Pollux leaned against a wall,holding a glass of wine in one hand while the other was in his pocket.
His cousins Callidora and Charis,daughters of his Uncle Arcturus,were standing in a corner as they bickered. Next to them,their husbands sat together as they laughed at one thing or the other.
For a second,Pollux thought that he had gone back to last year,when everything had been getting better.
But no,nothing was the same as it had been.
Lucretia was standing off to the side with her husband Ignatius,looking as if they wanted to leave the second it was acceptable to do so while Cygnus was sitting at a table with his daughters and wife,talking quietly.
Cousin Regulus was talking with Arcturus. By the looks of it,they were arguing. He wondered if he should go stop them.
Orion was fixing Regulus' forest green robes and hissing something in his ear. Regulus' head was bowed as he nodded.
Pollux frowned as he noticed the lack of a particular ring from his youngest grandson's hand. After Sirius had been officially disowned by the Head of House,the heir ring had magically gone back to its box. When it had been presented to Regulus,the magic had refused to accept him as the Heir and had not gone onto his finger,stinging him every time he tried to put it on.
So it still hadn't accepted him as the Heir,it seemed.
His eyes surveyed the entire room,spotting Alphard reading a book by the fireplace. Pollux recognised it as the one where the young boy was a magic user in a Kingdom where magic was frowned upon. He had a magical prophecy about him,Pollux remembered. The only reason he remembered the book was because Alphard had kept animatedly gushing about how the main character's single father had been *so hot it rivals the most fiercest of fires*. How a character that he had never seen be considered hot,Pollux would never know.
He sighed as he failed to spot three more members of the family. Dorea and Charlus had refused to come to any event after Sirius' disownment and Cassiopea just hadn't bothered to show up,despite attendance being necessary for Blacks. Arcturus had been too busy to look into the reasons and ask her.
Think of the devil,Pollux thought as he spotted his Cousin Arcturus coming towards him.
Arcturus picked up a chair and put it next to him before sitting on it. He put him head in his hands and groaned.
Pollux put a hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong,Archie?" He asked.
Arcturus looked up at him,and his smoky grey eyes looked so tired it made something in Pollux's chest tighten. His cousin was supposed to be the strong one,not look so defeated. "Regulus has been expressing his displeasure at Sirius' disownment. Dorea has been mad at me since the boy ran away to stay with Charlus' younger brother Fleamont,I have already gotten into seven arguments with Alphard and Melania's health keeps getting worse and worse. This House is unstable in a way it never has been."
"Merlin Pollux,where did I go wrong? I used to think I was an adequate Lord." He mumbled, running a hand through his hair. Pollux huffed and tightened his hand on his shoulder.
Well maybe if you had just listened to me and taken Sirius and Regulus out of their parents house,this wouldn't have happened,he thought but did not say. Arcturus already felt guilty enough as it was, he didn't need to add to that guilt. And Arcturus still didn't want to believe that his son was neglectful.
Besides,it wasn't completely Arcturus' or even Pollux's fault. Orion and Walburga carried most of the blame for what happened with Sirius. Still,that didn't stop the bitter feeling against himself or Arcturus from growing.
He was about to say something reassuring when the door to the living room slammed open and Walburga stormed in. Pollux and Arcturus watched as she walked towards Alphard,who still hadn't noticed her as he was too immersed in his book.
(When all the Blacks were gathered,that was the only time Alphard felt safe enough to let his guard down and be at ease. Pollux hated just how on edge he always was all the time,and hated even more if someone disturbed him when he finally did have his guard down)
However,Everyone else had noticed her entry and they watched as she wrenched the book from his hands and threw it into the fireplace.
"Walburga,what the fuck?" Alphard whispered as he stood up,though in the now quiet room it was heard as clearly as if he was screaming. He was staring in horror at his favourite book going up in flames. He crouched down and tried to salvage what he could,but even Pollux could see from a good distance away that it was no use doing so.
Alphard had also realised it and he stood up to face Walburga,directing a venomous glare towards her. With his superior height of 6'6,he towered over her,but Walburga did not seem intimidated in the slightest.
Pollux shared a look with Arcturus and as one,they both started walking towards Pollux's oldest two. They had to diffuse the tension while still possible,or lethal curses would be thrown.
This was why Cygnus was his favourite.
"What is your problem,Walburga?" Alphard hissed. She turned up her nose at him and huffed. "I have something highly urgent to discuss with you,Alphard." She scowled at him, her tone displeased and angry.
"And we couldn't have discussed it in a civilised way without you burning my book?" He growled,taking a step towards her. By now Pollux and Arcturus had reached the two and Pollux put a hand on Alphard's shoulder while Arcturus lightly grabbed Walburga's arm.
"Walburga,apologise to Alphard at once." Arcturus commanded,glaring sternly at her. She turned to look at him,and for a second the wrath in her eyes wavered and it looked like she just might apologise. Then she glanced at Alphard and the rage returned.
"NO!,I WILL NOT APOLOGISE TO THIS TRAITOR." She shrieked,and if looks could kill his son would already be six feet under.
Thankfully,they couldn't and Alphard just raised an eyebrow. "Calm down there,banshee. What'd I do this time?" He asked,folding his arms.
"Bold of you to ask that,Alphard. How about I tell you what you haven't done? That list would be infinitely shorter,you dangerous digrace." Walburga hissed. Pollux glanced at Arcturus in search of an answer,but found the same confusion he felt reflected on his Lord and cousin's face.
"Walburga,what are you talking about? Surely whatever Alphard did is not that bad. " Cygnus asked,staring at his older siblings in confusion. Next to him,Druella was glancing at her brother-in-law in concern, who was still looking at Walburga as if he was mere seconds away from killing her.
Pollux tightened his hand on Alphard's shoulder.
Walburga turned towards Cygnus,and the wrath in her expression morphed into one of sympathy. "Oh Cygnus,if I tell you it would break your heart,the same way it has broken mine." She sighed,looking genuinely sad.
"Oh wow,I didn't know you had a heart." Alphard remarked,his tone shocked in a heavily exaggerated way. Pollux directed at him a glare that would have had ordinary people cowering. Alphard,to his credit,calmly stared back.
Walburga turned back to him and glared. "You,Alphard,are a shame to the House of Black." She hissed before turning back towards Cygnus. "Do you know what I found in Sirius' old room,under the bed?" She asked as she raised her arm,and that was when Pollux noticed that she had something in her hand. It looked like a photo.
She thrust the photo towards Cygnus and Druella,the former taking it with great confusion. They both looked at each other before directing their gaze towards the photo.
Druella gasped,putting her hands over her mouth. Colour drained out from Cyngus' face and he lifted his head to stare at Alphard,his expression one of shock and sadness. Bellatrix,who had been peeking over her father's shoulder with Narcissa,glared at the photo so fiercely Pollux was concerned it would light up. Narcissa was staring at it in pure shock.
Pollux shared a look with Arcturus. This wasn't good.
"Cy,what wrong?" Irma asked,mahogany brown eyes staring at her son in concern. "Come on,whatever is in that photo isn't that bad,right?"
"Certainly not bad enough to have my book destroyed." Alphard mumbled and Arcturus glared at him. "What?! It was a signed copy,Uncle Arcturus."
"Oh for fuck's sake,give me that photo Cygnus." Arcturus snapped,and Cygnus glared at Alphard before giving the photo to Arcturus. Arcturus put it down on a table and everyone, except for Alphard who was staring in confusion at his brother and Walburga who was busy looking at her younger brother with disdain, leaned in to look at the contents of the photo.
Pollux's eyes widened as he surveyed the photo. Alphard was leaning against a wall in the middle of the photo with his arms folded,black hair tousled artfully. He was wearing a handsome black muggle two piece suit and he was smiling as he winked at the camera,dashing as ever. He was the only one who seemed to notice there was a camera.
On his left was Pollux's grandson Sirius,wearing a dark blue suit. His hair was neat in a way it rarely was since his sorting,and he was arguing with someone. The picture had been taken while he was stomping his foot,his cheeks puffed. He seemed to be around 13.
However,it was the person he was arguing with that made the ever present knot in Pollux's chest tighten further. Standing next to her Uncle, looking as graceful as ever,was a woman in a white bridal dress. Her dark brown hair (inherited from her great grandmother,Pollux knew) was in an elaborate crown braid and was decorated with flowers. The camera had captured her sticking her tongue out at Sirius,her silver eyes shining with amusement.
Andromeda truly did look dazzling in her wedding dress.
"Oh my..." Callidora whispered,her hand over her mouth,eyes shining with unshed tears. Pollux remembered just how close both of them used to be,bonding over their shared love for poetry.
As one,all of them turned to stare at Alphard,who was looking at the photo in horror. "Fuck." He whispered.
That summed up Pollux's own feelings on the matter.
Arcturus opened his mouth,about to speak. Which Pollux was thankful for,because his own mouth was dry and he knew that even if he tried,he wouldn't be able to speak.
"Alphard," Arcturus began,his tone devoid of all emotion. That was bad,Pollux knew,as it meant that they were not talking to their beloved Archie,but to the strict Lord of House Black. "What is the meaning of this?" He continued,and even though he was shorter than Alphard by 4 inches,at that moment he seemed to tower over him.
Before Alphard could defend himself though,Walburga spoke up again. "This isn't the only thing he has to answer for."
Orion turned towards her. "Whatever do you mean,Walburga?" He asked,glaring at his son when he tried to touch the picture.
"What I mean,Orion dearest,is that my good friend,Phoebe Yaxley,told me something her son's friend,some boy named Severus Snape,had overheard. Apparently,the blood traitor had been telling his Gryffindor friends about how his Uncle Alphard had sent him a set of books he had wanted through the mail. Now I would like to know why Alphard is still in contact with him after he has been disowned. I thought I had made it clear that no one was to reach out to him unless I said so."
Alphard scoffed. "My apologies, Wally dearest." He began,Walburga's eyes narrowing at the resented nickname. "I had not known that I would need to have your permission to support my godson."
"As for Andromeda,she had wished to have her cousin and Uncle at her wedding. Why should I have refused her request?"
"Because she is a blood traitor and she chose that mudblood over her own flesh and blood. Because she abandoned us." Walburga hissed,taking out her wand and pointing it at Alphard.
Pollux had the distant thought that he should stop Walburga,but for some reason he couldn't move.
Alphard stared at the tip of her wand for a second before his lips tugged upwards and the tilted his head just so,the way it always irked his sister. Then he threw his head back and let out a dry laugh,devoid of any traces of the humor or warmth that usually made up his son's contagious laugh.
"That,my dearest sister" he began,pushing away the wand pointing at his chest with a dismissive swat of his hand, "is where you are wrong."
"Hm,do you not believe that Andromeda abandoned the House of Black to be with that mudblood, Alphard?" Arcturus asked,and he was one of the few people who did not speak the derogatory term 'mudblood' with scorn and disdain,but rather as if it were a fact and no one could do anything about it. Pollux knew that it had always annoyed Sirius more than his parents' mocking tone had.
Alphard flashed Arcturus a rueful smile,One that Pollux immediately hated. His son's smiles were meant to be warm and sincere that lit up his eyes,but in recent years they had become more and more scarce,instead replaced with mournful ones that filled his eyes with sorrow and wistfulness.
"No Uncle,I do not believe that she abandoned us. Rather,it was us who abandoned her." Cygnus opened his mouth to interrupt but Alphard shot him a warning look and his jaw snapped shut. Even in a situation such as this,the older brother knows how to put the younger one in his place.
"Most of you seemed to have forgotten,so allow me to refresh your memory. Andromeda had stood,right there" he pointed towards the doors through which Walburga had come,the same doors that Pollux remembered Andromeda had walked out of,never to return to House Black again.
"And she had pleaded,no,she had begged all of you to just listen to her. To let her explain herself,why she was doing what she did." Alphard then looked straight at Cygnus and Druella,the former of whom stiffened whilst the latter flinched. "But her own parents had refused to let her explain. She'd been given an ultimatum instead,to choose either her lover and unborn child or her family.
Why could she not have had both? If only you'd listened to her that day,but no,you turned her away the moment she made a choice that didn't fit perfectly into your stupid,outdated views." Alphard growled,his deep baritone echoing in the silent room. Orion scoffed at the last remark,but offered no comment of his own.
"So what,Alphie? You say our views,our way of life is stupid? That everything we stand for is irrational?" Cygnus asked,his silver eyes cutting daggers into his older brother. Alphard shrugged.
"Not everything. I believe in the preservation of magic,in the importance of keeping traditions and rituals alive,but this degradation of Muggles and Muggleborns? Treating them as if they are worse than dirt for something they have no control over? That is not anything "Noble" or "worth fighting for"." He raised an eyebrow at Bellatrix,letting her know the last comment was directed towards her and that dark Lord she was fancying at the moment.
"They are worth less than dirt,Uncle,and they should know it." Bellatrix spoke,her eyes burning with an anger her family was famous for.
"Not really. I believe that great wizards can come from anywhere and while blood and family does matter,as purebloods have a deeper understanding of magic,it isn't the only deciding factor." He paused for a second,frowning thoughtfully. " I think that to some extent, all of you know that as well."
That last comment had most of them crying out in protest. "Really?" Alphard asked,his tone mocking. "If you do not believe them to be capable enough to be a threat,why have you,time and time again,waged war against them? If they really were harmless,there would have been no reason to be scared of them and waste resources on them." Then he tilted his head and stared straight at his nieces,both of whom stiffened. "You say that this dark lord brings the answer the purebloods seek,but for there to be an answer there has to be a question first. I had not been aware there was a question at all." He shrugged,and Narcissa looked like she was actually contemplating her Favourite Uncle's words.
Bellatrix too,could offer no argument,though she looked like she desperately wanted to.
Pollux felt a hand on his arm and looked to see his wife standing there,her expression holding the same fear Pollux himself felt. Alphard had always known how to toe the line of propriety just enough to be daring,but never to cause a scandal and get himself disowned. Now,however,he was blatantly disregarding everything they stood for.
For the first time since this interaction,Regulus spoke,his tone cautious and guarded. "Well, the kid isn't half wrong. We hate Muggleborns because of their disrespect to magic and tradition,but how would they know any of it if we don't teach them anything?" He shrugged,looking like he didn't quite believe his point,but didn't quite disbelieve it either.
Before Pollux could add his own two knuts to the conversation that had them all reevaluating their beliefs,Walburga scoffed and drove her finger into her brother's chest,making him stumble backwards.
"How dare you,you bloodtraitor?! You dare stand here in the home of my forefathers,who worked tirelessly to give the Blacks the fame and honour we deserve,and then you talk against everything we stand for. Toujours Pur,Alphard."
Alphard looked unimpressed but let her continue.
"Not to mention you try and convince us to believe your irrational views." Alphard raised a mocking eyebrow when his sister said 'irrational',but otherwise remained quiet." I swear to Circe,if you don't apologise right now and promise never to interact with blood traitors ever again,I will burn your name off our Family tree." Walburga seethed,and Pollux tensed.
It would be okay though,Alphard always knew when to back off and listen to the rules,even if he didn't like them much. Alphie would apologise and then Pollux would forget this entire conversation ever happened,even if things would stay tense between his children.
Maybe he'd look to see if he could find another signed copy of that book.
The oldest son of Pollux Black frowned,and then subconsciously stood up straighter than he had before,spine straightening as he rose up to his full height. He put one hand in the pocket of his navy blue robes,the other gripping his wand.
"I assure you sister,I will not give you the satisfaction of burning off my name from the tree."
Pollux deflated and Irma's grip on his arm lessened considerably. From the corner of his eye,he saw Arcturus let out a quiet breath of relief as Regulus (the younger one),who'd looked terrified before,smiled slightly.
Even Cygnus, mad as he was,slumped in relief,because as hurt as his younger son might feel at the moment,He couldn't survive without Alphard's comforting présence at his side,and he knew it.
Alphard played a key part in keeping House Black stable,both financially and emotionally, and so he got away with stuff most people wouldn't. And he was adored by basically everyone. There was a reason everyone was letting him explain himself even as he stood against everything they had built House Black on,when neither Andromeda nor Sirius had gotten that option.
"In fact" Alphard drawled,and Pollux stiffened once again. Oh Hecate,Pollux knew that tone of voice. Alphard was about to do something completely stupid that would mess things up,and he damn well knew it.
"I think I just might take that privilege for myself,see what sick pleasure you feel when you blast someone off that damn tree."
Pollux understood,what his son was going to do. He stepped forward,his hand outstretched,and he could see Arcturus doing the same from the corner of his eye.
Too late.
Almost as if in slow motion,Pollux watched his son,his pride and joy,pointing his wand towards the family tree that was on the wall.
A Golden yellow light emitted from his wand,and a spell flew towards the place where Alphard's name was engraved,beneath Pollux's own.
"Alphard,ple-" CRACK
An explosion rang throughout the place,taking away Pollux's ability to enunciate and shaking the foundations of not only the mansion but also the entirety of House Black.
Pollux stopped mid step,a strangled sound escaping through his lips. Right where Alphard's name had been a second ago,there was now a big stain,like one caused by those muggle cigarettes Alphard was so fond of.
Pollux heard a muffled cry from behind him,and he knew that it was his wife and he should go comfort her,but right now all Pollux wanted to do was fall to his knees and cry. He barely had the strength to hold himself together, let alone also keep his wife from crumbling.
Alphard let out a low whistle,snapping them out of their trance to look at him. "Well,Wally,I have to admit that it was satisfying. At least,the explosion itself was,I don't quite think I like the aftermath much. And ah,it seems I may have also ruined the "a" in your name Wally,do forgive me for that. Or don't,i don't really care." He frowned,before shaking his head and walking out the door.
On his way out,he ruffled young Regulus' hair and kissed his forehead before uttering a soft goodbye.
No one stopped him, not until he stepped outside. Only when his foot crossed the threshold did Pollux's Cousin rediscover his ability to articulate.
"Alphard",began Arcturus,his tone was grave. "Please stop for a sec-" But his Cousin's imploring words were cut off by the sharp Crack of apparition.
Arcturus closed his mouth in defeat,looking at the door before turning towards the Family tree,still in shock.
Pollux would have laughed,had it been a different situation. Alphard was the one person who had always known how to leave Archie Speechless. As it was,he was too busy staring at the door in disbelief.
An eternity passed,and yet Pollux still did not move. Nobody else did either,and the only sounds were that of Cygnus' heavy breathing,and Irma's shaky whimpers.
And then the door opened,and all heads whipped around to look at Melania come in,still in her nightgown and looking half asleep.
Lucretia got up from the chair she had collapsed into and scrambled towards her mother. "Mama,you shouldn't be up. You know the doctor advised you to stay on bedrest." She said, her grey eyes shining with unshed tears as she held her mother's arm to support her.
Melania looked even sicker than before,and Pollux would have felt a twinge of concern if he hadn't been completely overcome by a surge of confusion and heartache.
The Lady of House Black frowned,looking between them all. Her brow furrowed as her gaze landed on Irma,who was crying and was prevented from falling to her knees only by Cousin Regulus' arm around her waist keeping her upright.
"Irma,my dear, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" She asked,her voice tinged with fear. She looked around at everyone,from the shell-shocked Arcturus to the trembling Pollux. The worry in her eyes deepened,and her brows furrowed even further.
Then she noticed something. "Where's Alphard?"
Pollux's breath hitched and he barely held back a sob. He wasn't going to cry. Not in front of everyone.
His darling Irma let out a cry at her son's name,and that confirmed whatever speculations Melania had about Alphard's absence. She asked once again where Alphard was.
No one could answer her,and her gaze snapped towards the Family tree,eyes widening in shock and hand going over her mouth.
"It's not that big of a deal." Walburga said,snapping everyone out of their stupor. "This won't affect us."
But it did,oh it did. This event marked the start of the downfall of the Black Family,and it was one etched into their memories till death.