The Sea Funeral

Thomas woke up suddenly the next morning, drenched in a cold sweat. His forehead was hot and his hair was clinging to his face.

'I know...it was just a dream...' he said, reassuring himself. He stared at the window, wondering if it really was true. Standing up slowly and unwillingly he walked over to the window with his hands out, to reach out to the curtains. His hands slowly pulled the curtain back and reveled the sheet-covered body of his father. Thomas cringed and shut the curtains tightly, closing his eyes. 'Well...I guess it wasn't a dream.' He thought sighing mentally. He stared at the floor. It seemed all his energy had disappeared in that moment. He just wanted to lie on the floor and never get up. A knock broke his concentration and the handle turned. It was his mother. She didn't seem herself either. Lucretia stood in the doorframe, extremely pale, still wearing the same dress, covered in his father's blood.

"Thomas..." she cried out, running up to him and sweeping him up into her arms, hugging him tightly. Her bawling was muffled in Thomas' shoulder as they were hugging each other in the middle of the room. He still stared at the floor and slowly put his arms around his mother. He was clearly traumatized.

After a few moments of silence together, Thomas and Lucretia pulled away from each other. "Thomas... we're going to have a sea fairing funeral." She whispered, as she wiped her eyes. Her face was quite red. Thomas just simply nodded. Lucretia looked at him and smiled. "We will just have to go to Diagon Alley another day Hunny." She said brushing some hair out of Thomas' eyes. He put a hand on her hand to let her know that he would be okay. Tears welled up in Lucretia's eyes and she could feel herself crying again. "Oh Thomas, I...I'm so sorry... I don't mean to be like this, I can't help It." She whispered.

"Don't worry, we won't be doing much, all we have to do is dress up real nice like. Okay, do you think you can do that?" she asked Thomas standing up. Thomas gave a small nod. "Lets see what we have in the closet." Lucretia said, flinging the doors open. She flicked her silver hair over her shoulder and began looking through his clothes. The only sound in the room was clothes hangers screeching along the metal bar in the wardrobe. "Hmm what about this?" she said, holding up a sailor suit, with a grin. Thomas raised an eyebrow. She laughed. "I was kidding!" she said putting it back. Thomas was relieved she was finding some humor in the day. The dead silence came back into the room as she was looking for the perfect outfit.

"Ah! Here we are!" she said pulling out a black suit and robes that were hanging on top of them. "You'd look great in this." She said laying it on his bed. "Now you have to help me find a dress." She said taking his hand into hers and bringing him into the bedroom. She flung the doors open of her wardrobe and sat on the bed. "Alright, choose one for me." She said with a smile.

Thomas walked up to the closet and had a look. There were so many dresses he could hardly move the hangers into place and the same dress came flinging back into his face. There were so many colours. Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Pink, Blue, White, Black... It was so hard to choose. He looked at his mother and back at the dresses. He took down the sapphire one. It had fine sapphire silk underneath black netting. He pulled out some black high heels to match. He put them on the bed and smiled at his mum.

"Brilliant." She praised. "Right, I shall put these on and leave you to get dressed." She said, standing. Thomas walked out of the room without a sound. He still hadn't spoken since the night before and he wasn't about to start now. Walking back into his room he saw Chrysler sitting on the bed, nervously holding a letter. Thomas sat next to her and looked at it.

"Chrysler knows you do not wish to speak today Master Thomas, but she thought that you should read the letter you got from Hogwarts." She said handing it over. Thomas gently took it off her and looked it over. It was a yellow parchment and his name and address was written in emerald green ink.

Thomas Malfoy

Mansion by the sea

24 Ashram Road

Wiltfershire

Thomas was impressed at the detail put into the letter. He put his thumb under the seal and broke it. Chrysler smiled eagerly at him. He pulled the letter out and read it.

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock.

Suprememe mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Malfoy

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary book and equipment. Term one begins 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonnagall

Deputy Headmistress.

He put the letter on his lap and pulled out another letter with the books and equipment on it. It read:

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry

Uniform;

First year students will require;

Three sets of plain work robes. (Black)

One plain pointed hat (Black) for day wear.

One pair of protective gloves. (Dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak. (Black, Silver Fastenings)

Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry nametags.

Set Books;

All students should have a copy of each of the following;

The Standard Book Of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawle

A History Of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory by Adalbert Woffling

A beginner's guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch

One thousand magical herbs and fungi by Phyllia Spore

Magical drafts and potions by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic beasts and where to find them by Newt Salamander

Dark Forces; A guide to self-protection by Quentin Trimble

Other Equipment;

1 Wand

1 Cauldron (Pewter, Size 2)

1 Set glass or crystal phials

1 Telescope

1 Set of Brass Scales

Students may also bring and owl OR a cat OR a toad. Parents are reminded that first years are not allowed their own broomsticks.

Thomas looked at Chrysler. She jumped off the bed. "You should get dressed. We have a lot to get through today." She said walking through the door. Thomas pulled off his pajamas and yawned. He hadn't been this tired in years. He lazily pulled his trousers on and done them up. He then heard a noise out the window, like galloping. He raised an eyebrow and headed to the window ever cautiously. He gasped internally as he saw a horse like creature, but the thing was, it looked like a zombie, with wings. He tilted his head to the side and rubbed his eyes just to make sure. He opened them again and still saw it.

'Yep. I'm going crazy...' he thought. He watched as it galloped off. Shrugging it off as some hallucination, because he was so tired, he continued getting dressed.

His mother and fathers friends surrounded Thomas, sitting in black, silk covered chairs. Thomas looked around impatiently. They were all wearing black; it was depressing. Most women wore a veil to conceal their faces. He heard a couple behind him talking.

"I can't believe he's really gone..."

"I heard Voldemort done it."

"Yes, and not even felt a bit of sympathy for Lucretia and Thomas."

"Indeed..."

Thomas tried to pay attention to the man at the front, but couldn't. He looked at his mother. She looked elegant and was silent too. Her hands were tightening around a small handkerchief in her hand. Thomas could hear her breathing; it was terribly uneven. He then heard the rustle of robes and people standing up. He stood with them. William's closest friends walked up to the front and lifted the casket. They walked slowly down the middle of the isle. As they walked past Thomas and Lucretia, she took his hand and they followed then down the pathway to the beach. They stood hand in hand, in the breeze, watching the men put the casket onto a small raft, filled with flowers and dry grass. They pushed the raft out onto small waves and all took their wands out.

"Incendio." They all said synchronized. They grass caught fire and started to burn well. The raft went out further and further from shore. Thomas watched silently. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears when he realized he didn't even get to say goodbye.

He let go of his mother's hand and began to sprint towards the water. Lucretia screamed. The people on the cliff who were watching were surprised. Women gasped and a few men ran down the path to chase Thomas. Thomas on the other hand was in waist deep water, determined to reach the raft before it sank. Pieces of burnt wood, and still burning wood, floated past him as he began to swim. The splashes and yelling of the men behind him got louder, so he swam faster. The water was extremely deep by now and Thomas was exhausted. He felt himself swimming nowhere. The raft finally burnt through and the casket broke off, slowly sinking into the dark abyss.

Thomas choked on some seawater and then felt some arms lifting him. "Come on boy. You'll be right... you'll be right..." the man cooed. As Thomas was being pulled to shore, he felt that he wouldn't be right. He had failed his father by not swimming out to him. He had failed himself for not saying goodbye. He had failed and also realized, he was the one who killed his own father.