Chapter 279 - Wilkes Family Ⅱ (2/2)

”What?” Ogden interrupted.

”He was different,” Mr. Wilkes slowly expounded. ”I can't say how or why, but there was something off about him. Now, my wife simply told me that I was hallucinating that our son was merely changing from a boy to a man. But I knew my son and at times it was though I could see someone else peering out from his gaze.

However, our son quickly returned to normal again, and I put my fears out of mind. And yet there was another strange occurrence the following year. He did not return home for the winter holidays in his 6th year. Once more, I paid it no mind, but I received letters of concern form his friends stating that they had invited him over for the winter break thinking that we were going to the continent and were leaving him behind. But he had declined all their invitations.

Once more I wrote to him but like before our son replied that nothing was wrong and that he merely wanted to study. However, not wanting to argue, I let the incident past. And with everything returning to normal in his seventh year, I was certain everything had returned to normal.”

”But what?” Ogden impatiently interjected.

”And then Primus came to see me,” Mr. Wilkes said. ”You must understand, Ogden, I have rarely even seen my younger half-brother. The last time I saw him was at my wedding and since then not again.”

”And why did he come to see you?” Ogden further pried.

”For the strangest of reasons,” Mr. Wilkes replied rather perturbed. ”Primus declared that he would be going on a journey for some time and wished to turn over the rights of Wilkes manor to me. I refused as it was his heritage and right to have. Instead, I asked, that if he was so concerned that anything should occur to him to leave the manor to one or both of my sons. However, my brother insisted again, and I bluntly refused.”

Mr. Wilkes took a breath and paused. ”And for the first time in a long time, I was afraid. There was something cold, almost sinister about his gaze. Not even my zealous father had ever inspired such fear in me. It was though something inhuman was studying me deeming worthy to live or not. The blood curling gaze was fleeting, and my brother impossibly returned to normal. The two of us said our goodbyes, and he left. But I still cannot put his gaze out of mind, his gaze reminded me too much of my own son.”

Mr. Wilkes raised his gaze from the floor and said, ”In those last days, whether my wife and son will admit it or not, S.R. was no longer my son. There was chill about him that had not been there before. Something inhuman, and other times, I'd find my son dazed as if trying to wake up from a nightmare only to fall back under a spell. I'd like to think my son was under some sort of spell, but experience dictates otherwise.”

”In that case, do you know where your brother, Primus Wilkes might have gone?” Ogden carefully asked.

”I truly do not know, Ogden,” Mr. Wilkes confessed. ”But wherever he is, I am certain that you will find him allied to my son and those responsible for the attack. Primus was always a zealot like my father searching for a fervent cause. I even remember with pride that while he was at Hogwarts, he was proud to be a member of some so-called secretive group called, the Knights of Walpurgis with that wanted murderer, Tom Marvolo Riddle, what an utter farce.”

Mr. Wilkes sneered in repressed anger. ”Nothing more than pompous purebloods attempting to be far more superior than the rest of us.” Mr. Wilkes flicker at seeing a rather subtle tale in his friend's posture, his head flicked to the side. A habit that Percius still hadn't broken after all these years whenever he was surprised.