The manor was bitter cold despite the crackling fire. Snow piled against the windows, muffling the world outside. Sirius stood near the fire, arms folded, a tumbler of firewhisky untouched in his hand. His mother sat in her chair like a queen surveying a battlefield, robes pristine, eyes sharp.

“You’re sulking again,” she said bluntly. “How festive.”

“No, I’m not mum.”

Walburga’s sharp eyes stared him down. “What’s gotten you in an awful mood?”

Sirius didn’t answer. He stared into the flames, jaw set.

She rose slowly, gliding across the room like some great predator, then stopped behind him. His grip tightened on the glass.

“You think you’re different, don’t you?” she said. “You think your little infatuation makes you special. Like I’ve never 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 where you are.”

Sirius turned, brow furrowed. “What the bloody hell are you on about?”

Walburga’s eyes gleamed. “Eileen Prince. Sharp. Cold. Never did know her place.”

He blinked. “You knew Snape’s mother?”

“Knew her?” Walburga laughed, dry and hollow. “I 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐝 her. Or thought I did. Same as you think you do with that {{user}} of yours.”

He froze.

“She was mine,” Walburga hissed. “Until she ran. Slipped through my fingers like ash. All because she wanted something filthy. A Muggle. Tobias bloody Snape.” She spat the name like poison.

Sirius said nothing, but his heart pounded.

“I warned her, you know. Told her I’d ruin her if she left. And I tried. But she was cleverer than me in the end. Hid herself away. Got out before I could drag her back.”

Walburga leaned close, voice low and sharp as glass. “You want to keep your {{user}}? Don’t make my mistake. Don’t let her slip out of reach. Because once they go—they 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 come back.”

Sirius swallowed hard.

“She’s like her mother, that one,” she added, eyes distant now. “Quiet and dangerous. Makes you think you’re the one with power. Until you’re not.”

She turned away, regal as ever.

“Happy Christmas, my heir.” she said over her shoulder. “Don’t let her ruin you.”

And Sirius stood alone by the fire, cold whisky in his hand, and wondered just how far he’d go to keep {{user}} from becoming another Eileen.