Chapter 376: The Black Funeral
Lucretia Black followed behind Arcturus. She was Orion's sister, married to Ignatius Prewett. Small in stature, wrapped in dark robes, her hair gone fully grey, she shared perhaps half of Orion's features, though her eyes were far gentler than his. She came to Walburga's side and pressed her arm lightly, saying nothing.
Narcissa trailed her parents. She spotted Regulus. Their eyes met, she gave a small nod, then looked away.
Lucius Malfoy walked a step behind her, platinum hair falling to his shoulders.
Abraxas Malfoy came last, hair silvered, stride steady, posture rigid. His face bore its share of wrinkles, but his eyes held no cloudiness at all. Bright, sharp, and he walked with more vigor than Lucius. His gaze traveled from the top of the graveyard to the bottom, lingered on Pollux's grave, then withdrew.
He passed Lucius and went straight to Orion, exchanging a few quiet words. The two Heads of House stood together, one dark-haired and in his prime, the other white-haired but keen. Orion nodded. Abraxas nodded back and clapped his arm.
Between two Heads of House of the same generation, at a funeral, there was little that needed saying, and no reason to say more. Orion needed no comforting.
Regulus watched Abraxas's retreating back.
The old man's got plenty of life in him. Looks sturdier than he did at the Christmas banquet.
He looked away. Abraxas was a skilled wizard of the old guard. A glance was enough. Staring got noticed.