References

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Monty was very glad he kept such good diaries of appointments. A twenty year gap between December 2009 and then into January 2010 wasn't very convenient. With help from his family who were now somewhat over the shock of the trip to America's result, he'd had to revise more recent events again.

He was due to meet Aisling Knight, an old family friend of sorts - the type where you began to lose track of where you'd met and what circumstances you became friends with, and just accepted you all were. The Knight family were always good allies to have, what with Tarron in the Wizengamot... heh, hopefully he'd be receptive and favourable if Monty's plight to get flying cars accepted in Britain led to some... uhm... accidents.

Flooing from his studio at the house in Sandy, he emerged at the time scribbled in the diary in Moonmoth Hall in London, and drank in his surroundings as he stepped out, dusting himself down automatically. The wood panelling, the little details that the Knight family had put in, the cleanliness owing to the house elf.

He whistled in admiration a moment, and then remembered himself, quickly brushing his fingertips through his curly greying hair.  It was then he noticed the family's house elf before him, waiting patiently for him to stop gawping.

"Octavius Pepper, here to see Madam Knight." Monty hastily explained, realising he might not be as recognisable as usual.

He followed the elf as it beckoned, into a sitting room, which had a high ceiling, furnished and decorated so as to best make use of the light pouring in from the tall windows overlooking the gardens, which despite it being January, were surprisingly in bloom. Good old magic... Allowing his curious eyes to dart about, he spotted amongst everything Aisling, and hoped she wasn't too shocked to see him.

"Aisling, how good to see you," Monty extended an arm, hedging his bets on whether she'd go for giving him her hand to kiss fondly, or accept a hug, or merely smile back politely, acknowledging his gesture as a sign of pleasure in greeting her.

"Octavius. I'm so glad to see you." Aisling offered him her hand, her warm expression seemingly untouched by the changes to his appearance. "Krix should be in with the tea in a moment."

As if on cue, the house elf appeared with a carefully-balanced tray of tea and various delicate foodstuffs, which she set on a nearby table before disappearing again.

"Please, sit down," she made a small motion with her head toward the couches. "And you must tell me about your trip. I will admit that I was rather concerned about you." It was almost a surprise that he'd still come, but most certainly a pleasant one. Old friends were good company, and with the rush of so many events over the holidays Aisling could rather use a conversation without social maneuvering masked behind it. "And I haven't spoken to your brother recently to ask."

Monty smiled broadly, his moustache curling up with his lip, and he smoothed his beard a little as he sat down.

"And I haven't spoken to your brother recently to ask."

"Ha, yes, well, he's probably been preoccupied somewhat, the boys being home for Christmas, certain female friends." He clasped his hands together, sitting forward on the sofa opposite his dear friend. "Gabrielle ruddy Muray," He sighed, shook his head in disapproval. But he didn't want to worry Aisling with that. 

"Anyhow, my dear, the trip was lovely, plenty of memories from it. Twenty years worth, if I'm honest. Don't tell me I look a day older than when I left." He gestured comically to his greying hair which had once been brown, and the beard.

"You'll have to come out for a drink when his Lord Highness lets you out the house. You and Eddy. Damn Britain, you need to get over the international floo - see what the Americans have." Octavius laughed, only poking humour at Tarron's position in the Wizengamot with affection.

"Just shut me up if you want to talk about me painting the twins, Ais, right?" He grinned, glad to see her again after all these weeks years.

"I'd rather noticed his attention to Ms. Murray-though with the show they've been putting on I expect everyone has," Aisling said, with a disapproving curl to her lip.

An expression that quickly shifted towards worried at the mention of his trip. "It's good to have you back. And I could probably find something to make you look younger than when you left." There was a bit of a pause as she poured them both a bit of tea, and she  took a closer look at Octavius as she did so. Twenty years seemed depressingly correct from the changes to his appearance. "Though it's usually not worth the fuss. Unless your husband is the Chief Warlock and you're expected to look perfect at all times."

She sighed a little. It did get tiring. "I'd love a drink sometime, though. And Tarron's quite aware of how stubborn I can be. If he didn't like it he wouldn't have married me." Then she leaned back, shoulders slumping and her head tipped too far back. "Just give me a couple weeks first. All of those parties are a bit more draining than I should admit to-and Rowena and Sophia have so much energy. I don't know how they do it."

Then a shake of her head. "But here I am, going on when I should be worrying about you. Is Catherine well?"

"Oooh listen to you, parties!" Monty teased. "Twenty years you say? I'm game if you are, I won't have to redo my adverts for Blue Silver either if it does what you say." He pretended to preen his hair with a hand.

"Catherine's as fine as she ever was. I won't lie, she fainted when I told her, and she's still not quite sure how to talk about it. I have a feeling she's worried what I could have done in twenty years, either that or the whole morbid thing about being around less years as a result, which I try not to think about. Nah, I just tell her the truth, there was no other woman than Catherine, and although I didn't wear my wedding ring to avoid questions, it was always with me." He put a hand to his heart solemnly.

"Like I say, its a long story, take ... oh... three or more beers. I'll just have to bring the beers and Eddy here. Ha! What gives me the feeling he'd let you out the house then?" Octavius put both hands upon his thighs and laughed before softening his voice and trying to behave.

"Rowena and Sophia, yes, how are they, how are they enjoying Hogwarts? I heard brief amounts from Eta and Tim, and somewhat from Ambrose and Zeta along the way. Rowena's a Gryffindor?"

"At the Yule Ball, one of the Professors assumed that I was young enough to have been at school during the last Tournament. Twenty years shouldn't be any trouble, especially with a face like yours." Just a bit of teasing slipped into her expression, and her voice.

"And Catherine should be fine. She's a strong sort-has to be to put up with you. Sure she just needs a little time to adjust." The irony of time in this situation wasn't lost on her, but there wasn't much use to dwelling on it. "I could find you some beers, but Edwin coming over might have to wait until he's gone a bit without being awkward." She sighed, and glanced out the window to watch one of the rose bushes brush against it, before turning back.

"The girls are well. I worry that Sophia's pushing herself too hard some days, but there's only so much I can do while she's away. She's in Ravenclaw, and Rowena is in Gryffindor. She speaks with Ambrose occasionally, I think." Her smile at the thought of them didn't quite reach to her eyes. "They both got kittens for Christmas. I'm rather already missing having cat hair on everything."

"And Catherine should be fine. She's a strong sort-has to be to put up with you. Sure she just needs a little time to adjust."

Monty chuckled. Aisling knew him too well, some days. Catherine was resilient, she'd always been able to put up with his silly notions and plans - well, the ones she found out about. There was an advantage to being married to a non-magical person.

"You speak the truth." Monty confirmed, stroking his beard. He gave a complacent shrug in return to Edwin being disallowed into the house for the time being. It was a long running joke that Edwin was rather fond of Aisling, and that Tarron was not very comfortable with it. Monty found it hilarious his old friend could hardly do anything about it, but was impressed it still hadn't stopped Edwin chasing after anything else with a skirt. He and Aisling had spent nights in the corner of the pub giggling over a scoring system of the women to help Edwin decide who he was going to go over and try to talk to. He wasn't ever sure they'd been that helpful - Glass had always been a smooth talker, bloody Slytherin.

"The girls are well. I worry that Sophia's pushing herself too hard some days, but there's only so much I can do while she's away. She's in Ravenclaw, and Rowena is in Gryffindor. She speaks with Ambrose occasionally, I think. They both got kittens for Christmas. I'm rather already missing having cat hair on everything."

"Oh tell me about it," Monty replied at the mention of cat hair. "Lived eight years with Theta's cat Oscar - was always glad when it went back to school with her - could stop finding cat hair in my toothbrush. With two of them, you've got double the chance." He made a face for a moment.

"I should ask Eta to seek Sophia out. Hmm, second thoughts... she's on a bit of a pre-emptive divination kick ahead of her third year, likely she'll predict Sophia will fail her exams or something."

Monty waved a hand to dismiss the idea,
"Ambrose has shot up inches since he went away. So has Zeta, heck, she's taller than Theta these days. That was a surprise to come home to. I can remember how different they all were after their first term at Hogwarts. It'll be the same for the next six years. Then it'll be empty nest for you. Can't say I'm looking forward to that day myself."

"Well, with this sort of house a few charms should get it sorted. Can't say that I'd like to taste it on my toothbrush much either." Aisling turned her head back and forth to give the couch a quick inspection, then settled back into her seat.

She ran fingers up her neck and across her cheek at the mention of Divination. "If she's that interested in the subject I could give a list of books...presuming you're willing to encourage it, of course." It was a bit more of an uncertain, murky area, the realm of fools and charlatans as much as seers. And strange indeed for analysis.

The mention of an empty nest, though, that made her stare down before speaking. "Oh, don't mention such things already. They've a few more years, and I have enough trouble thinking that it will be months before I see them again." A deep breath, and she forced herself to focus; one hand moved to clasp the left side of her neck. "I am sorry. I do not know how you deal with it, I've found it so much harder than I expected."  She'd kept them close for so long.

"If she's that interested in the subject I could give a list of books...presuming you're willing to encourage it, of course."

Monty chuckled.
"Well, I'm sure she'd fill the whole house with books given half a chance. If she's still hot on it by the time she's taken her first term of lessons, I'll let her know you're her 'aunt' to see." He shook his head, his curls bouncing on his shoulders. "Thanks."

"I am sorry. I do not know how you deal with it, I've found it so much harder than I expected."

"Well," Monty's features softened. "When Theta went, I had Zeta and Eta, and then when Zeta went too, I had Eta. Then that September not last but before, no daughters at all. It was so very strange. Quiet. I'd come back into the house during the day at the time I would normally set off to pick up Eta from school when she was little. Or listen for her at the door, and there'd be nobody there. Catherine would be home a few hours after, but we missed them terribly that month. But Christmas came soon enough. I expect it did for you too."

He grinned broadly, his moustache curling.

"But that's one of the reasons we agreed I'd paint them - to preserve your darling daughters in their twelve year old beauty." He stroked his beard. "And perhaps if I ask nicely, their mother too?"

"Oh, it's no trouble. I actually gave a book on the subject to a student over the break. Her mother is in my department. Winnifred Oliver, I believe she's a fourth year." Aisling shrugged slightly, and looked around the room. There seemed to be a few lingering books, as was normal.

"It's far too quiet around here with them gone. And Christmas didn't come soon enough." She sighed at herself. "Suppose it is my own fault, I had barely been away from them for more than a day or two for the last decade."  They were older than that, of course, but that was a subject to dance about, to lock away and never unlock until it burst through the cracks left in the orders of her mind.

Her hands were trembling, and she forced them still. Folded everything up and away next to the cold memories of shadows.

Then managed a smile. "Oh, I imagine I could spare an afternoon or two for a portrait. Tarron would like to have a proper one of me, I'm sure." She raised an eyebrow. "A proper one, mind you, not one of your Tour pranks." Despite her words, there was a bit more to her smile after them.

"Haha, well, you never know, he might like one of you like Madam Bagnold." Monty chuckled, stroking his beard, "For the bedroom, you know..."

He ducked instinctively, as if she were about to toss one of those cushions from her sofa at him the other side of the low table.
"You know I'm joking, Ais, and yes, I'd do you a proper one. Had an extra two decades to practise." He reminded her, although he'd used those skills for less portrait painting and other art.

"My I missed you when I was away." He grinned, "I used to think about what we were up to back in Britain that year, for your birthdays, mine... I'd have caused a paradox in an instant if I knew I could go back to when we used to spend an evening rating the women in a pub and winding Edwin up about the size of his ears."

Pepper adopted a rather wistful expression.
"But what with children, responsibilities, and partners its all become so difficult, so here I am, sat in your sitting room - er - one of your sitting rooms, having tea and discussing painting your daughters come Spring. When did we grow up?" He asked putting a hand to each side of his face in mock horror.

"Oh, I'd never convince him. Though perhaps in the process I might get him to admit that even the most skilled painting-" she motioned in Octavius' direction "-could not compare to the real thing." There was a smirk, an expression sharper and more amused than she usually displayed in these days.

Though her expression softened back into nostalgia soon enough. "We did enjoy ourselves, then. At least in those hours. Even if it does seem as if I prefer to remember only the good moments, rather than all the rest." She placed one hand at her side on the couch, then leaned over, resting her head against the armrest. "We will need to have the three of us go out for drinks again soon. Allow me to remember that have some tolerance for the stuff."

Most of these parties had involved very slow sipping of drinks she may or may not have been interested in. "I don't think we're quite as grown up as we pretend. Perhaps because I was always rather serious. And you, well, no one could accuse you of acting  your age." She laughed softly at his expression. "It's so good to have you back."

"-could not compare to the real thing."

Monty chuckled slyly,
"Would have to ask Edwin.. wouldn't know myself..."

"It's so good to have you back."

A warm smile continued across Monty's face.
"It is good to be back, though would be improved if we were out like old days, over pints, stealing each other's potential girlfriends." He was chuckling over a memory of Edwin waving to a girl at the bar, only to see Aisling was also waving... and the girl had been waving at Aisling all along. Always the unmarried one of the three of them, but not for want of trying.

"How are things really though, Ais?" Monty asked, his smile diminishing, "I lived through things again, but the other side of the Atlantic. I couldn't help but remember... feel so lucky that when it was all over, that you'd be fine, that we'd all be fine. To a degree. Made me feel so damned lucky for another chance, but I couldn't help but feel it wasn't me who deserved it."

"Oh, but asking Edwin would just get you some decades-old tale grown much too large in the telling." Aisling shook her head, a touch amused. That had been so long ago, and of course Octavius would remember it. "And we will go drinking, though this time he won't have to worry about competition. We're both quite happily taken, I think, despite your protests of nostalgia." Her expression had grown a little tired. The past was better past, these days.

Which was perhaps why he brought it up. She stiffened in an instant, froze in all the little ways her old friend knew how to read. "Not well. Not since the girls left. I hadn't been away from them since-well, you remember it twice over now." There were still some words she didn't wish to say. Some names. Not here, not this close. The facade of being well did not hold with him.

"Expected it would be easier. Thought I might even train my Occlumency back up to where it was. Which, well, my mind has not forgotten any of it." The walls built of thoughts. And why they shattered. Everything felt so cold even when she thought of it. She rubbed her hands together, but the gesture brought no warmth.

Monty's expression softened, sincere, thoughtful and touched by his friend's honest words.

"Memories are never easy." Monty agreed. "You're doing well, from what I see, and before long they'll be home for summer."

He reached a hand out across the table over the tea tray towards her and stood up ever so slightly, reaching for her hand.

"I'm back now, even if things are awkward with Ed, I'm here, Catherine's here, you're always welcome and we always have time for you, Ais."

Giving her a supportive smile, he let go and sat back, wondering exactly when the tea tray had got there...

"So, I'll come over at Easter, we'll do it over a couple of sittings with them at least, maybe more. I'll play it by ear how long they sit happily for, after all. In the garden, yes?" He inclined his head to the enchanted plants. "Up to you what they wear, I've painted some in Muggle attire, but most commissions are pretty dresses and wizard's robes."