She stared at the canopy, apathetic. Rosette didn't have the strength to get up. She tried to eat a little when she woke up, but she could barely chew two pieces. Her mind churned with images from the night before. The attack. The man in black and his companion. Pepe. Her stomach churned with the memories.
She heard the doorbell ringing. Contrary to her wishes, reality called to her. Rosette gathered the courage she seemed to lack. She got up, wearing a dressing gown. She practically dragged herself to the front door of the house.
She observed through the peephole she had installed on the front door soon after finding the threatening letters on Phineas's birthday. She recognized the man as one of the Aurors from the previous night, next to him was Maria.
She opened the door quickly. The two women stared at each other without saying anything. Maria's face expressed all her suffering. Swollen and red eyes, deep dark circles under them.
Rosette pulled her friend close, embracing her. She had known Maria for a good couple of years, their husbands' friendship had extended to them as well.
The Auror realized that the two of them needed a moment of privacy.
"If you need anything, just call me. I'll go back to surveillance duty. Don't worry about anything. Mr. Black has already provided me with supplies. He is also arranging for Mr. Mateotti's release."
Rose nodded, still holding onto Maria. The Englishwoman led the other to the sitting room. They both sat on the couch. The Italian woman completely collapsed, laying her head on her friend's lap and letting herself be enveloped by tears, while Rosette stroked her hair, trying to provide some comfort. The two couldn't determine how long they stayed there. When Maria's tears ceased, Rose got up, arranging some cushions under her head.
"I'll prepare some pea and ham soup for us."
The other woman barely moved, just curling up. Rose felt very bad, but Maria was much worse; so she tried to snap out of her own stupor to help her.
It didn't take long for the soup to be ready. Maria let herself be guided once again. She looked at the plate where Rosette had poured the food. Although she felt empty, she knew she couldn't waste away. Her children depended on her.
She sipped a generous portion of soup. The warm liquid gave her a little more energy. Maria felt not only sad, but also angry. An immeasurable hatred.
"If only Pepe had listened to me," she spoke for the first time since arriving at the Black's house. "If we had gone to my cousins' house in Brazil! But he wanted to stay in Europe, wanted to keep fighting his way. Even outside Italy, a partisan to the end."
Rosette placed her hand over her friend's. Maria continued to stare at the plate.
"Don't let Phineas make the same mistake, Rose," the Italian continued, letting out a sob. "Leave the country. The sacrifice is too great."
The Englishwoman could perceive the pain in every word spoken by her friend. She didn't want to go through the same thing or relive an experience like the one they had been through. She couldn't allow her daughters to go through that kind of suffering.
But who could help her convince Phineas to abandon everything? She doubted she would have any help from Willie and Ravi, who had positions very close to those adopted by her husband. If Aribeth were in the country, with her common sense and rationality, she could be a good ally. However, she was in France with Corbin, with no forecast of return.
Perhaps there was one person, although the possibility of helping them was minimal. She would go after Sirius Black.
Phineas took Maria to take care of some matters. In a few days, the Italian would be boarding with her children to Brazil, as she had always wished. Rosette saw the circumstance as an opportunity to put into practice what she had proposed. The Auror still protected the house, so she decided to apparate from inside her room to a few blocks away from the place she intended to visit.
Rosette felt guilty for leaving without telling anyone; however, considering who she would deal with, she preferred to keep it secret. Phineas wouldn't agree, and everything could end up in nothing.
She stopped in front of the imposing mansion that stood out in the midst of that typically Muggle neighborhood. Considering the stance of much of her husband's family, it was ironic and paradoxical that they had settled there, Grimmauld Place, number 12. They said, obviously behind the Blacks' backs, that it was all because one of their ancestors had convinced a Muggle to hand over the property, whether through threats or Imperius, even being a forbidden curse. Whatever the truth, the fact was that it was the home of the patriarch of the family for many years, usually inherited by the eldest of the main branch of the Blacks.
It was once occupied by her husband's father, from whom he inherited the name, the former headmaster of Hogwarts, Phineas Nigellus, who died a few years before Rose married. Now the head of the whole family was Sirius Black, the second to use that name in recent times. He inherited the nickname from his late uncle, who never even attended Hogwarts, leaving this world as a child. From all she had heard about her brother-in-law, she knew the chances of him helping were slim, but maybe his heart would soften because of the nieces.
She knocked on the door a few times with the heavy knocker, her stomach churning with anxiety. A wide-eyed figure answered. It had been years since Rosette had seen an elf, probably since she left Hogwarts, although she knew Aribeth's brother kept some at home.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Black," she said, her voice trembling.
The small creature bowed, subserviently, in greeting.
"You may follow me, madam."
Rosette followed the elf in silence, observing the sumptuous corridors of the mansion, with its heavy velvet curtains, tapestries, and paintings. It seemed like an imposing and cold place, perhaps a bit sad for a child to grow up in.
The elf left her in a guest room, with a grand piano, a minibar, and some books, in addition to green velvet armchairs and a coffee table.
She sat in the two-seater armchair, anxious. The elf apparated away without saying goodbye, only to return shortly after with cups, cookies, and a teapot. Despite the delicious smell emanating from it all, she dared not touch them.
Once again, the elf departed, leaving Rosette completely alone. She waited for minutes that seemed to stretch indefinitely.
She heard heavy footsteps approaching. Rose got up immediately, nervous. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. The door opened, revealing the imposing figure of Sirius Black. He was a tall man, broad-shouldered, square-jawed, with thick gray hair, who didn't look like he was over fifty although he was well into his sixties. His deep blue eyes fell on Rosette, evaluating the woman. She couldn't sustain the gaze, averting her face. He gave a half-enigmatic smile before approaching his sister-in-law.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Rosette," he said, with a deep voice, extending his hand. "Do you mind if I call you that? To me, Mrs. Black will always be my mother."
She nodded, giving her hand to her brother-in-law, who placed a gentle kiss on it.
"The pleasure is mine," she replied.
Sirius indicated the sofa for Rosette to sit again.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked, to which Rose nodded slightly. "With sugar?"
"Yes, please."
Sirius handed the cup to the woman before heading to the minibar, serving himself a generous shot of Firewhisky, although it was still too early for that kind of drink. He sat in the armchair, crossing his legs. He gently swirled the glass with the amber and full-bodied drink before taking a generous sip.
"It's been what? Ten years since you and my brother got married?" he asked, with affected indifference. "What do I owe the pleasure of finally meeting you in person?"
Rose placed the cup on the table, reaching for her bag; after rummaging through it a bit, she handed her brother-in-law a photo frame. Sirius took the object, it was a colored photo. Although the technology had been around for some time, it wasn't very common. Two little girls waved smiling, practically identical, except for the curly hair of one and the straight hair of the other, besides the difference in their eyes. Green and blue.
"They're your nieces. Betelgeuse Sandrine and Cassiopeia Marguerith," Rose said, observing Sirius's reaction. However, his face remained impassive and hard as granite.
"I know who they are," the man returned the photo, indifferent. "In fact, I know many things about you all. I know that your maiden name is Blishwick, which also makes you a distant relative of my family. I know what my brother writes in that rag of a newspaper and who works for him. And I also know why you came to see me, Rosette. You're afraid after the attack you suffered. You want help."
The woman didn't hide her surprise, causing a cynical smile to creep onto Black's lips.
"And will you help?" she stammered.
"What exactly do you want from me, Rosette?" he asked, taking another sip of Firewhisky.
She lowered her eyes, trying to gather courage, although, from the course of the conversation, she believed the answer would be negative.
"I need you to convince Phin to give up the newspaper, to leave the country to protect our girls. I thought if the family accepted him back, maybe he would consider that option."
This time it was Black who didn't hide his surprise, letting out a loud laugh that echoed through the room. Rosette remained quiet and astonished before her brother-in-law's outburst. After composing himself, Sirius turned his attention back to the woman.
"Rosette, Rosette," he began, with an affable voice, "you are very naive, aren't you? Do you really think I still harbor any brotherly feelings for Phineas? I hate my brother. He betrayed the family. He inherited our father's name and dragged it through the mud. I want him to suffer as our father suffered before such outrage."
"At the cost of your nieces' lives? They are just children, they didn't ask to be targeted by fanatics!" Rose shouted, wondering if there was any trace of decency in that man.
Sirius got up from the armchair. Rosette thought he was going to pour himself another drink, but instead, he sat next to his sister-in-law.
"Perhaps there is a way for both of us to get what we want, Rosette. Protection for your daughters and suffering for my brother."
Sirius leaned in towards his sister-in-law's ear as he placed one of his hands on her thigh. He felt her body tense at the touch, but he chose to ignore it.
"You are a beautiful woman, you could grant me some favors and in return, I welcome you and the girls back into the family. No one else would be able to threaten them because of my position in society."
Rosette got up, startled, her complexion quite red, a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.
"I am a married woman! I love my husband! And you are a married man too!"
"Hesper doesn't care," he replied, disdainfully. "And as much as you love Phineas, I imagine you care more about my nieces."
"The answer is no!" she said, heading for the door.
Sirius laughed once more.
"You'd better contain your outburst, Rosette. The house is large, you'll end up lost. Let me at least call an elf to accompany you."
Realizing that Black was right, she crossed her arms, keeping her brow furrowed, while he rang a bell. In a few seconds, the elf who had welcomed her appeared, ready to escort her to the exit.
"The proposal still stands if you change your mind," Sirius threw at her one last smile.
"Go to hell," Rosette said before leaving.
The day was bright and cloudless, it seemed like a good idea to let the girls play a little in the yard. They were in that cabin, far from London, far from all the wars. No one could find them.
Rosette sighed, relieved, as she prepared to take the pie out of the oven. If it weren't for Phineas's absence, she might even believe she was in paradise. It was almost perfect.
She began to set the table for her daughters' breakfast, humming softly. The melody was interrupted by a shrill scream. Without reasoning, acting only on impulse, she grabbed the wand on the table and ran out the door.
There were two people, this time two men, although one of them was almost a boy. She had never seen them before. Each of them held one of the twins in their arms, holding a horned harpy dagger at the girls' necks.
"We warned you, Mrs. Black, that we would come after you," the older one spoke.
Rose kept her wand pointed at the attackers, sometimes directing it at one, sometimes at the other. Her hand trembled. She dared not cast a spell, fearing to harm the girls.
"You can choose which one of the two we kill first. Or we can kill them both at the same time," he nodded to the younger one.
"No, please don't!" Rosette shouted, but it was too late.
The dark wizards let go of the girls' lifeless bodies on the grass, blood pouring profusely. Rose let herself fall to her knees on the ground, while the two men pointed their wands at her, the green light emanating from the tips, threateningly.
Before her end came, she heard Phineas's voice calling her. She opened her eyes realizing she was in the dimness of her own room. Her husband cradled her protectively in his arms.
"It's okay, love, it was just a nightmare."
Rose realized she was still crying. Everything seemed so terribly real.
"They attacked the girls..." she murmured, between sobs.
Phineas gently stroked his wife's hair, letting her calm down.
"Phin... let's go, we take the girls and leave everything behind. We can go to the United States or meet Maria and the children in Brazil.
The journalist sighed deeply. He had already considered those possibilities himself and rejected them. He was not one to flee from the fight. The newspaper, his writings, were his way of confronting Grindelwald and his followers. Pepe's death would also be in vain if he abandoned everything.
"My love," he said softly, "it's hard to say this, but we have nowhere to run if Grindelwald achieves his goals. He was in America a few years ago, you know that. If he triumphs, not even MACUSA will be able to stop him from coming back. That's why I need to stay."
Rose always knew that would be her husband's answer. She was beginning to realize that neither she, nor Aribeth, nor even her brother-in-law would be able to change Phineas's mind.
"I have some friends in Wales who have committed to receiving you. You will go to a place where no one will be able to find you."
"I hope you're right, Phin," Rose replied, though slightly skeptical.