Growing up with the Mauraders (Book 1) UNDER SERIOUS EDITING

Chapter 20: Saying Goodbye

Sirius

James, Remus, Peter, Lily, Mackenzie, Iris, Bella, and I were all in the great hall eating breakfast. The was a screech and a ruffling of feathers signaling the mail had arrived. Usually Mackenzie and I don't get mail so we were taken aback when a regal black owl dropped two thick envelopes for us.

"Who's it from? I doubt it's your parents," James states.

I shrug and flip the envelope over, "It has a ministry seal on the back."

"Well that's not good," James mumbles.

"Sirius I don't want to open it. You go first," Mackenzie says.

I take a deep breathe and open it with shaky hands.

Dear Mr. Sirius Orion Black & Miss Mackenzie Rose Black,

We regret to inform you that yesterday at 2:30pm, Your father Orion Regulus Black , died at Saint Mungo's Hospital due to a heart attack. His funeral will be on Friday December, 18. Your mother wishes for you to be at the wake and funeral. Headmaster Dumbledore is aware of the situation and is allowing you to miss classes for the week to get over this hard time. Please send and owl so we know when to pick you up for the funeral.

The Ministry of Magic

The table is silent after I finished reading the letter. I hear sniffling two spots down to my left. It's Mackenzie, and she's trying to hold back tears.

"It's okay Kenzie. We don't have to go," I say quickly, reaching over James to comfort them.

She sniffs, "No. We have to go. It's the right thing to do."

There's a silence among us and I can't take it anymore so I do what I do best. I make them smile, "And look on the bright side we get to miss class for a week!"

This causes them to chuckle quietly.

Time Skip

The days pass with Mackenzie and I sitting around the common room and exploring Hogwarts. It's Friday as Mackenzie and I getting ready for the funeral. Mackenzie's taking our father's death a lot harder than I am.

Even though she was sorted in Gryffindor, she never was disowned like I was. She was the youngest, and the only daughter to my parents. She was perfect, in their eyes, not capable of turning out like me. But they were wrong, she did end up like me, being sorted into Gryffindor. When our parents got word of it the blamed me. It was my fault there perfect daughter wasn't perfect anymore.

For a long time I was resentful to her. The 2 years at Hogwarts without Mackenzie was amazing. No one was bothering me to be like my sister, or my brother. I felt free, I made new friends and life was good. When my third year came around and Mackenzie would be attending I was mad. I was worried everything would be ruined.But I was wrong, worried for nothing.

Mackenzie was fine at Hogwarts. She did well and fit in despite going against our family's beliefs. There are still times where I get jealous of my sister, like all the times we went home and I would get cast a side and ignored. While she was dotted on a praised.

Mackenzie never knew how I felt and if she did she never said anything. I was her favorite and I always would be. She told me that all the time, I only believed her half the time. I was pulled out of my thoughts by a tug on my arm.

Mackenzie looks at me and I know it's time to go. So I straighten my suit and walk us to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore gives us a pitiful look as we grab the flu powder.