When the Roses Went Black: The Lost Lover of Sirius Black

XXXVI

TW//detailed violence, blood

The day of the funeral was grey and drear.

Not a single ray of sun poked through the thick cloud cover. It seemed as though Heaven itself was mourning the death of Rose, one of its own angels. A great mass was held at the local cathedral. The stained glass filtered in no radiance. The candles surrounding the open casket burned dimmer, and every soul in the pews was adorned in black. It was the blackest day Sirius could remember. He walked numbly down the aisle, every person in the pews casting him looks of sympathy and pity.

That hurt him even more.

After kneeling and crossing himself at the casket, Sirius looked down at the lifeless shell of his lover that lay in it. She looked so peaceful, her beauty still evident, even in death. Sirius had made it very clear to keep all her jewelry on when she got buried. The necklace and bracelet he got her for their first Christmas. Her engagement ring, all of it. For in his mind, he could still be with her in such a way, until they met again. He felt his knees grow weak as he gazed, and Peter had to walk him back to the pew.

Remus approached the casket right after. He could barely cross himself before almost collapsing, tears cascading down his pale face, burning his scars. Tonks stood next to him, and helped him stand. Remus plucked a single red rose from a bouquet by the casket. He walked back to Rose and slid it in between her thin hands that were crossed over her stomach. A strangled sob could be heard from him, and when he returned to his seat next to Sirius, the two friends collapsed into each other's arms, heaving together.

Lily and James couldn't make it to the funeral so as to not compromise themselves, but as all the guests sat in their pews, two bright patronuses burst through the cathedral doors: A doe, and a stag. The pair walked slowly next to each other and stopped when they approached the casket, both bowing low at it. The doe and stag then walked over to the front pew, bowing again at Sirius, Remus, and Peter. A few moments later, another doe patronus entered, but it stayed in the back of the room, it's head dipped down low. No one knew who sent the second doe, nor had a remote idea that it could be paying it's respects to one of the few women that showed it faith, whether deserving of it or not.

The ceremony went by in a blur for Sirius. He couldn't remember much, only feeling absolutely shattered. Those who sent their condolences to him often received no answer, just an empty gaze from his broken black eyes, the skin around them red and stained. He remembered crying. He remembered not saying much, no matter how much he wanted to scream and defy the world for stripping him of his Rose. The only time in the whole ceremony that Sirius was snapped out of his stupor was when exiting the church, at the front of the procession. Regulus Black stood at the back of the cathedral, careful and successful not to be seen for the entire duration of the funeral. But he was spotted as Sirius walked out, his head bowed. Once Sirius saw him, he didn't say a word, only tackling his younger brother to the ground, raining punches upon him.

Regulus tried to keep his hands in front of him to block the blows, but Sirius continued to pummel the bleeding man beneath him. Remus drug a screaming, crying Sirius away from Regulus by his shoulders. Regulus barely sat up, his breathing labored, face and clothes covered in blood.

"You foul, loathsome, son of a bitch!" Sirius cried as he writhed in Remus's arms, who was struggling to contain hun. "You're the reason she's gone! You and your disgusting puppets to that maniac. Burn in Hell, Regulus!" At the end, Sirius just sobbed as he fell limply in Remus's arms.

Regulus looked pained and a deathly white, but he spoke. "Sirius.. I told him not to hurt you and Rose. I swear. He said nothing, he only told me to fetch Lucius. I don't know what happened, or even if Lucius killed her, but on my life Sirius, I pleaded with him." Regulus began to cry the same as Sirius, his heart aching that one of the few people he loved in this world just gazed upon him with burning hate.

Sirius looked up at Regulus with red, bloodshot eyes. "Why should I believe you?" he spat. Regulus took a shaky breath. "Because you're my brother, and I love you." Sirius's face changed, but this time not with rage. Just with sheer hurt. He stood up, extending his hand to Regulus. Hesitantly, his younger brother took the hand. Sirius pulled Regulus into a tight hug. The men shook together, having hugged for the first time in seven years.