Atticus’s eyebrows knitted together as the air left his lungs. He wasn’t their father! He had no desire to be him yet somehow he’d be thrust into the role without much warning - without any semblance of knowing what the hell he was doing - and he’d tried his best to do good by his family. He hadn’t asked for this. “No, I’m not father and I am thankful for that every damn day of my life! Did you know he disapproved of my bride Basil? I won’t ever control you like that. I’m not looking to play puppeteer with your life, I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe.” Atticus tossed his hands into the air in frustration as he bellowed at his little brother; father had always been cruel to Basil and he’d done his best to shelter him. He gave his approval to his brother as much as he was able to, and despite what he thought, everything he did was for his family.
Atticus nearly rolled his eyes at the colleague's comment; he didn’t care if they’d put their past behind them. He’d seen Basil at his worst. He’d held him. He’d soothed him. And he’d be damned to see him slip back into that because Augustus Lissington walked back into his life. He was cancerous. Anger seeped into his skin and the words started flowing faster than his brain could manage to filter them. “Mr. Lissington hurt you and it took you a very long time to come back from that. I will not watch you spiral back into that mindset simply because he dropped by with a preposterous letter. Hogwarts must be desperate if they hired him and you must be desperate for friends if you want to be friendly with him. The Lissingtons -” Atticus spat the name out like it was a curse. “Are a waste of space. Their mother is insane and his sister came sniffing around for a marriage proposal like some kind of gold digger. Pathetic if you ask me.” He’d heard the rumors about Mrs. Lissington, and while he didn’t care about the truth, it concerned him that Mrs. Figueroa was bringing that kind of genetics into his family line.
Atticus wished he could have talked Edmund out of marrying her.
His eyes narrowed as Basil demanded the letter. Atticus raised it over both their heads and tore it again. “As I said, it’s not for you. But, if you really must read it-” The paper crinkled as he tightened his fingers against the parchment, ripping it again. “Good luck.” Atticus let go of the paper, watching as the torn bits rained to the floor. He stepped on one for good measure.
Atticus nearly rolled his eyes at the colleague's comment; he didn’t care if they’d put their past behind them. He’d seen Basil at his worst. He’d held him. He’d soothed him. And he’d be damned to see him slip back into that because Augustus Lissington walked back into his life. He was cancerous. Anger seeped into his skin and the words started flowing faster than his brain could manage to filter them. “Mr. Lissington hurt you and it took you a very long time to come back from that. I will not watch you spiral back into that mindset simply because he dropped by with a preposterous letter. Hogwarts must be desperate if they hired him and you must be desperate for friends if you want to be friendly with him. The Lissingtons -” Atticus spat the name out like it was a curse. “Are a waste of space. Their mother is insane and his sister came sniffing around for a marriage proposal like some kind of gold digger. Pathetic if you ask me.” He’d heard the rumors about Mrs. Lissington, and while he didn’t care about the truth, it concerned him that Mrs. Figueroa was bringing that kind of genetics into his family line.
Atticus wished he could have talked Edmund out of marrying her.
His eyes narrowed as Basil demanded the letter. Atticus raised it over both their heads and tore it again. “As I said, it’s not for you. But, if you really must read it-” The paper crinkled as he tightened his fingers against the parchment, ripping it again. “Good luck.” Atticus let go of the paper, watching as the torn bits rained to the floor. He stepped on one for good measure.
![[Image: cBAJGlb.png]](https://i.imgur.com/cBAJGlb.png)