Brothers and Sisters

[Amity Renner]

Amity's home life had definitely not been the best, though she was happy in that it wasn't anything she really had to deal with all that much given that she no longer lived at home and as an adult she knew such things could happen. She stood by her mother's decision, she scorned her father for how he had acted, for the things he had said and for the way he had made people in this family feel. He would always hold a special place in her heart after all he had raised her, given her the chance at a family life rather than goodness knew what else, but all of that didn't really matter with all that he had done more recently, all the respect she had for him had gone, all the tolerance she had for him was gone. The woman loved her brother more than she loved him, and she didn't want him to be upset over anything, much less their father being an ass, and especially given that he was home now, back from another semester at school, and tucked up in his room, their father had barely glanced at him, and Amity who had been helping their mother sort through the stuff had seen the entire interaction.

Amity watched her father take another box out the door, and knowing that she needed to leave soon to go meet Elliot decided to make sure that Archie was okay, if he wasn't and needed her to stay, Amity most certainly would and she was sure that Elliot wouldn't mind at all, he knew enough about the situation to be understanding of it, might even also come round, after all, Elliot and Archie had been friends. She knocked lightly on his bedroom door and waited for a small noise for to be able to come in before then walking in, noting immediately that he was all tucked up in his bed, Amity smiled at the younger boy, as she then just got into the bed with him, she loved Archie with all her heart, having him in their family to Amity had been the best thing, his smile, his attitude to life, his silly face, "Hey brother," she greeted speaking softly to him, "Are you going to be okay?" she added with a small smile, as she stared at him, she wanted to be sure he was okay, that he'd be okay, and she hoped that if he wasn't he would tell her.
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[Archie Renner]

Archie was dreading returning to his home for the holidays. Both frightened, and apprehensive to see with his own eyes what his family might have turned into since the letter he received during the term announcing his parents' divorce. It had cut his heart to pieces to read the letter, and even now he was facing reprcussions of Orwell breaking into Gryffindor house to cheer him up on that faithful night. Though slowly but surely the now sixth year was feeling better and it was a welcomed change for Archie to not feel worse when he walked through his front door to be ignored by the person that he once called his father and the person that once willingly reffered to Archie as his son. Albeit that Archie was over feeling worse because of his father's actions, or if he felt relieved to be ignored completely rather than being the target of snide comments and slurs he wasn't sure. Though what Archie was definitely sure of, was that the dread of returning home was exhausting him despite it all and it was the reason he hooled himself up in his bedroom for the day, snuggled into the warmth of his bed as he attempted to forget about the unusually calm house surrounding him.

He was in the midst of being lulled into a nap when he head a soft knocking sound that could only belong to his sister. In response he uttered a quiet "Come in." and shuffled slightly to accommodate another person in the space of his bed after Amity walked in. He smiled at her when she slid in the sheets next to him and asked if he was okay. His expression moved to a frown at the question because he was unsure of how to answer it. In some ways he was much better than he was but in other ways he was worse so he merely returned his expression to a small smile after a moment of thought and answered with "I think I will be." Because he did know that with his father now out of the picture it could only get better. It would be difficult for their family to adjust to the change since they were such a bonded family unit but Archie was sure they could handle having one less person at the dinner table every night. It would definitely give Archie the opportunity to eat in peace in the walls of his own house for the first time in nearly two years and that momentary realization made him thankful. "I think we will be okay, too." He added. "I love you."​

 

[Amity Renner]

Amity couldn't admit to knowing what her brother was going through, he had unforunately the weight a lot of this on his shoulders even though it wasn't in the slightest his fault, and was entirely their father's fault, though how difficult that would be to shake off she had no idea. Amity felt awful that she couldn't do more to help her little brother, whom she loved so much more than anything in the world. Amity still remembered taking time out of school so that she could meet him and spend time with the then young seven year old introducing him to her home and family, he had been such a little sweet kid and he'd grown up so well, she was always so proud of him, and it broke her heart to see him being treated like he was by the father that she knew they both loved. Amity wished things could be different, that their father would be different but there was nothing that she could do, beyond what they were currently doing, the woman had a feeling she might be late to meeting Elliot, but he would never mind, he loved Archie as much as she did, of course he'd be fine with it.

Of course the boy said he thought he would be, but as she searched for any hints that this fact wasn't true, but he had appeared to answer to truthful, the way he had clearly thought about it, "If you need some space, you are always welcome at my place with Elliot," she assured him quickly after he'd spoken just so he knew that there would always be space for him at their place, that they would invite him in with a great smile and warm arms. However when he spoke again she was a little curious, how did he mean we, as far as she knew Archie had never referred to him and their mother as we, it was an odd indication of the plural, and the woman was entirely confused by the indication, though unsure about asking what he meant by it, and considering what had followed she wasn't sure how else to probe for more information, Archie always picked his words very carefully, "I love you too, but what do you mean we?" she nudged him slightly, hoping to get a clear answer out of him.
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[Orwell Brocken]

Orwell had gladly accepted the invitation to join Archie in his home, after a brief visit to his community and revelling in all the praise for all he'd done during the term, helping organise the gryffindor quidditch players into striking, the lantern festival with the environmental message and breaking into the dorm room to help Archie, all for him, all to make him feel better, the thing they hadn't cared that much about had been his perfect OWL grades which hadn't bothered Orwell at all, but none of that was important any more, because Orwell had accepted Archie's invitation glad and almost immediately gone to his at the first opportunity that he'd had, knowing the other boy needed him more than his community needed him to work in their gardens, as much as the king of the flowers loved being able to do such a thing. There was little within him that didn't love it, but being with Archie was more important, so much more important, and so he'd gone to Archie's at what would've been one of the more difficult moments of the other boy's life and the older boy was more than happy than to be there for him.

Orwell felt himself wake up slightly at the sound of Archie's voice, but he hummed slightly and just let himself settle back into a light sleep, only to be woken up again as the weight in the bed changed and a second voice joined them, Orwell who had become an almost fixture to the Renner household, and he'd gotten to know Archie older sister, and knew that the voice was hers, but it was clear from what she was saying that she hadn't realised that Orwell was currently curled up on Archie's other side, his arms around the older boy and just tucked in hidden behind him. Archie seemed alright, but he snuggled slightly into him when he said that he was alright, reminding the boy that he was there if he needed it, deciding upon her probing that he should probably let her know that he was also in the bed, so he moved slightly so that she would be able to see him, and he yawned tiredly, "Hey Amity," he greeted the older girl, cuddling Archie as he spoke, and moved his hands slightly, "I've got him," the ravenclaw assured her leaning into him slightly, to really indicate that he would take care of Archie, Orwell would ensure that he was fine during this difficult time.
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[Archie Renner]

Archie nodded at Amity's offer for him to stay with her and Elliot whenever he wanted. It was a kind gesture that would have helped him in the past however now that his father was out of the picture and the family was finally healing, he wasn't sure if the gesture would be worth it. All Archie was forced to deal with now were awkward silences and ignored friendly gestures as his father was moving his belongings out of the family home. After somehow being able to handle two years of snide comments and slurs, the Gryffindor boy was sure he could handle the now brief interactions with his father, and assumed that it would not require leaving but regardless of it all he appreciated Amity's support. He was tempted to hug her in that moment to thank her but he was quickly interrupted when Amity nudged him and asked what he meant by 'we'. He opened his mouth to answer the question as a small smile began to show on his face but he was quickly silenced as he felt the pressure of Orwell's chin on his shoulder and heard the question being answered for him.

As Orwell leaned in, Archie also leaned in further to his best friend and felt the ever familiar comfort and warmth he always felt around Orwell wash over him. He closed his eyes momentarily and then returned to looking at his older sister, laughing when Orwell's hands moved slightly on his stomach because it was the most ticklish spot on his body. "Yeah, we'll be fine Ams." Archie finally said, smiling wider at his sister and hoping Orwell's presence and the genuine happiness that was showing on his face would be enough to reassure her that everything would be fine. The only thing left was for their family to move on and create a new and more exciting life without their father around. There was no denying that moving on would be difficult for everyone but Archie had faith that with the love Archie, his mother, and his sisters shared and with Orwell by his side they could conquer anything. Fine wasn't even a word that could cut it, he should have assured Amity that they would be happier as a family but in the midst of all the emotions running through his body, fine was the only would he could think of to use. He snuggled further into Orwell and sighed before speaking again. "You don't need to worry."​

 

[Amity Renner]

Amity was definitely surprised when the second head poked up behind Archie, she was very confused about where he had come from, but she should've seen it coming, considering how inseparable they had become over the years, and the woman knew that her brother would be in safe hands with his best friend, and she was definitely warmed by it, she was so happy that Archie had found a friend that he could be so close to like that, that he could be friends with and share such a close bond. Amity knew that if they needed the space away from this house, both she and Elliot would definitely not mind them staying with them, it might get a little cramped but considering the way three of them were on this bed together she assumed that it would all be fine, they'd all manage if he needed that. The woman nodded at his statement, knowing the truth in it, she felt less bad about leaving and going with her boyfriend, they'd be fine, and she knew that the worst of it was really over, and Archie was such a strong boy that he would manage perfectly fine as long as they stuck together.

"if you're sure," the woman replied softly before just leaning over to Archie and kissing him lightly on his head, "You are both welcome at mine and Elliot's, if ever," she looked between them and just gave them both a small, but warm smile, leaning away from them both and getting out of the bed, looking down and still not seeing the second boy's body in the shape of the duvet but she knew that he was there, just hidden by Archie's far larger body. The woman smiled easily at them both, looking a little reluctant to leave them, "I love you Archie, you too Orwell," she told them before leaving the room and closing the door behind her, bidding fair well to their mother before leaving the house and going to Elliot's. The woman knew that they would be fine, she had faith that since they were together, both boys would manage to help each other, she didn't quite understand Archie's best friend occasionally, but she loved him because Archie did, she didn't for a moment think that they wouldn't support each other, and that Archie wouldn't be reassured by the other boy's presence.
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[Orwell Brocken]

Orwell's interactions with Archie's older sister were fairly common given how much time he spent with Archie during each of the breaks, but he was too tired and sleepy as he leaned into Archie to noticed that she hadn't expected him to be there. The boy was keeping himself too close to Archie and just reveling in the boy's laughter and nodding at the statements, he would look after Archie, even though the boy would probably manage to look after himself easily, he was the emotional support that the boy could lean on if he required it without needing to give it much of a side thought, considering all that Orwell had done, this was just about the easiest thing that he could do. Just being with him over the holidays and it was going to be so much fun, the older boy already had a long plan for them to be able to go to the beach and play in the sand, he had books with him that he was sure that Archie wouldn't enjoy much but that if ever the boy was sleepless he knew would send him straight to sleep, the boy was prepared for any eventuality.

Orwell smiled at Amity as she left, "Love you too sis," he replied sleepily, before just putting his head back down on the pillow and sighing softly, he closed his eyes again, allowing them to slowly flutter sleepily closed, he wasn't sure how much longer he would manage to keep awake, but he just tightened his grip slightly on Archie, bringing him in closer and leaning his head against the older boy's back, "I love you Archie," he mumbled into the boy's back, before being unable to stop the yawn which escaped from his lips, he didn't mean to yawn against the boy's back, but it had just happened, and the king of flowers made a content little noise at him. It wasn't the easiest thing all of this, and Orwell would be there for him if he needed it, but currently he was just tired and sleepily and finding it difficult to keep his eyes open, "You okay?" he breathed out, sounding like the tail end of another yawn, he didn't mean to be too sleep as Archie might've wanted to talk, but the taller boy would have to wake him up better, because Orwell was just asleep, relishing the soft and warm bed, and the soft feeling of Archie's breathing.
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