Weekly Spotlight: The Black Family

Welcome to the Spotlight thread!


This week we're going to have a look at The Black Family (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/blackfamily.html).

The Blacks are a very interesting, famous and infamous family and feature quite a few prominent characters in the series: Sirius Black, Bellatrix Lestrange, Nymphadora Tonks and Regulus Black, to name just a few of them. Known as one of the rich and influential pure-blood families, some members sided with Voldemort, others were blasted off the family tree (http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/blackfamilytree.html) for rebelling against the family values.


Spotlight Questions


What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?
Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?
Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?
Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?
Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?
Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?
Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?
Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?
Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?
What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
I really don't think there was much of a relationship between Sirius and Regulus. Since they had contrasting beliefs, I think it might've turned them against each other. We see how Sirius talks about Regulus in GOF when he tells the trio that he was a Voldemort supporter. It sounded as though there was some animosity towards Regulus during the conversation.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?
I'm not entirely sure. I believe this is the sister that married Ted right? I don't think she is considering she married Ted.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?
I don't believe they were arranged. I think they were so immersed in their family's beliefs that they went looking for another pureblood to marry.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?
I believe its the reason that Sirius gives us in GOF. He didn't like his family's beliefs, so he left home.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?
No. I don't think that Regulus ever did. Mainly because Sirius didn't know why Regulus had backed out on Voldemort. Sirius just believed him a coward.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?
Err.....no.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?
Hmm.....I think so, only because that's all Sirius was left when his mother died and that's all that Harry had inherited from him. I don't believe that there was another one. :no:

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?
I believe this is just a coincedence.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?
I'm thinking it was after.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?
No.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?
Err.....:hmm:

So many questions - you have outdone yourself, Moriath.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

I like to think they were very close at a younger age, but then their paths/choices began to diverge. Sirius began to rebel, while Regulus defended his parents' pureblood mania. After that, I think the two brothers would be very separated, largely because of Sirius. Although I believe Sirius loved his brother (at one point), he disassociated himself from Regulus because maintaining any relationship with Regulus would have associated Sirius with the other Blacks.

*One thing I am curious about is how Sirius and Regulus would have interacted while at Hogwarts (they were only around two years apart in age). We know Regulus was on the Quidditch team. How did Sirius cope with his brother being at the same school?

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

I do not think so. The Blacks disowned her, and I think Narcissa and Bellatrix (especially) would have followed. Andromeda had no reason to repair any relationship with her sisters, and I do not think she would make the effort - except, perhaps, with Narcissa, but after the war. They took different paths, and Bellatrix and Narcissa lived lives completely opposed to what Andromeda did (marrying a Muggle-born).

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

I do not think they were arranged marriages, but I think they were slightly confined. I think their parents expected them to marry into good, respectable pureblood families, which is what they did. I believe Narcissa did love Lucius, but Bellatrix married Rodolphus simply because she was expected to - one reason, in my opinion, she did not bear a child.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

I cannot answer "exactly." He was fed up with living under his parents' tyrannical rule, which he disagreed with. I do think there was one event that pushed him over the edge, but I cannot see what that could be. However, I am leaning towards the idea that Regulus' obsession with Voldemort sparked it. As we learn in DH, Regulus was a "fan" of Voldemort before he joined up. Perhaps when Sirius was sixteen (1975-1976) was when Regulus' obsession with Voldemort began (Regulus died in 1979), and their parents accepted Regulus' fanaticism, which pushed Sirius over the edge.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

I doubt it. I think Sirius would have mentioned it if Regulus had shown any signs of being against Voldemort. Just trying to repair their relationship at that point would hint to Regulus being anti-Voldemort. I think Regulus acted alone and secretly, hence his orders to Kreacher.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

In the eyes of her parents, probably. She married a respectable pureblood, but she did not take radical action, like Bellatrix. However, Sirius describes his parents as being proud of Regulus signing up to be a Death Eater, so perhaps Bellatrix's path was not seen as "extreme." After all, Lucius was a Death Eater, so Narcissa was certainly involved with Voldemort in that sense.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

I think it is the only house/property that Walburga and Orion owned. I would say it is called "Mrs. Black's house" because she was the last living owner of it. Orion died six years before Walburga, so she was the one the house passed to. Kreacher also revered Mrs. Black, so he was likely to mention her possession over anyone else's.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

I strongly doubt it. I think it was personal choice. I do not think Bellatrix ever loved Rodolphus and had no interest in loving a child, so she chose not to have one. Narcissa seems the type that would want to spoil her children, and having just one child would allow her to concentrate upon him rather than, say, three kids. Meanwhile, Andromeda and Ted seem like they would have their hands full enough with one child (how Tonks developed certainly shows this), so they would not want more than one.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

We do not know enough about Uncle Alphard to really know this. Was he a potential "blood traitor" before he gave the gold to Sirius? Based on his actions toward Sirius, I do not think he had the pureblood mania, but I think the Blacks would have tolerated his unorthodox tendencies until he gave the gold to Sirius.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

I think it was their experiences that made Sirius and Bellatrix "wild and unhinged" - not genetics. Walburga Black was also "unhinged," but I think that was because of her upbringing and belief in pureblood dominance. Andromeda showed no hint of being unhinged (she was very calm and became afraid when her daughter was in danger), and I think Teddy, raised by a calm Andromeda, would be very "normal."

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

The role that any father plays. A father almost always has some influence - negative or positive - upon his children, and I do not think Orion is an exception. His pureblood mania led Sirius away from the family, while it brought Regulus closer in. Orion likely praised Regulus as "a right little hero," as well as probably spoiling him, while he shunned Sirius when Sirius displayed his beliefs. However, it is clear that both boys had some sense of "good" conscience, since Regulus reevaluated his actions and helped bring down Voldemort.

Sirius and Regulus did not have much of a relationship. Check out the OOTP

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

Well they were brothers - so like brothers. However, as Sirius began to think distinctly from the family, I would imagine things got a bit shakey between them as it was such a fundamental issue.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

Bella and Narcissa seemed to still be close. I suppose like Sirius, Andromeda was a bit of an outcast. Still she was family and so I'd imagine she'd come around now and again. She's the member of the family that the parents warn their kids against - and that the kids flocked to for that very reason. :lol:

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

I think JKR or Bella in canon said she married to do the pureblood thing. But she may have loved - whatshisname. Narcissa and Lucius appeared to be in love. I don't think the wizard world has arranged marriages, do they?

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

Because they were bonkers for Voldemort. Years and years of combating his family on that front likely came to a head and he had to go. He found a safe harbor with a good family, so it worked out cool, but it could have been disastrous otherwise. But that is the Potter legacy - generous folk.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

I don't think Regulus and Sirius spoke after Hogwarts at all. It seems Sirius and his family could only guess what became of Regulus. Kreacher would not tell anyone.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

Wait what? :rotfl:. Narcissa the good girl? I don't understand. She was Bella without the dark mark and insanity because she hadn't had to suffer Azkaban. But she could be as viperous and horrible as her sister. Andromeda I think was the one who chose a radical path from the family, like Sirius. Bella - we know. Narcissa pulled out a little rabbit at the end, but it was merely to save her son. If Draco had been dead, she'd of likely finked on Harry. I think she did see that Voldemort was a madman and not the way to go (Bella never did, but she had 12 years of Azkaban tinkering with her mind so...). But still, Narcissa, like the rest of her family, was most concerned about #1. Only Draco of the lot moved beyond that in terms of good and evil.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

Right - well I don't think Mrs. Black was born a "Black". It was technically her husband's home initially - but through marriage, belong to them both. They may have had other property that they left to others to inherit. But it appears that the only property retained by Sirius was Grimmald Place. He'd had other property, but I suppose he lost that when he was sent to Azkaban - or maybe Harry inherited that too but we just don't know about it.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

Genetic? I haven't heard of being able to only have one child as being genetic. I think they were just happy with one and Bella didn't want any.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

Probably before. Doesn't seem that Sirius knew him very well because he was surprised at being left the house.


Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

:rotfl: only if he too finds himself in Azkaban for 12 years. That is why they were unhinged and wild. They had both been a bit reckless it seems, but Narcissa was not reckless, so this is not necessarily a family trait. Too, Andromeda did not seem reckless - nor did Ted. Lupin was just the opposite - so all things considered, I'd say Teddy would not end up reckless. I think he'd be mischiveous though. Some people believe that is "reckless" - like the twins or Marauders when young. But that is just youthful spirit. He'd likely have that - both Tonks and Remus did - and even Harry who he visits 4 times a week. But to me youthful spirits are not reckless, nor does childhood arrogance show one to be Voldemort - nor does pranking make one an outlaw. To me that is prude and priggish thinking, so if that is what is being asked, then I would say he could become a spirited, arrogant and pranking kid, all of which would be great. I found goody two shoes kids to be odd, generally overbearing and often got to sit out on the fun and sulk, then complain about it. If you ask me - that is problematic. Youth is when one should be wild and free, explore and such - just so one doesn't go overboard. Being known as a well behaved child is really hard to live up to. Of course, you don't want them going overboard like the budding Death Eaters in HP - but most kids will be a bit outlandish from time to time.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

We don't really know. Their mom was so overbearing, one gets the idea he just stayed out of her way and left it all to her. But he may have contributed to their sense of fairness and justice in relation to others - Mrs. Black didn't seem to carry that trait or ability, imo.

Wait what? . Narcissa the good girl?

In the eyes of her pure-blood family of course. Bella married but went radical and never had any offspring and Andromeda married a Muggle and was blasted off the family tree. Only Narcissa did what the Black family would expect of one of their daughters.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

I don't think they were very close - maybe before Hogwarts, but as soon as Sirius had met James, Remus and Peter, I don't think he had a very close relationship with his brother. Especially not as Regulus took an interest in the dark arts, which Sirius obviously despised.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

I think Bellatrix and Narcissa had quite a close relationship - Narcissa seems, according to the chapter Spinner's End in HBP, to be the only person who Bellatrix seems to care a little about. It's possible that Bellatrix and Narcissa had a good relation to Andromeda when they were younger, but I can't imagine them having any contact with Andromeda after her marriage. Neither can I see that any relationship between Andromeda and Narcissa could be possible after the war. Narcissa probably hadn't any change of heart although she saved Harry, while I don't think Andromeda would like any relation with someone who took part for those who killed her daughter and husband.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

I think Narcissa married Lucius out of love, and her family was surely really content with that decision. About Bellatrix, I don't think she ever loved someone, maybe with the exception of Voldemort. However, I don't think her family arranged her marriage - I can't see how anyone could ever be able to push Bellatrix into doing something (once again with the exception of Voldemort). She probably married Rodolphus because that was expected of her, and maybe it simplified her involvement with the DE's.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

I can imagine some heated argument with his family (perhaps with Regulus) about Voldemort - probably he had just had enough of their support of everything he loathed. When he knew that he could stay at the Potter's, there wasn't really any argument left for not leaving.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

I'm pretty sure he didn't, Sirius didn't seem to know a lot about how or why Regulus died. The latter seemed to operate alone (though of course with some help from Kreacher).

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

In the eyes of her family she probably took all the right decisions. I'm not sure they saw Bellatrix as a disappointment though - she did marry a pure-blood, and shared her family's ideas. But yes, her family was surely very proud of Narcissa.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

Since that was the only house Sirius inherited, it seems like it was the only property. Perhaps Bellatrix or Narcissa inherited something from their father and mother, but that is never mentioned, neither can I see anything that would support that theory.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

I don't think it's genetic, I think they just chose to have it that way. Bellatrix wasn't the maternal type, so luckily she didn't give birth to any children. Tonks seems to have been quite an energic child, so I reckon Andromeda and Ted thought one was more than enough. No idea why Narcissa and Lucius only wanted one child, but I find MrSleepyHead's theory possible.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

No idea, but I would guess before - it seems strange that he would have satisfied the family his whole life, and then suddenly left all his money to Sirius. The Black family doesn't seem to be very patient with members opposing their own opinions.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

I don't think so, Sirius and Bellatrix are quite far from Teddy after all, Bella being his grandmother's sister and Sirius his grandmother's cousin. Furthermore, Andromeda seems to be caring and quite down-to-earth, so if Teddy becomes wild and unhinged, I don't think it's because his relation to Bellatrix and Sirius.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

He surely influenced both of them in some way, like any parent does, but I'm not certain that he played a huge part.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

I think they didn't interact too much going on different paths. Sirius didn't think too much of Regulus him being so obsessed with the Dark Lord, and Regulus probably didn't really understand why Sirius despised the "pure-blood obsession" of the family, and why did he turn away from it all.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

I believe not. Not with Bella anyways. I believe tha family outed her when she married a muggle-born, and kept well away from her.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

Well, if you have to marry a pure-blood your choises are very limited I think. Still, Narcissa seems to love her husband, at least she ultimately chose her family above the Dark Lord, but I believe Bella couldn't care less about her husband. They didn't have children, which is an ominous sign I guess, and Bella was obviously 'in love' with Voldemort more than anyone. So, Bella married Lestrange because she was expected to make a good marriage. Narcissa probably felt for her husband, though it was probably more or less arranged.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

I can think of no other reason what he claims: that he got fed up with them.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

I think Sirius would've mentioned it. But Sirius says he got "cold feet", which doesn't describe accurately what Regulus actually did: chose his own death to weaken the Dark Lord.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

Well, from the family's point of view she might as well be: married the right guy, had a son... She's got the balance from a 'Black' pont of view.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

Well, right now it might be the only Black property, because the other Black line's last descendets were all women, so they don't inherit the name, and both Regulus and Sirius are dead.
Well, Mrs. Black outlived her husband, and it seems to me that she was the boss in the house.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

I don't think it is genetic, I think it is aristocratic: they use to have few children as not to scatter the wealth of the family. It probably remained a habit.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

Well, we don't know, do we, but might have been the last drop...

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

Not necessarely. Teddy probably will be brought up in a normal family without the infusion of extremes that Bella and Sirius both had, though handled very differently. He might have a trait though:p.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

He's not really metioned by Sirius, so he might have been the silent part: not really running his mouth, but going along with everything his wife says or expects.

I think JKR or Bella in canon said she married to do the pureblood thing. But she may have loved - whatshisname. Narcissa and Lucius appeared to be in love. I don't think the wizard world has arranged marriages, do they?
I think that depends on the family, not the entire magical community. The Blacks are a very old, traditional family, so it would not be unreasonable, in my opinion, to suggest that they may arrange a marriage.

However, I do not think they arranged any marriages for their children. If the children were "good" Blacks, their choices for spouses would already be limited by the amount of pureblood families, so having an arranged marriage seems unnecessarily specific (since the "requirement" for a pureblood spouse was already so specific).
In the eyes of her pure-blood family of course. Bella married but went radical and never had any offspring and Andromeda married a Muggle and was blasted off the family tree. Only Narcissa did what the Black family would expect of one of their daughters.
I am not so sure the Blacks would have scorned Bellatrix's choice. Sirius "But bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first." So perhaps the Blacks were also proud of Bellatrix for joining the fight against Voldemort, even if she was a little crazed in her support.

I agree that Narcissa seems the "best" of the three sisters: she married a pureblood who also supported wizard dominance, but she was not a radical enforcer of that belief. However, I do think the Black family would have respected Bellatrix's choice, if Walburga's portrait is anything to go by.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

They didn't meet eye to eye on a lot of issues. Regulus' actions almost always contradicted everything Sirius stood for, or so it seemed. It was a strained relationship, I think. I'm not sure if either of them tried to compromise on some things and work out their relationship.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

I'm not sure the sisters were too friendly. I don't think Andromeda is in touch with her pure blood relatives either. Not if they are all like 'Cissy' and 'Bella'.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

A bit of both, if that's possible. Perhaps Lucius and Rudolphus were in the line of people they knew their family would accept and so it was easy to fall in love with them ;)

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

I think he'd had enough. He was almost old enough to be legally adult in the magical World and I guess with his beliefs being radically the opposite of his family's, there was no common meeting ground and he decided to just leave.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

I don't think so. I don't think they were on good enough terms for Regulus to ask Sirius for help.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

:hmm: No. Andromeda chose a better path, IMO.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

I don't think it was the only Black property, but perhaps the major one. Not sure why it was called Mrs. Black's house though.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

No, its not genetic. JKR just didn't want a bigger family tree to handle :lol:

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

I think it was after he left Sirius the money.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

Possibly.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

I have no idea, but I don't think it was very significant, seeing how Sirius almost never talks about his father.

In the eyes of her pure-blood family of course. Bella married but went radical and never had any offspring and Andromeda married a Muggle and was blasted off the family tree. Only Narcissa did what the Black family would expect of one of their daughters.


Doh...Oh :lol:. Well in that case then, I would actually consider the family felt both Bella and Narcissa had been "good girls" and done what the family wanted in marrying purebloods. I am not sure that progeny was the most or even "an" important aspect of that. But Bella wasn't that old when she got sent to Azkaban, so I would imagine the family took that into consideration and because it was for a "good cause" [sic], they would see it as heroic of her (those still backing Voldy anyway). So I don't think she was considered in a bad light for that. So I think both Narcissa and Bella would be considered to have been 'good girls' in as far as meeting their parents' wishes.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
I'd say that of an older brother dealing with an obnoxious younger brother. I have a feeling Regulus was the exact opposite of Sirius. While Sirius was busy doing everything his parents didn't want him to do, Regulus tried really hard to please his parents and therefor did exactly what they wanted him to do.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?
I highly doubt it... I don't any of them would want to unless they got blasted of the carpet just like her.. :p

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?
I think Narcissa chose Lucius out of affection or love. It's kind of hard to tell. Bella, I think, chose her husband out of "love" for Voldie... Or maybe she just thought he was a worthy husband and a girl needs to get married at some point.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?
Probably because he got fed up with his parents. Couldn't stand all the stupid remarks about his behaviour. That sort of thing.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?
I doubt it.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?
I don't think she's either good nor bad. She just chose to follow the path that was laid out for her and decided not to question it. A lot of people don't ask themselves these questions out of some form of self protection. If they did they would have to admit to themselves and everyone else they chose the wrong path all along.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?
I think it might be the only Black property in Sirius' ownership. We probably would have read about it in HBP if there where any other houses.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?
Inbreeding... :whistle: Hahaha... Could be a choice... Draco only has one child. I think.. maybe he left his other child at him with the house-elf aka nanny..

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?
I think after.. He might have been considered "eccentric" and this was the last drop.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?
I wouldn't descibe Sirius as "unhinged". Wild.. you bet.. especially as a teenager. But not unhinged. Bella on the other hand can get slightly out of control.. I don't think Harry or Ginny would put up with an out of controlled Teddy..

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?
Well, if their family was the same as some of the other aristocratic families in England I'd say a small part.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
I think it went way beyond sibling rivalry. When parents play obvious favorites, as Walburga did, it creates deep-seated jealousy that is nearly impossible to overcome. While the Black brothers never took it to the level of, say, Cain & Abel or even Jacob & Esau (forgive the Bible referance, it's what I know best), I think they both would have had to scrape the very bottom of the barrell of brotherly love to find any affection left for eachother by the time of Regulus' death.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?
Probably not in touch with those who cling to the motto Tujours Pur, but probably in touch with the shirttail relatives who act like ordinary wizards instead of hoity-toity wizard royalty.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?
This is a very interesting question. Narcissa and Lucius attended Hogwarts in the same year, and were in the same House; it's easy to see a fourth year Narcissa falling for fifth year Lucius, as he was handsome, smart, wealthy, and most importantly to the Black family, pureblood.
Bella, on the other hand, may or may not have loved Rodolphus. I can totally see this one being an arranged marriage, while Narcissa's may have been one chosen by herself and approved by her family. The question led me to look into the Black wiki, to get the timeline right in my head; Bella attended Hogwarts in the 1960's, when Tom Riddle was amassing power, and before he declared himself Lord Voldemort. It may be that Bella was roped into marrying pureblood Rodolphus, and then found herself infatuated with Voldemort when he burst onto the scene. It may be that she loved her husband at the beginning of their marriage, but he was supplanted in her affections when Voldemort rose in power. It seems that popular opinion was that she never loved, him, though, that she always and only loved Voldemort. Which means it was at first a loveless, and therefore probably arranged, marriage.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?
My belief on this is that he couldn't bear the obvious favoritism of his mother's for Regulus. If the real Walburga was as shrill and ill-tempered as her portrait, well, that would be enough to drive anyone from the home -- except Regulus, on whom she apparently doted. Same reason Harry wanted to leave the Dursleys, really; they obviously loved Dudley and seemed to despise him. Harry would have left the Dursleys at fifteen if it hadn't been for the protective magic laid by the blood link between Lily Potter and Petunia Dursley.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?
I doubt it. It seems to me that Sirius was entirely estranged from his family by that time.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?
In her family's eyes, I would assume so. Though it may just as well be that the Black family was just as proud of Bella, for doing so much in the pure-blooded cause of Lord Voldemort. Though it also occured to me that, given the extensive Black genealogy, the tapestry, the book "Nature's Nobility," and all, The Black Family may well have known that Tom Riddle was not a pureblood. He tried very hard to hide the fact that his father was a muggle, but I rather expect that Cygnus & Drusella would have found it out and perhaps forbidden Bella to marry a half-blood even if she hadn't already been married to Rodolphus.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?
I don't think it would be, the Black family tree is fairly extensive and would have needed more than one manor house in its heydey. I expect it was known as Mrs. Black's house because she inherited it from Pollux, he from Cygnus, Cygnus from Phineas. Her husband Orion might have grown up in the home owned by Arcturus and Sirius the first, which may have gone to the Prewitt family when his older sister Lucretia married Ignatius Prewitt. (names from the House of Black family tree on the Harry Potter wiki)

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?
Possibly. Inbreeding can do unpleasant things to genetics. Of course, it may have been the choice of most pure-blood wizarding families; the Weasley family seems to be the exception.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?
No idea. I would guess at before, and he left the money to a disowned family member to further snipe at the rest of them (especially Walburga).

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?
I think probably not. Andromeda also raised Nymphadora, who seems to be reasonably well-adjusted. At least up until she began pining for a certain middle-aged werewolf.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?
Let's see. He died in the same year as Regulus, five years after Sirius left the House of Black for good. He was 29 when Sirius was born, and 32 when Regulus was born. His wife was a rather domineering personality. We have no information, as far as I know, of his occupation, other than that really wealthy wizards of ancient pureblood families don't seem to have one, relying instead on mounds of inherited gold. He may have been an emotionally absent father, or he may have doted on Regulus and ignored Sirius, as Walburga did. We can deduce from the fact that Sirius seems to have no more affection for his father than he does for his mother that he received very little paternal guidance, other than Toujours Pur mania. He did, according to hp wiki, strengthen the defenses around the house in the final year of his life, so he took protection of his wife & "loyal" son seriously. But it rather looks like he didn't give a hoot for Sirius.

* What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

Well, Sirius referred to Remus as "idiot brother, soft enough to believe them" ('them' being their parents, of course); if there was real hatred there, I would expect a somewhat... harsher adjective.

'He was younger than me,' said Sirius, 'and a much better son, as I was constantly reminded.'....... 'I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first.' OOTP, Ch6

I do believe there is a trace of real jealousy here, even if Sirius claims to have hated his parents. But it is always so with siblings - the younger ones tend to learn from the mistakes of the older (in terms of acceptable behaviour... or pretense thereof).

Whereas Sirius had sought to advertise his diffidence from the rest of the family, Regulus had striven to emphasize the opposite. The Slytherin colors of emerald and silver were everywhere, draping the bed, the walls, and the windows. The Black family crest was painstakingly painted over the bed, along with its motto, TOUJOURS PUR.....Regulus was instantly recognizable as the boy sitting in the middle of the front row: He had the same dark hair and slightly haughty look of his brother, though he was smaller, slighter, and rather less handsome than Sirius had
been. DH, Ch10

So Regulus chose to be the 'good boy' of the family, and the element of jealousy might have played a part in his decision too - note the somewhat less.. err.. flattering description of the boy. :lol:

What I find particularly interesting, though, was the bolded phrase; for me, coupled with the 'softness' reference by Sirius above, it hints at Regulus' personality as one that would not sit well with his older brother even if there was no 'pureblood mania' to speak of.

Just my opinion, though...


* What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

Narcissa and Bellatrix seemed to get along quite nicely, if not fabulously; they are still referring to each other by childhood nicknames when in private...

"Cissy--Narcissa--listen to me--"

The second woman caught the first and seized her arm, but the other wrenched it away.

"Go back, Bella!" HBP, Ch2


I highly doubt the relatives kept in touch, though. There wasn't much contact to begin with, no common ground, and Andromeda doesn't strike me as one to keep up acquaintances for propriety's sake. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure it would be considered proper by any of the interested parties...

* Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

Not much concrete evidence in the canon, either way. But reading between the lines, based on the sheer story time the respective marriages get, I daresay that - whether self-imposed or arranged - Narcissa's choice seemed to suit her (I am not saying 'make her incredibly happy'), whereas Bellatrix's hardly merite more than a passing reference every 1000 pages or so... :lol:

* Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

Can I quote?

'Leave?' Sirius smiled bitterly and ran his fingers through his long, unkempt hair. 'Because I hated the whole lot of them: my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal . . . OOTP, Ch6

Of course, the fact that he had an actual place to go to might have helped a bit in reaching that decision... :relax:

'Where did you go?' asked Harry, staring at him.
'Your dad's place,' said Sirius. 'Your grandparents were really good about it; they sort of adopted me as a second son. OOTP, Ch6

* Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

No. Nor do I think he ever considered asking for it. They were not on the best of terms at the time, and Regulus knew he had to act fast.

* Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

'Good' can be taken to mean a lot of things, depending on one's perspective... :lol: But, going with Moriath's clarification - yes, I do believe she was 'the good girl' in the family: married a Pureblood, didn't turn blood traitor, produced an heir and all that stuff... :rolleyes:

* Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

I don't believe it was the only Black property, but it might have been the only property of Mrs. Black. Walburga's maiden name was, incidentally, Black - she was a direct descendant of Phineas Nigellus, through the male line, just like her husband. ;)

* Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

I could ask the same about James' parents... ;) Not genetics: inheritance rights. We're talking (self-proclaimed) Purebloods here, and it makes it a lot easier that way...

* Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

Before.

My Uncle Alphard had left me a decent bit of gold — he's been wiped off here, too, that's probably why — anyway, after that I looked after myself. OOTP, Ch6

* Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

Both Sirius and Bellatrix had quite an impressive track record in Azkaban. Let's hope Teddy doesn't.

* What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

No idea. But I'm quite certain he wasn't to be credited with Sirius' childhood enthrallment with various things Muggle. :lol:

'My father put every security measure known to wizardkind on it when he lived here. It's unplottable, so Muggles could never come and call — as if they'd ever have wanted to OOTP, Ch6

* Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

I can't really see anyone making Bella do anything, so I suppose she chose her husband. That doesn't mean she chose it for love, though - maybe they were really good friends and since marrying a pureblood seems to be a way of showing proper wizrding pride (and she didn't have much luck with Tom Riddle), she married Rodolphus (or was it Rastaban?).

For Narcissa, I think she loves her husband. Since they obviously moved in the same social circles, it's not too hard to imagine that they met, socialized and fell in love.

* Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

I think it was rebellion, and not surprising at his age.

* Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

In this context, she can very well have been the good girl. Although I don't think anyone objected too much to Bella's chosen path - I'm inclined to think adultery was considered ok as long as you were being unfaithful with a pureblood, or Voldemort. As for her criminal activity, that may have been a reason for criticism, Sirius says his family was shocked when tehy found out what Voldemort had actually had in mind. But since there's so little canon, I can do little more than speculate.

* Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

No, it's a literary decision.

* Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

I'm inclined to think those were a result of how their lives evolved and the people they lived among; and in Sirius's case - Azkaban; I think Teddy should be fine.

I can't really see anyone making Bella do anything, so I suppose she chose her husband. That doesn't mean she chose it for love, though - maybe they were really good friends and since marrying a pureblood seems to be a way of showing proper wizrding pride (and she didn't have much luck with Tom Riddle), she married Rodolphus (or was it Rastaban?).

I don't know why, but I've always envisaged Bellatrix determinedly choosing a man she didn't love (whom she may actually have despised) for his blood status, reputation and wealth, and perhaps even choosing someone elderly and naive, whom it would be easy to manipulate, cuckold and deceive. I don't think I'm getting this from the text, though.

For Narcissa, I think she loves her husband. Since they obviously moved in the same social circles, it's not too hard to imagine that they met, socialized and fell in love.

Agreed, but the love she has for him now could easily have grown out of an arranged marriage, so I can imagine that scenario, too.

As for her [Narcissa's] criminal activity, that may have been a reason for criticism, Sirius says his family was shocked when tehy found out what Voldemort had actually had in mind. But since there's so little canon, I can do little more than speculate.

That bit has always really intrigued me. What was it, exactly, about the DE agenda that was beyond the pale for the Blacks? Obviously, in Regulus's case, it was Voldemort's tendency to be nasty to house elves, but I've a feeling that it was something else in the case of the rest of the family. I agree that this is a fruitful area for speculation and fan-fiction!

* Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

No, it's a literary decision.

Or part of a trend in the books to use simplistic characterisation equations, e.g. only child = spoilt, deliberately choosing childlessness = evil?

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

I don't think they had much of a relationship at all. I think they probably started growing apart from when Regulus was sorted into Slytherin.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

After the war? I hope Andromeda and Narcissa did keep in touch. But it would take some apologising from Narcissa and lot of forgiving from Andromeda for them to even speak civilly to each other IMO.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

I think both their marriages were arranged, but Narcissa still fell in love with the man she was to marry.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

Perhaps because it was expected of him to join Voldemort. Draco joined at that age. Sirius may have rebelled and then seeing that he would be forced to join, could have left home.

Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

I am sure he would not have. Seeing the contempt Sirius had for Regulus long after his death, I don't think the brothers were close and I don't think Sirius was in any way friendly or approachable for his brother in any problem.

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

I don't think so. In a way all the 3 sisters were the way they were because they loved. Bellatrix compromisedon everything for Voldemort, Narcissa kept quiet about DE actions for Lucius's sake and Andromeda left everything for Ted Tonks.

Narcissa was the most fortunate, because she had both Lucius and Draco alive. Bellatrix lost her life and Andromeda lost her husband and daughter.

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

I think so and I think it was called Mrs.Black's house, because she ruled that house with a fist of iron, when alive?

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

I don't know.

Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

Either could have happened.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

I don't think so.Between Andromeda and Harry, I thinbk Ted Tonks will be fine.

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?

Not much IMO. Both sons and Kreacher have nothing to say of their father/Master. I think it was Mrs. Black all the way from keeping house to everythin.

I don't know why, but I've always envisaged Bellatrix determinedly choosing a man she didn't love (whom she may actually have despised) for his blood status, reputation and wealth, and perhaps even choosing someone elderly and naive, whom it would be easy to manipulate, cuckold and deceive. I don't think I'm getting this from the text, though.

I agree with this. :agree: She does seem that shrewd... I allways had a feeling her husband was older, don't really knwo why though, not so sure about the naive part though.. :huh:

On this topic, I just want to say one thing that struck me about Andromeda. When Harry meets her for the first time- he mistakes her for Bellatrix. I found that really striking. How two sisters can look so alike and yet represent such a difference in the family.

Or part of a trend in the books to use simplistic characterisation equations, e.g. only child = spoilt, deliberately choosing childlessness = evil?

Possibly, yes. I always found this curious since it is very strange for a genealogy-obsessed group of pure-blood supremacists to be content with one child. An heir without a spare, so to speak. And we have seen how easily a house ends because of this.

Or part of a trend in the books to use simplistic characterisation equations, e.g. only child = spoilt, deliberately choosing childlessness = evil?

Harry...Hermione...Dean...Luna...Neville = only children. Mcgonagall, Rosemerta, = choosing childlessness. I don't think the trend was attempting to forward that particular characteristic equation...

Harry...Hermione...Dean...Luna...Neville = only children. Mcgonagall, Rosemerta, = choosing childlessness. I don't think the trend was attempting to forward that particular characteristic equation...

I have counter-arguments to this, but as I don't want to get into a protracted OT debate, I suggest that if you want to continue this argument we do so by owl or on the feminism thread.

Posted by Moriath
I always found this curious since it is very strange for a genealogy-obsessed group of pure-blood supremacists to be content with one child. An heir without a spare, so to speak. And we have seen how easily a house ends because of this.

That's a really good point, and one I'd never thought about. Their fertility could have been diminshed by all that inbreeding, I suppose. Or perhaps it was a deliberate tactic, to avoid splitting the estate between several heirs (this would also fit in with pure-bloods marrying their first cousins, which in some patrilineal societies is also used as a tactic for reducing the number of potential heirs)? Or maybe they worried that two or more Slytherin children would spend all their time plotting against each other?

I can imagine Sirius (and possibly Andromeda) deliberately avoiding having children (or in Andromeda's case, more than one child), for fear of passing on tainted blood.

I have counter-arguments to this, but as I don't want to get into a protracted OT debate, I suggest that if you want to continue this argument we do so by owl or on the feminism thread.

Either way, it would be intersting to hear how those I named were connected to spoiled or evil. And I also don't see this as consistent on topic; in the Black family tree, for example, parents had up to 4 children at times. Walburga had 2 herself. Andromeda only had one, but not an evil one.

Either way, it would be intersting to hear how those I named were connected to spoiled or evil.

I've owled you.

And I also don't see this as consistent on topic; in the Black family tree, for example, parents had up to 4 children at times. Walburga had 2 herself.

That is a good point. It does seem to be only in the younger generation that the one or no child pattern appears, so maybe it isn't a dliberate pattern, just a narrative convenience? Or perhaps it's just a general impressionistic portrait of an outmoded, decadent aristocratic family petering out, with each generation producing less new blood than the generation before them?

Andromeda only had one, but not an evil one.

I never said that only children in HP were portrayed as evil. I said they were spoilt. In Tonks's case, we only see her as an adult, so we have no evidence either way of whether she was spoilt or not as a child.

That bit has always really intrigued me. What was it, exactly, about the DE agenda that was beyond the pale for the Blacks? Obviously, in Regulus's case, it was Voldemort's tendency to be nasty to house elves, but I've a feeling that it was something else in the case of the rest of the family.

I think it wasn't that Kreacher was a house-eld, but that Kreacher was someone Regulus loved. I suppose he never thought his hero would hurt anyone from his servants' families (as I think he thought of Kreacher).

As for the rest of the Blacks, I think that while they may have supported exclusion of muggleborns, mass murder and the kind of terror Voldemort spread over the wizarding would were probably too much for them. Nobody likes living in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

I will have a go at this, one question at a time..

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

A: Though the dynamics of the relationship and the foundation on which it was based is entirely different, I suppose that the relationship Sirius and Regulus shared would be quite close on the lines of what Lily and Petunia shared. I don't know if reading a number of fanfiction's has anything to do with this theory of mine but I have always imagined Lily and Sirius bonding over the problems with their respective siblings.

According to my understanding and sometimes over-active imagination, I feel that the relationship Sirius and Regulus pre-Hogwarts would have been quite brotherly and it detoriates after Sirius gets sorted into Gryffindor. Following this event, the Black family would have lead a comparatively easily influenced, Regulus into making decisions that prove detrimental in their sibling relationship.

I also believe that jealousy might have been a factor in tearing Sirius and Regulus further apart. Regulus might have felt that James had replaced him as a brother in Sirius' books and the fact that Sirius was a Marauder and anti-Slytherin might have just tipped the scales.

They might have patched up later if it weren't for the War and once Regulus enrolled as a Death-Eater, their relationship became almost non-existent. I believe though that JKR has left enough room for us to speculate whether they meet anytime before Regulus dies and if they do, it would be a very entertaining read indeed.

* What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
I would assume standard sibling rivalry for the most part until Sirius got sorted into Slytherin.

* What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?
No, Bella herself said she had had nothing to do with her sister since she married Tonks.


* Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?
I believe Narcissa did fit or love, obviously she went for the pureblood but the interaction between them shows real love. Bella seems like she married strictly for blood status considering her intense and open attraction to Voldemort.


* Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?
I think the pressure put on him on top of the obvious issue with his being a Gryffindor built up and forced him to make his choice.

* Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?
I wouldn't think they'd be in contact by that point.

* Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?
To an extent yes could be called the "quiet one".

* Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?
Can't be. More than likely the main property own by that line of the Black family but not the only. I think she was the dominant spouse and thus it was called her house. It also could be that she was a Black by blood and that the house was actually hers.

* Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?
Not genetic just a coincidence. Bella is understandable, she married for status and was too busy being a DE to have a child at that moment.

* Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?
Afterwards I assume since we have no other info as to why else he'd be blasted.

* Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that
Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character
traits?
No, for one he's a further generation away from the inbreeding that affected the Blacks and he didn't spend any time in Azkaban.

* What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and Regulus?
Seems like he was a bit of a quiet man considering he's barely mentioned. I think he had a standard father role but Mrs. Black is the one who held the most influence.

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?

I think to start with the would have been close to start with but they made their own choice the closeness would have faded and the arguments,hate and anger would have driven them apart

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

Well it was clear Bellatrix was the head of the sisters, she controls or tries to control Narcissa as for Andromeda I am sure she had a few threats from her.
Once Voldemort was killed yes I would think bridges would have tried to be built between the two remaining sisters.

Did Narcissa and Bella marry their husbands for love or were their marriages arranged?

I think they both married because it was expected of them, carry on the pure blood lines, Bellatrix I doubt was through love more duty as we know she was obsessed with Voldemort. Narcissa and Lucius, I think there is a chance that there is love there it is clear that she loves Draco as we see at the end. I have a feeling she would have to have been approved before she married Malfoy though.

Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

Pure blood family Voldemort, getting more powerful would have been expected to come in to line with the family that was so not Sirius so he left
Did Regulus ask his brother for help before he died?

No Sirius never knew what happened to his brother

Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

Narcissa a good girl errrr She was a Black then a Malfoy she suported Voldemort how was she a good gir?

Is Grimmauld Place the only Black property and why was it called Mrs Black's house?

No I am sure there are more Black Properties else where and maybe this one belonged to Sirius's mother before she was married.

Why do the Black sisters have either no children or only one child? Is it genetic?

Bellatrix and children:err: enough said there and Draco and Tonks must of been a handful for even the best parents Genetic.. no


Was uncle Alphard blasted off the tree before or after he left Sirius his money?

Before I think that he was The Black Sheep of the family before Sirius

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

Wild maybe unhinged no and I would have thought the wild would come from Harry more than anyone else

What role may Orion Black have played in the lives of his sons, Sirius and
Regulus?

Hmmmm Father, and once old enough trying to show them the Black ways

* What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
I would assume standard sibling rivalry for the most part until Sirius got sorted into Slytherin.

Regulus not Sirius.

I miss Sirius :(

What do you think was the relationship between Sirius and Regulus like?
Difficult to tell, we have so little information. It seemed to me as though Sirius thought his brother was sort of a blind follower of his parents' pure-blood bias, not a true DE. Which appears correct given Regulus's actions once he truly realized what being in Voldy's camp was all about.

Both Sirius and Bellatrix are described as wild and unhinged. Do you think that Teddy, growing up with his grandmother Andromeda, could develop similar character traits?

Probably very unlikely that Teddy would tend toward those characteristics. I wouldn't say Sirius was "unhinged", although he was no doubt affected by his stay in Azkaban. He always did have a bit of a reckless streak, part personality and partly because he never did have a chance to mature normally, getting chucked into prison at a very young age. Bella seems to have a mean side to her, which only got worse spending time with DE's & Voldy (no doubt her affection for him skewed her perspective as well). Still, Bella did try to protect Narcissa and helped Draco learn occlumency, so she's not completely evil. However, Teddy has grown up in a much more stable and supportive environment, much less likely to be drawn to the dark side.

I also believe that jealousy might have been a factor in tearing Sirius and Regulus further apart. Regulus might have felt that James had replaced him as a brother in Sirius' books and the fact that Sirius was a Marauder and anti-Slytherin might have just tipped the scales.

I agree. I think that James did replace Regulus to some extent and that he was the kind of brother Sirius always wanted. And Regulus could not compete with James that first year because he wasn't at Hogwarts yet. It must have been hard to see Sirius return in summer, telling adventurous stories full of James Potter.

* Why exactly did Sirius leave his family at sixteen?

Its hard to be exact about something like that. But it could be something to do with realizing how extreme his and other pureblood family's are and rebelling against it.

* Is Narcissa the good girl because her older sisters chose very radical paths?

I dont think Narcissa is the good girl. She may have been the most "Radical" out of the three for all we know. She was just smart at how she went about it.

What were the dynamics between the Black sisters? Is Andromeda still in touch with her pure-blood relatives?

We don't know much about Andromeda from the books but I think that she would have been quite close to Bellatrix and Narcissa till Sirius gets sorted into Gryffindor. I have a theory that the differences between the sisters' starts to creep up following this incident and Ted was the final straw in their relationship.

I am sure that Andromeda would have been cut-off from all her relatives except Sirius and Alphard once she married Ted.

I miss Sirius :(

me too !

And the week is already over! New thread is up here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=120652).