"Mm," he says again, neutrally. "I think it's more because, to the casual observer, they appear to have all the IQ and geniality of a bee-blinded bear before the pain's worn off and he's finished seeking someone to be a recipient for his resentment." Of course, so do dragons, but people will forgive a lot in an endangered species with style.
"No," he returns slowly, "I think it's I who hasn't understood the answer."
He can't help but smirk slightly at the idea of using a raven. "Perhaps." With a grim nod, "Potter was considerably worse; Black was mainly mad, suggestible, and the willing bearer of a chip on his shoulder which could easily have flattened all of wizarding Britain, which is one must expect from a Black on the outs with his family." He grimaces. "However, I am coming to the conclusion that the Black we see here has certain intrinsic differences from the one you and I know. Still an arrogant bastard, certainly, but he does not appear to be merciless or mad, and if he's truthful, the House warfare in his past was a considerably more balanced thing." He looks sour, and he is. Pride is overwhelming and help unacceptable, but it would have been pleasant to have mutual backup. It would probably have been bad for his soul, however. Most things that look like lifelines seem to turn out that way.