Lesson 4: Don't wear white at a funeral

Another week of classes went by. Nobody mentioned the Wurm incident, as it came to be called. Class life went by as normal, going to Charms, Potions, Herbology, Monsterology and my other two classes, Magical History and Magical Literature, where students learned of old written spells and stories written by ancient wizards and witches.

Blake had not been allowed to use Wolff' and Viper's room. Every one of their possessions was in there, carefully sealed in individual bags. So Blake continued to sleep in my dorm, on his own bed. Blake occasionally tried to start a conversation with me when we were in the room, but I wouldn't speak to him.

On the day of the funeral, classes were canceled. Many people knew of Wolff and Viper, due to their reputations or scholastic records, and they were going to come to the funeral. The sky was clear and bright, contrasting the moods of the people.

Blake wore a black suit and tie. Everything on him was black, right down to his dull leather shoes. He looked at me as I sat on the edge of my bed. "Raven, is there anything you need?"

Blake surprised me whenever he asked something like that. I kept forgetting that he didn't hate me the way the other students did; whenever he said something nice like that, it caught me off guard. "No. Just go. I'll be down in a moment," I said quietly. Empty caskets would be buried in the gardens, something my mom had thought of due to Viper's love of the place. "Actually, Blake, can you go and get your friend, Blair? I need to speak with her."

Blake nodded and walked out of the room. I stood and went over to the wardrobe and opened the heavy wooden doors. I had to wear a black dress, as was custom at a funeral. I looked at my few dresses. None were fit to wear to my half-siblings' funeral. The only black dress I had that would've been fit was the one I had worn the day they died. I had burned it, unable wear it because it would only remind me. The closest thing I had to that was a tight, white dress, the kind you would wear to prom or a major event that you'd want to show off in.

I sighed and grabbed it. I could try to change the color of it, but then I wouldn't be able to have it be white again; spells like that should only be used once. I laid my three dresses, the white one and two blue dresses, on the bed. I had to wear one, but none would be respectful. Thankfully, the door opened and Blair walked in.

She had her hair in a bun and wore a black shirt and jeans. I took it that she didn't plan on going to the funeral. "What do you want?" she said, as if I was planning on starting a fight.

But it was just the opposite. I looked at the floor, saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I said what I did, and for everything I did to you last year." Last year, she had tried to prove that she was better at magic and I defeated her quickly and had accidently ruined much of her belongings when one of my spells missed and flew into her room.

Blair looked at me. I knew what she had to be thinking. Raven Darke giving an apology? The thought made me feel sick, but I really wasn't the person everyone thought I was. Without Wolff and Viper, I couldn't keep up the facade. "All right. I forgive you."

My head snapped up. She actually forgave me? I didn't think she would've after what I did. She continued, "You're not planning on wearing any of those to the funeral, are you?"

"They're all the dresses I own. I don't have a black dress to wear."

"Would you like to use one of mine? We're about the same height, but they may be a little tight on you," she said. She was actually going to let me borrow one? I must have had my emotions on my face, because she went on, "Come on. I'll let you pick one out."

I followed her to her dorm. It was one of the small girls’ dorms, on the eastern side of the school. Blair let me in and showed me her dresses. She had three black dresses, but only two were suitable for today. I picked one up and she told me to try it on. I went to the bathroom, which was very small and only had the basics, and put it on. Blair had been right, the dress was tight around my chest and hips, but it wasn't too exposing or tight.

When I came out, she looked at me. The dress was flat black, perhaps made from silk or something very close to it, and had a simple sash across my middle and a black ribbon on my right hip. "Is it really alright if I use this?" I asked her.

"Yes. It's your friends' funeral, so you need to go." Blair still didn't know that I was their sister, it seemed. I smiled and thanked her before I headed down to the service.

 

The funeral was long and depressing. The people who attended were quiet and sad. My mom said a few words, as did my father. Neither Wolf’s nor Viper's father had attended.

After everyone said what they wanted, we watched as the two caskets sank into the ground. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Thinking it was my father, I covered it with my own. When the hand withdrew at this, I saw it had been Blake. He blushed as he turned to go speak with my mom.

It was just beginning to darken as the caskets were fully submerged in the ground. As soon as I saw them disappear I quietly prayed for the two of them, and then walked off to my room.