Chapter 365: Worthily Died

The election date was set for June 30th, which also happened to be a Sunday. To accommodate the Headmaster's schedule, the final exams for all other year groups at Hogwarts would be held during the last week of June, with summer vacation announced after Friday.

Bellatrix had only this one week—the duration of the students' exams—to act. That was not insufficient time; at least it was enough for her to discover the theft of the vault and learn from the goblins that the thieves were Hermione and Alina, two Hogwarts students. Or if her intelligence network was even more extensive, she might have guessed that the cup had fallen into Snape's hands.

Early Wednesday morning, Harry received a letter stating that the joint operation between the Order of the Phoenix and the Ministry had finally concluded, successfully recovering the body of "Sirius." They hoped he would join Lupin in the afternoon to claim it. At that moment, Harry roughly understood Snape's plan: he wanted to give Bellatrix a faint glimmer of hope, making her believe she still had a chance to turn things around. Perhaps then she would place her faith in the election, making Harry's ritual of receiving the Dark Lord's legacy appear more complete.

Near evening on Wednesday, Harry, as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, appeared on the shoreline with Lupin and Doge. This was the first time Harry had ever truly seen Regulus Black in person.

Voldemort's power was immense; Regulus's face remained vividly preserved, that of a young man with fine black hair and the classic, aristocratic handsomeness. Harry knew this was a man who had made the solitary decision to defy Voldemort—a true lone hero—but he could not connect the legend with the face before him.

"Though our motives differed, his goal was the same as ours," Lupin said, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "There are many reasons to regard someone as a hero—some fight for justice, others simply to protect their family. That's what the people of Tianchao mean by 'Heroes need not ask their origins.'"

Harry thought the proverb might be misapplied, but he said nothing, only silently gazing at the face in the coffin. As one of the few who knew the truth, he hoped he could remember every detail of Regulus.

A sharp pop of Apparition echoed; Harry turned to see a slender, hooded figure standing nearby. It was a woman with blue eyes and long golden hair. She nodded to Sirius and greeted him. From her unmistakable, haughty beauty, Harry deduced she was likely Bellatrix's sister—and from that, he guessed she was Lucius's wife.

Narcissa quickly approached. Lupin pulled Harry back a few steps, standing with the other members of the Order. Harry noticed Tonks's expression of disdain; she subtly shifted, positioning Harry behind her.

"This is—" Narcissa covered her mouth. She stood frozen for a long moment, then began to weep softly.

"Nine tomorrow morning," Sirius suddenly spoke. "We'll hold the funeral in Godric's Hollow. That's what I've arranged with the Order."

Narcissa lifted her head, suppressing her sobs and a trace of anger. "You still intend to bury him with those people?"

"He died here," Sirius said calmly. "Do you wonder why?"

Narcissa froze, shook her head, stepped back half a pace, then seemed to remember something. She sniffed, wiped away her tears.

"Will you come?" Sirius asked again.

"I'll come with Lucius," Narcissa said, glancing at the Order members. "Only as his cousin by marriage."

"Of course," Doge nodded. "We'll ensure your safety."

Narcissa offered a bitter smile, then turned silently and Apparated away.

In solemn silence, two of Sirius's men lifted the coffin bearing the Black family crest. The three of them Apparated away.

The Order members exchanged quiet words. Doge patted Harry's back, and they too departed. Lupin glanced at Tonks and murmured, "I'll take you to Sirius's place. Stay there tonight—you can join him at the funeral tomorrow."

Lupin brought Harry to Sirius's office. As they opened the door, Harry noticed Snape was already inside.

"You noticed, didn't you?" Sirius began. "Malfoy admitted it."

Harry nodded.

"The Bai Gong took William away. He won't be coming back," Lupin said. "Malfoy's defection was expected—they have no other allies left."

"That family has always been fence-sitters. I wouldn't be surprised if he turned traitor twice a day," Sirius shrugged. "We should've settled accounts with him too, but Nosey said he never killed anyone, so we'll let it slide—for now."

Harry noticed Snape let out a dismissive snort.

"Is it really that simple, Severus?" Lupin asked skeptically. "Did Lucius surrender so easily?"

Snape stood, said nothing, and left.

Harry suspected he was angry about the term "Nosey." He looked helplessly at his godfather. Though Sirius privately acknowledged Snape's intelligence and ability, in front of Lupin, he still seemed determined to play the part.

"Has Bellatrix arrived?" Harry broke the silence with a question.

"No, she didn't come," Sirius said gloomily. "So we threw flowers at a blind man. Maybe she really thought that was Sirius, and found it beneath her to come see."

"Or perhaps she knew it was Regulus—and refused to face it," Lupin said. "She must have realized William and Rabastan failed, and guessed Malfoy was about to defect. She knows coming here changes nothing. Better to fool herself."

"Possibly," Sirius sighed. "Are you two staying here tonight?"

"I was about to ask you the same," Lupin shrugged.

"Harry needs funeral attire. I've already prepared it," Sirius said. "But if we're going to play the part, you should be the one to take him to the ceremony."

"Then…" Lupin blinked. "Harry, what do you think?"

"I'll go back to school. Ron will worry," Harry scratched his head. "I'll meet you at the Three Broomsticks at eight-thirty tomorrow."

After a slightly somber night, Harry met Lupin at the Three Broomsticks, dressed in a black robe. They arrived early at the funeral, taking seats in the front row.

After a long silence, people began to arrive. There were only three or four rows of chairs, yet they still weren't full. The Order sent only Doge, Moody, and Kingsley, who sat in the second row on the right. Lupin and Tonks sat in the front row on the right, beside Harry. On the left, aside from Sirius in the front row and Narcissa and Lucius in the second, no one else sat.

Just before nine o'clock, when Harry thought no one would come to the third row, Zhang Qiu and a man with East Asian features quietly took seats behind him.

Then Snape and Bellatrix arrived, taking the far left and far right seats of the third row on the left.

"Colleagues, friends," Sirius stepped forward before the body. "Today, we gather in sorrow to mourn the passing of my brother, Sirius Black."

"His life was brief but brilliant. He used his life to teach us one truth: even in the darkest times, human courage can still shine with the brightest light. He dared to abandon outdated dogma, to defy others' control. At a moment when his future seemed bright, he listened to the truest voice within him. Then, overcoming his fear of the future, he took a firm, defiant step—and walked bravely to the end."

"Each of us is born burdened by fate—family expectations, social standing, peer approval, material comfort. These things push every pure-blood wizard along a predetermined path. But my brother questioned them. He realized that beyond dignity, nobility, and wealth, there were other equally beautiful things worth fighting for. He chose to abandon the first half of his life, to challenge that shackling fate for the sake of those he cherished—and sealed his devotion with his life."

"As his younger brother, as the one who parted ways with him at the very start of life over differing ideals, I have no right to question his choice, let alone deny his efforts. Today, we sit here mourning him as a loved one. But no one truly understands the complex emotions behind his decision to face certain death, to defy fate. No one understands, or mourns, the failure of his great struggle."

"But at least, your presence here proves his choice was recognized, that his struggle had meaning. This funeral is not only my final farewell to my brother—it may also be the last time any of you see one another. So, as he said to me when we parted: If we never meet again, may you die as you lived—worthily."