Chapter 11

Sirius Black stood stony-faced at the back of the crowd at his little brother's funeral.

Neither his wailing mother or his dry-eyed father saw him standing there behind the rows of black-garbed witches and wizards.

The ceremony seemed to go on as the priest said a lot of complementary things that seemed to have little to do with the Regulus he had known. The brother who had been so keen to live up to his name, who had jumped at the chance to join the Death Eaters. Who had tried to leave them and died because of it.

Just as it was starting to come to a close he turned to go. He didn't want any of his relatives to spot him as they were leaving.

He was half way down the path when he heard footsteps behind him. He looked over his shoulder. Standing behind him, looking unsually elegant and sombre was Bella. Her usually wild hair was tied back in a sleek up do, a hat with a black net veil pinned to it. Like most of the other mourners she was wearing a long black coat, buttoned securely against the wind.

"What are you doing here?" he said in a rather cool voice. He felt a small spasm of guilt as a hurt look crossed her face.

"I came to make sure you were alright" she said in a slightly snappish voice. There was a moment of silence. "I'm sorry about your brother" she added in a much softer tone, her face rather contrite. He sighed as he looked at her... drinking her in with his eyes. She was as beautiful as ever.

"I'm fine" he said firmly, tearing his eyes away from her. "How was the honeymoon?" he asked in a rather flat voice. She looked away from him, a rather sad look crossing her face.

"It was fine" she said in a crisp, quiet voice. Her expression told him it was the same 'fine' he had just said to her. He tried not to think about her with that slimy git. It made him feel like something large was fighting to get out of his stomach.

"Well it was nice to see you, but I'm afraid I have to go" he said coolly, turning to leave.

"Please don't be like this"" she said behind him, her voice soft and rather hurt. He turned back to look at her.

"What did you expect me to be like?" he snapped. "You were the one who went and got married. You were the one who was too cowardly to tell your parents to get stuffed" he said in almost a yell, all the pain and anger he felt at that moment creeping into his voice. He was surprised to see her bottom lip tremble slightly.

"At least I'm not a blood traitor like you Sirius Black!" she yelled, her own temper coming to the surface at his words.

"Yes you wouldn't want to be tainted by association with me would you... Madame Lestrange?" he spat, dark eyes flashing angrily. She looked like he had struck her.

"Siri..." she started to say. "Don't bother" he snapped, cutting her off.

He didn't dare look back as he turned and left, stomach churning with anger and guilt.