Chapter 9: Walburga Black!
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I suppressed a wince at that as I watched him walk out of his frame. From what I can remember in the books and movies about Walburga Black she wasn't exactly the most pleasant of people. I didn't know if I wanted to meet her, but it was unavoidable at this point.
As I waited I turned and looked around once more waiting and I blinked when I saw the other side of the vault.
While one side had books and what looked like a number of heirlooms of such.
The other had shelves that were filled with what looked like various potion ingredients, a large number of them, and from just a quick glance the collection was very extensive.
But my attention was quickly drawn back to the portraits when I heard movement and I turned only to meet the gaze of Walburga Black.
She was an older woman, in her mid-forties at least, with wild black hair and pale skin but was rather beautiful.
Her gaze that of a woman that demanded respect and would raise hell if not given it.
I immediately felt my back straighten and set my shoulders as though I had just been challenged to a fight. I could tell that her gaze was a test to see my reaction, a test I was not going to fail.
After a moment her gaze seemed to soften if slightly as she sat back in her portrait in the chair in it and she nodded to me, "I see what you mean dear, he does at least have a spine." she said as I heard Orion chuckle from his Portrait.
"He does indeed." Orion agreed, "He will make a fine lord when he comes of age, once he has learned of his duties."
Walburga snorted, "That remains to be seen. Just because he wears the ring does not mean he will survive to become Lord Black." she stated rather amusingly.
I shot her a look at that comment, "And just what is that supposed to mean? You think just because I am a child that I will let another take what is mine. I am not something for your amusement!"
Walburga's eyes widened at my words and Orion burst into laughter, "Ha-ha, well said. You see dear he will make a fine lord." he said with a smile, "Neither of our sons had the nerve to downright defy you at that age, portrait or not. The lad has spirit."
Walburga snorted again, "Spirit means nothing when his age, it only means he's brash and foolhardy. He's already admitted he knows little of our world how does he expect to last when he doesn't know what to expect?"
I clenched my fists and took a breath, as expected she was proving to be just as stubborn a woman as she was in the books and movies, "By using what I do know. Learning as much as I can as fast as I can, and playing it safe until I know who I can trust. As grandfather said not five minutes ago to me: Knowledge can be learned, but it takes the right person to be a lord. If the Black Lordship is my right I will excel and claim it."
Walburga seemed to look at me a little differently at that and Orion nodded and gave me a pleased-looking smile before glancing to Walburga's painting once more, "What say you now dear? Does he meet your standards?"
Walburga continued to look at me for another several seconds after that but nodded, "He does," before bowing her head to me.
"I am at your service Heir Black. It has been many years since the House of Black had an heir worthy such as you. Should you have any need of me you have but to ask."
I nodded my head doing my best not to exhale a sigh of relief, "Thank you, grandmother, grandfather, but please, call me Magnus. We're family after all." I said with a small smile.
Both seemed to smile at that and nodded to me in acceptance and I nodded back. I then gesturing to the rest of the vault, "Is there anything in here that you can think of that would help me in my studies, or would be of an advantage for me to have at Hogwarts?" I asked plainly.
Orion nodded, "There are many books and tomes on the far shelves that may prove interesting, although some may be too advanced until you are older, but they may prove to be something there you can learn from. I know that Hogwarts library doesn't stock many of these tomes as some could be considered… questionable in nature. But their contents are none the less useful." he explained
"As for aiding you in your studies, I would suggest you browse the heirlooms. Those trunks are all multi-compartmental trunks, each with the space of a medium size house inside with various other features. Such would be advantageous to have at Hogwarts to have a private place to study away from prying eyes." Orion continued
I nodded hearing that, those did sound very useful, "Thank you grandfather, is there anything else?"
Orion thought for a minute and nodded, "Yes now that you mention it. In the heirlooms you might find an old pocket watch, gold casing and chain with a black sapphire on its casing. Similar to your heir ring, it was enchanted many years ago and its effects may prove useful."
I looked at him waiting for him to continue but he didn't so I only nodded, "I will keep an eye out, thank you once again grandfather." I said before turning and starting towards the stacked trunks.
Reaching the wall of trunks I was about to start taking one down one at a time and give each a once over till I found the one that had the best insides when I stopped to look again.
Each had a folded up piece of parchment on the lid with a drawn map and a list of rooms inside, along with a list the additional charms and features each had, this would prove to be quicker than I thought.
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