Orion Black (novus_orion) wrote in novus_sceptrum, @ 2009-10-26 19:03:00 |
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Characters: Orion Black, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Caradoc Dearborn, James Potter, Harry Potter, Lily Potter, Nymphadora Tonks, Andromeda Tonks?, Albus Dumbledore? Other members of the Order
Date: October 26, 1999 - around twilight
Location: Godric's Hollow
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Everyone gathers together for a service in memory of Dorcas Meadowes, former Order member.
Status: Complete
Orion would have still been at Harry's, had he not received an early morning owl from his father, requesting that he return home to Grimmauld Place for a discussion. The seriousness of the note had drawn him out of bed and back to the house, where he and Sirius had sat down at the kitchen table and had, over cups of tea that eventually grew too cold to drink, discussed the events of the evening before. Orion listened as his farther explained what he and James had done, how they had essentially done something rather foolhardy to bring Dori's body back for a proper burial. They had already done the hardest part, putting her into the ground, but today there would be a proper service. It was something for her family and friends to attend, closure that they had all been waiting for for many years now. All of the old crowd who remained would be there, as would those who didn't know her but wanted to honor her memory and legacy and all she had done in her life.
For all he had tried to put this out of his mind, things came flooding back then and Orion had spent the majority of the afternoon in his bedroom, hiding away in the silence of the house. For awhile he'd tried to pen down things he might say at the service, but he decided if anyone should ask him to speak, it was better to wing it. He'd never been so good at public speaking, and somehow the idea of having to write down memories of his mother seemed horrible in retrospect. After he'd given up on writing he'd paced, and after pacing he'd taken out some clothes and pressed them by hand.
Anything to keep busy. Anything to keep what was looming ahead from the forefront of his mind. It hadn't seemed quite as real after a fashion, it as easy to just push aside words on some parchment and ignore the feeling of realism about it all. There wasn't a body, so that made the entire situation seem less tangible. Now that there was a body, and his father had seen it and touched it and buried it, well, that was a horse of a different color. That solidified everything, made it sharp and clarified the words, and he hated that. More than anything.
Finally the hour drew near and Orion showered, drying his dark hair and styling it messily. He pulled on crisp black trousers and a pressed black button up shirt, fastening it with onyx cufflinks. He didn't wear a tie, his mother would have laughed at him for that because she was never quite so proper, and he slid on his shiny black boots. He was as ready as he would ever be, and he headed downstairs, disapparating to Godric's Hollow with his father and Remus.
They were the first ones to arrive, walking side by side to the little cemetery behind the church, one of the few buildings still standing after the Death Eaters had raided. Rain and the passing days had washed away the smell of smoke, the debris all cleared away now. The air was fresh and crisp, the sun starting to set slowly behind the hills, the trees a myriad of bright colors in the dying light of the fall evening. As they stepped through the little gate, heading towards a back section were many of the raid victims were buried, Orion finally spoke, though his voice was soft and somewhat distant.
"She would have loved this day," he mused quietly. "Fall was her favorite season. She would have loved this, everything about it. It's like today was made for her."