Andromeda took a moment to think about what she was going to say. Finally, she broke the silence.
"I know that you and Lucretia were raised to view everyone equally, regardless of blood status," she finally began. "While your sister has seen everyone as equals, you have stuck to the old pure-blood traditions. Would you like to explain to me why that is?"
Orion scoffed. "Oh, you're already accusing me of something, I see," he commented bitterly.
"No, I am not accusing you of anything," Andromeda said calmly. "I would just like to hear your story. That is all."
Orion sighed. "Very well," he finally said. "I will tell you, I suppose. You are right that Mother and Father tried raising me to value everyone the same, regardless of blood status. At first, it worked. But during family gatherings, I would hang out with the other members around my age, like Walburga, Alphard, and others. Alphard was quiet..."
"He's not now," Andromeda commented with a smile. "He's very vocal."
"That's because he didn't like Walburga's views, and he started running his mouth to other family members, telling them that Walburga was wrong," Orion stated.
Andromeda sighed. She didn't like how Orion was talking about Alphard, but she decided not to comment on that. Instead, she pressed on. "So, did you hang out with Walburga the most? Is that my understanding?"
"Yes, though I also hung out with some of the other adults, the ones that held different views than what I was raised on," Orion explained. "Lucretia was always watching me, and she told Mother and Father who I was hanging out with."
"Oh yes, I know what that feels like," Andromeda said with a sigh. "Older siblings like telling on their younger siblings. I cannot count how many times Bellatrix told on Narcissa and I for every single mistake we made."
"Yes, well, my parents started monitoring who I was hanging with during family gatherings, because according to them, the people I was talking to were bad influences," Orion continued.
"Did they ever explain to you why those people were bad influences?" Andromeda asked.
"They said that those people didn't believe in the true values of the Black family, but since I was still a child, they didn't say too much," Orion replied. "It wasn't until I got to Hogwarts that I could form my own opinions. My parents were not there to watch me all the time, and Lucretia was four years ahead of me. Walburga introduced me to some other Slytherins, and I learned more about the pure-blood values."
"So that's when everything changed?" Andromeda asked. "When you no longer had your parents and sister watching you all the time, that's when things started to change?"
"That's correct," Orion confirmed. "Walburga taught me that the Blacks valued pure of blood originally."
"So, I am a history nerd, including history about our family," Andromeda said. "And according to the research I've done about the history of our lineage, when the Black family first came to be, they valued family over blood status. It was actually later, I believe several generations later, when some Blacks started becoming allies with families who viewed blood status above all else. That is how the pure-blood traditions started."
Orion didn't know if he could believe it or not. "And why should I believe you?" Orion asked.
"Well, you see," Andromeda began. "I read up on history all the time, but I can confirm what I know with someone who is even more of a history nerd than I am."
"My father," Orion finished for her, knowing what she was getting at. Andromeda nodded.
"But there's something else I would like to point out," Andromeda continued. "In many families, like the Potters, Bones, and other pure-blood families, they have, let's say, family members with special abilities. Have you noticed that the Black Family hasn't had any in recent generations?"
Orion thought for a moment. As a child, he had memorized the family tree, something that had been expected of him. Even to this day, he still remembered all those names and how everyone was related.
"I suppose I haven't thought about that, but you are correct," he said after a moment. "I don't remember anyone having any kind of special abilities, as you called it, for at least a century, if not more. But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Well, history shows that when new blood is in the family, like half-bloods and Muggle-borns, the children are more likely to have special... I suppose we can call them gifts," Andromeda explained. "When there are no half-bloods and Muggle-borns in the family, there is a very likely chance that overtime, the generations will be weaker. Take Marius for example."
Orion gave Andromeda a look that clearly told her he didn't believe her. "There's no proof of that," he snapped.
Andromeda made a mental note to ask Arcturus for more information on this. "As I was saying," she continued. "Since the Black Family finally has new blood, there is a very likely chance that Dora could end up with a special gift. It's too early to tell, but even Sirius, Regulus, and your parents think she will."
Orion snorted in disbelief. "I don't believe that a Muggle-born could strengthen our lineage," he said. "Find me proof, then MAYBE I'll believe you."
Andromeda nodded. "Very well," she said, standing. "Between now and the next time I come, I'll get more information on what I've been talking about. Now, one more thing before I go." She paused before continuing. "Do you think that if your parents had been a little more forthcoming about why people like Walburga were bad influences, do you think that would have changed anything?"
Orion was silent for a moment before answering. "I think it would have made more sense," he finally admitted. "If they had been more open to telling me why they were keeping me away from those family members, and if Lucretia had not been so nosy, perhaps things would have been different."
Andromeda nodded. "Your parents and sister were just trying to protect you, because they care," she said softly. "Could they have done things differently? Absolutely. However, they meant well. Perhaps one day, you can talk to them again, and you can talk about this, and see how..."
"I'm not committing to talking to them," Orion interrupted.
Andromeda laughed lightly. "I didn't say you were committing to that. All I'm saying is that maybe one day you'll talk to them again," she said. "Then perhaps, you can tell them how you felt when they were shielding you without really explaining much, and they can tell you why they did things the way they did. No one is perfect, not even the patriarch and matriarch of the family. Anyway, I shall let you think about all that we've talked about today, and I will try to get more information before our next meeting. Have a great day, Uncle Orion."
As Andromeda left, she knew that it would take some time to get Orion to see that Muggle-borns were good people, were people that should be a part of the Black family. She immediately headed for Hogwarts, knowing that the sooner she talked to Arcturus, the better. She would have to be careful not to disclose too much, because she knew that Orion would not like that. She just hoped that Arcturus could give her more information, more evidence on why Muggle-borns should be accepted. Only time would tell if that would be enough to change Orion's mindset on Muggle-borns.