Alastor nodded as they stepped inside, the automatic sweep of his eye telling him Sirius wasn't there. He'd hoped the other man would be there so Jamie wouldn't have to hear this news on his own.
He really hated this part of the job.
"We wouldn't have bothered you right now, but there's been news." Pausing because he knew he was bad with these things, he debated telling Jamie he should probably sit down. Really, how did you tell a young man already grieving for his mother, killed only hours before, that he'd also lost his father?
There was no good way.
"It's about your father. It appears he left the castle last night, possibly in an attempt to get your sister. He was killed in the process. The Prophet printed the article this morning and we've had confirmation from the outside." He held the paper out, in case Jamie needed to confirm the details for himself. "I'm sorry, Jamie."