Sirius' funeral

Harry took a deep breath and glanced to his sides. Hermione gave him an encouraging smile. Ron seemed to be fighting back tears. Harry bit his lip to stop his own tears and the three of them stepped into the room.

The church was decked out in reds and blacks. Reds in honour of Sirius' Gryffindor pride and black to represent death. A piano had been set up. The coffin was at the front of the church, covered in flowers. All the seats were filled.

Percy, Fudge and his bodyguards were sitting at the front, to the left, looking embarrassed. Narcissa Malfoy was sitting a few rows behind them, looking stubborn and uptight. She hadn't brought Draco. She gave the impression that she was only there to make sure her cousin was truly dead. The left side was full to the brim with Aurors and old Gryffindors. Mad-Eye Moody was sitting near the front, eyeing everyone with deep suspicion. Harry spotted Lupin, Tonks and Dumbledore sitting in the front row on the left side. The Weasley family and Luna Lovegood were sitting behind. As Harry, Ron and Hermione headed towards their seats at the front they overheard Molly Weasley talking to Fred and George.

"You're certain you haven't set up any pranks."

"Certain, Mum. We would know."

"Nothing inappropriate?"

"No, Mum. We're not that sick."

"I know you're not. But I wouldn't put it past you to set up a few practical jokes to 'lighten the mood'."

"Nothing, Mum. We promise. We're serious. We owe it to Harry."

Harry sat down next to Lupin. Remus gave Harry an inquiring glance. Harry looked at his feet. The battle continued behind them.

"And your eulogy? No jokes in there? If I hear either of you say the words 'knock knock' you're-"

"Mum, please."

"Why is there a piano?" Ron asked, timidly.

"There's going to be a special song dedicated to Sirius," Dumbledore told him.

Tonks wasn't looking at them, Harry understood.

"Is that," Hermione managed to sound amazed and worried all at the same time. "Is that Elton John?"

"Yes," said Lupin, unhappily. "But don't worry. He'll have his memory wiped afterwards."

Harry wasn't the only one to think 'lucky him'.

Dumbledore stood up, it seemed he was going to take the service.

"We are gathered here today," he announced. "To say goodbye to Sirius Black. Sirius was a lot of things to a lot of people. He was a friend," His eyes fell on Remus. "A cousin," He glanced at Narcissa. "A father figure," his gaze rested on Harry. "And above all, a good man and a good wizard. Though he spent the last fourteen years of his life persecuted for a crime that he didn't commit there were those of us who never lost our respect for him. And he did deserve that respect. He was willing to go to amazing lengths, even die, to protect the ones he loved. Sirius went through a lot of pain in his life and, though we miss him, it is important to know that he is far better off now in a place where no one can hurt him." There were sniffs throughout the building. "Now Fred and George Weasley are going to speak about how Sirius affected their lives."

Dumbledore sat down. Fred and George came to the front. Fred took a deep breath, glanced at his brother and stepped forward.

"It's amazing how much Sirius, or Padfoot as we always knew him, did in our lives considering we only met him last year." Harry smiled. "He inspired us to pull every prank we pulled and we couldn't have done it without the memories and gifts he left behind. We can only hope to equal to greatness of the Marauders when it comes to pranks, because, without Padfoot, we could never defeat them. Plus, he made fifth year far more interesting than it would have been without him."

There was a little laughing throughout the hall.

Fred stepped aside and George came forward. He held up the Marauders Map. "We were thinking of giving up so it could be buried with Sirius but we thought he wouldn't like that. I'm sure Sirius would prefer that we slip this back into rotation at Hogwarts so that any pranksters of the future could see his the work of Sirius and his friends and be inspired as we were. Goodbye Sirius. You're setting off dung bombs in heaven now."

They took their seats. Their parents and siblings gave them reassuring hugs as they sat down.

"Remus."

Lupin came to the front. "Sirius was the best friend a guy could ask for. He was so accepting and was always there for me. Though we didn't always get on and sometimes have our little arguments and fights, you could still always count on him to be there when you needed him. In and after school he was a lot of fun and always a good laugh. I was never happier than when I was with him and I will miss him bitterly. But I, and no one, could ever forget him. So, in a real way, he will always be with us."

Tonks had started to sniff when Remus sat down. Molly handed her a box of tissues. Dumbledore gave Tonks an inquiring glance but she shook her head. He stood up again.

"Now, there will be a musical tribute for Sirius played by Sir Elton John."

"Goodbye Mr Black,
Though I never knew you at all,
You had the grace to calm yourself,
And was humble enough to crawl.
You crawled out of the Azkaban,
Where they whispered into your brain,
They chased you on the run,
And they made you change your name.

And it seems to me you lived your life,
Like a candle in the wind,
Never knowing what to change to,
When the Dementors came in.
And I would have liked to known you,
But I was just a kid,
Your candle burned out long before,
Your legend ever did.

Loneliness was tough,
The toughest role you ever played,
Keeping an eye on your Godson,
And rats were the price you paid.
Even when you died,
Oh the press still hounded you,
All the papers had to list,
Were the murders you didn't do.

And it seems to me you lived your life,
Like a candle in the wind,
Never knowing what to change to,
When the Dementors came in.
And I would have liked to have known you,
But I was just a kid,
Your candle burned out long before,
Your legend ever did."

As Elton John played a piano solo, Harry realised Dumbledore was looking at him. Harry stood up and came to the front.

"I never really had a dad," he told them all. "I barely remember my dad and my Uncle Vernon never really acted like a father to me. I never knew what having a dad was like until I met Sirius. Sirius was so caring and I would have done anything for him, just as he would have done anything for me. It's kind of my fault that he died. I thought I was alone. I thought that no one else knew how I felt and I guess no one did exactly. But I see now that it would be selfish of me to think that I was the only person to whom Sirius meant something. Sirius was like a father to me but he wasn't just that he was lots of things. And I'll miss him." He placed one hand gently on the coffin. "Goodbye Sirius."

He sat down and Hermione hugged him. At the piano, Elton John continued.

"Goodbye Mr Black,
Though I never knew you at all,
You had the grace to calm yourself,
And was Humble enough to crawl.
Goodbye Mr Black,
From the fans who thought you were bad,
But that was a good thing, you were sexy,
And our Sirius, the forgotten dad.

And it seems to me you lived your life,
Like a candle in the wind,
Never knowing what to change to,
When the Dementors came in.
And I would have liked to known you,
But I was just a kid,
Your candle burned out long before,
Your legend ever did.

And I would have liked to have to known you,
But I was just a kid,
Your candle burned out long before,
Your legend ever did."

Elton continued to play as one by one, everyone got to his or her feet. They were all carrying flowers and, as they walked past the coffin, they placed them down on it and said their goodbyes. Even Narcissa and Fudge followed on. When everyone had had their turn and tissue were being passed along the rows to all those who had broken into tears, Dumbledore got up again.

"Now we will process to the graveyard for the burial."

Those chosen to be bearers headed over to the coffin. Just as they were about to pick it up, there was a loud knocking. As the crowd stared, the door of the coffin was thrust open and Sirius sat up. He looked around at everyone with a rather confused expression on his face.

"Did I miss anything?"