IN RUINS- James Potter

chapter one hundred and four

She wouldn't lie, it was weird to be at home with her mother, a place where her father wouldn't be peeking around the corner. When she was younger the summers were more fun, but as the year went on, and when andromeda left, there was sudden shift within both families that never got fixed.

And then Sirius went into Gryffindor.

Nora couldn't remember a time where things were more depressing than sitting in the living room with her mother after one of the most disgusting heatwaves, finally being able to be comfortable in her house again. Regulus didn't have the motivation to play his piano anymore, being covered up by a table cloth, Walburgas request.

It was too quiet for any of them to handle, being able to hear a pin drip. Regulus decided to stay in his room, wanting to reorganize for some odd reason. Nora would've offered to help but he wanted her to see the final results, forcing herself to sit in the living room with her mother.

It was dark and gloomy inside, and yet outside, Nora could smell the roses if she wanted to leave, but something in her told her she shouldn't, not yet at least.

Not being able to read a book, Nora read the daily prophet on the other couch by her mother, in comfortable silence to say the least. Nora was disgusted by what the ministry was saying about the death eaters, telling the world that they will be defeated. Nora knew it was bullshit, even if they wanted to try.

"Put it down Nora, the prophet just wants that kind of reaction." Hearing her mother speak, Nora quickly put the newspaper back on the table, Walburga taking a sip of her coffee in her favourite mug. It was the only gift Sirius ever got her from a muggle store. The mug had memories that she won't ever get to see ever again, a white background with black writing that simply says I love my mom.

It was the only gift Walburga properly received. Sirius was her golden child, the one she trusted her life with, Nora was simply the backup, and regulus was the spare. She planned it out, she planned everything out, and it came to a crumbling once again.

Nora wasn't the only one who was suffering in this house, and for once she finally saw what it was like to sit idly by in a house where she once had a husband and three children to take care of.

"How are the meetings?" Walburga asked, narrowing her eyes at one specific thing in front of her, Nora turning to see what she was looking at, except it was just carpet. "Oh, they're okay, Bella likes to giggle a lot." Nora laughed to herself, Walburga blinking to look at her.

"Bella is a sociopath who loves killing people now. She wants more than what she can handle." Walburga strictly told her, Nora swallowing the words back down to not say anymore.

"Which means you must be careful, she'll strike at anyone who looks at her funny." Her mother added, taking another sip of her coffee. "I know mother, I'm being careful." Nora spoke, agreeing with her words.

"If your father were here, he'd give you advice on how to defend yourself, but I know you already know how." Finally having her eyes look at Nora, her mother was hurting badly, finally having a civil conversation right in the living room that barley gets used. Nora smiled at her mother, unsure of what to do now, seeing her eyes become watery.

"Father would've told me to fight her if anything, i always had such a strong punch." She laughed to herself once again, seeing her mothers lip curl up a little, scoffing at that comment.