Chapter 273: The Intricate Blood Relationship
Some time ago, Harry's impression of his father had greatly improved after learning about the risks and sacrifices James Potter had taken for his friends — especially Lupin.
Even Snape, who might have been acting as Dumbledore's undercover agent during his school days, seemed less detestable in Harry's eyes. Snape's bitterness, after all, stemmed largely from losing his childhood sweetheart — Harry's mother — to James.
At the same time, Harry could finally understand how much Snape must have hated his father… and Sirius.
But now, to hear from Lupin that Professor Snape had helped rescue his godfather? That was something new.
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"As I recall, my release from prison was also thanks to my irritating ancestor, Phineas Nigellus Black," Sirius said, remembering the miserable days after Azkaban when that same ancestor had arranged a string of blind dates for him.
"After all, he was just a portrait. I doubt he put as much effort into helping you as he did into setting you up," Lupin said dryly.
"Actually," he added, "I can understand Snape's behavior. One thing I must admit is that, besides James, Peter, and me — Snape probably understood your friendship with James the best."
Sirius frowned. "And how does that have anything to do with my release from prison?"
"When Snape learned of your innocence," Lupin explained quietly, "he realized you had already been atoning for your so-called sins. Azkaban was your chosen punishment — your way of suffering for what happened to James and Lily.
"And when you were released, everyone called you a hero. But for someone like you, Sirius… that kind of praise might have been more painful than death."
Lupin's gaze was firm.
"Hah," Sirius chuckled awkwardly. "Well, that greasy bat probably didn't expect me to be this happy now. Harry's living here, you're here, and even my brother is back."
Sirius laughed heartily — and Harry couldn't help but agree: he really did seem much happier lately.
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Before they knew it, July 31st — Harry's birthday — was almost here.
Over the past few days, he, Ron, Draco, and the others had been living a life of luxury in the newly restored Black family home.
The kitchen was nearly unrecognizable. Once dark and gloomy, it now gleamed with warmth and life. Copper pots shone with a rosy glow, polished wooden tables gleamed, and the dinnerware sparkled in the flickering firelight. A huge cauldron bubbled merrily in the hearth.
But the biggest change was Kreacher.
The old house-elf was now wrapped in a spotless white towel, his ear hair fluffed like cotton, and his once-yellow teeth gleamed like Lockhart's after a whitening charm — leaving Ron to wonder if they shared the same toothpaste.
Even the entrance to Grimmauld Place had changed.
The front door — long unused because its bell would wake Sirius's mother's portrait — was finally back in service. Now Harry and his friends could slip out to the Muggle world occasionally to feed pigeons or explore.
Once, when they returned, the portrait of Walburga Black had actually spoken to them.
"You are Cissy's child, aren't you? It seems my unfilial son hasn't fallen as far as I feared," she said with surprising calm.
After that, she said no more — which was a miracle in itself. For her not to curse someone, or rant about "Mudbloods" and "blood traitors," was almost enough to make Harry suspect she'd been replaced by a Polyjuice imposter.
Of course, she still ignored Harry and Ron completely.
The Potters, while pure-blood, had long been sympathetic toward Muggles — even more so than the Weasleys.
Ron's grandmother, Cedrella Black, had been expelled from the family for marrying a Weasley, just like Sirius had been disowned later.
That explained why Ron was unpopular in this house.
If one followed the tangled branches of the Black family tree, things only got worse:
Sirius was the grandson of Cedrella Black's cousin.
Harry's grandmother, Dorea Potter (née Black), was Cedrella's cousin.
Thus, Harry and Sirius were of the same generation.
Draco's maternal grandfather, Cygnus Black, was the son of Pollux Black — Cedrella's cousin. That made Draco the youngest of this extended, confusing family network.
Harry tried to sort through all this, but without a chart, the Black family connections were a nightmare.
What really unsettled him, though, was realizing that Neville Longbottom — and even Barty Crouch Jr. — were closer blood relatives to him than Ron was!
Crouch Jr. was the grandson of Cedrella's sister Charlize Black, while Neville was the grandson of her elder sister Callidora Black.
That meant Neville, Ron, Crouch Jr., and Sirius were technically of the same generation — all distant cousins through the Black line.
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One morning, while Harry was practically dying of boredom trying to decode the family tree, a conversation caught his attention.
It involved Regulus, who spent most of his time resting in a dark room to recover his strength.
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"Sirius, if that locket really was a Horcrux — and now it's been destroyed — that means…" Lupin's tone was serious.
"I know," Sirius interrupted. "It means the fragment of Voldemort's soul that appeared before Harry last year has already passed on."
"In other words, Voldemort is dead — truly dead."
"But we can't be sure," Sirius said impatiently. "And I don't think it's necessary to tell Dumbledore just yet."
"You're worried about Regulus, aren't you? You don't want Dumbledore to find out about him," Lupin pressed.
"Yes," Sirius admitted. "I don't trust Dumbledore on this. He left Harry to rot with those awful Dursleys. I'm not handing over my brother to him too. Regulus is… better off as he is."
"But don't you think his condition is dangerous?" Lupin asked. "What if he does turn into a real Inferius someday? How long can he remain like this? We don't even understand the limits of his transformation."
Lupin's tone was tight with worry.
"Remember — Voldemort, or rather Tom Riddle, achieved immortality through Horcruxes. If our theory is right, then Regulus might also have become one of Voldemort's Horcruxes."
"We may have destroyed one Horcrux, but if that cave still hides others, Regulus's condition could be tied to them," Sirius said quietly.
"As long as Voldemort's influence lingers, all our lives — Regulus's, Harry's, even ours — are still in danger."
"I suggest," Lupin said, "that we invite Dumbledore over for Harry's birthday. Let him examine Regulus as well. It might be safer for everyone."
"…Alright," Sirius finally sighed.
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The Black Family Web:
Cedrella Black (expelled for marrying Septimus Weasley)
Her cousin Dorea Black married into the Potter family → Harry's grandmother
Walburga Black (daughter of Pollux Black) married Orion Black, her cousin → parents of Sirius and Regulus
Pollux Black's son Cygnus had a daughter Narcissa, who married Lucius Malfoy → parents of Draco
Charlize Black married into the Crouch family → grandmother of Barty Crouch Jr.
Callidora Black married into the Longbottom family → grandmother of Neville Longbottom
After sorting all that out, Harry could only mutter one conclusion:
> "Your family's bloodline is absolutely bonkers."
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(End of Chapter 273)
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