Unspeakable

Chapter 51: Rebels

"What does William want?" Danny asked warily.

"He wants to talk, which I will say, is a big deal." The blond man said quite cheerfully.

"You look... oddly happy about all this." Danny said, not sure if he could trust this guy.

"Happy? Oh no, I'm fucking thrilled. You have no idea how long I've waited for him to actually think about doing this." He grinned excitedly. "So, where are the others? He said there were what... six of you?"

"He told you all that?" Danny asked in disbelief.

"He tells me everything." The man laughed in amusement.

"That sounds familiar." Poppy said as she approached behind the door. Danny opened the door a bit further so she could see the new man outside.

"Does it?" The blond guy shrugged.

"We should hear him out." Poppy said, looking at Danny.

"We don't know who this guy is! What about the kids?" Danny gritted his teeth in worry at the thought of letting this guy into his home with his siblings.

"If you're worried about his father knowing about you, he has for years." The blond man said, tilting his head thoughtfully. "He just hasn't done anything about you."

Danny felt sick, that he had put his siblings in danger like this. He'd tried to be so careful!

Poppy saw how green Danny looked and put a hand against his shoulder in worry, letting him move out of the doorway to go into the house.

"So who are you to William? Because you certainly aren't a Walsh." Poppy said, looking him up and down. He had tanned sun kissed skin, telling her he was outside a lot, pale blond hair bleached by the sun. His eyes were a dark blue color.

"It's complicated. But I'm his friend. Have been since we were kids." He smiled softly. "My name is Connor."

Poppy let out a thoughtful hum. "So you've known Diane, then?"

He shook his head. "No, unfortunately. Only from what he's told me. I got to know him after I moved to London when I was 12. Never got a chance to see her before she was sent away."

Poppy tilted her head curiously. "How did you meet him? He doesn't seem too friendly."

"Don't let the prickly exterior fool you. He gives off a good impression of being a real dick." He chuckled. "But he really means well... for what it's worth. He's just under his father's thumb. The whole... 'family'" he made air quotations, "thing."

"And he wants to go against his father, you said?" Poppy had been listening from the back room.

"Yup, finally came to his senses." Connor grinned. "I've been telling him for years he's better than him."

Poppy gave a little smile. He seemed sincere enough. "So he wants to talk? Where? When? Because we want to talk too."

"I'll bring him to Hyde park under the western bridge at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Bring the pack. We'll figure things out." His smiled widened. "I've never been part of a rescue mission before. This is quite exciting."

"I'd say more nerve wracking." Poppy muttered.

"O-ho, you don't realize how big this is. William can run circles around his father in a duel. If he actually wants this to happen..." he sighed happily. "I do love a good rebellion."

Poppy chuckled in amusement. "Alright. We'll meet you tomorrow, then. We'll have to... recover a bit from tonight."

"Understandable. Hey... out of curiosity. Hogwarts?" He asked with a small grin.