Francis felt a new man, with Gabrielle on his arm, they were at Hogwarts, a step back in time for them both. Although Gabrielle was there in an official capacity, and Francis was her companion, it still felt as special as ever. Squeezing her hand beneath his on his arm, he smiled at her happily.

"Its good to be back here isn't it? After so many years its still the same."

Ambrose and Tim had been nowhere to be spotted, which either was good, or very bad, Francis wasn't sure which, or that at the moment he cared either way. He didn't want to contemplate the fact he had to explain that he and Gabrielle were together, and that he was divorcing his mentally injured wife, the mother of his two children. Just, not for one more night.

"Madam Murray, would you care to dance?" Francis extended his hand to the Head of the Department of International Magical Co-operation, and led her out to the dancefloor.

She was dressed to the nines with the very man that brought her the greatest amount of happiness in the entire world. Post Ignan's meeting, Gabrielle was now convinced with a devil may care attitude that she could stand by Francis Pepper with anything and everything. She would love him until their last breaths but there was a healthy amount of worry of what would become of this new rekindled love. Tonight though, it mattered so little as the two were attending the Yule Ball. Feeling the squeeze of his hand caused Gabrielle to blush briefly before placing a kiss to her partner's cheek. Cheeky cravat man, wooing her with sweet everythings.

"Just when you feel it's been ages, walking through these doors make you feel that it was just yesterday that you graduated," Gabrielle confirmed to Francis' inquiry. "You look absolutely wonderful, curls and all, Mister Pepper; I'm so grateful you came with me. After all, bringing my uncle would have been quite awkward to say the very least, don't you agree?" The stringed tones of a waltz[2] began and in an instant, Francis' offer was gladly accepted as the two began to sway before moving elegantly across the floor.

The smile never left her facial features.

1.	What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
2.	song choice~ ♥

"Couldn't have that." Francis agreed, drawing Gabrielle into a familiar hold, his fingers gently grasping her waist, and his thumb absentmindedly brushing over her hand as he held it to lead. "I simply wouldn't let it happen."

An infectious smile was shared between them.
"The only problem is that I know at some point tonight I'll have to give you up for pleasantries with those you know. But I'll brood and scowl and work my way back to interrupt if a frown crosses your face, be assured my love." Francis promised, his voice softly speaking the last few words, a part of him still a little nervous and excited about calling her that.

He'd contemplated not wearing his wedding ring that evening, to see if anyone noticed, then had slipped it back on, realising his sons might well notice, and it was not the time or the place to tell them, not until they were home, and they could talk. For all its years of wearing, it now felt out of place.

"You'll be off dancing with Headmasters of foreign schools, you young, free, single Department Head. Don't worry, I'll take Minerva McGonagall for a spin on your behalf." The two of them scoffed like teenagers at the thought. "I reckon that Salem headmaster might know a few good moves though." Francis winked.

Gabrielle easily could see Francis physically going to Thackery's home in Jurby[1] and pleading most convincingly that he should not be the one to take his niece to the Yule Ball like some teenage puppy love. She grinned at him for this reason and many more, but it was a comforting thought to know you were loved enough to discourage family as dates. Her heart fluttered and thumped in pleasant rejoicing as Francis called her his love. His and his alone, indeed. She wished she could kiss him here and now, but decided that could be done later when the student and adult body weren't affixed upon their dancing.

"You keep on calling me young and single and you'll have me written in the Prophet or Weekly in no time, Francis Albert Pepper," she mockingly chatised, her smile staying with him as the music continued on, muffling as she stayed close to his body while he spoke to her what would be occurring this evening. "I promise to try and not frown, but naturally, being ten minutes away from you when I'm having to discuss do I like Pfeffernüsse or Springerle, even Snickerdoodle or just plain Sugar is going to cause a frown possibly. As for dancing with Minerva, go easy on her, darling. Well... I hope she goes easy on you."

1.	A parish within the Isle of Man

Francis laughed happily as they held each other close. The two of them were the happy daze, forgetting that eyes would be on them and people could talk. Those with long memories would remember, those with shorter ones would wonder, those that knew Gabrielle but not Francis would hardly blink an eye in ignorance.

"You can enlighten me some dull moment as to the intricacies of such discussion topics, I'm sure." Francis assured her, then leaned a little closer to her ear, "When we're not too busy kissing like teenagers," and then blushed despite of himself, "which I like very much." He tilted his head back to laugh again, curls falling over his shoulders, and was about to continue when he saw a familiar face in the crowd and had to look back over his shoulder as they turned in time with the music.

"Ack, Merlin, was that Ambrose - or rather, you're looking that way now, is that Ambrose over there? He's meant to be dancing with Tapendra Trishna's daughter this evening according to his last letter. I never know whether he'll curse me for interrupting his teenage kisses..."

Gabrielle couldn't help but laugh at how horribly silly the two of them were being. Naturally, they hadn't had a chance to mature in each other's eyes since they were closer than most would ever know. She rolled her eyes at his cheekiness but soon was deeply blushing with his topic of smothering kisses.

Godric, that laugh and bouncy curls were bigger life ruiners than becoming an aunt and turning thirty, weren't they? The jovial times with that winning smile began to fade slightly when her eyes likewise caught Ambrose, or the hair that looked like his. Hm. "Well, you're my escort for the evening, Mr. Pepper, so if he's disappointed about that, I'm sorry for to be a failure on decision making." Gabrielle's eyes soon locked with Francis'. "We'll have to tell him sometime. Timothy too. I don't want to always live in shadows, in mysteries."

"He won't be disappointed, I'm sure, just, you know - awkward. He's a teenager, I'm his father... you're his...er..." Francis realised his mistake and shook his head. "Sorry, I just mean he's awkward for normal reasons, not because you and me are dancing. He'd probably disown me for dancing with any of his female professors." Francis winked.

"Yes, we will tell them, when they're home, I promise. Not now. I want them to have their night, and keep our family business at home. Besides, you have to play the big Department Head, don't you?" They locked eyes a moment, and Francis felt himself instinctively go to kiss her on the lips and managed to divert it at last minute. Merlin, this was hard!

Dad was dancing with Gabrielle. Ok, not too unusual, Ambrose thought, but it had been Tim who had pointed it out when he was on the way back from the loo he'd collided with his younger brother who had mentioned it with a shrug.

"I hope she doesn't want to try and dance with us." Tim had said with disdain, "Uh, see you later, I got to do a wee," in the way only a younger brother could.

Ambrose was irritated to feel obliged to delay getting back to Cyhirae (the prospect of more kissing was a real motivator) so passed by the edge of the dance floor with his eyes peeled.

He'd taken a sharp intake of breath when he'd seen them. His father was laughing, and he looked happy, happier than Ambrose had remembered in ages. He'd not seen his father since the Hogwarts express, so the grey in his hair was looking a little more noticeable to his elder son, but Ambrose stopped and stared at them both in surprise.

Gabrielle looked gorgeous....

Dad looked smitten.

Oh Merlin.

Ambrose tried to force the thought out of his head, and as the music came to a natural conclusion, he managed to hop up towards them, and offered an awkward hello wave.

"Really rockin' the dancefloor aren't you?" He greeted, trying to keep it lighthearted. Gabrielle was nice and all, but she was like one of those aunts that wasn't really your aunt, but sort of pretended to be. As a teenager it was a bit confusing, especially without a mother in his life. Theta had kind of filled the gap, but he'd got so many questions about girls and ... stuff he felt he should know about them, that they'd not want to tell him, but his mother would... like why they got so grumpy every month like clockwork.

"Nice dress." He managed to Gabrielle, not the best, "I mean," he winced, "you look really pretty. Sorry, I kind of used up all my girl compliments..."

His father laughed, clapped him on the shoulder, as if he were going for a hug but thankfully decided not to - embarrassing.
"How's Cyhirae?"
"Yeah, I kind of should be getting back to her - she probably thinks I've fallen down the toilet..."

The diversion of a kiss left her with a confused expression that slipped into a furrowed brow for a moment. What in Godric's name was suddenly the issue with giving her a kiss? True, they probably had just seen Ambrose, but... A kiss. Francis was avoiding kisses. The urge to sigh in disappointment was there but Gabrielle held the higher ground, opting to not make herself look like a child. After all, there were too many bodies about for to start acting like she was seven, right? Right.

Ambrose's approach of compliiments made Gabrielle blush in appreciation, even as she did grin (and almost giggle) by the remarks of using up all the girly compliments. "Thank you very kindly, Ambrose. You're looking quite the young gentleman yourself. Your parents have raised you very well," she responded thusly, the grip on Francis loosened while listening to the Pepper boys. Cyhirae worried about him falling in the loo? Absurdity at best, but Gabrielle wouldn't judge him about it.

"I'd be more concerned if Myrtle found me falling in the loo, but that's between us?"

"Thank you very kindly, Ambrose. You're looking quite the young gentleman yourself. Your parents have raised you very well,"

Ambrose blushed,
"Hah, er... thanks Gabrielle," He replied, slipping his hands behind his back and giving an awkward shrug - still a teenage boy after all.

"I'd be more concerned if Myrtle found me falling in the loo, but that's between us?"

Ambrose turned his head slightly in confusion about Moaning Myrtle finding Gabrielle falling into a toilet - he'd missed something there, clearly.
"Ok..." Ambrose began slowly, "I think that one is probably safe with me... not quite sure who I'd tell in honesty..." He shrugged comically and laughed a little uneasily.

"Dad wrote that you'll be around over Christmas. That'll be good - it feels like forever since you were last over for dinner." Ambrose smiled genuinely, "I'm hoping to see at least Winnie in the holidays, if she hasn't ditched me for Zel Trumble completely..." He pouted, then all of a sudden changed his expression to optimism,
"Oh well, I can only hope Cyhirae talks to me after tonight - and Professor Trishna doesn't try and hex me for dancing with his daughter. You two'll hex him back, right?"

At Gabrielle's mention of Moaning Myrtle and the toilets, Francis tried to suppress his giggles of tales and memories of their school days. Ambrose was confused, but that was nothing new.

"Dad wrote that you'll be around over Christmas. That'll be good - it feels like forever since you were last over for dinner. I'm hoping to see at least Winnie in the holidays, if she hasn't ditched me for Zel Trumble completely..." Francis was surprised, he'd been almost convinced that Ambrose would come home at Christmas and announce that he and Winnie were girlfriend and boyfriend, so hearing recently that Ambrose was going to the dance with Cyhirae Trishna had been a surprise.

"Oh well, I can only hope Cyhirae talks to me after tonight - and Professor Trishna doesn't try and hex me for dancing with his daughter. You two'll hex him back, right?"
"Oh, totally." Francis replied without hesitation, in the same tone Ambrose was using. His expression was mock seriousness, and he squeezed Gabrielle, "Gabie will sort him out with her Ministry powers, won't you my l- dear." Merlin's buttocks. My love. Not now though, Francis. Not here.

"Though I'm sure you could take him on with the old Pepper intelligence." He rapped his son on the head gently with his knuckles, beaming at him, successfully covering the fact he knew Ambrose was more likely to set his own hair on fire than doing any harm to Tapendra Trishna.

She could now only listen to the men, smiling and nodding about coming for Christmas. Hopefully, just hopefully there would be less of a scene than what occurred around Easter. A repeat of those events were the last things the Peppers needed, but seeing that Ambrose was eager to have her over made Gabrielle feel better about the situation already.

As for using Ministry powers that be on Tappy, that was a different matter entirely. "I'm afraid using my position like that would make me appear less than diplomatic, Francis Albert." Gabrielle grinned to Ambrose. "He won't hex you, Ambrose, but if it truly does happen, owl me and I'll speak with him directly. Now, you shouldn't leave the lady waiting. Go, and enjoy the evening. It's not too often four nations come together for a dance, let alone under one roof."

Ambrose gave them both a genuine smile for once, and lowered his head in a little bow.

"Thanks Gabrielle, I'll hold you to that! I'll leave you to your dancing and boring adult things... See you later perhaps, or, see you tomorrow Dad, soon Gabrielle."

The Gryffindor gave them both a wave and headed off into the crowds, stealing a glance back over his shoulder to see his Father lean to speak in Gabrielle's ear with a content smile on his features.

Now, to find Cyhirae!

(Ambrose exits)

As Ambrose scuttled off into the crowd Francis chuckled to himself and drew Gabrielle into a closer embrace.

"I think that might be the last we see of him, if he's got Cyhirae with him." He mused, pleased for his son to be having fun with girls. Best to keep Winifred Oliver a friend perhaps? They were close, but for friend reasons, and sometimes friends who became lovers didn't work out. Sometimes one proposed, things fell apart, but they'd reunite later...

He leaned to whisper in Gabrielle's ear.
"I'm sorry, my love. I want to tell him now, but we can't. Soon, I promise, and the rest of the family, and then we'll be free to be as we are. The world can know we love each other."

She shivered slightly at the prospect of Francis' words.

To reveal their secret that they were madly in love and wanting more than stealing glances, holding hands and fleeting kisses. Oh, how the heart wants more than that when one is enamored with their true love. "Well, if he does, it's all right, isn't it? After all, it means that you've raised a good son who will love and cherish a lady like she ought to be. Like your father did for you," Gabrielle remarked gingerly, stroking the worn hands that held her.

"I promise to not go yelling it off the Astronomy Tower, but I'll so relieved and happy to tell people who has my heart. To tell them that he loves me and cares for me. That he has the best interests at heart for his family and for me. Won't that be a wonderful Christmas present?"