He was considered a curse. A misfortune. An omen, much like a raven.
If not for the swift actions of Orion Arcturus Black, he might not have even lived.
He was to be born with a golden spoon in a changing world. However, he was not someone his mother—now cousin—Bellatrix Lestrange—desired to exist.
Soon after discovering that she was already two months into the obnoxious task of bearing a child she had no interest in, Bellatrix sought out her sister, Narcissa Malfoy, for help in terminating the pregnancy. Narcissa, already pregnant and filled with maternal affection, could not bear to let her sister do anything reckless. In hopes of preventing disaster, she contacted their father and uncle.
Soon, the child was transferred into the womb of a Muggle-born witch by Cygnus and Orion Black.
Thus, the child was meant to be born without any last name. He even had to be named by his adoptive father, Orion Black, and his now-aunt, Narcissa Malfoy.
On the 21st of December, 1980, the cries of Caelus Arcturus Black filled the dark halls of Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
Much to the dismay of Walburga Black, Bellatrix refused any and all ties to the newly born child. A Black not taking over the Lestrange family heirship was already a heavy toll on old Walburga's fragile state—further worsened by the recent disappearance of Regulus Arcturus Black and the disgrace known as Sirius Orion Black. Therefore, Walburga's death a few months later was not as great a shock as it might have been.
Now, this young lad was being raised as the next heir of the Black family.
But soon, Orion Black's health began to decline. And Arcturus, though an old man in his final years, had to hold the family together as it waned.
The house-elves were tasked with most of the child's care, and Arcturus took an unnatural pleasure in the company of his great-grandchild playing in his lap. However pleasant that might sound, the long sense of discipline and dread was still deeply ingrained in the young child's mind—mainly due to Arcturus being from the Grindelwald era.
After the fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the Black family was in a state of jeopardy.
Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius Black were sent to Azkaban, Regulus Black was missing, and the Malfoys were under careful scrutiny by the Ministry of Magic.
Thus, with the help of potions and house-elves, Caelus was disciplined and cared for by the dying Arcturus.
After three more weary years—having named Caelus the heir of the Black family and leaving him in the care of the Malfoys—Arcturus finally decided he could move on.
Caelus was almost five when he first arrived at Malfoy Manor with Kreacher and Narcissa.