A/N: So…sorry, about not updating yesterday or the day before…basically, I was reading your guys' reviews, got really inspired, and decided to rewrite chapters 3 and 4. And life decided to horse-kick me in the teeth the last couple days, so…yeah. That being said, I'm think I've figured out what I'm going to do with the chapter formats—for the most part, it'll be alternating between drabble-y kind of chapters and long chapters. It's just easier that way, for me, anyway.
On to the chapter!
Chapter 3
Gaining Momentum (The Wind doesn't Stop)
Yāyún didn't really know what to do. His younger brother wouldn't talk to him; every time he entered the same room, Clarence would huff and stomp out, glowering at him all the while. It was troubling.
When he asked his Mum about it, she told him to apologize. For attacking the leech.
Why would he do that? He had only done what he was always told he was supposed to do…protect his younger brother. So why was Clarence mad at him?
…sometimes, his younger brother made no sense. Honestly.
And so, it continued. The younger brother furious with the elder, the elder not understanding why.
Of course, the fact that Yāyún rarely spent many of his early evenings in the Manor didn't help—nor did the fact that when he did get home, more often than not he collapsed into his bed and slept for a solid ten to twelve hours. His 'Sensei' was working him to the bone, but also imposing odd rules, continuously telling him how important self-control was.
…he didn't get why that was important when it came to physically punishing those who harmed his family, but…he went along with it.
…Grudgingly.
The situation between the brothers eventually grew so tense that their Mum and Da locked them in one of the Manor's many guest rooms together, and refused to let them out until they 'made up'.
At first, Clarence was furious—he didn't want to be in the same room as Yāyún, though Yāyún didn't really understand why. His Mum and Da had kept telling him to apologize, but why would he apologize for harming the leech that was clinging to his brother? (It made no sense. They made no sense. But they were his. Why couldn't they make sense? Everything would be so much easier if they would just make sense. Really.)
Eventually, however, Clarence just sat on the bed, defeated even as he glowered at Yāyún, who was silently staring at the door, debating whether the physical force he could muster would be enough to break it down. Just as he concluded that it wouldn't be possible with his own physical force, and began wondering if it were possible to trigger a bout of accidental magic, or perhaps break it down using one of the bed posts—if he could get one down—Clarence spoke.
"Why?" he blurted, and Yāyún paused in his examination of the room.
"Why what, 'Rence?" he asked, brow wrinkling.
"Why did you hurt Ron? He's my friend! Not only that, but he did nothing to you—you just…attacked him! He told me! Why did you do that?!" Clarence demanded, voice rising to a shout as he stood, fists balled.
That brought him to a halt. The leech…had done what?
"He…told you what?" he almost didn't recognize his own voice—that feeling was back; it boiled and bubbled and he itched to bite and rend and tear and hit—
"You just attacked him! That's what he told me!" Clarence yelled, face red.
…that. Leech. Would. Die.
The boiling escaped his veins, and for a moment he didn't realize what was happening—there was just red and light and heat and then there was a horrible, horrible crash and the smell of smoke. He was barely aware of his surroundings as he stormed through the Manor, aware only of the fact that the leech that dared try and turn his brother against him would pay. He would pay—with his life.
He vaguely noted that there was fire around him—red like the setting sun, or blood, he didn't really know or care—and the sound of yelling followed him. He didn't pay attention to the fatigue that was quickly gripping his limbs, trying to pull him down. He didn't acknowledge the blackness that tinged the edges of his vision as he neared the fireplace.
And then—and then—
—Arianna was there. And Callista. They were staring at him with wide, wide blue eyes, teary and scared and why were they scared?
It brought him up short. He didn't have time to think though—the moment he stopped, the moment he tried to think past that overwhelming fury, the blackness surged forward, and he swayed.
He didn't notice as the fire petered out, sputtering as he wavered and fought to remain conscious above the overwhelming exhaustion.
Then everything went black.
/
Clarence stared at his brother, at the figure who, despite all of his quietness, his silence, had always been there for him. Until his older brother's birthday.
He just didn't understand—why did his brother attack his friend? He had begged their parents to let Ron come over that day, because he desperately wanted his quickly-becoming-best friend and the brother he loved so dearly to get along.
He knew that they didn't really like each other, and that Ron had made some rude remarks before, but…he had thought that it was just…
…he didn't know.
He liked Ron—he really did. And when Yā had attacked Ron, he'd been so shocked, and then mad at Yā…
Except…Yā didn't usually act like that without reason. And hadn't Yā deliberately avoided Ron like—like a plague before his birthday? And Yā had glared at Ron too, always seething and glaring, but never attacking, never provoking.
Come to think of it, hadn't Yā been completely opposed to the idea of Ron coming over for his birthday? He'd glowered and tried to say no…but Clarence had steamrollered right over him.
Oh, Merlin, was this all his fault? He'd been so desperate for them to get along that he'd ignored his older brothers wants…!
But…wait. Ron had said that Yā had attacked him, right out of the blue.
But Yā wouldn't do that; he wasn't like that.
So then…what really happened?
Clarence didn't know. He just knew that he had made a big—no, huge—mistake.
For the first time in years, Clarence felt hot tears prickling at his eyes, threatening to spill and flow down his cheeks embarrassingly. He didn't know what to do—he'd been so mad, he'd yelled at Yā and then Yā had gotten all scary-quiet-angry and had made the door burn with red fire and—and—
—he just wanted everything to be alright again!
And so, the 'Boy Savior' of Wizarding Britain found himself crying, sniffling and shaking with sobs, hoping that when his big brother woke up, he'd hug him and tell him that everything would be alright.
/
(The wind never stops-it's ever moving, ever changing. To try and stop it is foolish. To follow it, to allow yourself to be buoyed up by it? Well. That depends.)
/End.\
So…Clarence. And Ron. And Yāyún.
Dear lord, I meant for Harry/Yāyún's years before Hogwarts to be relatively peaceful, not filled with…this!
*sighs*
Oh well. Imma roll with it.
Just as a warning, however, from now on, all guest reviews will be answered on every tenth chapter—at least the ones that aren't answered as the chapters continue. So, if you have an account and a question, and you'd prefer to be answered quickly, log in!
And, as this is the last chapter with guests being answered, I'll do this real quick:
For those of you wondering about Ron, his behavior, and why he was allowed to be at Yāyún's birthday party: as stated above, Clarence wanted Ron and Yāyún to get along. James and Lily supported this. And they…kind of steamrolled over Yāyún. It's not going to happen often, but honestly…when you're young, quiet, and not really disposed to horrible tantrums to try and get your way, sometimes it's a little hard to go against your parents when they try and get you to do something. I was lucky enough not to have this happen to me often (by way of my parents—my brother is a whole other matter), but it did happen on occasion. Yāyún will learn to put his foot down with his parents; he's just not quite sure how to do it right now.
And why Ron wasn't punished…well. It's been explained. ;)
And yes, Ms./Mr./Mrs. shadowleaves, I know. *winks* I have plans, dearie. So. Many. PLANS. *cackles*
And…I think I'm officially changing my sign off. Instead of 'Ja ne, minna-san'…I think I'll use this. It's more fitting.
Stay Awesome!
~Happy Camper27
