O Legado Perdido.
Petunia Evans sat on one of the wooden benches in her family's mansion library, her gaze absentmindedly drifting over shelves crammed with ancient books. Her fingers traced the cover of a dusty tome of Greek poetry, one of her favorites, as her mind wandered back to days gone by. From a young age, Petunia had excelled in everything she set out to do. Her beauty, with its perfectly sculpted Greek profile, porcelain skin, and clear, penetrating eyes, was just a complement to her unmatched intelligence and talent.
She had fluently mastered French, Japanese, Ancient Greek, and any other language that piqued her interest. Her skills in potions, art, music, and arithmetic were unparalleled. Yet all these talents and qualities were insufficient to make up for the one thing she lacked: magic.
As she held the book, the library door creaked open softly, and Lily, her younger sister, entered, her eyes assessing the surroundings with an air that was uniquely hers. Her red hair was tied up in a messy bun, and Petunia suppressed annoyance at the thought that Lily should have been running through the gardens. She shouldn't have been running through the castle, much less with the enemy in her castle.
Lily, with her exuberance and bright green eyes, was everything Petunia could never be, but it's different, she's a child, her sister, her blood, unlike Sirius Black, the stranger who had taken everything that should have belonged to Petunia. His presence was imposing, and his reputation as a pure-blood wizard made everyone around him bow in reverence. Despite being a complete stranger to the responsibilities and legacy of the Evans family, he now occupied the position that rightfully should have been Petunia's.
"Are you ready, Tuney?" Lily asked with a smile, ignoring her older sister's cold gaze.
"I am," Petunia replied, chin lifting with silent determination. "Let's go."
She rose slowly, leaving her book on the table and adjusting the pearl necklace around her neck, moving closer to Lily and attempting to tidy her unruly curls. When she finished, she sighed, mentally preparing herself to see the new Lord of their house.
They descended the stairs in silence, and Petunia could barely conceal her disdain as she saw her father's office occupied by Sirius Black, the man who had taken everything that should have been hers. He was seated at the desk, chatting animatedly with some friends, all as despicable to Petunia's eyes as he was. A nouveau riche, a bastard prince, and a mere squire. Oh, her father must be rolling in his grave.
Such an arrogant wizard he was, who had never needed to fight for anything in his life. He had inherited everything on a silver platter: the name, the land, the responsibilities that should have been Petunia's, everything she had always wanted. And now, there he was, laughing and enjoying himself as if nothing mattered.
He didn't even mention the dowries! Absurd. Certainly, Petunia knew that the possibility of her having a dowry was non-existent. Trying something like that would be like trying to grasp sand, and nothing would remain but the shell of a rejected woman. After all, who would want a woman without magic? On the other hand, her Lily would certainly attract suitors of her own stature. However, the new Lord is just wasting his father's money with beers and, dare I say, even more sordid things...
Petunia watched in silence as Sirius and his friends rose, ready to leave. He saw her and smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Good evening, Miss Evans," he said, with a courtesy that seemed more like an insult.
"Mr. Black," Petunia replied coldly, not bothering to hide her disdain, emphasizing his surname, he would never be an Evans, never.
Sirius looked confused for a moment, but quickly recovered wanting to leave quickly. "I hope you have a good night."
I would have if my father were here to make sure of that.
She was his pride and joy, he loved her unconditionally, even though she was a defective creature. The void her father left behind was tangible, a silent shadow hovering over her existence. He would always protect her, her and her sister. But now, they were at the mercy of a stranger in this treacherous world. But Petunia couldn't say that aloud, could she? Courtesy demanded that she pretend.
"Are you leaving again?" Petunia spoke lightly, with a touch of subtly hidden criticism in her voice. "I had hoped we could discuss more serious matters, when you have the time, of course."
Sirius looked at her with a mixture of surprise and calculated indifference. He certainly wasn't used to being questioned by women like Petunia, whose place in wizarding society was clearly defined, but Petunia wasn't a woman you could ignore, and she would show it.
"Certainly, Miss Evans," he replied, his voice smooth but carrying the arrogance of a man who had never needed to justify his actions. "I am available for any matter you wish to discuss."
Petunia nodded with a cold smile, her blue eyes fixed on his and looking at his friends from the bottom to the top. "It will be a pleasure to arrange a more appropriate time for our conversation. Perhaps tomorrow morning?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow, a gesture of subtle challenge. "I look forward to it."
With a nod of her head, Petunia withdrew from the office, leaving Sirius to ponder the woman who had just challenged her presence since he arrived.