'Till The End Darling

29. Family tree

Narrators pov:

George and y/n lay fast asleep in a tangled heat under the sheets. What with their new relationship status and George now being able to use magic outside of school, things had gotten intense.
George was spralled across the bed, one arm draped around y/n. His hair flopped in a sweaty mess on his forehead. Y/n was huddled next to him lazily. But suddenly she began to stir, her breathing increased and her eyes squeezed tighter shut. Suddenly awakening, she sat up and held her chest while she tried to catch her breath. Y/n peeled Georges hand from around her waist and crawled out of bed.

She'd never had such an intense nightmare before, maybe its because she was away from home. But she'd never dreamt about Voldermort before, so why now? Prehaps it was a result of what had happened to her at school. Walking over to the bed side table she grabbed an elastic band and put her hair in a pony tail. There was no way she was going to fall back asleep now, so she'd made the decision to head down to the kitchen and get a cup of tea. Looking over to George before she left she smiled at her boyfriend who was fast asleep and letting out low snores. "Must have really tired him out" she giggled to herself.

Y/n crept through the hallway as quietly as she could. She didn't want to wake anyone but she also really didn't want to bump into that horrid house elf again. The further she ventured through the house the darker it got, when suddenly she jumped at a familiar hissing noise. She turnt and strained her eyes to see the staircase which led to the second floor, home to the creepy portrait. Plodding down she eventually found the kitchen. Allthough as she scanned the room, she noted that she may have underestimated just how eery it was here. The high grey ceilings made one feel incredibly small, and the grey colour scheme just felt...sad. 12 Grimmauld place couldn't be more different from the Burrow and even her parents house in Little winching seemed a heck of a lot more inviting.

With an exasperated sigh she left the kitchen. Having lost the spirit to start making tea, she quietly wandered the downstairs floor.

The house looked big from outside, but it didnt do it justice at all. There were so many rooms, perfect for hide and seek if it wasn't for the general depressing feel.

A door swung slightly, due to a breeze and it caught y/ns attention. Pushing it open she warily stepped through. The place was so dark that it was hard to make out her surroundings but from what she could see it was a large room but empty. Very empty. No furniture or anything.

"Lumos" someone spoke harshly.

Y/n turnt to see Sirius standing in the doorway.

"Oh sweetheart its you.' He said with relief "I knew I heard something, what is it you're doing?"

"I had a nightmare, so I came down to have a cup of tea...but I got distracted and started exploring. Sorry I know its not my house and that I shouldn't-"

"Not to worry." Sirius said as stroked the wall with his finger "it could be rather beautiful. Dont you think, if it wasn't for all the-"

"Grey" y/n finished.

He chuckled "yes grey"

Sirius walked further into the now lit room. "Ahh" he said aloud "what an interesting room that you've found yourself in"

"Its a family tree isn't it?" She said referring to the embroidery all across the walls. It appeared old and faded. But the gold thread of which it was made with still glinted brightly enough for y/n to make out sprawling family vines dating back, as far as she could tell, to the middle ages.

Sirius nodded silently. He looked to the pictures sadly. Tracing his finger across the burnt patch above his own name.

"What happened?" Y/n asked gently.

"I was disowned. Barely made it to adulthood before I was burnt off the tree. My own mother did that" he awnsered.

"Thats horrible. I'm sorry."

"Dont be. Trust me when I say its not a family tree you want to be on. The blacks well we're known for our status. My whole family were, and still are fanatically devoted to pureblood philosophy."

"Oh right" I grimaced.

"Look heres Andromeda. She was burnt off too. She's tonks's mum. She married a muggle born hufflepuff. Quite the scandal." He joked.

Y/n listened to Sirius explain all about the various people who had been burned off the tree. While she listened she looked to all the names and tiny faces that the tree homed. Her attention was drawn to particular woman, she traced her finger over the woman's image. Y/n tilted her head as if trying to figure out a puzzle. "Whos this Sirius?"

Sirius shuffled uncomfortably and cleared his throat. "Urm thats Bellatrix Black. She's my cousin. She's insane y/n" he pressured.

"Oh okay" she mumbled.

"Yeah she was involved with Voldermort before he was even known as that. You see Bellatrix was very close with a man I believe you may have heard of." He suggested.

"Tom riddle?" Y/n asked her mouth agape.

Sirius nodded in confirmation.

"He tried to kill Harry in second year. And he took Ginny." She said through gritted teeth.

"Exactly. And Bellatrix was involved with him when he was Tom, and is deeply deeply devoted to Voldermort. Infatuated some might say." Sirius pressed further.

"Yeah she sounds horrid" y/n said uncomfortably.

"Y/n might I ask what your nightmare was about?"

"V-voldermort" she stammered.

"What was he doing?"

"Well he didn't speak, I just saw that he was on the move. Going from place to place. He was looking for something. I 'dunno what though" y/n awnsered. She fidgeted with a loose thread on her sleeve.

Sirius said nothing in response, he just nodded to show understanding.

"Urm Sirius I don't mean to keep asking you questions but.." she trailed off.

"Nonsense, what's wrong?" He smiled.

"Well I met youre house elf"

"Hmm yes kreacher. Horrible thing isn't he?"

"Not the most pleasant encounter I've had with a house elf" she said trying not to be rude.

"Yes he never liked me much. Got on well with my brother though" Sirius smiled faintly at the thought of Regulus.

Y/n smiled. Her heart ached for him. He deserved so much more than what he'd been given in life. She really hoped that after everything died down with Voldermort, he would be able to live a long, happy and free life. "Well I was looking at the portrait of Walburga..youre mother im presuming"

"Oh Merlin she didn't scream at you did she?" He asked concerned.

"No no, she was covered up by some curtains. And anyway kreacher told me to get back before I could properly look. Probably for the best though if she was going to scream." She laughed.

"So what is it you wanted to ask. Is it about my Mother?"

"No. Its something Kreacher said. It might've been nothing but he said I was interesting. And he looked at me as if he knew something I didn't. Oh yes and he spoke to the portrait, said something about me being foolish because I have no idea. I 'dunno i just wondered if maybe you know what he was talking about."

"Hes just trying to get inside youre head. Anything he says ignore it. Like I said he's a horrid thing and he's just trying to make life hard for you." Sirius explained.

"Oh okay, thanks Sirius. And I'm sorry about what you're family did to you, you deserve better than that." She broke off in to a yawn "I'm going to head back to bed if you don't mind."

"Of course darling, and try not to let you're dreams affect you. Don't give him-" he paused "them rather, the dreams I mean..dont give them the power to torment you."

"Yeah" she said with half a smile "night Sirius"