Chapter 206
Funeral 2
Chapter 206 Funeral 2
Near noon, the snow stopped at the right time and a sad music started.
In the garden, where the fountain used to be, there were a few people dressed strangely. They wore loose black robes and played funeral music. They wore hats that looked like bird nests on their heads. The most amazing thing was that the tip of the hat was shaped like a fortune-teller.
Augureys are black birds that resemble vultures. They have sad expressions and their cries are heartbreakingly shrill.
Although the Fortune Telling Birds on the hats of several performers did not have such magical powers, they would occasionally make sad cries along with the music, which made people's hearts tremble along with them.
Sirius held Regulus's body and walked slowly along the aisle between the seats.
Everyone looked solemn, even Draco Malfoy behaved very properly at this time.
Sirius placed the body on the long brown table. The black velvet seemed to slide down naturally, revealing Regulus' pale face.
There was a faint commotion among the crowd.
Dumbledore had already lifted the necromancy that turned Regulus into an Inferi, and under the influence of magic, the body did not undergo any noticeable changes.
He lay quietly on his back on the long table, looking almost the same as when he was alive, except that his face was pale. His black hair fell softly on the table.
Faint sobbing could be heard from the crowd.
Wade looked over and saw Andromeda crying quietly with her face in her hands, while Tonks and her husband Ted were around her to comfort her.
Regulus' other cousin, Narcissa, did not cry out loud, but tears were glistening in her eyes and she looked sad.
Sirius stood in front of the body and whispered, "It is with a heavy and sad heart that I hold the funeral today for my brother, Regulus Black."
"Perhaps many people still remember Regulus. Unlike me who likes to show off my abilities, he is a quiet and gentle person who cares about his parents and relatives. Even for a house-elf, he always shows the utmost respect and care."
Kreacher took a sharp breath and fell to the ground. He did not cry out loudly, but his thin body was shaking violently.
Few people noticed a house-elf in the corner.
Sirius continued:
"I've known Regulus since I was one and a half years old. I thought I knew him well - my whole family is from Slytherin, and we were raised to be pure-bloods first."
"My parents have always told us that Muggles are an inferior race and that people who associate with Muggles are not worthy of being called Black. In the family tree, every one of those names that were burned was a pure-blood traitor who did not know how to uphold the honor of the family."
Among the guests, some nodded slightly in agreement, while others frowned with uncomfortable expressions, almost unable to hold back from saying something.
But Sirius didn't look at anyone's expression. His eyes were a little empty, as if he was immersed in the past.
"Of course I thought it was all stupid, so I ran away from that suffocating crazy family. But I also thought my brother had been completely brainwashed and became a staunch believer in blood purity. When he joined the Death Eaters, I was even more convinced of this."
"We are all Black, we are from the same mother, but we are in different camps. Regulus... he is working for an evil dark wizard, Voldemort. He is one of the executioners who hurt innocent people... I have always believed so."
Some people in the crowd became uneasy because Sirius called Voldemort by name, and they looked around as if hoping someone would stop him.
Some people, such as Lucius Malfoy, were pale and wanted to say something, but Narcissa grabbed their arms, so they swallowed their words.
"But I was wrong."
Sirius' throat rolled, and he could hardly make a sound. He paused for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and then continued to speak in the surprised eyes of everyone. "Regulus once blindly believed in the pure-blood concept instilled in him by his parents. He once worshipped Voldemort and was proud to join the Death Eaters. But after witnessing Voldemort's cruelty with his own eyes, Regulus woke up."
"He realized the mistakes of Voldemort and decided to rebel against the Dark Lord. He was willing to die in order to bring about Voldemort's demise... and died in early adulthood."
"Before he decided to die, Regulus didn't tell anyone about his plan, including our parents. After his death, no one knew what he had done. He died in a quiet corner..."
"It was not until thirteen years later, when we found his body... that I realized that Regulus was actually very brave. His courage was beyond my imagination, and his compassion was far beyond my reach..."
Sirius did not mention Vader and Lupin's names, at their own request, but thanked Dumbledore for his help.
The headmaster of Hogwarts stood in front of the crowd, a thin layer of snow on his silver hair.
Although Sirius was vague and did not explain clearly how Regulus "resisted Voldemort and died", Dumbledore's presence here was a guarantee, and no one present doubted the truth of this matter.
"No wonder..."
Lucius Malfoy subconsciously clenched his left arm, as if he could still feel the burning pain when Voldemort summoned him.
Narcissa clenched her fingers suddenly, and her already pale face became even paler than paper.
Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, looked unhappy, muttering something like "pure-blood traitor".
He wanted to leave, but when his parents didn't say anything, he had to stand there obediently. However, he was no longer in the mood to listen to what Sirius had to say.
Sirius finished his eulogy, and then Dumbledore spoke again, stressing Regulus's dedication and courage, and regretting that he had not gotten to know the student better while he was still alive.
Dumbledore's words were the final word on Regulus' death, and no one had any doubts anymore.
No one spoke after that.
Sirius placed Regulus in the coffin and, together with several wizards who were related by marriage, carried the coffin to the woods behind the garden.
There is a hidden cemetery here where all the ancestors of the Black family are buried. The white tombstones silently watched them place the coffin into the pre-selected place.
Many wizards took out their wands and whispered spells. The coffin slowly sank, but the surrounding soil kept rolling up, until it completely swallowed the coffin and formed a marble tomb on top.
The golden flames suddenly burned up, then moved across the tombstone, and soon formed a string of words on the surface of the stone -
【Regulus Arcturus Black】
【1961－1979】
【Courage is a fearless force】
There is only one chapter today.
(End of this chapter)