Les Misérables | Regulus A. Black [1]

Chapter Eleven

[Chapter Eleven]

Emmarentia Zabini was a goddess among mortals, an untouchable force among men and women, even if she was only the same age as Éponine. From the time she was thirteen years old, the girl had started building a reputation for herself that would not be easily diminished by anyone or anything. Éponine hardly interacted with the girl, even though they were in the same year in Hogwarts and in the same House, mainly because Éponine found herself so incredibly intimidated by her. The way Emmarentia carried herself through the corridors, her head held up high, her posture not hunched over in the slightest, she was the human embodiment of power and Éponine did not want to get in her way. Not to mention, her parents warned her from the stories they had overheard to be wary of the Zabini girl.

It was said back when she turned thirteen years old, Emmarentia had taken to killing her own father. Apparently, within their household, there had been a domestic dispute between her parents that turned violent and resulted in her father placing his hands on Emmarentia's mother. But not only placing his hands on the woman, practically strangling her, it didn't come off as a surprise to most as many claimed the man had a terrible temper with matching strength. Emmarentia had been a witness to it all and to save her mother, she took her father's wand and blasted the man out the nearest window, ultimately sending him spiralling to his death as he snapped his neck in the outside gardens. 

Her mother was widowed but in Emmarentia's eyes, her mother was free, but there was one last step. She encouraged her mother to take back her maiden name Zabini and Emmarentia would do the same, freeing themselves from the man that had brought about so much pain to them. Éponine marvelled at such a tale, not sure it was entirely true until it was confirmed in the Daily Prophet, from that point on, Emmarentia had created a name for herself. It probably wasn't her intention to receive so much attention for her actions, but she wasn't complaining either. Her mother was able to recover and the two of them were living quite the happy life together in their home. 

Éponine had to admit, just standing in front of the girl had left her feeling smaller than usual as Emmarentia carried such a presence. Never in a million years would she have believed that Emmarentia would want to carry a conversation with her, although the topic was less than desirable. 

The girl watched as Éponine reached a hand to touch part of her back before looking up at her again.

"My backbone is there," Éponine whispered, looking quite confused, but it only made Emmarentia chuckle before shaking her head.

"I'm not talking about your physical backbone, I'm talking your mental and emotional one. The one that doesn't let people walk all you, Éponine."

Averting her gaze, Éponine swallowed nervously before looking out the nearest window, of course, it was just her luck that as she looked outside that she saw Regulus talking with Avery and Mulciber. She suddenly felt trapped in place, with no easy escape, leaving her to face Emmarentia, even if she was uncomfortable with the conversation.