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Presumably everyone who could possibly read these humble words may know about the Noble and Most Ancient, which some of its members rightfully call the most ridiculous, House of Black. In case you do you probably know about the Drama and the Cruelties that have steadily weaved itself through the old bloodline. You also might have heard about the habit the family has had of marrying their children to each other, should no other old bloodline be willing to take their hands in Marriage.
However it is not what this particular story is about. This one is a fraction of what kinds of shenanigans happen in a House that includes 4 adults, an elf and 5 teenagers or rather young adults seeing as the youngest, Regulus, was sixteen and the oldest, Bellatrix, was 23.
This scene specifically took place at lunchtime on a beautiful Sunday Afternoon — the three youngest had taken to have tea, accompanied by Druella and Walburga. Contrary to the other rooms in Grimmauld Place Number 12 the salon was lit up with sunlight, white marble pillars reached up to the ceiling, a light blue rug embroidered with faded, once blood red, roses covered the floor and the furniture matched the over all aesthetic perfectly.
La salle ensoleillée. The sunkissed room.
In the middle of it a grand piano was placed, it was old and made of dark mahogany that shined where ever the light touched it. The instrument was surely one that pianists would admire, if any musician ever entered the usually darkened and isolated location that was Grimmauld. However there was solely one who ever played the magnificent tunes that the piano produced and her name was Virgo Narcissa Black, who was known by only her middle name as she hated her first name. Quite reasonable, hardly anyone would like to be known by a name like Virgo.
This particular time she was playing an original piece, only Black Family members and her closest friend Lily had listened to it before and Narcissa liked to imagine it as a story between Lovers that weren’t meant to like each other the way they did, but inevitably fell anyway. The piece was happy and fast just as much as it was slow and saddening. Her liquid heart poured into song, flowing with passion.
Where Narcissa loved music with her whole heart, Regulus Arcturus Black loved Art just as much, which is why he was seated on the classy chaise longue, next to his brother, scratching with coal on paper capturing the moment of his youngest cousin playing with a small smile on his face. He was able to capture emotions, sceneries and bodies in a fastidious way no other man could, his family called him gifted, but Regulus couldn’t find any truth in these words for it was a skill he had to practice over and over. Therefore if you asked the youngest Black about how he was possibly able to do what he did he would answer that it could all be achieved through practice and practice alone.
On the other side of the room their mothers stood gossiping with each other about the latest affair and probably also complaining about their husbands. Even though the women were cruel one couldn’t blame them for that, there was a lot of things about their husbands the women could rightfully complain about. Besides what were their husbands if not a reason for outraging opposition.
In Comparison to many others this was a peaceful day. At least that’s what the four aforementioned people thought.
Sirius Black was bored, his cousins were indulged in their respective form of art and he couldn’t do the same since he fancied fencing instead of anything that required residing still in one place for a longer period of time. He was watching his brother draw, but after 20 minutes he couldn’t rest there without doing anything at all. He longed after the gardens where he and his personal guard, Remus John Lupin, who he would train the Art of Fencing with, usually practiced, but he knew he wasn’t able to go just yet. Remus was on duty in town to pick up one Noble Man, James Fleamont Potter, who Sirius‘ brother had taken a liking to. He enjoyed painting him and engaging conversation, so who was Sirius to deny him that.
Luckily a distraction presented itself just in time.
Andromeda ran down the halls of Grimmauld (or at least she walked as fast as a lady of her standing could while still appearing composed). She just came home from a visit to the Old House of Prewett and her friend Fabian had told that his sister was pregnant. She didn’t know however that was possible since Molly was not married. She supposed it was another thing her family didn’t tell her about, her sisters along with herself were left in the dark about many things seeing as they were women and their cousins were forbidden to unbosom the truth — which didn’t mean that they did not do it anyway, but it appeared that this particular topic had not come up.
Her light salmon dress slipped down her shoulders a bit, but she didn’t bother fixing it, because that was the very moment she reached la salle ensoleillée, where her family resided.
Andromeda burst into the room and popped the question immediately:
“How does a lady come to be with child?“
Immediately the chatting mothers were silenced and Narcissa stopped playing so she could turn around to face her sister, question clear in her eyes as her light blue gown shifted and she was able to adjust her gaze. Andromeda acknowledged that she probably didn’t know either. Her eyes traveled to the chaise lounge where her cousins had stiffened. Sirius wore a perplexed, slightly mischievous expression and Regulus stared down at his canvas with wide eyes, pressing his lips into a line.
„A- Andromeda, what a question…?“, came the reply of Druella, who had risen up from her wing chair to approach her daughter. She fixed her child’s dress, trying to diffuse the situation, but was only met with a glare and a swift gesture in slipping the light salmon fabric back down.
“I thought one needed to be married!“, she exclaimed outraged about being left in the dark.
“Whatever are you talking about?“, Narcissa asked, her brows furrowed slightly, a little put out by her sister raising her voice. The latter turned to her and spoke, not a single bit more quiet: „Apparently it’s not even a requirement-“
“Andromeda that is more than enough!“, Druella intercepted. Andromedas agitated posture fell, she rolled her eyes so hard that it could be seen from a mile away and she stomped over to where her cousins sat.
Trying to diffuse the tension Druella turned to her youngest: „Narcissa, Darling, you were playing so lovely, please- please go on.“
Slowly the blonde turned in her seat and set her fingers back on the piano tiles. This time she played a different piece, a popular one, loud and fast. Druella tried to relax again taking a few breaths in and out, shaking her head. Her eldest daughters had always been to curious for her own good, luckily (for one Lady Druella at the very least) Narcissa was a bit more compliant.
Meanwhile Andromeda was still looking for answers to her question, after all she wasn’t easy to give up on things. If her mother wouldn’t give her the answers she was seeking, her cousins would surely be more amicable. She planted herself down between them and side eyed their embarrassed and slightly amused faces.
She slapped their legs.
“I take it the two of you, know?“
“Do not look at me.“, Regulus said and turned his gaze away staring pointedly in another direction, clearly not wanting to answer the question. Weird. Usually her cousin, basically her brother, was quick to answer every question she had if he was able to. So why, now that he clearly knew, he walked the path of ignorance?
Sirius ought to be much more helpful, because she was running out of options.
“Have you ever visited a farm-“, he started, but was quickly interrupted by Regulus slapping him to the back of his head with his canvas.
„No.“, he reproved Sirius, who let out a little cry of pain. At this point one Andromeda Black was just confused, understandably so, most people probably would be.
“I hope the two of you are not encouraging improper topics of conversation.“, Walburga hissed, putting an end to the squabbling at once.
„Not at all mother.“, Regulus immediately covering for his brother, his silver tongue and charming smirk already in place.
Sirius admired that quality about his brother, the ability to lie into their mothers face even in the most outlandish of situations. Without that very skill, he wouldn’t have escaped as many punishments as he had. The two supported each other like that — Regulus lies and if that doesn’t work Sirius would jump in to take the attention away from the younger. This time it most definitely would have worked, but Sirius's eyes just so happened to travel outside and spot the carriage containing Remus Lupin and James Potter so he stood up from his seat.
“In fact“, his face shifted into a mischievous smile,“we were just on our way to…“, he joined gazes with his brother whose mask slipped into a smirk for just a second,“..take our sticks out.“
“SIRIUS ORION BLACK“, Walburga screamed aghast.
“A round of fencing“, he turned around, with his brother following behind him, clearly trying to hide the fact that he was very close to breaking out into a laughing fit. The brothers walked out next to each other, Regulus elbowing Sirius in the side, who just cackled and they continued to tease one another, while walking slow and gentlemen like, until they were out of hearing range. Then they proceeded to run until meeting up with the two men waiting down in the backyard street.
And if, perhaps, they sat Andromeda and Narcissa down to tell them the rebut to their inquiry very detailed, that was only for those four to know.
The author hopes that those who read this short glimpse into the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black have enjoyed them or at least didn’t dislike them, but who am I to tell you what you have to like and what not. Maybe you, my humble reader are wondering how this story will go on and what the Black Sisters are planning on doing with their newfound knowledge (if there’s any planning going on at all), you may find these answers with our favorite groom Edward Tonks and Lady Lily Rose Evans. Nevertheless should anyone question you, you didn’t hear it from me.