Colorless Days

"Fitting. A gray haze and colorless days," the cloaked figure thought from up on the hill as they watched the funeral progression.

The Black family was never one to dress in colors, always appearing to be in some state of mourning.

"No body to bury," one of the aunties said — Cassiopeia Black, not caring the level of cringe her words carried as her nephew Cygnus turned and shushed her, giving her a horrified look before looking over at his older sister Walburga as she pushed her husband Orion in a wheelchair.

"Unexpected," the cloaked figure thought to himself as he stood up on the hill, watching, waiting, ready to leave should anyone notice his presence. "The old man's seen better days, but this? Perhaps..."

Nobody spoke after that, leaving him to imagine what each individual was thinking.

"No body to bury," their great-aunt Cassiopeia was thinking, but she likely also thought it such a shame Regulus Arcturus Black hadn't left them something to bury.

"Likely the best," the cloaked figure muttered to himself, grimacing as the wind changed to his direction, forcing him to lift his arms up while thinking, "The old man shouldn't be out in this weather. Not in this state, but her heart is likely cold as ice, which doesn't matter to her."

It did matter to one of the other aunties, Lucretia Prewett, who'd never been blessed with children of her own, thus making the blow of—

His eyes closed. " Someone cared. " Then his eyes opened again, remaining wary of the rest of the Black family to ensure he wasn't seen. " I can't be blind to that, but I guess I should go with Fabian and Gideon to check in on her. "

She was the one to inform him to send Fabian and Gideon, who looked like death, but one of the brothers—

The cloaked figure could never figure out which of the Prewett twins was which, yet their eyes didn't linger, almost as if knowing not to draw attention to his presence, knowing the cloaked figure's presence would remain unwanted.

After all, they, Orion and Walburga, had not contacted him, nor had the head of the family.

"Those blasted off the family tapestry aren't family anymore," he thought to himself, remembering how Regulus had the gall to actually yell at him for getting his name blasted off the family tapestry. "That's what you wanted, though, right? To be the heir? The perfect little heir?"

A thought that usually brought him some level of glee at thinking that was the truth between him and Regulus suddenly felt hollow.

And then—

Those attending the funeral started leaving, leaving the empty grave with no body. Walburga started to pull Orion, her husband, away, only for—

The cloaked figure frowned, wondering what Orion had said to her, resulting in her leaving her invalid husband at the grave that didn't contain their flesh and blood as it should.

"No. No parent should have to bury a child. That's why he's..." the cloaked figure thought, watching as Arcturus Black, the head of the Black family, remained, motioning for Walburga to leave, but then, "I guess she's far from pleased at leaving." He took a deep breath, waiting, hoping they'd go so...

"I know you're there, Sirius."

The cloaked figure froze and started turning away, only—

The look on his grandfather's and father's faces—

Letting out a sigh, Sirius quickly apparated down to the empty plot, glowering.

"You came."

Sirius looked over at Orion, frowning, tugging down the hood of his cloak. "A bit too cheerful."

"Sirius Orion," Arcturus said, glaring at him. "Be kind."

"Well, I shan't be," Orion said, his hands clenching the blanket covering his lap, while Sirius wondered if the blanket even kept Orion warm in this weather. The old man shook his finger. "You! Your brother!"

"Not my brother," Sirius said.

"I thought..." Orion said.

"Your father is unwell," Arcturus snapped. "Don't antagonize him."

"Or what? You'll ask me to leave?" Sirius shook his head. "Not sure why I even came."

"Because he's your brother," Orion said, resulting in Sirius letting out a huff. "Despite everything. If only..."

Sirius turned his head, frowning. "What is your..."

"You," Arcturus said. "He blames you."

"Of course he would," Sirius said, looking away. "Always not the perfect one."

"No," Orion said, shaking his head. "The one thing I ever wanted from you."

"What? What did..."

"Sirius Orion," Arcturus said. "If you can't..."

"To be his brother, to protect him," Orion said. "Your one job in this world, regardless of status, Sirius."

Sirius tensed. "And what about your job?" He felt his throat tighten, his eyes darting around the grey, colorless gravestones of a family that lacked any form of life, a family that stifled him from a young age.

"Fair," Orion said. "But he's not dead."

"Orion," Arcturus said, shaking his head. "What have I..."

"Find him," Orion said. "Find him, Sirius."

"Fine him?" Sirius looked at him, wanting to yell, to get angry at the man in front of him, to tell him how unfair his request was, and yet—

Orion Black was only alive because of that hope.

"Fine."

"No, you won't," Arcturus said.

Sirius glared, his throat tightening. "You! You really..."

"He's safe."

Sirius tensed. "What?" His eyes opened and closed. "Regulus is..."

Arcturus glared at him as if to say, " Don't say the wrong thing. "

"Yes, yes," Orion muttered. "He's safe wherever he is. I'm sorry for asking, Sirius. You stay safe."

"Me?" Sirius placed a hand on his heart.

"I know you can take care of yourself," Orion said. "You always were able to when he couldn't."

Sirius sighed, looking away. "Are you blaming me again?"

"What? No, no," Orion said. "He'll come home. He'll come home one day. You as well."

"I won't," Sirius said. "I..."

"Perhaps when your mother passes?" Arcturus asked.

Sirius stiffened, staring. "What is with you? How can you act like..." He shook his head, jamming his hands into his pocket. "What exactly did he get into?"

Arcturus let out a humming sound. "Good question. It's rather irritating that he decided to challenge a magical being and not finish what he started."

Sirius frowned, looking right at Arcturus. "What are you talking about?"

Arcturus turned to look him in the eye. "Honestly? I don't know what it is that your brother started; it's just that whatever it is is, it's not finished. It needs to be finished."

"Well, I'm not finishing it for him," Sirius snapped, only to flinch as Orion looked at him, making him feel—

—guilt—

"Hey! I don't even know what it was, old man!" Sirius snapped.

Orion smiled, looking at the empty grave. "What trouble did he get into that made him need to hide himself away like this?"

Arcturus cleared his throat, turning his head to glare at Sirius as if saying—

"Doesn't he get it? That my brother's dead?" Sirius thought. Then, he reached for the handles of the wheelchair.

"What are you doing?" Arcturus asked, his voice stern.

"How far?" Sirius asked. "So that..." He stopped speaking.

"I'll take over," Arcturus said, walking ahead of him, using his cane to proceed.

"Well, I didn't expect this," Orion said.

"Don't," Sirius snapped. "Don't think anything of it."

"He's alive," Orion repeated.

Sirius—

He wanted to yell at their father, to tell him Regulus wasn't alive, and yet—

He couldn't.

He couldn't because—

"I want him to be alive as well," Sirius thought. "But it must be nice to be able to believe that Regulus is alive somewhere."