When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 64

Loyalty

Arcturus's stomach had sunk as he read the headline of the morning edition featured on the front page of The Daily Prophet. Had he not been granted a week of leave to check in on Lord Parkinson and how he was running the family affairs, he would have been in the trenches when they'd been bombarded, and perhaps killed with some of the men he had fought alongside over the past weeks.

He shook his head.

He was relieved he hadn't been but also felt guilty for his absence.

These were men he shared meals with, shared stories with, and whom he had looked out for and they him when times on the front were difficult. He didn't know how many had been killed, but for the positions to be abandoned, he feared that it was many and the situation they had faced was insurmountable.

Having returned home, he was as lucky as he was unlucky, the former to be safe from what had occurred, the latter because he would never know if he could have been the difference.

He released a deep breath as stared at the images of the trenches he had been living in, the photographers capturing the full horror of destroyed tunnels, and even protruding limbs from men who had not died well.

"I'm glad you weren't there, Arcturus," Dorea said quietly.

The woman seemed rather concerned, but Arcturus did not question why.

"I should have been," he replied. "Some of those people…"

Dorea squeezed his shoulder comfortingly.

"I know," she soothed. "Anyway, I should be off. It looks as though it will be a busy day."

"Are you expecting men from there?"

Dorea shrugged.

"If the Russians can't cope with the injured, probably," she explained. "It doesn't look good, does it?"

"It doesn't," Arcturus agreed as she left the room.

In only a few days, he was due to return, but perhaps he would do so sooner.

Parkinson was overseeing the Black's businesses admirably and had given Arcturus no cause for concern.

What concerned the man now was the news that had been broken to him, and instead of remaining in Britain, he wished to be with the men, doing everything possible to help in any way he could.

(Break)

France Falls!

By Clive Dunn

Minerva's chest tightened as she read the headline, and even more so at the sight of the included photographs. The ICW positions had been devastated by Grindelwald's men, and the casualties were undoubtedly numerous.

Her own mood was reflected in the students as they too learned of what had transpired on the continent. For months, the news had been mostly positive regarding the war, but this was a major blow against those opposing the Dark Lord who had, according to the journalist, marched into Paris with his army without further hindrance.