1951
The cobbled streets of Diagon Alley wobbled Victoria's steps as her heels slipped over the stones but she managed to keep the instability in her feet. In the early months of the year the street felt empty, no hustle and bustle of the race to collect school supplies. It felt much brighter than Knockturn Alley, open and wider with large shop windows displaying brightly coloured items. Victoria's arm looped through Walburga Black’s as they strolled the streets. The time between travelling with Tom left her with little to do but sit like a bored housewife. And she, like Walburga, found life as a housewife to be infuriatingly boring. Though Walburga had more to do at Grimmauld Place, it didn't make staring at the drab decor day in, day out, any less monotonous.
“You and those boys are far too bold,” Walburga said, peering into Eeylop’s Owl Emporium as a tawny owl sat on its perch. “I was reading the Prophet just the other day and there's the headline talking about attacks on muggles that ended in a fight with the aurors. It's dangerous.”
“Did you think rebellion would be easy?” Victoria asked, her voice much quieter. “Peaceful?”
“You could lose your life,” Walburga whispered, shoulder to shoulder with her friend. “Raising Wizards out of secrecy is a nice dream but is it worth your life.”
“Do you worry for me?” Victoria asked with a smirk, leaning her head against Walburga's for a moment.
“Everyday.” Walburga pressed a kiss to her forehead and tugged Victoria down the street. “The day you die is the day I am left alone in this world, do not force me to bare it.”
A soft smile passed over Victoria's face. The danger that the mission of the Death Eaters caused was what exhilarated her most. Being a cruel child had been one thing but it had been limited. Free from her father, from society, from the iron bars of Wizarding law. Victoria felt untouchable.
"Come, I need to go to Fletcher's today." Victoria leaned against Walburga, pushing them both towards the small side street with the Knockturn Alley signpost as she spoke.
Walburga frowned, turning to look at Victoria who seemed to be consciously choosing to avoid her eyes. "What would you need in a disgusting place like that?"
"Nothing special." Victoria smiled, looking longingly at Broomstix before pulling Walburga with her into Knockturn Alley.
"Are you keeping secrets from me?" Walburga rolled her eyes. She tugged at the sleeve of her dress, the lace riding up her arm with Victoria holding onto it.
The life of the clear sky became dim as the buildings narrowed and pressed together. Warm light from Diagon Alley filtered through the first few steps and then dissipated into the shadows.
"I just need to pick something up," Victoria said, stepping carefully over the much more uneven street. "Is there nowhere you need to go? Madame Malkin's perhaps?"
Walburga frowned and snapped her head down to her black dress as it swished around her feet with every step. Her black wedge heels clicked on the stone path beneath the skirt of her dress, intricate embroidery and lace adoring it.
"Why?" She demanded. "What's wrong with my dress? Is there something wrong with it?"
"There's nothing wrong with your dress." Victoria smirked, pulling Walburga through the dark alley she called home. "I was only joking. You look lovely darling, but new dresses are always fun,aren't they? I need a bit of fun. That shed of a house is making me crazy, I miss pretty things."
Walburga laughed, a shrillness to her voice. "Well my husband would tell you to take up embroidery. A woman's hobby to busy the mind."
Her mocking tone got accentuated by a dramatic eye roll as Walburga stepped around a rusty cauldron that had been left outside of a shop.
YOU ARE READING
The Fearsome Name of Riddle
Fanfiction"I had to sit in this house and watch him destroy her. Do you really want to hear all of that?" ##### In the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts, an old photograph is found, revealing the life of a young witch that had been lost with the memories of...
