[Comprehensive HP colleagues] That year

The Black family is a big family, no doubt about it.Although today, the Black family has declined a lot in terms of fame and wealth, but as the few remaining pure-blood families that have been passed down for thousands of years, the Black family has always dominated the pure-blood "upper class" circle due to its ancient age. Take a place.The main residence of the Black family, No. 12 Grimmauld Place, has always been a very mysterious existence.

Few people outside the Black family have seen its true face.Even members of the Black family expressed deep doubts about their ancestors choosing such a place as the main residence of the Black family.This house is located in the center of London. There is no gorgeous gate, no spacious courtyard, and even the steps in front of the door are dilapidated.When the lights are not on, the inside of the house is extremely dark, because most of the rooms and even the hall are blocked by some ancestors with thick silver-green curtains and permanent adhesive spells to block the sunlight from prying eyes.

But this is the main house of the Black family. Even though its comfort level is unflattering, it is also a place that many members of the Black family flock to, because only the head of the Black family and his children are eligible to live here.

Now the owner here is called Orion Black, he is a child of the Black family, and also the son-in-law of the former head of the Black family, Palex Black.He and his wife Walburga Black had two sons, three-year-old Sirius, and two-year-old Regulus.

Sirius Blake Jr. was born in the late fall of 1959, and today marks the fourth New Year since he was born.But it was different from previous New Years. This year, he met his uncle's family for the first time.

There were three girls standing in front of Sirius. The tallest girl was in her early teens, with black hair, dark skin, and impatience in her eyes; the second tallest girl also had black hair, and was as tall as the tallest girl. They are very similar, except that the skin is much fairer. She smiled at him, revealing two lovely dimples; the shortest girl is about seven or eight years old, and her skin is also very fair, but her hair is pale gold. This is very abrupt in a family with black hair.

According to his mother Walburga's instructions, Sirius said in a childlike voice but with a serious look: "Welcome, honorable sister Bella, sister Andromeda, and sister Narcissa. Welcome to Grimmauld Place 12 It's an honor." He bowed as he spoke, but staggered a bit because he couldn't stand firmly.

The three girls couldn't help bursting out laughing. The oldest girl, Bellatrix, said sarcastically after laughing, "It seems that my dear cousin's family education needs to be improved."

Sirius' pale little face was flushed, and Walburga's face was ashen - this was really self-defeating, and it was originally expected that Sirius would make her look good in front of her younger brother's family with the appearance of being proficient in etiquette at the age of only three , I didn't expect to be ridiculed by the little girl Bella!

What right do you have to mock Sirius?When you were three years old, you couldn't even walk steadily!Walburga thought angrily.She glared at Sirius fiercely, and turned her head to teach Bella, a little girl who knows nothing about heights and heights, but at this moment, Bella's younger sister, Andromeda, said: "Aunt Walburga, thank you This is Sirius, it is really rare to know how to greet us so politely at the age of three. I think, when I was three years old, I probably couldn't even speak well."

After hearing this, Walburga calmed down a bit, and the father of the three sisters, Signus III, reprimanded Bella with half truth and half lie, and Bella's face turned blue and white.

Without further nonsense, Walburga invited his younger brother and his family in.The three sisters and Sirius sat side by side on the velvet sofa, while Signus looked around the furnishings in the living room and murmured, "It's been a long time since we moved out, and it really hasn't changed much here."

"Of course it won't change. I'm a nostalgic person." Walburga picked up a cup of black tea and said lightly, "By the way, why didn't Deruela come today?"

Druela, surnamed Rozier before marriage, is the wife of Signus III and the mother of three sisters.

"Her niece Marceline is sick, and she has to stay and take care of her." Signus replied, "You know, half a year ago, Druella's brother and sister-in-law died unexpectedly, and Marceline lived in my house. "

Walburga frowned: "Does Druella have a nephew? It's called Evan, right? He also lives in your house?"

Signus: "Evan just went to Hogwarts last year, but he still lives with us when he came back from the holidays. It's just that he doesn't know what he's busy with outside recently. He doesn't go home every day, saying that he is visiting a classmate's house. But if you ask him which classmate he is, he won't say."

At this time, Bella, who had been holding back for a long time, suddenly spoke: "I know what he's busy with. He's looking for who that mysterious man is."

"Mysterious man?" Walburga asked back, "You're not talking about the 'mysterious man' who often publishes articles in the Daily Prophet recently, are you?"

"That's him!" Bella said with bright eyes. "You know, so many judges from the Wizengamot resigned but they couldn't get rid of that old Mudblood, Nobby Rich, which shows how shameless he is." .What that mysterious man said in the newspaper really spoke out from our hearts. Someone should come out every now and then and remind everyone how vile that Mudblood is."

"It turned out to be that 'mysterious man'. Brother Lucius also mentioned him to me, and he admired him very much in his words. Brother Lucius has always had a good eye, and he can't go wrong with the people he praises." Eight-year-old Narcissa interjected.

At this moment, an extremely incongruous voice appeared: "Who is Nobby Rich? What is a Mudblood?" Sirius asked childishly.

"You don't know what a Mudblood is?!" Bella asked back incredulously, her eyes were bigger than those of a house-elf.

Walburga's already dissipated anger was aroused by Bella again. Since becoming the wife of the housewife, she hadn't concealed her emotions for a long time, so she immediately said angrily: "You didn't know when you were three years old. Sirius hasn't formally started learning the house rules yet, so he doesn't know what's so strange?"

"Okay," Bella curled her lips disapprovingly, and she turned to Sirius and said, "Well, Sirius, listen carefully, Nobby Rich's parents are Muggles, people who don't know magic. Such people are called Mudbloods, because they are scumbags who bring dirty, unmagical blood into the noblest wizarding world. Of course, this Nobby Rich is more hateful than other Mudbloods, because he even Licking his cheek to sit as Minister for Magic. It's an insult to the whole wizarding world! No Mudblood has ever dared to tarnish that position like this."

"Speaking of which, this 'mysterious man' is really powerful." Signus sighed, "The Daily Prophet has always been regarded as the throat of the Ministry of Magic. How did the article of interest pass the review?"

"It doesn't matter how he passed. Just say it well?" Bella couldn't understand why adults should be entangled in some unimportant things.

"What do you know about movies, you little girl?" Walburga raised his eyebrows. "It would be a pity if someone who dares to speak up is caught."

Sirius listened to the grown-ups discussing serious topics with half understanding. He wanted to ask questions several times, but he held back in the end—he didn't want to be despised by Cousin Bella anymore.He had been excited about the visit of his uncle's family for several days before, but now, the excitement has turned into torture.If I had known this, I might as well go play with my younger brother Rael, Sirius thought angrily.He twisted his body on the sofa boredly.

"Sirius, what are you doing? Are there any nails on the sofa?" Bella suddenly pointed the finger at Sirius. Sirius was startled, and quickly stopped twisting, but it was too late.

Walburga's face inevitably turned blue again, and he began to reprimand his son.Signus sneered inwardly with a blank face.

Andromeda, who had been silent all this time, looked at her aunt and Sirius, then at her father and sister, feeling bored.She had heard her parents talk more than once about how her uncle took away the position of head of the family that belonged to her father. Now that Sirius was being reprimanded, his father didn't speak on the surface, and he didn't know how to gloat in his heart.Sirius was just a punching bag for the siblings to fight.

She knew that, as a good girl, she shouldn't speak now, but seeing Sirius' resignation, she thought of her childhood.

"Auntie, don't blame Sirius," Andromeda said, "I think he might be missing his younger brother, and that's why he's lost his mind. In fact, I really want to see little Rael, so why don't you talk first. Ask Sirius to take me there?"

Walburga and Signus looked at Andromeda with their own thoughts, and just when Andromeda thought her pleading failed, Signus finally said: "Okay, then go, Take care of your brothers."

After all, Andromeda was old, and he only smiled lightly when he heard what his father said, while Sirius dragged Andromeda away with relief.Looking at his son's bouncing back, Walburga felt that it was really necessary to arrange etiquette training for Sirius as soon as possible.

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Not to mention the subsequent discussion in the living room of No. 12 Grimmauld Place, on the same day, a family gathering belonging to the Potter brothers (1) was also going on in Godric's Hollow, thousands of miles away.

Compared with No. 12 Grimmauld Place, this Potter House is simply a dwelling.However, considering that there are only three families living here-Fremont Potter, his wife Euphemia and his son James, this two-story building does not feel very crowded.

At this moment, the hostess Euphemia and Doria, the wife of her husband's younger brother, are busy with lunch in the spacious and bright kitchen, and "complaining" about their husbands.

"I really don't understand why Fremont doesn't like tuna. It's easier for Charles, who is never picky." Euphemia said while scraping potatoes.Charles is Freemont's younger brother, ten years younger than Freemont, and an Auror.Before Chales married Doria, he often came to eat at the house of his eldest brother and sister-in-law, which made Euphemia quite clear about Chales' taste.

"Mia, you can be content." Doria retorted while pouring the prepared sauce on the roasted half-cooked goose, "Look at the families we know, how many men are like you Like this one, contracting all the housework including cooking and taking care of the children? I don’t even expect Charles to cook for me, I’m just thankful that he doesn’t litter the stinky socks.”

"Puchi." Euphemia laughed, "After so many years, he still doesn't know how to take care of himself. But it's also because you are too capable, he is simply spoiled by you."

"Well, you don't know, he went to Austria last week to protect an expert on werewolves, and guess what? The expert said that the smell of Charles' socks is more lethal than werewolves! It's... really It's too discredited to the British Aurors!" After Doria finished speaking, she covered her face with her hands, and Euphemia burst into earth-shattering laughter.Then Doria could only look at her sister-in-law with a very low smile, speechless.

After finally waiting for Euphemia to laugh enough, Doria said helplessly: "After the Christmas holidays, I will go to the St. Mungo Hospital in France for exchange and study for half a month. During this time, I have to take Charles and Harry to you two." Harry was the son of Doria and Charlus, and was two years older than Euphemia's own son Jaime.Doria and Charles, one is a doctor of St. Mungo's, the other is an Auror of the Ministry of Magic, both of them are masters who often work overtime. At this time, Doria will entrust his son to Euphemia Ya, that's why she used the word "again" this time.

The two women were chattering in the kitchen, and the hosts were not idle in the living room.

"The sorcerer who calls himself 'The Mysterious Man' has published a new article. This is the fourth time this year." Charles Potter put down the "Daily Prophet" and sighed heavily.

The host, Fremont Potter, picked up the newspaper, glanced it hastily, and some words came into his eyes: Muggles forced wizards to retreat to corners where there are few living resources...they devoured and stole more than just Our magic power... More than [-]% of the positions in the Ministry of Magic are occupied by magic stealers... We will be forced to avoid them one day...

"It's still the same cliché. But I have to admit that his writing style is indeed much better than that of Old Nott (3)." Freemont said disapprovingly.

"It's a cliché, but there are a lot of people who believe it." Charles said worriedly. "Working in the Ministry of Magic, I'm really tired of those who don't talk about 'pure blood is noble' all the time. The wizard on the side. In fact, it’s not a big deal if it’s just verbal talk, but this ‘mysterious man’, his articles are really very provocative. Complain, I'm so worried..."

"What's 'pure blood is noble'?" Fremont sneered, "Those poor and settled households are now less and less enterprising, thinking about relying on the shadow of their ancestors to get promoted and make a fortune every day, those Muggle-born wizards who work hard are blocking Naturally, they refused to give up. The 'mysterious man' just said what they thought in a way of putting money on his face, and he was sought after by them. If Muggles They are really as stupid as pigs as they say, I guess they will not talk about what is noble or not all day long. The more they fail to live up to their expectations, the more they despise other people's achievements. This kind of people, It's really enough. What they really care about is profit after all, and blood is just a cover."

"You can't say that completely. You know, there are always a few families who really regard bloodlines as their lifeblood." Charles said thoughtfully.

"But people can change." Fremont also sighed lightly, "The Black family is enough to value blood. When Doria wanted to marry you, her parents disagreed with life and death, saying that the blood of the Potter family was not pure enough. But what happened in the end? A sum of gold was transferred to the Gringotts vault of the Black family, and Signus agreed."

When Fremont said this, Charles also remembered the twists and turns when he married Doria.He scratched the head of the iconic bird nest of Potter's house, and said with a bitter face: "Oh, forget it, let Minister Rich have a headache about this kind of thing, I don't understand these twists and turns of fighting for power Around."

At this moment, two black-haired boys ran into the living room, and when they saw the adults, the older boy quickly complained: "Daddy, Uncle Fremont, James is too much, he dared to ride Mia!" Auntie's broom!" Then he stuck out his tongue at James.

James on the side stomped his feet angrily when he heard the words, and Fremont immediately said to James with a straight face: "James, is what Harry said true? You secretly rode on mother's broom again? The last time you How did you promise me and your mother?"

Euphemia is the coach of the Quidditch team, and her family has a collection of old brooms eliminated by the team members. These brooms are Euphemia's pride and something that James has always coveted.Unfortunately, Fremont and Euphemia always forbid James to touch those brooms on the grounds that James is too young.

Dad is a paper tiger, James never doubted that, so he muttered dissatisfiedly: "The height that a toy broom can fly is too low! You always say that I am still young, so how old can I be to ride my mother's broom .”

"Didn't I tell you? When you grow to be the size of Harry, I will let you ride." At this time, Euphemia came to the living room with a plate of fruit, she glared at James and asked, "Didn't you Did you secretly ride the broom in the storage room?"

"No! I just gave Harry a demonstration when I showed him around!" James yelled.

"Really?! Harry, do you think so?" Euphemia asked.

Harry watched James wink at him, and said sternly, "Yes, James just wanted to set an example for me, so he just got off the hook." Harry knew that Aunt Euphemia was disciplining the child On the one hand, he is much stricter than Uncle Fremont. To sue the latter is a small jealousy attack, but to sue the former is to cheat his younger brother, so he followed James's mind and lied for him.

But who is Euphemia? More than 100 athletes have trained, how can they not see the carelessness of the two little ones?But today was the New Year's party, so she let James go.

Euphemia turned and returned to the kitchen, and James also quickly withdrew from the battlefield, pulling Harry to play in the yard.Freemont and Charles smiled at each other, and began to discuss their recent interesting events.The warm winter sun shines into the living room, making people feel warm.

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(1) I used to think that Charles and Doria were James' parents, but Rowling actually said on Pottermore that James' parents were other people. In this article, I put James' father Fremont Potter Set as brothers with Charles Potter.

(2) James' cousin "Harry" is not related to his future son Harry, just the same name.

(3) The old Knott here refers to the author of the legendary "28 Holy Pure Blood".