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Chapter 203: The Sole Black
Chapter 203: The Sole Black
Phineas was not only the great-grandfather of Orion, Walburga's husband, but also Walburga's great-grandfather. The couple was a pair of first cousins once removed.
The Black family placed great importance on blood purity. Any squibs, pure-blood traitors, or those who married Muggles were struck off the family tree. Thus, everyone remaining on the Black family tree was a descendant of Phineas.
When Walburga was born, she was even held by Phineas himself.
Soon after, when Phineas passed away, he often strolled through his portraits and conversed with his family during the initial period. One could say that Walburga and her husband grew up under his watchful eyes.
However, Phineas was not known for his good temper. There was a reason he was regarded as the most unpopular Headmaster in Hogwarts' history.
That period was not a pleasant memory for Walburga.
Nevertheless, a deep reverence for her great-grandfather was also planted in her heart.
As time went on, the boundary between the living and the dead became more distinct. Later, Phineas spent long periods remaining in his portrait at Hogwarts and rarely returned to the Black family.
After Regulus' death, Walburga went insane and died in despair, leaving the Black family mansion virtually empty.
Phineas could not bear this deathly silence and so he stopped returning.
In the portrait, Walburga stared at Phineas and repeated, "What are you doing here?"
Phineas sighed and said, "Walburga, if you would stop venting your resentment and be willing to listen quietly for just a minute, you would know—Regulus is back."
"Wh-what?" Walburga froze, her lips trembling, before suddenly flying into a rage. "You're lying to me! How dare you deceive me with Regulus! My son is long dead!"
The old lady shrieked and tried to scratch at Phineas with her long-nailed fingers.
"It's true," Phineas said.
Even though it was just a portrait, the way he gazed at his great-granddaughter was heavy and suffocating.
The yellowed, pointed fingernails hovered in front of Phineas' eyes.
"Is... is it really true?"
Walburga asked softly, her expression a mix of fear and anticipation. Her eyes darted, glancing at Phineas tentatively as if trying to find some evidence on his face.
This expression looked bizarre, but Phineas patiently said, "It's true. Regulus is in his room. Why don't you go and see for yourself?"
Walburga paused, then suddenly lifted her skirt and dashed out of the portrait.
In Regulus' room, right across from the door, there was also a small portrait of Walburga hanging.
Perhaps she had been hoping to witness her son's return with her own eyes, but deep down, she knew it was impossible. Thus, most of the time, it was just a blank canvas.
A faint sound of grief seemed to echo from upstairs, or perhaps it was just the wind blowing through the narrow windows.
Phineas propped his elbow on the frame of the portrait and looked around.
The surrounding portraits were usually either asleep or awakened by Walburga's shouting, at which point they would start screaming as well.
Now, under Phineas' gaze, they straightened their appearances one by one, finally displaying some of the dignity befitting the "noble House of Black."
A male witch in one of the portraits bowed his head slightly and said, "Father."
"It is heart-wrenching to see the descendants wither away like fallen leaves, leaving no one to carry on the family name," Phineas said. "But as for young Sirius..."
He paused for a moment, suddenly remembering that his eldest son was also named Sirius Black, so he emphasized, "The current Sirius has returned... even though he is too rash, impulsive, underestimates his opponents, is too emotional, values feelings too much, and lacks flexibility..."
Phineas droned on and on, listing a litany of shortcomings, causing the originally gloomy and depressed young Sirius' veins to pop out on his forehead, before he finally changed the subject.
"But he is brave... and clever... He will surely revive the Black family."
Phineas mulled over his words before reluctantly squeezing out, "clever." The forced compliment made Sirius clench his fists.
The portraits in the hallway turned to look at this descendant who had caused them much dismay in the past.
Following the Black family's longstanding ideology, Sirius was undoubtedly unqualified—
He did not support the notion of pureblood supremacy and took no pride in it. He considered werewolves, Muggle-borns, and Muggles as friends and even went as far as to defect from his family.
But he was the only "Black" now.
Although Black blood flowed in many pure-blood families, they were not Blacks themselves.
The numerous portraits looked at Sirius with anticipation.
Phineas did not give Sirius a chance to speak and directly said, "Since he is the only living Black, his decisions are the decisions of the family, and his direction is the direction of the Blacks."
"You must support him and protect him. If Walburga goes crazy again, stop her instead of going crazy with her! Are you clear?"
The many portraits nodded silently.
"Very good."
Phineas nodded in satisfaction.
He prepared to leave but paused when he saw Sirius and Remus standing beside him.
Sirius thought that his great-great-grandfather might have some more instructions or words of encouragement, so he asked, "Is there something else?"
He was grateful, but his long-standing habit made his words sound like a challenge.
Phineas ignored him and looked at Remus instead. "I forgot to ask last time... Young man, which family do you belong to?"
Remus briefly replied, "My parents are both Muggles."
He knew that his grandparents had some connection to the wizarding world, but regardless of which family it was, Remus had no intention of acknowledging them.
His family was only his parents.
Phineas murmured, "What a pity..."
He left Walburga's portrait, probably returning to Hogwarts.
The portraits in the hallway didn't say much more and fell asleep one by one, except for Sirius' father, Orion Black, who remained awake.
He looked at his once disappointing eldest son and asked, "Sirius, are you married now?"
"No!" Sirius replied angrily. "I've just gotten out of Azkaban. Who would I marry? A Dementor?"
Orion didn't get angry and continued to ask, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"No!"
Orion glanced at Harry and looked at his son with an unreadable expression of disappointment or disdain. "James' son is already in school, and you don't even have a girlfriend? Aren't you good friends?"
Sirius almost jumped up, shouting loudly, "What does that have to do with anything?"
Orion said in a low voice, "Sirius, marry early... and continue the Black bloodline..."
He closed his eyes and didn't say another word.
Sirius's indignant expression gradually turned sad, and he sat back in his chair, bowing his head.
Lupin quietly drew the velvet curtain.
(End of Chapter)
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