𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝑶𝒇 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 ~ 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑎 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘

chapter fifteen

December 25, 1942,

Walburga spends the first day in bed, but she is forced to get up. It is her mother who pulls her out of bed because she has to get ready and she clenches her jaw. Why can't they just leave her alone after everything they've done to her? Of course, Prunella died a day ago, just like her baby, she feels like it's been forever. She feels bad and it's not just because of that, there's something else, something she can't define, a searing pain.

Her mother doesn't wish her a Merry Christmas, anyway, what's the point? She's going to let her be sent to this cave, suffer until she begs to finally become a good girl. She is manipulated like a doll, she doesn't have the strength to protest and she doesn't even wince when her mother pulls out half of her hair while brushing it. She speaks, but Walburga is elsewhere, she doesn't listen to her.

It's just a bad time to get through. Getting married on Christmas Day, she finds it stupid but the strength has left her and she can't do anything. She couldn't even go get Sirius' letter and she hopes it's there, not suspecting that this time, there isn't one. She finds herself dressed in a black dress, the color of marriage among the Death Eaters and she looks at herself in the mirror, her eyes empty.

"Stand up straight," Irma says. "Smile a little, stop making that pouty face."

She clenches her jaw and looks up at her mother, trying to look for a little love, but she sees nothing. Nothing at all. Taking a deep breath, she lets herself be led downstairs. Orion is already there, in front of the altar set up and he intends to make Walburga a perfect wife for him.

The whole ceremony takes place in a fog. She doesn't even notice that apart from her parents and brothers, there is no one, no guests, nothing. The big ceremony will take place in the summer and she doesn't even know why. Walburga stands up straight despite everything and when the ring is put on her finger, she looks at it without reacting.

"Walburga," Orion says, "pull yourself together."

She looks at her husband and a violent rage takes hold of her body and she imagines tearing his eyes out and making him eat. She wants him to suffer too, to understand that he will never be able to subdue her and when they have to kiss, she keeps her lips tight even when she sees him insist.

"Don't worry," he says, "once you come out of the cave, you'll be perfect."

"I will never love you," she replies. "No matter what I'm made to endure, I will never give you my heart."

Orion has a small smile that sends shivers down her spine and Walburga remains stoic. She hates this boy and during the meal, she remains silent, half-answering the questions of her brothers who enjoy talking about this situation. Her parents don't interrupt them, letting them make her even more unhappy.

"And the children?" Irma suddenly declares. "We'll have to think about it soon."

"Children?" Walburga blurts out, unable to hold back any longer. "You want me to have children when you deprived me of them?"

"That monster growing inside you was nothing," his mother replies.

"To you, perhaps, but to me, he was everything and you took everything from me! You are monsters and I will never, ever be like you."

This time, it's not her father who slaps her. Or even her mother. The blow is delivered by Orion and she widens her eyes, bringing her hand to her cheek and she opens her mouth slightly. Her brothers snicker as Orion looks at her sternly.

"Now, shut up," he says. "Don't speak unless I give you permission."

Walburga is too surprised to speak, she feels her eyes stinging, but she clenches her jaw and clenches her fists. Her fork crushes her palm and she has an irresistible urge to stab him in the hand, but she stops herself. She stops herself because there's a knock at the door and she hears John's voice calling her name.

She frowns as her father stands up first and she follows him, trying to get past him. How does John know where she lives? Why is he here? Walburga manages to reach the door first and she lets herself fall into the young man's arms.

She hears her father growl, use the Muggle term and she knows what is going to happen. She tries to push John away as Pollux grabs her and drags him inside. The poor boy does not understand what is happening as she begs her father to let him go. He pushes him into the living room as the young man blinks.

"We have a guest," Pollux declares.

"No! Stop!" Walburga shouts. "Don't hurt him, I beg you! I will do anything, anything you want, please! I swear to you."

"Walburga?" John asks timidly.

"We'll see about that," Pollux says although he is determined to eliminate him. "Speak."

John then darkens and clears his throat, uncomfortably. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a soldier's badge, which he shyly gives to Walburga. She frowns, refusing to understand as he then pulls out a letter.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I couldn't do anything and I... I'm so sorry, he was so happy for the baby and..."

"No," Walburga breathes and then she screams, "no! You're lying!"

"I'm sorry," he repeats.

Dead. Sirius is dead. She drops to her knees and she screams so much that the windows explode and shards of glass fly everywhere. She knew something was wrong, but she thought she was wrong. She's dying, prostrate on the ground while Orion sighs and he grabs her so she can get up.

"Stop your drama," he says firmly.

Walburga screams again and she takes out her wand before casting the Cruciatus curse, Orion collapses on the ground while she stands over him, terrifying.

"I forbid you to touch me, you vermin," she roars. "If you dare to demean me again, I will not contain myself, I will kill you, do you understand?"

She casts the spell again as her brothers open their mouths. Her parents look at each other with a small smile as before them stands the angel of death in all her splendor. Orion is terrified and he nods. Walburga is nothing but rage and hatred and she looks at John, she still has an ounce of herself left so she makes him forgets what he just saw before he runs away.

"Well," says Pollux, "I think the cave is useless now."

Walburga turns on her heel and goes back to her room. Once the door is slammed, she screams with rage as she destroys everything. She breaks the jars, the frames, the vases, she screams so much that she ends up having no voice and her innocent and sweet look has nothing to do with what it used to be. It is cold, terrifying and determined, never again will anyone break her. The letter, she does not read it.

She stuffs it in the box she recovered and puts the locket in it before throwing it under the bed. And as Walburga Black is reborn, the soldiers find their families because Sirius has always been right, the war is over and he died only one day before peace, like what, peace is a scourge and Walburga knows it, that's why, from now on, she no longer fears fear, she hates love and she intends to become the monster that Orion wanted but in her own way.

But the young girl she was can't bring herself to abandon Sirius so, in the days that follow, she goes to town in order to have the right to recover the body of her boyfriend, who came back feet first. John, who only remembers her as Sirius' girlfriend, helps her. She doesn't see the body, unable to bear it and it is in a place that only she and John know, that Sirius Freylior rests.

However, she must now live with a promise that she doesn't want to keep. Promise me you'll come back, if you don't keep your promise, I swear I'll hate you. Those words, she wants to erase them but they stick to her skin. How can she hate him? She loves him, she loves him and he's no longer here for her to tell him. Did he think about those words in his last moments? Did he die thinking she was going to hate him? That thought hurts so much that she feels her heart squeeze because she lied. She will love him forever.