Pollux Black

Pollux Black was a pure-blood wizard and a member of the influential House of Black. His primary significance lies in his genealogical position as the paternal grandfather of Sirius Black and Regulus Black, and the maternal grandfather of Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks, and Narcissa Malfoy. All information regarding his life, family, and dates is derived almost exclusively from the Black Family Tapestry.

According to the detailed Black Family Tapestry revealed by J.K. Rowling, Pollux Black was born in 1912 to Cygnus Black I and Violetta Bulstrode (J.K. Rowling's Black Family Tree). He had three siblings: an older sister, Cassiopeia Black; a younger brother, Marius Black; and a younger sister, Dorea Black. His brother Marius was disowned and blasted off the family tapestry for being a Squib. Pollux married Irma Crabbe, thereby linking the House of Black with another old, pure-blood family, the Crabbe family (J.K. Rowling's Black Family Tree). Together, they had three children: Walburga Black, Alphard Black, and Cygnus Black II. As a patriarch of the family, Pollux lived through the rise of both Gellert Grindelwald and the first rise of Lord Voldemort. Given his family's staunch belief in pure-blood supremacy, epitomized by the family motto “Toujours Pur” (Always Pure), it is likely he shared these prejudices. His daughter Walburga became a fanatical purist, and his son Cygnus married his children into prominent Death Eater families. Pollux Black died in 1990 at the age of 78, a year before his great-nephew Harry Potter began his education at Hogwarts (J.K. Rowling's Black Family Tree).

There is no physical description of Pollux Black in the Harry Potter novels. While his personality is never detailed, his position within the House of Black suggests he adhered to the family's ideology of pure-blood superiority. He was not disowned, unlike his Squib brother Marius or his son Alphard Black (who was disowned posthumously for leaving gold to his disowned nephew, Sirius Black). This implies he conducted himself in a manner befitting the family's strict and prejudiced standards.

As a wizard from a powerful, ancient line, Pollux was presumably magically proficient. However, no specific magical abilities, skills, or wand details are known.

No specific possessions of Pollux Black are mentioned. As a member of the main branch of the family, he would have shared in the considerable wealth and heirlooms of the House of Black, including the ancestral home at 12 Grimmauld Place.

Pollux's primary importance is his connection to many significant characters in the series. His family relationships are documented on the Black Family Tapestry.

• Parents: His father was Cygnus Black I and his mother was Violetta Bulstrode.
• Siblings: He had a sister, Cassiopeia Black; a brother, Marius Black; and another sister, Dorea Black, who married Charlus Potter.
• Spouse: He was married to Irma Crabbe.
• Children: He fathered three children:
  • Walburga Black, who married her cousin Orion Black.
  • Alphard Black, who was disowned by Walburga after his death.
  • Cygnus Black II, who married Druella Rosier.
• Grandchildren: Through his children, he was the grandfather of:
  • Sirius Black
  • Regulus Arcturus Black
  • Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black)
  • Andromeda Tonks (née Black), who was disowned for marrying the Muggle-born wizard Ted Tonks.
  • Narcissa Malfoy (née Black)
• Great-Grandchildren: His great-grandchildren were Draco Malfoy and Nymphadora Tonks.
• Great-Great-Grandchild: His only known great-great-grandchild was Teddy Lupin.

The name Pollux continues the House of Black's tradition of naming members after stars and constellations. Pollux is a bright star in the constellation Gemini. In Greco-Roman mythology, Pollux and his twin brother, Castor, were known as the Dioscuri. This naming convention is shared by many of his relatives, including his grandfather Pollux's grandfather Phineas Nigellus, son Cygnus, grandson Sirius, and granddaughter Bellatrix.

Almost all known information about Pollux Black, including his wife's name, parents, and his birth and death years (1912-1990), comes from the detailed version of the Black Family Tapestry hand-drawn by J.K. Rowling and released after the publication of the books. While his name is visible on the tapestry prop in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the definitive details are from this supplementary drawing.