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Post by Justin Scotts on Mar 11, 2009 1:39:09 GMT -5
(It occurred to me that there has not been any fallout from Tanya's death yet)
Justin was exhausted as he left the scene of the battle. All the death eaters met in the appointed spot and, after a quick "debriefing", which mostly consisted of Claudia patting herself on the back, everyone went their separate ways.
He was limping, having injured his leg in a battle with an auror. And his eyes were burning with the sights he had seen. Innocent children slaughtered in the streets. Why were they doing this again? He suddenly couldn't remember why he had felt so passionate about needing to take part in it. It was one thing to kill adults and blood traitors, but children... it didn't seem right.
At any rate, he had some terrible news to share with the family, and he was going to have to tell his father first. The rest of the family couldn't know that he'd been at the battle.
He entered through the back, knowing that there would be less of a chance or one of his siblings spotting him, and made his way to his father's study. He didn't even knock before barging right in.
"Dad. We need to talk."
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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Mar 11, 2009 2:00:39 GMT -5
Thatcher had been in his office for most of the day. Word of the attack came to them quickly... too quickly for his taste. He would have given anything to be out there, especially knowing his son was there, fighting, but he needed to stay home with Alicia and the rest of the kids.
He came into his office to get away from the questions and the worried talk. He let Alicia deal with that. Except that when he came in, his study wasn't empty. Gwen was curled up in one of his chairs, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. It seemed the noise of the house was too much for her, and she sought her solitude here. He couldn't say no, and he let her stay.
He looked up, no other part of him moving, as Justin stormed in.
His eyes looked his son over, satisfied that he seemed unharmed. Before he could say a word, however, Gwen interjected.
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Post by Guinevere Scotts on Mar 11, 2009 2:11:34 GMT -5
She was terrified most of the day. Honestly, she didn't know why Justin would be in Hogsmeade, but then the news of the attack came, and no one heard from him, and it was just the fact that she didn't know what was going on that was scaring her. She hadn't begun to ask the questions yet that Thatcher feared were coming.
When Justin came into the study, she didn't even stop to look him over before she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank Merlin you're okay."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Mar 11, 2009 2:34:50 GMT -5
Damn. He knew he should have knocked. His arms encircled Gwen instantly, holding her close to him. Right now she was in the panic state, where all she could feel was relief that he was here. Later, he feared, the questions would come. And he was going to have to make up some answers.
"Yes... I'm OK. I'm fine. Just a minor leg injury. Don't worry about me."
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Post by Guinevere Scotts on Mar 11, 2009 2:49:46 GMT -5
Gwen just seemed to cry harder at this, a sudden wave of adrenaline at seeing him was already, unfairly, wearing off, and she hugged him tighter.
"Why were you there?" She asked, but she didn't quite want the answer, not yet. She was just glad to be holding him, glad he was alive and made it back to them. She didn't know what she would do without her big brother.
"You stayed and tried to help, didn't you?" She asked, not knowing the irony of the question.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Mar 23, 2009 22:10:47 GMT -5
Justin hugged her closer, but shot a look at his father over her shoulder. "Shhhh... It's OK. I'm OK. Er... yes... I did help... I helped a girl escape from Hogsmeade and get back to the school."
This much, at least, was true. He'd helped Natasha, and although he couldn't mention that she was who he had helped... at least he could admit this much without having to lie to Gwen.
"But I do have some bad news," he said after a minute. He had hoped to tell this to his father alone, so they could decide how to handle it. But Gwen was here, and he couldn't keep this from her now.
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Post by Guinevere Scotts on Mar 24, 2009 17:33:21 GMT -5
Gwen missed the odd look her father gave Justin when he said that he was indeed trying to help. Her focus was entirely on her brother, and she took his hand, dragging him to the seat where she had been, making him sit down, and she pulled up another of the cushioned chairs there.
"What happened?" She asked.
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Post by Justin Scotts on Apr 5, 2009 0:38:42 GMT -5
Justin sighed and looked at his father for a long, meaningful glance before turning his attention back to Gwen. "Well... in the attack... I was just coming back from helping that girl to see... er... what else I could do... and I saw Tanya. She was fighting someone, and... he killed her. Aunt Tanya is... dead."
His expression was grim, but not sad. Tanya wouldn't want others weeping over her. And besides, he was more angry than sad. Tanya had been killed by Alastor Moody, altohugh he was not about to admit that in front of Gwen. And he really wanted to get that bastard....
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Post by Guinevere Scotts on Apr 5, 2009 0:48:30 GMT -5
Gwen just stared at her brother. A few pieces seemed to fall into place, and she suddenly realized what she should have seen all along.
The only reason Tanya would be fighting would be to hurt. Her aunt certainly was not the kind type to stop and see what she could do. And the whispers between her and her father... Tanya was a Death Eater. Which meant that her father was a Death Eater. And the long, meaningful glance between her father and Justin just now...
No. Justin couldn't be.
"I thought you had bad news. What were you doing in Hogsmeade, Justin?"
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Post by Thatcher Scotts on Apr 5, 2009 0:48:57 GMT -5
Thatcher's eyes closed when Justin delivered the news, and he was deeply upset by it. Not that he would ever let it show that he was upset, but it was his baby sister, and she always meant the world to him. He didn't know who killed her, but he wanted the person's head as well.
Gwen's words made him open his eyes again, and they were angry. "Guinevere Scotts, you will have more respect than that. I want to leave, give me and Justin a moment... and don't breathe a word of this to your brothers. I'll come deal with you later."
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Post by Justin Scotts on Apr 15, 2009 1:04:43 GMT -5
Justin's eyes were closed as well, but not for the same reason as his father. Gwen's question, inevitable though it was, troubled him deeply. How was he to answer her? What possible reason could he have had for being in Hogsmeade? He couldn't stand to have his beloved sister think badly of him.
And that was when Justin knew that he'd been walking a dangerous line. His father and mother might have had no problem lying to the other children, but Justin suddenly no longer felt comfortable doing it. How could he look Gwen or Thane or Timmy in the face and lie to them about their loyalties? And what of Xavier? He knew full well that the parents had already begun to discuss plans to recruit the youngest Scotts when he was old enough. And Justin suddenly wanted Xavier to choose his own path.
"Gwen, wait..." he began, but didn't know what else to say.
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Post by Guinevere Scotts on Oct 24, 2009 13:05:29 GMT -5
Gwen shot her father a dirty look, though she knew better than to argue with him... at least not right now. She had no misconceptions about Aunt Tanya fighting on the darker side, and the woman was downright evil. Why shouldn't she be glad that Tanya was dead and her brother was alive and mostly unharmed?
She started towards the door, leaving like her father asked her to, but her shoulders fell and she stopped at Justin's voice, turning and raising her eyebrows, silently asking what he wanted her to wait for.
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