𝕋𝕠 ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕠 ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕕 [ʙᴏᴏᴋ 3]

࿔ Danica ࿔

Danica is out in the garden with Teddy and Rose when she hears a crack of Apparation out the front. Regulus is inside making lunch so he answers it. A few moments later, she hears two pairs of footsteps coming from inside.

"Danica."

She hears the voice and doesn't believe it to start with. It is not until she turns around and her eyes fall on him that she knows it to be true. She almost doesn't recognise him though.

"Jackson?" She says, standing up and glancing at Regulus who stands a little way behind him. "W-what happened?"

Jackson is covered in scars and bandages.

"I'm fine," he says, a half-hearted smile on his lips. "Congratulations," he walks over to her and gives her a tight hug.

Danica smiles a little and kisses his cheek, trying her best to ignore the sight of her brother injured and weak.

"Meet Teddy and Rose," she says, standing up and walking over to the babies who lay on their blanket in the shade. She bends down and picks Teddy up as he is awake. She leaves Rose to sleep. "Here."

Jackson takes him gently and smiles.

"Hey little man," he says.

"Where have been all this time?" Danica asks, searching his eyes.

"I've been all over the place," he says darkly. "But I'm back now."

"Why do you have all these injuries?"

"Danica, stop asking questions," Jackson says, rocking Teddy as he starts crying. "It doesn't matter what I was doing because it was all for nothing, just something Dumbledore sent me out to do for no reason at all."

Teddy keeps crying and Danica can't take it anymore. She takes him back and he instantly stops.

"Jackson..." she whispers.

"No Danica," he snaps.

She blinks, hurt, and looks towards the house. Regulus is watching them out the window.

"Sorry," he says, softer now, staring at a spot on the ground that must be interesting.

"You turn up here," Danica says. She has been thinking these words for weeks now. "You turn up after months. You look awful! What's been happening? Why do you look like you're gonna die if you get one more cut?"

Jackson finally looks at her, his eyes fiery.

"I told you it doesn't matter-"

"I think it does," Danica says, putting Teddy down next to Rose. "My brother has been gone for so long and now he won't tell me why he's covered in scars?"

"I said it was a pointless mission," Jackson retorts.

"Then why can't you tell me!?" Danica steps away from him and walks to the house.

Jackson follows her, his jaw clenched.

"What's happened?" Danica asks, standing in the doorway. "Where's my nice brother gone? The brother that was never like dad, who never snapped."

Jackson meets her eyes for a moment and Danica sees how dull they are. Then he looks away and shifts uneasily on his feet.

"I don't know," he says after a long time. "I don't know, and if I could go back then I would- but I can't. Something happened and now I can never feel like that again."

Danica crosses her arm and bites her cheek.

"Jackson," she says quietly.

"No Danica," he says, a sad tone to his voice. "I only came today to tell you something I have to tell you."