Narrative
Who: Theodore Nott When: May 10, 2008, 7:00 am Where: Toulon, France Rating: PG-13 Status: Complete Summary: Theo gets the news about his father.
Theodore stared at his grandmother, trying to see if she was sad, or even affected. She didn't sound affected. His aunt didn't seem particularly worried about the announcement either, just sipped her coffee. In the background he could hear the children crashing around, his uncle yelling.
"Theodore, did you hear me?" came the terse question from his grandmother, "Your father is dead, has been for a week now. I've arranged for you to head back to the estates, you're the only male heir so it's your duty."
Theodore's knuckles were white where he gripped the armrests of the chair. "How?"
His aunt sipped from her coffee again, eyes flickering over his face. He wondered if she wished he had died like his sister, in childbirth. With no male heir to inherit, the estates would've gone to her and her family.
"The Ministry doesn't know, it could've been anything," she said with distaste, "knowing your father it was probably one of his friends come to collect on an old debt."
Theodore didn't deny it. It was after all, a plausible guess. Through the open kitchen window Theo could hear birds chirping, the papers had predicted a wonderful day. Theodore was supposed to take his cousins out to go shopping for their grandmother. It would be her birthday in a few days.
"Damnit," Theo finally said.
"Language, Theo," his aunt scolded.
"You're leaving today, I've arranged the funeral for next Saturday. You'll have to fix up the details," his grandmother said coolly.