~ Oh well, things crumble to an end 

Hell, we all die in the end. ~

***

The Great Hall was decorated for the last feast of the term and as always it looked extremely festive. The Marauders had vowed to keep patient until the House Cup was awarded as they didn't want to mess up Gryffindor's chance of winning the Cup so for the next half an hour, no hazard was going to take place.

But soon after that, they were going to unleash the fully thought out chaos that they had been preparing for so long and saving up for the last day of the year. 

Professor Dumbledore stood up from his seat at the High Table, a gesture which made all the chattering students quieten down for a while. The look on his face was grave, which was quite unusual, since the man always had an amused twinkle in his blue eyes. The solemnity of his features showed that he wasn't going to make a funny end of term speech like he usually did.

"Before we begin with the feast, I have a few words to say to you all," everyone in the Great Hall had their attention focused on the Headmaster, "these may not be the best times for the Wizarding World, but even in such dark times, we must all stand together. When there isn't any hope left, remember to always look for the light. Because nothing in this world is a dead end. Every cage has an escape. And to end every darkness there is a ray of light. All that matters is to look for it. Maybe this is not a thing to tell students on the last day of term and I really don't want to spoil your joy at ending the term, but I believe that the truth must be told. People should be made aware. We are standing on the brink of war. Many wizards have given up their lives for the causes they believe in. Many have been divided. And in such dreadful times, all I entreat from you is to make the right decisions. No matter what the situation, no matter what befalls you, you must always look for the light. Never give hope and always remember those who sacrificed themselves for a better tomorrow. Now if you will, I request you all to observe a moment of silence for all those who gave up their lives heroically, fighting against evil."

The room was dominated by pure silence in that short pause. After the moment ended, Dumbledore resumed, "you may enjoy the feast. And one last thing before you become quite befuddled by the food; Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

Food magically appeared in the dishes and the students dug in. Amid the feast, James spoke up, "plan cancelled."

Sirius turned to him quite shocked, "I beg your pardon?"

He sighed, "didn't you hear? We just held a moment of silence to commemorate the martyr's courage and I can definitely not cause havoc after that. Even though the idea is very tempting, but it isn't our last day here, we can do it some other time."

Remus nodded, agreeing with him, "he has a point."

Peter too agreed, "yeah, Prong's right. We can do it in the end of term feast next year."

Sirius considered and knew that they were right, "okay, okay... Since I can't probably execute the plan without you three, guess we'll do it next year."

"Thank you," James smiled, "now would be so kind as to pass the Yorkshire pudding?"

He simply rolled his eyes mockingly, "sure Sir, there you go. Also, I would love to know how you can eat so much without blowing up to a balloon."

His hazel eyes sparked mischievously, "what can I say? I was fortunately blessed with awesome genes."

After the feast, the students were led out to the castle grounds where the thestral carriages awaited to transport them to the Hogsmeade Station. Sixth year had finally come to an end for all of them. And even though the speech had somehow sobered the overall atmosphere, they all brightened up during the train ride. Especially after Sirius decided to liven up everybody by doing a standup comedy compiling the lamest jokes and most awful puns ever.

It worked and in next to no time laughs were echoing through the express's corridors. However the only person not amused by his pathetically dimwitted jokes was Felicity. Her reaction was just what he had expected as she was quite annoyed to death when the show ended. And the one thing Sirius enjoyed most of all the other things he could do, was to annoy Fel to the end of her wits.

***

After the fourth ring of the doorbell, Sirius felt a dreadful pang of anxiety stabbing him. His instincts had kicked in, warning him that something was not right. And even though he didn't want it to be true with all his might, still his brain was rooted on that one question.

What if something bad had happened to his Uncle?

Making up his mind, he put his trunk down and mustering his strength, he rammed into the door with full force. If only he had come of age till now, he wouldn't have had to do this in the Muggle way.

After six to seven attempts, the door finally budged open. Sirius's right side was bruised and throbbing but at the moment all he could think of was his Uncle.

"Uncle Alphard! Uncle, are you alright?" He rushed over to the bedroom, worried by the deathly silence in the house.

Throwing open the door, he stepped in and the scene that met his eyes shocked him out of his wits, "Uncle Alphard!"

Alphard was sprawled on the ground, his eyes shut and his body extremely still. Sirius stooped down not knowing what else to do and turned him over. Alphard's body was cold and no matter how hard he shook him, no response came from his side.

Exasperated, he grabbed his wrist to check for the pulse hoping and praying with all his heart that his Uncle would be alive. But the absence of the pulse was enough to confirm his fears.

Alphard was no more.

His face was paler than the white sheets on the bed and there was no sign of life evident on his features. Sirius couldn't think straight. Seeing his Uncle, his only remaining support, subjected to death was not something he expected.

In such a dilemma, all he could do was scream. Scream in despair, sadness and anger at the unfairness of it all. He couldn't hold back the tears that poured down his cheeks consistently. After such a long time he felt like he had finally found what it felt like to have a father, a family and now all that had come crumbling down on him.

"Why, Uncle... Why did you have to leave us so soon?" His voice got stuck in his throat, being suffocated by the sobs that were choking him inside.

Alphard Black had died. And he hadn't got to say him goodbye properly nor had he got to see him fully for the last time.

He didn't know how long passed with him sitting helplessly on the ground, cradling his Uncle's head in his hands, begging him to wake up. But he was roused from the mourning when an alarm went off in his head.

Felicity.

He remembered that his uncle wasn't important only to him but to her and her mother as well. At that thought, he got more distraught; Felicity had just met her father and hadn't even got time to know him fully yet fate had played the cards again and deprived them both of those moments which they should have cherished together.

He knew he had to go to her and break down the tempestuous news on her. But he had no idea how he would be able to handle it.

Making an effort, he lifted Alphard up and placed him on the bed carefully. He was weighed down by sorrow and guilt, he should have made sure that his uncle was cared for even in his absence. How, he didn't know, but at the moment it seemed like Alphard's death was solely his fault.

He had had an inner feeling of dread ever since he had met Alphard that he wasn't that well to live long enough. But after Felicity had came into his life, Sirius thought that he was getting better. Never had he thought such a time would come, that he would return home to find that he had gone forever.

He took his motorbike out of the garage and sped over to Fairmile Lane. Just like the scenes rushing past him, his thoughts were nothing but a hazy blur. And an inevitable question was hanging over him; how was he going to tell this to Felicity?

At last, he reached the street and got off his bike not even caring to park it properly. The door of house number 43 was right in front of him yet he couldn't bring himself to step forward.

Repeating in his head that he was doing the right thing, he willed himself to just get everything done with. So he climbed up the steps to the door and rang the doorbell, unable to keep back his impatience.

He knew that in normal conditions, Felicity would eat him up alive if he rang the doorbell of her house too much, but this once it was anything except normal at the moment.

***