Growing up Pureblooded

Preparing For Evil

In the days leading up to Christmas, Aries drilled from dawn until dusk, going over all the etiquette and genealogy he had learnt, as well as practicing his French intensively in case he was called upon to give a demonstration. Other lessons were suspended, as was playtime, an the portraits all joined Uncle Marius and Aunt Clytemnestra in helping Aries to prepare. The day before Christmas Eve, Uncle Marius sat with Aries in the parlor going over the names of the family members he would encounter the next day. Uncle Marius held up a photograph sowing a very grave wizard and a plump, smiling witch. "Who is this?" he asked. "My great-grandfather, Arcturus Sirius Black, Order of Merlin, First Class, Head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black," Aries recited dully for the fortieth time. "He had been living in France for twenty-three years ever since he left England in a huff after his candidate to become Minister for Magic was passed over. He opposed the Dark Lord because he believed that any pure blood wizard who was worth his sale would take pride in his family name and not conceal it with a silly pseudonym. He suspected He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named of illegitimacy." "Correct," Uncle Marius said proudly. "Uncle Marius, what is illegitimacy?" Aries asked. "It is when your parent's aren't married," Uncle Marius explained, turning a bit red.

"Oh, the witch is my great-grandmother, Melania Macmillan Black," Aries continued. "She's the sanest person in the family. She'll be wanting me to go to France so she can feed me lots of rich baked goods and keep me away from Aunt Cassiopeia." Uncle Marius nodded and held up another photo, which displayed an old wizard with a maniacal gleam in his eyes, standing as far apart as he could manage from a squint-eyed witch. Aries closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "That's my other great-grandfather, Pollux Cygnus Black. He was Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot for six months before Dumbledore took over, an refuses to allow anyone to forget it. He moved to Transylvania ten years ago in order to take advantage of their lack of pesky restrictions on Muggle hunting. He was a big supporter of the Dark Lord Grindelwald, and was too disillusioned after his defeat to back He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The witch is my great-grandmother, Irma Crabbe Black. She and Pollux try to talk to each other as little as possible."

Uncle Marius flipped to the next photograph. "My father's great-aunt," Cassiopeia Virgo Black. She's on the Hogwarts Board of Governors, never married. She's very skilled at the Dark Arts." "And who is this?" his uncle asked, holding up a photograph of a stern-looking wizard with blond hair. "My mother's father, Abraxas Hippocrates Malfoy. Major financial backer of the Dark Lord, never openly supported him. He'll want to keep me away from Arcturus, and to make sure I recieve a healthy grounding in the Dark Arts, in order to counterbalance the puritanical nonsense I'll be getting at Hogwarts." He paused. "What's puritanical, again?" "Excessively concerned with doing the right thing," Uncle Marius explained. "But shouldn't you always try to do the right thing?" Aries asked. Uncle Marius smiled. "You know that, and I know that, but Abrazas feels there are some more important things, such as acquiring power and wealth." "But what's the point of having all that power and gold unless it's to use it to help you do the right thing?" "Precisely, Aries." His uncle chuckled and held up the last photograph, showing four people with blond hair.

That's my Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa. He was a Death Eater, but got out of Azkaban by claiming to have been under the Imperius Curse. Aunt Narcissa is very active in charitable work. She sits on the board of St. Mungo's and chairs the Christmas Robes Drive for Needy Witches and Wizards every year. The boy is their son, my cousin Draco. The older witch is Aunt Narcissa's mother, Druella Rosier Black. She's a widow and lives at Malfoy Manor with her daughter. She was accused of playing a part in a recent famine that struck the Home Counties, but nothing was ever proved."

"In other words Aries," James portrait observed, "they are all nutters. There's a reason that Sirius ran away from home at sixteen." Aries nodded, "I'm beginning to see that, Uncle James." "You don't have to worry about figuring out how to please them though," James went on, "They're a nasty bunch. If it looks like your slipping, just think of the most evil thing you can say and say it. They'll all fawn over you. OWW!!!" At that point, Lily had just swatted the back of James' head. "Great advice you're giving him," Lily scolded. "Just be evil. Some role model you are." "Actually Lily," Regina said chiming in, "As much as I hate to admit it, your husband is right." James grinned, "I knew you'd see the light eventually." Regina rolled her eyes, "even a broken clock is right twice a day. In any event, everyone will be looking to see how Aries lives up to their expectations. If he can satisfy them that he's on the right track, they will give him anything he wants." Lily groaned, "In other words, we're teaching Aries how to acquire minions and manipulate people." Uncle Marius smiled mischievously. "Precisely." Lily turned to Aries sadly, her eyes pleading, "Fine just please promise me you'll remember that this is all just acting. Don't actually become EVIL!" Aries rolled his eyes. "I won't Aunt Lily."