Aftermath

Outsider

"We are gathered here today in remembrance of great leaders and cherished successes to our community's. One week ago a Husband, Wife, and Son died in the Battle at Hogwarts. Their deaths were tragic, but we will not remember them for the end of their life. But for their life itself.

Ignatius Blackwell was a strong loyal man, a great and loving father, and was of great importance to all who knew him. He will be dearly missed. Ivory Blackwell was beautiful inside and out. She put the ambition into Slytherin and she was one of the most independent strong people I think I've ever known. Galahad Blackwell was a young and pure soul, taken from us far too soon. He was proud and smart. He held so much potential.

We are here to remember this wonderful and happy family that was taken from us in a time of tragedy. With a few words, here comes our last heir and survivor of the Blackwell family, Miss Hestia Blackwell." The small crowd of onlookers and so called friends were gathered around in black as Hestia walked up the steps to the center stage.

Her bright blue eyes looked down at the three pure white closed caskets before her. She felt her heart beat strong inside her chest, reminding her she's alive. Her eyes scanned the crowd at the people who had fake tears in their eyes and the golden trio who was required to attend. Ever since the battle the trio was praised and celebrated, but fame comes at a cost of having to attend most of the funerals.

Hermione Granger stood in the arms of Ronald Weasley, his eyes fresh red for another reason. Hestia was once saved by George and Fred and knew that the Weasley's were in mourning. Hestia didn't attend the funeral of the fallen twin because she knew a Slytherin with her name was not welcome. Harry Potter stood tall like a soldier next to the couple, his eyes trained on Hestia.

Clearing her throat she looked back at the rest of the crowd. She recognized the Malfoys, probably the only true friends of the Blackwell family. "That was an excellent speech," she said, her voice stronger than she expected. Hestia paused again and thought of what she should say, the truth or what everyone wants to hear.

The crowd went silent, all eyes trained on her. "An excellent speech indeed. Unfortunately, not a word of it was true." Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she saw the entire crowd shift uncomfortably, knowing this was going to be bad. Knowing that this girl was about to say everything they wanted to keep a secret.

Hestia wiped a stray tear from her eye and spoke again. "My father was a cruel man, constantly looking down upon everyone and everything. He was weak and cowardly, joining Voldemorts army because he thought that he was a higher power. He disowned me when I told him that he was an ignorant and selfish man who would get himself killed for this fight. Guess I was right, wasn't I?" She scoffed softly.

Her eyes scanned as the crowd shifted again and became tense and uncomfortable. She watched as the golden Trio and Draco Malfoy become more focused on what she was saying.

"My mother was so desperate to keep the family name pure that she followed the footsteps of my father and joined the Dark Lord. She lied to everyone about who she was. My mother was a cold woman who was incapable of love and was such a coward that, instead of serving the sentence she was given, she killed herself. You don't want to say it and don't want to hear it because you know that it's all true.

My parents were evil and cold hearted. Everyone of you are guilty of knowing that my house was not a home and that my parents were no parents. Everyone of you knows that my mother was abusive and my father so entitled that he disowned me when I was 11 years old. The only reason I could return to the Blackwell manor was for the sake of the family name." Hestia ranted as boiling hot tears ran down her beautiful face and her eyes darkened to the color of the midnight sky.

The crowd no longer shifted but instead became so still and quiet that they looked frozen. Every witch and wizard dared not breath as they listened to this young girl spill out the overflowing and heartbreaking truth. Guilt flooded their veins as they realize their cowardliness left a girl to be raised in such a empty environment. The only ones not guilty was Harry, Hermione, and Ron. They stood amongst the crowd with a different look, sympathy.

Hestia quickly wiped her face of all tears and she let a loud empty chuckle fill the silence. "Which brings me to my little 15 year old dead brother. He's right in front of me in the coffin, lifeless and gone. Isn't that horrible?" She laughed a heart shattering laugh that turned into more of a sob. She took a second to collect herself before she continued.

"Galahad, my baby brother. He was my best friend and closest ally. We trusted each other with the world. There wasn't a secret we didn't know about each other. When he was twelve... when he was twelve he told me that he liked boys. He was so scared." She paused and took a breath as her body shook with pain.

"But I promised to not tell anybody and I accepted him. Unfortunately my parents found out last year. Galahad always got the worst of the horrors at home, but it got so much worse when they found out. He wanted so desperately to be accepted that he too abandoned me and was brainwashed into joining Voldemort. So he died. He's dead. And here I am."

Hestia descended the steps as she wiped away her tears and felt her heartbeat pulse through all of her. She walked silently past a shocked crowd and headed alone towards the limousine. Her darkened blue eyes stared straight ahead as from all sides flashes of newspaper cameras attacked her. Hestia did not shed another tear for the lost souls of her family as she was silently driven back to her manor, where she is meant to live alone with only the ghosts of her past.