Daily Prophet
The Black family is one of the most powerful and most respected families in the Wizarding World. While today there are not many of them left in the main branch, they still are known for the power and notoriety that still follows them to this day. They are also one of the most notorious families for keeping the family pure by casting out those who do not have magic. Their very motto even rings true, Toujours Pur, or always pure. This made the family one of the highest and most sought after families for those in the pureblood world to marry into. Rich, powerful, and highly respected, marrying into this family would definitely help any family’s standing or can bring a family down. Little is known for those of the branch lines of the family for the Black family is one of the most secretive of all the families. For more information, turn to pg,6
----Article in the Daily Prophet by Mabel Skeeter ----
Orion should have known that someone would write the story about Hadrian since he was linked with the Black Family but he had hoped it wouldn’t have been Mabel Skeeter. Looking at the Article he knew that he would have to introduce Hadrian to the Pureblood circles but he was not sure he wanted to just yet. He knew that the young boy, Regulus as well, would need to make connections. Yet if he returned to his own time, He would have to make friends with a whole different group of people. He was rather torn, he knew he had to get Hadrian used to socializing but he worried what would happen when Hadrian disappeared.
“Damn you Mabel Skeeter, look at the trouble you have caused,” Orion said as he ran a hand over his face. He looked at the papers that were across his table. He had work to do but now he knew he would be getting inquiries about his newest young heir. He growled a bit as he looked at the time. The boys would be going on lunch break soon so he had a little time to get this sorted through first. He did a few detection spells for harmful spelled letters. Orion placed those letters in the normal place he held harmful letters.
As he worked through the non-harmful letters, he saw a few from his circle of influence. He saw a letter from a few of his old friends from Hogwarts asking him how much of Skeeter’s article was actually true. He sighed as he pulled down a few sheets of parchment and began to reply to the letters from his friends. He wrote that he had taken in a child from one of his branch families, not elaborating more than that, that the child’s parentage was pureblooded regardless of the trash that was printed. He also informed them that he came into his custody due to his parents being killed. He took a few moments to allude to the fact that he was not going to answer much more about the child’s story before he introduced him with his youngest. He also wrote that there would be no contracts started for the youngest heir at this time.
As he finished off the letters he set them to the side addressed as he looked at the time. He had already missed the start of lunch. He wanted to check on the boys before returning to his tedious work and papers that needed to be filled out. He had a few more seats to investigate before he would have to do damage control on what had been printed by Skeeter. He would have to remind the Prophet that it did not do well for them to print unsolicited slander before addressing him when the House Black was involved.
He stood and walked out to the kitchen. He saw the three boys sitting there talking when laughter seemed to erupt from Hadrian.
“It was not that funny Hadrian,” said Regulus as he looked a little pink around the ears as he sat there. He seemed to be the target of whatever joke had been told or story recounted.
“But but, Regie, you never slip when you walk about the house, you always walk tall like Mr. Orion,” Hadrian said, which clued Orion on what was being talked about, the first time Regulus had tried to walk either in socks or dress shoes around the carefully cared for wooden floors of Grimmauld Place.
Orion watched the children as he saw Lucretia moving about preparing for the next part of the lessons in the study. He smiled at the children. “Don’t forget to eat boys, you still have lessons after lunch,” he reminded them and got a chorus of yes sir’s from the three boys. He moved to Lucretia as he listened to the boys go back to eating and talking about what they were excited about from their lessons and studies.
Once Orion entered the study, he noticed Lucretia silencing the doorway.
“What are we going to do about Skeeter’s article?” she asked without pretense, clearly angered about how that woman decided to bring things to the public’s attention that she clearly shouldn’t.
“I will go remind the paper that they don’t print unchecked articles about the House Black, I will get them to at least try to rein her in to some extent. I know that it is hard to keep Skeeter from getting things printed that she wants printed. She’s a nuisance, but we have to maintain a balance with the paper right now, they are mostly on our side, if we alienate her to much we might lose that footing before we can use it to our advantage, I will not let them print about Hadrian without my direct approval at all, he is a minor after all,” Orion said watching Lucretia nod at each statement he made.
“Alright my Lord, If you need me to watch the children longer to cover when you will be dealing with them I will stay until you return,” Lucretia offered as she watched Orion.
“Thank you Lucretia, you should see if Cassiopeia has time to come around and meet the little ones this evening?” Orion suggested as he saw Lucretia nod.
“I think she would love to meet the little Hadrian, maybe she could take a look at how he’s doing with some of his work books so that I can focus on watching Regulus get taught by Sirius a bit about the movements he needs for the summoning,“Lucretia said as she thought about how Cassiopeia had been asking about the little new member of House Black.
“Good, I hope it does not take time but I have a feeling without something given in return, nothing will be changing about what the prophet mentioned in their previous article,” He said alluding to the fact that he might have to spin a story for them to print that will make others forget what Skeeter wrote.
While the adults were talking, Hadrian and Regulus were captivated by a story that Sirius was telling them.
“Then with his brothers at his side, the eldest brother led the other two in a fight against the dark clad monster before them,” Sirius paused, taking a bite to eat while watching the younger two also take a bite while listening to the words he said.
“It was a long battle with injuries to the brothers. One went down to one knee, another had cuts across his exposed skin and the last held his arm against his body trying to support his wand still. But finally with one final attack from all three brothers they bound their foe who claimed to be Death,” Sirius paused again to try and get the younger boys to eat some more.
As he watched Sirius could tell that Regulus was just as captivated as Hadrian, even though he knew the story of the three brothers and Death. Sirius smiled as he watched them.
“What happened next?What did the brothers do Siri?” Hadrian asked as he pushed his empty plate away. A smile took over Sirius’ lips as he shook his head.
“I can only tell you after dinner as….” Sirius paused looking up to see his father and Aunt standing there.
“Lessons are resuming” Lucretia said as she heard the younger boys whine about losing the flow of the story.
“Enough, or we will tell Sirius not to continue the story at all,” Lucretia said and saw how the younger two immediately quieted down and looked sad. She sighed they had to get Sirius to concentrate on his lessons and now it seemed they had to keep him from telling exaggerated stories during the hours that lessons were taught. She looked at Orion as he went back to his Office. It was going to be a long second half of the day now.
Orion sat down with the paper and opened the paper to try and get an idea of how to deal with Mabel.
Attack on the Black Family in Diagon Alley
New Member of House Black?
All About the Black Family
My readers, today in Diagon Alley, we were treated to a heinous and shocking attack upon Lord Orion Black, Lucretia Black, Heir Sirius Black, Regulus Black, and the new unknown Black. The attack which began around noon began when Mason Elderberry grabbed the new unknown Black child and tried to get Lord Black to react. According to witnesses, Elderberry said, “Well well, it seems that the Blacks are taking in runts now,” followed by him exclaining, “What if I said no hmm? What would you do then since I clearly have a wonderful shield,” referring to the unknown young Black. This readers is where it got interesting, there was a surge of magic which somehow summoned the Black family protective magic summoning a giant Grimm to help protect the young Black. The Auror came right as Elderberry was screaming when the family protection magic came out. It was heard that Lord Black would be pressing charges of attempted kidnapping of a Heir of a Noble and Ancient House member. Now this made people stunned with the knowledge that the new young Black was a full fledged member of the Black Family. For more information, turn to pg. 4
Orion wanted to burn the paper as he flipped the pages. He saw the picture of his family that the prophet had on file from after his wife’s death. He grumbled a bit as he flipped the few pages to page four and continued to read the article that was laid out across a few pages now.
Now readers, at this point you might be wondering who this young member of House Black is. Very little is known about him and not even a name has been mentioned in any form to give a clue of who he is. All we know is that he is a nephew from a branch family that was incorporated into the main family. Now we all know the House Black does not have many members anymore however they do have quite a few squib family members. Could this young Black be a union of a squib and a muggle that produced a child with magic? Or is there something else that they are not telling us? Do not fear my readers, I will be updating you on this story as we learn more about it. For more information, turn to pg. 5
It was enraging that she would dare to write that Hadrian came from a squib line or Mother Magic above came from a muggle union. He ground his teeth ever so slightly as he tried to keep a level head and didn’t just demand that the woman lose her ability to publish. He would have to be more tactical about this if he didn’t want her to just write somewhere else that he cost her a job with the prophet. He went to finish the Article.
The Black family is one of the most powerful and most respected families in the Wizarding World. While today there are not many of them left in the main branch, they still are known for the power and notoriety that still follows them to this day. They are also one of the most notorious families for keeping the family pure by casting out those who do not have magic. Their very motto even rings true, Toujours Pur, or always pure. This made the family one of the highest and most sought after families for those in the pureblood world to marry into. Rich, powerful, and highly respected, marrying into this family would definitely help any family’s standing or can bring a family down. Little is known for those of the branch lines of the family for the Black family is one of the most secretive of all the families. For more information, turn to pg,6
Orion knew he would have to give information to the Prophet before they would try to rein in Skeeter if they did, but to keep people from hounding him about Hadrian he would have to explain that certain parts of the article were completely false. He took a moment as he thought about what he could say that couldn’t be twisted. Once he knew what he was going to say he wrote an owl off to the Editor of the Prophet and requested a meeting that afternoon.
It didn’t take long to hear back and the Editor agreed to the meeting especially with the hint that they might get an exclusive with Lord Black. So Orion carefully went and sent an owl to Cassiopeia to let her know to come over to Grimmauld Place. He had Kreature take a note to Lucretia so that she would know to keep the boys busy this evening while he was away.
Once it was close to the time, Orion stood, gathered his cloak and looked every bit the Lord of House Black that he was raised to become as he left via the Floo. He floo’d to the Leaky Cauldron and quickly made his way back into the Alley, not stopping to be watched or stared at within the pub. He walked quickly and with a purpose as he approached the Prophet’s office. When he entered the building he was greeted by The Editor.
“Lord Black, shall we go to my office?” asked the head editor as he motioned to a back office.
“Of course,” Orion said as he nodded and followed the head editor to the office.
“I have to admit it is a rare opportunity that we get to have you in office Lord Black,” the editor stated.
“I know but, one of the recent articles has not placed my family in a favorable light, I would like the chance to clear the air barring the active Auror case,” Orion started.
“Of course Lord Black, only the best shall be gotten,” the editor said as he pulled out an internal memo to summon one of the headline writers.
“That’s good, I have one request: do not call Skeeter into this meeting. She is the reason for this, her unchecked, unfounded article about the House of Black,” Orion said as he watched the editor pause with a quill in the ink.
“She is the best writer that pulls the biggest draw of readers, Lord Black. Surely if we get her to sign a small addendum to her contract about checking her facts for any articles about House Black, that would help?” The editor said, trying to keep the exclusive article in Skeeter’s hands if possible, not wanting to deal with her tantrum about not getting the article.
“I am not unwilling to allow her to write it if she leaves her Quick-Quill at the door and writes this article by hand AND only writes the truth, I will need a copy of the article to check to make sure that nothing is out of place. It is after all the fact that she wrote about my Minor Heirs that caused my disdain of what she has written. Besmirching a named Heir of my House,” Orion started, then continued, “ and trying to cause rumors about his bloodstatus when it is not anyone’s business until I present him to society. Now it is going to make bringing him into society much harder than it should be, which as you know is never good on those that cause the trouble for an Ancient and Noble House,” he finished as he watched the editor pale at the words that had been said.
“I will inform her to bring her uncharmed quill and parchment,” the editor said as he wrote the memo and summoned Mabel to his office.
It didn’t take long for Mabel to get the memo and come with the required normal quill and parchment. She walked in dressed in a fuchsia dress robes with mauve accents. She paired them with bright pink heels that clicked as she walked. She had her hair done back into a tight bun updo that kept her hair free of her face finished with a bright pink ribbon that tied off in a bow. She had mauve glasses over her narrow nose held in place by a glasses chain of silver.
As she walked in, she had a look on her face that said she was not impressed to be told what to do when it came to her writings. She looked at Lord Black with a sharp glance and tried to school her look into a more pleasant look on her face.
“Lord Black, what a pleasant surprise,” Mabel started as she walked in and sat down in the only open chair.
“Madam Skeeter,” Orion said back with a half nod.
“Mabel, you are here to be brought in on a new story but there are a few things that must be addressed before you can write it,” the editor said.
“Oh there shouldn’t be any trouble for me, to correct anything with a few strokes of the quill. What is the story?” Mabel said her eyes glittering with the thrill of getting an exclusive story that would launch her to the front page possibly.
“I am afraid it might not be so simple for you Madam Skeeter as it pertains to the underaged child of House Black that you wrote about recently,” Orion said as he paused to let her think about what she wrote lately.
“Lord Black,” Mabel started but saw Orion raise his hand a moment.
“Now that the words are out there we can only move forward and correct what was said as best we can now,” Orion paused then continued, “So before we move forward right now we will have to come to an agreement about articles moving forward. I want facts checked with House Black when you write about any of our members, but especially our children so that no misinformation can happen from here on out,” Orion said, cutting straight to the point.
Mabel frowned as she looked at the editor. “You are trying to change my work aren’t you? I could be the head writer for another publication if that’s the case!,” she said, getting indignant about the request.
“No Madam Skeeter, it is my duty as Lord of House Black to make sure that no one even the paper of the people, release untruths about my house, it is one of the reasons we have photos on file for you to use incase there comes a need to write an article about any of the current non-minors of House Black. Why the only pictures children are in are the full family photos, but you have gone and written about my nephew who is now one of my heirs without seeking permission and I will have to deal with the consequences of that should I choose to introduce him to his peers. Now they might shun him due to unfounded rumors about his parentage,” he said, letting it sink in for Mabel.
As she listened to what Orion said, he could see the color leaving her face leaving her bright makeup looking clown-like on her face. He didn’t understand her need to look like a tramp when she had a respectable job, but it was not his place to say anything about her appearance. He watched as he saw the editor blink and nod not sure what to add.
“So, I will write in my next article the truth about the little Heir Black, and get to write the exclusive story that you are looking to have written, yes?” Mabel said looking like a wolf on the hunt.
“You will write the article and I will look it over for any corrections. Now this is the story I want written,” Orion said, starting to explain the points that were needed for the article.