𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄:
A Black and Lestrange union
(Summer of July 1972)

CONVENIENT MARRIAGES or Pureblood arranged marriages are eerily common than Viviane would have liked.

A union between a member of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black and a member of the House of Lestrange will commence today.

Bellatrix Black and Rodulphus Lestrange will honour their duty to their House and follow what is expected of them. They will follow the path of their ancestors and bring pride to their family.

Pureblood marriages are not like any other marriage—generally, purebloods don't marry for love, only to ensure and maintain blood purity. In Viviane's opinion, it was, in a way, disturbingly unique.

The wedding ceremony will occur in the forest, where people will be more in touch with nature and its magic. The forest was unlike any other—it was a sacred place. Large old oak trees surrounded the clear field with three hedge stones lined up triangularly at the centre of the ground. In between the hedge stones was a circular carved stone symbol of a rope wrapped together.

Before the wedding, centuries worth of traditional nuptials will be executed.

Firstly, the bride will be bathed with milk, symbolising purity. The bride of the mother will carefully pour the milk onto the bride while the rest of the women in the family will be laying out flower petals, each with its own meaning.

Viviane's grandmother, Cassiopeia Hawthorne née Black, the sister of the late Pollux Black, the grandfather of Bellatrix Black, scattered pink petals of century; it symbolises a new beginning and virtue.

Andromeda Black, the middle daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Lucille Black née Rosier, and sister of Bellatrix Black, scattered purple petals of lavender to bring luck and endless devotion. Narcissa Black, the youngest sister of Bellatrix Black, scattered yellow petals of magnolia; it symbolises nobility and dignity. Then, Viviane Blair Hawthorne, granddaughter of Cassiopeia Hawthorne née Black, and second cousin of Bellatrix Black, scattered red with yellowish hue petals of snapdragons symbolising rebirth and perseverance.

Secondly, after the bathing, a family heirloom will be given to the bride, usually a family crest that will be sewed at the end of the veil; once the veil is removed during the ceremony, it means that the bride will be bearing her husband's name along with bearing their family crest.

Druella helped Bellatrix with her Black wedding gown. The ebony fabric cascaded like a waterfall, its luxurious texture flowing softly and sensually, tracing every curve of her silhouette. The bodice of the gown embraced her gracefully, featuring delicate lace embellishments. The sheer high neckline added sophistication and modesty. Long black sheer sleeves with floral patterns and the silk skirt pooled around her feet.

Viviane can positively and genuinely say that her cousin is ethereal; her unruly black hair is tied neatly into a low bun, with soft makeup that highlights her natural beauty—a Black family trait, but something is missing. Bellatrix was rigid when they helped her. She hasn't said anything, unusually quiet and questionably expressionless.

Viviane thought her cousin would be happy to finally fulfill her role as a Black, but maybe she thought wrong. Her cousin was always delighted and enthusiastic. Viviane remembered where it all went wrong; her assumptions and opinions about her cousin were always full of annoyance and hatred, but the realisation hit her like a stack of bricks.

She recalled when Uncle Cygnus talked to her daughter, it was familiar and painfully obvious. Uncle Cygnus, too, wanted a male heir, and instead of having his eldest child born a male, he too was given a daughter. Bellatrix was at the receiving end of her Father and Mother's wand, and she was given punishments; she was tortured endlessly until she was losing breath because of the Cruciatus curse.

No matter how much Viviane wants to deny her relations with her cousin, they are the same, but not entirely; she realised why Bellatrix harboured envy towards her because Viviane was treated differently from her, but Viviane, too, was supposed to be the male heir of the Hawthorne family.

Viviane doesn't know what's going on inside her cousin's mind or what she's feeling at the moment. But she finally understood her cousin, and Viviane didn't know why it took her a long time to notice. Maybe Bellatrix was relieved that she'd finally be leaving the haunting walls of Grimmauld Place or scared that she'd receive the same treatment but at the hands of her future husband.

Bellatrix hid it well like she always did. Every Black cousin has their own facade. And Bellatrix had done it well. Viviane doesn't know if Bellatrix will let it consume her and be what is expected of her to be, continue the cycle, or leave it behind. But from Bellatrix's empty and numb eyes, it looks like an endless cycle has already consumed her.

Narcissa, Andromeda, and Viviane went ahead and situated themselves in their designated seats; Sirius sat impatiently beside her as his foot tapped the ground, and on his right side was Regulus, who remained silent, fumbling with his fingers, looking down at his lap. They heard the wedding chimes, and all the guests stood up from their seats.

Thirdly, the bride walks down the aisle barefoot as she gets more in touch and connected with nature and its surroundings, where the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thin, making this Sacred Forest ideal for connecting with magical energies.

Bellatrix's arm is wrapped around Cygnus', still rigged and expressionless, but she walks confidently by his side, accepting her fate. Viviane watched her sadly while Narcissa and Andromeda tightly held each other's hands. They arrived at the altar, with Rodulphus Lestrange sporting the same expression as his bride, and he took off Bellatrix's veil, handing it to Druella, the Minister of Magic, officiating the wedding. Cygnus Black placed Bellatrix's hand into Rodolphus'.

Fourthly, the representative of each House will present the bride and the groom.

Cygnus cited as he stepped forward, "I, Cygnus Black III, Father of Bellatrix Black of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, give my blessing and permission to bind the House of Black to the House of Lestrange." He wrapped a black rope around Rodulphus' wrist.

Rabastan Lestrange stepped forward, standing beside his brother, "I, Rabastan Lestrange, brother of Rodulphos Lestrange of the House of Lestrange, give my blessing and permission to bind the House of Lestrange to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black." He wrapped a dark blue rope around Bellatrix's wrist.

The Minister held each rope and wrapped it around Bellatrix and Rodulphos' wrists; he muttered a spell as a glowing mist merged onto the ropes, making the ropes glow, tightly binding them.

Fiftly, the vows will be recited.

"Bellatrix, House of Black, recite your vows." The Minister instructed.

Bellatrix took a deep breath and looked deeply into Rodulphus's eyes, voice full and calm and recited, "I, Bellatrix of the House of Black, give myself to you, Rodolphus of the House of Lestrange. I give you my virtue, innocence, my mind, my voice, my body, and my obedience. To honour and uphold my duties as your wife. To take your name as my own and give you your rightful heir. I swear upon my magic and my life to bind with you until death."

Viviane could feel herself pale; she couldn't help but think that this was wrong, and Sirius breathed out, "Merlin," Viviane looked at Andromeda, looking at her oldest sister with worry and pity. Narcissa looked like she wanted to cry.

Rodulphos said no vows, and it was pretty misogynistic if Viviane said so herself.

Sixthly, the blood binding.

The ropes wrapped around their wrist disappeared like a mist, flowed above them, and lowered to the ground as a stone basin rose from the circular symbol; a small fire erupted from the basin, and the Minister handed Bellatrix a dagger.

She looked at the dagger contemplatively and hesitantly, then she looked at her sisters as she clutched the dagger in her hand, who subtly shook their heads; she pursed her lips and looked at the stone basin. Bellatrix sliced her palm, and blood began to flow. She immediately placed her bleeding hand above the fire as the drops of blood touched the hot coal and began evaporating.

Reciting the house words of the Lestrange, "Corvus oculum corvi non eruit." Bellatrix handed the dagger to the Minister, who healed Bellatrix's palm and handed another dagger to Rodulphus, repeating the same action.

"Corvus oculum corvi non eruit."

A crow will not pull out the eye of another crow.

Finally, the ending of the ceremony.

The stone basin lowered onto the ground. The Minister of Magic said, "By cord and by blood, and the authority vested in me, I, British Minister of Magic, declare Bellatrix Lestrange and Rodulphus Lestrange of the House of Lestrange bonded for life!"

Until death do they part.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

━━ I am establishing a new rule that I won't update any chapters until the previous chapter I posted isn't receiving the amount of attention/hype (comments & votes) I would have preferred, so this time I know that ya'll actually want to read my updates. This might get a weekly update if I am satisfied with the feedback!