Harry Potter and the Third Party

Chapter 3: The Funeral of Sirius Black

Harry looked around the room at the shelves of books, the mini bar, and the large globe that sat by the door. The room was brightly lit by torches with an ancient look, but had fires that glowed like the florescent lights of any modern office building.

In the center of the room were Remus, Tonks, and Mundungus.

"Wotcher, Harry," said Tonks, who was fitted in a proper dress, with her now brown hair in a ponytail. It was the first time Harry had seen her look so normal, although he didn't mind the controversial in the Wizarding World look she usually displayed.

"Lo, 'arry," stated Mundungus, who was wearing a large trench coat that didn't appear to be filled with loot. At least not yet.

"Hello, all," Harry replied gloomily.

"Well, the room is this way." Lupin gestured with an open hand, and Harry followed Tonks and Mundungus into a hall that led to a large, pew filled room. In the room, Harry saw Hermione and the Weasley family, minus Percy and the twins, sitting in the pew at the front on the right. Apart from them, the room seemed empty except for an old, grey bearded wizard in black robes, who was standing in front of the casket. As Harry approached the front row, he was spotted by Mrs. Weasley, who hurried over to him and threw her arms around him.

"Oh, you poor dear," she sobbed. "Harry, I'm so sorry, you poor thing! How are you holding up?" she said, as tears continued to trickle from her eyes.

"I... I'm managing," Harry replied blankly.

Mr. Weasley came up to him next. "Harry, I just wanted to know if you would like to come to the Burrow afterwards. We would love to have you for the rest of the summer," he said, with a reassuring smile.

"Yeah," said Harry, "I'd like that a lot. But all my things are at Privet Drive."

"Don't worry, dear, we can send for them," Mrs. Weasley replied in a soft voice.

"All right, thanks," Harry replied as he moved past Charlie and Bill. They each greeted him quietly.

He then came to Ginny. "Hello Harry, how have you been?" she asked, in a genuinely concerned tone of voice.

"Oh, well, not too bad," he replied.

"Well, we're glad to see you again," she whispered, and gave him a quick hug before she sat down.

Harry looked next to see Ron and Hermione motioning to him to sit beside them.

"Hey, Harry..." Ron seemed like he wasn't sure of how to address Harry on this occasion. Hermione was drying her eyes, and she reached across Ron to give Harry a hug.

"Harry, I... I..." she sobbed, "I'm here for you if you want to talk." She could barely choke out the words.

"Thanks." Harry smiled. He looked around the room, but there were no other people coming. "Where are Fred and George?" Harry asked, a bit puzzled.

Ron looked embarrassed. "Well, Harry, they... they couldn't get away from the shop. They're piled with loads of work. I mean, it did just open recently. But they told me to tell you how sorry they were that they couldn't make it. And they sent that wreath!" Ron pointed to a beautiful large green and red wreath by the casket that read: Sirius, we will miss you. "And they paid for the plot and tombstone," Ron said, looking sideways at Harry to see his reaction.

"Oh well, that was nice of them," replied Harry. Harry understood, as their shop was quite popular. And besides, they really hadn't known Sirius that well.

He took another look around and noticed others missing now. "Where are Dumbledore, and McGonagall, and the other members of the Order?" Harry asked blankly.

"I dunno," Ron replied honestly.

Harry took another look around and saw Tonks and Mundungus by the door, looking serious manner. Mundungus had his hand in his trench coat, and Tonks had hers in a pocket on the side of her dress. He guessed they were on guard duty.

Lupin was sitting on the left front pew looking very distraught. Harry called to him in a loud whisper. "Professor Lupin! Professor Lupin!"

Lupin looked over at him, and rose to talk to him. "What is it, Harry?" he asked in a barely audible voice.

"Where are Dumbledore, and the others?" Harry asked.

Lupin blinked in surprise. "Well, they're on assignment for the Order," he said calmly.

"Okay, but where is Dumbledore?" Harry asked again.

Lupin looked confused at Harry's lack of comprehension. "I just told you, on an important assignment for the Order."

Harry's expression changed to one of anger instantly. "What!" he shouted. "What's so important that he can't be here to say goodbye to Sirius?" Harry's cheeks were now turning a bright shade of red, and his eyes were smarting suspiciously.

"Harry, there's important work to be done. We're at war and..." Lupin began, but Harry cut him off.

"To hell with the war! Dumbledore should be here to see Sirius off. He owed it to Sirius to be here!" Harry's voice was shaking with rage now, and everyone was looking at him.

Lupin remained quiet and calm, but there was a sense of panic in his voice. "Harry, don't you think he wanted to be here? There are things we can't tell you that..."

Again Harry cut Lupin off. "Yes, I know! I know how Dumbledore likes to keep me in the dark about things that concern me. About important things, everything I should know about. Well I've had enough of his excuses! There is nothing more important than his presence here right now is. He's... he's ungrateful to those who give service to him, that's what he is!" Harry was not even trying to keep his voice down or control his rage anymore. Harry had had just about enough of Dumbledore keeping him in the dark about Voldemort and the Order.

"Please Harry, not now! This isn't the time. He really is on an important mission for the war that's coming."

Harry relented as he saw the tears in Lupin's pleading eyes. Lupin had come here to say goodbye to his best friend and Harry had come to say goodbye to his godfather.

"Fine, another time," he said, not wanting to upset Lupin any further.

"Ahem!" Harry turned his head to see the old wizard in black clear his throat. He spoke with a clear Welsh accent. "We are here today to pay tribute to Sirius Black, to his memory and to his dedication to doing the right things in life. Sirius was a brave man, who gave the ultimate and most noble sacrifice to stop You-Know-Who and his minions and to protect the good people of the wizarding world..."

Harry listened to the speech by the old wizard, but in the end he wasn't impressed. It seemed like he didn't know Sirius and it was a eulogy that could have been written for anyone. Harry didn't blame the man. He'd never seen him before, and guessed he was just the person on duty. No. Harry had someone else in mind that he believed shouldered the lion's share of the blame for the weak showing at the funeral. Dumbledore! Dumbledore, who should be here in this man's place giving this speech!

What an insult! thought Harry. Surely someone else could have gone on the mission in Dumbledore's place. Harry would have words with him another time.

"And now I would ask members of the family, and friends, to come up and say a few words about this good man, Sirius Black," said the old wizard.

Lupin was the first to move up to the podium. "Sirius Black was my best... best friend. He was the best friend anyone could have. He was brave and noble and generous..." Lupin recounted several stories from their school days together and Harry hoped that the story of jinxing Snape would come up, but it didn't. Lupin ended with, "I will miss you, my good friend."

Then each of the Weasleys and Hermione took their turn to speak. They all tried to say nice things about Sirius and say as much as possible, but it seemed repetitive, and they just didn't know him well enough. Tonks took her turn, but mostly apologized for not knowing her third cousin better. Even Mundungus tried to say something nice, but it ended in disaster. "Err... nice man... brave... um, had a lot of silver around the house. Uh? Kind-hearted. Said I could have that expensive tea set. Mmmm... he was a wealthy man," Mundungus stammered.

Lupin came up to politely guide him to his seat. "That's... that's enough. Thank you, Mundungus."

The old wizard looked to Harry now. "And now will his godson, Mr. Harry Potter, like to say a few words?"

Harry moved to the podium and looked at the near empty room. It wasn't fair! Sirius was a great hero. The pews should have been filled, and yet there were only twelve people in attendance including Harry himself.

Harry began, "My godfather Sirius Black was a great hero! He was a man of great courage. He died fighting evil. The pews should be filled here today. Sirius deserves a hero's funeral. He was the best godfather anyone could have had. He was murdered by Voldemort's servants and... and he will be avenged." Harry's rage surfaced again. "I will avenge him!" Harry was now shouting at the top of his lungs. "I will kill the Dark Lord!"

Everyone in the room was sitting with their mouths open in shock. Harry had a fire in his eyes that literally scared his friends and family. Ron slid down in his pew and Hermione let out uncontrollable sobs. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley were holding each other tightly, and Bill and Charlie just looked at each other, dumbfounded.

"I loved Sirius, and Voldemort took him from me. I will have my revenge," Harry sobbed. Tears were flowing from his eyes now, and Lupin came up to pull him back to the pew.

"I...will...have...revenge,"Harry said between sobsLupin hugged the boy tightly and Harry went limp in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"There, there, it's going to be all right. Just let it all out," Lupin said in a soothing manner.

After a while, Harry composed himself and sat next to Lupin in his pew. Lupin put his arm around Harry, comforting him.

"And now," stated the old wizard, apparently unaware of what had just happened, "we commit the body of Sirius Black to the crematorium, and his soul may be at peace." The wizard pulled out a wand from his robes. "Alohomora!" he said, and two doors behind the casket opened to reveal an empty room with several holes on the walls and floor. He then used the Levicorpus charm to move the coffin into the room.

It had just started to sink into Harry what was going on. He stared transfixed at the coffin and asked Lupin, "Wait! Did he just say crema...?"

The old wizard flicked his wand at that moment.

"Incendio!"

The holes in the coffin room blasted fire at the coffin.

"No! No!" shouted Harry. "You can't... he..."

The old Wizard flicked his wand again. "Colloportus!" he ordered, and the doors slammed shut.

Harry's face was white with shock, and with his eyes rolling back in his head, he blacked out immediately.