The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is full of fascinating characters, magical creatures, and complex plots. One of the most intriguing aspects of the series is the family tree of the wizarding world, which reveals how many of the characters are related to each other by blood or marriage. In this article, we will explore how Sirius Black, a member of the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter’s godfather, is related to Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin student and a follower of Lord Voldemort.
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The Black Family
Sirius Black was born into one of the oldest and most prominent pure-blood families in the wizarding world: the Black family. The Blacks were known for their extreme views on blood purity, their loyalty to Voldemort, and their disdain for anyone who did not share their beliefs. They also had a tradition of naming their children after stars or constellations, such as Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda, Bellatrix, and Narcissa.
The Black family tree was displayed on a large tapestry in the ancestral home of the Blacks at 12 Grimmauld Place. The tapestry showed the names and faces of all the members of the family, as well as their connections to other pure-blood families. However, some names were burned off the tapestry by the Blacks themselves, as a way of disowning those who had betrayed the family’s ideals. For example, Sirius was burned off the tapestry by his mother, Walburga Black, after he ran away from home at the age of sixteen and joined the Order of the Phoenix.
The Malfoy Family
Draco Malfoy was also born into a wealthy and influential pure-blood family: the Malfoy family. The Malfoys were originally from France, but they moved to Britain in the Middle Ages and became one of the most powerful families in the wizarding world. They were known for their ambition, cunning, and arrogance, as well as their support for Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
The Malfoy family tree was not shown in the series, but it can be inferred from various sources that they were related to many other pure-blood families, such as the Lestranges, the Crabbes, the Bulstrodes, and the Parkinsons. However, their most notable connection was to the Black family, through Lucius Malfoy’s wife, Narcissa.
The Connection Between Sirius and Draco
Sirius Black and Draco Malfoy were cousins through Narcissa Malfoy (née Black), who was Sirius’ first cousin. Narcissa was the youngest daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Rosier, and the sister of Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) and Andromeda Tonks (née Black). Narcissa married Lucius Malfoy, a wealthy and influential Death Eater, and gave birth to Draco Malfoy.
This means that Sirius and Draco were first cousins once removed: Sirius was Narcissa’s first cousin, and Draco was Narcissa’s son. However, this relationship was not very close or friendly, as Sirius and Draco belonged to opposite sides of the wizarding war. Sirius despised his family’s views on blood purity and Voldemort, while Draco followed his parents’ footsteps and became a loyal supporter of Voldemort.
The Implications of Their Relationship
The fact that Sirius and Draco were related had some interesting implications for their interactions and roles in the series. For example:
- In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry first met Sirius in his animagus form of a large black dog, he mistook him for a Grim: a spectral dog that was a sign of death. However, later in the series, it was revealed that Sirius’ name came from the brightest star in the night sky: Sirius A or the Dog Star. This star was also part of a constellation called Canis Major or the Greater Dog. Interestingly enough, Draco’s name came from another constellation: Draco or the Dragon. This suggests that their names reflected their personalities and destinies: Sirius was a loyal and brave friend to Harry, while Draco was a fierce and cunning enemy.
- In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when Harry visited 12 Grimmauld Place with his friends, he saw the Black family tapestry and learned about Sirius’ relationship with Draco. He was shocked and disgusted by this revelation, as he hated Draco with a passion. However, Sirius shrugged it off as a common occurrence among pure-blood families. He also pointed out that he was related to other characters that Harry liked or respected, such as Molly Weasley (née Prewett) and Arthur Weasley.
- In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Harry witnessed Draco’s attempt to kill Dumbledore on top of the Astronomy Tower, he also saw Snape arrive at the scene and kill Dumbledore instead. Harry was enraged and heartbroken by this betrayal, as he believed that Snape was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a loyal friend of Dumbledore. However, later in the series, it was revealed that Snape was actually a double agent who was working for Dumbledore all along, and that he killed Dumbledore on his own request. This twist was similar to the one in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry learned that Sirius was not a traitor who killed his parents, but a loyal friend who was framed by Peter Pettigrew. Both Sirius and Snape were misunderstood and maligned by the wizarding world, and both sacrificed their lives for Harry’s sake.
- In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione were captured by Snatchers and taken to Malfoy Manor, they encountered Draco and his parents. Draco was asked to identify them, but he hesitated and did not confirm their identities. This was a sign of Draco’s inner conflict and doubt, as he was no longer sure if he wanted to serve Voldemort or not. He also recognized that Harry had saved his life twice: once in the Room of Requirement, and once in the Fiendfyre. This was a contrast to Sirius’ situation in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, when he was captured by Death Eaters and taken to the Department of Mysteries. There, he faced his cousin Bellatrix, who did not hesitate to kill him with a curse. Bellatrix was a fanatical follower of Voldemort, who did not care about her family ties or her cousin’s life.
Conclusion
Sirius Black and Draco Malfoy were cousins in the wizarding world, but they had very different personalities, beliefs, and roles in the series. Their relationship showed how complex and diverse the family tree of the wizarding world was, and how it affected their interactions and destinies. Sirius and Draco were both influenced by their families, but they also made their own choices and faced their own consequences. They were both part of the same story, but they played very different parts.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article. If you want to learn more about the wizarding world and its characters, you can visit Pottermore or Screenrant for more information. Thank you for your attention.