Mistress of Grimmauld Place

Indie & Semi-Selective RP blog for Walburga Black. Please read all pages before approaching for interaction. Est. December 7, 2016 Sideblog to twitcexrs.

[firelemonade]

harry potter aesthetic:  the noble and most ancient house of black

[mummyknowsbest]

His mother’s voice was veering closer to This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things with each word, and Sirius simply smiled sweetly at her, a smile calculated exactly to be just what she asked of him while still infuriating her with his impertinence.  It was a smile he’d spent a long time practicing, honing his expression over years of tactical resistance to his mother’s agendas.

“My apologies, Mother.  I can’t imagine what came over me.  It must have been Regulus’ influence, you know how subversive he can be when he puts his mind to it.  I’ll try my best to rise above it.”

He took his seat just as she would have liked, all his early lessons in comportment from a string of tedious childhood tutors who taught the three of them not just reading and writing and basic arithmetic but the history of al the Sacred Twenty-Eight and the various interconnected alliances of marriage over the past four centuries, as well as the full regiment of perfect aristocratic manners “befitting their station”.  He’d have done those strange old withes proud with his posture and his smile, though not a one would have approved of that twinkle of devilment that lingered in his eyes.

“Please, Mother.  Do continue.  I shall try to see if I can make a whole five minutes of adult-like behavior today and set a new personal best.”

She would ignore the comment about Regulus, just as she would ignore the comment about him setting a new personal record. Neither of those had any bearing on the conversation at hand. Regulus. Subversive. Please.

She waited while he sat and he was not wrong. She was quite pleased at his posture, the way he carried himself. Though it once again brought up the question of why his attitude couldn’t match his physical appearance. He looked like the heir to their family should look. Carried himself like a proud member of the aristocracy. But then he opened his mouth and...

“If you are done being insufferable. I called you in here to talk about your future. About how it is high time you start acting like the heir to the House of Black should. Your father and I have been indulgent of your whims up until now, Sirius. Have put up with your consorting with blood traitors and half-breeds. Because you were young. And at school. And because, honestly, we hoped it would reinforce how much better than them you are. But no. You continue to carry on with that Potter boy and we won’t have it. This summer you will concentrate your efforts here. Shadowing your father and learning to run the household estate.”

[mummyknowsbest]

“Honestly, I’m not sure what else to call it.  The Great Spectacle, perhaps?  The Most Elaborate Union Known to Wizardkind?”

He sighs, reaching out to take her hand in his, a soft squeeze to let her know that his irritation isn’t with her.  No, his irritation — of which he currently had a great deal — was with the majority of the rest of their family, who had descended en masse from all sides to take part in the circus that had sprung up around the preparations for their wedding.  

“Have you heard the latest?”  He scowled a bit, lifting her hand and bending over it, kissing each finger gently in turn.  “Grandmother’s decided that the ceremony simply won’t be up to snuff unless unicorns — fucking unicorns, I tell you — are involved.  And not just involved, but prominently featured.”

“I’m fairly certain that last one is accurate; I cannot think of a single wedding that has entailed half of what our family is insisting upon.” Every day there were new ‘suggestions’ -- traditions that had to be upheld, elements that the ceremony just wouldn’t be complete without. If Walburga wasn’t 110% certain that they would be disowned for doing such, she would suggest they elope. Take off and find a beach or forest glen...somewhere in some corner of the world untouched by their family’s insane ideas.

Such as unicorns. “Unicorns...” She repeated the word as if trying to make sense of it. “And just what...prominent feature are these unicorns supposed to have? If she thinks I’m riding in on one like some pathetic pink-clad princess in a muggle fairy tale. Well. She has another thing coming. This is our wedding, Orion. Wedding. Not some nightmare version of a five year old’s birthday party.”

[mummyknowsbest]

He was truly happy for his sister. He’d never seen her smile this much, and even if he didn’t quite understand her interest in things like marriage and blood relations. But she was his sister, and he’d always love her, even if he didn’t always like her.

“I don’t think it’ll stop her. But I’ll try to cause enough scandal to keep her mind occupied for a few minutes while you make your escapes.”

Until now she had never had reason to smile this much. Oh, she had been far from miserable -- theirs was a life of luxury and privilege. But true happiness, happiness that touched the deepest, darkest recesses of one’s soul...that she hadn’t known til now. With Orion’s ring upon her finger and the promise of a lifetime together ahead of them.

“We will forever be in your debt. And owe you. Dinner. Just you, me, and Orion. Unless there’s...someone else you wanted to bring. We promise not to tell the relatives.” No. Walburga had no idea of her brother’s leanings. Why would she? She just assumed that whoever Alphie occasionally snuck out to see was not up to their parents’ standards and so he was just avoiding the drama by not bringing her about.

Smart.

And once Alphie married (a respectable marriage, of course), if he wanted to keep this girl on the side...well that was his decision. Many men did it. Their father did it. Though given their mother, one could hardly blame him.

[mummyknowsbest]

Walburga: Do you know what I fear most?

Sirius: The decline of the aristocracy?

Walburga: Ugly grandchildren.

[lilyevncs]

The noble and most ancient house of black;               Orion Black

[mummyknowsbest]

[mummyknowsbest]

“Hurt you? Never, darling. I only meant to say…if you’re going to become a wife, it would do you well not to become like mother. I doubt Orion would like it very much.”

Their mother was their mother, and of course, they would love their mother, but that doesn’t mean that they have to like her. And Alphard certainly doesn’t like their mother much. He’s almost certain their father doesn’t like her much either.

“What do you need me to do? I could dust off the old lion tamer’s whip. Grab a chair to use to pry her off the wedding planning notes if she tries anything?”

Whether or not he liked her, Walburga was 100% certain that her father didn’t love her mother. Which made her wonder just what her maternal grandparents had promised her father’s family in order to have him take her. How much had buying their daughter’s way into the House of Black cost?

She was infinitely grateful that she would never be in that situation; never be that desperate. She was a Black by birth. Wizarding royalty. And she had a fiance who truly loved her. She would get her fairy tale. WITHOUT her mother’s interference.

Despite her annoyance, Walburga still managed to crack a smile at her brother’s suggestion -- laughing as she took her wine glass and went to settle beside him on the sofa. “Would you? I just don’t want her ruining this...”

[mummyknowsbest]

@lehadlik || Continued from [x]

“Alphie! What a horrid thing to say; are you trying to hurt me?” Become their mother? Really? She was nothing like their mother. Walburga loved the woman, and deeply valued the lessons she taught her, but...well...it was no secret what their mother saw in their father.

His last name.

For unlike the Blacks, the Crabbes were not a part of the Sacred 28. Pure-bloods, but without the extra status the list granted them. Marrying Pollux had been Irma’s way in -- her entrance to the upper echelons. It was beyond tacky and Walburga would not have her marriage (or even herself) compared to that.

“Besides, I’m going to need you there. The moment Mother hears Orion proposed, you know she’s going to try to take over. And I won’t have that. This is my wedding and everything will be done my way.”

[themonsterblogofmonsters]

Batrachite

A magical variety of stone, sometimes called the Toadstone (depending on if it comes from a frog or a toad) is a mineral found in the bodies of some magical amphibians. They most commonly come from Batrachians, also called the Thailand Stone Frog by those who remember where the species originated from. Like Bezoars - which are usually found in the stomachs of goats - Batrachites can also resist the effects of poison when used in potions and can, if swallowed, cure someone from poisoning.

This, it is not entirely uncommon to see Batrachites kept in jewellery worn by purebloods, where a small Batrachite bead can be rapidly torn off and consumed should it be necessary. As they can come from any magical frog or toad, and some very very few magical newts and axolotls (Alp Luachra Batrachites are uniquely magically toxic and must be consumed inside a piece of food to negate this, while ones from Crystalline Hellbenders are remarkably clear, and those from Angelotls incredibly fast-acting) and all have individual quirks.

At present most Batrachites are bought and sold through apothecaries, who will trade even in bead-cut Batrachites, which are usually bought to turn into what is termed “emergency jewellery”. Some very few are sold in settings, and these are usually bought by Goblins who are, firstly, immune to a large number of poisons due to regular exposure to toxic metals in their forges and are, secondly, able to consume small amounts of solid metal with little to no harm done, depending on the metal.

(Image Source)

(Read about Batrachites in lore Here. I hate that I have to include this but PLEASE DO NOT DELETE THE IMAGE SOURCE OR MY CAPTION.) 

[phoenix-in-ashes]

Edit by Phoenix-In-Ashes Source Please leave the credits!

[dollysgothworld]

[wonderminded]

[mummyknowsbest]

Walburga: You know you missed your father's funeral... by two years.

Sirius: Well, last time I talked to him he said, "I'll see you in hell, boy," so I figured we had something on the books.

[kurgy]

self care is staying alive out of spite

[aphrodite-lviii]

A king obeys no one. But his queen.

(via razanalmahmoud)

[mummyknowsbest]

He followed her to the library and flopped onto a comfortable armchair. He thought but shrugged. “Well, I was in Regulus’ room before I wanted to brush my teeth.”

However, he couldn’t really tell her his little brother was hiding a kitten in his room. “He was upset about having messed up the garden because he wanted to take care of the flowers for you, but it kind of went wrong because he has no idea how to do that. He thinks you don’t see him standing,” Sirius suddenly blurted out the entire story.

  “I was thinking about that when I was brushing my teeth..” Regulus confused him sometimes.

A kitten? Why ever would they hide a kitten? Wasn’t like it was the worst thing to be brought into this house. That would be their father’s sister. Still, while the kitten may not have been an issue to begin with, it would now most likely become one due to their having hid it.

Walburga hated being lied to.

But that was a matter for another time.

“He thinks I don’t...oh, honestly...while I would prefer things not be messed with I do appreciate Regulus’s efforts. They were very sweet. Hardly something to get so upset over. Come on...let’s get you a cup of something in the kitchen...”