Hmmm ... That's an interesting interpretation, and I hadn't given much thought to it in writing. Then again, Bellatrix had no problem killing Sirius, so I can see where you're coming from. I was just going by the Black family tree, which states that both Orion and Cygnus died in 1979.

What a very thoughtful review. Thank you so much!

I agree that the Malfoys (and the Blacks) are very much products of their culture, and I like fics that reflect that. It's lovely to know you enjoyed the other stories in this 'verse, which I seem to keep building on.

Thank you so much for the feedback; I really appreciate it!

You're welcome :-) Like one of your other reviewers I really regret that you don't get very much reviews since both your style and content deserves reaching a broad audience I think. You gave me a lot of new POV I never had thought about.For instance, your way of depicting the Blacks as the kind of family where noblesse oblige versus the Malfoys as the nouveau riche. I never thought about the latter in that way, although I now remember that WB wanted to dress Lucius as a businessman. And although I knew how much the Blacks value their traditions, this is something we in canon only see from Rowlings POV and her message of equality. In your stories I understood for the first time how they fear that their world is crumbling when old traditions tend to fade away.And I like the small and subtle ways in which you depict your characters and habits: the dominant mother, the overzealous sister who is as a child already a psychopath and Narcissa's choice not wanting to know certain things - which is very much in character with that kind of upbringing I think.And your style and choose of language fits all this very well. To put it in an image: your stories 'look' like a proper Merchant-Ivory drama.

You're so kind. Thank you!

You know, I write for me and no one else. Reviews are lovely, especially because when people comment on my stories they always seem to have really thought-provoking and insightful things to say. But since I write to tell a story, not to get reviews, any 'lack' of them is no cause for despair. ;)

I do like to explore family dynamics, and a close-knit, twisted family like the Blacks is just a big dysfunctional playground for me. Their worldview is fascinating--particularly because, as you mentioned, they aren't concerned with our modern, politically correct values. They're in an uproar because the things they hold dear are slipping away from them. Trying to understand that psychology and trying to humanise them (considering that they're the scum of Rowling's universe) is a huge challenge, and that's what draws me back.

You've picked up on many of the details that I think make them such an interesting family. Narcissa's overbearing mother and barking lunatic sister, as well as her sweet but weak-willed father, are very much a part of her; they inform her  personality. I've learned so much about her by examining the ways she interacts with these other characters. The language just flows from that.

Reading your comments made me feel really great, so again, thanks. :)

Thank you for reading and commenting! I appreciate the feedback. :)

What a thoughtful review! Thank you. I do love Narcissa; I see her as being quite flawed, but also very human and very loyal to her loved ones. I'm happy to know the result of my musings about her pleases. Most of my other works on TPP concern her, as well, if you're interested.