Orion Black, patriarch of one of the oldest wizarding families, died early this morning due to complications of the currently unnamed virus that has stricken nearly a dozen wizards and witches this past month. Black was diagnosed with the illness a little more than two weeks ago, and has been in St. Mungo’s intensive care ward for nearly all of that. He is the first fatality of the disease, which is proving to be more than just a reflux of the seasonal flu.

“He was the dearest, dearest man,” his wife of nearly twenty years, Walburga Black, was heard to be moaning from the waiting room, “There was no reason to take him, no reason at all, all he ever did was make this world a better place to live.”

Assumingly, as the Black family did not stop for a comment, deeming the situation too fresh to discuss with the press, Mrs. Black was discussing the various charities that her husband and family donated to, including the construction of the new training facilities for the Ministry’s aurors.

Funeral arrangements have not been made as of yet, but flowers are welcome and to be sent to number twelve, Grimmauld Place. Orion Black leaves in his memory an adoring wife and one child, Regulus Arcturus.