With a soft pop, the group returned to Number 12, Grimmauld Place, carrying Regulus's cold remains.
Back in the familiar surroundings, only the pale, quiet corpse silently reminded everyone that the experience in the cave was not an illusory dream.
Sirius gently placed his brother's body on a temporary table magically conjured and draped with black velvet. His movements were softer than ever, and his eyes surged with complex, ineffable emotions.
Kreacher knelt not far away, his swollen eyes fixed on Regulus, his withered fingers tightly clutching the fake locket, as if it were his only solace.
"He should have a funeral."
Sirius's voice was hoarse as he broke the silence. He looked at Sagres, his tone more resolute than ever. "A funeral worthy of what he did. He shouldn't be forgotten as a disgraced Death Eater anymore. People should know what he died for."
Sagres nodded slightly, his expression somewhat indistinct in the dim light.
"This is an internal affair of the House of Black, and it is your right as an elder brother. I have no objection to it."
"Professor," Sirius looked at Sagres with firm eyes, "you found him, and you made us understand the truth of the matter. This funeral… I hope you will preside over it, if that's possible?"
Sagres was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"It is my honor."
In the following days, Sirius was immersed in solemn busyness.
He issued an obituary in the name of the Head of the House of Black, simply stating that Regulus Arcturus Black had bravely sacrificed himself many years ago in defiance of Voldemort, and his remains had only recently been recovered. A private funeral would be held on a certain day.
On the day of the funeral, the sky was overcast and rainy, as if even the heavens were weeping for a belated hero.
Sirius used magic to set up a temporary Great Hall in the cemetery.
Regulus lay peacefully amidst the flowers. An endless stream of mourners arrived, far exceeding expectations.
Lupin was the first to arrive. He wore his best robes and silently embraced Sirius, his eyes filled with sorrow and understanding.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley also came. Molly's eyes were filled with tears, which she constantly wiped away with a handkerchief, while Arthur firmly clasped Sirius's hand and whispered, "What a remarkable boy, admirable courage."
Members of the Order of the Phoenix arrived one after another, including some old members like Dedalus Diggle and Elphias Doge.
Even the Longbottoms came. Frank and Alice brought Neville, and their gazes towards Regulus were filled with respect.
The Malfoy family also attended, though it was unclear if it was out of courtesy between pure-blood families or due to their blood ties.
Surprisingly, the Ministry of Magic also sent representatives, their expressions intriguing, clearly highly concerned about the sudden rectification of this "former Death Eater."
The Great Hall was filled with low murmurs and suppressed sadness.
Neville stood beside Harry, looking at Regulus's silver and green Slytherin crest, and whispered to Harry, "He… he was a Slytherin? I mean, he was so brave…"
Harry looked at the coffin and softly replied, "Yes, he was a Slytherin. But courage has never belonged exclusively to one House, Neville. We shouldn't let prejudice blind us."
Neville nodded blankly, as if he hadn't expected Harry to say such a thing.
Finally, Albus Dumbledore arrived. He had already learned the full story from Sirius.
He wore a solemn, dark purple robe, and his silver-white hair and beard seemed to glow faintly in the dim interior.
He walked directly to the coffin and gazed silently at Regulus for a moment. Complex light flickered in his sharp blue eyes—mourning, admiration, and a hint of almost imperceptible regret.
He whispered a few words to Sirius beside him, and Sirius nodded heavily.
Harry stood beside Sirius. He could feel the curiosity and questions in the gazes cast upon them, but no one actually stepped forward to inquire "what exactly happened."
Dumbledore's presence seemed to set the tone for the event—this was a mourning for a rebel, and the details didn't need to be delved into.
The ceremony began, and Sirius, as the Head of the House and elder brother, delivered a short but heartfelt speech.
He did not mention the Horcrux, nor the dangers of the cave. He only told everyone that his brother, Regulus, had realized Voldemort's true nature during his lifetime and had resolutely chosen self-sacrifice to destroy something that could enhance Voldemort's power.
"He may have once strayed," Sirius's voice trembled slightly, "but I am proud of his ultimate choice."
After Sirius finished speaking, he stepped off the platform. Harry softly comforted him, but he shook his head, looking at Sagres.
The guests' discussions rose and fell. Sirius's words shocked them, but more people remained silent, perhaps because they simply didn't care about the truth.
Sagres stepped forward and began his narrative.
"Today we are here not merely to mourn a deceased person," his voice clearly reached everyone, "but also to introduce a lone traveler who journeyed alone through a long night and ultimately illuminated the darkness with his life."
His gaze swept over the varied expressions of those present.
"Some walk in the light; their courage is visible to all and is praised. While the courage of others is born from deeper darkness."
"They may have been lost, they may have wandered, but when they recognized the path ahead, the price they paid was often even more tragic—they had to betray their past selves, fight former comrades, endure loneliness understood by no one, and even fall silently, bearing the world's misunderstanding and disgrace."
His words plunged many into contemplation. Sirius clenched his fists, and Kreacher let out a low sob nearby.
"Regulus Black chose the latter path. His battlefield had no audience, his victory no anthems, his sacrifice unknown for a long time. This is a remarkably pure courage; it seeks no validation, yearns for no glory, but is loyal only to the conscience within and the yearning for justice. He demonstrated what true 'ambition' is—not an endless greed for power, but the courage to overturn everything and reshape oneself for a higher principle."
Finally, Sagres calmly concluded, "He was a true Slytherin!"
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