Chapter 190 The Black Family Collection
Standing in the dark vestibule, Evan gazed around with curiosity.
As the mansion of the Black family, Number 12 Grimmauld Place is a typical pure-blood wizarding house. The decorations adorning every corner had centuries of history. If ever put on the market, they would undoubtedly be valuable antiquities.
In front of them stretched a narrow hallway, its end obscured from view.
Right in front of the vestibule stood a decorative light shaped like a tree. Both the chandelier and the candelabra on a nearby wobbling table were molded in the form of serpents.
After Voldemort's return, the house was used as the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. At this moment, it should be unused by anyone and naturally not protected by magic. The thick layer of dust surrounding everything indicated that no one had been there for a long time.
Evan couldn't fathom why Sirius had brought them here. It would be reasonable to say that the latter harbored immense hatred for the house. However, Black had just mentioned coming here to get a Christmas present for him and Hermione. What could it be?
"No one has lived here for over a decade. We better hurry and leave once we're done," Sirius whispered, stepping into the vestibule.
A creak echoed through the ancient floor, a sound that felt particularly chilling in the old, empty house.
Evan didn't know what they were looking for, but he knew that Slytherin's locket was kept there. If he could find it and destroy it, it would save him a lot of trouble.
The locket must be in the room of Sirius's younger brother, Regulus. He had placed it there, and Evan wasn't exactly sure where.
If he had the chance, he would search for it.
Evan hastened to catch up with Sirius, and Hermione couldn't help but cling to his arm. Harry walked ahead of them, with a mix of tension and inexplicable excitement on his face.
In the dark and narrow hallway, they passed by a large umbrella stand made from a troll's severed leg.
To the left of the umbrella stand was a dark staircase, and the wall next to it seemed to be adorned with something.
Sirius didn't ascend the stairs, and Evan, Harry, and Hermione, brimming with curiosity, approached to inspect the blurry decoration on the wall. Then, the three held their breath upon seeing a row of shrunken heads mounted on plates on the wall.
They were all heads of house-elves, each with the same large, ugly nose.
"I don't understand, this house seems to be that of the most wicked dark wizards," whispered Harry. "Why did Sirius' parents live here?"
"Remember, except Sirius, all members of the Black family are from Slytherin House," Evan whispered too. "Think about their taste, and you should be able to understand."
"Why are there heads of house-elves hanging on the wall?" Hermione's expression was full of fear and confusion, and still showed some anger.
"They are not the ones hanging them. It is a tradition of the house-elves. They have served a wizarding family since birth. When they grow old, they are beheaded, and their heads are grotesquely stuffed and mounted on the house walls. Undoubtedly, this is considered by the house-elves as the highest honor."
"I don't understand, this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" Hermione doubted. "Dobby isn't like that..."
"He is an exception; he is different from the other house-elves." Evan gently stroked Hermione's shoulder. "We'd better wait to return to school to discuss this matter; here I feel very uncomfortable."
He didn't know if it was an illusion. Evan always felt like something was hiding in the house, secretly watching them in the dark. That feeling was very intense.
But looking around, he saw nothing.
Sirius didn't stop at all during their conversation; his figure had disappeared into the corner of the narrow hallway.
They hurried to follow him and then passed through two long curtains covered in moths that seemed to hide a door.
When Harry passed through, he glanced at the curtain.
The next moment, he involuntarily took a few steps back, seized by panic, as if he had seen something extremely dreadful.
"What's wrong, Harry?"
"Inside, there's a portrait inside, upstairs..."
Evan turned his head and saw the curtain on the wall automatically slide to the sides, revealing something hidden behind it, and a portrait of a fierce old lady hanging on the wall.
Seeing the three people, Evan, Harry, and Hermione, the old lady screamed louder than ever, waving her hands like claws as if trying to claw off their faces.
"Filth! Scum! Products of filth and disgrace! Half-breeds, mutants, monsters, out of this place! How dare you defile my parents' house?"
The old lady's face was simply horrible. While Evan and the other two stood there quietly, unsure of what to do, Sirius Black came running back.
"Shut up, you horrible old hag, shut up!" he roared, trying to close the curtain.
"You!" The old lady's face went pale, and her eyes bulged at the sight of Sirius. Then she roared. "Blood traitor, abomination, shame of my lineage! How dare you return?! You are this..."
"I said... shh... BE QUIET!" roared the man, and with a tremendous effort, he managed to close the curtains again.
The old woman's screams faded, and a resonating silence fell.
"Who is she?" Harry whispered, still looking concerned.
"My mother, you should know. When she was alive, she had this appearance," Sirius said, maintaining a serious face.
"She, she is your..."
"My dear old mum, yes," said Sirius, "Didn't I mention it before? This was my parents' house, and they intended to leave it to my brother, but only I continued in the family, so this house is all mine now."
"What are we doing here?" Evan asked.
"We came to look for Christmas gifts for you and Hermione," explained Sirius, "I asked Lupin, Hagrid, and others about their preferences. They both enjoy reading books, and the Black Family Library is in this house. There are many rare magic books here. Many of them have been in the Black family for centuries and have never been taken out. I think they will be interested."
"Precious magic books?!" Evan was astonished.
Compared to Harry and Hermione, who were beside themselves, he understood the value of such books.
As he had inquired at Flourish and Blotts for acquiring magic books, Evan was aware of their true worth.
An out-of-print magic book is priceless and of inestimable value.
These were the heritage of a pure-blood wizarding family. No one would obtain them. If not for this opportunity, no stranger would have been able to peruse these books.
The longer the genealogy of a wizarding family, the greater the value of the collection of magic books.
The history of the Black family dates back to the dawn of the millennia, like The Noble and Ancient House of Black. It can be said that they are among the few true pure-blood wizards in the magical world. The family collection... Evan was so thrilled at the thought.
He wanted to take a quick look, but were magic books not too costly for Christmas gifts?
Sirius seemed to sense Evan's apprehension, and he explained in a straightforward manner: "Don't mention it, you've helped me, a few magic books cannot repay you. Moreover, if you don't peruse those books, they will merely sit there gathering dust."