Here Comes the Sun (Special Features Disc)
Jun. 5th, 2024 06:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miss_grimwoodSadly I don't have time to take part in this years Drizzle fest, but I had a lot of fun writing for last years. In the end, I wrote a Narcissa centric / Lucissa fic, but my original plot was for Belladora. I actually rewrote it a few times but I just wasn't feeling it, then I stuck it in my fic graveyard and switched to Lucissa. Reading it back, I like the fic, but I think the idea I ended up with drifted quite far from the original prompt.
There's obviously small sections/scenes missing from this, but its a solid 1k+ words. CW for Pandora's canon accident, but she survives. Happy ending.
There's obviously small sections/scenes missing from this, but its a solid 1k+ words. CW for Pandora's canon accident, but she survives. Happy ending.
Bellatrix had never wanted to marry. It was a cornerstone in the life she escaped, the life she ran away from to the seaside with Pandora to make their own happiness, their own family. And as for Pandora, there were few traditions she was even aware of, never mind ones she believed in. No, they were more than happy to spend their years living in sin as their muggle neighbours had once remarked, sustaining themselves on the fortune Bellatrix had smuggled in her escape, making their home, and raising their daughter, Luna.
Little darlin', it's been a long, cold, lonely winter
Autumn was approaching, and with it, Mabon. It was Pandora’s favourite celebration. She’d always had a fascination with death, a morbid curiosity. She believed the day helped her to harness her magic, to create, to bridge the gap between the living world and the afterlife.
Bellatrix, on the other hand, preferred the more practical side to the season. She tended her garden with care, growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and the occasional requested plant for one of Pandora’s potions.
When Pandora had asked her to make space for some asphodel in their garden, Bellatrix had almost said no. Any potion containing the plant was just too dangerous, even for an accomplished brewer like Pandora.
All she needed to do was flutter her eyelashes and pout, whispering ‘please, just this once?’ and Bellatrix had forgotten all of her concerns. She’d plant the flower, and Pandora could do with it as she pleased. It was worth it to see the smile on her face.
The asphodel harvest came and went, and now out of sight, Bellatrix had forgotten she’d even grown it, too occupied with her autumn harvest.
Bellatrix thanked all the gods in the sky that Luna had chosen to help with the harvest on that fateful day.
Locked in her potions room, Pandora harnessed the essence of life and death, working on a powerful draught of living death, intended to preserve the drinker for years to come, in case of a disaster.
In the garden, Bellatrix hoisted Luna onto her shoulders, holding a woven basket to catch the apples as she picked them from the tree. She could’ve done it with magic, but Pandora maintained that their fruits tasted sweeter when they were picked by hand.
A deep boom startled them. The basket of apples tumbled to the ground, scattering the fruit across the garden, and Luna clung to Bellatrix’s curls as she turned on her heel, watching their cottage shake.
‘What the fuck…’
She lowered Luna to the ground, a million thoughts swirling in her head.
‘Luna, pet, you stay out here. Gather up the apples, I’m going to find mum.’ Bellatrix assured her.
As she tore through the house, she knew. She should never have grown the stupid flowers. Whatever had happened, it wasn’t going to be good.
She didn’t need to break into the potions room; the blast had torn the oak door from its hinges and smoke was billowing from the room, pouring into the rest of the house. With a quick wave of her wand, she cleared the air, bracing herself for the sight that was about to meet her.
no
no, no, no, it’s not real
Pandora lay in the middle of the floor, pale, still. Her once beautiful blonde tresses seeped in the thick, green potion. Blood soaked the floor, dripping from cuts and grazes from the flying debris.
There was no time to think, before she knew it, she’d apparated to the ground floor of St Mungo’s.
She didn’t know what she’d managed to tell the Healers, but they were both whisked away, Pandora to be seen by healers, and Bellatrix taken to a nearly empty room, given a calming draught, remaining under supervision.
News clearly spread of the emergency arrival, and before she could finish her potion, her sister barged into the room.
Andromeda dismissed the young healer assigned to Bellatrix’s care, and took her into her arms.
‘Are you okay? Is Luna okay?’ She asked.
Luna.
Bellatrix sobbed against her, babbling like a madwoman. How could she be so careless? Poor Luna, all alone. Didn’t even think.
Andromeda shushed her, and quickly scribbled a note, summoning an owl to deliver her message.
‘Cissy will fetch her. We’ll pick her up when we hear from the ward.’ She assured her. Bellatrix nodded.
With her sister by her side, the wait was less excruciating, and soon, the good news came.
Good was a strong word. But it was better than Bellatrix had imagined.
Pandora would be fine. She’d wake in a few weeks, and once she regained consciousness, they were certain she wouldn’t sustain lasting damage.
A few weeks. Another calming draught was delivered, and Bellatrix fretted more. How was she to tell Luna the news? How would she take care of her? She’d always been a hands-on mother; certainly more than her own parents, but she lacked Pandora’s gentle touch and soothing voice. She could make dinner and play in the garden, but she couldn’t create the whimsical bedtime stories or fold laundry neatly.
Andromeda caught the frightened look in her eye. ‘Stop panicking.’ She warned.
Bellatrix nodded. Tough love, that’s how they grew up. At least Narcissa was gentle. Luna probably wasn’t even worried - she was most likely playing dress up with Draco, and helping herself to uncle Lucius’ expensive biscuits.
The wind blew cold as they walked from the gates of Malfoy Manor, with Bellatrix cursing her sister’s insistence against apparition within the grounds. The walk only kept her from Luna, and in turn, Pandora.
Little darlin', it feels like years since it's been here
Exactly three weeks after her accident, Pandora woke. Bellatrix was there when it happened, the first face Pandora saw.
The winter was long and relentless, but every day, Bellatrix woke early, before the sunrise, to apparate to St Mungo’s with Luna, and they spent the day with Pandora, tending to her wounds and keeping her company.
Little darlin', the smile's returning to their faces
With March, the frost melted, and the spring flowers began to bloom.
Pandora was finally declared fit to leave St Mungo’s. Her heart rate was steady, she could eat and walk, and had even managed to go a whole day without napping. Bellatrix almost cried when Andromeda informed her.
After their visit that day, she rushed home, preparing for Pandora’s return.
It's alright
So there they were, on a warm spring day, with the early morning sun peeking out, Luna as their flower girl, preparing to tie the knot.
For once, English weather was on their side, and the sun shone down, not too hot, but pleasantly warm. It was Bellatrix’s favourite weather - she’d always loved the way that the rays shone down on her girls’ hair, giving the blonde waves a glimmering quality.
They woke with the sunrise, and shared one last breakfast - scones, with apple jam and cream, and freshly brewed tea - holding hands as warmth trickled through the thin curtains, pushing the bedsheets aside to feel the rays of light.
They dressed separately - Bellatrix was helped into her gown by her sisters, and Pandora by Luna and her cousin. Bellatrix still wasn’t quite used to being away from Pandora - she much preferred the certainty of having her in sight.
Bellatrix looked out to the garden to see their guests. Possibly the largest assortment of eccentrics she’d ever seen, between Pandora’s family and her own. The guests wore yellow, Pandora’s favourite colour, and by extension, Bellatrix’s, and their seats were adorned with wildflowers. She hoped she’d be able to catch Pandora’s reaction when she saw it.
Little darlin', it's been a long, cold, lonely winter
Autumn was approaching, and with it, Mabon. It was Pandora’s favourite celebration. She’d always had a fascination with death, a morbid curiosity. She believed the day helped her to harness her magic, to create, to bridge the gap between the living world and the afterlife.
Bellatrix, on the other hand, preferred the more practical side to the season. She tended her garden with care, growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and the occasional requested plant for one of Pandora’s potions.
When Pandora had asked her to make space for some asphodel in their garden, Bellatrix had almost said no. Any potion containing the plant was just too dangerous, even for an accomplished brewer like Pandora.
All she needed to do was flutter her eyelashes and pout, whispering ‘please, just this once?’ and Bellatrix had forgotten all of her concerns. She’d plant the flower, and Pandora could do with it as she pleased. It was worth it to see the smile on her face.
The asphodel harvest came and went, and now out of sight, Bellatrix had forgotten she’d even grown it, too occupied with her autumn harvest.
Bellatrix thanked all the gods in the sky that Luna had chosen to help with the harvest on that fateful day.
Locked in her potions room, Pandora harnessed the essence of life and death, working on a powerful draught of living death, intended to preserve the drinker for years to come, in case of a disaster.
In the garden, Bellatrix hoisted Luna onto her shoulders, holding a woven basket to catch the apples as she picked them from the tree. She could’ve done it with magic, but Pandora maintained that their fruits tasted sweeter when they were picked by hand.
A deep boom startled them. The basket of apples tumbled to the ground, scattering the fruit across the garden, and Luna clung to Bellatrix’s curls as she turned on her heel, watching their cottage shake.
‘What the fuck…’
She lowered Luna to the ground, a million thoughts swirling in her head.
‘Luna, pet, you stay out here. Gather up the apples, I’m going to find mum.’ Bellatrix assured her.
As she tore through the house, she knew. She should never have grown the stupid flowers. Whatever had happened, it wasn’t going to be good.
She didn’t need to break into the potions room; the blast had torn the oak door from its hinges and smoke was billowing from the room, pouring into the rest of the house. With a quick wave of her wand, she cleared the air, bracing herself for the sight that was about to meet her.
no
no, no, no, it’s not real
Pandora lay in the middle of the floor, pale, still. Her once beautiful blonde tresses seeped in the thick, green potion. Blood soaked the floor, dripping from cuts and grazes from the flying debris.
There was no time to think, before she knew it, she’d apparated to the ground floor of St Mungo’s.
She didn’t know what she’d managed to tell the Healers, but they were both whisked away, Pandora to be seen by healers, and Bellatrix taken to a nearly empty room, given a calming draught, remaining under supervision.
News clearly spread of the emergency arrival, and before she could finish her potion, her sister barged into the room.
Andromeda dismissed the young healer assigned to Bellatrix’s care, and took her into her arms.
‘Are you okay? Is Luna okay?’ She asked.
Luna.
Bellatrix sobbed against her, babbling like a madwoman. How could she be so careless? Poor Luna, all alone. Didn’t even think.
Andromeda shushed her, and quickly scribbled a note, summoning an owl to deliver her message.
‘Cissy will fetch her. We’ll pick her up when we hear from the ward.’ She assured her. Bellatrix nodded.
With her sister by her side, the wait was less excruciating, and soon, the good news came.
Good was a strong word. But it was better than Bellatrix had imagined.
Pandora would be fine. She’d wake in a few weeks, and once she regained consciousness, they were certain she wouldn’t sustain lasting damage.
A few weeks. Another calming draught was delivered, and Bellatrix fretted more. How was she to tell Luna the news? How would she take care of her? She’d always been a hands-on mother; certainly more than her own parents, but she lacked Pandora’s gentle touch and soothing voice. She could make dinner and play in the garden, but she couldn’t create the whimsical bedtime stories or fold laundry neatly.
Andromeda caught the frightened look in her eye. ‘Stop panicking.’ She warned.
Bellatrix nodded. Tough love, that’s how they grew up. At least Narcissa was gentle. Luna probably wasn’t even worried - she was most likely playing dress up with Draco, and helping herself to uncle Lucius’ expensive biscuits.
The wind blew cold as they walked from the gates of Malfoy Manor, with Bellatrix cursing her sister’s insistence against apparition within the grounds. The walk only kept her from Luna, and in turn, Pandora.
Little darlin', it feels like years since it's been here
Exactly three weeks after her accident, Pandora woke. Bellatrix was there when it happened, the first face Pandora saw.
The winter was long and relentless, but every day, Bellatrix woke early, before the sunrise, to apparate to St Mungo’s with Luna, and they spent the day with Pandora, tending to her wounds and keeping her company.
Little darlin', the smile's returning to their faces
With March, the frost melted, and the spring flowers began to bloom.
Pandora was finally declared fit to leave St Mungo’s. Her heart rate was steady, she could eat and walk, and had even managed to go a whole day without napping. Bellatrix almost cried when Andromeda informed her.
After their visit that day, she rushed home, preparing for Pandora’s return.
It's alright
So there they were, on a warm spring day, with the early morning sun peeking out, Luna as their flower girl, preparing to tie the knot.
For once, English weather was on their side, and the sun shone down, not too hot, but pleasantly warm. It was Bellatrix’s favourite weather - she’d always loved the way that the rays shone down on her girls’ hair, giving the blonde waves a glimmering quality.
They woke with the sunrise, and shared one last breakfast - scones, with apple jam and cream, and freshly brewed tea - holding hands as warmth trickled through the thin curtains, pushing the bedsheets aside to feel the rays of light.
They dressed separately - Bellatrix was helped into her gown by her sisters, and Pandora by Luna and her cousin. Bellatrix still wasn’t quite used to being away from Pandora - she much preferred the certainty of having her in sight.
Bellatrix looked out to the garden to see their guests. Possibly the largest assortment of eccentrics she’d ever seen, between Pandora’s family and her own. The guests wore yellow, Pandora’s favourite colour, and by extension, Bellatrix’s, and their seats were adorned with wildflowers. She hoped she’d be able to catch Pandora’s reaction when she saw it.
