There is a Season (Emelia, Noah, Axel)

[Mathieu Ferrera]

Even on the way over to Emelia's house, Mathieu still had no idea what he was going to say to Emelia and the children about Blake's death. What could he say? Blake was an evil man, and he had never been good for his sister. The man had twisted his beautiful, vibrant little sister and turned her into a faded blossom, wilting and withering from lack of sunlight. Who knew what he had done to the children? In Mathiieu's opinion, they were all better off without Blake.

But Emelia loved him, depended on him. How could he look her in the face and say that the man she loved had deserved to die? How could he tell her that she was finally free, when she had apparently never wanted that freedom?

He had sent an owl to Hogwarts, requesting that Noah and Axel be sent home for the day, so if they were not there now, they would be arriving soon. He had also owled Emelia to let her know he was coming, and for once, he was sure that she had received it. Blake wasn't there to keep it from her.

He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock on the door.

[Axel Malfoy]

Axel and his brother had arrived home earlier that morning. The house was quieter than normal, and Axel had a feeling that it was due to the fact his father wasn't home. But Blake's absence didnt' really phase Axel, since he was gone during the days usually anyway.

He had been writing a letter to Vanessa, his newly aquired friend, when he heard a knock at the door. His father would have told him to let the house elf get it, but Blake wasn't here...

"Uncle Mathieu?" Axel asked, his quiet voice making him seem even smaller. He hadn't seen his uncle since Christmas, and never once before that. He really didn't know anything about his mother's brother except that he was Ama, Jamie, Cyrus, and Roland's dad. "What are you doing here?"

[Mathieu Ferrera]

Mathieu gave a slight smile at the boy, the nephew he didn't even know. How would he react to the news that his father was dead? He was so young to lose a father like that. And yet, how much of a father had Blake really been to the boy?

"Good morning, Axel, is it? I, er... I have some news for you and your mother and brother, and I wanted you all here when I told it. That's the reason I sent for you and Noah."

[Axel Malfoy]

"Yes sir, it's Axel," he smiled politely. Out of sorts name, out of sorts kid. Mathieu told him that he had news for them and Axel gave his uncle a curious look. "Is it about Roland?" Axel asked. "We read about him in the paper," Well Axel did, both when his cousin died and when he came back to life.

"Dad said I really shouldn't let people in..." Axel looked behind him. It would be his luck that his father would apperate home just as Axel was doing something he wasn't supposed to. "But, you're family, I guess that's different..." He stepped back and opened the door further to let Mathieu in. "I'll get Mum and Noah for you." He said quietly and then walked to the bottom of the stairs. "MUM! NOAH!" He called up. "Uncle Mathieu is here!" Feeling accomplished he walked past the stairs toward where he was writing his letter and cleaned up.

[Emelia Malfoy]

"Axel, don't yell in the house."

Emelia was already coming down the stairs, dressed impeccably as always, though she thought different. She relied on Blake to tell her what was wrong... a hair out of place, and loose string somewhere. He always made sure she didn't embarrass any of them. Merlin only knew what state she'd be in if not for him watching out for her like that.

She had been in awe when she received Mathieu's owl. It was the first one he ever sent her, that she was aware of, and knowing he would visit again made her nervous. Blake would not approve, so she hoped to make this visit quick. The parchment was still clutched in her hands.

"Mathieu," she said, her eyes never quite meeting his as she greeted him. "Noah will be down shortly. Can I get you anything?"

[Mathieu Ferrera]

Mathieu felt the bottom drop out of his stomach as he looked at her. It was no secret that he'd hated Blake. And he genuinely felt that Emelia and the boys would be better off without him. But Emelia wouldn't see it that way, not for a while anyway. Whatever Blake may have felt about Emelia, Mathieu knew his sister had loved him.

"No... no, that's OK. I really don't want to impose on you. I just... I have some news to tell you, and it's going to be difficult for you to hear. I'd prefer to wait until you're all together."

[Emelia Malfoy]

'All' meant Blake, in Emelia's mind, and for that, she gave Mathieu something of an odd look, still not meeting his eyes, of course. She sent a house elf to hurry Noah on his way down, and then gestured Mathieu into the sitting room.

"Blake's not due home for a couple of hours," she told him. of course, she didn't mention that he'd never come home last night, and that she was worried about him. He'd done that before, and she knew it wasn't her place to know where he'd been, but Merlin, did she worry.

[Noah Malfoy]

Noah had been sitting on his bed, staring quietly at the window. He had seen his uncle arrive and he knew he was supposed to have already been down the stairs to meet him. But he hadn't felt quite like getting up yet. Noah had been sitting on his bed after he had kissed his mother's cheek in greeting and had a short conversation with her. It hadn't taken much to know that his father hadn't returned home last night. Noah had watched his mother practically fall apart this morning when her sons had been at the door. Of course Emelia had been prim and proper, as Noah had always remembered her, but she even more in place then normally.

The house elf came to retrieve Noah. Noah didn't feel like he owed his dear Uncle Matheiu anything. Why hadn't he ever stopped by to see his own sister? Even though Noah teased Axel more than the little boy probably deserved, Noah would have visited at least a few times within the span of sixteen years. Noah had grown resentful of his other side of the family, even those that he knew personally. Judah and Matheiu's families were close. Why had the Malfoys been short of that deal?

It was easy to tell that Emelia had been extraordinarily happy at Christmas, even if she had been her usual refined self. Noah was very proud of his mother for being as quiet and devoted as she was. Of course, he wished she would talk more, but it took a very certain discipline for a woman to be able to act like that.

Slowly, Noah got up and descended down the stairs to stand next to his mother. His hands were in the pockets of his robes, and he put on an apathetic expression. Noah didn't feel like he owed his uncle anything. Matheiu must not have cared enough about Emelia to have her over more, for her own happiness.

[Mathieu Ferrera]

Mathieu wouldn't have thought that anything could possibly make him feel badly about Blake's death. He had needed to die, and not just because the guy was out to get Roland. He'd torn their family apart and made his sister into a stranger. He had threatened the family, he tried to kill Riley and her unborn child. He believed that he had killed Roland and had walked around, smug as could be, even attending Roland's funeral as if he believed he'd gotten away with it.

No, there was no way around it; Blake had needed to die. But looking at Emelia's face and realizing just how shattered she was going to be... he couldn't feel good about having to deliver this news to her.

Noah had come down the stairs and was now standing next to Emelia. The three of them, all standing there expectantly, gave the impression of a group of guards, waiting for the return of their leader. Mathieu sighed.

"Er... why don't we step into the living room and sit down?" he suggested.

[Axel Malfoy]

When his mother entered the room, Axel looked at her and smiled. No matter how many flaws his father would point out, Axel knew that his mother would always be the most beautiful person he'd ever see. "I cleaned up in the living room," Axel informed everyone, refering to his letter. "We can sit in there if you want Uncle Mathieu." His brother didn't seem at all happy that thier uncle was there, and his mother seemed nervous. Axel felt bad that he was the only one glad for his uncle's visits.

[Emelia Malfoy]

By now, Emelia should have started to suspect what was going on. Though if she allowed herself to make assumptions, she would have guessed that it had to do with Roland, and not with her husband. Maybe they finally found his body?

She smiled fondly at Axel and nodding, gesturing them all into the room and making sure they were each comfortably seated before she took her own seat. She didn't make this assumption. She waited patiently, blindly, for Mathieu to tell her what he had to say, since it was improper of her to get ahead of him, even if just in her mind.

[Mathieu Ferrera]

When everyone was seated, Mathieu took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He wasn't good at this, and he wasn't sure why he had volunteered himself for the job. Maybe he should have sent Roland in here to do it himself.

But he was here now, and at the sight of their expectant faces, he knew he was going to have to go though with this.

"Last night... there was an... incident. A group of aurors, including Hayden and Roland's partner Riley, went to face the person who supposedly killed Roland. As it turns out, that person was Blake. He freely admitted to doing it, and threatened to kill Hayden as well as Riley. There was a battle... and Roland turned up. Alive. Somehow he escaped before the explosion and has spent the last two months in a muggle hospital."

He let out a sigh at the carefully rehearsed lie given to him by Angelique. If only that were all he had to say.

His eyes dropped, unable to look at Emelia as he continued, "The battle continued... Riley and Roland were both injured... and Blake... he was outnumbered... He was killed."

There. The words were out. Mathieu squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the response.

[Axel Malfoy]

Axel was sitting next to his mother while they listened to his uncle's story. So Blake tried to kill Roland? Was that why he had been so smug these past two months? Cause he thought he had succeeded in killing his nephew.

The words "he was killed" passed and Axel stared blankly at his uncle. Then he reached for his mothers hand. Axel may be fine with the fact hed never see Blake Malfoy even again...but his mother would be devistated.

[Noah Malfoy]

Noah had followed his mother into the room with a growing hatred for his uncle and their family. Why was he visiting them now, when he should have been with his beloved family? Noah sat down, without any regard to where anyone else sat, although he carefully made a bit of room for his mother.

Matheiu's story hadn't fit the image that Noah had had of Blake. In Noah's mind, Blake had been an adequate father. Absentee, of course, but he certainly provided for them. They lived in a manor, and Emelia always looked lovely in everything that Blake had bought her. And although she chose to wear plain clothes, Noah always thought his mother looked in perfect condition.

Noah's anger towards Mathieu increased. How dare he come into the Malfoys house and tell his family such awful lies? Blake was the only father Noah had known growing up, his only idol. Axel and Noah hadn't gotten out much, and who else was there to watch after them and keep them safe? Noah was certain that Blake had done all in his power to make his family as distinguished as they were.

When he had heard that Blake was dead, Noah froze. His father, dead? Noah felt like something had been torn from him. His own father was killed, and now Noah felt as if he had no one to idolize or ask for advice. His breathe was short, but he managed to choke back the tears. He turned to his mother, and tried to access what she had been feeling. Noah put his arm protectively around her,waiting for her next move before he decided anything.

[Emelia Malfoy]

Emelia was quiet, almost unresponsive during this news. It was like she hadn't even heard Mathieu.

How else was she supposed to act? It was hard to believe, but if it were true, Blake wouldn't want her to cause any kidn of a scene. She would be expected to carry herself with the same poise and dignity as always.

She was very intune with her children though, and she knew almost instinctively that Noah was angry, and Axel seemed as blase as she was trying to appear. But they were both worried about her. Noah's arm went around her while Axel reached for her hand, and she tried to give them both subtle gestures to let them know that it was all right.

"Noah, will you please take your brother upstairs? I would like to speak with Mathieu."

[Noah Malfoy]

Noah had begun to glare at his uncle, arm still around his mother. Noah was so impressed by his mother's composure, she was certainly a strong woman. Despite this, Noah had barely heard her tell him to bring Axel upstairs. He didn't want to leave her alone with Matheiu, but Noah didn't want to disobey at a time like this. Noah stood up and had Axel follow him upstairs and into their father's study. It felt suiting for the occasion to be around things that his father had owned.

[Axel Malfoy]

Axel looked at his brother, who motioned for Axel to follow him upstairs. He felt strange about leaving his mother with his uncle, but since she asked him to, he wouldn't argue. he simply squeezed his mother's hand comfortingly, and then followed Noah upstairs. They reached the top and were out of ear shot of the adults downstairs. "Noah?" Axel said, noticing that his brother hadn't spoken at all.

[Emelia Malfoy]

Emelia smiled at both of her boys- a sad, controlled smile, but she felt the need to let them know she was all right. She was quiet while she listened to them head upstairs, and then she set her hands in her lap. Her eyes were planted solidly on Mathieu's chest as she seemed to be running over her words in her mind. She was angry with him, but she couldn't show it, and her face showed the calmness she was trying to project. If he could have seen her eyes, though, he would have been met with a fire from the Emelia he used to know.

"Thank you for coming to deliver the news personally," she started, everything about her even and controlled. "I wish you wouldn't have said it in front of my children, though. It wasn't... pardon me, but it wasn't your place. I would like you to please leave now."

[Noah Malfoy]

Noah sat down quietly on his father's leather chair. He spun around once before leaning over the desk and covering his face with his hands, much like how he had used to see his father do on late nights that he'd work. Noah hadn't really appreciated his father much when he was alive, but that was Noah being a teenager. How was he supposed to know this was going to happen?

"Yes?" Noah managed to say, without any of his usual tones of sarcasm and tease. Noah had expected his brother to be as upset as he was, if not more.

[Axel Malfoy]

Axel watched his brother. Unlike Axel, Noah had actually cared about their father. He wouldn't say anything of his opinion, Axel decided. The last thing he needed was Noah to be upset and angry, especially with him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, walking over to Noah and putting his hand on Noah's shoulder.