Flame Cottage

Yes your male parent seemed quite privy to call you this

I shrug. "They always call me Birdie. It's because of my name."

I see... this was not the reason I had guessed for this name.

"What did you think the reason was?"

Your freedom of spirit and grace

I smile. "I'm not graceful. I'm clumsy. But... thanks."

-I smile back at her-

I laugh. "They must be wondering why we're still stood here... Let's head out." I smile.

OOC: I GTG. I might be able to come back on later, not sure. If not, bye!

-I kiss her- Sounds good!

OOC Bye!

I kiss him back briefly, all too aware of my parents in the cottage. We apparate back to Hogwarts.

Phoenix: I apparate at the gate.

-I apparate with Phoenix, almost scared of what I will find-

Phoenix: I walk up to the door quickly. "I'd rather know sooner than later," I say before knocking on the door repeatedly.

Karen: She answers. "Phoenix! What are you doing here? You haven't hurt yourself again have you?"

Phoenix: "No. We came to ask you something." I gesture at Artemis.

Karen: She goes pale.

-My eyes widen and my jaw drops to the ground, a gaping feeling of unresolve consumes my chest and snakes down to my legs and arms- M..mother?

Karen: "Sound..." She glances over her shoulder. "Nobody else is home... You'd both better come in..." She heads into the kitchen.

Phoenix: I follow, barely able to contain my questions.

-eastenders theme tune-

-By sheerest luck I manage to work my legs to walk inside. How? She died. She has a coffin in Honora Castellum and everything-

Karen: "Anything to drink?" she asks, her back turned.

Phoenix: "No thank you..." I just sit down at the table. I remember the many times we spoke at this very table, but now I feel like I don't know her anymore...

Karen: "Sound?"

-Hesitation reigns supreme in my voice- Umm... no... no thank you....

How? How is this possible?

Phoenix: "Yeah... Why did you never tell us?"

Karen: She turns to face them and closes her eyes. "I couldn't do it anymore... Be a Strayer. I'm sorry, Sound, I met Anthony - Phoenix's father - and it just spiralled out of control..."

Phoenix: I look down at the table.

-I look at her, my heart felt stabbed- So you faked your death? To escape your family?

Phoenix: "Mum!"

Karen: "I'm sorry, both of you! I couldn't do it any more, Sound, it was too much. And I was already too in love with Anthony it just didn't feel the same with Arthur any more..."

-I just put my head on the table, just trying to reason all this out-

Karen: "If there's anything you want to ask, do. I owe it to both of you."

Phoenix: I glance at Artemis. "How are you related to the Strayers? Other than marriage?"

Did... you even care, that you left your three sons?