You're gonna rattle the stars, you are.
-John Silver, Treasure Planet
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black has fallen among the stars, no longer existing except in the legends and legacies that their illustrious members have left behind. They are gone, but on the blackest of nights you can still find them, twinkling in the sky above.
There's Alphard, the Heart of the Serpent, the one who was ever-so popular but ever-so alone, who was blasted off the family tree for trying to be a proper uncle. The only one who never marries, never has children. Because that's what he is, the Solitary Heart. But, like the heart of the Hydra he is necessary, vital for life, heroes can chop off all the heads and they shall grow back, but aim for the heart and all is lost. Without him to tip the scales, hold the balance, his family falls.
Cygnus, the Swan, the man who likes everyone to see, the one who has a host of daughters who are utterly perfect but no sons, no heir to call his own. Yet who dies completely and utterly alone.
Orion, who is constantly hunting but never catching his prize, who has only sons who are utterly and irrecoverably Black but they all leave him in the end, chained to the causes he has driven them to. Who's alone with only his half-mad wife and a deranged house-elf when he dies.
There's Bellatrix, the Beautiful Warrior, the Conquering Amazon, the one who they all knew would go out with a bang and did not disappoint. Who spent her life fighting for the only things her father would never give her; love, glory, power (But mostly power). She destroys all she holds dear for something that would never be. When she dies she is surrounded only by those who despise her.
Then there's Andromeda, the Chained Princess, thrown to the monsters by the ones she loves best. She never was in control of her destiny and she never will be. She falls in love, has a beautiful child and husband then has it all ripped away from her. She buries her husband, daughter, and son-in-law in the same year.
Sirius, the Faithful Dog, the brightest star in the sky, the boy who outshone them all yet disappointed everyone. A snake in lion's clothing. The rebel who attempted to satisfy nobody but himself and never even did that. The one who would have died for those he loved even when they did nothing but kick him. The one who slept with half of London but gave his heart away to the one girl he could never have. The 'white sheep' of the family, the one who ran away but never quite got away.
Regulus, the Black Prince, the Heart of the Lion, the one who stood alone, who hid his golden mane under slick scales and cunning smiles. The one who was pushed around on the chessboard by those he loved best, who sacrificed everything for everybody else. Who was never loved, only valued as another piece in an incredibly complex game. Who died alone with only rotting corpses for company. It was days before anybody even knew he was dead.
They explode (They always do), so like the stars they're named for. Some in brilliant supernovas for all to see and some disappear quietly, long gone before you even knew they were leaving.
Here comes a candle to light you to bed,
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.
Chop chop chop chop
The last man's dead!
-Oranges and Lemons