The Shocking Truth | Daemon

[Daemon Blackthorn]

Daemon got up from the rocks where he'd been sitting after his customary evening swim. He was still in a happy daze after that amazing time he'd spent with Jessika last week. They hadn't been alone long enough since to repeat the encounter, but they'd managed to get in a few snogging sessions, and were planning to sneak away together during the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend.

Grinning to himself, he turned and was about to head back to school when a sudden flash of white wings caught his eye. He stared upwards. It couldn't be... surely his mother wouldn't visit him at school during term. That would be just so - cringeworthy.

But as he watched, the barn owl landed silently on the ground, and swiftly morphed into the familar shape of his mother. Daemon groaned inwardly. What did she think he was, six years old?

[kaiiablackthorn]

Using the same sense that all post owls used to locate a specific person, Kaiia homed in on her son. Thankfully he was outside in the grounds. And alone. She'd been worried that he'd be with a group of friends or even worse, with his new girlfriend.

She returned to her human form, and walked towards the boy who was looking at her with typical teenage discomfort at seeing his mother at school. She'd intended to be calm and detatched, but he was her son after all. She walked forward and gave him a brief hug. Then she took a folded piece of parchment from her pocket and silently handed it to Daemon.

[Daemon Blackthorn]

Daemon rolled his eyes as his mother hugged him. Thank merlin none of his friends were around! Then she stepped back and without saying anything, handed him a piece of parchment.

Frowning, he unfolded it and read it.

Dear Aunt Kaiia
How are you. I am fine. I'm sorry I haven't written to you before. But I expect you've had plenter of letters from Daemon about his new girlfriend. I don't know Jessica Lestrange very well, but she seems nice and they make such a cute couple. But it's so crowded in the common room, I'm not surprised they have to go off to the Forbidden Forest to get some privacy. I just hope they dont' meet anything dangerous in there.
All my love
Cassie

Daemon's face hardened as he read the letter. So typical of Cassie to try to make trouble of him in the guise of a friendly letter to his mother. And she didn't even spell Jessika's name right! He shrugged. Surely having a girlfriend was okay. Maybe his mother was worried about them going into the Forbidden Forest. He looked up at her.

"Okay, mum, I'll stay out of the Forbidden Forest. But I'm allowed to have a girlfriend, aren't I?" By the look on his mother's face, this didn't help.

[kaiiablackthorn]

Kaiia watched as Daemon read the note. Ordinarily she'd have ignored Cassie's attempt to get Daemon into trouble. If only he had been dating anyone but Jessika Lestrange...

She sighed, and said, "Yes, of course you're allowed to have a girlfriend. And I'm not here because you were in the Forbidden Forest - though I'd prefer you didn't go in there again." She looked at Daemon steadily.

"I'm sorry Daemon, but you can't go out with Jessika any more."

[Daemon Blackthorn]

Daemon stared at his mother incredulously.

"What? What's wrong with Jessika? You've always said the Lestranges were a good family." He turned away, and scowled out at the water, then looked back at Kaiia. "I'm old enough to choose who I go out with. It's none of your business." He wasn't sure he'd have dared to say that any other time, but he was really angry.

[kaiiablackthorn]

Kaiia bit back her annoyance at Daemon's words and tone. This was far more important than teenage tantrums. And she knew it was partly her fault; she should have told him long ago.

"Daemon, it's my business because you don't know all the facts. You cannot go out with that girl because she's your sister! Your father is Rabastan Lestrange."

She saw Daemon go a sickly pale colour at the news. It was more than just shock, it was - horror. Revulsion. Oh merlin, how far had their relationship gone? She took a step forward, and put her hand on Daemon's shoulder.

"Daemon? How far has this gone. You - you haven't slept with Jessika, have you?"

[Daemon Blackthorn]

For a moment, Daemon couldn't get his head around what his mother had just told him. Jessika... his sister? No, but that meant... yes, she was telling him who his father was, at long last. Rabastan Lestrange. Who was in a padded room in St Mungo's. Who was Jessika's father. Which meant that she was his...

He looked up as his mother came towards him, asking if he'd... if they'd... he couldn't answer; if he opened his mouth he was going to be sick. Suddenly he realised he was going to be sick anyway. He turned away, staggered towards the nearest rock, and leaned against it, throwing up. Luckily he hadn't eaten much at lunch.

If he'd known... if his mother had only told him his father's name... he wouldn't have got involved with Jessika, he wouldn't be standing here feeling like his world had crashed around him, as if his guts had been torn out and twisted. He turned to face his mother again.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?" he screamed, all his fury pouring out, all of it directed at his mother.