Disinheritance
January, 1795
Andromeda had, as it turned out, not been named the Diamond of her season.
During the months that spanned between Hermione’s birthday and the start of the season, any invitations or letters sent to the Black sisters had been left unanswered.
Initially, nobody had thought much of it. As a young girl approached her debut to society, there was much work to be done.
Perhaps she had been busy with final preparations, or had been urged to take extra lessons by her family.
Whispers of the fall of a Noble and Most Ancient House house spread through the streets of England.
The family had retreated from society, after the truth came to light.
Andromeda Black had run away with her dance instructor, a non-magic welder named Ted Tonks.
The two had been seeing each other for some time, and Andromeda had fallen pregnant at 17, three months before she was to debut.
She had, effectively been disinherited and blasted from the family tree.
……….
The effect of Andromeda’s disinheritance on Sirius were evident.
He had been forced to swear off contact with his elder cousin, at his mother’s demands. He was to know nothing of her life or of her new husband and unborn child.
For the first few weeks after news broke, there was an empty look in the boys eyes. As the Heir to his house, his cousins disgrace reflected poorly on him.
Bruises littered his skin, as he hadn’t cared enough to glamour Walburga’s abuse of him.
Ironically, she had taken to punishments deemed ‘more appropriate of a muggle'. A fitting punishment, for his dearest cousin’s crime.
Eventually the punishments grew too mundane for the wicked woman’s liking, and she had gone back to magical punishments.
Her favorite was the cruciatus curse.
At first, the Potter family could do no more for Sirius than to heal his wounds.
The connections that House of Black had extended beyond those of any others, and any effort put forth by the Potters to halt the young wizard’s abuse was met with resistance.
They had begun stocking up on healing potions, slipping calming draught into Sirius’ pumpkin juice when they could.
Severus would visit at least weekly to assist Fleamont in the potions lab, brewing anything that they could not buy themselves.
All else they could do was hope that things would change, and soon.
………..
March 16th, 1795
It felt like Fate that night.
Not that Hermione had ever been sure she believed in such a thing.
Somehow after a floo call with Severus, she had fallen asleep in the drawing room, her Moste Potente Potions book in hand.
The two had been having an academic debate regarding the theory around improving some healing potions, with Sirius in mind.
The green flames roared to life sometime past midnight, and two figures stumbled into the drawing room, falling onto the carpeted floor.
Hermione had awoken almost instantly, dropping her book to grab her wand from the crevice of the couch it had fallen into.
Pointing her wand in the direction of the fire, she spoke softly “Lumos”.
The sight in front of the witch left her speechless.
Sirius lay on the carpet, bloody and seizing, his brother moving frantically above him, making efforts to prevent more blood loss.
“Mother caught him writing to Andi. I warned him that he shouldn’t have done it. He’s been disowned- blasted from the tree even. I didn’t know what else to do.”
It was an act of desperation, flooing to Potter Manor. He had been lucky that their wards had accommodated him due to his previous visit.
Walburga had gone too far with her punishment, leaving Sirius to bleed out and die on the floor of their foyer.
“Please, save him. Get the Lord and Lady. Nobody can know I was here. Not even him. Please, Hermione.”
She dropped to the floor and found her hands replacing Regulus' on his brothers chest, and the young boy shot up and sped back towards the floo.
An apology fell past his lips, eyes locked with Hermione's before he called out quietly, “Grimmauld Place.”
The light from the floo died in front of her eyes before she could process what had happened.
Looking down at her hands, a sudden sob left the young witches mouth as she clutched onto the beaten body of her brother’s best friend, calling out for her parents, her brother, the house elves, for anyone to come.
………
The Daily Prophet
Society Section
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black Declares New Heir.
Dated March the 30th, 1795
Rita Skeeter
On this day, The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black declares Regulus Arcturus Black, son of Lord Orion Black and Lady Walburga Black, as heir to their house. This news follows the disinheritance of the young Andromeda Tonks, née Black.
This writer was able to get an exclusive word with the house matriarch regarding the sudden change in inheritance.
“The future generations of our Most Noble and Ancient house needs guidance and strength that only our youngest son will be able to provide.
Heir Regulus Black will one day guide our House to a era of greatness, unattainable by all others.”
At this time, no comment has been provided by the family regarding the previous heir to their house.
Has the family perhaps, disinherited the former heir in the wake of his cousins disgrace?
……….
Sirius had been admitted to St. Mungo’s for two weeks, and upon his substantial recovery was released to the Potter family.
They had broken the news of his official disinheritance to him the same day.
The Ministry of Magic had allowed the House of Potter to claim Sirius as their ward.
The family had established clear ability to care for him, and already had been responsible for providing him with his magical education.
Paired with his disinheritance, the Minister had no qualms allowing the Potter’s to take him in.
For a time after his recovery, Sirius was fueled by nothing but hatred for his mother, and disdain for the family who had done nothing to help him that night.
He assumed his magic, by some miracle, had saved him from death that night.
Keeping the truth from him about that night hurt Hermione deeply.
But it was a secret that she intended to keep, as long as Regulus needed her to. She knew the abuse his mother was capable of, and the truth would not bode well with his House if they were to find out.