Father: [Nigellus Burke];[60]
Mother: [Nevarra Burke nee Avery];[56]
Sibling: [Open Older Brother];[??]
[Open Older Sister]; [??]
Other: [Nieces and Nephews];[??]

Derek was the third unexpected child of Nigellus and Nevarra Burke. After the elder Burke children were born and the obligation for heir and spare met, Nevarra was not keen on having a third child. But Derek’s will was stronger and as his birth would set the precedent, he did things whether they were expected, wanted, or not.


He had a relatively normal childhood, normal for upper middle class pure blood wizards anyway, but also had a penchant for getting into trouble. His easy charm and quick smile got him out of it just as quickly.


While his elder siblings stuck more to the straight and narrow, Derek was more of a curved soul.


At the age of eleven he was accepted into Hogwarts, and like his father, mother and elder siblings, was sorted into Slytherin. He developed a carefree reputation amongst his peers and at first glance cared for nothing other than skirts and quidditch, the first chased him, and the latter he had a natural aptitude for.


What very few realized was the quietly brilliant mind that worked underneath the lazy laid back Slytherin. It came as quite a surprise when he got near perfect Os on his O.W.L.s, and it was even more shocking when he decided not to take his N.E.W.T.s. at all - again to the immense chagrin of his parents.


After school he hopped around. His father threatened to cut him off, but with the same casual indifference he shrugged, got on his motorcycle, and flipped the old man the bird before carving out his own path.


He disappeared for eight years, though he kept in touch with his siblings and the births of his nieces and nephews, he couldn’t be pinned down to any one area.


When he finally returned to the UK his father presumptuously was prepared to welcome his prodigal son’s return should he settle down and try to make something of himself. Their relation would happily allow Derek to work in the shop and learn how to run the business.


Derek clapped his father on the shoulder and told him not to worry about it. He was home to stay, and would figure things out. The truth was Derek was rich, well not Malfoy rich, but well off enough to retire himself, his parents, and his siblings as well as their children.


Derek spent eight years turning a profit in anyway possible. With a disregard for consequence he traversed dangerous areas discovering treasures of immense value. He gambled with mind numbingly wealthy sheiks, losing and winning fortunes times over. He ran a business in the States with the same assumed laissez-faire until finally, he returned home as though none of it ever happened. He had a gift for reading people, and it seemed as if the man carried permanent Felix Felicis in his dna.


He lived the idle life for almost a year until hearing about a new uprising within the wizarding community. Much like his other life decisions, deciding to join the Dark Lord was a mystery for a man that seemingly cared about nothing.


Only two people have ever seen through the mask Derek wears. A dark and powerful Lord he has sworn his allegiance to. And a woman in desperate straits who called him on his bullshit the day they met. Diana Crawford. Ward now.


He might have loved her, though he’s not rushing off to tell her less than patient husband that fact.


Three years ago, he had returned to New York to either sell or double down on the hotel business he had become invested in.


He received an owl from an old acquaintance that had saved his life on one of his less than reputable missions. He owed Whistler, and Whistler wanted him to look out for a woman. Not just any woman, but Diana Crawford, absentee heiress of Crawford Industries.


Her passion and intensity touched something deep inside of the man who pretended indifference to the whole world. He wanted to be close to that kind of passion. He wanted to be close to her. He took her mission up as his own and spent two years trying to crack the shell she had built around her heart. He succeeded in some ways, and sometimes it almost seemed like they were in sync.


But he never stood a chance. Not with Christian Ward – a fellow Death Eater – wrapped up inside her mind and twisted around her heart. He was stunned at first, to see another man simply claim something he had wanted and worked at for so long. But as time continued and he witnessed the pair, he was man enough to step down. Their relationship was like a rose growing in winter, against all odds and strangled by the elements, given no water or sunshine and yet blooming out of control. Derek knew better than to interrupt whatever magic was happening.


At least he was. At least until Christian – the man quickly becoming Derek’s closest friend – blew it all to pieces, not once but twice. He wasn’t the only guilty party of course, Diana had her share of bad decisions. But Derek was quickly realizing how passion and caring made them both fools, and what he saw as beautiful, was worth shit if they couldn’t get their act together. Now an innocent life hangs in the balance and Derek’s at-a-distance kid gloves makes him partially responsible. He’s resolved to save the woman he secretly loves at whatever the cost may be – even the man he considers his best friend. Then, he’s washing his hands of the whole thing.