(𝟒 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫)
𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟏 - 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞.
As months passed, Walburga grew fond of the quiet cottage life. At first, she'd go back to the Manor to check on things, prompted by a sense of duty. But her father scolded her for returning, insisting she focus on her new married life.
Orion would stay for few nights every week sometimes more depending on how his days were at the ministry. More often than not he would go back to the Leaky Cauldron where Eleanor would be waiting for him.
Alphard frequently stayed with his sister not wanting her to feel alone. Together they planted rose bushes around the cottage.
However, their enthusiasm quickly waned when Walburga discovered that planting the bushes required manual labor.
Frustrated with the dirt on her hands and unsuccessful attempts, Walburga finally gave in. "Okay, this is simply ridiculous. Give me your wand," she demanded, turning to her brother with determination. She was ready to make use of magic to simplify the task.
Wiping her forehead, a mixture of dirt and sweat, Walburga cast a glance at Alphard, who stood nonchalantly beneath the shade of a tree, observing her struggles. Smiling, he ambled toward her with his wand in hand.
"Where exactly is your wand?" he inquired, a playful glint in his eyes.
Encouraged by Alphard's playful demeanor, Walburga grabbed his wand.
Remembering a simple spell from her herbology class, she channeled the magic effortlessly. Despite her dislike for manual labor, she found joy in the practicality of using magic to care for her flowers.
Executing the spell, she watched as the rose bushes planted themselves and bloomed, a testament to the enchanting power of her magic.
"Beautiful," she stepped closer to the golden roses smelling them before smiling at their scent.
Rolling his eyes, Alphard reached for his wand, interrupting the serene moment. "As lovely as this is—and I mean bravo," he sarcastically clapped, eliciting an eye roll from Walburga. "We should get going. Cygnus wanted us to be there about," he checked the time on his imaginary watch, "Oooh, okay, we are about an hour late."
Grabbing her wand from inside the cottage she placed wards before both siblings apparated back to the Manor.
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𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡, 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟏 - 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲.
Upon arriving at their destination, a solemn silence enveloped them. The family cemetery, a place often forgotten and left undisturbed, echoed with stillness. The hushed atmosphere persisted as if the resting souls within had resigned to eternal quietness, largely ignored by the living.
The siblings stood amidst the silent graves, a poignant reminder of the family's past.
The lack of visitors and the untouched tombstones painted a melancholy picture, reflecting the indifference that had settled over the final resting place of their kin.
In this muted corner of the estate, time seemed to stand still, preserving the memories of those who had long departed, undisturbed by the passage of the living.
No one ever came to pay their respects, no one but the Black siblings. Walking towards their mother's grave, they spotted Cygnus already sitting in silence, as always, picking at the green grass.
They passed generations of graves that belonged to their ancestors, only ever coming to see their mother. It became a tradition of sorts; to visit her grave on her birthday. Cygnus had been the one to ensure it happened every year.
The solemnity of the moment was only interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps on the dew-kissed grass as they gathered around the simple marker that held the memory of a woman who was once the matriarch of their family.
Once they both arrived she placed a hand on Cygnus' shoulder knowing that the death of her mother left a mark on the youngest the most.
As the weight of the moment pressed on, Alphard, sensing the need for a subtle shift, decided to break the silence with a touch of lightness. Glancing at the somber faces around him, he couldn't help but remark, "You know, I think she would hate knowing both Walburga and I come along - she would have scolded us for even showing up."
Walburga taken back couldn't help but laugh as she glanced at her brother before shaking her head.
"She would have more than likely been angered by the placement of her grave, I mean honestly who let Father choose this spot," she said.
Alphard chuckled in agreement. "You've got a point there."
Cygnus, still silent simply stared at the angel statue that marked her grave before he spot, "I don't think I have ever said this to either of you; but, I suppose I should thank you for trying to protect me from her even though she never once showed me the hatred she showed you."
The sincerity in Cygnus' words cut through the light banter, bringing a moment of reflection to the siblings.
Walburga and Alphard exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgment of shared experiences.
Walburga, her hand still on Cygnus' shoulder, spoke softly, "We're family, Cygnus. It's what we do."
Cygnus stood removing her hand from his shoulder, he had grown since she last saw him. He hadn't been at the wedding since it happened while he was at school.
Staring at her he shook his head, before glancing at Alphard "It is not what we do, no one else would do what you did, especially you Walburga," his gaze shifted to his older sister.
"You shouldn't have done that. It was foolish of you to take that burden - a smarter person would have gladly let her brother take the endless punishments. You have a savior complex."
He moved to look at Alphard before continuing "A real brother would have never let his sister suffer the way you did, you let Mother do those things to her because you were a coward- "
The words hung in the air, a sudden shift from the lighthearted banter.
Walburga took a step back, her usually composed demeanor shaken by Cygnus' words. Alphard, too, looked taken aback, grappling with the unexpected intensity of his brother's accusations.
"Cygnus, it's not that simple," Alphard began, his voice carrying a mix of defense and regret.
But Cygnus cut him off, his words sharp and unforgiving. "You both made choices and Walburga, you chose to bear the brunt of Mother's wrath for all of us. It wasn't your burden to carry alone."
Walburga, normally adept at controlling her emotions, felt a surge of anger rising within her. "You think I had a choice? You think I wanted to be the family martyr, the one who took all the beatings and insults just to shield you both from her madness?"
Cygnus, however, seemed resolute. His voice dripped with disdain, "I shouldn't have to thank you for protecting me, Walburga, because you shouldn't have had to protect Alphard and I, from our mother in the first place."
It was hard to tell who he was mad at; his siblings for trying to be there or his mother for never being a mother.
Alphard's frustration boiled over. "Oh, spare us your self-righteousness, Cygnus! You've no right to be angry at either of us, you were merely a boy! Mother loved you, father loves you - you have had love from everyone."
Cygnus, his eyes narrowing with anger, retorted, "Love? Do you call that love, Alphard? Mother's twisted version of love was nothing but control and manipulation. And you, you were too blinded by your cowardly ways to see it."
Walburga, caught in the crossfire, interjected with a somewhat composed tone, "Cygnus, just because she didn't lash out at you like she did with Alphard and me doesn't mean you were spared."
Cygnus scoffed, "Spared? I would have welcomed the lashings if it meant she acknowledged my existence rather than treating me like some prized possession!"
Trying to get a hold of what seemed to be a breakdown on his behalf she took a deep breath, "Cygnus, I will not pretend to understand how you feel - because I do not. I can see that you are emotional because you are growing-"
He cut her off abruptly, his anger unyielding. "Don't patronize me, Walburga! You, of all people, should understand what it's like to be the overlooked one. Father was right about both of you."
There they were, all three of them yelling at each other in front of their mother's grave like hungry dogs fighting over leftovers trying to prove their suffering.
Over time, the heated exchange took its toll, and exhaustion settled in. The cool summer wind began to shift the mood.
The biting words lost their edge, replaced by weariness. The cemetery, once filled with tension, now offered a moment of quiet reflection. Walburga, Alphard, and Cygnus, worn out by their emotional battle, stood in a subdued silence.
Feeling the weight of the moment, Walburga decided to break the heavy atmosphere with a touch of lightness. She glanced at her brothers and remarked, "Well, we've certainly given Mother a lively birthday celebration."
Her attempt at humor introduced a momentary pause, and the tension seemed to ease slightly.
The trio knew that the things they said to one another would never leave the cemetery, and while none of them showed it- they would take each remark to heart.
Underneath the surface of their interactions, a fragile truce hung in the air, acknowledging the complexity of their shared history.
Alphard, the first to respond, offered a wry smile. "If only she were here, she'd probably give us an earful for disturbing her eternal peace."
Cygnus, though still visibly affected by the recent confrontation, managed a small chuckle. "Maybe we should make it up to her and bring some flowers next time."
Taking out her wand, Walburga made a bouquet of roses appear, red. The vibrant blooms contrasted against the somber backdrop of the cemetery.
As the sun set each sibling said their goodbyes knowing that the fight would stay there with their mother. Walburga extended an invitation to Cygnus to join her for dinner at the cottage. He declined claiming their father had set time aside to help him with his studies, but offered her a warm smile before hugging her. His nod towards Alphard conveyed that it was okay. They knew it was needed, they needed to have that.
The cemetery, bathed in the fading light of the day, became a silent witness to the unspoken bonds that tied the siblings together, regardless of the scars that marked their family's past.
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(A/N)
They are very much The Roys of the wizarding world.