THC
House: Hufflepuff
Class: Transfiguration
Category: Standard
Prompt(s): Marauders Era [Pairing Type] Grandparent/Grandchild
Word count: 1245

"Sirius Orion Black, get in my study RIGHT NOW."

Sirius gulped as he slowly approached his grandfather's study. He wasn't sure why he was being called to his grandfather's study but it was never a good reason when he was. The last time he went in there, his grandfather Arcturus had been the one informed of his less than stellar grade in Astronomy. Whatever the reason was, he was certain that it wasn't a good one, it couldn't be!

"Lord Black summoned you, brat. Stop dragging your feet! As if you weren't already enough of a stain on the honor of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black by being sorted into that blithering house of idiots called Gryffindor! Why couldn't you be more like your brother Regulus, a credit to the name of Black!"

Sirius held in a scowl and a flinch at his mothers cruel jabs. Regardless of the fact he was used to them, they still stung more than he liked to admit. So what if he wasn't a Pureblood supremacist that despised Half-Bloods and muggle-borns as aberrations of magic that should either be subjugated for Pureblood control or exterminated as a threat to Pureblood control of the realm?! He was twice the wizard his brother was in ways that Regulus would never dream of! If anything, his brother was the disappointment, NOT him! He was interrupted from his tirading by a firm hand clasping his shoulder making dark eyes look up.

Arcturus Black was a clean cut older man that seemed to ooze aristocracy. His dark hair was peppered with strands of grey and brushed back into a fashionable mans ponytail that came to the bottom of his neck. Dark eyes smoldered with indifference as firm hands guided his grandson towards the Lord's Study. "Sirius, despite your mothers presumptions, you are not in trouble. Not this time at least" the older wizard said as he motioned for the younger one to sit before the dark oak desk. "As I'm sure you're aware, I've yet to name a successor to the title of Lord Black."

Sirius nodded slowly as took the offered seat, not sure where this conversation was going. Why was his grandfather talking to him about this? If all went as it was supposed to according to the family charter, his father Orion was the first in line to become Lord Black. Barring his father being looked over for the title, the next in-line via position of regency until their magical maturity came about, he struggled to figure how his family was still around to this day with its track record of misogynistic behavior- he briefly cursed Lily in his head for filling part of his mind with progressive muggle ideas that clashed with his upbringing he didn't agree with, was technically him. Technically, since his mother would sit Regent on the Wizengamot seat and he shuddered to think what damage she would do with that much power at her fingertips. "Everyone is aware of it, Grandfather. The others are chomping at the bit and I wouldn't be surprised if my aunts, cousins and Merlin forbid my mother start poisoning the competition to be the wife and or child of the last Black male to make them the de facto secondary heir" he said cautiously.

Arcturus nodded his head as he laced his fingers together on top of the desk. "Yes, unfortunately, that has already happened. Your cousin Canis was murdered last night by your other cousin Wisteria. If the House Elves were correct, he was found with a dagger shoved in his chest" he said conversationally. "Quite frankly, I'm not very impressed. It was quite sloppy and obviously since Wisteria has been notoriously murderous from a young age."

Sirius' face drained of color at the knowledge given to him. He actually kind of liked his older cousin Canis. Sure, the guy was a couple of bludgers short of a quidditch set but to be killed so savagely like that was just ghastly!

"But that is neither here nor there where what I want to talk to you about is concerned." Arcturus pressed a rune carved into his desk and briefly channelled a bit of magic into it making the walls glow telling him the array was active. "Sirius, I'm going to name you my heir at the convening of House Black in six days time for the All Hallows Eve sacrifice" he said with a deadly serious expression.

Sirius audibly and visibly gulped at the prospect. "This wouldn't happen to be a punishment for me not doing so well in school, right? You just told me that everyone is murdering their closest male relatives to have said relative the last Black male standing. You'd be setting me up for execution from all sides!" he squeaked in fright. Damn airs and reputations, he wanted to live!

"Sirius, I need you to understand something. I know what the general consensus most of the older families and those of the Light-Alliance within the Wizengamot think of our blood. Dark, evil, Purebloods who sneer down their noses at those who are seemingly beneath them." Arcturus grimaced as he said those things. "Truth be told, I would toss out those who fit that description but then we would have no family to speak of and therefore no status for us to accomplish our agenda. Not that I have the same agenda as everyone else, my mindset is a lot like yours as you know."

Sirius still did not look convinced of his grandfather's decision. "Yes, I know. Look where it has gotten me" he said, his eyes shooting back towards the door where undoubtedly his mother was trying to spy on the meeting. Sadly for her, the previous Lord Black prior to Arcturus had been a supremely paranoid man and had the room practically booby trapped with runic arrays to prevent spying and the deaths of House Black enemies who penetrated the estate.

"Yes, your mother thinks you are no better than a Half-Blood and a disgrace to the family name but she is an antique that has not quite yet gotten the subtleties of how to properly get things done within our family. For a Slytherin, she is not the smartest snake in the nest. A rather sad turn of events considering she was a force to be reckoned with when she was in Hogwarts with your father" Arcturus said candidly.

"Can we please get back to the fact you want to paint a target on my back by naming me your heir?" Sirius asked.

"Oh quit whining, you are a Black and we do not whine. It is beneath us" Arcturus said with what could be considered a superior looking smirk. "And as for painting a target on your back, I have faith in you Sirius. It is as simple as that. I know you won't let the power go to your head and actually try to do something to make the name Black more credible than being assumed to have sent an assassin to kill their enemies."

"I probably shouldn't have to ask this but how often was that actually the case?" Sirius asked, wiping sweaty palms on his robes.

"Now, about the process of making you my heir."

"I'm going to die."

"Stop being dramatic, a Black does not die. We do not die, we have a second wind as we get resurrected" Arcturus said, waving his hand dismissively.