D'Eathly Reunion

A warm summer rain greeted Lorcan as he went to the apothecary. He trusted his children to do the teasks he assigned them, but this morning, he had a new formula he'd developed for a beauty potion. It had started with some of old Snape's things, and then Lorcan had been working to continue to concentrate and enhance the desired effects. he had found a rather disappointing bland looking halfblood that he had agreed to let try it. The results were satisfactory. He had no doubt she would be coming for more. The 'child' was too young for his likings. He would allow Alistair to charm her for more experiments.

He arrived in the shop, hung up his cloak, and bid employees good morning. Civilities were important. He checked the cash drawer, found it to be satisfactory and then opened the sales ledger to check the last few days' sales. He heard the tea finish brewing and lazily flicked his wand at the kettle so that it poured a cup of tea for him and delivered it to him a the shop's counter.

Amaris had been up quite early, maybe around dawn. Or maybe she hadn't slept at all the night before, knowing her it was quite possible that she hadn't slept at all. Shed never been known to actually get a good night's sleep, and that was why most thought that her nasty temper came from her lack of sleep. Really, she didn't even need it, she was young and even though she knew that would catch up with her eventually, she still didn't get thst rest. Today though even her brothers and father had been up at around the same time she found herself awake laying in her bed. She'd stared up at the ceiling of her room for a while before she decided to get out of bed.

When she did however, the first thing she decided to do was visit her uncle and cousins. Mostly her uncle though, Amaris had looked up to her uncle Lorcan for as long as she could remember. She was much more like him than like her father or mother, and honestly she preferred Lorcan to Cillian. She didn't really know why, she just did. Amaris left the house quickly after changing into a medium sized blue dress and putting on blue flats, and she headed for the apothecary that she now knew was run by her uncle and cousins. She arrived there faster than she expected and Amaris quickly entered the apothecary, immediately heading for where she saw her uncle standing. "Good morning Uncle. How've you been?" she greeted him happily.

Lorcan watched his niece breeze through the door. He smiled. When she greeted him, he kissed her cheek. His brother's daughter was indeed beautiful, and Lorcan had always thought Amaris had looked much more like him than she ever had resembled her father. He was fond of her.

"Now there is a breath of fresh air," he said. "Good morning, my dear. I am well. Very well indeed, and much better now that I see your beautiful face. You get more lovely every day. What brings you into this dismal apothecary when you could be out charming every young man in Diagon Alley?"

He had a sense that Amaris was much closer to his own values and thinking than some of his own children, much as he loved them. His mind began clicking quickly. Whether Cillian cared for it or not, Lorcan fully intended to give Amaris the opportunity to choose her own path. To choose whether or not she might be ready to follow the path that the D'Eath family was about to take into a whole new future.

"The tea is ready. Would you like some?" he offered.

Amaris smiled as her uncle complimented her. "Thank you Uncle." she said. "Oh I just thought I'd come by and visit you. Maybe see if I could help you with something." she responded to his question. Amaris had already had her fun with teasing and making some lowly halfbloods drool over her. And she was able to do that sort of thing whenever she pleased, but visiting her uncle was something that she couldn't do as often as she'd want to. Cillian thought that she spent too much time with his brother and he didn't really like it.

Not that Amaris actually listened to what he had to say. But since she wasn't supposed to see her cousins and uncle as often as she would've liked, she snuck away with some excuse that she was going shopping or something, never revealing that she was going to the apothecary, or to her uncle's home. Amaris looked up at Lorxan quickly. "Uncle, would you mind if I stayed with you and everyone during the summer?" she asked him. "I'm sure my father would not mind it." of course she knew her father would try to object. But she had her way around him.

"Oh yes. Please Uncle." she nodded.

He used a bit of wandless magic to pour tea for her and float it over to her. When he asked if she could stay with him during the summer, he smiled broadly. That was precisely what he had wanted to hear. He stood up and set the little pitcher of milk and the sugar bowl on the counter for her tea. Then he kissed her affectionately on the cheek.

"That would please me very much," he said. "We both know your father has not had much interest in training you properly. There are things that, at your age, about your family, about purebloods and your heritage. And about learning how to play with the big boys and girls." He knew she wanted to become a Death Eater, but his brother hadn't been very aggressive about advocating that for his offspring. Lorcan, however, was much more dedicated to Slytherin and Death Eater ideals. "You and I think very much alike," he said. "If you want, you can move in with me straight away, and I'll simply send an owl to your father. I have plans. Grand plans. And, believe me, this is not something you will want to miss." He gave her a smile that revealed to her that there indeed was something very large in the wind, and that he was extending her an invitation to be part of it.

Amaris smiled at Lorcan and fixed up the tea to her liking as she listened to what he said. "I personally think my father is too spineless to truly be able to train me in anything. He's much to nice in my opinion." she said. "Which explains why my brothers are like that most of the time as well." she muttered. Julius was probably the only other child of Cillian who shared the ideals that his sister had, as they were both in the Dark Followers and they both had taken a liking to the Dark Arts. "I'm sure Julius would like to visit during the summer too. Though he would probably not want to stay." she told him. Julius had a personality that made him change his mind on what he wanted rather quickly.

"Thank you Uncle! I'll have Julius bring my stuff, just as an excuse for him to come see you. As he's been saying he's been wanting to come. But there was never a good excuse for him to." she chuckled. She smiled back at him before she said, "And believe me Uncle, I wouldn't miss it for anything." Lorcan was definitely the one she liked better out of him and her father. Too bad she hadn't been born to him instead.

As she took a sip of her tea, a question came to mind. "Uncle what has happened with Damitrius? Because of her house I assume a certain someone is having trouble accepting her?" she raised an eyebrow as she referred to Damien.

"Excellent," Lorcan was pleased. "Julius is always welcome to stay. Perhaps some training over the summer might strengthen his resolve. I think that could be arranged. Julius is a good lad. His only issue is how impulsive he is. that is not impossible to resolve. By all means, do send for your thing and invite him along. Nicities must be observed, Amaris, but in the proper way. Your father is an odd mix of a Death Eater with a good heart. He allows himself to be used. I would prefer that you and Julius turn out like that.

"I would prefer to school you on standing on your own two feet, knowing not just how to defend yourself but also how to fight. How to stand up for what you believe in. How to strategize. How to preserve our world. And--how ot make sure that you always have the funds to do it."

He listened to her questions about Damitrius and Damien. "Oh, you know siblings. They're both like their mother. I am quite certain it is not easy for them to live with me. They're struggling to find their place in the family--and with me, I think. It will be very interesting to watch them this summer. It might well determine whether, by the time the fall term begins, if they love me or if they loathe me," he laughed gently.

"Indeed. He is very impulsive, but that's useful sometimes." she shrugged. " oh don't worry about the fighting Uncle." she smirked. "Believe me I know how to handle myself when it comes to fighting." she raised an eyebrow at him and lifted the cup to her lips again. "Julius on the other hand. Well he, does need to learn that. He spends too much time with our father, not to mention he doesn't pay much attention in class. So he doesn't really know how to do anything." she rolled her eyes. She loved her brother, but sometimes, when it seemed he wasn't interested in learning anything, he irritated her.

She sighed softly as she heard his response to her question. "Well I'm sure its even harder for Damitrius than for Damien. After all, he shows many more traits that you have than she does. Damitrius is a Gryffindor and she is also -" she cut herself off wondering if he knew that Damitrius was in Potter's Army. She shook her head a bit and continued. "She is in Potter's Army also, and her knowing who you and her brothers support, it must make it harder for her to find a way to fit in." she said. Though she usually disliked Gryffindors just because of their house, Amaris had a certain soft spot for her cousin. She knew it was hard for Damitrius to fit in anywhere. She sighed again and smiled at her uncle.

"But don't worry, I know for sure Damien will love you. He shares your interest as far as I can tell. And he looks up to both you and Alistair." she smiled at him. "And no matter what side she's on, Damitrius will love you too, because you are her father." she said softly.

"Oh, I quite agree," Lorcan said. "I did not mean to say I did not value it. However, without some boundaries on it, impulsivity can get you killed. As for whether you can handle yourself in a fight, we can determine that. Perhaps a bit of sparring might build my confidence in your abilities. That is, if you believe you could duel against me." He smiled at her. "Don't totally underestimate your father. He is worthy enough fellow. He just is a bit more passive than I am. And Julius just has much to learn.

"I have no issue that she's a Gryffindor. Nor that she's in Potters army. You must remember that in the beginning, the four founders of Hogwarts did get along. For awhile. I don't agree with the philosophies of the Gryffindors. They're not practical. However, I do agree with their strength of spirit, their determination and fight, their loyalty to family--although that could be better at times. There are strengths in each house. And, I have children in almost every house, thanks to their mothers. Somehow not all of them managed to inherit their values from me. Ah well, what child truly does?

"Your cousins have been thrown headlong into a tough situation by living all together under the same roof with me and with a woman who is not their mother. And in at least 3 different houses in addition to that school. It does create a sense of difficulty. However, I am hoping that the summer allows us to overcome some of that."

"He has gotten into quite a bit of trouble because of it." she said. "Although a few detentions for him is nothing. I just hope he doesn't end up getting killed because of it. If he does I might just have to bring him back to kill him again myself." she joked. As impulsive as her brother could be, Amaris knew that Julius was anything but stupid. He could handle things well, even if he did rush to do something. He still took charge of what seemed to be hopeless situations sometimes and because of his impulsive nature, the situations became much more ... hopeful. It was something she had always envied Julius because of. It just came so natural to him, he was a born leader she supposed. "I believe I can hold my own in a duel against you Uncle. Ive been sharpening my skills." she smiled at him

"Yes, yes. I know that Uncle. And I'm sure she does too. But I think that even more than your approval, she wishes to get Damien to approve of her the way she is. I can tell that he really only dislikes her because of her house. He shows it quite often in school, and some times she shows how hurt she is because of it." Amaris explained. "I think that's also why she fights with Alexis all the time. It's not because she hares her because of what she is. I think it's more of a way to show Damien that he does the exact same thing to her as she does to Alexis." she added. "Still, I do t see how fighting with her changes anything. Damien probably just sees it as an immature act on Damitrius' part." she sighed.

Amaris nodded at her uncle's words. "That is true. It can be difficult to adjust to those kind of living conditions. But I'm sure everything will turn out well." she said. "And maybe, I can help in some way, since I am going to be spending the summer with you all." she smiled. Amaris was willing to help him get her cousins more comfortable or at least more approving of anything he did.