Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter Nineteen

Sorrow

May 27,

Dear Jane,

It's just Horrible . . . I never would have thought . . . and now . . .

Mr. Sirius Black,

I have already contacted your Parents and have received immediate correspondence in return claiming they have no interest in the matter at hand. I have hope however, that you at least will not share this opinion.

I regret to inform you that as of one twenty-three this morning your brother Stanton Black is among the deceased. He and his wife April died this morning in an attempt to defend esteemed members of the wizarding community, and their neighbors Fabian Prewett and his brother Gidion. All four I fear to say are now dead at the hands of one Dark lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

They will of course be given the finest Funeral possible, at the full expense of the Ministry, I hope you will be able to assist me in certain matters. Among them are possible family members who will not share your parents so wholly expressed opinions.

I am most sincerely sorry,

Matheson Morris

Sirius slowly put the letter down, hand shaking, staring at the broken black wax seal. "Remus can I borrow a piece of Parchment and a quill?" Remus pushed the desired items over and Sirius immediately set to work on a list of names which he quickly sent back hoping that at least a few of them would show up in honor of his brother.

~*~*~*~*~

Peter sat on his bed watching Sirius hunt through his trunk. "Do you want us to come with you?" James asked for the hundredth time.

"Cause we will if you want," Remus echoed.

"Doesn't matter," Sirius muttered his voice hoarse. Peter sighed, he had never seen Sirius this unhappy. Angry yes, but unhappy . . . never.

"Sirius," he asked cautiously, "are you going to be alright?" Sirius paused in the ransacking of his trunk.

"I . . .I don't know," he said finally. "Regulus refuses to come and Bellatrix couldn't care less . . .I'm afraid . . .I'm afraid . . ." he took a huge shuddering breath.

"There'll be other people there!" Remus reassured him.

"Peter, help me find my nice black robes," James said suddenly. Peter nodded and got up to help him search through his own trunk.

~*~*~*~*~

Sirius stood on the grass of the cemetery. The sun was covered by clouds causing the day to fit his mood perfectly. He could feel James's hand on his shoulder, but it offered no comfort. Remus and Peter also stood by his side.

All four of them were in Muggle suits, well actually James and Remus were wearing transfigured robes which was kind of funny when you thought about it, but Sirius couldn't laugh.

After the service Sirius wandered through the various excommunicated Family members. He had left James, Remus, and Peter behind, and they had let him. After a while he found the person he'd been looking for.

"Andromeda." The woman turned around.

"Sirius! If you ever need anything . . . any thing at all . . ." Sirius nodded and glanced at the nine-year-old girl by her side. The girl immediately wrapped her arms around him in a bone-crunching hug.

"I liked him Sirius. He always gave me candy when I saw him." She brushed a lock of frazzled shoulder length brown hair out of her eyes, screwing up her face in frustration. A moment later it was at her chin.

"Nymphadora!" Andromeda scolded.

"Let the child be," another voice said behind them. Sirius turned in surprise.

"Uncle Alphard, you came?"

"All Stanton ever did was make a decision your parents didn't like, but what child doesn't?" Alphard's wizened face creased with sadness, and the white fuzz on his nearly baldhead showed brilliantly against the sky. "No he died with honor, trying to protect what is right . . .why shouldn't I be here?"

"I . . . just . . .well . . .My mother." Uncle Alphard looked at him Pointedly.

"Me . . .afraid of your mother? Heavens no . . . She's more worried about weather I'll keep her in my will, than I am of staying on the blasted Tapestry . . . No you let me worry about your mother boy . . .you worry about the mad man who did that." He gestured at the coffins holding Stanton and his late wife. Sirius only looked at the ground holding back tears.

It was then that Andromeda began to sing. Sirius and Uncle Alphard joined in soon after. Sirius didn't notice when halfway through his voice broke into a beautiful baritone, or when Nymphadora let go of him and ran off in tears, or even when his own tears began to fall. All he knew was the hymn and the memory of his brother.

Somewhere the sun is shining

Somewhere the song birds dwell

Hush then, thy sad repining

God lives, and all is well

Somewhere, Somewhere

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere

Land of the true, where we live anew

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere

Somewhere the day is longer

Somewhere the task is done

Somewhere the heart is stronger

Somewhere the vict'ries won

Somewhere, Somewhere

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere

Land of the true, where we live anew

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere

Somewhere the load is lifted

Close by an open gate

Somewhere the clouds are rifted

Somewhere the angles wait

Somewhere, Somewhere

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere

Land of the true, where we live anew

Beautiful Isle of Somewhere