The man who's been so fortunate,
To become a friend of a friend;
The man who has won a fair woman -
To the rejoicing, let him add his voice!12pm

---

Back to Hogwarts on a cold Hogsmeade weekend before the winter break settled in for all students. Gabrielle met many of the older ones along with a handful of the younger ones along the way, wishing them warm greetings as well as good tidings for the holidays while she left Hogsmeade and they entered the village.

Upon entering the school itself and climbing the stairs to the first floor's platform, Gabrielle found herself occupied by talking with the Bloody Baron, Sir Nicholas and a few of the paintings (including one of an older wizarding couple that found it surprising she had graduated and achieved so much but likewise reprimanded Gabrielle for not visiting so often. She promised to return more.) before leaving to meet up with Ignan.

It had been almost a month since the confessional with Francis and now, Gabrielle felt she could speak to her elder cousin on the matter. Even if she didn't know how many countless loves and romances Ignan had, it was still family and family knew how to listen.

And give food.

Hopefully there was food because her stomach was growling.

Twenty days until Christmas, and fifteen until the majority of the youth inhabiting the castle were packed onto the Hogwarts Express and left for a while. He too would leave for a little, and go back and attempt to toast the season with his elderly father and other members of the family back in Hanover, but not too long. These days the family he wanted to spend his time with were here in Britain, Wolfgang excluded.

Hogwarts was decorated for Christmas and the House Elves had kindly provided a platter of food at his request earlier that day when he had remembered his impending visitor. It had been too long since he had spoken with Gabrielle in person, only exchanging owls between times.

"Gabrielle." He greeted with a warm tone, and once over the threshold into his rooms on the first floor, he even extended an arm to a brief embrace, his eyes half closing as he held her for a matter of seconds catching notes of her perfume as they did. "It is good to see you, come sit down."

Ignan gestured to the two high-backed armchairs facing his fireplace to the right of the door in which Gabrielle had entered. Between them was a low table with the tray of food, a teapot and cups. Normally piled with a few books and items including a sandtimer, these had been moved to his writing desk opposite the door on the far side of the room beneath windows, beside a cupboard.

A low fire burnt in the grate which the chairs faced, and gave the room a homely feel. Along the top of the fireplace were a scattering of photographs more than previous years, and above them a mirror. A door to the right of the fireplace led to a bathroom, kept closed, and behind the chairs, and to the left as you entered the room, a double bed with curtains drawn round it in heavy material sat beside a wardrobe. It was home, and had been for over a year during term time now.

"How are things? Its been a while." He asked as they sat, and he poured the tea for both of them. "You're looking well, though the Tetrawizard must be a burden on you and your staff?"

She took that brief embrace as a partial Murray welcome as it was comforting but as always with Ignan, it was likewise brief. The perfume sniff made Gabrielle squirm all too briefly as it left a tickling sensation on her neckline. Her eyes looked up to Ignan, smiling warmly up at him as though once again, he was an uncle, not a cousin.

"Do I detect warmth in that remark? Don't tell me your Isles blood is officially muddling the Germanic. That or you're worried Father Christmas won't award you with gifts opposed to coal," Gabrielle remarked with a smirk as she sat in one of the chairs.

Tea pouring and food being eyeballed by her own eyes gave a distraction even as Gabrielle heard Ignan's compliment as well as the inquiry. Nodding her head, she  began to speak on it. "We have that to worry about, yes, but we'll make it, I'm certain." A pause. "It's the Black Forest that has me quite worried, especially for the missing. Johann tried to go but I kept him here (after all, his little habits... Gabrielle decided that should remain mum) - after all, word is his father is a little shite stirrer? There must be a little truth to it, eh? The surname alone should point that out." Gabrielle grinned, soon laughing briefly about her comment. "....Though in all seriousness, I'll claim you as a Murray, if need be, aye?"

"We have that to worry about, yes, but we'll make it, I'm certain. It's the Black Forest that has me quite worried, especially for the missing. Johann tried to go but I kept him here - after all, word is his father is a little shite stirrer? There must be a little truth to it, eh? The surname alone should point that out. Though in all seriousness, I'll claim you as a Murray, if need be, aye?"

Ignan chuckled at Gabrielle's teasing.

"Cousin you know me too well." He landed a cup of tea on her side of the table and offered her a small plate to fill with whatever she wanted to eat from the tray.

"I read about the Black Forest, Amherst's disappearance is most saddening, he was quite fond of Adelia Delacroix - the girl Johann used to take on weekend excursions with a view to her joining the Department, I remember. Yes, probably wise to keep him, he'd not last long over there in those circumstances, and especially given the past week in St Mungo's. You'll let him know I think he's an idiot when you see him, won't you?" He asked with a frown.

"Wolfgang is a little shite as you say. He has his uses, but he's incredibly unpleasant to spend time with, much like the rest of the family. I'm surprised he hasn't hunted you down, perhaps he feels you're not worth his time. Good, I say, keep it that way, you don't want to meet him any time soon." Ignan took a sip of the hot tea, and softened his features again.

"Yes, of course you can count me as a Murray. That's half my history after all, even if I don't get to consider it too often." He smiled wistfully, eyes picking out the photograph of his mother and his sister with him as a child on the mantlepiece above the fireplace. Sentimental value. He had no photo of his father in the room at all.

"How have you been though, other than work and irritating extended family?"

"I'll /gladly/ remind him of his idiotic ways when he returns the hospital. It's not too pleasant when you know now you'll have to supervise him as though he were an infant. His abuse....was startling." It had been, indeed, and Gabrielle was gravely concerned for Johann's mental as well as physical health. Sipping her tea while Ignan painted an image of Wolfgang made her grateful she could be of aid to her distant cousin.

"Don't jinx us; he could show up on Boxing Day and give me an earful of how irresponsible of an employer I am for not protecting my employees' best interest." Gabie added a protective remark in Carpathian, as if it would ward the man away from ill wills towards her.

The worries left when Ignan remarked about the Murray clansmen, causing her to likewise look at the photograph of Amelia, Ignan, and his sister. A smile found its way to Gabrielle's lips. "Grandfather always regretted losing our mothers, but he said you coming to Mother's funeral and being there for me showed you had heart. The same was felt when you came home for his; it meant so much to Uncle Thackery and I. Me more so since Thack had forgotten your presence at his sister's funeral." She paused to munch briefly on a few grapes and a piece of cheese.

"As for your last inquiry, not many things have been occurring, minus one thing." Gabrielle felt briefly she was speaking with Vladislaus about this, not her cousin. "....Cousin? I.... I'm in love again and frankly couldn't be happier, but there are complications with not only my heart and mind, but with the worries I may be pushing a family apart."

"Don't jinx us; he could show up on Boxing Day and give me an earful of how irresponsible of an employer I am for not protecting my employees' best interest."

Ignan smirked at the thought of their stringy, angry and rude family member turning up anywhere but home on Boxing Day unless to personally torture them.
"Actually, I don't think he's privy to his son's stay, and I'm not the one to inform him." He warned, and let the conversation move on to happier topics.

"… not many things have been occurring, minus one thing." Ignan looked curiously at Gabrielle, who navigated from subject to subject with such ease.

"….Cousin? I.... I'm in love again and frankly couldn't be happier, but there are complications with not only my heart and mind, but with the worries I may be pushing a family apart."

He looked surprised, but his aged features turned into softer, fonder ones, pleased at the news.
"In love?" His voice spoke softly, hopefully. "I'm glad." It continued, a little more assured.

That would explain Gabrielle's sunny complexion, her flitting from subject to subject despite serious content. Being in love changed your outlook, everything seemed a little brighter, the colours better. Italy still seemed the most beautiful place in his mind, only for her.

"He's unavailable?" Ignan asked tentatively. "Or, what makes you think you'll pull them apart?"

They were in agreement about Johann and Gabrielle was frankly glad. After all, the thoughts of having to Wolfgang scared her quite honestly. She had never met him and frankly, Gabrielle didn't want to. Two Storms were plenty enough for one Murray.

Even as Joh had been mentioned, the subject was about the happiness Gabrielle had refound. Gabrielle knew little to none of Ignan's loves, but watching those strong, stony Germanic melt into an inviting expression made the nervousness ease. Seeing Ignan's reaction made Gabie relax in her seat, even as the thoughts of Claire and the two boys likewise made guilt ride her slightly.

"....He is available, more or less, but it feels almost shameful. We're so happy - him especially - but I cannot help but feel guilty." A sigh escaped slowly as Gabrielle's eyes met Ignan's. "It's Francis. I'm in love with Francis." Gabrielle hesitated briefly, squirming briefly in the chair. "The love I feel for him is so different, yet not, than when we left Hogwarts. We're adults now, so the adolescent love isn't there. However, two young boys are. You have one of them: Ambrose." Gabrielle's happiness was there but it was also spelling across her face that she was gravelly concerned in breaking the Pepper clan in half. "....I could not even begin to tell Father. My grandparents are dead, Uncle Thackery is out of the question. Even as Crina, Father's grandmother, has been seen with Grandfather Alan roaming the Manor, of all places, I couldn't even begin to tell her...." She sniffled.

"You seemed the most.... suitable of candidates. You're someone I'm grateful to have in my life. I'd very much, as crazy as it much sounds and I'm QUITE sure Johann, along with your students would find me absolutely stark raving mad, like your opinion. Please?"

"....He is available, more or less, but it feels almost shameful. We're so happy - him especially - but I cannot help but feel guilty." Gabrielle explained, and Ignan's brow furrowed in mild confusion.

"It's Francis. I'm in love with Francis." Ignan thought back, recognising the name, and recalled a long time - perhaps twenty years ago, a wizard had proposed to Gabrielle. Had he been an old school friend from Hogwarts, he could hardly remember.

"The love I feel for him is so different, yet not, than when we left Hogwarts. We're adults now, so the adolescent love isn't there. However, two young boys are. You have one of them: Ambrose....I could not even begin to tell Father. My grandparents are dead, Uncle Thackery is out of the question. Even as Crina, Father's grandmother, has been seen with Grandfather Alan roaming the Manor, of all places, I couldn't even begin to tell her...."

Ambrose? Ambrose Pepper? The revelation threw Ignan a moment, Gabrielle's words tumbled out about her loneliness and being unable to confide in the family because they were dead or unavailable.

"You seemed the most.... suitable of candidates. You're someone I'm grateful to have in my life. I'd very much, as crazy as it much sounds and I'm QUITE sure Johann, along with your students would find me absolutely stark raving mad, like your opinion. Please?"

Her cousin failed to speak straight away, and blinked, expression surprised.

"Francis is Ambrose Pepper's father?" Ignan managed to vocalise and sat forward in his chair, teacup down on the table again. "Merlin Gabrielle, I only hope he takes after his mother, not his father for your sake." Then he stopped, raising a hand as if Gabrielle had spoken and he was silencing her.
"But Pepper's mother is hospitalised, isn't she? Is it terminal, from what you're saying?"

Gabrielle's expression suggested that his questions were anything less than sympathetic at a time like this, and he softened his ageing features and patted her hand lightly.
"Listen, I'm glad for your love, my apologies, it just came at a bit of a surprise it was a student's family." He explained gently. "Why do you think you're derranged for falling in love, my dear?"

"Francis is Ambrose Pepper's father? .... Merlin Gabrielle, I only hope he takes after his mother, not his father for your sake."

She wanted to protest this, to say that Ambrose was equal parts his father and mother, that perhaps (due to her cousin's tone of voice about the boy) he needed some encouragement and building up. After all, his mother, the poor soul, could precisely be the reason why his aptitude and attitude suffered here at the school.  The heart is never an easy organ to please, is it? her brain reminded her, fully hearing Francis' wonderful (albeit saddened) voice ringing in her ears. Her heart was heavy laden, thumping in pain even as she was so happy to have the very man she broke to love her and to profess it so willingly. Who else, minus family and perhaps Gwydion if Gabrielle hadn't been so fickle minded, would say such kind things?

Watching Ignan go from soft to harsh back to soft made her reconsider in speaking with him momentarily, but when explanations were given, she took his hand and squeezed it tightly. Gabrielle treated it as though they were on a cliff and she needed someone other than Francis to hold onto for dear life. Why was this so hard?

"Not derranged as much as conflicted, cousin. I can't tear a family apart, willingly or not. I threw Francis away because of an unreasonable fear of what could be instead of trusting that he very well could provide for my every need and I would do the same for him. My great-grandmother told me to distance myself, to be happy for him in times of gladness and to help him mourn in times of sadness. So I did. I was so happy in that he found Claire, that Francis would have someone by his side, but deep down, I felt jealousy of my stupidity. Then with the birth of Ambrose and Timothy, the same feelings were there."

Gabrielle sighed, her facial features showing her true feelings. She was happy, but deeply troubled and most assuredly scared.

"What do I do?"

"What do I do?"

Her cousin rubbed at his face with his other hand in thought and tried to hide his surprise at this turn of events.

"You are in love with him, and he with you, yes?" He looked to Gabrielle for just a nod of confirmation, "Yet he is still married to his hospitalised wife, to which he has two children with at Hogwarts. Two children who hope their mother will be well again and that their father will be there." The old wizard exhaled and looked at the fire in the grate.

"Life's too short to wait to be happy. You'll only miss the opportunity. If you're willing to stick by each other for your love, whatever the consequences, then do it."

It was certainly easier for Gabrielle to do so, than for he to go to Azkaban and break Azorma out of her imprisonment. She would manage it one day, she was a hundred times more canny than that Sirius Black had been, for his shaggy dog ability. He'd throw it all away for her still. Despite how things were panning out here. Everyone would cope without him, and he had earned the right to be selfish, besides the fact he had been it all his life.

"Listen, might I speak with you about something in return?" Ignan asked softly, his expression a little guilty.

There was a gnawing want to tell her cousin that he hadn't heard correctly the worries, but Gabrielle knew deep down that Ignan was right. Waiting around was foolish and hoping they wouldn't be caught was simply stupid. If it came down to it, Gabrielle would ensure Timothy and Ambrose were loved as if they were her own. She wouldn't exclude them even as she had a hunch they would her initially.

So, retelling Francis that she would stand by him and not give up the dream was the first step. It would be a perilous trek but Francis and herself were capable adults. Even as their truly madly love was a driving force, the two of them could do this. They'd make it through. Ignan's inquiry, however, made an eyebrow raise upward, curious soon enough.

"What is it, Ignan? You're surely not in trouble?"

"What is it, Ignan? You're surely not in trouble?"

"Not this time, I don't believe." Ignan replied with a hint of humour in his voice that was possibly wrongly timed. Gabrielle seemed most earnest, and very worried about her ties with Francis Pepper and how they would be received. Should he have been more worried, or should he have told her to be away from Francis, not to be happy, not to break the heart of a hospitalised woman and mother of children that Gabrielle would be assuming some parental charge for? He didn't feel he had to, Gabrielle was already beside herself with the worries, and she deserved to be happy.

"No, something of a curious discovery." He looked to his dear relative a little uncomfortably and took a short breath, "I've a son."

The words fell out of his mouth with such great relief, to tell someone who wasn't Sasha, or Tapendra or Johann. Although he was such good friends with Trishna, and their lives now entwined for more reasons than their friendship, but his affair with Trishna's mother, he couldn't quite explain the meaning of this to family matters. If his mother had still been around, he would have spoken to her. He'd contemplated his sister, but they were far from close at their age, and she seemed to prefer not to hear from him.

Gabrielle was the closest he came to his mother's viewpoint and emotional range, only she was far more assertive than his mother had ever been, allowed to be bullied by Merik, his father.

"I found out mid-October." He explained, trying to read her expression. "Merlin, did Johann tell you?"

A son? Mid-October? Johann tellling?

"No, darling cousin, he did not." Merlin's under briefs, she was going to hex that man to kingdom come. All these recent secrets were taking a small toll on her and she wasn't going to tolerate such idiotic behaviour for much longer. The lines on her face currently were proving just that as Gabrielle tried to think calmly about how to react in such news. It wasn't bad news in any shape or form, but to know that there were still family secrets amongst Storms and Murrays? She loathed the dark and toiling secrets.

"Congratulations, Ignan. I'm really happy for you. It's not every day that someone learns such news, yes?" Gabrielle rambled forth, a mixture of all the emotions she currently had running through her was slowly becoming a gnarly mess. She cleared her throat, the lines disappearing as the witch's features became more gentle, more indicative of happiness. "Will I ever get a chance to meet them?"

"No, darling cousin, he did not."

Gabrielle seemed most displeased, Ignan raised a hand, and shook his head,

"No, I asked him to keep it to himself. One of those things I wanted to tell you in person. He must have kept his word, for once."

"Congratulations, Ignan. I'm really happy for you. It's not every day that someone learns such news, yes?"

"Thankfully." Ignan muttered quietly in response.

"Will I ever get a chance to meet them?"

The older wizard put his hands together and softened his features. She seemed to be doing the same as he a moment ago when she had explained about Francis - trying to be positive despite the controversy of the news. He wished he'd been able to talk to her in person sooner after he'd found out - been able to talk to her like this more regularly. It seemed as if they needed to. Funny that - spend a life away from a suffocating, boatful family, and in later life discover out of joy those who were worth knowing in your family, and realise you've lost valuable time to know them.

"You already have, my dear. Its the boy you had working with Johann of late - Sasha Schlagenweit."

He paused a moment to let her get over the initial surprise, and continued,
"When the time is right, of course. He'll have put two and two together if Johann hasn't already filled him in about the local family ties here. We were both unaware - but he suspected after Johann checked a blood tie at the Ministry. He used his own blood as a control - something that shouldn't be related, only it was."

Schlagenweit.

Talk about turn of events. She exhaled the breath that apparently had been waiting to be relieved of for the past few minutes. Everything seemed nothing but a blur suddenly with all the different revelations coming between the two cousins. "I really don't indulge in such behaviour, but do you have something stronger than tea to put in the tea or on the side?" she mewled (yes, mewled) pitifully. These were endings to faerie tales that were both written and struck out, weren't they?

She sighed again.

"Is it terrible of me to say to you I'm jealous? I've always wanted a child and seeing you now with one makes the inner me that didn't give up Francis snarl and pout?" Gabrielle quipped to Ignan, hoping that he would forgive his cousin for her sheer stupidity.