𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 4

Years passed, but with it, grew a different side of Natasha. She was now a gorgeous 15-year-old, catching the eyes of every boy in the castle. With her friends, she was happy and always up to no good, but when she was alone, her world crumbled, and tears flowed uncontrollably.

Bags started to form under her eyes, but with slight makeup, it was almost as if they weren't there. Her sleep pattern was messy, but with a few potions, she looked alive.

Natasha Black was falling down the swirling tunnel of depression alone, and scared.

It didn't help that rumours of her father escaping Azkaban got out. The press was once again hot on her tail, now that Sirius Black's carbon copy was no longer a meek child, but a young, powerful witch who was the top of her year.

Her mother had gone into seclusion in her room, refusing to see anyone, so Natasha spent more time at the Burrow, raising concerns from both Arthur and Molly alike. Aurelia was also becoming increasingly sick, which stressed Natasha out.

Dumbledore and McGonagall started to watch over the girl during the day, sharing the same worried glances when they found her sleeping next to her breakfast on multiple occasions. The two professors saw the same happen to Harry, who was two years below Natasha.

Christmas that year was lonely, with the Weasley's heading to the Burrow and Harry and Natasha opting to stay behind. The two grew closer, especially after Natasha learnt her father was the boy's godfather, and she took him under her wing, seeing him as the brother her parents could never give her.

"Do you remember much of him?" Harry asked one day, as the two hid away up in the owlery. Natasha pulled out a picture from her pocket, where her father stood smiling along with her mother and a baby Natasha.

"I remember his cologne. It had such a homely scent, once I even asked for my own bottle just so I could smell like him," she admitted, laughing at the memory.

"Did you ever visit my family?" Harry inquired, and Natasha nodded.

"We visited as often as we could, though the memories are vague. Lily and James were my godparents, just how my parents are yours. It's why my middle name is Lily; she loved my mother so much that no other name came to mind when my father was deciding my middle name."

Unknown to the two, a black dog was pacing around outside of the owlery, his heightened hearing catching every word they said. He smiled at the thought of the two becoming close, after all, they would have been practically raised like siblings if life hadn't of been so cruel.

He knew Natasha was suffering, every time he saw her, he could see how she tried to hide the bags under her eyes. He had considered contacting Moony, but Remus still believed Sirius had betrayed the Potter's.

His only option was to watch, and see how day by day, his daughter's happy façade cracked more and more. Sirius was thankful the girl had her best friends to support her, but even they didn't know of her inner struggle.

An owl suddenly flew into the owlery, screeching as it landed on the ledge next to Harry and Natasha. Its feathers were pure black, but it was sporting bald spots and looked extremely sickly.

It was Aurelia's owl.

The mother and daughter had stopped writing letters during Natasha's third year, when Aurelia's health started to decline. With shaking hands, Natasha opened the letter, it's sloppy handwriting on the envelope revealing Kreacher had written the contents inside.

Sirius noticed his child's shaking hands from his position, how her lips trembled, and her eyes threatened to spill tears. As she read the letter, she burst into tears, throwing the parchment out of the window, where it landed a few feet from Sirius' hiding spot.

He tentatively crept out, snatching the letter between his teeth, before running off to the Whomping Willow, unable to listen to his daughter's cries any longer. He quickly transformed back to his human form, his once glorious locks now matted, and his body sporting more markings that he had had as a child.

He could always spot Aurelia's owl from a mile away, after all, he was the one who had purchased it for her as a wedding gift. He saw the handwriting and his blood went cold as he started to read the letter.

Dear Miss Natasha.

Kreacher is sad to inform you that Madam Aurelia has passed away due to illness. She was insistent Kreacher tell you in her last moments that she was sorry for everything.

Kreacher will keep the house clean, and Kreacher has told Molly and Arthur the news.

Kreacher awaits your return Miss Natasha, you are all Kreacher has left.

Kreacher

House Elf servicing the Black Family

Sirius slid down the wall, his heart shattered. He had met Aurelia when she had accidentally bumped into him in her 6th year, quickly forming a bond between the two. She was a quiet girl, her Ravenclaw robes always immaculately kept.

The two had been wed the summer after school had ended, mostly due to the fact she had fallen pregnant nearing the end of the school semester.

She had been the light of Sirius' life, always bringing a certain smile to his face whenever his mother's portrait got snappy or when his life crumbled.

But now she was gone.

And Sirius had to find a way to help Natasha.

~.~

Fred and George arrived back at school as soon as the news of Aurelia's passing had reached Molly. McGonagall had personally escorted them, and for once in their life, they had no smart remarks to say when they reached their best friend.

She was lying on the couch in the common room, the only noise and source of light being the fire roaring in the fireplace in front of her. The twins didn't bother speaking, instead capturing their best friend in a hug as she silently cried.

George was the first to let go, noticing for the first time just how bad Natasha was. Fred held on tight, whispering words of comfort into her ear as they sat down together, where she moved into his lap, as she had done multiple times.

"Oh Tasha, we're so sorry. I can't believe we were so stupid," George apologised, both for the loss of Aurelia and how blind they had been. Her eyes had lost their shine, the usual crystal blue now a damp colour.

"I knew she was getting sick; I could hear her coughs from my room every night when I was still there. But I don't understand why she apologised, if anything it's my fault for existing, without me maybe she wouldn't have gotten sick, maybe dad would still be a free man," she sobbed, her tears staining Fred's sweater.

But he couldn't care less as he rocked her in his arms. "Don't be silly Nat. None of this is your fault, maybe the Daily Prophet contributed slightly, but it's no individual person's fault," he said, looking into her eyes.

He had never seen the girl cry like this, but his first instinct was to just hold her for dear life and pray she wouldn't do anything stupid. Normally Natasha was the one who saved the twins from stupid, but a broken Natasha could do anything.

The twins shuddered as they shared the same dark thought, before realising the girl in Fred's arms had cried herself to sleep. Fred kissed her head softly, as George smirked, brightening the mood.

"You really do fancy her Freddie," he said, standing up.

Fred smiled down at Natasha. "So, what if I do Georgie? I mean, even in her lowest of days she still looks like an angel, her mind is the most brilliant thing to exist, and I've loved her ever since she walked into our lives," he admitted, not caring that he confessed his feelings.

"I love Natasha Black and I'm not afraid to say it."