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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 20, 2007 14:17:55 GMT
I apparate to the address on the file of my new assignment, glancing up from the paper to see...nothing.
Well, that couldn't be right.
There should be a...I glance around a little more and see where the house should have stood...a mess of rubble and scorched materials and ash.
Shit.
Too late, Charlie.
You were too late.
"Oh my God..." I mutter, picking my way through some of the wreckage.
Did this mean the inhabitants were dead?
If they were dead...too late.
Far too late.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 20, 2007 18:45:08 GMT
"Can I help you?" I ask standing over by an old oak tree.
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 21, 2007 9:01:30 GMT
"Yeah, you can." I say, not looking up from the wreckage for a moment, then glancing briefly at her, "What happened here? What happened to the residents?"
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 21, 2007 19:17:22 GMT
I watch him for a moment, trying to place where I had seen him before,"The house burned down," I say,"As for the residents, they're alive, a little brusied but alive."
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 21, 2007 20:27:01 GMT
I smile, tilting my head back to the skies and putting a hand over my heart, mouthing Thank you! to nothing in particular.
Not too late.
"They're okay...good to know." I say, looking back at her, she looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't place her...maybe I'd get round to placing her later, "You know where I might find said residents?"
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 22, 2007 22:43:22 GMT
"Your looking at her." I smile weakly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear,"My boyfriend is around somewhere, he lives with me too."
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 23, 2007 21:43:00 GMT
I look at her again, properly, then grin, "Maddie...Geez, sorry. That's pathetic, didn't even recognise my own cousin. How long's it been? 2 years, right? Sorry." I laugh, "Thank God, you're okay. Gideon thought it was best, that I took over his assignment, and then I realised it was you and whatever his name is...can't recall, and...I come here and the house is like...I thought I was too late."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 0:47:31 GMT
I look at him curiously...Cousin? I look at his eyes, they were they same as mine. Bright blue mixed with sliver. Everyone in the Speare's family has the same eyes you know.
A smile breaks out across my face as I rush over to him flinging my arms around his neck,"Charlie, god it is you."
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 10:37:31 GMT
I hug her back, lifting her up and spinning her round, "The one and only." I laugh. "Oh thank God you're okay. And what's his name...er...fuck...don't remember, is okay too, yeah? I thought I was too late getting back...but Gid's owl was urgent...something about dying and the file under his fridge that I had to take over for him because it was important and I get back and-..." I stop abruptly, not wanting to really have to relive being told Gid was dead by the time I got here, "And I was too late for him. But-...not this. Oh thank God you're okay!"
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 14:57:08 GMT
"Yeah, Ian's fine." I smile hugging him tightly."Yeah I'm okay. Little beaten up, but I'm okay." I move the hair from his face looking at him properly."The same eyes." I grin.
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:14:20 GMT
"Ian...Ian...that's the one." I say, trying to committ it to memory, "Gonna have to meet the guy." Then I grin back, moving her hair back out of her eyes as well, "I know, same eyes. Brilliant."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:17:03 GMT
"I missed you so much Charlie." I smile hugging him tightly.
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:18:19 GMT
"I missed you too." I say, hugging her back, "I really needed you...someone. They got my family, Maddie. They got my wife and my little girl, Maddie. Death eaters...they got them." I say, still hugging her, closing my eyes tightly at the same time.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:24:26 GMT
"Oh god, they got Gracie." I mutter feeling sick."Oh Charlie, you have no idea how much I've needed you these last past months, you, Sally or even Aunt Gilly. I'm glad your back."
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:27:52 GMT
"Gracie and Jen." I say softly, still hugging her, "So apart from nearly getting yourself killed many many times by some of the most dangerous death eaters around here...Jesus fucking Christ by the way...how have you been?"
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:30:54 GMT
I laugh slightly,What can I say, trouble follows me around these days....I've been better. I'm alive for the most part so that's always a plus."
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:34:44 GMT
"Trouble follows you around these days..." I say disapprovingly, "Well, is this the influence of your boyfriend who's name I've already forgotten? You realise I'm going to give the guy a hard time, don't you? Until he's passed the nosy older cousin you-better-be-good-enough-for-our-Maddie tests, he shall not be spared."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:40:43 GMT
"No, it's not entirly his fault, it's mine. Still can't keep my mouth shut." I grin weakly,"Nosy older cousin? God, your like my brother, you git so I know your gonna give him a hard time. He's a good guy Charlie, he is and I love him please don't be to hard on him okay?"
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:43:58 GMT
"Yeah, of course, should have known. You and that mouth of yours." I smile, clipping her round the chin, "And yeah, you know I won't be too hard on him. Unless I really really really don't like him. But if you say he's a good guy and you love him, I'll try my best to be nice."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:45:27 GMT
"Yeah, I love him." I smile,"More then anything."
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:46:09 GMT
"Okay, I'll really try then." I roll my eyes, "What? You turn into a slushy romantic while I'm gone, eh?"
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:50:17 GMT
I laugh hitting him lightly,"You git, I hate you hope you know that." I laugh.
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:51:44 GMT
"Oh, I do." I grin, "But I love you, so it's all good."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:55:40 GMT
"So what are you doing back here?" I ask,"Other then checking up on me and grilling my boyfriend of course?"
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:56:23 GMT
I mutter something incoherent, then force myself to say it slightly louder, "Gideon."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 20:58:32 GMT
I look down instantly."So you heard then?" I mutter.
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 20:59:54 GMT
"I heard from Gideon. An owl-...I got an owl-...not so long ago-...I-..." I pause, then hold out the letter I'd got from Gideon to her wordlessly.
Charlie-Charlie-doodle-man,
The cloaks coming.
For real this time.
Nothing I can do. Already accepted.
File under fridge. Take over from me. Right up your street. Important.
Look after Molly. And Fabie. And Maddie. And Ian. And all the peoples I love. And especially Isa. Tell Isa I love her everyday. And don't let anyone ~Sirius~ corrupt my daughter.
Vive la revolution mon chou favori.
~Prewett number 2 (Gideon in case you didn't get that dumbass)
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 21:02:43 GMT
I look over the letter tears forming again,"So he knew it was coming?" I ask quietly,"File? What file?"
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Post by Charlie Owens on Jul 24, 2007 21:05:10 GMT
"He knew. He panicked when he realised just how close it was, but he'd known for a long time." I pause, "And your file. You and your boyfriend. Your file. The Order assigns people to protect targeted people like yourselves. Gideon had been on your file since it first emerged you were targeted. He kept it pretty quiet, said he didn't tell you or whats-his-name. But he's been the one protecting you. And now I'm taking over."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jul 24, 2007 21:07:05 GMT
"Why didn't he tell me?" I ask quietly,"He was...oh god it's my fault then."
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