"What you cannot avoid, welcome."
-- Chinese Proverb
Chapter Nine: Denial
Matthew impatiently waited for Dumbledore and his men to join them all in the kitchen. He knew everyone in the kitchen was watching him, he could feel the tension building up. He would have smiled at how amusing it was to find himself in a situation where he was not in control if the situation was not actually serious.
Matthew avoided looking around the room; he knew his eyes would wander to where Hermione was seated. He could feel her own gaze directed at him, but he fought every urge in his body to turn and look at her.
As they heard the first steps descending the stairs, Matthew could feel a rush of adrenaline take over his body. He had the urge to fight Dumbledore and his men, but he also felt like fleeing the scene. Matthew would be facing one of the men he held responsible for Emily and Crystal's deaths. He did not believe that he possessed the strength to hold his irrational side at bay.
He could feel Jonathan and Ryan on either side of him, he understood why Brian stayed behind him, facing his grandfather was not exactly something Brian wanted to do.
Matthew was too distracted to notice Tom retreat into the darkest corner of the kitchen, as if he did not want to be seen or recognized.
It felt like an eternity passed until Dumbledore walked through the kitchen door, but it was only mere seconds. When the older wizard turned to stare at his awaiting audience, Matthew was disappointed to see that he was not surprised to see him there.
Does he actually know everything that goes on in this world?
"Mr. Philips you've managed to escape just in time for dinner." Dumbledore said offering Matthew a kind smile, which the angry teenager did not return.
"We would have escaped earlier, but we didn't have our wands." Matthew said crossing his arms in order to hide how eager he was to wrap his hands around the older wizard's neck.
Dumbledore nodded his head, his smile not wavering one bit, "Ah yes I believe Alasto might have taken those for safety precautions."
"Well can we have them back, these feel weird." Ryan said waving his borrowed wand.
"Boy, you must be out of your mind if you think we're that stupid to give you back your wands." A disgruntled Mad-Eye Moody said as he stood next to Dumbledore.
"Wow those pictures in the Daily Prophet don't do you any justice; I mean you're even uglier in person." Jonathan said struggling to look away from the wandering crystal eye.
Dumbledore intervened before Mad-Eye responded to Jonathan's comment.
"Would you all be so kind to return those wands to their rightful owners, I would gladly give you all yours back." He said pointing to the wands in question grasped in their hands.
Matthew shook his head, "We all maybe a bunch of teenagers to you, but let me assure you Dumbledore we are not as stupid as your students."
"If we give you their wands back we are left unarmed, and we don't want that." Jonathan said agreeing with his best friend.
Dumbledore took out a small pouch from his inner robe pocket, "Your wands are in this small bag; I give you my word that as soon as you give those wands to their rightful owners I'll hand over the bag."
"Your word means nothing to us." Brian bitterly said from behind Matthew.
Dumbledore's smile faded at hearing Brian say what he already knew to be true. "Brian, I didn't see you back there."
"I like to have a lot of space between you and me. It makes me feel less on edge." Brian said, his bitter tone not disappearing one bit.
Matthew dared to peek at Hermione, but his attention was diverted towards Potter and the confused expression plastered on his face. The whole scenario between them all was rising up questions Matthew doubted Dumbledore would even dare answer. The elder man in question followed Matthew's gaze but as soon as he caught sight of Harry's questioning gaze, he placed his attention back at their small group.
"It is best if we continue this in a more private room." Dumbledore said to them all.
Matthew reluctantly agreed with him, after all he did not want anymore of his dirty laundry out in the air in a room full of strangers.
"Best idea you've ever had Dumbledore." Matthew said smirking at how riled up Mad-Eye became for disrespecting their leader.
Dumbledore's patient smile was plastered on his face, he placed a calming hand on Mad-Eye's tense shoulders, "Relax Alasto, I'm sure Matthew did not mean what he said, he's just trying to rile me up. We will leave until you hand over those wands to their respective owners. I'm sure they would like them back."
Matthew wanted nothing more than to refuse Dumbledore's outright order, but he knew that if he were forced to use his borrowed wand he would fail miserably at any attempt he tried to make.
"Fine, we'll give them their damn wands." Matthew relented, surprising his friends in the process.
But just because Matthew caved in to Dumbledore's demands, it did not mean he was going to play nice. As soon as the Headmaster's victorious smile started to form, Matthew dropped the bomb, or more like wand. He watched as Dumbledore's incomplete smile faded as the older man observed Matthew's bold and rude behavior. Both Jonathan and Ryan did not like to be upstage by their mild-tempered friend, so they followed Matthew's actions and abruptly dropped their own borrowed wands to the ground. Tom soon followed, but his was less dramatic than his predecessors were.
"Alright Dumbledore I've dealt with my part of the deal, now give me back our wands." Matthew said extending his right hand to retrieve what was rightfully theirs.
"Not quite Mr. Philips, I believe Brian still holds his." Dumbledore said eyeing his grandson expectantly.
Brian felt uncomfortable as his friends and his grandfather—adoptive or not Dumbledore was still his grandfather—stared at him waiting for his next move. He could have easily dropped it to the ground to please Matthew and the rest, but Brian knew he would not be acting like the person he was. So he decided to play nice for the time being, after all he knew Dumbledore would find a way to make Brian step out of his cool and collected box and act irrational.
After Brian gently placed the wand on top of the kitchen table, he stood behind his friends and avoided any eye contact with them, especially Jonathan.
"It's good to see not all of you have forgotten your manners." The Headmaster said handing over the small bag that contained their wands. Matthew quickly grabbed the bag just in case Dumbledore or any of his followers outsmarted him.
He gave the contents inside the bag a quick once over before taking his own wand out and passing along the bag to Jonathan. Matthew held his wand tightly in his hand; he doubted he could operate properly with any other wand. Mr. Ollivander had told him long ago that his wand represented a great part of his life, that without it he would not be able to live.
"We should go upstairs and give Kristina and Chary their wands." Ryan said his worry for his girlfriend quite evident as he held on tightly to both his own and her wand.
"You can give Kristina her wand as soon as we finished talking." Dumbledore said assuring the young brown-haired wizard.
Ryan glared at the older man, "Just because you can easily brush your family aside, doesn't mean we can."
"Ryan its best we go talk to Dumbledore before we go up and see the girls and Aaron." Matthew said finding himself agreeing with the old Headmaster more than once that day; it unnerved him to no end.
Dumbledore clasped his hands together, pleased with Matthew's decision to make their conversation his first priority, "Matthew has spoken, follow me I will lead the way."
Jonathan glared at his best friend, "Yeah just because Matthew has spoken doesn't necessarily mean we follow every single one of his suggestions, it doesn't work like that."
"It works like that for now." Matthew said simply, leaving no room for argument as he followed Dumbledore and most of the adults present out of the kitchen.
"I hope he knows that the path he is leading us down to has no happy ending for any of us, let alone him." Brian said, as he forced himself to follow Matthew's lead, something that he never thought he would have to do.
Before exiting the kitchen Brian glanced towards Potter and the remaining teenagers in the room, they were all angered at how quickly they were brushed aside with no answers for the questions they so desperately wanted answered. The angriest of them all was Potter himself, the cold shoulder Dumbledore had given him throughout the night was not oblivious to Brian as it was to everyone else.
Brian knew very well what secrets like the ones his grandfather was hiding from Potter could do to someone in the time of war, especially if that said person was a teenager boy who still had no control over his emotions. He just hoped Dumbledore knew what he was doing and the risks that would surely come if his plans failed.
o0o0o0o0o
Matthew wanted to laugh at how predictable the Order of the Phoenix's lair was. The dark ominous chamber left no room for happy thoughts. The worn out circular wooden table took up most of the room as it lay in the middle of the room. Comfortable armchairs surrounded the table, while a portrait of the Black family's crest was plastered above the illuminated fireplace.
As they all took their seats Matthew placed his hand on the table swiftly dusted off the dirt, "I believe you need a new house-elf Mr. Black. The one you have is currently doing a horrible job."
"What they need is someone with some sense of taste to decorate this place." Jonathan said taking the seat on Matthew's left side.
Ryan took the seat next to Jonathan, leaving some space between himself and Matthew. He was still peeved out about his abrupt decision to exclude Kristina, Chary and Aaron from this meeting.
"It looks more like we're walking into Voldemort's lair instead of the great and noble Order of the Phoenix." Ryan remarked leaning back into his seat trying to get comfortable.
Brian took the seat available on Matthew's right side. Tom took the seat next to Brian, avoiding any eye contact with any of the adults, especially Dumbledore.
"Have you been to Voldemort's lair?" Mad-Eye Moody asked aggressively, his paranoia rather evident by his tone of voice.
Matthew rolled his eyes at how quickly the old Auror jumped to conclusions, "He was just joking."
"Well knowledge of the Dark Lord's whereabouts are no joking matters." The old Auror replied, relaxing back into his seat.
"Dully noted for the next time I say anything remotely funny." Ryan said not at all sincere about censoring himself.
"The room does seem rather dark and does not represent the Order well, but it is the best we could do with the short amount of time we had to prepare for Voldemort's return. Of course, there is one thing Voldemort would not have in his layer; this circular table represents everything he does not believe in. He is the Dark Lord, the leader of his Death Eaters; they have no say on anything unless he specifically requests a suggestion. I believe that the Order works as a team, and by doing, so I purposely chose this table for that reason." Dumbledore said as he took the seat across Matthew on the other side of the table, he glided his arms to mimic the shape of the table. "If you notice there is neither a beginning nor an end, so therefore there is no way to know where the throne belongs."
"Your reasoning is correct, muggle scientist have tested that people work well if they are seated in circular table than a regular square or rectangle one." Brian said surprised that he was impressed by his grandfather's logic.
Dumbledore beamed at his grandson, "You find muggle psychology interesting as well?"
Brian shook his head, he was not going to allow Dumbledore to go any further, "Don't do that, I'm not your grandson one day and your prisoner the next. I'm tired of you using me to get at my father, and vise versa."
The old Headmaster's smile faded as he became somber to the words Brian was saying, "I know you're not my grandson by blood, but I've always loved you as if you were. I am sorry if I have given you the impression that I only use you to get to your father, but there are certain actions that require me to be selfish to anyone's well being. We are in a war that does not allow any room for doubts."
Matthew had sat silently watching the exchange between grandfather and grandson, but at the mere mention of the word war, he cleared his throat and leaned forward into his seat; it was time for business.
"As much as it brings tears to my eyes to see the two of you reunite after so long, we have more pressing matters to discuss, like our freedom and this war you seem so incline to involve us in."
Dumbledore nodded his head, he turned to look at an angry Professor McGonagall, and he calmed her down before addressing Matthew and his friends.
"I have a proposition that might help us all out. I am simply asking for one simple request from you Matthew and the rest of your family." Dumbledore paused, waiting to see if the young leader was interested to listen to more.
Matthew shook his head; he could not believe Dumbledore actually thought he would agree to anything he was requesting, "Nothing is ever simple with you. You, yourself said it earlier, that this war causes you to make selfish actions. Well I am sorry but you may make the selfish actions in your group, but I will not. I will not stand by and watch my family die for a war we have nothing to do with."
"Even if innocent people die while you hide away in your luxurious mansions?" Dumbledore countered, trying to play to Matthew's empathy.
"If you do your job right, there will be no reason why innocent people should die." Matthew responded; he was not going to hold any punches back when it came to this argument between the two of them.
"Now boy, if I were you I would learn some respect before I teach some to you. You're parents guidelines be damn." Mad-Eye said fiercely pointing his finger at an unfazed Matthew.
"Those threats of yours are pointless Mr. Moody. I respect whoever I want to, and your leader is not one of them." Matthew said snidely, "And by the way if I was like you I would be one hell of an ugly son of bitc—"
Mad-Eye slammed his fist in the wooden table in anger, "That's it I warned you, you little piece of shi—!"
"Alasto please," McGonagall intervened, not at all liking where the conversation was heading.
"Yes Alasto, listen to the kind old lady." Jonathan mockingly said, not at all hiding his amusement at the situation.
The young men—except Brian—were too busy laughing at Jonathan's joke that they failed to see McGonagall shoot Sirius a dirty look before turning her attention to the amused dark-haired boy.
"I knew your parents Mr. De'Varces, and I also knew Emily, so I know for a fact that if they saw you behaving in that manner they would be deeply disappointed in you."
Jonathan's laughter seized as he leaped out of his seat and stared wide-eyed at the Professor he had just insulted, "You knew my parent's?"
Matthew and the rest of their small group was too preoccupied with the sacred information that McGonagall had, that they did not see Sirius' paled expression and Dumbledore's worried look.
The Headmaster gently cleared his throat, his kind smile directed at Jonathan, "This conversation will not get us the answers Mr. Philips is seeking."
Jonathan shot Dumbledore an exasperated look, "Says the man who knows his parents; just let your girlfriend answer my question."
Once again, the young men—excluding Brian and Jonathan—laughed at the ludicrous thought of McGonagall being Dumbledore's female companion.
"I will not answer any questions that I do not feel like answering Mr. De'Varces, especially with that rude and childish behavior of yours." McGonagall said in her usual stern voice. Dumbledore on the other hand knew that she was hiding the guilt at keeping such a secret from a desperate teenage boy who just simply wanted to know where he came from. But at that moment, such revelations were not safe.
Ryan shook his head at his friend's frantic and rash behavior, "I warned you Jonathan, that mouth of yours wasn't going to get you far."
Jonathan was not in control of his emotions at that point in time, so by having Ryan utter such things to him was not helping him regain control of his temper.
"Just do me a favor and shut the hell up, wolf-boy!" Jonathan angrily spat.
As soon as the words wolf-boy were spoken, Ryan had leaped out of his seat and lunged at Jonathan, causing the two of them to roughly fall on the ground. Matthew tried his hardest to stop the fist fight his two friends would engage in. Brian stood back for a few seconds, as he knew from experience that as soon as the fist started flying they would connect to the first open and defenseless person. When he felt that Matthew and Tom had Ryan under control, Brian held Jonathan back.
"For the hundredth time don't call me wolf-boy!" Ryan yelled his disgust for Jonathan's harsh and cruel nickname evident by his tone.
The teenage boys were to caught up in their own small problems that they did not notice the sympathetic looks that the adults were sending Remus.
"Jonathan apologize to Ryan for calling him wolf-boy." Matthew said speaking to him as if he was a child. A tone in which Jonathan hated being spoken to with, something Matthew knew very well, but still used it to prove his point that both Jonathan and Ryan acted like children.
"I'm sorry Ryan; I shouldn't have called you wolf-boy, knowing how much it hurts you." Jonathan said halfheartedly.
Ryan rolled his eyes at Jonathan's pathetic attempt at an apology, "Please, you call that an apology?"
Matthew shook his head in resignation, he knew that both Ryan and Jonathan would always find something to bicker about, their friendship revolved around that, "Okay this is pointless. That's the best apology you'll get from Jonathan, so just take it Ryan."
Dumbledore was amused by how the boys behaved with one another; it reminded him so much of how another group of young boys acted.
"I find it very entertaining how you boys behave with one another, it reminds me of another group of friends who I knew back in my earlier years." Dumbledore said shooting knowing glances at both Sirius and Remus.
"Did you kidnap them too?" Jonathan asked coldly as he took his seat.
Ryan also took his seat, not without asking his own harsh question as well. "Or did you constantly pester them into joining your stupid war?"
"Did you give them empty promises to live by as they struggled to maintain some sort of hope in their lives?" Matthew asked staring defiantly at an angered Mad-Eye Moody.
"Or did you simply stand back and watch them die one by one as you saw your selfish plans begin to unfold before your own eyes?" Brian bitterly asked surprising his friends with his harsh words.
Their was no twinkle behind Dumbledore's half moon glasses as he stared at the young group of men in front of him.
"I know you all blame me for the deaths of both Emily and Crystal but I assure you all that I did not put them in dire situations."
Brian violently leaped up from his seat—his anger was getting the best of him—pointing his trembling finger accusingly at the man he once loved as a grandfather, "Then why are they dead? If you didn't put them in 'dire' situations—as you so put it—then why are they dead?"
Dumbledore briefly looked away; he was struggling to find a way to tell them all what really happened without actually telling them anything. At the end, he simply settled with the only thing he could say in the situation he was in.
"I don't know."
Brian humorlessly laughed at the worthless answer he received, "You don't know? Well isn't that a surprise."
Matthew had watched Dumbledore throughout his and Brian's exchange and he had made up his decision. "Whatever your proposition is 'professor', the answer is no. I will not help you, and yes, I will sit idly by and watch innocent people die. Because the way we see it, we've already sacrificed enough."
"What exactly are you scared of Matthew?" Dumbledore asked, completely ignoring Matthew's definitive answer.
"What I'm scared of has nothing to do with this conversation. I have already said what I had to say. You can't force us to do anything against our will."
"Just humor me Mr. Philips, answer me that simple question." Dumbledore continued to push forward. The unwavering stare he was giving Matthew was having an odd affect on the young wizard.
Matthew felt like he could tell Dumbledore his deepest darkest secrets, "I'm scared of losing my family and ending up alone like when I was a child."
Jonathan was stunned by how quickly Matthew had given in to Dumbledore's plea. He turned to look at Ryan who was just as shocked at him. Jonathan shot Brian a questioning glance, hoping he had an answer for Matthew's odd behavior. They knew their friend would never reveal such intimate details to Dumbledore let alone to a room full of his followers. They caught on when they noticed Matthew was not looking away from Dumbledore's sturdy gaze. Jonathan was the first to react as he roughly manhandled Matthew, breaking the hold Dumbledore had on his friend's mind.
"You're not playing fair!" Ryan shouted accusingly.
"I did not harm your friend, Mr. De'Varces. I just simply helped him relinquish the iron gate he held around his fear. Too much fear can blacken one's soul." Dumbledore said calmly as he watched Matthew regain back his control over his thoughts and emotions.
"I can't believe you used your mind tricks on me! And then you wonder why I'm even reluctant to help you!" Matthew angrily yelled at the old headmaster. He did not like it when his personal feelings where used against him.
Dumbledore knew he was losing any chance he had at convincing Matthew and his friends to attend Hogwarts to help train Harry. "I assure you Matthew that I will do everything in my power to keep you and your family protected from Voldemort and his men."
Promises such as those would never convince Matthew let alone Brian.
"Do you honestly expect us to believe that you and your men can keep us protected from my father?" Brian asked pointing at Dumbledore and his loyal supporters on either side of him.
Mad-Eye sneered at the dirty-blond haired boy who bared a resemblance to a young and passionate Emily. "You doubt we cannot stand up to your father and his dumb witted lackeys? Are you sure You-Know-Who hasn't gotten to them first, Albus?"
"Are loyalties are not in question here Mr. Moody, your empty promises are." Ryan responded, deciding it was his time to put his two-cents in.
"I can keep you safe while you all are in Hogwarts. Nothing would happen to you all if you decide to remain on school grounds." Dumbledore said calmly.
Matthew harshly laughed, "Are you sure, because last time I checked Voldemort wouldn't be in a full body if it wasn't for one of his Death Eaters masquerading as one of your professors, who happened to be one of the greatest Aurors of all time?"
"I doubt you could keep yourself safe at Hogwarts, let alone us. Voldemort does not attack Hogwarts because he does not want to. He is waiting for the right time to take your safe haven right underneath you, when you are least likely to expect it." Brian said fully aware what his father was capable off. After all that said man was responsible for putting the hit on his only daughter.
"That maybe true, but as long as I am alive Hogwarts will remain a safe place that Voldemort will not be able to corrupt with his ignorant bigotry and hatred." Dumbledore vowed, not once losing his calm demeanor.
"Risks like those you so cavalierly brush aside is something I cannot leave up to chance that will not happen. Let alone fool myself to believe your men will be enough to protect my family from Voldemort's vengeful clutches." Matthew said trying once more to get his point across that he did not intend to help Dumbledore.
"There is nothing cavalier about my behavior Mr. Philips. I take the possible attacks Voldemort might decide to move forward with very seriously, especially when my student's lives are at risk." Dumbledore said determined to prove to Matthew and his friends that he was serious when it came down to keeping them and the rest of world safe from Voldemort and his men.
Jonathan tried to muffle the mirth behind his dry cough, but he only seemed to get everyone's attention instead. Not one to shy away from attention, he simply shrugged his shoulders before speaking his mind. "That's funny coming from the guy who kidnapped seven teenagers who have nothing to do with Voldemort so they can only help out one student of his."
"Every student of mine is important to me." The Headmaster said whether he was trying to convince them all or himself was still undetermined.
"See I highly doubt that professor. I do not think you would be going through all this trouble for the likes of . . . . let's go with . . . . Malfoy." Jonathan said arrogantly pleased with his quick reply.
"You are mistaken Mr. De'Varces, if young Mr. Malfoy was in danger I would do everything I could to ensure his safety." Dumbledore said firmly, not allowing Jonathan's accusations get the best of him.
But Jonathan did not hold any punches when he was on a roll. "Say what you want, but the facts prove my point. You have a soft spot when it comes to Potter. He means more to you than your adoptive daughters and grandchildren."
They all silently eyed Dumbledore as he failed to counter Jonathan's harsh comment. The room was dwelled in silence for too long before Brian spoke.
"You are not someone who can be entrusted with our lives. Your motives to get us involved in this war maybe noble, after all if my mother and Crystal were still alive they would have gladly joined your cause by now, but sadly, they are not. And because of that we are not willing to risk any more of the people we love to a war that has no concern to us."
For once Brian had bravely took the lead as he stood up ready to walk out of that room, that was, until Dumbledore spoke up as well.
"If any of you were the key to defeat Voldemort would you not want as many people on your side trying to help you survive? Wouldn't you want eligible people trying to save you if you were a victim of one of Voldemort's ruthless Death Eater raids? Wouldn't you have wanted someone to have bravely stood up and protected Emily or Crystal from their horrifying deaths instead of them sitting idly by as they became innocent victims? Those are questions you need to ask yourselves before you all refuse my proposal tomorrow night during our next meeting. For the meantime the five of you can go upstairs and discuss this with the remaining three members of your family."
Dumbledore sat back and blocked out the harsh words Matthew, Jonathan and Ryan shot his way. Brian sat back and saved his voice, opting to just glare at him. Dumbledore felt that he too had made his sacrifices as well, and he was still there fighting for the right cause. He just hoped the furious teenagers would make the same decision he himself chose. Even if they did in fact lose everyone, they love.
o0o0o0o0o
After pointlessly arguing with a man who was outright ignoring them, Matthew furiously led the group up to the attic. On their way up they had almost ran into one of the Weasley twins. The redheaded twin had quickly moved aside, Matthew noticed he had his wand out and ready to attack them. Any other time Matthew would have laughed at his pathetic attempt but he was not in the mood.
Just as they bolted through the doors, both Kristina and Chary jumped out of their respected beds, ready to fight whoever came their way. When they caught sight of them, they both rushed to their boyfriends. Tom moved forward to check up on Aaron, while Brian walked to one of the nearest empty beds and slumped tiredly into one. He like the others were emotionally tired after their meaningless talk with his grandfather.
Matthew moved farthest from them all he felt like he had failed to get them out of the situation they were in. He was disappointed in himself.
Kristina pulled herself away from the crushing embrace she and Ryan were in to stare curiously at her boyfriend. She gently traced the small cut underneath his right eye, "Please tell me one of Dumbledore's men did this to you and not Jonathan."
Ryan looked away from her giving her the answer she did not want. A shout of protest was heard from Jonathan since Chary had slapped him upside the head for fighting yet again with Ryan.
"Will you two ever go a day without fighting?" Chary asked her boyfriend, annoyed by his behavior.
"I don't know, we'll tell you when that day comes. But in my defense, I was on edge and he chose that moment when Dumbledore's old hag of a girlfriend refused to tell me who my parents were to pick on me. So I latched out and called him wolf-boy even though I know how much he loathes it when I do so."
"Key words in that statement is that he called me that name, let's not forget that." Ryan said nervously to Kristina when he noticed she was ready to hit him as well.
"Whatever the reason is you two can't be fighting like cats and dogs, not when we are in a situation that require us to be united." Kristina chided them both.
Both Jonathan and Ryan nodded in agreement.
"So should we head down and go talk to Dumbledore or is he coming upstairs?" Chary asked when she noticed no one was making a move to leave the room.
"We already talked to Dumbledore." Brian said sullenly as he eyed the ceiling for no reason at all.
Kristina and Chary glared at the five boys who were present in the meeting.
"And none of you felt like we needed to be there?" Kristina crossly asked.
All four boys pointed their fingers at Matthew who was sitting on the floor with his face buried in his hands.
"Matt, are you crying?" Jonathan asked puzzled by Matthew's highly sensitive action.
Matthew looked up and glared at Jonathan, "Does it look like I'm crying? Why would I cry?"
"Well then answer my question Matt, why did you feel like Chary and I had no part in the discussion you and the rest had with Dumbledore?" Kristina asked once again
So many thoughts were running through Matthew's head, he could not stop the blinding pain that was spreading through his head. He hated when he had his usual headaches, no medicine or potion or even a spell could stop them or the pain they caused him.
"Its not like I felt you two didn't have any part in that conversation, because you two had every right to be present, it was just that I felt we had no time to go upstairs and retrieve you two. Thinking about it now, makes my reasoning sound foolish but nonetheless that's what I felt at the time." Matthew managed to say without showing to any of them that he was in pain. He did not want to worry his friends anymore than they already were.
"We still could have been some use." Kristina pressed on; the warning glances her friends gave her were completely ignored.
"Yes I'm sure you would have been quite useful. It is not like Crystal's death meant anything to him. Let's not forget how having Brian there had no effect on him, so yes I completely agree with you, having you there would have changed the outcome of that whole meeting." Matthew harshly said, with no disregard to her feelings.
Everyone except Aaron, who was still unconscious, stared at Matthew surprised and angry by his harsh words.
"Hey Kris didn't deserve those harsh comments. Yes she shouldn't have pushed, but that's her thing, it never bothered you before." Ryan said, coming to his girlfriend's defense.
Matthew did not bother to say anything else, he knew that he had said to Kristina was uncalled for and rather insensitive. He did not know how to make this any better, so he cowardly sat there in the darken corner as all of his friends avoided any eye contact with him. Matthew was not sure how long he was sitting there by himself in complete silence, but when he finally managed to emerge from the floor everyone else was sound asleep in his or her respective beds. He followed everyone's lead; Matthew lay down on the only empty bed, and closed his eyes. Matthew silently hoped he would not have a restless sleep, but he doubted his wish would come true.