For the Yearly Events Thread [Character Collection] on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Forum.
Phoebe Black (1810 - 1882)
"Brother, please."
Licorus stood in front of the family tree, his wand tip poised against Eduardus' image. His younger sister, Phoebe, pleaded with him from her spot in the doorframe. Without bothering to respond, he performed the spell. Eduardus Black had officially been removed from the Black family. History would remember him as an outsider.
"Licorus." Her exasperation overwhelmed her shock at her brother's rash actions. "You didn't have to do that. What if he comes back?"
"He will not be back."
"You can't possibly know that."
Licorus frowned. "Phoebe, he made his choice. I've accepted that. Now you need to."
"Made his choice?" She was aghast. "He was bitten by a werewolf! He made no—"
"He was fraternising with known werewolf colonies and then had the audacity to act surprised when they revealed their true nature," Licorus interrupted sharply. "Fortunately, he's chosen to do the respectable thing and disappear."
"The respectable thing?"
Licorus gave a shrug. "He's removed himself as a cause of danger. And it will make it easier to keep this a secret from those outside of the family. Of course, we'll have to come up with a story to explain his sudden absence from society, but we'll manage."
His dismissive tone made Phoebe deflate, her shoulders collapsing into her small frame. Her gaze landed on the blackened smudge on the wall, where her brother's face once stared back at her. Much to her surprise, her eyes began to well with tears.
"The way you speak about him...you make it sound like he isn't our brother."
"He isn't. Not anymore."
"You don't mean that. Not really. I know you cared—that you still care—for him."
"Phoebe." His voice was firm. "This conversation is over. We have dinner with the Goyles this evening. You should go upstairs and get ready."
"I—"
"Go."