Growing up Pureblooded

The Small Voice

Marius Black pulled his sleek black car to an easy stop directly in front of number four, Privet Drive. He let out a deep sigh. "For Heaven's sake, Marius," his wife chided him. "If you didn't want to come this evening, why on earth did you accept the muggle's invitation?" "Brandon says that Dursley has talent," Marius replied. "He things we should give the account to Grunnings." Clytemnestra Black sniffed Haughtily. Marius chuckled, Squibs they both might be - a disgrace to their families- but his wife had never lost her pureblood pride. "I hardly see why we should trouble ourselves to meet with him," she said. "Why didn't you send Brandon?" Marius sighed again. His wife refused to attempt to understand how these things worked. "The Dursleys invited us, my dear," he replied evenly. "Would you have me insult the muggles?" His wife grinned maliciously, "Do you really want to know what I should prefer to do to the Muggle? Really, for some lowely Muggle scum to presume to invite Marius Black from the Noble Most Ancient House of Black to dinner... it boggles my mind." That was enough. Marius turned on his wife with a ferocious gleam in his eye. "Fine," he spat. "Why don't we pay a visit to Malfoy Manner then. I am sure Abraxis will be simply delighted to see his dear squib sister."

Clytemnestra turned pale, but she said nothing more as she gathered her mink about her and exited the car. Marius' heart sank; he cared for his wife deeply, and it hurt him to cause her pain, but every now and then she needed to be reminded exactly what they were. They were squibs not accepted by their pureblooded wizard families. She tended to forget why it was that they had to put up with all these miserable muggles in the first place. Marius got out of the car and offered his arm to his wife. She refused to take it, but marched ahead to the Dursley's door. He followed her and rapped smartly on the door three times with his silver-topped cane.

Vernon Dursley opened the door. "Good evening, Mr. & Mrs. Black!" he exclaimed. "What an honor for us to have you in our humble home. Allow me to present my lovely wife, Petunia, and our son Dudley." Marius forced himself to smile as he raised the giraffe looking woman's over-large hand to his lips and ruffled the hair of her whale of a son. "Charmed," Marius said hoping the sarcasm didn't come through in his tone. You have a fine family, Mr. Dursley." Clytemnestra cleared her throat loudly beside him. Marius ignored her. "May I take your coat, Mr. & Mrs. Black?" the fat boy asked. Marius could hear the boredom in his tone, and wondered how much the brat was being paid to act appropriately this evening. He removed his overcoat and hat and placed them in the boy's outstretched arms. "Thank you, my lad," he said and then turned and glared at his wife until she removed her mink and dropped it over the boy as carelessly as if he were a house-elf.

"Won't you step into the parlor, Mrs. Black?" the woman asked Clytemnestra, who was visibly suppressing a great many snide remarks. "Thank you, Mrs. Dursley," she drawled. "Oh please, call me Petunia," the woman replied. Marius stifle a chuckle. Clytemnestra looked at the woman as though she were a bit of manure that had appeared on the tip of her show. "I prefer Mrs. Dursley," she said coldly. Vernon Dursley laughed nervously at that and began to wave them into the parlor. "What would you care to drink?" He asked.

    Before they could leave the hallway Marius heard a loud sneeze. He turned around it seemed to him that it was coming from the cupboard under the stairs . Then he heard a small voice berating himself in a harsh whisper. If Marius hadn't been so surprised he would have laughed. It sounded just like a house-elf, but how could there possibly be a house-elf in this muggle's home? He decided to investigate. "If you will excuse me Mr. Dursley," he said stepping briefly into the parlor after his hosts, " I was wondering where I might freshen up." "Oh!" exclaimed Mr Dursley, as though stunned that such an important man as Mr. Black might need to relieve himself occasionally. "In the hallway, right across from the cupboard under the stairs." "Excellent," Marius replied with a wry smile. "I shall return presently."