The Downfall of Walburga Black.
“I have planned a marriage contract between Orion and Walburga Black”.
Marriage contract. Two words that Walburga dreaded to hear.
“Marriage Contract, too Orion?”, Walburga says as she stares at her cousin Orion’s face wondering if he was also displeased with this.
As Walburga stared into Orion’s face she could feel the happiness coming from him, she then realised she may never escape this family.
“She can’t marry her cousin”, Irma protested, “She won’t be able to produce a male heir, and we need one”.
“It’s fine”, Pollux bites back. “Our family is the best family to marry into, whose blood is purer than ours? Who has more money than us?”, Pollux boasts.
While the adults were arguing, Walburga was feeling a sense of sadness. Her whole life she was groomed and taught well that she must marry and produce an heir, but deep down all she wanted to do was escape.
“Can the marriage contract be for 3 years”, Walburga says.
All the adults look at her wondering why three years, but ultimately accept if it meant a marriage between two noble houses of black members. Walburga is very pleased with this because she has three years to come up with a plan to escape.
Knowing as she married her cousin, having kids was going to be very hard and that’s all Walburga needed to finally leave The Most Ancient and Noble House of Black.
Her stomach glowed blue.
Pregnant.
Walburga let out a silent sob. Why, me? She thought.
Walburga looked into the mirror, not recognising the witch she had become. Her hair was perfectly twisted up. Her unblemished skin glowed under the heavy lights of the bathrooms.
The Black family, grey eyes staring back at her.
She was meant to get out. Her cousin Dorea Potter nee Black got out and was waiting for her. Maybe she could leave with the baby she thought.
She realised she couldn’t, maybe she would “accidentally” have an accident and get rid of the baby.
“Walburga!”, she heard Orion yelling.
Wiping her tears, the bathroom door opened revealing a happy Orion. “We’re having a baby” he yelled.
Walburgas heart dropped, how did he know? “The tapestry showed me”, he explained.
“Now you can never leave me”, he said happily, with an undertone of a darker meaning he walked away.
We’ll see, she thought. For now, she would play the dutiful housewife until she is able to leave.
“I’m sorry baby” she whispered to her stomach.
“Mummy loves you”, but she loves herself more, she thought.
Wiping away her fresh set of tears she proceeded to march down the stairs of Black Manor in hopes of a fall.
1959
“It’s a boy”.
Three words Walburga never thought she would hear. The baby was placed in Orion’s arm who was caressing the child’s cheek staring with a look of adoration.
“Thank Merlin he is a boy”, Orion says. “Our family finally has an heir all thanks to you Walburga”.
Orion walks over to Walburga trying to plant a kiss on her temple, which Walburga purposely moves her head, leading Orion to kiss the air.
The baby, peered up looking around the room trying to capture everything the world has to offer. The corner of Orion’s mouth crinkles with joy as the newborn curls his small fingers around his father’s fingers.
“Sirius Orion Black”, Orion says. The newborn coos in delight as if agreeing with the name. Finally, the baby boy peeled his gaze from his father’s loving grey eyes and turned his small head to the combed-up black hair and well-groomed lady.
“Let me see our son”, Walburga said with a shriek, Orion carefully placed the child in Walburgas impatient hands.
The baby looks up into the mother’s eyes seeing a flick of adoration but is immediately covered up by a sense of disgust. The lack of warmth radiating from the women, frightened the baby, wanting to be placed into his father’s loving hands the baby began to scream.
“Quiet baby!” Walburga snaps at the newborn, Orion sees the babes discomfort and immediately takes the baby, who quiets down, from Walburga taking him outside to be introduced to the rest of the black family.
Walburga sits in the quiet room, remembering her plans from three years ago, realising she can’t leave any more. The family won’t be happy if she leaves Sirius.
Sirius, the baby who destroyed her plans. Walburga knew it wasn’t his fault but she needed someone to blame and who else other than the grey-eyed, brunette baby?