RP: And then all hell breaks loose WHO: Josiah Plunkett, James Dorny, Bobby, Sam (jr) and John Plunkett WHERE: Josiah's flat WHEN: April 20, 2000 WHAT: Tragedy strikes the Plunkett Clan INCOMPLETE
Josiah had invited James over to share one of their rare shared off-days. As the Spring half of the season wound down toward the play-offs, those days would become even more rare until the summer break, he was determined to make the most of this one.
As James had actually arrived last night for a late supper and a night spent proving their athleticsm to each other, Josiah had decided to start the day cooking a hearty breakfast to fuel them through the day's lazing about. They'd just reached the wrestling over the bacon part of cooking when a heavy, implacable knock at the front door.
"Who the hell'd be bothering us this early?" Josiah grumbled. Leaving a triumphant James to scarf the first piece of cooked bacon, he stomped over to the front door and yanked it open. On the other side was his father wearing an expression that Josiah'd not seen since the darkest part of the first Voldemort War. John Plunkett had a heavy hand on both of his grandsons' shoulders. Bobby and Sammy were covered with soot and mud. Their eyes were red and little Sammy was still crying silent tears. Josiah felt his own expression hardening into something dangerous and implacable. "Dad?"
"I need you to keep the boys," John said shortly, pushing the eight and five year olds at their uncle. "Someone burned down their house. Sam and Jessica are missing." For a split second worry and a consuming pain flickered in the older man's eyes before it was buried deeply under the Auror he'd been before retiring when his mentor, Mad-eye Moody, had been killed. "They killed your mother."
Josiah flinched as if struck. The wrenching pain of loss tore at him like a dull blade. "I'll let you know when I need you," John ordered, "until then, the boys are your responsiblity." There was no arguing with that tone and even if Josiah could have found his voice to ask the questions that he so desperately needed answers to, John was gone before he could open his mouth.