Peyton sat in one of the alcoves in the Ravenclaw Common room, surrounded by the light pouring in through the large windows. He was sat in front of a table strewn with parchments, charts and books. At his side was his cousin Kelly. The pair were pouring over the information in front of them to prepare Kelly to help the next Quidditch Captain after Peyton's graduation. Results from the last few games, the strategies the two had developed together and books on general Quidditch strategies. It was helping Peyton keep his mind off of everything that had happened over the past few days. His grandfather's death hadn't really affected him but there were still ripples that had yet to settle.

One such ripple turned into a splash as a magazine was thrown on top of their work. Peyton looked up to see his younger sister, hands on her hips and looking more furious then he could ever remember seeing her. He was struck with the thought of how much she looked like their mother. He looked to the magazine that seemed to be the source of her ire. Peyton felt as though he had been slapped across the face as he read the headline and watched the pictures in front of him smile and move.

"Have you seen this yet?"

Peyton sat up straighter. He didn't need to read the words in what looked like a copy of Witch Weekly to know what they were about. If the Headline hadn't been enough the pictures told the story all on their own - his Grandfather in his prime, his own father young and carefree, a ministry wanted criminal and Xavier drinking at some party or another. Truth be told Peyton was surprised, though thankful, there wasn't a picture of himself and Helena in there.

"No. I hadn't"

His sister didn't seem to appreciate his deadpan answer. He hadn't told her all the dark secrets of their family. Perhaps he should have though, it likely would have been more comforting coming from him rather than some trashy girly magazine, "That's, Peyton that's Dad." She leaned forward and pointed to the picture of their father. He was nearly ten years younger and had gone through some kind of identity crisis (or someone had given him some really bad fashion advice) judging by the bleached hair but there was no mistaking who it was, "They're saying he's the missing son of that billionaire that just died." Her anger seemed to be cycling between rage, confusion and deep concern. She looked down at the article, "They called us illegitimate." Her voice was just over a whisper.

Kelly had been watching the exchange between the two siblings quietly but at Helena's pause he leaned forward and grabbed the magazine, scanning the article himself, "That's Grandpa." Obvious confusion took over his square features, "Holy shit, Uncle Henry's not dead?!" He looked back up at the siblings, "That's your Dad?!"

Peyton shook his head suddenly wishing he was anywhere else, "Kelly, you're not helping." He groaned before meeting his sister's eyes. There was no more hiding this, "I know. I've known for a few years now."

"You knew? You knew that dad was some lost gallionarie's son?" Her blonde brows knitted together, "You knew he had another wife?!" She had cycled back to angry, "That Tawse was our brother?!" She spoke his name with almost as much disdain as he used to use.

He nodded, "Yeah. Trust me I wish I didn't know. Dad was a total ass when I found out too. Hel, he told Xavier to his face that he picked us, that he loved us more, that he loved mom more. To his face!" Peyton had never been one to defend the Slytherin but that had been an experience he would never forget. He had met Henry Wentworth for the first time that day. Not his father, not his idol, but the man who had become a father far too young and forced into a marriage he wasn't entirely happy with, raising a son he never wanted.

Helena seemed taken aback by his confession, shaking her head, "Dad would never say that, he'd never be that mean."

"Well he did and he was." Peyton shook his own head, chancing a glance at his cousin, "Why do you think I've barely talked to Dad in the last two years?"

Helena shrugged, "I always thought it was because . . ." She left her thought unsaid, "Nevermind. What do we do about mom?"

Peyton took the magazine from Kelly and handed it back to his sister, "Well thankfully mom doesn't read Witch Weekly. For now we leave it to Dad to explain. Not our mess right?"

"Right." Helena nodded, clutching the magazine to her chest. Her anger seemed to have subsided but he knew from personal experience it wasn't likely to truly leave for quite sometime. At least not until Helena had a chance to talk to their father herself.

"But Hel, be prepared for a whole lot of stupid to get thrown at you. It's not going to take people long to figure out who the illegitimate Wentworth children are."

His sister nodded again before leaving, rejoining a group of fifth year girls who seemed eager to comfort her. Peyton took a deep breath before facing his asisstant again, "So uh . . ?"

"So this makes us cousins right?"

"Yeah, uh yeah it does."

"Brilliant."