As noon approached, the snow stopped just in time, and a mournful melody began to play.
In the garden, where there used to be a fountain, a few strangely dressed people sat. They wore wide black robes and hats that resembled bird nests, and most peculiarly, the tips of the hats had the appearance of Oracle Birds.
The Oracle Bird is a black bird resembling a vulture. They look sorrowful, and their cries are piercingly heartbreaking.
Although the Oracle Birds on the musicians' hats had no magic power, they let out a mournful wail now and then with the music, making one's heart tremble involuntarily.
Sirius carried Regulus's body, walking slowly down the aisle between the seats.
Everyone looked solemn, and even Draco Malfoy behaved impeccably at this moment.
Sirius placed the body on a brown long table, and the black velvet naturally slipped off, revealing Regulus's pale face.
There was a subdued stir among the crowd.
Dumbledore had already dispelled the necromancy that would have turned Regulus into an Inferi, and under the influence of magic, the body had not undergone any noticeable change.
He lay quietly on his back on the table, looking almost identical to when he was alive, aside from the lack of color in his face. His black hair hung softly, falling onto the table.
The sound of quiet sobbing arose from the crowd.
Vid looked over and saw Andromeda covering her face, crying softly, with Tonks and her husband Ted comforting her.
Regulus's other cousin, Narcissa, didn't cry aloud, but her eyes glistened with tears, her expression mournful.
Sirius stood before the body and said softly, "Today, with a heavy and sorrowful heart, I hold a funeral for my brother, Regulus Arcturus Black."
"Many of you may still remember Regulus. Unlike me, who liked to show off my abilities, he was a quiet and gentle person, caring for our parents and family, and always showing respect and concern even for a House-Elf."
Kreacher gasped sharply and collapsed to the ground. He didn't dare cry out, but his small body shook violently.
No one paid much attention to a House-Elf in a corner.
Sirius continued:
"I have known Regulus since I was a year and a half old. I once thought I understood him well—we were all from Slytherin, brought up with an education in pure-blood supremacy from a young age."
"My parents always told us Muggles were an inferior race and those who associated with Muggles didn't deserve to be called Black. On the family tree, those names that were burned off belonged to pure-blood traitors who did not understand the importance of maintaining family honor."
Among the guests, some nodded in agreement, while others frowned, showing discomfort, almost unable to hold back from saying something.
But Sirius didn't look at anyone's expression. His eyes seemed vacant, as if lost in the memories of that past time.
"Of course, I thought these were foolish words, so I fled from that suffocatingly mad family. But I also believed my brother had been completely brainwashed, becoming a steadfast believer in pure-blood ideology. When he joined the Death Eaters, I became even more certain of this."
"We were both Black. We came from the same womb, but we took different paths. Regulus... he served an evil Dark Wizard, Voldemort. He was part of a group of killers who harmed innocent people... that's what I always thought."
In the crowd, some people became uneasy because Sirius had called Voldemort by name. They looked around, as if hoping someone would stop him.
Some others, like Lucius Malfoy, turned pale, wanting to say something, but Narcissa grabbed his arm, making him swallow his words.
"But I was wrong."
Sirius's throat moved as if he could hardly speak. He paused for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and then continued under the surprised gazes of the people present.
"Regulus had once blindly believed in the pure-blood ideas fed to him by our parents. He once idolized Voldemort and was proud to join the Death Eaters. But after witnessing Voldemort's brutality firsthand, Regulus awoke."
"He realized Voldemort's mistake and decided to oppose the Dark Lord. To ensure Voldemort's death, he was willing to sacrifice himself... which led to his downfall when he was just come of age."
"Before deciding to die, Regulus told no one of his plans, not even our parents. After his death, no one knew what he had done. He died in a silent corner…"
"It wasn't until thirteen years later, when we discovered his body, that I realized Regulus was actually very brave. His courage exceeded my imagination, and his compassion was beyond my reach…"
Out of Vid and Lupin's personal wishes, Sirius did not mention their names, but he thanked Dumbledore for his help.
The Headmaster of Hogwarts stood at the front of the crowd, a thin layer of snow resting on his silver-white hair.
Even though Sirius spoke vaguely and did not clearly explain how Regulus "opposed Voldemort to the point of death," with Dumbledore present, his presence acted as a guarantee, and no one in attendance doubted the truth of this matter.
"No wonder..."
Lucius Malfoy instinctively gripped his left arm, as if he could still feel the burning pain of Voldemort's summons.
Narcissa clenched her fingers tightly, her already pale face turning even whiter, like paper.
Draco Malfoy, on the other hand, looked displeased, muttering phrases like "pure-blood traitor."
He wanted to leave, but since neither of his parents spoke, he had to stand obediently, no longer interested in what Sirius was saying.
Sirius's eulogy concluded, followed by Dumbledore. He once again emphasized Regulus's sacrifice and courage and regretted not getting to know this student better while he was alive.
Dumbledore's words effectively sealed Regulus's death with a final judgment. The people present harbored no more doubts.
No one else spoke afterward.
Sirius placed Regulus into the coffin, and along with several wizards connected by marriage, carried the coffin to the woods behind the garden.
There lay a secluded graveyard, where the ancestors of the Black Clan were buried over generations. Silent white tombstones watched them place the coffin into a pre-selected spot.
Many wizards took out their Magic Wands and softly uttered spells. The coffin sank slowly as the surrounding soil converged, eventually engulfing the coffin, forming a marble tomb above it.
Golden flames flared up, dancing across the tombstone, quickly etching a string of words onto the stone surface—
[Regulus Arcturus Black]
[1961－1979]
[Courage is a fearless strength]