Order Only: Well, here's what the Prophet says

[alt_bill]

Sirius, here are their words, not mine, as printed in the Daily Prophet today:

Double Tragedy Strikes Malfoy - Black Families

Reporters at the Daily Prophet have learned that Walburga Medea Black, aged 68, died yesterday while in audience with the Lord Protector at Windsor Castle. Mrs Black suffered a massive stroke shortly after learning to her shock that her only remaining son, Regulus Arcturus Black, had broken the restrictions placed on him for his own and others' protection, and apparently met his demise. Regulus, who had a history of mental instability, had attempted suicide two weeks previously. He was held at St Mungo's and released to his mother's custody on the condition that they remain sequestered in their ancestral home in London, according to family friends. As was visible through journal reports, he continued to struggle with his recovery and his family remained concerned for his well-being.

It is still unknown at this time whether his death was a successful suicide or some other circumstance. The Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement are determining whether to investigate at the time of this printing. Our reporters have learned from an unnamed source close to the Lord Protector, that Mr Black's duties had been curtailed lately due to the Lord Protector's concern for his mental state. 'The Lord Protector has tried throughout the past two years to help Mr Black return to full health,' said our source, 'but Regulus has had more and more trouble. Everyone's seen his posts. They're cracked. I think he was much more troubled than anyone realised, except perhaps His Lordship.'

Mrs Black apparently discovered her son missing this morning, when he failed to answer repeated calls to come down for breakfast. She alerted the Lord Protector. His other family and friends were also summoned to help begin a search for him, for fear he would bring himself to harm. Before any ground could be gained, however, Mrs Black learned of his death from his portrait. According to the staff at Windsor, she came by Floo, but was already in some physical distress at that time. They described her behaviour as erratic and apoplectic. St Mungo's Healers confirmed late yesterday that the early signs of stroke may present through similar symptoms. Mr Nicodemus Broome, the Lord Protector's personal secretary, said that Mrs Black reported her evidence of her son's demise, which the Lord Protector received with dismay. However, her duty discharged, the strain of her loss proved too much for Mrs Black and she collapsed before the assembled Court. St Mungo's Healers were called in and pronounced her dead on the scene.

The Black family have lost two other members in the past six months: Lucretia Prewett, aged 67, who passed away on 20 October last year; and Cassiopeia Black, aged 77, who succumbed to pneumonia on 31 December. Regulus Black died just one day short of his 33rd birthday, which would have been today.

The twin losses of Walburga Black and her son Regulus bring to a halt the line of Arcturus and Melania Black. The only other surviving member of the family is the arch-traitor, Sirius, who is currently being pursued by Ministry Enforcers in Europe. Mrs Black is also survived by her sister-in-law, Druella Rosier Black and her nieces, Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy.

No funeral arrangements have been made public at this time.

The thing that strikes me as very dodgy is Barty Crouch's remark that your mother 'was responsible for herself.' That doesn't sound to me quite like he's speaking of a woman dying of natural causes (not to mention the reference to her acting 'erratic and apoplectic.') The implication that she was in Voldemort's presence when she died makes me think there are things they're going to want to hush up about all this.

If I'm reading the commenting going back and forth between Mrs Malfoy, Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange right, you may now be the only person who can get into your family residence. The question is, why do they care so much? Their urgency about this strikes me as suggestive...but of what, I don't yet know. Is there anything in there that would be of use to them? Do you know anything about the spell Lestrange has mentioned?

Forgive me, I don't mean to press you at a time like this. But it sounds like whatever blood magic protections are on that house are now protecting your interests.

The only other thing I've managed to learn is that no one has yet managed to find his body...or at least no one's admitted it. And I think I'd hear, because the Lord Protector really wants to find it.

How are you holding up?

Comments

[alt_sirius]

Thanks for copying all that out, Bill.

But it's not my mother's 'erratic' behaviour that concerns me. Believe me, she was more than erratic even if she wasn't suffering a stroke. Sorry if this sounds cold but I don't much care what story they want to tell about her.

Regulus never had a history of mental instability - they're making it sound as if he was completely off his broom. I don't know what they're driving at, but it can't be anything good.

As for the house, I've been reading over that with interest. Thing is, I do remember our father casting that spell on the place. He didn't tell us what it was at the time, of course. Just that it was an extra-special protection. He had about a dozen warlocks in the house that night, and I remember specifically that Mother had to go stay with Aunt Druella. Couldn't be in the house, you see. Spell was gender-specific. I don't know what he'd have done if we hadn't both been male. Probably she'd have had to cast the spell a second time with witches.

Anyway, if it's what I think it is, then whatever Rodolphus Lestrange has planned involving my mother's corpse probably won't do them any good at all.

As to what's in the place - well, I'm sure they'd all love to pilfer the library. And who knows what else my parents have stuffed in their cupboards, could be loads of dark artifacts. But I think Malfoy's right when he says there's nothing urgent. They just can't stand the thought of all that stuff going to waste.

I wonder what happened to Kreacher, though.

And I'm fine, thanks for asking. This gives me the information I need, anyway. Time to put my quill back in action, I think.