incendio; tom riddle

chapter 1

Irma Black was a proud member of the pure-blooded wizarding world. She prided herself in being born to one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight families. Though the Crabbe family wasn't the most strict on bloodlines, she strived to create a wizarding world of pure-blooded talents. Thus, she married into the Black family, taking their name with pride. She certainly didn't love Pollux Black but married him as he was the most eligible pure-blooded bachelor back in her time.

She shared the beliefs of Grindelwald, of which Muggles were beneath them. But she took these beliefs further, that even half-bloods and especially those repulsive mudbloods should be washed clean from the wizarding society. She wanted the Sacred Twenty-Eight to be crowned as royalty, and for them to rule the wizarding world.

Of course Irma Black had her days where she fell in love with someone out of line. But she cured those thoughts, she purged her head of wayward dreams. She was to become a Queen in a Wizarding World, with her pure-blooded family around her. She was going to bring honor to The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, as well as her own family.

Pollux Black was cruel. There were no other words to describe this man who felt nothing toward no one. He did what he had to do as a member of the Black family. His idea of the perfect life was to have Muggles, half-bloods, and mudbloods extinct from the wizarding world. He couldn't stand the sight of even a half-blood, and he was one of the closer followers to Gellert Grindelwald. He thought Gellert Grindelwald was the best chance they had to clean dirty blood out of their society. But Albus Dumbledore thwarted Grindelwald's plans, therefore ruining his plans.

Pollux Black chose to marry Irma Black because she was capable. She had the unwavering persistence he needed for his children so they could overthrow Dumbledore and start a new world. He felt no love towards her, merely accepting her.

Together, Irma Black and Pollux Black desired a world in which they were royalty, they were looked upon as God. To become royalty, they needed to defeat Dumbledore, so they set upon creating the perfect children, to assist in weaponizing the next generation into their hands. Of course, they had to start with their children, namely the girls.

~~~

May 3, 1936

It was a bright and sunny day in London, and all Celeste could think of was to go outside and play with Daisy, the nice Muggle friend she had who lived across the street.

"Celeste, you have to be able to serve tea well, no family will want you if you can't even complete such an effortless task!"

It must feel really good to just dance in the sun right now, with the rays of beaming light pouring warmth across my skin. And to laugh and giggle with no thoughts whatsoever with Daisy.

"Celeste!"

Ooooh, and to eat those mini gooseberry pies that her mum always made that oozed jam when you sunk your teeth into it.

"CELESTE BLACK!"

"Agh, yes, Mother?" Celeste snapped out of her daydreams and stared up clueless in the snarling face of Irma Black.

"What do you think you are doing, young lady? Daydreaming around when you can't even pour a proper cup of tea? Do you not want to marry a respectable family? Or are you suddenly craving a douse of Doloribia?"

Celeste shuddered in terror and distaste of the spell. Doloribia was a dark, dark curse her father invented. It would prick the hand with tiny, sharp needles, much like the Cruciatus curse but physical. Her mother, proud of the poisonous garden she grew, would often soak the needles then prick her. Celeste's hand bore the tiny scars of when she had the needles stuck in on multiple occasions.

"No, mother, my apologies, I will perfect serving tea." Celeste picked up the teapot again with shaking hands but shook it so hard that the tea spilled all over her pristine white dress.

"CELESTE BLACK! YOU ARE A DISGRACE AND DEGRADATION TO THE BLACK NAME! DOLORIBIA!"

"Mother, please no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to AAAHHHHH!" Celeste collapsed onto the ground clutching her hand, the excruciating pain shooting up her arm. This continued for twenty minutes until Irma had to go harvest belladonna at its bloom.

"Hmph, you better be flawless when I come back later. Middy, go fetch Walburga and ask her to supervise Celeste."

"Yes, Mistress, Middy will tell Lady Walburga to help Lady Celeste, yes, Middy will go now." Middy, the Black house-elf, bowed low before shuffling away.

Celeste lived her days like this, most of the time in pain, the remainder of the time miserable and suppressed at the life she must live. The only solace she had were the moments she spent with her twin brother, Alphard Black.

"Lestaaaaaa, where are you, I just found another Exploding Snap! Wanna play?" Adding in a smaller shout, "Or maybe you want to go play with Daisy, I think she's waiting for us."

Celeste opened her mouth to say yes but Walburga beat her to it.

"Alphard, you can't always expect Celeste to fool around with you. She is a proper lady of House Black, and she must act like it. Playing Exploding Snap is for children, and at age ten, both of you are no longer children."

Walburga Black, the eldest sibling, was Irma and Pollux's pride and joy. She was poised and distinguished, never failing to meet their expectations. Walburga was porcelain; delicate and pretty on the outside but unbreakably strong on the inside. She was only eleven and was already the leader of all their female cousins. But she too had a soft spot of Alphard, who seemed to be able to charm everyone into letting him have his way. Benefits did come when you were the heir to the Black fortune.

"Wally, please, just let me and Lesta play one round, just one round, then she can go back to pouring tea or what else you ladies do." pleaded Alphard.

"Ugh, fine. One round only. And I want to share the prize with the winner." Walburga gave in and let a small smile grace her lips."

"Yes, let's go Alphard, you're on." Celeste put on her competitive smirk and the three siblings played. Little did they know something very unnoticeable was slowly seeping into the room.