The Scars We Leave Behind

Chapter 12: One Hell of a Lawyer

The dreadful sounds that Cherry Blossom made as her owner was lead away in custody were hard to forget. A deep guttural howl had emitted from the large puff as Jack had been taken away for questioning. She even tried to roll herself into Marwood's leg aggressively. Duke hadn't been much better, actually biting Hunter as he tried to cuff Jack.

Samantha managed to get them under control, but both animals cried out in confusion as she held them back. 

Samantha was beyond confused herself, her brother hadn't killed anyone, ever. It was one of the few redeeming facts that kept him in modern society. It was why it had been so important to destroy the tampered memory. No one would explain anything to her, Neville or Jack as the two Aurors took her brother away. Just that he was being charged with murder and to contact his lawyer.

She was beyond numb as she sat in her office the next morning, sitting across from her Creative Director, Fritz. He was giving her the final copy of the paper for the day. It had a big uncomfortable headline.

Former Death Eater, Jack Fyre Charged With Murder

"We don't have to run it." Fritz insisted as Samantha realized there was nothing in the article she didn't know already. She'd almost hoped her investigative team could have found out more, but it just mentioned his arrest for murder and his previous charges, along with the upcoming trial.

"Of course I'm going to run it." Samantha rubbed her eyes and forehead. She had a pretty debilitating headache. "I've run worse pieces involving my personal life before. It's a fact in a well known, extremely followed case. Not to mention it's a well written article by Desmond and he wasn't personally derogatory towards anyone."

"Won't it make you look bad?"

"We don't choose our family Fritz, if anyone judges me for my brother's actions, that is their own idiocy." Samantha shook her head, "I just wish I understood what was going on."

She was heartbroken and confused, her suspicions had been right, something was bound to screw up her life.

Gerta, her assistant popped her head inside the room, "Miss Fyre, Ms. Granger is here to see you."

Samantha handed Fritz the paper back, "Run it, everything looks good, but tell Davies he needs to work on his vocabulary. Send Ms. Granger in please."

Gerta nodded and left.

"Understood." Fritz nodded before leaving as Hermione entered. Hermione had her six month old daughter, Rose strapped to her chest in a little swaddle. Little Rose already had red hair like her father and she looked adorable as she slept with chubby cheeks.

"I've just come from seeing your brother and speaking to the Auror department." Hermione said sitting down across from Samantha. "This is bad, but it isn't unsalvageable."

"Can you please explain what's even going on?" Samantha asked continuing to rub her head. 

"There seems to be a memory that was anonymously turned over to the department." Hermione revealed, "I saw it, it shows," She stifled her voice a little and looked down to the little picture of the Gazette where Colin had his arm wrapped around Samantha's shoulders and a big childish smile flashed across his face.

"Does it show my brother murdering Colin?" Samantha asked, seeing as Hermione couldn't finish her words.

Hermione nodded.

"Son of a bitch." Samantha said putting her head down on her desk. Duke licked her cheek slightly making her sit back up, "It's a tampered memory."

"A convincing tampered memory." Hermione said shaking her head and taking Rose off of her chest. "Mind holding Rose? I need to move a bit."