in our blood
Blair’s mother continues ignoring her almost throughout her whole summer break. Walburga has already softened towards her sons, alternately indulging them and manipulating them, as she usually does. Walburga, however, steers clear of Blair.
Blair is upset, but is heartened at the fact that Sirius and Regulus continue their steady support of her. Orion, too, seems to have gotten over the slight on his bloodline. “You’re useful,” he tells her nonchalantly the first time she enters his study after arriving from Hogwarts. “I can use you as a bargaining chip for the next few years. No need to sign a contract so early in the game.” He smiles what he thinks is an assuring smile.
Blaire writes to Dan about this conversation with her father. He is horrified. Blair thinks it’s kind of sweet actually, how vexed he is.
“What are you, Blair? Chattel to be traded?” The lines on the parchment are deep, as if Dan writes in haste and with intense emotion. He underlines the word “chattel.”
She writes back. “Essentially, I am. Regardless, I am influential chattel.”
He jokingly replies, “Let me take out a mortgage so I can afford you.”
Blair blushes, but refuses to fall into his trap.
She sends him an indignant reply. “What kind of Muggle nonsense is that, Daniel? Besides, you are too forward. All who seriously wish for my hand must speak to my head of house.”
He doesn’t speak to her for days. She is disappointed.
-
As the weeks go by, her mother’s continual snub gives Blair a newfound freedom. She goes to fewer charity events and balls, completely skipping out on those Walburga chairs. Even Blair’s shopping trips are cut down because Blair, too, chooses to ignore a family member, namely Cissa.
Blair decides to devote her time perusing the Black library as Sirius eventually escapes their mother’s clutches by visiting Potter. Regulus, too, is occupied with his Potions apprenticeship with Professor Slughorn.
Blair is drawn to the various texts on magic that are found in the more obscure corners of the library. These are ancient tomes, thick books with shredded covers and pages yellowing at the edges. The titles are obscure - Sangus Affinitus: On Blood Magicke, Vetus Rituale: Ritual Magicke for the Potent Wizard, Verum de Magica: Obscure Truths on the Wizarding Worlde, among others. The library itself seems to be breathing with anticipation as Blair opens these books. She is careful lest she accidentally curses herself.
She doesn’t expect her forays into the Black Library to teach her so much. She learns that magic is strongest with blood. Magic, after all, at its very essence, is self. She learns that blood magic is the most versatile tool of all, able to counteract most spell effects if identified quickly enough. She learns that this sort of magic trumps all others - prophecies, potions, charms, and illusions are rendered impotent in the face of blood magic.
She even learns that strong blood magic does not necessarily equate to pure blood. Wizarding history has records of countless powerful wizards hailing not only from the pureblood elite, but from mixed and muggle bloodlines as well.
Blair is not stupid, and after a few more books on wizarding history, she surmises that possibly, just possibly this elitist mindset that she and her social equals have is an unintended consequence of the witch trials that have occurred over the centuries. She files it in her mind as something that she absolutely must ponder on.
Lastly and most importantly, at least to herself, Blair learns that intent matters. Magic listens to the wizard or witch that is deliberate in their spellcasting. It’s not even a matter of wording or movement, she realizes, for the more powerful wix are able to cast wordless spells, sometimes even wandless ones.
It’s about communicating one’s intent to one’s magic.
Blair feels a heady sense of power. If there is one thing she’s good at, it’s at getting what she wants.