The astronomy tower
Like many nights before, Walburga found herself in the astronomy tower. The only difference to the last times she had been there, was the letter laying in front of her on the cold floor. Tears running down her face she began to map the sky out in her head as she tried to calm herself down and tried to distract herself from what she just read.
The astronomy tower was her safe space. She felt like nobody could reach her here, as if she was on top of the world. No one was ever here to hold her back or to judge her, it was just her and the stars. It wasn't uncommon for the young girl to sit her just looking at the stars for hours to find some comfort, which she never got from her parents. But tonight nothing could cause her to forget what was expected from her
Not even when she thought about the times where she and Alphard would sneak out in the night to climb on the roof of their house just to look at the stars, could bring her to smile. Today it just reminded her that these rare happy moments were gone for good. At the time they could laugh carefree and without their parents expectations on their shoulders. Sure even then Irma and Pollux Black wanted them to be perfect, but the kids didn't know what that meant for them.
In one of those nights on the roof, Walburga said to her little brother that they would pick the stars out of the sky and they would protect them from every bad thing the world would send their way. Alphard had laughed and made her promise to never stop reaching for the stars until they each had one as a lucky charm.
Alphard didn't take it well, when Walburga started Hogwarts. She was after all the closest thing he could get to a loving mother. Before the older Black went back to Hogwarts for her second year, she gave him a bracelet with a little star charm. Walburga had a matching one for herself and she told her brother that the stars would protect them. Neither of them took it of for a long time, even after Alphard was burned of the family tree.
Lost in her thoughts she began to play with the bracelet. It was always there, and in a sense it did protect her. Not for the hits and hurtful words of her parents, but from showing her feelings. Every time the girl was getting close to breaking apart in front of someone, she played with the little charm. It helped her ground herself and brought her comfort.
Walburgas shaking hand reached for the letter in front of her. A part of her was hoping that she just imagined the words on the paper, but she knew it wasn't the case. Taking a deep breath, the 15 year old began reading the few lines, which had ruined her live in a few seconds.
"Dear Walburga,
your father and I have come to the conclusion that it's time for you to be wed. We already have the perfect person for you to marry and we are going to announce the engagement in the winter holidays.
-Irma Black"