As promised, I give you the back story of Walburga Black and Brennan Evans. I will say now, this is a companion to The Dark Lords' Pawn, however, it can be read alone just as long as you're okay with mentions of my OC Miranda who, at this time is Walburga's best friend, Tom Riddle's (Voldemort's) twin sister, and being raised by Gellert Grindlewald. That's really all you will need to know, and I just mostly make references to her. However, to be in the loop, you could just go read TDLP. ;)

This story will probably only be like five chapters, and I've already got nearly two completed after this one. So, if you like it, review!

I hope you enjoy!

-Jenn

Black

The year was 1940 and Walburga Black was standing on platform 9 & 3/4, giving her mother another brisk hug, "Please write as often as you can, dear. I know you'll be busy, but your father and I will miss you something awful." The teenager shifted uncomfortably, as usual, all eyes were on Irma Black, and the woman didn't even notice.

She smiled at her mother anyway, "I know you will but we'll be home on all of the holidays, and some weekends. Besides, you've got Cygnus with you." Her youngest brother glared at her from next to their father.

Their mother jerked the little boy to her and hugged him to her chest, "Yes, but next year, next year, my little Cygie will be off with you too, and I'll be all alone." The woman, when around her children, seemed totally unaware of her beauty, her long black hair that shone ebony in any light and stunning amber eyes struck every man in her path powerless against her.

Walburga knew though, that whenever she thought her children weren't around, she used her assets to their fullest, and her wand. It was no secret to Walburga that her loving mother was a coldblooded killer. She hadn't been that innocent since she had walked into the family study at age ten to ask for water and had ended up with blood splattered over her nightgown and face. Her brothers might be fooled by their mother's public exterior, but Walburga was not. She wished she was, that she could pretend that her mother was the bright, bubbly, pureblooded woman everyone else saw. It would have made her last few years so much easier.

Walburga forced another smile, "Well, good thing it's not next year then. Isn't that right, Cygnus?" The boy just glared at his sister some more, but she was not cowed. She was nearly sixteen, and the boy was only ten.

Her other brother, Alphard, strolled up next to her, his face flushed from snogging his newest girlfriend, "Burga, we'll be late if we stay here with Mum any longer." He was fifteen, but like his sister, acted a few years older. He kissed his mother on the cheek, ruffled his brother's hair and grabbed his sister's hand, pulling her up onto the train, "By, Mum! Hope you don't miss us! Cyg, thrash Burga's room for me! See you over the Hols!"

"Alphard!" Their mother yelled, "You've left your owl again!"

Irma Black thrust the cage up at her eldest son on the platform, "Thanks, Mum!" He yelled, retreating into the train car, leaving his sister outside.

Walburga stayed on the platform, waving at her parents. "We love you, darlings!" Irma yelled, holding the hands of her husband and youngest son. "Be safe! Watch after your brother!"

"I will, Mum!" She called back as the train jerk into motion. She stood watching until her parents and brother were nothing more than tiny little black dots among the sea of people.

Her father hadn't said a word to her. Walburga was actually rather stunned that he had bothered to come see her off at all. She had expected for him to shun her completely as he had for her last month at home. She had refused a proposal that he would have profited heavily from and robbed her of her freedom.

"Burga, come in, and sit with us!" Shrieked her cousin, Lucretia Black. "Burga!" She whined impatiently, sticking her frizzy head of dark hair out of the train.

"Okay, Lucy, hold onto your knickers, give me just a moment." Walburga snapped before going inside to sit next to her annoying cousin.

The other girl grinned in an animalistic manner, "Oh, Burga, I nearly forgot! Orion sent me with a letter for you!"

Alphard snorted, hearing his cousin's words on his way out of the cabin, but Walburga took the offending paper into her hand, "What could he possibly have written me?" She always played Lucretia's game, but only because of the unspoken agreement that was to make her and the girl's younger brother wed. She had told her father that she wouldn't do it, but he was just as stubborn as she was and had demanded that she have an answer by the end of her final school year. That answer, of course, had to be the one he wanted.

Inside the envelope was a letter detailing the boy's summer, wishing her good luck at school, as if she needed it, and asking her to write him as often as she could. Walburga handed the letter back to her cousin, "Please, Lucy, you must tell him that I'm not interested. I have no want of having him follow me around like a lost puppy next year." She said, opening the door of their compartment, her bags in her hands, "I will see you all later at the feast, I have the sudden urge for solitude. Please, excuse me."

Walburga walked to the back of the train, changing into her robes in the bathroom, and, on her search of the train, found only one compartment not overridden with students. A lone male body was slumped on the right bench, tall and lanky, covered by a leather coat that left only the top of his head exposed, revealing a head of blonde hair, "Excuse me, would you mind if I sat in here?"

The figure made no inclinations of having heard her so she sat down anyway. The boy must have been fast asleep, and if she knew boys well at all, would probably sleep for most of the train ride. She settled into read her book on advanced spell creation with her reading glasses perched on her nose, and found herself waking up hours later, her book closed in her lap and her glasses balanced precariously on the very tip of her nose.

The boy was staring at her, "That must have been a ruddy boring book."

Stunned, Walburga just looked down at her hands, "Um...I suppose it must have been."

He smiled and she couldn't help but smile back at him. He held out a hand, "Brennan, Evans that is. I'm new here, and imagine my surprise when I woke up to someone like you sitting in my car with me."

"Someone like me?" Walburga asked, affronted.

He nodded, "People who are beautiful."

Walburga wasn't going to lie, she knew that most people regarded her as beautiful, but hearing someone like him say it was startling. "Thank you." She said, looking at him again. He was, admittedly, very handsome, strawberry blond hair, a chiseled face and the greenest eyes she had ever seen. "I'm Walburga Black." She said, finally taking his hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

He quirked a grin, "I assure you, the pleasure is all mine." She blushed, and he loved it, the pink staining her pale cheeks. He looked out the window. "It appears we've arrived. Might I escort you off the train, Lovely Lady?" he said, holding out an arm.

Walburga struggled to not smile, "Yes, I suppose so."

She put her hand in his arm and they walked out of the cabin together.