Vid paused for a moment, then said, "I saw the library at the Black Family yesterday; it was truly mesmerizing. When I borrow books from there, just don't feel bad about it."
Sirius laughed, "You can take them all, I'd be happy if you did!"
He paused, but didn't let it become a mere joke, instead he brought up the previous topic again—
"Leaving Azkaban, finding Regulus, preparing the funeral, and finally getting my crazy mother to calm down…"
Sirius listed these recent events, flashing a bitter smile:
"Whatever the reason, the help you've given me is far too much, some books can never repay what I've gotten from you, not even a tenth... Vid, what can I do for you?"
Vid thought for a moment, then said, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
Sirius raised his head and took a swig of beer, his movements were very graceful.
"Why did you break with your parents and oppose Voldemort? I checked the records; when Voldemort's power was at its peak, many believed he wouldn't be defeated, and only a few dared to risk their lives to fight him."
When Sirius furrowed his brows, Vid seemed not to notice and continued:
"If you hadn't done that, you could inherit the Black Clan's wealth. With your status and ability, Voldemort would surely favor you. Given the circumstances at the time, that seemed to be the 'smart' choice."
"Why? Is that really necessary to ask?" Sirius raised an eyebrow and said, "It was to stand by what's right, to save innocent lives."
Vid laughed, "So after saving people, do you also demand they must repay you?"
Sirius paused for a moment, then laughed out loud.
He raised the beer bottle in his hand, choosing not to say more.
The gratitude he held in his heart, but repeatedly mentioning it seemed unnecessary.
But the feeling of having what he insisted upon being acknowledged was always different.
Before today, in his mind, [Vid Gray] was Harry's friend, Lupin's esteemed student, someone he owed a lot of gratitude to, needing proper reciprocation.
But after today, he was able to see the real Vid beyond those labels.
...
With the funeral impending, a group of people spent five days cleaning the house, disinfecting, replacing or repairing furniture, landscaping the garden, and preparing the ceremony.
The Scouring Charm and Repairing Charm couldn't solve all the issues, especially those aged, magic-induced stains, their effectiveness was barely noticeable.
Percy was forced to consult his mother. Mrs. Weasley, being an experienced homemaker, recommended several affordable and effective Magic Cleaners and shared some housekeeping tips with everyone.
Sirius also perked up, handwritten each invitation with care.
Regulus's funeral was rather awkward.
He was a well-known Death Eater, yet died defying Voldemort, although the latter fact remained largely unknown, even among the Death Eaters who deemed Regulus as a coward executed for fleeing during battle.
Accepted by neither side, he found it hard to belong anywhere.
Reflecting on it, Sirius realized he too was unaware if his brother ever had friends like him and James, those who frequently accompanied Regulus during schooldays were either incarcerated or deceased.
Sirius didn't intend to invite those who might not even know what Regulus looked like, nor those who might slander Regulus, even if some were considered his comrades.
As a result, there weren't many people he could invite.
Sirius pondered for a long time, ultimately deciding to send an invitation to the Malfoy Family.
His favorite cousin was Andromeda, but he had a good rapport with Narcissa during their childhood. Most importantly, Regulus was fond of cousin Narcissa, amongst the sisters, he listened to her the most.
——Moreover, Narcissa wasn't a Death Eater; it was her vile husband, Lucius Malfoy, who joined them.
Sirius convinced himself with that final point.
He was a free-spirited person, and even eleven years in prison hadn't changed that fact. For the first time in his life, Sirius meticulously and patiently restrained his preferences to consider a matter.
The help from these young Wizards was of great importance.
Without them, Sirius didn't know what mess he'd make of the funeral, possibly troubling Lupin from start to finish, yet leaving everyone dissatisfied.
But with the children doing so well, Sirius felt that if he were to spoil it all because of his own whims, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
Owls carried invitations, braving the cold wind and snow of winter, flying off in all directions.
...
During his leisure time, Vid always stayed in the study.
The Black Family truly lived up to being a venerable and wealthy Pure-Blood Clan, their collection of books was immense, some weren't even found in the restricted section of the Hogwarts library.
The numerous books were once prized possessions by Mrs. Black before she went mad, so Kreacher maintained them diligently, with only a thin layer of dust on them, and no traces of insect damage.
These books themselves originally had powerful Protective Magic, causing harm to anyone outside the Black Family who attempted to read them, with some corroding hands, some severely damaging eyes, and others carrying deadly Curses.