Now Breaks a Noble Heart (The Burkes)

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon snuck into the Burke home and headed straight to his room. He didn't want to deal with any of the family right away. He just left Hogsmeade, the face of the boy he killed still so fresh in his mind. One of his sisters must have known him. What if they were friends?

He took a long shower to get the dirt off of himself, hoping he would be able to lie to the girls and tell them he had been nowhere near Hogsmeade.

Finally, quietly, he went downstairs, looking for anyone. One of his sisters, his parents... the house was so quiet he fet like he could scream.

[Ophelia Burke]

The Burkes had done a better job at shielding their children from the news of the attacks, refusing all owls and closing their connection to the floo network. They also kept the WWN turned off, so that no news of any kind managed to reach the sheltered Burke princesses. They would find out soon enough, of course. But for now, they remained completely unaware of the carnage suffered by their fellow classmates.

Therefore, Ophelia was humming softly to herself as she sat curled up on the sofa, thumbing through a catalogue. Even at home, she overdressed, and she resembled a fairy tale princess, all curls and lace and tulle and crinoline.

As Jadon entered the room, however, she heard the movement and looked up. "Jay Jay!" she squealed happily, jumping up and running to him. She threw her arms around his neck, unaware that anything was amiss. "Where were you? When did you get home? Did you bring me anything?"

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon hugged his sister a little too close... more than normal, anyway, but he let go pretty quickly and gave her his cheeky, trademarked smile. If the questions were going to come at all, he needed to have good answers and the attitude to back them up with. It was obvious she didn't know about the attack yet.

"I was spending some time with Nathalia, actually, Fee, and I don't have anything for you, but I'll make it up to you next time. You'll get something really pretty that your classmates will be jealous of. I won't forget."

That was the key... coming back to everyday things.

His smile widened. "Did you miss me?"

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia had felt ill the whole day, she couldn't explain it, for someone who had perfect health their entire life there was something knotting at her stomach and she didn't like it. She was at the moment a bit of a mess, she had ink marks on her fingertips and her hair was in disarray but she looked beautifully unkempt as she had been writing and working on a new piano song for her sister who was eager all of a sudden to learn, which mean that Kassia was eager to help in whatever way she could.

She didn't think it was wise for Fee to dally with this unknown boy, however she knew that Fee wanted to impress him and hopefully Kass could help her do that.

She glanced up when her brother entered the room and a smile lit her entire face as she set the quill down and watched him embrace Ophelia. She even laughed softly at Fee's question and his response.

Ever the observant one however Kassia could almost tell something was wrong, and it compounded with the feeling in her stomach made her breath hitch, still she tried convincing herself it was nothing and prodded on, " Uncle Derek's here." she told him which was the "reason" they had all been summoned home in the first place.

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia was a little disappointed that he hadn't brought her anything, but it faded quickly. "Thank you!" she chirped. "That would be lovely, of course."

She pulled away from his embrace and smiled prettily at him. "Of course I missed you! It's not the same without you, even if Uncle Derek is here. He's talking with Mummy and Daddy right now," she explained.

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia looked back and forth between her siblings a complacent smile on her face before sitting back down, she wasn't as exuberant today in her affections for her her brother if only because of how she had been feeling. Still she was smiling and happy looking as ever in her serene kind way. " How is Nathalia?" she asked hoping to hear news of their cousin.

[Allaire Burke]

Allaire had been in the library, reading away as usual. However, right now, she wasn't actually reading. Her mind was elsewhere as she stared blankly at the page full of black text. At the sound of her brother's voice as well as her sisters', Allaire broke into a smile and left the book in the chair that she had occupied. She walked quickly from the library, out into the hall, and her smile grew as she saw her brother.

"Jay," she said excitedly.

[Jadon Burke]

Before Jadon was forced to come up with a lie about Nathalia, Allaire came into the room, and he went to her, hugging her as well. All three of them were okay, thank Merlin. Part of the weight on his shoulders was lifted just knowing that. But only part of it.

"Hi Allaire," he said, then shrugged back at the two other girls. "Nathalia's... just Nat. You know how she is. How long has Derek been here?" All morning, likely.

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia was not observant enough to realize that her brother was troubled by something. She continued to be her relentlessly cheerful, bouncy self. "He's been here since this morning," she replied. "But he's hardly talked to us. He's just been talking with Daddy in the study most of the time. I really don't know why he's here. It's always nice to see him, of course, but it truly is very odd, don't you think?"

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia kept quiet on what her uncle was doing here, that was her father's and her uncle's business, and yes she was glad to have them home but something was off and she knew it, and yet she would never presume to ask questions, she thought the world of all the men in her family and wouldn't dare contradict or wonder about their motives as being anything less than right.

She smiled indulgently almost toward Ophelia before returning her gaze to her brother, "It isn't so bad, he at least brought us presents." she said with a grin.

[Ophelia Burke]

Of course, presents were always good. Ophelia would forgive almost anything for a present. Hers had been a jewel-encrusted hair comb, which was already in her hair. The jewels caught the light and the sparkles seemed to dance in her hair. Her hand traveled up and touched the comb with a soft smile.

"And it's not even Christmas yet!" she said excitedly. "But, Jadon, you don't think anything is wrong, do you? I mean with Uncle Derek talking to Daddy all afternoon... and it's strange, but the wizarding wireless is down."