Moonlit Bonds: The Tale of Moony and Snowy

Chapter 108 - Bound by Blood

The Black family estate loomed in the distance as the carriage pulled through the gates. Sirius Black sat stiffly beside his twin sister, Eliza, their expressions unreadable as they approached the imposing manor that had been their home for as long as they could remember.

Inside, Walburga Black greeted them with a cold smile that did not reach her eyes. "Welcome home, Sirius, Eliza," she said, her voice laced with thinly veiled disapproval. "I trust your year at Hogwarts was... satisfactory."

Sirius and Eliza exchanged a glance, knowing full well that "satisfactory" was a far cry from the truth. Their defiance of the family's pure-blood beliefs and their sorting into Gryffindor had been a constant source of tension, especially with their father, Orion Black, who staunchly believed in blood purity above all else.

Over the summer months, the atmosphere at Grimmauld Place grew increasingly tense. Orion's disapproval turned to outright hostility, exacerbated by their perceived betrayal of the Black family values. Walburga, always cold and calculating, enforced strict rules and regulations upon them, limiting their interactions outside the pure-blood circles and closely monitoring their every move.

--

As the summer progressed, Orion's punishments for Sirius and Eliza grew harsher. His rage knew no bounds, especially when Eliza openly defied his commands to embrace the ideals of pure-blood supremacy. The final day of the summer holidays dawned with an oppressive air that hung over Grimmauld Place like a dark cloud.

Eliza, ever defiant but now weary from months of constant tension, found herself alone in the library, seeking solace among the books that had always been her refuge. Orion stormed in, his face contorted with fury at her continued defiance.

"You think you can defy me and tarnish the Black name?" Orion's voice boomed through the room, his wand clenched tightly in his hand. Without warning, he unleashed the Cruciatus Curse on Eliza, a punishment reserved for the most severe offenses in the wizarding world.

The excruciating pain seared through Eliza's body, overwhelming her senses and leaving her trembling and gasping for breath. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to endure the torture, biting her lip to stifle any cries that threatened to escape.

--

That night, Eliza retreated to her room, her body still shaking from the trauma inflicted upon her by her own father. Sirius found her there, his heart sinking at the sight of her pale face and haunted eyes.

"Eliza," Sirius whispered softly, his voice filled with concern as he sat beside her on the bed. "What happened? Are you alright?"

Eliza turned away, unable to meet her brother's gaze. "It's nothing, Sirius," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "Just a headache. I'll be fine."

But Sirius knew better. He had seen the way Orion looked at them, the hatred simmering beneath his father's cold exterior. He had felt the tension in the air grow thicker with each passing day, suffocating them both under the weight of their family's expectations.

"Eliza," Sirius said gently, reaching out to grasp her hand. "You can't keep pretending this isn't happening. We have to do something."

Eliza finally looked at him, tears glistening in her eyes as she struggled to find the words. "He used the Cruciatus Curse on me, Sirius," she admitted, her voice trembling with fear and anger. "I can't... I can't stay here anymore."

--

The next morning, Sirius and Eliza stood side by side at Platform 9¾, their trunks packed and their faces set with determination. The familiar hustle and bustle of students and families filled the air around them, a stark contrast to the oppressive silence that had plagued Grimmauld Place.

"Are you sure about this?" Sirius asked quietly, his hand resting protectively on Eliza's shoulder.

Eliza nodded, her jaw set with resolve. "I can't go back there, Sirius," she said firmly. "Not after what he did to me."

Sirius squeezed her shoulder gently, offering her a reassuring smile. "Then we won't," he said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll find somewhere else to stay. Somewhere safe."

Together, they boarded the Hogwarts Express, leaving behind the dark shadows of Grimmauld Place and stepping into a future filled with uncertainty but also hope. As the train pulled away from the platform, Sirius and Eliza looked ahead, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them, knowing that they had each other to rely on no matter what.