Dark Fascination 6 - Family Ties

*




It felt like fire was burning through his veins, the pain was excruciating as his senses dimmed, already beginning to close down. Barty retched, the urge to be sick overwhelming. He was completely unaware of what was going on around him, unable to discern the objects closest to him as his sight blurred, and all went black.







*




Scarlet sat with him a while before retiring to her own bed, exhausted. Sliding between the covers she sighed, soothed by the familiar surroundings of her room. Comforted, Scarlet relaxed her tense muscles, relieved to finally be allowed some peace, to finally disengage her tired brain. After Barty passed out Scarlet did the best she could to make sure he was comfortable, although he twitched and writhed, unable to escape torment even in his sleep. This seemed to subside after a while however, and Scarlet took the opportunity to try and bring some state of order to the disarray that had engulfed her life. Everything had been so clear, concise, organised. Dull, but organised. It had to be, carefully constructed around her so Scarlet felt she still had some element of control, that she had some effect on the things around her. But now, nothing was black and white anymore. The vibrant, lucid colours of the spectrum had quickly merged to an uncertain grey.




*




Barty awoke with a start, a chink of light blared through a gap in the curtains, assaulting his eyes. With that and the birds twittering incessantly outside, he was surprised he’d managed to sleep at all. Sitting up quickly he looking around at his alien surroundings, trying to piece together his memory, and what had caused the merciless thudding that echoed in his ears. Two sets of claws dug into his feet as he moved, accompanied by a dissatisfied mewl. Of course… He remembered immediately as the memories came flooding back. Running a hand through his hair he yawned, frowning at the grey cat that had stretched itself unceremoniously across legs. Although it appeared relaxed, the creature’s attentive eyes were fixed on him, regarding him objectively. Or so he felt.




Unnerved, Barty clambered out of bed, trying his best not to disturb the cat, despite the fact it was as with all felines, impossible. Barty was sure he could hear the buzz of voices from the floor below, and as he stumbled, moaning and groaning onto the landing they became instantly louder. Vague though they were, he was sure one was Scarlet’s, this suddenly filled him with panic as he envisioned her turning him over to the Aurors… Or worse.


Quietly descending the stairs, he crept towards the kitchen door, which was slightly ajar. Peering through the gap he could see Scarlet leant against the dining table. She twisted her hair between her fingers distractedly, her gaze fixed on an unseen figure across the room, who it seemed had caught her unawares as she kept looking down at the dressing gown she wore rather pointedly.




“Dad, I still don’t understand why you’re here. Is there anything wrong?”


“Does a father need a reason to visit his daughter?” a voice answered from across the room. Although Barty couldn’t see him, his vision obscured by the door, it was obviously Scarlet’s father. He recognised the voice from the many times he had met him as a child. However, Cyrus Bellamy now sounded weary and tired in comparison the energetic man Barty had known.


Scarlet laughed, “Huh, somehow I don’t quite believe that. What is it?”


There was a pause.


“I had to take some files up to the Auror Headquarters, and you weren’t there.” Cyrus answered, hesitantly. He clearly knew he was treading in dangerous territory with his daughter, who looked at him disapprovingly.


“I’m fine, I just felt like taking a few days off…“ Scarlet answered, before she deftly changed the subject, “Speaking of, how are things at the Ministry?”




“Oh, y’know…” he answered shortly, with what Barty imagined would be a grimace.


“Have you seen Redric recently?” she asked, pensively.


“No, it seems my children are forever trying to evade me.” he answered, with what sounded like a chuckle.


“Perhaps that’s because we fear any further encouragement would spawn another oddly named sibling called Maroonius or something daft.” Scarlet answered, laughing.


“No, we stopped with the silly names after your brother was born, dear.” he replied, “However… I fail to see what’s so bad about it, it’s a perfectly good, traditional name.”


“Exactly” she answered, knowing her brother’s dislike of anything remotely old fashioned, which probably had something to do with being inflicted with such a name.




“Dad, there’s something I need to talk to you about…” she carried on, hesitantly.


Taking a step forward Barty winced as the floor creaked loudly beneath him and Scarlet glanced fleetingly in his direction. He stepped back, but it was too late. She had already seen him.


“It doesn’t matter. Look, Dad. I’m quite busy…” Scarlet said quickly, taking a quick look at the door.


He nodded, before stepping into view. Cyrus’ black hair was streaked with grey, and his eyes were rimmed with dark shadows, “I should be going anyway, but if there’s anything you need…”


Scarlet stepped forward and embraced him, “I’ll come and see you soon, I promise.”


“Good.” he replied, his careworn face stretching into a smile. Crossing the room he took a pinch of powder from a pot upon the mantelpiece, throwing it into the fire. The flickering flames immediately turned a fluorescent green. As he stepped into it, Scarlet turned and walked towards the door dubiously.




Stepping through it she opened her mouth to speak, but Barty didn’t give her the chance. Slamming the door behind closed her, he pushed her back against it roughly. Scarlet opened her mouth to speak, but the breath was knocked out of her, as were the words, something which she was clearly sick and tired of, “Barty, what the-?!”


“What did you tell him!?” he asked, incensed.


“Nothing… I didn’t say anything!”


“But you were going to weren’t you?”


“Barty, he’s my father! I didn’t know what to do, I-”


“Nobody can know about this, no one.” he glared, trying and somewhat failing to control his temper.


“He wouldn’t tell anyone! He’s my dad, he-”


“The more people who know about something, the more chance there is it’s going to get out. Besides, from what I’ve seen he’s not in the best state of mind right now.” he answered, lowering his tone and letting go of her.


Scarlet opened her mouth to argue, but knew he was right, instead she grumbled, “Alright, alright. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”




Barty nodded, still fairly exasperated, “Are you alright?”


“Yes, just waiting for my bones to knit.” she groaned, rubbing her pained ribs.


“Well, who’s fault is that?”


“Yes, yes I know.“ she answered, before suddenly grinning, “Tell you what, I’ll make it up to you…”


Suddenly looking very interested he replied, “Yes?”


“How long is it since you’ve been out? Properly I mean.”


“I’ve been outside before.” he replied, affronted.


“Yes, but properly, where there are people.”


He blinked, “Well, I can’t technically. They might recognise me.”


“Not in a muggle village they won’t.” Scarlet answered, rushing towards the front door eagerly, before tossing him a coat from a peg on the wall.


“Wait, what? Barty asked, mystified, “And why do you have so much men’s stuff?”


Scarlet shrugged as she buttoned up her jacket, “Oh, didn’t I tell you? My brother sort of lives here too.”


“What!?”


“Oh, don’t worry, his job takes him away for long periods of time, but I still have most of his stuff if he ever decides to come back.” she paused, “Are you going to just stand there staring at me or are you coming?”


Barty followed, before adding grumpily, “You do realise it’s the middle of summer, it’s not that cold.”


“Oh, really?”




*




Once outside, Barty had to admit, it was a relief to be out, he had began to feel very claustrophobic in the small cottage. He never had liked being in confined places, even less so now. It always gave him the feeling he was trapped, and despite his newfound freedom, it didn't take much to invoke the memory of bars, locking him in and leaving him alone in the dark. It was suffocating.


However, this didn’t change the fact that every turn of the path he expected some cowled spectre to jump, shrieking from the hedge and drag him back to the Dark Lord’s service. Even the despondent fog that clung to them seemed unreal, so ominous, but as Scarlet had already explained, it was the same everywhere. Her prediction that the weather would anything but warm was correct, as she happily kept reminding him. Despite his miserable surroundings he found Scarlet’s cheerfulness distracted him from his own pessimism, and the bleak countryside which rolled on for miles around them.




Walking side by side they entered the tiny village, within which she assured him yes, it was actually meant to be that quiet. He stopped to look around at his surroundings, slowly taking in the cobblestones at his feet, the ivy strewn houses with their pretty gardens and the newsagents which nestled in the corner, providing the villagers with sugar, teabags, and other necessities. They made their way towards this, a bell jangling above them as they stepped through the door announcing their entrance to the shop.


“Just don’t touch anything…“ Scarlet muttered under her breath, an artificial smile darting across her lips, “Mrs Piper, Hi.”


The woman leaning on the counter returned her smile, “Hello, Scarlet. How’re things?”


Rooting in a tall contraption, Scarlet took out a bottle of milk, placing it on the counter. Barty followed dumbfounded.


“Oh, fine thanks.”




She saw the shopkeeper looking oddly at Barty, “This is my, uh…”


The pair exchanged a worried glance, trying to think up a ruse.


“-Brother” Scarlet answered, quickly.


She frowned, “I thought you only had one brother?”, but clearly didn‘t really deem it very important as she beamed, pressing a few buttons on the till. Thankfully, this was something which Barty actually recognised, “And that’s 78p, dear.”


Barty let out a fake laugh, “Oh, she‘s just kidding. Not that embarrassed by me are you?”


Scarlet gave him look which told him better than any words could that she didn’t like where he was going with this, unfortunately for her he took this as his cue to go ahead, “I’m her boyfriend.”


As if to back up his point, he tossed a casual arm around her shoulders.


“Yeah, that’s right.” Scarlet reassured Mrs Piper, whilst digging her arm sharply into Barty’s ribs and glaring at him with all fierceness she could muster. It didn‘t prove very effective though as Barty only grinned back in defiance enjoying his chance to embarrass her.


Thankfully, their host didn’t notice but beamed rather enthusiastically, “Oh, that’s lovely…”




Blushing, Scarlet rooted in her pocket for muggle currency before finally banging her change on the desk and grabbing the plastic bag containing her purchase.


Taking hold of Barty’s arm tightly she dragged him from the shop, stopping only to say a fleeting farewell to the confused shopkeeper.


Once they were outside she scowled at him and pushed him away from her, “What did you do that for?”


“Well, I had to think of something, and seen as though you failed to come up with anything plausible…”


“Well, that’s not my fault, I swear they know everything about me. That’s what they must do all day, talk about me. How exciting.” she answered sulkily.


“I don’t why you’re so bothered anyway, what does it matter what they think?”


Barty asked looking at her thoughtfully.


“It doesn’t.” she answered with a shrug.


“Besides, it didn’t seem to be a problem yesterday.” he answered, quirking an eyebrow.


“Hey-”




“Shush.” Barty froze suddenly and held up his hand, “I know you said it was quiet but… Unless I’ve been misinformed, shouldn’t there be birds singing, dogs barking… You know, general noise.”


Scarlet looked at him, “Are you shivering?”


“Uh… Yes?” Barty looked bemused.


“Because it’s cold. I mean it was before… But it wasn’t this cold…”


They shared look of horror, as they both came to the same terrible conclusion.


“Dementors.”