https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-202-The-Old-House-Cleaning-Part-2-/13685043/
Chapter 203: The Last of the Blacks
Phineas Black was not only the great-great-grandfather of Orion Black, Walburga Black’s husband, but also her own great-great-grandfather—making the two of them cousins once removed. The Black family placed immense importance on blood purity. Any witch or wizard deemed a Muggle-born, a Pureblood Traitor, or someone who married a Muggle was erased from the family tree. Thus, every name remaining in the Black Family Tree today was a direct descendant of Phineas Black.
When Walburga Black was born, Phineas Black had even held her in his arms. Not long after, he passed away. In those early days, he was obsessed with moving between portraits, speaking to his kin. Walburga and her husband had grown up under his watchful gaze.
But Phineas Black was no gentle soul. It was no surprise that he was considered the least popular headmaster Hogwarts had ever known. Those years were far from pleasant for Walburga Black. Yet, deep within her, a profound reverence for her great-great-grandfather took root.
As time passed, the boundary between the living and the dead grew ever clearer. Eventually, Phineas Black withdrew to his portrait in Hogwarts, rarely returning to the Black family home.
After Regulus died, Walburga Black descended into madness—broken, heartbroken, and ultimately perished. The Black family estate became an empty shell.
Phineas Black could not bear such silence in death. He never returned.
In the portrait, Walburga Black stared at Phineas Black, repeating once more:
"What do you want?"
Phineas sighed. "Walburga Black, if you weren’t so consumed by rage, if you’d just be willing to listen quietly for even a minute, you’d know—Regulus has returned."
"What… what?" Walburga Black froze, her lips trembling. Then, with sudden fury, she shrieked: "You’re lying! How dare you use Regulus to torment me? My child is dead!"
The old woman screamed, clawing at the portrait with long, yellowed fingernails.
"It’s true," Phineas Black said, his voice heavy, even through the painted frame.
Despite being nothing more than a portrait, his gaze carried the weight of centuries.
The jagged nail hovered just before his eyes.
"...Really?" Walburga whispered, her voice fragile with fear and hope. Her eyes darted across his face, searching for any sign—any crack in the facade.
The expression was eerie. Yet Phineas Black remained patient. "Yes. Regulus is in his room. Why don’t you go see for yourself?"
Walburga Black stood frozen for a moment—then, without warning, she lifted her skirts and fled the portrait in a blur.
In Regulus’s room, directly opposite the entrance, hung a small portrait of Walburga Black.
Perhaps she had hoped to witness her son’s return with her own eyes. But deep down, she knew it was impossible. Most days, the portrait remained blank.
Somewhere above, a faint cry echoed—perhaps sorrowful, perhaps only the wind whispering through narrow windows.
Phineas Black leaned against the frame, surveying the room.
The other portraits, usually asleep or roused by Walburga’s shrieks, now stood still and dignified. For the first time in years, they bore the quiet pride of the noble Black bloodline.
One portrait—a wizard with a solemn face—bowed slightly. "Father."
Phineas Black said, "To see descendants fade like fallen leaves, with no heir left... it wounds the soul. But Sirius Black... "
His voice faltered. Then, remembering his own son had also been named Sirius Black, he corrected himself:
"…This Sirius Black has returned. Though he is reckless, impulsive, overly emotional, obsessed with loyalty, and utterly unwilling to compromise..."
He listed the flaws with a weary, almost irritated tone. Sirius Black, already tense, felt his forehead twitch with rising irritation.
Then, after a long pause, Phineas Black shifted his tone.
"But he is brave. And he is clever. He will restore the Black name."
He struggled to utter the word “clever”—the effort evident in his voice. Sirius Black clenched his fists.
The portraits in the Great Hall turned toward their once-disgraced descendant.
According to Black family tradition, Sirius Black was unworthy—
He rejected Pureblood supremacy.
He counted werewolves, Mudbloods, and Muggles among his friends.
He had once abandoned the family entirely.
Yet he was the only one left.
Though Black blood still flowed through many Pureblood families, none were truly Black.
The portraits looked at Sirius Black with quiet hope.
Phineas Black did not wait for a reply.
"Since he is the only living Black, his will is the family’s will. His path is the Black path."
"Support him. Protect him. If Walburga Black loses her mind again, stop her—not join her. Do you understand?"
Silence. Then, one by one, the portraits nodded.
"Good," Phineas Black said, satisfied.
He began to fade away—then paused, noticing Sirius Black and the figure standing beside him.
Sirius Black thought there might be more to say. He asked, "Is there something else?"
He was grateful, but years of defiance made his tone sound like a challenge.
Phineas Black ignored him. Instead, he looked at Wade.
"Forgive me—I forgot to ask earlier. Child, which family are you from?"
Wade answered simply: "My parents couldn’t do magic."
He knew his grandparents’ generation had ties to the magical world. But no matter which family it was, Wade had no intention of claiming it.
His only family was his parents.
Phineas Black whispered, "How unfortunate..."
Then, he stepped out of Walburga Black’s portrait—returning, presumably, to Hogwarts.
The portraits in the Great Hall said nothing more. One by one, they sank into sleep. Only Orion Black, Sirius Black’s father, remained awake.
He looked at the son who had once disappointed him deeply.
"Sirius Black," he asked, "are you married?"
"No!" Sirius snapped. "I’ve just gotten out of Azkaban—what kind of person would I marry? A Dementor?"
Orion Black didn’t react with anger. He asked, "Any girlfriends?"
"No!"
Orion Black glanced at Harry Potter, then fixed his son with a look—half-disappointment, half-contempt.
"James Potter’s son is already at school. And you don’t even have a girlfriend? You two were supposed to be best friends."
Sirius nearly jumped to his feet. "What does any of that have to do with anything?"
Orion Black’s voice was low. "Sirius Black. Marry soon. Preserve the Black bloodline."
He closed his eyes. Said nothing more.
Sirius Black’s anger slowly melted into sorrow. He sank back into his chair, head bowed.
Remus Lupin silently drew the velvet curtain closed.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
