Terrible News (Seth)

[Jarrod Inophen]

Jarrod was still in shock over the news. His father, whom he idolized, had been found dead that morning, a victim of the Killing Curse. Foul play was definitely suspected. In fact, Jarrod had his theories about who could have done it.

Many times, his father had mentioned to him about this annoying partner that he had been working with. It seemed they fought often, and his father had not thought very highly of the man who was supposedly in charge. Jarrod strongly suspected that the man had turned on him, and when he found out what the man's name was, he intended to go after him himself.

But first things first. He had to break the news to Seth. Because Jarrod was devastated, he naturally assumed that Seth would be, too. He could not imagine that Seth would have any other reaction.

So he headed out to the school and, after speaking to Albus Dumbledore about the situation, he proceeded down to the Slytherin common room to pay a visit to Seth, who would most likely just be waking up.

[Seth Inophen]

Seth groggily rolled out of bed that morning and got dressed like it was any other day. He tied his shoes, brushed his teeth, and pretended there was something could do about the brillow pad of hair on top of his head before climbing down the stairs to the common room on a quest for breakfast.

What was unusual about this particular morning, was the man at the bottom of the stairs waiting for him. Seth wondered if he could sneek past his brother, and make it to breakfast unnoticed, but he figured, there'd be no other reason for jarrod being here, and he wouldn't leave until finding Seth.

The last time he met up with his brother, he tried to convince him to break up with Maxi. Seth hoped he wasn't going to try again, it was getting old from his whole family.

"If you're here for another attempt at breaking me and Maxi up, you can just leave," Seth said coldly.

[Jarrod Inophen]

Jarrod spotted his brother instantly; there would have been no escaping him. As soon as Seth reached the bottom step, Jarrod opened his mouth to speak, but Seth beat him to it. Jarrod let out a sigh of annoyance. He was here to give his brother the worst news he could ever imagine, and all Seth could think about was his stupid, insipid girlfriend?

"Merlin's beard, Seth, not everything is about you," Jarrod snapped. "This is really important, I have something I have to tell you, and you'd better sit down."

[Seth Inophen]

Seth raised an eyebrow at his brother, and continued the skeptical look all the way to the dark green sofa on the opposite side of the room. "Okay, I'm sitting," Seth said. "Shoot." He really didn't want to hear what Jarrod had to say. But Seth knew that the faster they were done, the faster Jarrod could leave.

[Jarrod Inophen]

Jarrod let out a breath, then sank down in a chair opposite Seth. Although Jarrod wasn't exactly the warm and fuzzy type, the truth was, he really did idolize his father. What passed as love in Jarrod's cold heart was exclusively devoted to his parents. And now his father was gone, murdered... dead. Jarrod was having a hard time accepting it, and he assumed Seth would, too.

"Seth... Last night, Dad went out to meet with a work partner and.... he didn't come home. And this morning, they found him.... He's dead. Someone killed him."

His face crumpled with pain, and large crocodile tears tumbled down his cheeks.

[Seth Inophen]

Seth watched as his brother took a seat across from him. He looked distressed, to be honest, like something was really bothering him.

Then the news came, that someone had murdered his father. Seth watched as Jarrod began to cry, in complete pain from the death of their father. But Seth didn't feel anything. He knew he should, but he didn't. All he felt was a sort of numbness that ran through him and the only thing he could force himself to say was "Oh."

[Jarrod Inophen]

Jarrod didn't notice right away that Seth wasn't joining in his grief. "I... I think it might have been his partner...." he continued tearfully. "I know Dad mentioned not liking the man very much. And he didn't trust him. The thing is, he never told me the guy's name and I don't know how to find out who he was. The Ministry... they're not being any help... I get the feeling they don't even care. They even made some outrageous accusations against Dad... some crap about him using the Imperious Curse on a Ministry official... some guy named Montgomery..."

He was really babbling through his tears and only half of what he said was even understandable. Looking up at Seth, he was surprised to see his brother sitting dry-eyed as he looked at him. "It's OK to let it out, Seth. You don't have to be strong for me."

[Seth Inophen]

Seth felt awkward sitting there unemotional as his older brother cried. This was another "If my family were normal..." situations that Seth would always refer to. Normally, it would be hard, or even a bit unnerving to see Jarrod crying. But Seth didn't care at all for his father, nor his brother, and only the slightest for his mother. Seth Shoved his hands into his pockets and sat back, squirming a little as Jarrod balled.

"I know," Seth said. He was a little shocked. Surely Jarrod didn't expect the same reaction from Seth as he was having. Jarrod knew all to well Seth's feelings toward his father, toward his whole family. He had none. So the news that Lyle Inophen was dead was like hearing about the death of a stranger in the paper. Sad, but not worth tearing himself apart over.

"How's Mum holding up?" Seth asked, not really caring, but not wanting to have any attention on him at the moment.

[Jarrod Inophen]

"She's... not doing well," Jarrod said, sniffling. "She's really upset. And she wants me to bring you home. She says we should all go through this together."

He was dabbing at his eyes now and still blissfully unaware of Seth's non-reaction. He just assumed that Seth was in shock and that the reality would hit him later, and then he'd cry. He never would have guessed that Seth felt nothing for his own father.

"So, go pack your things, OK? You'll be home about a week."

[Seth Inophen]

Seth stared blankly at his brother. He didn't want to go home. Term was about to start up and he wanted to spend his last few days a freedom with Maxi and Gage and Bek before school started and before Maxi got swamped by OWLs and the Tournament.

"I..." Seth said, taking a breath. "I can't go home Jarrod." Seth said. he waited quietly, knowing that Jarrod in all his blubbering still hadn't noticed that Seth didn't care all too much about his father's death or his mother's wishes. Truthfully, all Seth wanted was for Jarrod to leave.

[Jarrod Inophen]

Jarrod looked up at his brother, momentarily stunned. What did he mean? Of course he would come home. Why wouldn't he want to? At a time like this, family needed to stick together. Yes, Seth was somewhat... different from the rest of the family, but surely he would want to be with his family in this time of loss. Their mother needed him there. Even Jarrod... he needed Seth to be there.

"What do you mean, you can't come?" he said incredulously. "Of course you can. If you've got a test, I'm sure they'll excuse you or give you a makeup. Your father just died."

[Seth Inophen]

"I...ugh..." Seth stood up and shoved his fists in his pockets. He walked around to behind the couch. "It's not about school." Seth said, not looking at Jarrod. His mind went back to the time when he was really little, when he wanted to grow up and be just like his brother, just like his dad. It was like a light flashing in the darkness of realization for Seth when he realized exactly what his brother and father were, what they did and what they believed. that's when Seth detached himself from his family, from Jarrod, from Lyle, and even from his mother. no, he wasn't going back home.

"I'm not going home Jarrod,"Seth said, still unable to look at his brother. "I...I don't want to."

[Jarrod Inophen]

Jarrod was incredulous. His eyes widened and he stared blankly at Seth for a few seconds, as though the younger boy had just punched him. That was exactly how it felt, actually.

"You don't want to?" he burst out. "Our father just died, and you don't even want to come home to be with your family? What, you'd rather stay here and spet time with that flithy mudblood?"

Jarrod got to his feet, attempting to tower over his little brother. Of course, it didn't entirely work, because Jarrod wasn't actually very tall. "I know you've had issues with this family, but I thought, when the chips were down, you would be on our side. But no.... I see now. You're a lost cause, aren't you? You're one of them. A blood traitor. Well, fine, then. Don't come with me now. Hope you've got some place to stay when school gets out, because you're not welcome at home."

Jarrod was shaking with fury, and he almost wanted to hit Seth, but he didn't. Instead, he stormed out of the common room without so much as a backward glance.

[Seth Inophen]

Seth watched in silence as his brother left. His chest was heaving slightly, but in a small way, he felt sort of freed by the fact that it was very likely he'd never see Jarrod ever again. He knew he'd never see his father again. The only down side was he was now sure his name was added to the Death Eater's list of blood traitors. "Whatever," Seth said, with a great amount of angst in his voice. He waited long enough to know that he wouldn't run into Jarrod.

He left, not hungry for breakfast anymore, but he was heading out to the grounds, needing more time to think about his family and his father's death.