When Diomedes was nine years old, his grandfather died. Cepheus Avery had been an objectively cruel man, but that hadn’t been how his mother had painted him. To Diomedes, the crimes committed by his grandfather had been sold as honorable, a means to an end, something like a divine weapon against a world that needed desperate change. He had believed it. He had watched his grandfather’s closed casket sink into the ground with a feeling of duty weighing on his shoulders. Then, already, he was starting to learn that some things demanded cruelty. It hadn’t come natural to him, but it had not been hard, either. Much like anything Diomedes wanted to learn, he had dedicated himself to the task at hand diligently and garnered success. It was time Theodore started doing the same. If he wanted to make his family proud, if he wanted to make it through this war.
Diomedes did not love the boy, but he’d find it a pity if he were to perish because of his reluctance. An unworthy death. And so he’s annoyed, at the other’s words, his lack of action. “I don’t know. Do you wish to ring the doorbell?” It’s said sardonically, with a drawling voice. He observes the house for a moment. “It’s not really a concern of mine, whether they are inside or not. They are aligned with the Order, Theo. That’s a death sentence on its own, if you ask me. If they happen to burn alongside their house, let it be a warning for their fellow rebels.” He looks at the other, then. There’s something almost empathetic about him as he says, “Go on, now.”
the doorbell wouldn’t be such a bad idea, he thought. but was smart enough to not say it out loud. or to reply with any anger at all. he’d noticed the change in the speech, from it’s not that bad. things can be repaired, replaced –– but they ought to be warned, to a full lack of concern for the human life that could be inside. it was a look behind the curtain and it terrified him. theo’s eyes went back to the house, hoping to not see a single light turn on, or perhaps to catch a sign of life that would ease his mind and make it easier to just do it. jut prove himself worthwhile once more. at least it was dio by his side, not the friendliest face but far from the scariest. someone to trust, at least, should it all go wrong. god, how he wished it would go terribly wrong.
theodore nodded. his red-ish wand was pointed at the house as theodore put his mask back on and walked further a couple of steps, just to ensure aim. from it came scarlet lights as he whispered incendio, far too easy a spell for him to mess up. the spell hit the front door, slowly consuming it in a silent destruction as he whispered it once more, adding fuel to the growing flames. still far from enough, but certainly terrifying. please, be empty. theodore couldn’t imagine the feeling of knowing he’d taken a life. he’d asked about it before and his parents had refused to answer, the usual complaint that ‘the extremes one has to go in order to to what’s right are heavy, but justifiable’. for others, it seemed as if he’d just poked right through their infected open wound. perhaps dio could answer that one day, but he was too afraid to ask. perhaps you’ll know it now. panic filled him as the flames grew taller, but not stronger, and no lights went on. what if there’s someone asleep. what if they don’t notice until it’s too late? the death eater took a step back, wand still pointed but no more bolts of burning light coming out of it. hesitation, his downfall.