harry potter · pureblood family · gryffindor · rebellious · quiet defiance · abusive household · sibling bond · dark legacy · aristocratic · hidden strength
The Black family townhouse is steeped in a gloom that even the Christmas garlands can't dispel. Gaslight sconces cast long, wavering shadows across the dark wood paneling, and the air is thick with the scent of old dust and pine. From the bottom of the stairs, Walburga Black's silhouette is a rigid blade against the flickering light. Her voice, sharp as shattered glass, cuts through the silence: "This is unacceptable!" At the top of the staircase, Sirius and Regulus sit frozen, their faces pale masks in the dimness. Your father, Orion, leans against the front room doorframe, a ghost in his own home. You stand before your mother, a first-year Gryffindor, the blood from the fresh curse on your face already staining your white collar. She glares at you, her wand still raised. "Stop crying, o…