Melania Macmillan (formerly Black) (1900–1995) was a Scottish pureblood witch from the liberal and progressive Clan Macmillan, based in the Scottish Highlands. She attended Hogwarts from 1911 to 1918 and was sorted into Hufflepuff, known for her compassion, integrity, and strong moral values.
During her time at school, she met Arcturus Black III, heir to the traditionalist and purist House of Black who was also three years her senior. Despite his dark reputation and ideological differences, Melania was drawn to his charisma. After reconnecting at a society ball in 1921, Arcturus formally courted her with her parents' reluctant approval. Tensions between their families were evident, especially between Melania's mother and Arcturus’ own, Hesper Black (née Gamp).
They married in 1923 in a grand, highly publicized ceremony. The event made the top headlines in the Daily Prophet, becoming one of the most covered social events of the 20th century and then spent a month away for their honeymoon. Though the marriage appeared glamorous, cracks soon formed. Arcturus was disappointed when their first child, Lucretia, was born in 1924 ahead of schedule, hoping instead for a male heir. He was absent at her birth, only appearing the following day. Under pressure from his father, Sirius Black III, Melania bore a son, Orion, less than a year later. While his birth was greatly celebrated by the House of Black and the other purist families, Melania never forgave Arcturus for his earlier coldness.
As the years passed, Arcturus became emotionally abusive, adulterous, and struggled with alcoholism. Though he never physically harmed her, Melania stood her ground and refused to be intimidated. Eventually, the two became estranged, and by 1926, Melania lived largely apart from him, focusing on her children and charitable work, including aiding the wounded during the Global Wizarding War. Furthermore, when Melania needed to be away from Arcturus and some of his relatives, she found solace with her own parents and relatives, seeking refuge in the Macmillan ancestral home, being granted full protection and to help her be at ease, the Macmillan's extended that protection to her two children, as they carried direct Macmillan blood.
With the support of her family, Melania sent both children to Hogwarts in 1935 and 1936, respectively—Arcturus was absent for both departures. In 1947, she was granted a full divorce, an event that caused scandal among the pureblood elite. The Daily Prophet vilified her as a social climber, while the Black family attempted unsuccessfully to force her back into the marriage. Now free, Melania found peace and reclaimed her independence.
She remained close to Lucretia, fully supporting her 1950 marriage to Ignatius Prewett, whose family shared the Macmillans' egalitarian beliefs. Neither Arcturus nor his parents were invited. Her bond with Orion, however, suffered. Influenced by his father and the Blacks, he grew distant. Melania was devastated upon learning from the press that Orion had been arranged to marry his second cousin, Walburga Black, ensuring the continuation of the family's toxic legacy.
To the surprise of many, Melania attended her son Orion’s wedding, accompanied by a few relatives. She refused to sit near Arcturus, sparking gossip among guests—though Melania paid it no mind. Part of the reason was that she was already fully aware that the arranged marriage was the result of the scheming between Arcturus, his first cousin, Pollux Black and Pollux's wife Irma Black (née Crabbe). Shortly after the ceremony, Walburga Black confronted her, criticizing Melania’s past with Arcturus and hurling cruel insults, calling her weak, pathetic, and unworthy of the Black name. The confrontation escalated, ending when Melania slapped Walburga, leaving a visible bruise and a lingering hex that lasted two days. Melania responded sharply: “Never underestimate a Hufflepuff, or a daughter of the Macmillan Clan. The only disgrace here is your desperate need for attention.”
In the early 1950s, Melania faced more heartache when her daughter Lucretia suffered miscarriages in both 1952 and 1954. These losses deeply affected both women, with Melania and Lucretia’s husband offering strong emotional support.
Joy returned in November 1955 with the birth of Melania’s first grandchild, Sirius Black IV, followed by Regulus Black III in 1957. A warm and affectionate grandmother—unlike the cold, distant and condescending Irma Crabbe—Melania became a beloved figure in her grandsons’ lives, especially to Sirius, who cherished her visits to 12 Grimmauld Place during his early years.
As teenagers, Sirius grew closer to Melania, seeing her as a maternal figure, while Regulus remained loyal to the Black family’s ideals. When Sirius ran away at sixteen, Melania supported his decision, backed his stay with the Potters, and even provided financial help and Macmillan family protection to ensure his safety. Melania would gain a great-grandson through Sirius and his girlfriend Marlene McKinnon: Leontis Black, who was born on 22 December 1980. She doted upon him just as she did with his father when he was young. In addition, he was a godson of the Potter family, therefore making him a godbrother of Harry Potter.
Unfortunately, during the First Wizarding War, Marlene and her immediate family were wiped out by Voldemort and his Death Eaters, while Sirius was falsely imprisoned in Azkaban for the murder of Harry’s parents months later. Leontis would be placed under the care of Sirius’ first cousin, Andromeda Tonks née Black and her husband shortly thereafter. In the years, that followed, Melania would regularly check in on Leontis’ wellbeing and visited him when she could while also trying get Sirius released. She would provide safehaven for Sirius when he escaped Azkaban in the summer of 1993, keeping his whereabouts secret.
Melania would ultimately pass away at the venerable age of five and ninety, in 1995. Her funeral was attended by the House of Macmillan and extended relatives, including Sirius and Leontis.
