What Happened to "Happy Holidays?" ( Aden )

[dawn]

A fire was set perfectly as the color of the orange and yellow flames danced through the spacious living room of the McGrogan Manor. The room was decorated perfectly. Deep Chocolate painted walls, tall breathless ceilings, accents of black and beige through the room. to the right of the fireplace, a wall of windows peered over the extravagant vast back yard. The evergreen trees which fell about the woods, they were draped in sterling white snow. The cold from the outside competed with the feeling from inside, warmth and luxury. Dawn wouldn't have wanted it any other way. She adored her house, everything about it. The middle child of the family, Dawn, sat on a plush rusty colored couch adjacent to the fireplace. She was dressed in fine clothing; a white turtle neck, Grey pants with white pin stripe, and matching Grey heels with a white bow over the last toe. She was content reading a book, with her glasses elegantly on the bridge of her nose, and her long blond hair pulled back tightly and up with a clip. She was patiently waiting for her father to come home so her and her brother, Aden, could all go out to a party. It was a party for only certain wizarding families, enough said. Gregory, her father, hadn't returned home in two days since his departure. Dawn knew he left to take care of some business but wasn't sure where. She understood he knew that there was a party today, It was Christmas day, for Merlin sakes-- This party happened every year, it was basically a tradition for their family.

Leaning back to sit comfortably, she set her back on the arm of the couch. Turning the page in her book, she glanced up to a picture clock on the opposing wall of her sitting area. It was 5:30 pm; and still no sign oh her father. Dawn knew he was a powerful man and could handle things himself but, it wasn't normal of him to not be on time for a function. Keep in mind the party started at 7:00 but, he was normally ready for this party hours ahead of time. Looking down at her book she began to read on. Moments later the door bell on at the front door rang an enchanting song. ' Bloody hell, who is that?' Dawn wondered as she looked up over the back of the couch to her left, toward he doorway. Hearing a small squeaky voice echo from the hall, Dawn listened for a reply. A man's voice rang and the door was closed. "Master Dawn, Their are two visitors here to see you and Master Aden." Fryance spoke as she stood at the doorway with her hands clasped together. "Who are they?" Dawn replied questioning, she had no idea who would visit the house on Christmas day without an invitation. "Kenith Lowsky, a Lowsky of Northern Scotland. Master Gregory's associate. As well as Burtin Jamltion, Jamltion of England, and also an associate of Master Gregory." Fryance went on as Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Okay, tell them to meet me in here." Dawn answered as she put her bookmark on her present page and closed her book. She shifted her weight to allow her feet to touch the ground, as she leaned over and set the book on the table between her and the fireplace. Two chairs were seated facing each other also facing the table, which were for company. Standing up Dawn turned toward the doorway as Kenith Lowsky walked into the room, soon followed by Burtin Jamltion. "Merry Christmas Dawn." Kenith said with a brief nod of his head. He was a strong man. He had about a foot on Dawn. He was as well as a long time family friend. He has been invited to the McGrogan manor many a time, he wasn't a stranger. And for that fact, Dawn knew by the tone of his voice something was on his mind. As for Burtin Jamltion, Dawn heard her father yell about him many times. He trusted him, but for the fact he was half working with the Ministry and half with Gregory it was tough to get everything you wanted from him. "And you too, Mr Lowsky." Dawn glanced at Burtin, since he didn't reply to her any greeting. "Take a seat." Dawn said as she sat back down on the couch. Kenith sat on the chair to her left, and Burtin sat on the chair to her right. With her hands clasped on her knee she started. "I hate to sound blunt, but do tell me, what do I owe this visit on Christmas day evening?" Dawn said with a sound of slight irritation in her voice. Kenith looked up to Burtin and then down to the floor. Burtin sat up and took out a piece of parchment from his pocket. Standing slightly up, the scholar looking man handed the folded parchment to Dawn. Opening the parchment, she read through it once, quickly. When she stopped she looked up to Kenith who was still looking at the ground. Reading over the parchment again, more slowly this time; Dawn opened her mouth. "Aden! ...... ADEN!" she yelled.

Dawn's jaw locked as she quickly stood up and threw the letter at Burtin. "What he hell is this!?" she yelled as she glared in the man's eyes. "Are you to afraid to speak of it! You can't tell me, personally, so you have to act like a bloody mudblood and let me read about his death!" Dawn was fuming with anger. "That was the BARE minimum! And you don't even have the decency to tell me to my face." Dawn slapped Burtin in the face as and was quickly grabbed by Kenith, restraining her, yet comforting her. She was not going to cry, was she too pissed off to show any other emotion. "Aden! Get Down here!" she yelled as she let go to Kenith and took a seat on the couch.

In the letter it was written,

On December 24th, 1997 Gregory Leonardo McGrogan was sent out on an information agreement in Knockturn alley. The meeting was planned to be set at 10:00pm, and end soon their after. Gregory Leonardo McGrogan never returned to the reply post. By 2:00am December 25th, 1997 Burtin Jamltion, Ministy of magic associate, found Gregory Leonardo McGrogan dead in Knockturn alley.He was killed by a 9' Rosewood wand submitting the Killing Curse, an unforgivable.

[Aden McGrogan]

Aden frowned slightly at his tie as he examined himself in the mirror. Why was it that he could never figure out just how to tie it correctly? He couldn't help but feel grateful that his father hadn't shown yet. This tie was giving him to much trouble and Aden was already late. Had his father been here Aden wouldn't hear the end of it until next January. Aden wore a black dress shirt with black dress pants. His shoes were nice and shiny for they had just been polished. The coat to his suit lay across his bed, he could see it in the background of the mirror image.

Finally, with a few more twists and turns, Aden smiled in victory and tightened up the tie to his neck. Aden turned and was about to grab the coat off the bed when his eye caught a ring box sitting atop his dresser. It was Christmas in fact, and no Christmas was complete without presents. The ring had been expensive, and Aden had had to call in quite a few favors to get the craftsmen to make it.

Aden picked it up and flicked open the box and once again looked down at the sparkling silver ring. Within the center of the ring was a miniature of the McGrogan crest, two snakes ran up along the sides of the crest. The two snakes met at the top of the crest, both holding in place a diamond within their jaws. It had taken the craftsmen months to get it just perfect, and Aden hadn't accepted anything below perfection.

He was torn from his thoughts as a loud crack sounded in his room. Flicking the box shut and putting it into his pants pocket he turned around and spotted Fryance bowing before him. "Master Aden, there are two visitors that wish to see you and Master Dawn. Master Dawn is already speaking with them." Spoke the elf. Aden Nodded, "Very well." He said and with that Fryance apperated away. Aden was just about to grab his coat when he heard Dawn yelling for him. "Hold your horses." He muttered under his breath. "I've just gotten the news."

Snatching up the coat to his suit he exited the room and proceeded down the stairs. He had only made it about halfway when again Dawn yelled. Aden was about to yell back when suddenly the tone in her voice came through to him. Something was wrong. He skipped the last few steps, sliding down the banister and landing on the first floor. Aden quickly made it to the entry way of the living and stopped there, looking at the scene within.

He had made it just in time to notice one man letting go of his sister as she sat down on the couch. The other man seemed to be recoiling from a blow. "Whats going on?" He asked in a demanding tone. He stepped into the room and looked at Dawn. Something definitely was wrong by the look on Dawn's face. "Dawn?" He said, his tone turning to a low questioning one, "Whats going on?"

[dawn]

Dawn slipped off her glasses as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She was two seconds away from a migraine headache, all for the fact of Burtin. Hearing foot steps from the next room, Aden was finally coming down stairs. Tossing her glasses, they landed on the table in front of her. Crossing her hands at her chest she decided she wouldn't give Aden her tempered tone, from coming down a few minutes late. He didn't know the news and Dawn very well would have done the same, if she wasn't down stairs already. Kenith and Burtin were the only ones who had a temper directed to them.

Hearing her brother's voice Dawn turned to him. Her face was straight her eyes glaring, no sad emotion noticed; just anger. "Aden, You know Kenith Lowsky." Dawn motioned to the man to her left standing beside the chair he previously was sitting in. Kenith had made many visits to the McGrogan Manor and Aden would surely recognize him. "Also, Burtin Jamltion." Dawn said with a hiss as she stood up. She crossed the table to Burtin and picked up the letter she previously threw at him. The man just watched her, He knew better than to strike her back from her previous action. She was 17 and just found out about her only parent's death, it was a given on her actions. Walking over to Aden, she handed him the letter, which was partly folded. "Mr Jamltion gave this to me." she spit as she sounded disgusted to the fact he didn't tell her the news to her face. She turned beside Aden to face the two, like he was.

For a moment she paused as she looked across the room, the wall of windows seemed to shimmer as the sky from outside seemed to dim and the fire's light shined off the still falling snow flakes. Pacing over to the window, Dawn pulled all three curtain's closed so they had complete privacy. The fire was the main light source of the room, which was partly accompanied by a small table light by the door way, where Aden stood. "Quinn." Dawn rang as she knew the McGrogan's most faithful house elf would answer in a matter of seconds. "Yes, Master Dawn?" The small House elf appeared at the doorway. "No more disturbances unless Aden or Myself tells you- and only you." Dawn said in a tempered tone, but holding the attitude off. Quinn has been around since Dawn was born, he knew how Dawn reacted to things; as well as how to react back to her. With a nod of his small head- he pulled the door to close off the room, and to also lock all who was in there until everything was solved.

Walking over to the couch, she placed her hands on the back as she glared at the two men. "Now I understand why you both are here." her voice was powerful and steady, yet two seconds away from burning. "Burtin, you are first here to tell us that our father died- and also since you were the one who found him. And In addition you also are here to work out legal matters that the Ministry abides by..... correct me if I'm wrong, of course." Dawn vented. And as she finished a shot of snark and Witty tone expelled from her voice. Burtin nodded in agreement to her statement. "Very well." She shot as she turned to Kenith. "And you Kenith, you are here for moral support. You were like a brother to our father and you want to see us safe. But in the mean time you are just as a coward as Burtin is, not telling us to our faces." Dawn stammered as she glared at Kenith. The strong man glared at Dawn with every word but still didn't reply. Dawn knew manors, she was raised everyday to uphold the greatest decency of them- but Dawn was angry and she could only see herself using first names. It was common courtesy to use lasts but Dawn wanted to twinge the men.

Dawn stood up straight as she looked out Burtin to her right. "Tell me the details, but you already know my answer. I am going to take power." Dawn ordered as she glanced at Aden wondering if he understood what was happening, or what she was talking about. Looking back at Burtin he stood up and handed her two scrolls of parchment. "The first one Miss is the deed to the house. The Ministry will take everything owned by Gregory on January 30th. That will give you plenty of time to sort through things of yours and your father's. The second scroll is about Aden...." Burtin went on, as Dawn turned to Aden with a look of, 'I'll-take-care-of-it' she knew he didn't understand previously what they were taking about, until now. "... He will be going to adoption services once School lets out. For the fact that the house is still yours till the end of Hogwarts break." Dawn looked down at the parchments in her hands. She put the house deed aside and opened the one concerning her brother. Reading it over she understood that, Aden was 16 and he was not legal as of the present year. And for the fact that her father never wrote a Will, Aden was going to be put into adoption services until he was legally of age to go out on his own.

"Mr. Jamltion..." Dawn seemed to calm down as she began to speak again. "And what about the parchment for custody?" she asked as she rolled the parchment about Aden and handed it to him. "I don't know you as well as Mr. Lowsky, as you know. I wasn't exactly sure how you would sway in holding your brother." he responded as she went digging through his bag he sent next to his seat. Dawn narrowed her eyes as she muttered under her breath, "Better look for it mudblood." it was only audible to Aden, was was the closest to her. Handing the new paper to Dawn she opened it and read it over. "Three Court Sessions?" Burtin nodded as he explained, "The first one is for your action to be brought to the Ministry's attention. Second is so you can state reason's why, and third is for the answer." Dawn shook her head as she vented, "That is too much."

[Aden McGrogan]

Aden peered curiously at his sister as she turned to him. He could tell just by the tone of her voice that she was angry. Although her tone sounded normal, although a bit strained, her eyes gave her away. Could she be this mad cause he was late? Aden glanced at the other two men, unlike Dawn, they weren't as good at hiding their emotions. Whatever Dawn was mad about, they were the reason for it. Dawn quickly introduced the two men. Aden nodded at the first, Kenith Lowsky. Aden knew this man, had met him on many occasions. He had even shared a few words with the man when he came over to see father.

The second man was introduced as Burtin Jamltion. Aden clearly heard the hiss in Dawn's tone as she introduced the man. Once again Aden nodded silently at the man. Aden felt a bit awkward, at the introduction the two men began to watch him. What the hell are you looking at? he thought quietly to himself. Just than Dawn began to walk toward Burtin. Burtin's eyes than turned back to Dawn and Aden could clearly sense the dislike between the two. Dawn picked up something that looked like a letter and than made her way over to Aden, handing the letter to him.

The letter was partly folded, Aden used his index finger to unfold and hold the letter open. Aden read the letter and froze on the words half way through. He blinked once and than reread the letter to make sure he had read it correctly. Aden felt his body become numb, Dawn and the two men were talking but the voices had become nearly a background mumble to his senses. His father was dead? That couldn't be. Many questions flew through his mind and collided into a big jumble.

Aden's hand slowly clenched, crumpling up the letter. Dawn and the men had been talking and Aden had nearly missed the conversation. He reenter just as Dawn was saying something about taking power. Burtin than began to take out scrolls from his bag. Burtin stated that the first was the house deed, and that the second concerned Aden. Aden's eyes opened wide in surprise as the realization of what was happening really kicked in. He shot a look at Dawn and noticed she was already giving him a look.

Aden's attention snapped back to Burtin as he mentioned the adoption services. Aden's anger flared up once more. "Adoption services my......" but he was cut off as Dawn started to speak. Aden glanced back at Dawn as she asked about the custody papers. Aden understood that he was only 16, he wasn't of proper age and he had to say in the matter, but he couldn't stand by and just pretend not to exist until some decision was cast about him. He stepped foreword, "I'm not going to any adoption center." he said, anger in his tone. This was by far the furthest thing from manners but he didn't care at the moment.

"I may not be the proper age to be considered an adult, but I am 16! I'm not a child anymore. " He wasn't about to let this all slip by without letting him get his word in. " Its going to be what? Less than a year until I turn 17? And with as slow as the ministry works those court sessions won't be over until I am well on my way to the age of 19!" He turned to Burtin, it seemed like he was about to say something but Aden cut him off, "I don't care what you say. I am old enough to make my own decision and I will not go to some damn adoption center!"