Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange are two of the most prominent characters in the Harry Potter series, but how are they related? And what does their family history reveal about their personalities and choices? In this article, we will explore the complex and fascinating genealogy of the House of Black, an old and pure-blooded wizarding family that produced both heroes and villains.
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The Black family motto: “Toujours Pur”
The House of Black is one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, a list of families that claim to have pure wizarding blood, without any Muggle or Muggle-born ancestors. The Black family motto is “Toujours Pur”, which means “Always Pure” in French. This reflects their pride and prejudice in their blood status, as well as their tendency to disown or shun any members who do not share their views or who marry outside their circle.
The Black family tree is a large tapestry that hangs in the drawing room of 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Blacks. It shows the names and dates of birth and death of the Black family members, as well as their marriages and children. However, some names have been blasted off the tapestry by the head of the family, usually for marrying Muggles, Muggle-borns, half-bloods, or blood traitors. For example, Sirius Black was disowned by his parents for running away from home at the age of sixteen and joining the Order of the Phoenix, a secret organization that fought against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
The cousins: Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange
Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange are first cousins, as their fathers were brothers. Sirius’ father was Orion Black, who married his second cousin Walburga Black. Bellatrix’s father was Cygnus Black III, who married Druella Rosier, a pure-blood witch from another old family. Sirius and Bellatrix also have two other first cousins: Regulus Black, Sirius’ younger brother who joined and later betrayed the Death Eaters; and Andromeda Tonks, Bellatrix’s older sister who married Ted Tonks, a Muggle-born wizard.
Sirius and Bellatrix were both born in 1951, and they both attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the early 1960s. They were both sorted into Slytherin House, the house that values cunning, ambition, and pure-blood supremacy. However, Sirius hated his family’s ideology and befriended James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, who were all Gryffindors. He also became an Animagus, a wizard who can transform into an animal at will. His animal form was a large black dog, which earned him the nickname “Padfoot”. He was also known as one of the Marauders, a group of pranksters who created the Marauder’s Map, a magical map that shows the location of every person and secret passage in Hogwarts.
Bellatrix, on the other hand, embraced her family’s beliefs and became one of the most loyal and fanatical followers of Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord who sought to overthrow the Ministry of Magic and establish a new world order where pure-bloods would rule over Muggles and Muggle-borns. She was also a skilled and ruthless witch who mastered the Dark Arts and enjoyed torturing and killing her enemies. She was married to Rodolphus Lestrange, another Death Eater, but her true love was Voldemort himself. She also had a daughter with him, Delphini, who was conceived shortly before the Battle of Hogwarts.
The duel: Sirius vs Bellatrix
Sirius and Bellatrix faced each other in a duel during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in 1996. This was a confrontation between the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters over a prophecy that concerned Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. Sirius had come to rescue Harry and his friends from the Death Eaters, who had lured them into a trap.
The duel between Sirius and Bellatrix was fierce and fast-paced, as they exchanged spells and taunts. Sirius mocked Bellatrix for being an insane murderer, while Bellatrix called Sirius a blood traitor and a coward. At one point, Sirius managed to hit Bellatrix with a stunning spell that knocked her off her feet. He then laughed and said “Come on, you can do better than that!”
However, this proved to be his fatal mistake. As he lowered his guard, Bellatrix quickly got up and cast another spell at him. It hit him in the chest and sent him flying backwards into a stone archway that had a tattered black veil hanging from it. The veil fluttered as Sirius fell through it and disappeared from sight. Bellatrix then screamed triumphantly, “I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black!”
Sirius’ death was a devastating blow to Harry, who considered him as a father figure and a godfather. He chased after Bellatrix, intending to kill her, but was stopped by Voldemort, who had arrived at the scene. Harry then had to face Voldemort in a duel of his own, until Dumbledore arrived and intervened.
The aftermath: Sirius and Bellatrix’s legacies
Sirius’ death was mourned by his friends and allies in the Order of the Phoenix, who honored his memory and his sacrifice. His name was also cleared of the false charges that had branded him as a murderer and a traitor for twelve years, after he was framed by Peter Pettigrew for betraying James and Lily Potter to Voldemort and killing twelve Muggles with a single curse. Sirius’ will left everything he owned, including 12 Grimmauld Place and his gold, to Harry Potter, who became the new owner of the Black family estate. Harry also inherited Sirius’ motorbike, which he later gave to Hagrid.
Bellatrix’s death came two years later, during the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998. She was killed by Molly Weasley, who defended her daughter Ginny from Bellatrix’s curse. Molly shouted “Not my daughter, you bitch!” and cast a powerful spell that hit Bellatrix right over her heart. Bellatrix’s death was a huge shock to Voldemort, who lost one of his most faithful and powerful servants. He then turned his fury on Molly, but was stopped by Harry, who revealed himself to be alive after Voldemort had seemingly killed him with the Killing Curse.
Bellatrix’s legacy was continued by her daughter Delphini, who grew up in an orphanage without knowing her true parents. She later learned about her heritage from Rodolphus Lestrange, who escaped from Azkaban after the war. She then sought to find and fulfill the prophecy that said that she would be the one to restore Voldemort to power. She used a Time-Turner to travel back in time and try to prevent Voldemort’s downfall, but was thwarted by Harry Potter’s son Albus and his friend Scorpius Malfoy.
Conclusion: Sirius and Bellatrix’s contrast
Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange were cousins who shared a common ancestry, but had very different personalities and destinies. They both came from a pure-blooded family that valued blood purity and supported the Dark Lord, but they chose opposite sides in the wizarding war. Sirius rebelled against his family’s traditions and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix, fighting for freedom and equality. Bellatrix followed her family’s footsteps and became a Death Eater, killing and torturing for power and glory.
They both died in duels that reflected their characters and their choices. Sirius died laughing, showing his courage and defiance. Bellatrix died screaming, showing her arrogance and cruelty. They both left behind legacies that influenced the next generation of wizards and witches. Sirius left behind a godson who inherited his spirit and his wealth. Bellatrix left behind a daughter who inherited her madness and her ambition.
Sirius Black and Bellatrix Lestrange were two sides of the same coin, two stars in the same constellation, two branches of the same tree. They were both products of their family history, but they also made their own history. They were both part of the Harry Potter story, but they also had their own stories.
According to Screenrant According to Harry Potter Wiki According to Wizarding World
