Moonlit Bonds: The Tale of Moony and Snowy

Chapter 152 - Flight from Darkness

The old clock in the hallway of Grimmauld Place struck one in the morning, its chimes echoing through the oppressive silence that followed the night's horrific events. Sirius, his heart racing with fury and fear, stormed into the drawing room where Walburga and Orion sat in cold judgment.

"You've gone too far this time!" Sirius shouted, his voice raw with emotion. "Using the Cruciatus Curse on your own daughter? Is there no end to your cruelty?"

Orion rose, his expression as hard as stone. "She defied the honor of our family. She must learn her place."

Walburga sneered, her eyes narrow slits of malice. "You're just as weak as her, Sirius. Defending a blood traitor. You are no son of mine if you challenge the ways of the Blacks."

"The Blacks?" Sirius spat the words out like venom. "Your ways are nothing but torture and madness!"

The argument escalated, voices rising in a tumultuous cacophony of rage and defiance. Sirius knew it was the end, the final breach that could not be repaired. As his mother declared him disowned, his heart didn't sink in despair but was alight with desperate resolve.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and raced upstairs. He burst into their shared room where Eliza lay, her consciousness wavering after the torment she'd endured. Sirius's hands shook as he grabbed a duffel bag, throwing in a few clothes, some essentials, and all the money he could find.

Eliza tried to sit up, her voice a weak whisper, "Sirius, what are you doing?"

"We're leaving, Eliza. Now," Sirius said, determination steeling his voice. He gently scooped her into his arms, her body frail and light from her ordeal. She nestled against him, trusting her brother implicitly in her vulnerable state.

Sirius treaded softly down the back staircase, avoiding the creaky steps that might give them away. As he reached the back door, he looked back once at the dark outline of Grimmauld Place, a symbol of his tormented past that he was leaving behind.

The cold air of the early morning hit them as they stepped outside, the streets deserted and silent. Sirius adjusted his grip on Eliza, her head resting against his shoulder, and started to run. His footsteps echoed on the pavement, a steady rhythm that carried them away from their nightmares.

Behind them, the door to Grimmauld Place slammed shut with a finality that echoed in Sirius's heart. Walburga's curses and Orion's threats faded into the distance, drowned out by the pounding of Sirius's heart and the promise of freedom.

As they turned a corner, the imposing structure of Grimmauld Place disappeared from view, swallowed by the shadows of the night. Sirius didn't know where they were heading, but he knew it had to be somewhere far from the dark reach of his family. Every step was a step towards salvation, towards a new life where fear and pain would no longer hold sway over them.