After the days of numbness following Arthur's death passed, Calliope began to piece together what had happened and why she had not seen it coming.

Having warned Sirius about his impending death he was able to avoid the stunning spell which would have blasted him into the veil of death, surely killing him. Left to seek another target, the spell zoomed through the veil which transformed it into an instrument of murder rather than it's initial purpose which was to stun. She had saved Sirius with her warning, but this had resulted in Arthur's death.

Remaining strong for the twins was difficult. She knew what it was like to lose a father, so she tried her best to comfort them, but even with her ability to read Fred's emotions, she was at a loss of what to do.

No comfort that she offered him could change the facts. It was her fault. She had essentially killed their father, she had as good as cast the spell that ended his life.

Despite this, she often found herself falling asleep with Fred in her arms as he let the tears absorb him in the darkness that night bought. She stroked his air and offered him empty words of comfort that by no means made up for the loss of Arthur.

Calliope couldn't bear to see the looks on the faces of any of the Weasleys as the delt with the loss of their father. Perhaps the worst was his funeral, which was held a week after his death at the small church in Ottery St Catchpole.

Fred clung to her for the entire event, using her to keep him upright. She couldn't look any of the other Weasley's in the eyes, instead, she found herself focusing on the newly carved gravestone that lay at the head of the pit in which Arthur would be laid to rest. She focused on each letter individually, eventually piecing together the words and what they meant:

Arthur Weasley
6th February 1950- 18th June 1996
'Nothing has bought me more peace and content in life than simply being a good husband and father'

A knot formed in her stomach at the quote carved on to the grave in even fresh lettering that hadn't yet been withered by the elements and time. Nothing could have summed up Arthur more perfectly and because of her his family had been robbed of him, the world had been robbed of a truly good person.

At that moment, Calliope made a decision. Her presence, her attempt to interfere in the events laid out before her had resulted in this. A life for a life, that was the cost of her knowledge. In saving Sirius she had killed Arthur, and she couldn't do that to anyone else that she loved. It was too much responsibility. Perhaps this was why banshees did not feel humanly attachments, because if they did their knowledge would be too painful. 

Calliope dropped Fred's hand and turned away from the grave site, turned away from her friends and family because if she remained she would only cause them more pain.

The quote on Arthur's grave is from Frank Abagnale.
This book is over! *wipes away a tear*
The title part for WHISPERS is up, so go and add that to your libary!
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~Em xx