20. Paternal-Love
"It's not as bad as it looks, Papa," Edmund said softly, but sternly.
Adrian held his son's chin in his hand for a moment longer, moving the boy's face back and forth to examine the bruising. Petty quarrels had never been his forte, but apparently his son had inherited the Wilkes temper. Edmund stared angrily away as Adrian finally let go of his grip.
"I suppose you found it absolutely necessary, to attempt to beat the life out of a student three years your elder?" Adrian's arms crossed slowly, deliberately. When he'd received the letter from Severus, he'd been more than surprised. Edmund had a short temper, but he was also very smart. It did not make any sense for him to be starting fights with a student who could obviously overpower him. "Attempt is a keyword in that question, Edmund."
The boy looked down, face flushing deeply. Edmund gripped the end of the hospital bed, and Adrian clicked his tongue to show his impatience. He would not tolerate this kind of behavior, not from his eldest child, and heir. Edmund had their family name to think about, not to forget the fact that his sister would be feeling the ramifications of anything he did.
"Well? Do you have a valid reason for this brash disappointment?"
"They said you were a death eater!"
This--was not what he had been expecting. Adrian's smirk dropped into a frown, and Edmund jerked his gaze away. His son was supposedly trying to defend his honor against something he found to be an insult? Adrian knew that he and Daniella, and the rest of their family--they had tried very hard to keep the other side of the family business as far away from the children as possible, so it shouldn't be surprising that Edmund would assume--what was he assuming?
He obviously found it to be a bad thing, which Adrian was not sure he could comment on just yet. Edmund was not old enough to know the true reason he had fought for the Dark Lord in the first war, why he still, from time to time, carries out His mission. All the boy knew were the horror stories of murder, exaggerated by the liberal media of the day. No, Edmund was simply attempting to defend his family's honor, which was rightly the first step into understanding Lord Voldemort's message.
"They're just words, Edmund," Adrian finally said, taking in a deep breath from his nose. He put his arm out to rest on the boy's shoulder, squeezing gently. "And I promise not to tell Mama."
Edmund's head shot up and his mouth twisted a small smile up at his father. Adrian, despite the reason for Edmund's battle, couldn't stop the slight swell of pride, and smiled back. He would soon understand.
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