𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑶𝒇 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 ~ 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑎 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘

chapter twelve

August 1942,

Walburga opens her eyes and smiles when she sees Sirius's handsome face watching her. She straightens up and inhales the delicious salty scent of the water that is only a few meters away from them. Everything is peaceful here and no one can find them. Sirius no longer has all his bandages and his face is now visible.

The only remains of his injuries are the huge scars on the left side of his temple and his cheek. She smiles at him and places a hand on them, she caresses his cheek with infinite gentleness and he closes his eyes. She was afraid that he would not want to see her anymore after revealing her forced marriage to Orion but he stayed and everything seems unreal so much, everything is perfect between them. She leans against his chest and he puts his arms around her, watching the fish that are making little jumps in the water.

"I have something for you," he says suddenly.

He digs into his pocket and pulls out a small, minimalist ring, but one that is breathtakingly beautiful. Walburga's eyes widen and she takes it, observing it carefully before turning her head towards her boyfriend, her mouth ajar. He starts laughing and places a kiss on her lips.

"It's a promise," Sirius explains. "I decided to leave anyway, I have no choice. I'm in a state to fight."

"You don't have to," Walburga exclaims. "You're not from their world! I thought... I thought you wouldn't go back. Sirius, you can't leave... you..."

"Hey," he breathes, taking her face. "I'm sure the war will end well. I think it's a matter of weeks. Look at me, this ring, it's a promise, okay? As soon as I get back, I'll come get you and we'll leave. Too bad if they find us, we'll live the time we're given together and you, Walburga Black, I'll wait for you at the altar and I'll make you my wife."

Walburga remains silent, on the verge of tears. Sirius pulls her in front of him and hugs her gently, stroking her hair then he rests his forehead against hers and closes his eyes. She cries, devastated. She always thought he wouldn't leave, that he would stay and she hugs him.

"Why?" she whispers, "why am I not enough for you?"

Sirius frowns and takes her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him and his green eyes meet those of a raven black of his girlfriend. He wipes her tears with his thumbs.

"Of course you are enough for me," he says, "don't think such a thing! But I need this, for me. I have to do it, they need help, Walburga, and even if we are not from the same world, it can impact us too. I love you, I love you more than anything in the world, remember, there is not a universe where I don't love you. You hold my heart in any life and I will always come back to you."

"Promise," she says. "Promise me that you will come back, if you don't keep your promise, I swear I will hate you."

"I promise to come back," assures Sirius.

Walburga nods and tries to smile at him before putting the ring on her finger. It is beautiful and she knows that she is ready to take the risk, she is ready to run away and enjoy the time they will have together. She pulls Sirius against her and she kisses him, savoring the taste of his lips. Sirius closes his embrace, caressing her back delicately.

"Please," Walburga breathes. "Make love to me, I beg you."

She deepens their kiss while Sirius emits a low growl. She needs him as he needs her and she gently unbuttons his shirt, caressing his chest. Sirius places kisses on his girlfriend's throat and she sighs, moving against him, claiming his hands on her body.

She wants to feel him, feel his warmth, his love and forget everything, for a moment. She lets him lay her down on the sand and when he places his lips in the hollow of her chest, she runs her hands through his hair and squeezes them gently. The place is perfect, there is nothing that can come and spoil this moment.

Sirius slides one of the straps of Walburga's dress and kisses her skin, letting his lips go down and he reveals her chest. She sighs again, running her hands down the blond's back and a low moan escapes when he nibbles her nipple. He looks up at her as he continues to nibble it and she closes her eyes.

"Sirius ...," she breathes.

Walburga lets herself go to the pleasure that overwhelms her as her body becomes one with Sirius's. Time passes too quickly, she tries to catch him, to hold him back, but he runs away and she doesn't see the two days go by, the time is already here. She managed to make her parents believe that she went to buy plants to make potions, but she heads to John's apartment, the best friend of Sirius.

From what she understood, they met on the battlefield and John returned a month before Sirius and they both leave, together. Walburga knocks on the door then greets the young man before smiling when she sees her boyfriend. He slips his hand in hers and holds a bag in the other.

"Hey," he says as he leaves the apartment, "everything is going to be alright, okay? I know your wedding is in a few weeks, but it will only be for a while. As soon as I get back, I’ll come get you and we’re going far away from here."

Walburga nods, her throat too tight to speak. She holds back tears as they arrive at the square and women, children say goodbye to their fathers, brothers and husbands. Sirius puts his bag in the trunk and he takes his girlfriend’s hands.

"I promise you that I will write to you this time, much more often, and besides, I will write to you every day, you will even get tired of it," he says laughing.

"I will never get tired of it."

Sirius smiles at her and wraps one of her black locks around his finger. Walburga pinches her lips, but her tears start to flow and Sirius holds her against him, his eyes burning, but he does not allow himself to cry, he has no right to.

"I love you," he breathes. "And don't forget my Walburga, as soon as I return, you will be Walburga Freylior and I will never let you go."

She laughs before kissing him while the trucks honk. Sirius kisses back before walking away, but she holds his hand until his fingers slip and he climbs into the vehicle. She smiles at him as he sticks his torso out the window and she waves at him until he disappears completely, and when she's alone, tears stream down her cheeks.