Welcome to the Jungle

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or Glee. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Part One: Fifteen

Chapter Fifty-Two: Goodbye to You

Sirius' brother, Regulus, meets them at the door. Harry and Kate have only met him a few times, but he's family - albeit distantly so - and it's therefore no surprise when Dorea greets him with a hug. It's returned, as are the handshakes offered by Charles and James, and the kiss on the cheek by Lily.

Harry receives a handshake, as well, Kate an awkward hug, but the greetings are quickly forgotten as they're shepherded into the house. It's quiet, the presence of grief almost tangible around them, emphasised by the distinct lack of Leo, Ursa, or Cassiopeia to greet them.

"How are they doing?" Dorea asks Regulus. She speaks softly, as though she can't bear to break the quiet around them, and Harry swallows hard. Here, in this house, where Marlene lived and loved and everything else, her death feels a lot more real, and he's not sure how to handle it.

Regulus grimaces. "As well as can be expected."

"Can we go see them?" Kate asks, hesitant.

"You can try," Regulus answers, "They're in their rooms. I can't guarantee they'll let you in…"

"All right," Harry acquiesces, "We'll try."

Neither Harry nor Kate need directions to Leo's or Ursa's bedrooms. They haven't visited their friends' home often, but over summers passed, they've visited often enough to know where to find them.

They approach in silence, the bedrooms side by side in an upstairs hallway. It's quiet, for the most part, but for the sounds of Cassiopeia's ragged hiccoughs. Sirius is with her, talking too low for Harry to hear, but in any case, he doesn't try to listen in.

Some things are too private.

Next to him, Kate bites back her tears, offers him a resolute nod, and approaches Ursa's bedroom door. "Sa, it's Kate. Will you let me in?"

Harry tries Leo's door, unsurprised to find it locked. He can hear Leo inside though, plucking aimlessly at the strings of an acoustic guitar. He exhales, pushes back the grief he can feel encroaching inside his heart, and braces himself for what he'll find. Then he knocks.

"Leo, mate, open up."

The sounds of Leo's guitar stop, and there's a long, drawn out pause. Rustling, and then…

"Hey," Leo greets him, expression dull, tone more so. He's pale, bags under his bloodshot, red-rimmed eyes and his hair a mess. It's the worst Harry's ever seen him.

"Hey," Harry echoes. He steps through the doorway of his friend's bedroom, shuts it behind him, and doesn't bother with words. He hugs Leo instead, tight and unfaltering, and Leo, without ado, without prompting, breaks.

Harry's not surprised. Leo would have spent the last week being a pillar for his sisters, would have done everything to help Sirius through everything, would not have let himself fall apart with anyone else grieving as much as himself. Namely: His family.

Harry though… Harry's always been there. They don't see each other every day, they don't even talk that often, but as much as they know about each other, they're practically brothers. He is, however, more removed from the situation, and therefore, as far as Leo's concerned, he's safe. He won't fall apart - not like Ursa, or Cassie, or Sirius - and for Leo's sake, e doesn't, no matter how much he wants to.

-!- -#-

Dinner is a quiet affair. No one's got anything to say, really, and so they half-heartedly eat their homemade chicken soup and freshly toasted bread instead, and avoid eye contact with anyone else.

Harry and Kate clean up afterwards, again in silence, and return to Leo and Ursa.

The siblings are all together now, Leo and Ursa, and Cassie curled up against Leo's side, but they're quiet.

"Do you want us to leave you alone?" Kate asks, hesitant, "We can give you some space, if you like?"

"It's fine," Ursa answers. She pats the space beside her on Leo's bed, and manages a small, feeble smile, "Come sit down. Tell me about this Colin fellow. How long's it been now?"

Kate does so, and Leo, Ursa, and Cassie grasp onto the distraction like a lifeline. Mostly Ursa, really, but Cassie listens quietly, and Leo somehow musters up enough levity to tease her about her relationship.

Harry, who has no real interest in learning the gory details of his sister's love life, but aware of what his friends are after, plays with Leo's guitar. It's nothing in particular, just a mindless, idle tune. It turns into something else though, to a recognisable chord progression that makes Leo turn his head. He watches, expectant, and Harry hesitates.

"Sing," Cassie coaxes. Her eyes are wide, and hopeful, and Harry doesn't have in it to deny her. He clears his throat instead, repeats the improvised introduction, and starts to sing.

"Way over yonder is a place that I know

Where I can find shelter, from a hunger and cold

And the sweet tasting good life is so easily found

Way over yonder, that's where I'm bound…"

It's an old song, but they all recognise it. Carole King is one of those singers everybody knows, but for them, in particular, 'Tapestry' is an album they've all heard countless times before. It's a particular favourite of all of their parents, Sirius and James, Lily and Marlene, and they'd all learned the lyrics long ago. As such, they all sing along, soft and quiet and sad, to Harry's cover of 'Way Over Yonder', and by the time the song comes to an end, they're all crying.

Harry joins them all on Leo's bed, combs a hand through Cassie's hair as she cries into Ursa's shirt, and wipes away his own tears with his sleeve. Leo's face is in one of his pillows, Kate by his head, Ursa's head in her lap. It's a raw, emotional tableau Harry's never felt or seen before, and he wishes, desperately, that it's all a horrible, terrible dream.

Would that they were so lucky.

-!- -#-

They lay Marlene to rest on Friday, on an incongruously bright, sunny day. The service is beautiful, as much as such things can be, and there are few dry eyes in the chapel, full to bursting.

It's easy to imagine Marlene making a quip about the turn out, more so when Sirius captures every inch of Marlene's bitingly sharp wit, of her deadpan humour, of her unfettered, unabashed zest for life throughout her eulogy.

Harry's respect for the man sky rockets as he does so, somehow able to find it in himself to smile and laugh throughout it, even as he cries. He's very obviously heartbroken, bereaved and bereft without his wife by his side, lost and alone like Harry doesn't ever want to understand.

As Ursa accompanies him on piano, and as a slideshow of photos chosen by Cassiopeia progress on a projector screen erected for that purpose, Leo performs a song he's written himself.

It takes a verse for Kate to put her head in her hands, crying silently. Their mother drapes an arm over her shoulders, but she's crying too, and James has taken one of Dorea's hands in his, his eyes bright. Harry holds his mother's free hand in his, and his stomach churns with guilt…

Leo, Ursa, and Cassiopeia will never again get to do the same. They'll never be held by Marlene again, never hear her laugh, never have her watch their games, or shows, or even argue with her. Marlene McKinnon is gone, and they'll never get her back.

And inside Harry's heart, a newfound hatred for Bartholomew Crouch - and all of his sympathisers - festers.

Author's Note: The song I imagine Leo singing is 'Supermarket Flowers' by Ed Sheeran, but I didn't want to inundate the chapter with lyrics. This song though… The first time I heard it, I cried, and had to give my mum a big hug afterwards. Just imagine the name 'John' replaced with 'Dad' if you check it out, or if you already know it and feel like listening again… Anyway, until next time. Thanks for reading. Leave a review? -t.