1149 Black Family Tutelage

With the imminent arrival of the godchildren of Dorea Potter (nee Blacks) those who are to tutor the Prince's grandchildren gathered in the main hall. The short, pompous figure of Arcturus Black, the 3rd wrinkles his nose. The plumb old wizard sips on a glass of sherry to pass the time. The house elves, Kreacher and Finny had been specifically instructed to not allow the wizard more than two glasses of sherry or any other combination of alcoholic beverages. An outrageous insult if one asks Arcturus.

Slowly making their way down the hall is Walburga, who aids her father, Pollux Black down the hall. The elderly wizard is tall although slightly hunched over due to age. He had very thin white hair and looked positively ancient. Still, he lived, a bitter reminder to Pollux of the cruel fact that he had outlived his two sons. 

Pollux leaned heavily against the cane not putting his full weight against his daughter, Walburga. He comes to a halt and takes a seat shooing his fretful daughter away. Walburga purses her lips unhappily but obeys the command reluctantly leaving the hall.

Arcturus sniffs unhappily seeing that his glass of sherry is already halfway empty. He grumbles under his breath about improper house elves who overstep themselves. But it wasn't as though he could argue otherwise, his cousin Pollux's daughter Walburga, whatever she said is what went. His son, Orion was useless in the face of his wife. 

Arcturus tsk's loudly, before hearing several sets of footsteps. Tall and thin with silver hair in a bun is Cassiopeia, whose sharp gray eyes rake over him in judgment for drinking at this hour. Arcturus hastily looks away minding his own business and fails to see the smug smirk appear on his cousin, Cassiopeia's face.

Cassiopeia's younger sister, Dorea Potter (nee Black) sighs loudly in exasperation shaking her gray head at her older sister's antics. Dorea was pale as ever with faintly visible blue veins running just under the skin. Her knitted shawl, a gift from Molly, is wrapped tightly around her to keep the chills at bay. Though her face is much gentler than that of her sister, Cassiopeia, Dorea's gray eyes still hold a similar sharpness to that of her elder sister.

On the other hand, Marius is barely able to hide a cheeky grin at the antics of his sisters. Having returned back to the Black family fold had brought a spring back to his step. Something which he had thought he had lost forever since his wife had passed away. And it wasn't though he didn't agree with Cassiopeia, Arcturus is an arrogant prick (who just happens to be family irritatingly enough) and needs to be brought down a peg or two.

"Pollux," Cassiopeia calmly greeted their older brother as their younger siblings, Dorea and Marius also echoed the greeting to their older brother Pollux.

Pollux being the oldest in turn greeted his younger siblings in order of their birth, "Cassiopeia," he nodded his head at her, then his younger brother "Marius," and lastly, the youngest "Dorea." 

"All of you are looking much livelier," Pollux idly remarked. 

Though Pollux knew the exact reasons why. Marius had finally returned home, and Cassiopeia finally was able to set aside the anger she had held for so many years down. And as for Dorea, well, she had gained a rather unexpected grandchild (even if the child in question was a half-breed). Still, Pollux was grateful to the child (Lorcan D'Eath) and for that reason alone he did his best to be civil to the child. (That and the family owed the child a blood debt too).

Cassiopeia cocks her head proudly with a triumphant grin. "Naturally, I am feeling quite well, Pollux, now that Marius has returned home as he should have been all these years."

Arcturus avidly looks up from his empty glass of sherry eager to see blood flying. Yet much to Arcturus's disappointment, there was no shedding of blood.

Ever the peacemaker Marius spoke first, "I am just happy to be home with my family," he sincerely said. He was just happy to be home with his brother and two sisters, his son, grandson, and great-grandson. It was good to be home.

Seeing her younger brother's sincerity, Cassiopeia is unable to speak harshly and merely sends a fierce glare at Arcturus who quietly quails in place again. Whilst Dorea pats her older brother, Marius on the arm, and says, "And we also are exceedingly glad to have you home, Marius."

Pollux feels an abrupt sensation of guilt and shame. He looks away from the happy scene of his brother and sisters. He had wronged his family in his prideful foolishness. He had ignored his oh-so-brave eldest son in favor of his youngest. Yes, Cygnus had been all that he wished for, yet he had slain his own daughter, Bellatrix out of anger. His own child. 

What a sinful fool he had been. As for his eldest son, Alphard, he had wronged him since birth. Calling him weak, pathetic, overly sentimental, a fool. Yet it was his son who had died to bring honor to their family earning an Order of Merlin posthumous. He regretted it so much, but regret was all that he had now. It was all he had left.

Pulled out of his reverie, Pollux with half-closed eyes listens to Cassiopeia, Dorea, and Marcius discuss the emergency session of the International Confederation of Wizards to be held. Whispers through society said that Reginald Prince was behind the push as for what purpose no one knew. However, the Minister of Magic Jenkins was not in opposition to the appeal having requested an emergency session to be held to discuss the effects and aftereffects of the war. With so many wizards and witches of not just the isles but of the old continent requesting an emergency session, the International Council of Wizardry was unable to deny the request and accepted to hold the request on neutral ground, Hogwarts to be precise.

 A flicker of green catches Pollux's eyes and opens them widely only to see the hearth turn green. He abruptly rises and straightens up to his full height. His brother, sisters, and cousin swiftly straighten themselves and properly begin to wait for the arrival of their pupils. 

The flames in the hearth roar loudly and rise high into the air, all the while turning green. A female slender, tall figure emerges from the flames, Rowan Prince. The Black family members take in the dark-haired young woman with midnight black, indigo eyes hidden behind a pair of elegant spectacles. The young woman steps aside first before bowing to them in proper greeting.

The five Black family elders in turn return the greeting. Seconds later, the flames roared and turned green again as a taller young man than his sister emerged from the hearth, Severus Prince. The young man has raven hair and piercing onyx-colored eyes properly greeted and they in turn did the same. 

Both sides observe each other though none of the 5 Black family elders can deny the similarity between the grandchildren of the Prince family and that of their grandfather, Reginald Prince. There is a coldness in the eyes of the Prince's that cannot be replicated. It is in their very blood. 

The atmosphere is broken by the soft padding of paws and a loud meow. They all glance down the hall to see a gorgeous white cat with bright blue round eyes proudly trotting across the lavish rug. With his tail high in the air, the Turkish Angora, Brahm proudly meows and leans over intertwining against the legs of Severus and Rowan in warm greeting.

Severus bends down to scratch the back of Brahm's ears, while Rowan leans over to also give him a rub. Brahm happily purrs at the attention as is his proper due, of course. Satisfied, Brahms shakes their hands away and trots back the way with his fluffy white tail swaying cockily in the air.

"Well," Arcturus mumbles under his breath, "it just had to be the cat." He was not averse to the creatures; he just merely disliked them. A sentiment that his grandson, Sirius shared with him (or had at least).

Pollux with the aid of his cane rose to his feet. He lifted his cane and allowed it to heavily slam back against the ground with a loud thump. "I am honored to welcome the two of you to our humble summer dwelling."

Rowan and Severus chorused in reply, "No, it is hour honor to be invited."

"We have much to cover, we shall commence immediately," Pollux instructed before slowly making his way down the hall before being steadied by Marius and Cassiopeia on either side of them.

Dorea paused to speak to them before following after her siblings, "Set your chassis on the ground, Kreacher or Finney will shortly be by to deliver to the guestroom."

Rowan and Severus do as they are instructed before following the five elders out of the hall. Though midway Rowan paused to turn back and stare at the other end of the hall. Peeking around the corridor is a pretty petty young woman with short, strawberry blond hair, Tiffany Topsy. 

Rowan flashes her friend a reassuring smile, while Tiffany gently smiles back. Rowan smile fades at seeing the plain exhaustion on Tiffany's face. She doesn't have time to speak to Tiffany, but she gestures to Tiffany that they will take later. Tiffany's strawberry blond hair bobs in agreement, before she silently slips away.