Chapter 206: Funeral 2
Chapter 206: Funeral 2
As noon approached, the snow mercifully ceased, and a mournful melody filled the air.
In the garden, where the fountain once stood, sat a group of peculiarly dressed individuals. They wore billowing black robes as they played a sorrowful tune, their heads adorned with bird's nest-like hats, the most remarkable feature being the shape of a Augury at the tip.
The Augury was a vulture-like black bird, its expression mournful and its call heart-wrenchingly piercing.
Though the Auguries atop the musicians' hats lacked such magic, they would occasionally let out a sorrowful cry in sync with the music, causing an involuntary shudder in those who heard it.
Sirius Black, holding Regulus's body, slowly made his way down the center aisle between the seats.
The crowd was solemn, and even Draco Malfoy managed to maintain a dignified demeanor.
Sirius placed the body on the long brown table, and the black velvet cloth seemed to slide off naturally, revealing Regulus's pale face.
A faint stir ran through the crowd.
Dumbledore had long since undone the necromancy that had turned Regulus into a Inferi, and under the influence of magic, the body had not undergone any noticeable changes.
He lay quietly on his back on the table, almost identical to how he had been in life, except for the absence of color in his face. His black hair fell smoothly, cascading over the table.
A soft sobbing sound emanated from the crowd.
Voldemort looked over to see Andromeda, her face buried in her hands, weeping quietly, while Tonks and her husband, Ted, comforted her.
Regulus's other cousin, Narcissa, managed to remain silent, but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her expression was filled with sorrow.
Sirius stood in front of the body and said in a low voice, "Today, with a heavy and grieving heart, I hold a funeral for my younger brother, Regulus Black."
"Many of you may remember Regulus. Unlike me, who enjoyed displaying his abilities, he was a quiet and gentle person who cared for his parents and family, and even towards a house-elf, he always showed the utmost respect and concern."
Kreacher suddenly gasped and collapsed to the ground. He didn't wail uncontrollably, but his small body shook violently.
Hardly anyone noticed a house-elf in the corner.
Sirius continued, "I've known Regulus since I was a year and a half old. I thought I knew him well—we all came from Slytherin, and from a young age, we were educated in pure-blood supremacy."
"My parents always told us that Muggles were an inferior race and that anyone who associated with them was unworthy of the Black name. In our family tree, every name that has been burned is that of a pure-blood traitor who failed to uphold the family honor."
Among the guests, some nodded in agreement, while others frowned and looked uncomfortable, almost as if they couldn't bear to listen any longer.
But Sirius didn't look at anyone's expression; his gaze was somewhat vacant, as if he were immersed in those past times.
"Of course, I thought all of that was nonsense, so I escaped that suffocating, mad family. But I also believed that my younger brother had been thoroughly brainwashed and had become a faithful follower of pure-blood supremacy. When he joined the Death Eaters, I was even more certain of it."
"We are both Blacks, born of the same mother. Yet, we found ourselves in different camps. Regulus... he worked for a evil dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, and was one of the executioners who harmed innocent people... That's what I always believed."
Among the crowd, some grew uneasy as Sirius directly spoke Lord Voldemort's name, glancing around as if hoping someone would stop him.
Some, like Lucius Malfoy, turned even paler, as if they wanted to say something, but a sharp grip from Narcissa on his arm made him swallow his words.
"But I was wrong."
Sirius' throat bobbed as he struggled to speak. He paused for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and then continued, his voice hoarse and filled with emotion, as the crowd looked on in surprise.
"Regulus once blindly believed in the pure-blood ideology instilled by our parents. He once admired Lord Voldemort and took pride in joining the Death Eaters. But after witnessing Voldemort's brutality first-hand, Regulus woke up."
"He realized Voldemort's wrongdoing and decided to rebel against the Dark Lord. To ensure Voldemort's demise, he was willing to sacrifice his life... and thus, he fell just as he came of age."
"Before making the decision to die, Regulus didn't tell anyone about his plan, not even our parents. And after his death, no one knew what he had done. He died in a quiet corner, without a sound..."
"It wasn't until thirteen years later, when we found his body, that I realized Regulus was incredibly brave. His courage exceeded my imagination, and his compassion was far beyond what I could ever hope to achieve..."
Out of respect for Viktor and Lupin's wishes, Sirius refrained from mentioning their names but expressed his gratitude for Dumbledore's help.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts stood at the front of the crowd, his silver-white hair dusted with a thin layer of snow.
Although Sirius was vague and didn't explain exactly how Regulus had "rebelled against Voldemort to his death," with Dumbledore present, his very presence served as a guarantee. No one in the audience doubted the truth of what had been said.
"No wonder..."
Lucius Malfoy unconsciously gripped his left arm, as if he could still feel the burning pain from when Voldemort had summoned his Dark Mark.
Narcissa, on the other hand, clenched her fingers tightly, her already pale face turning even whiter.
Draco Malfoy, however, was displeased, muttering something about "pure-blood traitor."
He wanted to leave, but with his parents not saying anything, he could only stand there grudgingly, his mind no longer on what Sirius was saying.
After Sirius' eulogy, Dumbledore stepped forward. He emphasized Regulus' dedication and courage and expressed his regret that he hadn't taken the time to truly know this student while he was alive.
Dumbledore's words effectively sealed the truth about Regulus' death, leaving no room for doubt among the crowd.
No one else spoke after that.
Sirius placed Regulus into the coffin, and together with a few male witches who were related by marriage, they carried the coffin to the woods behind the garden.
There was a secluded graveyard there, where generations of the Black family were buried. White tombstones stood silently as they lowered the coffin into the ground, which had been prepared beforehand.
The witches and wizards present raised their wands, whispering spells. The coffin slowly sank, and the surrounding soil rose to cover it. Eventually, a marble tombstone formed above the burial site.
Golden flames blazed to life and danced across the tombstone, soon forming a string of words:
Regulus Arcturus Black
1961-1979
Courage is a Force Without Fear
(End of Chapter)
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