Once again Auria chose to fly to Edinburgh instead of apparate. She needed
the time to mentally prepare herself for the coming day. Upon arriving
Auria decided to use the same alleyway to transfigure in as before. After
returning to her normal form and she headed towards the Wallace's house.
It was only 9:30 in the morning when she reached the front door, but already there were several cars parked outside. Auria braced herself with a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. Once again Mrs. Wallace opened it with her big smile and sad eyes.
"Oh Auria, hello. My, my, aren't you here early" she said ushering her inside. Auria slowly took off her shoes and put down her bag.
"I thought I might be able to help" Auria replied with a weak smile.
"That's wonderful" Mrs. Wallace said as they reached the kitchen. "I need all the extra hands I can get."
Auria spent the next several hours setting up food, serving people drinks and handing out tissues. Throughout the course of the day she met more of Brendan's family then she knew existed, and heard several stories about him from various relatives. However, most of her time was spent hugging or comforting his family and friends, allowing herself to be a shoulder to cry on.
Finally, when she thought she could take no more of the grief, Mrs. Wallace said that it was time to head to the church. The ancient stone building was only four blocks away, so everyone walked. A dead silence filled the large sanctuary people took their seats. One by one people were permitted to visit the open casket to say their final goodbyes.
When Auria's turn came she nervously approached the altar. Taking a deep breath she stepped up and looked down at Brendan.
"He looks so peaceful" she thought to herself as she gazed at his pale face. She bent down closer and out loud whispered, "Brendan, I am so sorry, your death was my fault. You were such a great friend and boyfriend." She reached down and touched his hand. It felt cold beneath her fingers. "You were the first boy that ever held my hand, the first boy that ever kissed me. I'm truly going to miss you Brendan," she said, the tears flowing freely now. "I'll see you again someday, up there" Auria motioned to the heavens. "I'm so sorry." She bent down and kissed his cheek. In a voice barely above a whisper she said "I'll get even Brendan, I won't let you die in vain." Auria stood up straight and quickly wiped away her tears. With one last look back she turned around and headed back to her seat.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The service lasted only half an hour. Mr. Wallace and Brendan's best friend gave touching eulogies, and it was all Auria could do not to cry. When she looked over at the sobbing Mrs. Wallace a tear ran down her cheek.
As the service ended the pallbearers closed the coffin and walked it slowly out of the church, and into the awaiting car. Everyone else headed back down the street to their own cars.
"You can come in the limo with us if you like dear" Mrs. Wallace said kindly to Auria, knowing that she had no mode of transportation.
"Oh no I couldn't" Auria said looking at the ground.
"No! I insist. Come sit with us" she replied patting the seat next to her.
Before Auria could open her mouth to respond, she was ushered inside the black limousine.
As they drove to the cemetery Auria looked back at the precession. Nearly three-dozen cars where following their own.
"He was loved by many," she thought sadly to herself.
Auria turned around just in time to see them pass through the large wrought iron gates. She looked up at the sign as they drove by and let out a small gasp. They had just entered St. Cuthbert's cemetery, the place where her father lay buried.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fifteen minutes later everyone was gathered around the open grave. Brendan's casket lay on ropes, waiting to be lowered. Auria didn't pay any attention to the priest's prayers, instead she was gazing around at all the sad faces. Once the prayers were said the casket was lowered and everyone threw a handful of dirt on top of it. Auria bent down and picked up some cold soil in her hands. As she threw it into the grave she muttered, "Goodbye Brendan."
People began to drift away once the ceremony was over. Mrs. Wallace said that Auria could join them at her house for some snacks, but she politely refused. Auria lied and said that she had to catch the train back to school. However, she remained staring at Brendan's grave until she was the only one there. After saying her final goodbye's Auria picked up her bag, turned away, and headed farther into the graveyard.
The tombstone was easy to find. It stood in an open part of the cemetary without another stone on either side. Auria had chosen redish brown for the color, to keep with the wizarding tradition. She knelt down beside it and brushed away the dirt at its base. After looking around to make sure she was alone she drew out her wand and transfigured some nearby clovers into bright white daisies. She placed them near the stone and then ran her hand across the inscription.
"I miss you daddy," she said quietly blinking back tears. "I wish you were still with me, I have so much to tell you. I know that some how you can hear me."
Auria then told her father's grave all that had happened since his death. She included school, Sirius, the changing of houses and even her meetings with Voldemort. When she was done she stood up, gently ran her hand along the top of the stone and then bent down and kissed it.
By the time Auria left the cemetery it was cold and dark outside. As she headed towards the exit she took her cloak out of her bag and wrapped it tightly around her. With a quick glance around, she quietly slipped into the shadow of a large tombstone, changed into a phoenix and flew off into the night.
Although it was dark out Auria decided to remain invisible for safety's sake. She was just flying over the outskirts of the town when she saw a sudden flash of green light up the sky. Turning she wheeled around and headed towards it.
Above a large stone house floated the dark mark. The green skull and snake illuminated the scene below. Flying overhead, Auria could see a person, hooded and cloaked towering over a sobbing frightened looking man lying on the ground. The cloaked person raised their wand and shouted something and the scared man suddenly began to scream and twitch in pain. In that instant Auria made up her mind.
She flew down and landed between two houses farther down the street. Auria transfiguring back into herself and she pulled up the hood of her plain black cloak.
The frightened man's voice reached her ears.
"Please, please don't hurt me anymore, don't kill me" he said with a ragged sob. "Have mercy."
"We do not show mercy for filth mudbloods," said a cold male voice.
A white hot anger arose in Auria and a single thought sprang into her mind.
"Death Eater" a voice inside her head screamed.
After pulling out her wand she slowly peaked around the corner. She saw the cloaked man raise his wand again, but before he could hex the man Auria jumped out from between the houses and shouted, "expelliarmus."
The Death Eater's wand flew out of his hand and landed with a thud on the pavement. Skillfully avoiding her next spell he sprang forward and picked it up.
"Crucio" he screamed at her, but Auria was ready. She easily dodged out of the way, hatred coursing though her body.
"Reducto" she cried, putting all her strength into the spell. The jet of red light hit the Death Eater squarely in the chest, and dropping his wand, he went flying into the stonewall of the crying man's house. Auria glided towards the Death Eater. When she was only four feet away she narrowed her eyes and said in a whisper, "stupefy." The Death Eater's head slumped down unconscious. Auria muttered another spell and watched as heavy ropes shot of her wand and wound their way around the Death Eater's hands, feet and mouth.
After making sure that he was harmless she marched back across the grass and picked up the Death Eater's fallen wand. Raising it high in the air she brought it down quickly and snapped it in half over her knee. Auria suddenly realized that the crying man was staring at her with a look of horror on his face.
"Are you hurt?" she asked in an emotionless voice. She did not want someone to mistake her for the young girl she was. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The man nodded slowly.
Auria walked closer to him.
He rolled back his pants to reveal a broken leg.
"Get inside," she commanded.
The man hobbled to his feet and headed towards the house. Once inside he collapsed to the floor in pain. Before entering Auria quickly extinguished all the lights in the room with a wave of her wand. Kneeling down she ripped a strip off the man's cloak and wrapped it around his head, covering his eyes.
"Don't try to take it off," she said threateningly.
The man nodded, shaking with fright.
"Is anyone else home?" she asked more softly this time.
"My wife, but, but she's dead" sobbed the man. "That Death Eater killed her."
"I'm sorry" Auria replied quietly.
She gently rolled up the man's pant leg and changed into a phoenix. The tears came easily and she tilled her head so that they fell onto the man's broken leg. Auria could hear his breath catch in his throat and as his leg healed his body began to relax.
"Are you hurt any where else?" she asked, returning to her human form.
The man shook his head. Pulling her hood farther over her eyes she undid the blindfold. Getting up, Auria headed towards the door, leaving the man in the dark.
"Thank you" he said, standing up, testing his leg.
"You're welcome" Auria whispered, smiling to herself.
Before the man could answer she opened the door and stepped outside. After making sure that the Death Eater was still there Auria sent bright red sparks into the sky. Then she ran between the houses and waited. Five minutes later several Aurors and ministry wizards arrived at the house. A moment later Auria changed into a phoenix and flew back to the school, feeling proud and happy for the first time in days.
It was only 9:30 in the morning when she reached the front door, but already there were several cars parked outside. Auria braced herself with a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. Once again Mrs. Wallace opened it with her big smile and sad eyes.
"Oh Auria, hello. My, my, aren't you here early" she said ushering her inside. Auria slowly took off her shoes and put down her bag.
"I thought I might be able to help" Auria replied with a weak smile.
"That's wonderful" Mrs. Wallace said as they reached the kitchen. "I need all the extra hands I can get."
Auria spent the next several hours setting up food, serving people drinks and handing out tissues. Throughout the course of the day she met more of Brendan's family then she knew existed, and heard several stories about him from various relatives. However, most of her time was spent hugging or comforting his family and friends, allowing herself to be a shoulder to cry on.
Finally, when she thought she could take no more of the grief, Mrs. Wallace said that it was time to head to the church. The ancient stone building was only four blocks away, so everyone walked. A dead silence filled the large sanctuary people took their seats. One by one people were permitted to visit the open casket to say their final goodbyes.
When Auria's turn came she nervously approached the altar. Taking a deep breath she stepped up and looked down at Brendan.
"He looks so peaceful" she thought to herself as she gazed at his pale face. She bent down closer and out loud whispered, "Brendan, I am so sorry, your death was my fault. You were such a great friend and boyfriend." She reached down and touched his hand. It felt cold beneath her fingers. "You were the first boy that ever held my hand, the first boy that ever kissed me. I'm truly going to miss you Brendan," she said, the tears flowing freely now. "I'll see you again someday, up there" Auria motioned to the heavens. "I'm so sorry." She bent down and kissed his cheek. In a voice barely above a whisper she said "I'll get even Brendan, I won't let you die in vain." Auria stood up straight and quickly wiped away her tears. With one last look back she turned around and headed back to her seat.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The service lasted only half an hour. Mr. Wallace and Brendan's best friend gave touching eulogies, and it was all Auria could do not to cry. When she looked over at the sobbing Mrs. Wallace a tear ran down her cheek.
As the service ended the pallbearers closed the coffin and walked it slowly out of the church, and into the awaiting car. Everyone else headed back down the street to their own cars.
"You can come in the limo with us if you like dear" Mrs. Wallace said kindly to Auria, knowing that she had no mode of transportation.
"Oh no I couldn't" Auria said looking at the ground.
"No! I insist. Come sit with us" she replied patting the seat next to her.
Before Auria could open her mouth to respond, she was ushered inside the black limousine.
As they drove to the cemetery Auria looked back at the precession. Nearly three-dozen cars where following their own.
"He was loved by many," she thought sadly to herself.
Auria turned around just in time to see them pass through the large wrought iron gates. She looked up at the sign as they drove by and let out a small gasp. They had just entered St. Cuthbert's cemetery, the place where her father lay buried.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fifteen minutes later everyone was gathered around the open grave. Brendan's casket lay on ropes, waiting to be lowered. Auria didn't pay any attention to the priest's prayers, instead she was gazing around at all the sad faces. Once the prayers were said the casket was lowered and everyone threw a handful of dirt on top of it. Auria bent down and picked up some cold soil in her hands. As she threw it into the grave she muttered, "Goodbye Brendan."
People began to drift away once the ceremony was over. Mrs. Wallace said that Auria could join them at her house for some snacks, but she politely refused. Auria lied and said that she had to catch the train back to school. However, she remained staring at Brendan's grave until she was the only one there. After saying her final goodbye's Auria picked up her bag, turned away, and headed farther into the graveyard.
The tombstone was easy to find. It stood in an open part of the cemetary without another stone on either side. Auria had chosen redish brown for the color, to keep with the wizarding tradition. She knelt down beside it and brushed away the dirt at its base. After looking around to make sure she was alone she drew out her wand and transfigured some nearby clovers into bright white daisies. She placed them near the stone and then ran her hand across the inscription.
"I miss you daddy," she said quietly blinking back tears. "I wish you were still with me, I have so much to tell you. I know that some how you can hear me."
Auria then told her father's grave all that had happened since his death. She included school, Sirius, the changing of houses and even her meetings with Voldemort. When she was done she stood up, gently ran her hand along the top of the stone and then bent down and kissed it.
By the time Auria left the cemetery it was cold and dark outside. As she headed towards the exit she took her cloak out of her bag and wrapped it tightly around her. With a quick glance around, she quietly slipped into the shadow of a large tombstone, changed into a phoenix and flew off into the night.
Although it was dark out Auria decided to remain invisible for safety's sake. She was just flying over the outskirts of the town when she saw a sudden flash of green light up the sky. Turning she wheeled around and headed towards it.
Above a large stone house floated the dark mark. The green skull and snake illuminated the scene below. Flying overhead, Auria could see a person, hooded and cloaked towering over a sobbing frightened looking man lying on the ground. The cloaked person raised their wand and shouted something and the scared man suddenly began to scream and twitch in pain. In that instant Auria made up her mind.
She flew down and landed between two houses farther down the street. Auria transfiguring back into herself and she pulled up the hood of her plain black cloak.
The frightened man's voice reached her ears.
"Please, please don't hurt me anymore, don't kill me" he said with a ragged sob. "Have mercy."
"We do not show mercy for filth mudbloods," said a cold male voice.
A white hot anger arose in Auria and a single thought sprang into her mind.
"Death Eater" a voice inside her head screamed.
After pulling out her wand she slowly peaked around the corner. She saw the cloaked man raise his wand again, but before he could hex the man Auria jumped out from between the houses and shouted, "expelliarmus."
The Death Eater's wand flew out of his hand and landed with a thud on the pavement. Skillfully avoiding her next spell he sprang forward and picked it up.
"Crucio" he screamed at her, but Auria was ready. She easily dodged out of the way, hatred coursing though her body.
"Reducto" she cried, putting all her strength into the spell. The jet of red light hit the Death Eater squarely in the chest, and dropping his wand, he went flying into the stonewall of the crying man's house. Auria glided towards the Death Eater. When she was only four feet away she narrowed her eyes and said in a whisper, "stupefy." The Death Eater's head slumped down unconscious. Auria muttered another spell and watched as heavy ropes shot of her wand and wound their way around the Death Eater's hands, feet and mouth.
After making sure that he was harmless she marched back across the grass and picked up the Death Eater's fallen wand. Raising it high in the air she brought it down quickly and snapped it in half over her knee. Auria suddenly realized that the crying man was staring at her with a look of horror on his face.
"Are you hurt?" she asked in an emotionless voice. She did not want someone to mistake her for the young girl she was. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The man nodded slowly.
Auria walked closer to him.
He rolled back his pants to reveal a broken leg.
"Get inside," she commanded.
The man hobbled to his feet and headed towards the house. Once inside he collapsed to the floor in pain. Before entering Auria quickly extinguished all the lights in the room with a wave of her wand. Kneeling down she ripped a strip off the man's cloak and wrapped it around his head, covering his eyes.
"Don't try to take it off," she said threateningly.
The man nodded, shaking with fright.
"Is anyone else home?" she asked more softly this time.
"My wife, but, but she's dead" sobbed the man. "That Death Eater killed her."
"I'm sorry" Auria replied quietly.
She gently rolled up the man's pant leg and changed into a phoenix. The tears came easily and she tilled her head so that they fell onto the man's broken leg. Auria could hear his breath catch in his throat and as his leg healed his body began to relax.
"Are you hurt any where else?" she asked, returning to her human form.
The man shook his head. Pulling her hood farther over her eyes she undid the blindfold. Getting up, Auria headed towards the door, leaving the man in the dark.
"Thank you" he said, standing up, testing his leg.
"You're welcome" Auria whispered, smiling to herself.
Before the man could answer she opened the door and stepped outside. After making sure that the Death Eater was still there Auria sent bright red sparks into the sky. Then she ran between the houses and waited. Five minutes later several Aurors and ministry wizards arrived at the house. A moment later Auria changed into a phoenix and flew back to the school, feeling proud and happy for the first time in days.