A Suite and Magical Life

Chapter 28: Everything is not what it seems

March 26, 2013

Ottery St. Catchpole, United Kingdom

The church was filled to the maximum, bursting with people. There was a mournful buzz rising from the crowd as people reconnected with old acquaintances and expressed their grief and sorrow over the loss of a great man. And why shouldn't they? Professor Charles Crumbs had been a great man, and his loss had left the world poorer. At least, Zack thought, his memory would live on forever, and the man would indeed be immortal, as he tried to stop his tears.

The grand mahogany casket lay open at the front of the church, just before the beginning of the pulpit. In it, lay the mortal remains of Professor Charles Crumbs. As Zack looked into the casket, he saw that it merely looked like Professor Crumbs was sleeping: his wand lay by his side, his eyes were closed, his long silvery beard sparkled ethereally, and he was resplendent as ever in his dark blue wizard's robes. The only thing that indicated he was dead was his softened face.

Zack remembered all his encounters with Professor Crumbs: despite everything Zack had done, the old professor had tolerated it all, while reprimanding him. Most of what Zack had done would've gotten him banished from the magical world if it were anyone else, but Charles Crumbs had been a kind man, and rather than punishing Zack he had tried to understand why he had committed the act, and helped prevent that reason from recurring. And for that, Zack reflected, I will always be grateful.

Zack took one last look at the man who had shaped his life massively, who was undoubtedly one of history's greatest sorcerers, but now lay peacefully in the coffin. Rest in peace, Professor Crumbs. Zack thought. Thank you for everything. I promise I'll make you proud. With immense difficulty, he looked away from the body of his mentor and walked back to the pew where the Russo and Martin families were sitting, having paid their last respects to the great man.

The rest of the ceremony passed quickly: the members of the Wizards' Council gave eulogies for the man they had all looked up to, and both the British Minister for Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt and the President of MACUSA Samuel G. Quahog giving touching eulogies to a man they'd respected and admired. As the coffin was carried into the graveyard and lowered into the grave, Zack noticed that despite being older than the religion itself, Charles Crumbs had been a devout Christian for 2,013 of his 3,000 years, as proven by the Christian last rites given by the priest.

After the grave was coffin was lowered into the grave, Zack fell to his knees in front of the gravestone. It read: Professor Charles Crumbs (987 BC- 2013 AD). A loving headmaster, professor and sorcerer. Thank you for everything. Zack prayed to him one last time, thanking him for all he had done, before standing up, and turning around to walk back to the two families.

As soon as he got back, they enveloped him in a group hug. All of them knew how much Zack had idolized Professor Crumbs and how hard he'd taken the loss. The group just hugged him for a minute before pulling away. All of them, that is, except Alex Russo, who kept clinging to him.

Zack cradled Alex gently, knowing how much Professor Crumbs had meant to her and having remembered how shocked she'd been when the news had broken that he'd died. Additionally, Alex and Zack had finally seen their relationship progress and begin to develop in recent days.

Alex and Mason had recently broken up after a big fight wherein Alex had found out that Mason also loved Juliette, Justin's girlfriend, who loved him back. Alex had then revealed that she loved Zack, who loved her back, which had caused the row to escalate and totally sever their relationships. Juliette had also broken up with Justin, leaving them hurting. While Justin was comforted by his parents, Alex had flown into Zack's arms, and he'd comforted her throughout. They had finally begun to recover from the sadness and heartbreak, and things were finally looking up.