The Dog
November 3rd, 1959
Cygnus scowled as he entered 12 Grimmauld Place, the door being held open by the House-elf that by all rights should have been his at one point. He was quite unsure why he was required to bring his family over, especially if the child his sister had been carrying was a girl— something he always suspected as his sister refused to reveal the child’s gender— it would keep Walburga in her place at the bottom of the tree. “I want to see baby,” the youngest daughter of his called, staying close to her mother.
“We will all get the chance to see him,” Andromeda smiled at her youngest sister.
“Or her," Bellatrix pointed out, stepping in front of her father. He immediately gave her a pointed glare and she stepped back.
“Straighten up, girls,” Druella snapped at them. “Our family is not the only one here, and we must make a good impression for any suitors for you.”
“Yes, Mother,” Andromeda and Bellatrix sighed.
“I will go check on my darling sister,” Cygnus stated, walking up the staircase where only family was welcomed. He was immediately met by a wand when he reached the door that led to the Master Chamber. “Orion... I wish to give you my congratulations on your first born. About time of course.”
“I will accept that,” Orion said darkly, blocking the way to the chamber. “If you even think about distress my wife after the ordeal she just went through...”
“Is that Cyggy?” Walburga called from her place on the bed. “Let him in Orion.... I imagine he wants to see my child...”
Cygnus sniffed at the nickname, but proudly strode forward as Orion stepped aside. “I did want to congratulate you on finally continuing our bloodline, even if you do end up marrying it off.”
“Why would I marry off my offspring, Cygnus,” Walburga asked slyly, a broad grin on her face as she held up her hand when he was just close enough to the bed. “Not too close now, I do not want anything infecting my precious son.”
Cygnus stopped dead in his tracks. ”Son?” he demanded, his body tensing as if preparing to lunge forward and rip the child from her grasp. Walburga saw the signs, and immediately drew her wand; a sharp jab in Cygnus’s back as Orion did the same. “You have a son?”
“Don’t act so surprised, Cyggy,” Walburga taunted, adjusting her grip on her babe. “Just because you were having trouble producing heirs, does not mean that Orion was going to have the same issue. Or I for that matter.”
Blood boiled in Cygnus’s veins. How dare she produce an heir. The stubborn trollop who nearly ruined their reputation by refusing Malfoy.... she had an heir. And he did not. “I think you should leave, Cygnus,” Orion stated. “You know what the child is now.”
“Can I see him?” A tiny voice called from the doorway. “Why are you pointing your wands at Daddy?”
“We are just making sure Daddy behaves himself,” Walburga replied sweetly to the four-year-old. “Would you like a closer look my dear?”
The tiny blonde child nodded, scurrying closer to her aunt. “Name?” Narcissa asked.
“Sirius Orion Black,” Walburga said proudly, pulling Narcissa closer to her as she helped the youngest Black sister support the newborn. “You girls will be the ones influencing him, so we need you to listen to Mother and show him how to become a proper pure-blood.” Narcissa nodded eagerly, cradling the tiny baby in her arms.
“Don’t hog, Cissy!” Bellatrix called, racing into the room. “We want to see the kid too!”
“Is it a boy?” Andromeda called, racing into the room behind her older sister.
“It is,” Walburga stated happily. “Now I need you two to be as gentle as your sister, can you two do that?”
“Congratulations, Walburga,” Druella called as she stepped into the doorway. “Your family must be quite proud.”
As his wife entered the room, Cygnus took the advice to leave right then, making sure to grab Druella’s wrist as he pulled her outside. “Once they finish announcing his name,” he said darkly, shoving his wife into the corner; twisting her arm sharply behind her back, his free hand snaking up and loosely gripping her neck as he imagined her pulse thundering underneath his fingertips as he pinned her to their bed; her nails struggling to dig into his skin as he waited for the perfect moment to allow her to breathe once more. “We will take the girls and go home... and you will be compliant tonight... unless you want something to happen to our youngest.”
“Is everything alright, Mistress Druella?” Kreacher croaked from behind them.
“Everything is fine,” Druella replied as Cygnus released her. “Thank you, Kreacher.”
🦢🦢🦢
When Cygnus and Druella had said goodnight to the girls, the three sisters huddled together behind Bellatrix as she opened the door. “Why Daddy so angry?” Narcissa whimpered, clinging to Andromeda.
“Because he wants a boy,” Bellatrix replied darkly. “He does not believe that we are enough.”
“He right?” Narcissa squeaked, her lip trembling a bit.
“No,” Andromeda said quickly. “No. Daddy is very wrong about that.”
The girls flinched as a scream echoed from their parents’ bedroom, followed by a loud slap as something fell and broke. Bellatrix surged forward, jiggling the doorknob. “Mummy?” she called.
“Go to bed, Bellatrix!” Druella called, though her voice sounded off. She sounded scared. “Cygnus... leave her alone, please... I will be quiet, I promise; just leave them alone!”
There was the sound of a hand striking Druella. “This is your fault you know,” he growled, making Bellatrix wish she had a wand and would be able to open the door. “If you had not killed my sons, I would be the Patriarch of this family! Instead, I have to put up with my sister ranking higher!”
“I did not kill the boys,” Druella wept after there was clearly another blow. “It happens, Cygnus!”
“I don’t believe you...”
“No, no, Cygnus please, not with the girls close—” Druella was unable to finish her sentence as a sharp crack sounded.
“Mummy!” Bellatrix screamed, jiggling the doorknob harder.
“What’s wrong, Bella,” Andromeda called, trying to keep Narcissa from following her eldest sister into getting the door to open.
“Daddy’s hurting Mummy!”
“Daddy, stop!”
“Stop, Daddy!” Narcissa whimpered.
“Cygnus, no.... leave them alone!” Druella screamed, only for something to cause her to yelp once more. The door opened and Cygnus stood before them in nothing but a satin robe with specks of blood on it. Andromeda immediately covered Narcissa’s eyes as Bellatrix stood in front of them, her brown gaze wide in horror as she saw her mother on her stomach naked; blonde hair disheveled as she shook her head. “Cygnus!”
“You three will go to bed, now,” Cygnus said coldly, sending shivers up Bellatrix’s spine. “Or you will join your mother in here...”
