Freaks: Year Two

Figuring Out What's Wrong With The Odairs

Referenced abuse.

"Odair, wait–" Christopher started.

The common room door slammed shut.

Christopher stared at the barrel already knowing there was no way he could get in because he could not hold any sort of pattern to save his life, and he knew that Jasper knew that. "Bastard."

Christopher turned away from the Hufflepuff common room door and slid against the stone wall all the way to the floor with a heavy sigh. Why did the two brothers have to be so complicated? Why couldn't they just communicate? Why couldn't Jasper keep his temper in check? Why couldn't Toby? Why couldn't they just talk?

He couldn't help but be slightly reminded of how he never thought things through and had (and still sometimes did) jump to conclusions without properly communicating, but he knew that Odairs would never get to the point he had with his own brother last year.

But he still wanted to help them solve the problem.

"I am guessing it didn't go well?" his brother's voice broke out through the silence of the corridor.

Christopher shook his head.

"Did you at least find him?" Maryrose asked.

Christopher nodded. "Yup..."

"And...what happened?" Harry asked, appearing next to Maryrose and Anthony.

Christopher groaned. "Are you all just going to continue to pop out, not that–"

"Are they still upset with each other?" Alabaster asked, popping out from behind Harry.

"Jesus Christ," Christopher muttered. "Any more of you?"

The four of them all shook their heads.

Christopher said, "Toby is with the house elves in the kitchens and Jasper is in the common room. Toby doesn't want to talk, that's what he said so..." He shrugged. After a pause he added, "All of you better keep quiet about this."

"We will," Maryrose promised. The whole notion was still shocking to her. There was a muggle at Hogwarts! She had never heard of that happening before. She wished she could be happy about it as how fun it would be to show a muggle the school! But how could she be happy and excited when there was an argument going on?

"Look, I want all of you in your commons rooms and...doing whatever you'd normally do," Christopher ordered, standing up. "We can't act suspicious, no one can know about this, Odair could get in trouble, like big trouble and this isn't even his fault."

Harry and Maryrose nodded and were about to head back to their common room when Christopher said, "I would give him space...just for tonight, alright?"

The two Hufflepuffs nodded again and headed into their common room, Maryrose doing the password.

Christopher turned and saw Alabaster Jackson still standing there. "Er...go back to your common room."

"Why are they arguing?"

"It is none of your concern, kid."

Alabaster looked down. "I did not know Jasper Odair was one to fight with his siblings."

"Many do, it isn't...rare," Christoper said with a shrug because he was unsure what else he was supposed to say.

"His younger brother should not be alone," Alabaster said because he himself could not imagine leaving his younger siblings alone in a strange place.