Moonlit Bonds: The Tale of Moony and Snowy

Chapter 151 - A Night of Despair

The darkness of Grimmauld Place seemed to deepen as another confrontation with Walburga and Orion Black escalated far beyond previous encounters. The catalyst was a seemingly innocent comment Eliza made, longing for the safety and freedom of Hogwarts, which Walburga overheard and interpreted as a direct affront to the family's values.

"You dare to scorn the noble house of Black with your weakness and disloyalty?" Walburga's voice cut through the tense air of the dining room, her eyes flashing dangerously.

Orion, ever the enforcer of his wife's wrath, stepped forward, his wand drawn with a practiced ease that chilled the very air around him. "You need to be reminded of your place, girl," he snarled, and without a moment's hesitation, he cast the Cruciatus Curse.

Eliza's screams tore through the house, a haunting echo of pain that seemed to last an eternity. For twenty excruciating minutes, she writhed on the floor, her body contorting unnaturally as the curse inflicted waves of unbearable agony.

Sirius, forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines, felt each scream like a knife twisting in his heart. His fists clenched at his sides, powerless against his parents' magical prowess and fury. When Orion finally lifted the curse, Eliza lay motionless, her breaths shallow, her eyes glazed with pain and shock.

Walburga, her point cruelly made, swept from the room with a swirl of her dark robes, leaving Orion to linger a moment longer. His cold eyes met Sirius's, a warning clear in his gaze before he too exited, his footsteps heavy against the old wood of the floor.

Sirius rushed to Eliza's side, his hands trembling as he gently lifted her. She was limp, her body unresponsive, unable to walk or speak. With tears blurring his vision, Sirius carried her up the narrow stairs to their shared room, each step fueled by a growing rage and a promise of retribution.

He laid her carefully on her bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face with shaking fingers. "Eliza, I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll fix this. I'll get us out."

For hours, he sat by her side, holding her hand, whispering words of comfort and plotting their escape. Eliza's condition slowly improved, the ability to move and speak gradually returning, but the trauma of the night left deep scars, both physical and emotional.

That night, under the oppressive shadows of Grimmauld Place, Sirius made a vow over his sister's frail form. They would leave, no matter the cost. They would seek freedom from the tyranny of their parents and the dark legacy of the Black family. His resolve solidified into a desperate plan, one that would take them away from the horrors of their childhood home forever.