49 Chapter 49: “The Legacy of Walburga Black”

A few weeks after Harry's 8th birthday, a surprising event occurred at Black Castle. While looking through his letters one morning, came across a letter bearing news that would significantly impact the Black family.

It was the news of Walburga Black's passing. Lord Black read the letter without showing much emotion, something he had become very good at over the years.

Sirius Black, who was enjoying a leisurely breakfast, noticed the change in Lord Black's demeanor. "Something the matter, grandfather?" he inquired, his tone casual yet curious.

Arcturus looked up from the letter, weighing his words carefully. "Sirius, your mother, Walburga Black, has passed away," he announced, his voice steady.

Sirius's reaction was instantaneous and, to some, might have seemed inappropriate. A wide grin spread across his face, and a chuckle escaped his lips. "About time the old hag left this world," he exclaimed, unable to hide his relief.

Even though Lord Arcturus understood why Sirius felt this way, he reminded him to be respectful. "She was still your mother, Sirius. No matter what happened between you two, we should act properly when someone passes away," he chided, his voice firm yet not unkind.

Sirius's smile faded slightly, a sign of respect for Lord Black's words, though the glint of satisfaction in his eyes remained.

Harry, present during this exchange, felt detached from the situation. He only knew about Walburga Black from the loud portrait at Grimmauld Place, and he didn't have a good impression of her. Since Sirius didn't like her, Harry didn't think he should get involved either.

After Walburga passed away, the Black family decided to meet up, something they hadn't done in a long time because they often disagreed with each other. They needed to plan her funeral. Sirius didn't really care about what was going on and let the other family members handle everything.

Harry thought it was best to stay out of the way because the Black family had a lot of issues. He went back to his secret home so he wouldn't have to be part of the family meeting. He also didn't want the rest of the Black family to find out he, a Potter and the brother of the "Boy-Who-Lived," was close to Lord Black.

Upon Harry's return to the castle a few days later, he walked into a serious conversation between Arcturus and Sirius. They were sorting through what Walburga Black's passing meant in terms of legal stuff and who would get her things.

"Walburga did not leave a will, so all her property, including the family townhouse in London and the house-elf Kreacher, now belongs to you, Sirius," Lord Black informed.

This news caught Sirius off guard. "But she took my name off the family tree," he remembered, thinking that meant he was out of the picture.

Arcturus corrected him, "That was all for show, Sirius. She only took your name off a decorative tree, not the real family records here in the castle. By law, you're still the person she left everything to."

Sirius, torn between his disdain for his mother and the practical implications, was initially set on renouncing his inheritance. However, the possibility of Narcissa Malfoy, and by extension, Lucius, benefiting from his decision led him to reconsider.

Harry, who had been quietly listening, chimed in with a suggestion. "Why not look at it as a sort of payback, Sirius? You could redo the house, get rid of anything that reminds you of her, and really make it your own place."

Sirius liked Harry's idea of making over the London house in a completely new style. Turning the house into a modern, Muggle-style abode appealed to Sirius. It would be a fitting act of rebellion against the traditional values his mother had so vehemently upheld.

With their minds made up, Sirius and Arcturus went to Gringotts to make sure everything was official. Narcissa Malfoy tried to argue she should get something, but it didn't go anywhere. Sirius was confirmed as the rightful owner of all his mother's things, including the house.

---

The next morning was filled with a kind of nervous excitement. Harry, Sirius, and Lord Arcturus were all set to go check out the Black family's old London house. 

With a crack that broke the morning silence, they apparated directly in front of the imposing entrance of Number 12, Grimmauld Place. The house stood hidden from Muggle's eyes by ancient magics, its façade a silent testament to the Black family's storied past and dark secrets.

The house itself was squeezed into a row of tall, intimidating buildings. It looked pretty run-down from the outside, with windows that were too dark to see through and paint that was chipping away. The whole vibe of the place was pretty unwelcoming.

In contrast to the magical unveiling of Number 12, Grimmauld Place shown in the Harry Potter books and movies, the house wasn't concealed by the Fidelius Charm. Instead, it was fully visible to any wizard who passed by. However, it was still safeguarded by old Black family spells, warning off any unwelcome visitors.

When they walked up to the door, they didn't have any trouble getting in. The house had a special charm that only let people who were part of the Black family or had Black family blood, come inside. Since Harry's great-grandmother was Black, he didn't have any problems entering.

The moment Sirius opened the door, the quiet of the interior was shattered. He accidentally knocked over an umbrella stand, causing a loud noise. Right away, the sharp voice of Walburga Black, Sirius's mother, filled the room, angrily shouting about intruders.

"Who is there? This is the Black family home! Get out! No half-bloods, Muggle-borns, or blood traitors allowed! Kreacher! Where are you? Get these intruders out!"

Hearing his mother's voice, Sirius was both annoyed and angry. He couldn't understand why he could still hear her, given she had passed away. As he moved forward, he came face to face with his mother's portrait.

Walburga, looking furious in the portrait, yelled, "So, it's you, the family disappointment. How dare you step foot in here. You should have died rather than come back. How dare you, you disgrace, show your face here. If only my dear Regulus were still alive. He always made me proud."

"STOP!" Sirius yelled, and to his surprise, his mother's portrait fell silent. But it wasn't Sirius's command that stopped her; it was Lord Arcturus Black's appearance that quieted her. She stopped her rant, clearly afraid of Arcturus.

With disappointment in his voice, Arcturus spoke to the portrait, "This is why the house is in such a state. You wasted the money meant for its maintenance on this nonsense. Now it's clear where the money went."

Harry, standing behind Arcturus, looked at Walburga Black's portrait. The screeching voice was even more unbearable in person than he had imagined, making it clear why Sirius had been so eager to leave this place behind.

With Walburga's portrait now silent thanks to Lord Black's presence, they decided it was time to get some answers from Kreacher. The old house-elf appeared with a pop, looking rather unhappy about serving Sirius, whom he called a "blood traitor."

"Kreacher! Shut up and answer Lord Black's questions truthfully," Sirius said, clearly running out of patience.

Kreacher, though grumbling under his breath, revealed how Walburga had spent her last days. She was consumed by her grief for Regulus and her anger towards Sirius. She feared that after her death, the house would fall into hands that didn't align with her pure-blood ideals. That's why she went to such lengths with her portrait, ensuring it would remain a permanent fixture to drive away anyone she disapproved of. She focused so much on this that she neglected the house's upkeep, leading to its current state.

The house, once majestic, was now in ruins, except for the magically guarded library.

Sirius, determined to erase the house's grim past, planned a major overhaul. But first, he wanted to assess the full extent of its condition. As they walked through the house, Harry was surprised by its size. Despite its modest exterior, the inside was vast, filled with neglected rooms and infested with pests, thanks to magical expansion.

As they explored further, they discovered a room in immaculate condition, untouched by the decay that gripped the rest of the house. Curious about this anomaly, Sirius summoned Kreacher once more for an explanation.

Harry had a hunch about what they would find next. He suspected this well-preserved room belonged to Regulus Black. Given that both Arcturus and Sirius were present and in their right minds, it seemed inevitable that Regulus's secret would soon come to light.