For the Tiggerific Times! Challenge at The Golden Snitch, using the prompt: (creature) Kneazle.
Word count: 800 exactly :D
Durmstrang, Pirin.
There is no excuse for forgetting Queen Tiggs' birthday, I know, but at least I'll get to write twenty-six fics for her :D
This is a collection of drabbles centred around things (characters, pairings, creatures, among others) that Tiggs likes, and I'm giving it my own twist by making them all related to the Black family.
Walburga doesn't know where Lucretia finds the Kneazle.
It's a pleasant, tiny creature with dark grey fur and smart amber eyes. Its tail swirls when they pet it between giggles, hiding from their parents in the backyard of Grimmauld Place.
"It looks like a cat," Lucretia says, almost bragging, "but it's a Kneazle. Anyone knows how to tell one from the other."
Walburga doesn't. Mama doesn't let them have animals and their governess teaches only useful things like etiquette and embroidery, not fun things like Kneazles and crups.
"Where are you going to keep it?" Walburga asks because Uncle Arcturus might be nicer than Papa, but he dislikes all kinds of animals. "Your elf will tell Uncle Arcturus!"
Lucretia grins. "You're going to keep it! Kreacher listens to you more than he listens to your parents."
Walburga shifts nervously. She likes the Kneazle, but if Mama finds out...
"Come on, Wally!"
"I told you not to call me that!" she protests stomping her foot on the ground. The Kneazle jumps away from her and climbs up Lucretia's back. It snuggles around her neck and tilts her head as if challenging Walburga to get her.
"Fine, Wal-bur-ga," Lucretia says, retrieving the Kneazle from her shoulder and forces it into Walburga's hands.
She brings up the little Kneazle and looks at its eyes. She feels nervous as if the creature is looking into her soul, which is nonsense because not even dementors can do that. Walburga grins and the Kneazle perks up.
"I'm going to call it Dementor," she says.
Lucretia claps, excited. "Then it's settled! Dementor is your birthday gift!"
Dementor meows loudly. Walburga smiles at it.
Walburga looks away from the photograph. It's the only one she has of Dementor, the Kneazle her Father finds in her room the day of her birthday party. In it, she appears with her cousin Lucrecia, laughing at the antics of the Kneazle.
With care, Walburga folds the photograph and puts it inside her jewellery box.
Everyone is worried.
Walburga looks outside. It's raining, as it has been for the whole day.
"Aren't you worried?" her ten–years–old son yells at her. He looks angrier than Walburga has ever seen him and the thought of makes her heart shudder. Her face, though, shows no emotion. "My brother is missing and you're enjoying your tea?"
Walburga doesn't bother with the child and watches as he rages around the room. Orion, Ignatius and Cygnus are looking for him outside, the girls and the twins are at Hogwarts and what else can she, Lucretia and Druella do?
Lucretia tries to calm Sirius down and Druella orders Kreacher to bring him hot cocoa, but Walburga knows it won't work. Nothing works with the boy.
A thunderbolt lights up the sky and shakes Walburga's heart. How can she tell Sirius that she is as worried as he is?
Another thunderbolt. Walburga looks out of the window and sees the shadow of two figures walking around the house, not being able to enter. Walburga gets closer to the window, her nose almost touching the crystal.
"He's outside," she says and hurries to the front door without waiting for the others. She gathers her skirts in one hand and her wand in the other, blasting the door open to see her little boy under the rain, looking lost.
"Of course," she hears Druella say. "Regulus doesn't have a reason to know the secret."
That will be rectified as soon as Regulus is inside and warm.
"Mama!" he yells as if he were five years younger but, for once, Walburga doesn't care. She embraces him and even pulls Sirius into the hug, letting the brothers feel how safe they are.
"Let's enter," she says and Lucretia and Druella take the boys inside.
She looks around. The second shadow approaches and Walburga crouches. A dark grey Kneazle sniffs her hand and snuggles up to her thighs.
"Thank you, Dementor," she says, recognising the creature.
The Kneazle meows loudly. It has grown and changed so much, and Walburga wishes she could have protected it better. She can rectify that too.
"Come."
The Kneazle follows her into Grimmauld Place, where her children are safe.
She almost smiles at Sirius' unbelieving expression when she tells them the Kneazle will stay. Regulus, happy and safe, grins and thanks her. Druella is confused and Lucretia looks at her, nostalgic.
There isn't a photograph of that day, but Walburga imagines it often: she sits on her favourite couch with Regulus at one side and Sirius beside his brother, not letting him out of sight. And, of course, with an old Dementor at their feet.