Broken Dreams (Mid-April 2055)

His head hurt, each sound from the blaring jukebox next to the bar sending shivers of pain down his spine.

Merlin, the changing lights nearly blinded him and he wanted to throw up... too much to drink...

Ironically he heard that the song itself was the Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.

He'd always liked the song, but not at that moment... the 'sound of silence' had never been so loud.

With a hand on the nearest bar chair, Sevie struggled to his feet, groaning loudly as the entire room spun about him.
"Wha wrong wit ya, lad?" the barmaid called, teasing his rolling stomach. Two of his muggle friends laughed along with her, going to his side and pushing him back into his chair.
"Come on, one more. And... and then we'll go." Danny promised him, his blurry face reeking of too much liquor and cigarette smoke. The excitement of their day in the town no longer held its splendour; now that the colourful paint had been stripped back to see the broken boards and hearts behind it. He wanted to leave now; right now.

"Try these, Sev." Calvin urged, placing in his sluggish hand a few white pills. Not even sure what they were, Sevie popped all five of them down with an offered mug of beer. His uncertainty seemed to fade away into a bliss-filled bubble.
"How daya feel, mac?" Danny laughed, patting him on the back.
"He feels great, just great, don't ya Sev." Lilly giggled, Calvin's girlfriend, leaning her wet cheek against his shoulder.

"Yeah, man, give me a few more of them." Sevie laughed, downing the rest of his drink and kissing the top of Lilly's golden head. Coughing from nearly choking on his beer, Calvin passed him the little bag and while his friends cheered him on, Sevie downed the entire packet.
"You the man!" Regina, Danny's girl, high-fived him as Lilly kissed him on the lips. There was euphoria; pleasure within heights he'd never felt before. Then there was nothing, simply darkness invading his every sense... no pain, no warning... not even the soft whisper that mankind usually received upon the approaching scythe.

"Hey, what's wrong with your friend?" The bouncer asked, muscular arms folding as he watched the drunken teens laugh and whoop while one of their number, a blonde boy collapsed against the chair he sat in.
"Sevie?!" Lilly screamed, noticing that the young man's lips had a bluish tinge to them. "Oh my god! Someone help!" she shrieked, pushing her boyfriend, Calvin, from his chair as he fumbled with his cell-phone.

"999, we've got a medical emergency..."

The squeal of emergency sirens filled the air as the paramedics hurried the young man to the hospital.

"1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8... charge." the buzz of electric paddles were followed with the shriek of the flatline. The horror filled silence that followed said more than a thousand words...
"We lost him."
The paramedic swore, rubbing his temples.
"Another party boy who had too much."
"Damn shame... his whole life ahead of him."

And indeed the paramedic was correct, for of that moment, 02.23 April 14th, Sevastyan McKevin was three weeks away from his 20th birthday.



Horatio sighed into the pillows as he rolled over and wrapped an arm around Eglantine's waist. She was fast asleep as one should have been at 3 in the morning and he smiled softly as he heard a soft purr rumble from her. Apparently if one was an animagus long enough some traits transferred to the human form.

The muggle phone rang from its cradle beside the bed and he sat up, blinking in the darkness as he reached over his wife's waking form to grab the receiver.
"Hullo?" he muttered, wondering who in the blazes of Dante's hell had had the gall to wake them up at the ungodly hour.
"Is this Horatio McKevin?" a business like voice asked. He sat up straighter, immediately knowing this was important.
"Yes." he murmured. Eglantine pushed blonde hair from her eyes as she blinked and tried to see what time it was.
"Who is it?" she asked softly as his back stiffened.
"Your name was on a card in Sevastyan McKevin's pocket. We are sorry to inform you that your son..." he never heard the rest as his mind seemed to freeze and the phone receiver fell from suddenly numb fingers.
"Horatio?" Eglantine took the phone and put it to her ear as her husband continued to stare in shock ahead of him.
"Hello? What did you tell my husband?" she demanded, her normally soft voice with an edge of steel.
"Oh I'm very sorry, ma'am. We hate to call at this time-" Eglantine sighed sharply.
"Young lady, you would do well to simply state what you called us for."

There was a brief pause on the other side of the line and then the voice continued.
"Okay... We are calling to inform you about Sevastyan McKevin. There's no soft way to tell you this, ma'am. Your son OD'd in a bar outside of Accrington. We're very sorry." Eglantine had no idea what OD'd meant; despite her many years in the muggle world. Either she'd forgotten the meaning or by chance she'd never heard it.
"What happened to my son?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Silence answered her as the informer no doubt struggled to repeat what she'd already said twice.
"I'm afraid we were unable to save him, ma'am.... Ma'am?" her line went dead and she sighed as she hung up her own phone. There was nothing she hated more than telling someone they'd lost a family member or friend.

Sobbing filled the master bedroom of the McKevin household as Eglantine and Horatio grieved over the loss of their youngest child. There was no comfort, no offered respite... yet there was the simple fact that at the very least neither had to grieve alone.

The large wooden clock against the wall struck 03.30 and already Sevie McKevin had been dead more than an hour... life went on, whether his parents wanted it to or not.



The next day found the elderly couple at the morgue, awaiting the doctor to ask them to identify their son, as was standard procedure.
"I can't do this..." Eglantine whispered, leaning against Horatio. Thankfully there was a bench along the wall, else Horatio wasn't sure if his wife would be able to stand and wait. His own legs felt like jelly... but he had to be strong, at the very least for her.
"We have to, Lenty." he murmured, stroking her hair. They'd dressed in muggle fashion, even in their grief-stricken states remembering it was another world that made up the muggle's.

"Mr. and Mrs. McKevin?" the doctor called, a tall wiry man in his mid-forties. Horatio stood, helping Eglantine stand. His cane assisted him cross the floor and in turn helped Eglantine.
"Yes." he sighed, wishing with all his heart it was not their son on the slab awaiting their identification.
"Right this way." The man sounded tired, either weary of life or death... maybe even both. They followed him, the doctor being kind enough to slow his pace greatly.

They entered the examination room and saw the table with the covered body. Tools were laid out like some biology class and it hit Horatio within his very heart to know those knives, saws and whatnot had been or were going to be used on his little boy. The doctor reached to grab the edge of the sheet and Eglantine stiffened.

Sevie was so pale that he appeared nearly plastic like, his skin held a bluish tinge and his lips were colourless. It couldn't be her son lying so cold and lifeless on the table, not her energetic, happy Slytherin. Any moment he would have to open his eyes or she'd awake to find it had all been a dream... but that moment never came and it never would.

Horatio swallowed thickly, giving the doctor a brief nod, unable to form words. Not his little boy... it couldn't be, Sevie wouldn't die in a dirty muggle bar. Sevie had been taught the difference between right and wrong... he knew better than to drink in excess and do drugs... he was intelligent and had had nearly straight O's in his finals. He wasn't the frozen stiff young man on the table. But his head nodded despite these thoughts and his heart lurched within his chest. What horrible crime had he and Eglantine committed that they had now lost their child? Hadn't their years of separation, his heart attack, Ava's hatred, and Ciaran's death been enough? Hadn't they lost enough to Death and Pain's itching hands?

"No..." Eglantine groaned, her grip on Horatio's arm slipping. He carefully wrapped his arm more securely around her, afraid she would faint. The doctor hurried to their side, waiting should he be unable to hold her up.
"Come, we'll go back to the waiting room." he stated, obviously wishing they had not come. Tears stung at the back of the doctor's eyes as he watched the parents struggle with their loss. He had two sons... and the thought of either of them ending up like that young man was like a blade into his heart.

Neither had the strength to go any further than the waiting room and they all but collapsed onto the bench. Burying her face against his coat, Eglantine began to softly cry, her hands gripping his with every bit of strength she possessed. Horatio's eyes closed as he struggled to remain strong. He needed to get Eglantine home... in a public muggle waiting room was not the place to break down. Both he and his wife were private people, whose emotions were not for the public eye.

They left the hospital and hailed a cab, not having the willpower to apparate. As they drove down the street, Horatio fished his muggle cell phone from his pocket and dialled Kiara's number. It was only right that she learn of her brother's death from him. He wasn't looking forward to telling any of his children... not in the least.

*Greta McConns Place*



Kiara smiled as she held her 4 month old Grandson Goncalo, she was watching him
while Greta worked and she truly didn’t mind. In fact it brought her some rare joy in her life to take care of him. Things were finally starting to get back on track since Ciarans stroke… Greta had given birth to a healthy baby boy on new years day.. And she couldn’t have been more relived, with all the chaos going on and death and pain she half expected and feared the other shoe to drop… So to say she was protective of Goncalo and Greta for the few days after his birth was a understatement. She was surprised the Healer put up with her nagging to be honest.

“How’s my Light eh?” she said softly holding the little infant against her.. How she loved the feeling of holding a new baby in her arms. Lightly kissing him on the head she stood up and walked to the kitchen with his head nestled on her shoulder.

“How about some breakfast hmm?” she said as she took out a bottle and warmed it to a suitable temperature. She sat in a chair and brought the bottle to his mouth..

She had not even started humming May it be when her old muggle phone rang from her bag. She summoned it to her hand and answered it. Curious as to who would call her on her muggle phone.

“ Hello; Kiara McConn speaking” she said as she held the phone to her ear with her shoulder as she continued to feed Goncalo.

Horatio sighed softly as he prepared himself for what he'd say.

"Kiara, this is Horatio." he sounded tired even to his own ears. "I'm afraid I have bad news." Beside him in the taxi, Eglantine leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. There was no gentle, easy or good way to tell Kiara what he had to... but it helped to have Eglantine's hand gently clasping his.

Kiara blinked in concern at Horatio's tone and for the tention she felt her heart quicken... What had happened now? was Eglantine sick or hurt? Merlin she hoped not. But what else could have made Horatio sound so miserable?

"Horatio? What is wrong?" she asked worry already in her voice.. she was trying desperatly to ignore the Doom and gloom voice in her head that something really bad had happened... but she didn't want to believe something had happened.. not after everything.

She picked Goncalo up and rested him on her other shoulder so she could hold him in one arm safely..

"Whats happened?" she asked holding the phone more snuggly to her ear now.

There was a pause on the other line, mainly because Horatio was remembering how he and Eglantine had received the news and was trying to think of something better.
"Can you sit down, love?" he asked, worried this might shock her too much. Ciaran's death had hurt her so deeply and now she'd lost her little brother...

"It's about Sevie..." Eglantine gripped his hand tighter and buried her face fully into his shoulder. His hands shook as he awaited her response.

Kiara swollowed already she knew this was big... had Sevie been hurt or in a accident? or some type of trouble?

"Ummm one second, I think I will put Goncalo down for a moment" she said softly as she placed the infant in his snuggly chair with broomstick mobile the spun around him..

Then she returned back to her phone and chair..

"Alright Horatio, what is wrong? Has Sev been hurt?" she asked, the most logical conclusion in her mind.

" I am now sitting down and for the moment infant free..." she said... though her own voice sounded to far away...

Could this be it? was the other shoe about to drop?

Horatio waited... each moment feeling like an hour, all to itself. Sadness gnawed away at his insides and he wanted nothing more than to hang up. Kiara had been through so much; too much. This was the very last thing she needed; the last thing any of them needed. Sevie's death could very well be the continuation of their own.
"He was found at a bar, Kiara." he whispered, once she'd mentioned being without the baby and was sitting. "He's gone... Sevie's gone." The hitch in his voice was accompanied by the soft sniffs of Eglantine.

The taxi came to a halt and the couple emerged slowly, the phone still to Horatio's ear as they headed toward the apparation point.

"He was found at a bar, Kiara."

Her eye brows rasied for a fraction of a second.. Found at a bar?..

"He's gone... Sevie's gone."

.... And the other shoe dropped....

Kiara froze and felt herself go numb... and her world felt cold and lifeless...

"W..what? Gone? but..." she studdered her mind trying desperately to come to a different conclusion, other then the most obvious and horrible one.. He couldn't be dead... he was still so young and full of life a head of him.

"You mean he's...?" she paused, her mind entering a state of shock.. a million thoughts going through her mind and putting her on over load. She felt like she was having a bad dream.. "Oh Merlin..."

Taking a deep yet shaky breath to try and clear her clouded head, it did little good... her mind was panicked, it couldn't be right.. little Sevie couldn't be dead.... There must have been a mistake....

However deep down.. in her heart she knew Horatio spoke the truth.. she knew he wouldn't tell her something like this unless he knew it... with out a doubt..

Knowing she was yet again in shock.. and thanking merlin she had put Baby Goncalo down before having this news.... she lost her grip on the phone and if fell into her lap with a clatter..

She covered her face with her hands, as she fought with all her might to stay together....to keep her self from falling apart.. would only make things worse... Why?? Why in merlins name did all this happen.

With a trembling hand she picked the phone back up again... she wasn't going to ask how it happened, or why, those questions were better for another time and place.

"Ho.. Horatio? What can... I do.. to help you and Eglantine?" she asked in a whisper as tears dripped unoticed down her cheek. The pain of loosing a child was the worst in the entire world... It was the only thing she could do but to try and help them through it.... Help them through theirs to forget about hers... plus.. their pain would be greater then hers, Sevie was their little boy, their baby.. knowing they had greater hardship the she allowed a strength to come that had not been there before.

"I will.... inform everyone else...?" She truely didn't want to... but she worried for Horatio and his heart... his family was big and a conversation like this could be unthinkable..

" or I... I can come over..." she said softly wanting to be there for them... as they had for her when Ciaran died... "I can find someone to look after Goncalo..." she said already going through her list of others to call and arrange to look after him, it was an emergancy after all. She just wanted to be there with them, to make sure neither did anything rash... Cause well ... should anything had happened to one of her children.... her doing something rash would be putting it mildly if no one was around to stop her.

"Where are you? At home or..." she asked, curious since Horatio was useing his muggle phone.

Horatio listened to Kiara wishing he'd told her in person rather than over the damned muggle device. The silence following her stammered disjointed words was to be expected and they arrived at the apparation point before she spoke again. He thought momentarily about what she could do and then he murmured the only thing that came to mind. His voice sounded as broken as crushed glass, but that didn't matter to him or to her.

"We need to see you, Kiara. Please come over. We'll be home soon." he whispered. "We had to... to identify him." the words tasted like lead, heavy and foreign, poison to the tongue and numbing to the mind.

"Would you?" he asked, not having the strength to call anyone else. He hated setting the burden on Kiara's shoulders, but it wasn't something he could do. Better it be Kiara than the bumbling hospital or police.

They reached the magically shielded area and accepted the portkeys given to them, changing their minds about apparating without a single word of exchange.

Kiara could have sworn she heard her heart breaking at the broken sound in Horatio's voice... more tears slipped down her face just hear him speak... then his words sunk in... They had just identified him?

"Oh Horatio...I Would have gone with you if you told me sooner..." she said with a sigh... feeling so bad they had to face that alone.

"I.. I will be there as soon as I can, I promise.." She said she forced her self to stand up and her made her way towards the floo with intent to call Kaylie to watch the baby...

Her legs felt like jelly, but some how she made it to the floo that was few meters away and she droped to her knees infront of it. She hoped this feeling wore off soon, she couldn't take care of Horatio and Eglantine, if she could hardly walk her self.

"O... of course I will Horatio, I will do anything" she said softly... and it was true, somehow someway.. weather painful or not.. she would try to take all the burden she could from Horatio's and Eglantines shoulders. She would do whatever it took to see them both through this.

"Hang in there, until I get to you two okay?" She asked meekly, knowing it was futile request. "I will be there soon..... I love you both, besure to tell Eglantine that okay?" She said lightly.

"And... I am so sorry..."

The phone connection beeped slightly as they appeared outside their door.
"I love you too, Kiara. One moment." Horatio murmured, pulling out his wand to 'unlock' the wards of the house. Both he and Eglantine had become slightly paranoid in the last few years and now only they were able to unlock the wards if they were both away from their house.

Eglantine took the phone from him.
"Kiara." she murmured, her voice soft but ironically stronger than Horatio's. "It will be all right. We can get through this." she assured her daughter, watching her husband fumble with his wand. "Thank you for being willing to call everyone else. We'll see you soon." and to testify to her 'excellent' phone conversationalist skills, she hung up.

"You should have waited for her." Horatio muttered, finally opening the door. Eglantine paled slightly.
"It's suppose to do that?" she questioned, her eyes flitting back to the phone.
"Honestly, Lenty." Horatio sighed, gently leading her into the house.

Although they were used to it being empty... the emptiness of it hit them like a ton of bricks and both stood just inside the door, staring at the silent interior.
"I'll make tea." Eglantine muttered, summoning her cane and then leaving his side to go to the kitchen. Horatio nodded, taking his pipe from his pocket. Perhaps it was the shock still settled over their minds or the need to feel some small amount of normalcy, but they went about their usual morning business, tea and pipe included. But there was a silence; a lack of humming or traditional lightness of step. Grief had settled it self into the McKevin house like an unwelcome guest.

Kiara swallowed as the beep and dial tone followed, she took a deep breath... she felt like panicing... and to be honest with her self she felt like she was loosing it right there.. But she had to do this, there was no choice her parents needed her, more then ever.

She walked over to Goncalo, where he lay in his snuggly seat. "Come on My light... we are going to see one of you Aunts and uncles soon" she whispered as she picked the baby up for a moment and hugged him, and lightly kissed his head... Hold the baby seemed to calm her self down slightly... putting him back down she quickly gathered his things and went back to the floo to call Kaylie.

"Tavish and Kaylie McConn Residence" She called as she put the floo powder in the fire.

"Tav, Kay? Are either of you home?" she asked, hoping - praying one of them was there.

After a moment Kaylies's head poked through the ashes.

"Hello Mum, Can I help you?" she asked pleasantly. Then she noticed the dreadful look on her mother in laws face. "Whats wrong?" she asked concerned.

"I need someone to watch Goncalo, there is an emergancey with Horatio and Eglantine.... I.. I need to go to them. " She said.

Kaylie the looked very worried, "Yes of course I will watch him Mum, don't worry about it" she assured. "Whats happened?" she asked almost fearfully.

Kiara hesitated for a moment, and sighed.. "Its Sevie... Eglantine and Horatio just found out he passed away... Lastnight" She managed to say, though it felt foul on her mouth to say it.

Kaylie paled, "Oh God.....I.. I am so sorry" she said. "Yes get Goncalo over here, I will at watch him for as long as you need"

Kiara nodded slightly "Thank you... I.. I am going to send a note to Greta to tell her to get home as soon as possible... i will tell her Calo is with you" she muttered. "I will see you in a moment"

Kay nodded, "Alright..." she said as she stepped out from the floo to make room for Kiara and little Calo.

Kiara gathered up Goncalo's things, Goncalo himself then went through the floo to her son's house.

Kay was quick to greet them as Kiara gently handed the infant over to Kay, "Greta should be by to get him sometime, I sent her a letter to come home as soon as she can" Kiara explained...

Kay nodded, "If Tav gets home before her... I will tell him to go and find her" she said softly as she held the baby. "Now go, Don't worry Mum... Calo will be safe and sound... Go to Grandmother and father"

Kiara nodded, "Thank you again Kay" she said before walking out the door and apperating to her mother and fathers house...

*Now At McKevin House*

With a thumping heart Kiara walked up to the door, it was as if the was a threshold of heaviness.. and dispare beyond the door...She knocked on the door with a shaking hand..

"Horatio? Eglantine? It is Kiara..." She said.. unsure if she should walk in or wait for them to answer...

Horatio rose from his seat and opened the door for Kiara, giving her a faint smile as he pulled his pipe from his mouth.
"Thank you for coming, my dear." he murmured, gently pulling her into an embrace. Releasing her, he motioned toward the nearest chair.
"Who did you get to watch Goncalo?" he asked softly, lowering himself into his own chair. Not wanting Kiara to worry, he pointed to the kitchen. "She's making tea." he sighed. Such despair hovered over his mind and heart, with the continuous whisper that life went on... it had to. Ciaran had died, and Kiara had been forced to continue on with her life. Now Sevie had died; at least quickly and without the horrible dragged out pain that Ciaran had had, and now his parents had to continue on.

Why did parents outlive their children sometimes? Eglantine and he had discussed what they would do should Ava die before them... mainly because she'd come close on more than four occasions... and they'd discussed Kiara, just in case, after Ciaran's death especially. Mainly because of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren... but nothing had prepared them for Sevie's sudden and unexpected death. It was like waking up to find that suddenly something was missing; that something being one of the most important things in your life.

Kiara hugged her father back and nodded, "Of course... I had to come" she said softly as walked with him to the living room to sit...

"I got Kay to watch him, she was more then willing. I sent a message to Greta to come home as soon as she was able" She said as she looked in direction to the kitchen. She suposed she should be relieved Eglantine was keeping busy with a otherwise normal activity, or concered... but then again.. she supposed she did the same thing after Ciarans Death...

"I see..." she said softly.

She was still in shock herself, it didn't seem real that young Sevie was gone.... just like that.. it just didn't seem right.. To have his life ended before it had begun...

She looked at Horatio, suddenly as if for the first time not sure what to tell him, she wanted to ask how Sevie died... but worried it was to soon... But in order for her to tell her brothers ans sisters what happened... she needed to know as well... but she decided to wait for Eglantine to join them. Kiara leaned forward and patted Horatio's hand, quite like the way he did to comfort her when she was in dispair or confusion.

"I am just going to go and see if she needs a hand" She said softly rising to her feet to go to the kitchen.

Horatio just nodded, having nothing he felt like saying. His mouth felt dry and his mind empty. His eyes turned to watch her enter the kitchen and then he turned back to the fireplace. He hated the feeling of empty submission, but it was what it was... a wise man had once said,'If truth was of glass; its shards would slice one's heart'... and he believed the saying now with all his broken heart.

"How was Kaylie?" Eglantine asked softly upon Kiara's entry. Her usual keen hearing had obviously picked up the brief conversation Kiara and Horatio had had. She lifted the teakettle from the stove and set it on a hot-pad beside three waiting cups. One had a delicate floral pattern, with a reclining cat nestled in the vegetation. Eglantine slowly lifted the cup, turning it slightly to see the side better. She had randomly pulled it from the cupboard and now wished she hadn't. Sevie had given it to her for her birthday several years ago. He'd charmed the design as part of his Hogwart's classes and been so proud of it, he'd given it to her as a present. She'd always been fond of it, mainly due to his hard work. Now, it laughed at her, empty as her son's body was now of like.

"Sevie gave this to me..." she whispered, her gloved hands shaking as she held the tiny teacup. It slipped from her trembling hands and a tear slowly made its way down her pale cheek.

Kiara entered the kitchen and looked at her mother for a moment, "She is well... as understanding about everything as always." she said softly as she walked inside.

She looked sadly for a moment, she knew what is was like, Ciaran, bless his soul had gotten her many gifts... for a long while they haunted her. In one of worst moments she thought about getting rid of them much like she sold to house... but she didn't and now she was glad she hadn't. Beside she knew Ciaran would have been unhappy if she had givin them away and she knew she would have hated herself for it to.... and she had loved everything he had ever given her...

She walked up to Eglantine and placed her hand on her mothers arm, "He did a beautiful job on it" she said quietly as she gently rubbed her mothers arm.

Eglantine nodded rather numbly only just managing to set the cup down without breaking it. She took a breath, closing her eyes. "He did everything well..." she whispered. Sevie had always been a little show off... something she teased Horatio about. Did... it felt so horrible to use past tense with her little boy. The urge to sob rose and died within her. Slowly she laid her hand over Kiara's.
"I'll be fine, dear." she murmured. "I'm familiar with death." she smiled weakly at her demented jest. Literally she'd once and still in part was a mistress of Excessum; something she was glad Kiara did not currently know. At least not about the still in part section of that knowledge.
"He was in a bar, Kiara." she whispered, shaking her head. "Sevie should have known better."

Kiara sighed, yes familiar with death... she wasn't surprised Eglantine said it like that.. She suppoed her mother looked on it differently, but the pain of looseing a child like that.. How could anyone be prepared for that?

"Still... Isn't this different?" She asked softly as she helped set up the tea so they could join Horatio in the livng room.

She looked in confusion at Eglantine and her words, Horatio hadn't expained how Sevie died, just that he had been found in a bar. Had he gotten in to a fight that had gotten out of hand? She seemed to remember the boy getting into many fights while at hogwarts.

"What?... known better?" she muttered her voice just above a whisper before shaking her head.

Swallowing thickly and saving her questions for just a little longer, She picked up the tea set...
"Lets go back and join Horatio, there is much to do" she said.

It was different and yet it wasn't. How did one explain something one could not fully understand oneself.
"Yes..." she murmured. "It is."
Kiara's questions seemed to echo in her mind as if she herself had asked them as well.
She nodded. It would be best if they went back to Horatio and then discussed it.

They went back into the sitting room to find Horatio lost in thought and a huge cloud of pipe smoke. As soon as he saw Kiara, the older wizard vanished the cloud, glazed eyes still able to concentrate on the least of charms. Eglantine sat beside him in another chair and he reached to gently squeeze her hand.
"Tell her about Sevie." Eglantine murmured, not looking at either him nor Kiara.

Horatio's heart felt as though it had skipped a beat. He didn't want to tell her about Sevie's death; much less the horrible way it had happened.
The woman on the phone had said he had over dosed... something they had been forced to look up. The magical examiner who'd called them before they'd gone to identify the body had been more detailed.
"Sevie went to celebrate Calvin's graduation from the university." Horatio began softly. "The whole group was very drunk... then one of them offered Sevie some drugs." He didn't care what they had been...
"And he took too many too fast. The examiner said the drugs mixed with the alcohol stopped his heart."

Kiara's eyes widened as Horatio explaination, she knew very well what Horatio spoke of her muggle mother had shown her very well what drug abuse did... it was how she died after all...

She could guess very well how Sevie must have died... he likely had no idea what happened... At least he had passed oblivious to the fact he was dieing, at least that was what she had hoped, it was to much for her to imagine a panicing and scared Sevie...

Known better.... if he had been as drunk as they claimed, it wouldn't have mattered how sense able a person was.. that part of there mind... nothing but a whisper amonst screaming chaos.

She bit her lip to stop herself from screaming in anger and grief.. a tear rolled down her face and she took a deep breath.

"I am so sorry.." she said, knowing there is nothing more she could say... He held both there hands.. offering what little support that gave.

How on earth was she going to explain this to everyone, that there baby brother died a meaningless death... a death that could have been preventable...

With clunched jaw, she forced her anger down further.... she would vent later... she had work to do... and soon a greiving family to hold together...

Eglantine nodded softly, moving her other hand to cover Kiara's. It would be selfish and horrible to not see that Kiara was as saddened by Sevie's passing as she and Horatio. Sure... Sevie was their son; but Kiara was his sister and the bonds were similar and so painful.
"Will you be okay?" she asked softly, eyes lifting to meet her daughter's.
Horatio glanced up from the floor as well, gently squeezing Kiara's hand. Their grief aside, their daughter was more important than anything else at that moment. She had already lost her beloved husband; now her brother...

Would she be alright? if she was only honest with herself she wasn't sure, there might be nothing left of her after telling her siblings and all other family members what happened... But she wouldn't tell them that, they had enough heartache..

"Y... yes I will be fine... in time, Don't worry" She said it as convincingly as she could, but she knew they would worry, but there nothing they could do really to help her aside from keeping them selves alive and well.

So she repeated the words she had promised them the evening in her office during her break down over Ciaran.

"I will Live" she muttered then she kissed Eglantine on the cheek and Horatio on the forehead..

"Promise" she muttered, a bleeding heart or no.., she would live..

In the back of her mind the floo place loomed... soon she would have to contact everyone and tell them... she dreaded it but if it would make things easier on Horatio.. she was more then willing..

"Will you two be alright?" she returned.

It was a lie... but a lie they accepted nonetheless. They had too; they had said the same lie to her themselves.
The promise to live was far more comforting than the assurance that Kiara was 'fine' and Eglantine nodded.
"So will we, darling." she murmured, patting the younger woman's cheek. "Thank you for coming over."
"It helped so much." Horatio nodded. Now he wanted to sleep; allowing the oblivion of slumber to erase his grief.

Kiara nodded "Of course, neither of you should be alone, nothing could keep me away" she assured.

She then noted the exhasted look on Horatio's face, They both must have been up all night after getting to news, they must have been so tired.

"Why don't you two rest for a few hours?, and don't worry I will tell everyone as gently as I can" not that that ment anything really... but it would be better then any of them hearing it from a stranger.

She couldn't say they would feel better once they awoke... but it would make her feel better that at least they were resting.

She patted Horatio's arm, as she couldn't help but worry for his heart, and general health a little more the before. Turning to Eglantine she said, "It might do you both some good to sleep for atleast a little while" she suggested.

After that she decided she would call Edwin and Sine... She would go oldest to youngest.. as that seemed only way for her to make up her mind who to break the news to first.