsider. Narcissa had no intention of bowing her neck before some man of lesser house – and despite Slytherin’s standing in the history of their world, that Family came after the Romans. Ancient, yes, but not noble – not in Britain.

And nowhere near as Ancient as the House of Black.

Narcissa Black would stand beside her cousins in Hogwarts, helping Sirius shield and protect Regulus from their parents if she could. She would have three years to solidify her place as the most powerful daughter of the House in their eyes before she graduated from Hogwarts. Then she could work towards her own goals while also keeping theirs on the front burners of Family business until Sirius graduated and could step up.

Regulus leaned towards her. “Almost all of Slytherin house is glaring at you, Cissa.”

“Let them stare,” she shrugged, again with a smile for him. “I never did like being a sheep.” And his Sorting had irrevocably changed the Family’s trajectory, giving her an opening and an opportunity she might never have had to choose her own fate. “It should be interesting to watch them scramble.”

“Rule number one – family first, last, always.”