Regulus' funeral

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Hearing Dumbledore mention Regulus, Sirius's expression immediately darkened.

"I want to hold a funeral for Regulus," Sirius murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

"Of course," Dumbledore replied gently.

"Regulus deserves a respectable farewell. He acted heroically, and as his former teacher, I'm proud of him."

Sirius nodded slowly. "As his older brother, I'm equally proud of him."

"We all owe Regulus a great debt," Dumbledore continued, his tone grave.

"If he hadn't acted in time to destroy Voldemort's Horcrux, things would have been much worse when Voldemort returned."

"I know—I know," Sirius whispered, his gaze fixed on Regulus, who lay motionless on the bed. His eyes reddened as memories flooded back.

"Dumbledore, I want to bury Regulus by the Black Lake," Sirius said, his voice steadier now.

"He always loved the scenery there."

Dumbledore gave a solemn nod. "I promise you, Sirius."

"Thank you, Dumbledore," Sirius replied, gratitude lacing his words.

"Leave the arrangements to me," Dumbledore offered.

"Spend these last days with him."

"Okay, okay," Sirius agreed softly, unable to argue.

The funeral was set for three days later. Those days passed quickly, and a small crowd gathered by the shimmering Black Lake on a serene afternoon.

Among those present were Sirius, along with the few who had truly known Regulus: Professor McGonagall, Lupin, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, and Amelia Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Everyone wore black, their expressions somber. Over the past three days, Dumbledore and Ethan had worked tirelessly to clear Regulus's name, issuing statements that explained his actions and bravery. Even Cornelius Fudge, eager to curry favor with the newly influential Sirius Black, had sent Amelia Bones as a representative.

Professor McGonagall, her eyes swollen and red from crying, was comforted by Hermione, who sat beside her, gently patting her hand.

"That poor boy—I never believed he truly became a Death Eater!" McGonagall sobbed, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief.

"He was always so kind."

Not far away, Harry and Ron tried to console Hagrid, who was openly weeping.

"Oh, Regulus!" Hagrid blubbered, tears cascading down his face.

"I knew from the moment he arrived at Hogwarts that he wasn't like the others in Slytherin! He was so kind, always helping me with the creatures… But I believed he'd turned, just like everyone else!"

Overcome with guilt, Hagrid buried his face in his hands, tears spilling through his fingers. Harry and Ron could do little but offer him comforting words. Eventually, Hagrid's sobs subsided, though he still sniffled and wiped his eyes with a dirty handkerchief that made a loud, trumpeting sound.

Amelia Bones, seated in front of Hagrid, glanced back with a mix of disbelief and discomfort, discreetly shifting her chair forward.

As the crowd began to settle, Harry, Ron, and Hermione gathered together, each lost in their thoughts of Regulus and the sacrifice he had made.

"Regulus, what a great person," Hermione sighed, sitting quietly.

"Yeah, to think he went undercover and stayed close to Voldemort for so long," Ron added, his voice filled with admiration.

The official story, as carefully crafted by Ethan and Dumbledore, painted a brighter picture of Regulus's journey. Before releasing it to the public, Ethan shared the truth with Fudge.

After much contemplation, Fudge reluctantly agreed to cover Regulus's initial missteps. It was his way of honoring a hero—and perhaps a move to stay on Siriuss good side.

"He fought against those terrible Inferi in that dark, eerie cave," Harry shuddered as he spoke, the memory of Regulus's struggle sending chills down his spine.

"It must have been worse than facing a Dementor."

"And all that, just to destroy that key item of Voldemort's," Ron said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"What exactly was that key item?" Hermione asked, her curiosity piqued as she looked at Harry and Ron.

"Trust me, Hermione, we don't want to know," Ron replied quickly.

"I don't want anything to do with Voldemort, not even in conversation."

Seeing the intrigued look on Hermione's face, Ron suddenly grew alarmed.

"Oh no, Hermione! You're not thinking of investigating Voldemort again, are you? We can't go looking for trouble!"

"It's too dangerous! And besides, if we get caught, Percy will kill us," Ron warned, glancing at her.

"I'm not planning anything," Hermione defended herself.

"I'm just curious!"

At that moment, the entire gathering fell silent. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to see what had caused the sudden hush.

Sirius appeared, dressed in a somber black suit. Dumbledore and Ethan walked closely behind him. In Sirius's arms, he cradled a red and white shield wrapped in purple velvet.

It bore the Black family crest: three crows and an arm holding a dagger. Everyone knew what it contained—Regulus's body. In unison, the crowd bowed their heads, observing silence.

Sirius carefully placed Regulus's body on a table and stepped aside, standing solemnly. Dumbledore then took two steps forward and addressed the gathering, his voice carrying a rare weight of seriousness.

"Today, we bid farewell to a loyal and upright friend," Dumbledore began, his tone reverent.

"Regulus Arcturus Black's life, though brief, was remarkable. Though strayed into darkness for a time, he found his way back. With unwavering courage and a sense of justice, he resisted the Dark Lord at the height of his power."

"His defiance disrupted the Dark Lord's plans and gave us hope—the hope that we might one day defeat him. We are forever grateful for Regulus's contribution to the fight for light and justice. The soul of such a hero will remain with us always, ensuring that we are never alone in our struggle against the darkness."