Chapter 49: Chapter 49: “The Legacy of Walburga Black”
A few weeks after Harry's 8th birthday, a surprising event occurred at Black Castle. While looking through his letters one morning, came across a letter bearing news that would significantly impact the Black family.
It was the news of Walburga Black's passing. Lord Black read the letter without showing much emotion, something he had become very good at over the years.
Sirius Black, who was enjoying a leisurely breakfast, noticed the change in Lord Black's demeanor. "Something the matter, grandfather?" he inquired, his tone casual yet curious.
Arcturus looked up from the letter, weighing his words carefully. "Sirius, your mother, Walburga Black, has passed away," he announced, his voice steady.
Sirius's reaction was instantaneous and, to some, might have seemed inappropriate. A wide grin spread across his face, and a chuckle escaped his lips. "About time the old hag left this world," he exclaimed, unable to hide his relief.
Even though Lord Arcturus understood why Sirius felt this way, he reminded him to be respectful. "She was still your mother, Sirius. No matter what happened between you two, we should act properly when someone passes away," he chided, his voice firm yet not unkind.
Sirius's smile faded slightly, a sign of respect for Lord Black's words, though the glint of satisfaction in his eyes remained.
Harry, present during this exchange, felt detached from the situation. He only knew about Walburga Black from the loud portrait at Grimmauld Place, and he didn't have a good impression of her. Since Sirius didn't like her, Harry didn't think he should get involved either.
After Walburga passed away, the Black family decided to meet up, something they hadn't done in a long time because they often disagreed with each other. They needed to plan her funeral. Sirius didn't really care about what was going on and let the other family members handle everything.
Harry thought it was best to stay out of the way because the Black family had a lot of issues. He went back to his secret home so he wouldn't have to be part of the family meeting. He also didn't want the rest of the Black family to find out he, a Potter and the brother of the "Boy-Who-Lived," was close to Lord Black.
Upon Harry's return to the castle a few days later, he walked into a serious conversation between Arcturus and Sirius. They were sorting through what Walburga Black's passing meant in terms of legal stuff and who would get her things.
"Walburga did not leave a will, so all her property, including the family townhouse in London and the house-elf Kreacher, now belongs to you, Sirius," Lord Black informed.
This news caught Sirius off guard. "But she took my name off the family tree," he remembered, thinking that meant he was out of the picture.
Arcturus corrected him, "That was all for show, Sirius. She only took your name off a decorative tree, not the real family records here in the castle. By law, you're still the person she left everything to."
Sirius, torn between his disdain for his mother and the practical implications, was initially set on renouncing his inheritance. However, the possibility of Narcissa Malfoy, and by extension, Lucius, benefiting from his decision led him to reconsider.
Harry, who had been quietly listening, chimed in with a suggestion. "Why not look at it as a sort of payback, Sirius? You could redo the house, get rid of anything that reminds you of her, and really make it your own place."
Sirius liked Harry's idea of making over the London house in a completely new style. Turning the house into a modern, Muggle-style abode appealed to Sirius. It would be a fitting act of rebellion against the traditional values his mother had so vehemently upheld.
With their minds made up, Sirius and Arcturus went to Gringotts to make sure everything was official. Narcissa Malfoy tried to argue she should get something, but it didn't go anywhere. Sirius was confirmed as the rightful owner of all his mother's things, including the house.
---
The next morning was filled with a kind of nervous excitement. Harry, Sirius, and Lord Arcturus were all set to go check out the Black family's old London house.
With a crack that broke the morning silence, they apparated directly in front of the imposing entrance of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. The house stood hidden from Muggle's eyes by ancient magics, its façade a silent testament to the Black family's storied past and dark secrets.
The house itself was squeezed into a row of tall, intimidating buildings. It looked pretty run-down from the outside, with windows that were too dark to see through and paint that was chipping away. The whole vibe of the place was pretty unwelcoming.
In contrast to the magical unveiling of Number 12, Grimmauld Place shown in the Harry Potter books and movies, the house wasn't concealed by the Fidelius Charm. Instead, it was fully visible to any wizard who passed by. However, it was still safeguarded by old Black family spells, warning off any unwelcome visitors.
When they walked up to the door, they didn't have any trouble getting in. The house had a special charm that only let people who were part of the Black family or had Black family blood, come inside. Since Harry's great-grandmother was Black, he didn't have any problems entering.
The moment Sirius opened the door, the quiet of the interior was shattered. He accidentally knocked over an umbrella stand, causing a loud noise. Right away, the sharp voice of Walburga Black, Sirius's mother, filled the room, angrily shouting about intruders.
"Who is there? This is the Black family home! Get out! No half-bloods, Muggle-borns, or blood traitors allowed! Kreacher! Where are you? Get these intruders out!"
Hearing his mother's voice, Sirius was both annoyed and angry. He couldn't understand why he could still hear her, given she had passed away. As he moved forward, he came face to face with his mother's portrait.
Walburga, looking furious in the portrait, yelled, "So, it's you, the family disappointment. How dare you step foot in here. You should have died rather than come back. How dare you, you disgrace, show your face here. If only my dear Regulus were still alive. He always made me proud."
"STOP!" Sirius yelled, and to his surprise, his mother's portrait fell silent. But it wasn't Sirius's command that stopped her; it was Lord Arcturus Black's appearance that quieted her. She stopped her rant, clearly afraid of Arcturus.
With disappointment in his voice, Arcturus spoke to the portrait, "This is why the house is in such a state. You wasted the money meant for its maintenance on this nonsense. Now it's clear where the money went."
Harry, standing behind Arcturus, looked at Walburga Black's portrait. The screeching voice was even more unbearable in person than he had imagined, making it clear why Sirius had been so eager to leave this place behind.
With Walburga's portrait now silent thanks to Lord Black's presence, they decided it was time to get some answers from Kreacher. The old house-elf appeared with a pop, looking rather unhappy about serving Sirius, whom he called a "blood traitor."
"Kreacher! Shut up and answer Lord Black's questions truthfully," Sirius said, clearly running out of patience.
Kreacher, though grumbling under his breath, revealed how Walburga had spent her last days. She was consumed by her grief for Regulus and her anger towards Sirius. She feared that after her death, the house would fall into hands that didn't align with her pure-blood ideals. That's why she went to such lengths with her portrait, ensuring it would remain a permanent fixture to drive away anyone she disapproved of. She focused so much on this that she neglected the house's upkeep, leading to its current state.
The house, once majestic, was now in ruins, except for the magically guarded library.
Sirius, determined to erase the house's grim past, planned a major overhaul. But first, he wanted to assess the full extent of its condition. As they walked through the house, Harry was surprised by its size. Despite its modest exterior, the inside was vast, filled with neglected rooms and infested with pests, thanks to magical expansion.
As they explored further, they discovered a room in immaculate condition, untouched by the decay that gripped the rest of the house. Curious about this anomaly, Sirius summoned Kreacher once more for an explanation.
Harry had a hunch about what they would find next. He suspected this well-preserved room belonged to Regulus Black. Given that both Arcturus and Sirius were present and in their right minds, it seemed inevitable that Regulus's secret would soon come to light.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
TalesByJaz
TalesByJaz Hey,
We're hitting the first big change from the canon. I've got my reasons for this, which you'll see in the next few chapters.
I've been really busy lately and haven't had much time to read your comments. But I noticed many of you think the story's moving slowly and the chapters are a bit stretched.
I'm sorry about that. This is my first time writing, and I see now I've made some mistakes. I wanted each chapter to hit at least 1000 words and cover new events, which might have resulted in stretching things out too much. I understand the problem now and I'll try to fix it moving forward.
Thanks so much for all your support.
Also as someone who loves fanfiction just like you, I have many ideas in my mind that I want to include in the book. It might also be one of the reasons for the slow progress of the story but I hope you'll like where we end up.
Thanks again for sticking with me.
Chapter 50: Chapter 50: “The Tale of Regulus and Kreacher”
Standing in front of Regulus Black's room, the only maintained room in the whole building, Sirius called Kreacher.
Kreacher appeared, looking unwilling, and stood before them, mumbling under his breath.
"Kreacher, whose room is this, and why is it in such good condition?" Sirius asked.
"This belongs to Master Regulus," Kreacher replied, then began to cry softly.
Arcturus then spoke up, "I always wondered what happened to Regulus, Kreacher. I tried investigating the events but the only thing I got to know is that something happened which led to Regulus betraying Voldemort and you were involved somehow. Kreacher tell me everything."
Kreacher remained silent, prompting Sirius to plead, "Kreacher, I need to know. Regulus... I've missed him. After I left, my mother cut off all contact between Regulus and me. I heard he joined the Death Eaters and later had a change of heart. But now, there's talk that there's more to the story. Kreacher, please, for Regulus's sake, tell us what happened."
Harry watched quietly, knowing what Kreacher was about to say would change everything. He knew this story was important—it showed courage and sacrifice in the fight against Voldemort. Yet, telling it would bring up the secret of Voldemort's Horcruxes, leading him into unknown territory. Harry worried about how revealing this might change future events in ways he couldn't predict.
Ultimately, Harry chose not to interfere. Given the circumstances, he recognized there was no stopping the revelation from unfolding. He understood that Sirius and Arcturus needed to hear Kreacher's story about Regulus. This truth was essential for them to grasp the full extent of Regulus's actions. Harry figured that knowing this could help them close a painful chapter and maybe even prepare for what was coming.
Over time, Harry's fear of Voldemort had lessened, especially when he thought about the history of the wizarding world. The conflict led by Voldemort paled in comparison to the cataclysmic war waged by Grindelwald, a war in which Harry's own great-grandfather, Charlus Potter, had been a formidable participant. The scope of Grindelwald's war had spanned continents, dwarfing the relatively insular strife Voldemort had ignited within Britain.
After seeing the old battles in Arcturus's memories through a Pensieve, Harry had started to see things differently. The duels he had seen, particularly one where his great-grandfather clashed with Grindelwald, were of a magnitude far surpassing anything documented in recent history. These fights were much bigger and more dangerous than any fight Harry had known or read about, including those involving Voldemort and Dumbledore.
This made Harry feel stronger and more focused. He wanted to do more than just beat Voldemort; he wanted to be even braver and stronger than his great-grandfather. To Harry, Voldemort was just one challenge he needed to overcome on his way to becoming the best wizard ever.
This determination steeled him against the uncertainty of the future. He knew things might change because of what was happening now, but he was prepared. As long as he kept those changes small, he believed he still had an edge over Voldemort. Plus, he was comforted by the fact that Voldemort couldn't make any more Horcruxes.
Kreacher, now compelled by Sirius's plea, began his tale with a heavy heart. "Master Regulus was always the pride of the Black family, embracing his pure-blood heritage with zeal. He spoke often of the Dark Lord's vision—a world ruled by pure-blood wizards. At sixteen, he joined the Dark Lord, a decision that filled him with pride and purpose. But within a year, everything changed. Master Regulus volunteered Kreacher for a task demanded by the Dark Lord himself—a task that would unveil the true horror behind the Dark Lord's secret of immortality."
The elf recounted the harrowing journey to a hidden cave, where a basin filled with potion awaited. "The Dark Lord forced Kreacher to drink the potion," Kreacher's voice broke, tears streaming down his face. "It showed Kreacher horrors, burned him from within. And then... he left Kreacher there, with a locket in the basin."
Kreacher's tale grew more desperate as he described the excruciating pain, the overwhelming thirst that led him to the water's edge, and the dead hands that pulled him beneath the lake's surface.
"How did you escape?" Sirius whispered, dread filling the silence that followed.
"Master Regulus commanded Kreacher to return home," Kreacher looked up, his eyes meeting Sirius's.
Harry and others in the room understood that the cave was not warded against elf travel. So Kreacher was able to easily escape when Regulus called him.
In the somber quiet of Regulus Black's room, a pall of tension and anticipation hung heavily as Sirius, with a newfound understanding and concern in his voice, pressed Kreacher for more of the story.
"So what happened when you got back?" he asked, his tone imbued with a mixture of curiosity and dread. "What did Regulus say when you told him what happened?"
Kreacher, the old elf, trembled under the weight of his memories, his voice breaking as he recounted the events. "Master Regulus was very worried, very worried," he said, his usual grumble softened by the tears that streaked down his face. "He told Kreacher to stay hidden and not to leave the house. Then, one night, he came to Kreacher, his mind troubled, not himself. He asked Kreacher to take him to the cave, the same cave Kreacher had visited with the Dark Lord."
Harry, Sirius, and Arcturus listened intently, picturing the scene in their minds: the young Regulus, so similar in appearance to Sirius yet carrying a burden too heavy for his years, setting off with Kreacher to confront a darkness beyond imagination.
Kreacher continued the sorrow in his voice deepening. "Master Regulus took a locket from his pocket, similar to the one the Dark Lord had, and instructed Kreacher to switch them once the basin was empty." The elf's sobs grew louder, his grief palpable in the silent room.
Sirius's perception of his brother transformed as he listened. Regulus, the brother he had thought aligned with the darkest of wizards, had in fact rebelled against Voldemort with a bravery and love for Kreacher that was unheard of in their family. Regulus had chosen to drink the potion himself, sparing Kreacher the torment, and met his end with courage that left Sirius and even the stoic Arcturus with tears in their eyes.
"So you brought the locket home?" Sirius managed to ask through his emotions. "And tried to destroy it?"
Kreacher nodded, his misery echoed in his words. "Nothing worked. Kreacher tried everything, but the locket remained unscathed, its secrets locked away. Kreacher failed to obey Master Regulus's last order," he lamented, overwhelmed by his perceived failure and the grief that had consumed the Black household following Regulus's disappearance.
The room fell silent as Kreacher's sobs filled the space, a testament to the tragedy of Regulus's untimely demise and the weight of the secret he carried to his grave.
Reflecting on the gravity of his brother's actions, Sirius voiced a question that lingered in the air, "What was so important about the locket that Regulus gave his life to destroy it?"
Arcturus, his mind racing with implications, responded gravely, "If my suspicions are correct, we may have uncovered the reason behind Voldemort's claims of immortality. Regulus's final act was one of unparalleled bravery—a true Lord Black, facing the darkness with courage and resolve."
Turning to Kreacher, Arcturus commanded, "Bring the locket to me. It's time we complete Regulus's last mission."
As Kreacher scurried away to retrieve the locket, the room was filled with a sense of purpose. Regulus's sacrifice had not been in vain; his actions had set his family on a path to confronting a darkness that threatened their world.
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
33 Power
stone 
Paragraph comment