Moonlit Bonds: The Tale of Moony and Snowy

Chapter 82 - Summer at Black Manor

The Black's ancestral home, nestled in the heart of the English countryside, loomed imposingly under the midsummer sun. The manor exuded an aura of ancient grandeur, its dark stone facade and towering turrets a stark contrast to the vibrant gardens that surrounded it. Inside, the atmosphere was equally imposing, with tapestries depicting the illustrious history of the Black family adorning the walls.

Sirius, restless and uneasy, paced the length of his spacious bedroom. His mother, Walburga Black, had grown increasingly stringent in her demands and punishments ever since Sirius's defiance of the family's pure-blood ideology had become apparent. Blood traitor. The words echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of the rift between him and his family.

Downstairs in the drawing room, Eliza Black sat stiffly on a plush sofa, her fingers nervously tracing the intricate patterns of the upholstery. The room was elegantly furnished, yet the oppressive air of the Black Manor made it feel more like a prison than a home. Creature, the ancient house-elf, hovered silently nearby, his large eyes fixed on Eliza with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Sirius entered the room with purposeful strides, his stormy gray eyes fixed on Eliza. She looked up, her expression guarded but tinged with concern for her brother.

"Eliza," Sirius began, his voice low but intense. "What's going on between you and Remus?"

Eliza's heart skipped a beat, though she maintained her composure. "What do you mean, Sirius? Remus and I are just friends."

Sirius frowned, unconvinced. "It's more than that, isn't it? I've noticed how you look at each other, how you disappear to write letters whenever you think no one's watching."

Eliza's gaze flickered, a brief moment of vulnerability crossing her features before she regained her resolve. "Sirius, Remus and I... we're close. We understand each other in a way that others don't. But that doesn't mean..."

"But that doesn't mean what, Eliza?" Sirius interrupted, his frustration evident. "You've been hiding things from me, from all of us. And now, with all this secrecy..."

"It's complicated, Sirius," Eliza admitted quietly, her voice tinged with regret. "You know how things are here. And with Remus... it's different. I don't want to lose him."

Sirius ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression conflicted. "I get it, Eliza. I do. But you have to be careful. You know what they'll do if they find out."

Eliza nodded, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "I know. That's why we have to be cautious."

Their conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Creature, who shuffled forward hesitantly, a tray of tea and biscuits levitating before him. The ancient house-elf regarded Sirius with a mixture of disdain and servitude, his loyalty to the Black family ingrained deeply despite his apparent disdain for Sirius's rebellious nature.

"Master Sirius," Creature murmured, his voice cracked and wheezy. "Young Master Regulus requests your presence in the library."

Sirius sighed, his shoulders tensing. "Fine, I'll go." He turned to Eliza, his expression softening slightly. "We'll talk more about this later, Eliza."

Eliza nodded, watching Sirius leave the room with a heavy heart. As she sat alone in the drawing room, the weight of secrecy and family expectations pressed down upon her. She knew the risks of defying the Black family's strict ideals, yet her bond with Remus gave her strength and purpose in the face of adversity.