Aurora Black (neé Greengrass) considers herself to be a very reasonable woman.

Her stable head on her shoulders kept her from making mistakes with lifelong consequences (much unlike her husband, and that unsightly tattoo of his). It helped keep her head above water and down enough to avoid people's attention. A quiet snake. Hiding in the grass and keeping out of sight (somedays, she wonders how she managed to snag Walburga Black as a mother-in-law, but that is a story for another day).

Today's story is her watching her niece.

Ursala and Vulpecula took one look at each other and have been unable to stray further than two meters away from the other. It bodes well for her daughter (she was beginning to feel she was a little too antisocial, she doesn't take much interest in her second cousin, but that might be because Draco is terribly bratty) to have playmates with good breeding (well, half good breeding), and more so with someone of her blood. Regulus is still in shock (or denial, perhaps), but she expects him to check into reality by the end of the week. Hopefully just in time for him to make an official declaration to the public.

"Bear!" Ursala declares, patting the area where her favorite toy would be seated for the playdate, "Bear!"

Vulpecula, still too young to talk (Walburga suspects she'll be a late bloomer like her father), stares at her cousin impassively. Ursala takes this as a confirmation and sits the stuffed animal down.

"Where will the fox sit?" Aurora asks, because she's never spoken to the child of a mudblood before-She's curious. And she can't say that the halfling's mother (her goodsister[1], for Merlin's sake) trusts her enough to stay in a room with her (though she trusts her enough to leave her alone with her child. Mudbloods are curious indeed.) So with whom else can she learn about the less-than-pure?

Ursala stares at Aurora, contemplating the question seriously, before gently patting the space in front of Vulpecula. Vulpecula yawns. Eleven month olds are terribly boring, but seeing how full of life her niece is brings some excitement to Aurora for what awaits her own offspring (not her tantrums, however, those she's sure were inherited from Walburga).

"Rori." Ursala calls her, "Rori rori."

"Yes, Ursala?" What a fine name. The mudblood did good by it. She'll comment about it once she returns, "Are you hungry?"

"Belle." She nods her head, black curls bobbing up and down with her movements.

"Kreacher." She summons, the elf appearing with a snap.

"Yes, Lady Regulus[2]?"

"Bring us a plate of fresh fruit. Make sure to cut up the big ones so Ursala doesn't choke."

"The halfbreed isn't worthy of eating with Lady Regulus and Lady Vulpecula. Kreacher does not know why Mistress Black allowed her and the mudblood into the house-"

"Noted." She ignores him, "Regardless, Vulpecula wishes to eat with her cousin. Bring her some cantaloupe to gum on, as well."

As expected, the mention of her daughter's wants changes his tune, "Right away Lady Regulus." He disappears to the kitchen, still bitter, probably thinking about another way to tell her mother-in-law that the two new additions to the family shouldn't be here.

She hums as her niece begins her daily Kreach Kreach Kreach! chants, marching around the playroom with Vulpecula giving her all the attention in the world. It warms her ice cold heart, truly-Hopefully the two would become closer rather than estranged as they grew. The way her husband and brother-in-law did. Family should protect each other. Be loyal to each other. Like herself and her brother, Ellis-Who needs to bring his little Daphne over for a playdate with the cousins as well...Once she broke the news to him and his wife, that is. That'll be a fun conversation.

A sigh, she should have asked Kreacher for a wineskin as well.

"Rori!" Ursala comes up to her, placing her chubby little hands on the tops of her knees and batting at them like drums, "RoriRegulus! RoriRegulus!"

"Lady Regulus." She corrects, making sure to point to her mouth and enunciate, "Lay-dee-Re-geu-lus."

The two year old stares, "Lady." She tries, bouncing up on her toes with every word, "LadyLadyLadyLadyLady. Laaayyyydeeee Regulus."

That would have to do. "Quite."

She continues her march around the room.

Lady Regulus. She's done quite well for herself, if you ask her. Granted, Vulpecula will no longer be the true heir to the House of Black, but a part of her is (quite honestly) relieved that Sirius managed to get it up long enough to be with a woman successfully (she had suspicions about himself and Potter at school, may he and his wife rest in peace.) Walburga has some very...archaic views of heirs. Soulsucking. Stressful. Intense. Call her a lightweight but Aurora was raised a Greengrass. And they do things a little differently in her home. Mainly not engage so freely and willingly in the throws of dark magicks (they flirt with the idea, but never commit). Ursala and her mudblood mother showing up were, quite frankly, a literal blessing. Although she will miss holding the official title of Mistress Black, it's not worth the binding contract needed in order to lead the oldest wizarding clan in the country.

"Guh." Vulpecula bubbles wiggling closer to her still marching cousin.

Aurora nods once. Quite right.

[1] Medieval term for sister-in-law

[2] "Lady Husbandfirstname Surname" is a proper way to address daughters of nobility who marry other nobility (it's more nuanced than that, but). Basically. I figured British wizards work similarly.

This fic is meant for me to write at least ONCE a week so...yeah. Not beta'd, and messy. Glad people seem to like it tho.