Every family of the Sacred 28 has a gift.
It's not widely spoken of, but it's known. You can see it in how the Greengrasses' are unnaturally beautiful, with hair like spun silk and eyes like precious gemstones. It's seen in the Weasleys', with their constant large broods of children. The Malfoys' are whispered about, playing a part in many a girl's fantasies for displaying an unusual devotion to their partners, generation after generation.
But lesser known than their gifts is their darker side.
After all, no power comes without a cost.
One family is spoken about more freely, well known in both their honor and their infamy - the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black.
It's said they carry an excess of magic in their blood, touched by both the stars and the Gods. With irrevent charm and unshakeable confidence, they stride through life like it was made for them, dismantling opponents with effortless precision. Whatever path they choose, they pursue it with such brilliance that few dare to challenge their place amongst the best.
Those closest to them see the toll.
They chase every thought like it's divine inspiration, and sometimes, it is. That's what makes them so dangerous. Even in their sleep — if they sleep — magic buzzes around them and they don't quite stay still. The madness whispers to them, nudging them faster, farther, brighter, louder, until their own thoughts become a cacophony they can't escape, and they crash. Hard, loud, and with devastating effects to themselves, often putting themsleves out of commission in one aspect or another for weeks at a time.
The less affected members of the family are still notable — charismatic, politically astute, more than capable, breathtakingly gorgeous, and indeed, better liked than their more polarizing relatives. The madness sparks under their skin, gifting them talents, but it doesn't burn them alive.
Those who burn, though? They burn bright and fly too close to the sun. They're extraordinarily powerful, and charming… sort of. There's something that makes your skin tingle. Your mind whispers "danger" every time they set their eyes on you, like a wolf let loose among the flock, wearing the guise of a dog. They're adrenaline junkies, always chasing their next high, no matter the cost or who's in their path.
There's exceptions to every rule though, and when a Black does form an attachment to someone, they pursue it with the same bullheadedness that they do everything else. Whether positive or negative, they'll gladly give their last breath in pursuit of the object of their affection, or hatred. The objects of their obsession tend to be just as unusual as the Blacks themselves, as finding someone able to not just keep up with a member of the family, but understand them to any degree is a difficult task, and it's rare to see them with close confidantes outside of their generation of cousins.
With the Blacks, glamour and ruin tend to arrive hand in hand. One simply learns to dress for both when keeping their company.
