Rover's Fancy, Sunday lunch

	Tim	Catherine	Ignan	Johann	Flynn	Audrey
Zeta							Theta
	Eta	Linus	Monty	Gabrielle	Francis	Chris

The witch retired to the kitchen with their Sunday lunch order, and the table very quickly resumed several different conversations all at once. Francis took a moment to reach beneath the table and pull out a parcel concealed beneath.
"Ambrose left you this before he went away." He explained, handing over a gift wrapped with great care in red and gold paper. It felt soft and a bit squidgy, but wasn't oozing anything, so Francis surmised it was material within.
"He wanted me to remind you how if he wasn't on the trip, he'd be here for your birthday." He hoped Cyhirae had been there to advise on what to pick. Teenage boys buying for their potential stepmothers could be disaster. Ambrose had set off a couple of days ago for a summer trip with Hogwarts, and had been both apprehensive and very excited to go.

The table was a hubbub of chatter around them. Francis could hear Monty winding Tim and Eta up about being third years once they went back to school, picking their elective subjects. Eta was naturally going to to cram Divination, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy into her timetable so she covered all angles on the seeing front, and was already very anxious to read up. At the end of the table to the right of Francis and Gabrielle, Theta was entwining fingers with Chris across the table, making eyes at him. At the other end, Zeta was furiously doodling the scene in her place, her hand flying across the page and her tongue sticking out. It was either a last minute present for Gabrielle, or they were all in caricature trouble. Unfazed by being sat next to Ignan, Catherine was looking curiously at the menu at some of the wizarding dishes, contemplating striking up conversation with the two non-Peppers to her left about what they were, so as to include them.
"I've no idea what it is, either," Francis explained to Gabrielle. Catherine looked up over the menu, wondering at first if the comment was to her, and then realised it was regarding the gift. She lowered the menu and decided that was more interesting to consider.

"But I have to study divination, that's what I put on my form!" Eta protested, her father winding her up that Hogwarts had written to say she couldn't do divination and had to do Muggle Studies. She would have been very good at Muggle Studies, what with her mother being a Muggle and still very much in touch with the non-magical world. Still, Eta wasn't at all interested in studying it.
"You could just ask Professor Storm..." Tim explained in a hushed voice to his cousin and classmate. Both of the children glanced at the other end of the table, spooked that one of their least favourite teachers was putting in an appearance at a family meal.
"Dad's just winding you up." Theta explained, suddenly snapping out of her mooning at Chris to discourage a question to the long-suffering Deputy Headmaster. She leaned over to look down the table past Gabrielle and Francis. "Sorry Professor." Ignan gave a shrug, disinterested in the young Peppers, while his younger cousin leaned over to Theta and Chris to ask them something and thumb in Eta's direction.

This was shaping up to be a birthday to remember. Sure, she had mentioned the words "family luncheon" to Francis in regards as to what would be nice for the day, but this had been a bit of a surprise when they had arrived to Rover's. That all said, Gabrielle was eyeing her Germanic cousin closely, taking note he could try to be a little less of a mud covered stick for a few hours, but then again, she was grateful for his appearance all the same. The sound of paper rustling caught her attention and an eyebrow rose when the colours of Gryffindor were presented to her. A smile was there now on the lips as Gabie listened to what Ambrose had done for her and for that, she was definitely going to thank him for it later.

Taking the package in hand, she began to unwrap it slowly, opting to not be excessively noisy about it nor look like some eight year old on their birthday without proper manners. Once paper was removed and placed to the side, Gabrielle grinned at his choice. A beautifully handmade tartan throw with the colors of her clansmen laid in her hands. "It's wonderful; I absolutely adore it," she urged with a positive nod of affirmation. "He chose quite well, even if he had help with it." Lowering her voice, she pecked Francis' cheek. "I know I'll tell you a hundred times before the day is over, but thank you again for this."

Flynn sauntered into Rover's fancy, a large sparkling red plant with silver flowers tucked under his arm. The flowers made soft humming noises with each movement. Behind him trailed his sweet, beloved older sister-- why she showed up to this party was beyond him. Audrey was not one of the family members who was accepting of Francis' relationship with Gabie, but then again she was the sort to look for reasons to be upset where there really were none.

To be fair, not many people were jumping with joy over their relationship.

Except for Flynn.  And Flynn thought his cousin Bertie was happy with it too, as a firm believer in true love and whatnot. And of course, there was Linus, rushing in with an appetite as large as a fully grown Hungarian Horntail. Flynn suspected that his nephew cared little about adult politics, and was drawn to those who were fun and fed him. How a cold, bitter person like Audrey produced a bouncy ball of mischief and joy was beyond him.

He took a seat across from Francis and placed the plant in front of him. "Happy Birthday!" he declared as solemnly as possible. But Flynn couldn't keep a straight face for long, his lips kept twitching and his eyes wrinkled at the corners as he finally gave into a smile. "It's no cinnamon roll, but the petals make a delicious herbal tea."

Behind him, Audrey rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. She had yet to sit down,  though she greeted Francis with a terse nod and Monty with what almost was a smile.  When Gabrielle pecked Francis on the cheek, however, Audrey narrowed her eyes at the woman while Linus covered his eyes dramatically.

"Dad's just winding you up. Sorry Professor." Ignan gave a shrug, and regretted it. His shoulders ached from going over the sofa the previous day, helping Miranda practice her spellwork. Despite his hatred of anything too social or too happy at his age, an invitation on behalf of Gabrielle from the Peppers had been difficult to deny. He had hoped to steer clear of students. At least young Ambrose wasn't there to cause an accident, but it appeared young Linus Hughes was instead.

As he shot the young Gryffindor a poisonous stare he almost missed Gabrielle excitedly opening a parcel and kissing her lover on the cheek. It still was beyond him how that man had managed to produce one wreck of a boy and one half decent one, and woo his cousin. Beside him, Johann accidentally elbowed him while gossiping with his colleagues. They were both former students too, but hadn't been in Ignan's classroom, luckily for them.

All of a sudden the table was adorned by a strange looking plant and a young man and woman sat down. It looked ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as he felt sat here.
"Pass the wine." He ordered Johann, interrupting his conversation on purpose. "Merlin knows I need it to get through this."

Monty exchanged polite nods and smiles beneath his bushy beard at Flynn and Audrey's arrival. He was intrigued by the strange plant, but that wasn't too unusual in the long scheme of the Hughes and Flynn. It was good to see them, it always seemed too long since the last.

Eta enthusiastically pointed out a space beside her at the table for Linus, between her and her father. She loved spending time with Linus, he was so very silly.
"Young Linnie, how do you do?" Monty greeted his young relative (first cousin twice removed, though as good as a nephew like Tim and Ambrose really) "What have ye been up to this holiday? Looking forward to being a second year, no longer the littlest?"

Francis watched with a gentle smile as Gabrielle unwrapped her present from Ambrose. He was quite chuffed his son had both remembered and taken so much care over choosing. It was still a little worrying that her joining the family might not sit well with Ambrose.
"I know I'll tell you a hundred times before the day is over, but thank you again for this."
"Not at all," Francis assured her, "I wouldn't do anything less. Besides, if we're going to be one family, it was time we started acting like one." He winked and glanced past her to Ignan and Johann.

"It's no cinnamon roll…" The plant was certainly a little unusual looking, Francis could agree. But it wouldn't be a birthday without someone bringing a plant in this family. Francis gave Audrey a smile.
"There's a spare beside Theta," he told her warmly. Linus was quickly encouraged to join his cousins at the other end, and Francis clocked the bottle of wine being passed.

"Good to see you again, Audrey. Been some cracking shots in the paper lately." Francis greeted, trying to appease his disapproving relative. He squeezed Gabrielle's hand beneath the table. One of the Rovers Return staff passed by and handed out a few more menus to the newcomers.

"Alright, keep what's left of your hair on." Johann retorted quietly, reaching for the wine and handing it to Ignan. As faces joined the table, Johann had begin to realise that other than him and Gabrielle, the only other people at the table Ignan knew were his own students, and he was seated across from Monty who was irritating the younger ones instead.

"You haven't met these two have you?" Johann asked, thumbing to his left to Flynn and Audrey. Catching Ignan's attention with potential adult conversation, he leaned back in his chair, catching Flynn's attention, a Francis had just spoken directly to Audrey about her photographs in the Daily Prophet.

"Flynn," Johann greeted, "Have you met mine and Gabrielle's cousin, Ignan?"

Linus, being the little shit brat that he was, stuck his tongue out at Ignan. He did not expect to see a professor here, in his territory. Here, Storm had no power. Here reigned the Peppers and Hughes.  He greeted Eta with a great big hug.  His family was so fun-- especially when they were all gathered in a big group like this.

"I am going to going to become king of the second years." Linus said casually, giving Monty a serious look, "And rule over the first years with an iron fist." Francis hopped out of the collar of his shirt and landed on the table,croaking. "With the help of Francis!! I could never forget Francis!" Francis the frog was eyeing his namesake with beady, black eyes.

Audrey raised her eyebrows at Francis and cleared her throat disapprovingly.  But her father and Flynn had both urged her to be civil today, so civil she was going to be. "Francis." She replied tartly, taking the spare seat next to Theta. The smile she gave to the young woman was much warmer than any greeting that Gabrielle and Francis would receive. She rather liked Theta-- she was a clever girl. Audrey could hardly believe that Theta was now the same age she had been when Linus was born.

She faced Francis once more, "Thank you." her lips twitched in what was almost a smile-- she was proud of her work, and generally appreciated it when people recognized her for it. "I've been painting, too-- but mostly for fun." She picked up her menu and shook her head.

She ordered a salad and some tea for herself, and fish and chips for Linus as a treat.

Audrey glanced at Ignan-- the name rang a bell.

"Is there any other reason to paint?" Francis asked calmly, a friendly smile upon his features. For all of Audrey's sharp approach, he always hoped that if he showed her no ill expression, they might see eye to eye again.

"Flynn, have you met mine and Gabrielle's cousin, Ignan?" Johann asked, interrupting without apparently meaning to.

"I'm sure Linus might have mentioned him a few times." Francis teased gently, "Popular Professor." There was an exchange of glances between Francis and the older wizard. His application to become a governor had been acknowledged, and Francis hoped to hear in a matter of weeks if he'd been sworn in, ahead of the first meeting of the academic year.

Ambrose had said rude words about Ignan, though Francis had been very diplomatic about it, even if he didn't entirely agree with the Deputy Headmaster's methods in contrast to the progress Ambrose had made with Professor Kesali in Charms.

His words and hand squeezing reassured her, calmed the nerves she had been feeling towards Audrey's disapproval and Linus' arrival. However, Flynn's gift, assurances about cinnamon rolls did help as well. "Thank you, Flynn; I'll be sure to keep it going, all right?" she quipped with a nod of reassurance. After that, she paid close attention to the conversations happening all over the tables-- Linus and his tongue sticking to Ignan was particularly amusing, but Gabrielle was wise enough to not quip a remark or facial expression about this.

So, she refocused her attention to Francis. A family. Mm. A young teen witch wishes and dreams, but she had dashed those so long ago. But now? They were becoming slow realities once again and for it, Gabrielle was hopeful, excited even. Leaning into his earline, she began to speak quietly to Francis, uttering one little tidbit:

"This is grand, love, but it compares so little to Italy. Too bad we can't just picnick our life away again, hm? Just you....and me. Alone."

"I am going to going to become king of the second years. And rule over the first years with an iron fist." Linus announced, and Eta giggled at him while Tim made a quiet 'uhuh'. They were well versed in the different things Linus would announce when seeing family again. Monty quite liked winding him up along with the rest.

"Be Head Boy before you know it," Monty grinned, his moustache curling up. "How you going to do it, then, Li?"

As he asked, a frog climbed out from somewhere on Linus and flopped onto the table.
"With the help of Francis!! I could never forget Francis!"
"I'm not sure he's going to be-."
"The frog Dad." Eta informed him. "Linus, I can read your cards, see if you will face peril."
"You'll face death, almost certainly," Tim advised, pushing his glasses up his nose and then lowered his voice "Besides, Li, there's a spy at the table."

Monty glanced down the table and back, puzzled, and then realised what they meant.
"Your Professor? Ha, well, I'd be more worried of your mother for now…" He pulled at his beard. "If Francis and Gabrielle get married one day we'll all be family, you realise."

Eta flopped back on her chair and plugged her ears. Tim winced and took off his glasses, polishing them on the corner of his shirt tails.
"Uncle do you have to keep reminding us!"

"If it makes you all do that then of course I will." He chuckled. "So how is your frog going to help you, young Linus? Didn't you have more of them?"

"Alright, keep what's left of your hair on," Johann replied to Ignan's demand for the wine, but obliged.
"What have ye been up to this holiday? Looking forward to being a second year, no longer the littlest?" The wizard opposite Ignan had a wild look about him, and was clearly a close relative of Francis Pepper. Ignan hadn't been keenly listening to the conversations around him, but it seemed he might get drawn into it eventually.
"I am going to become king of the second years…" Linus enthusiastically informed his relative, and Ignan couldn't hide his sigh as he went to sip his wine.

It happened sooner than later, his own kin keen to introduce him.
"You haven't met these two have you?" Ignan looked up somewhat politely to regard Flynn and Audrey who were indeed unknown to him.

"Flynn, have you met mine and Gabrielle's cousin, Ignan?"
"I'm sure Linus might have mentioned him a few times." Francis interrupted, and Ignan glanced to Gabrielle's lover with narrowed eyes. He was very aware that he was a popular topic of conversation at the end of terms or in letters home. Normally students liked to complain at how much homework and detention he issued.

He held his tongue before Francis - mostly for Gabrielle's sake, and also because Pepper was due to join the board of twelve governors. Easier to keep him on side if he was successful. Didn't mean he would give Ambrose any easier ride when term began.

"No, we've not met." Ignan clarified, allowing Johann to elaborate on their names, though there was noticeable kerfuffle from the other end of the table where the younger family members were.
"… Francis and Gabrielle get married one day we'll all be family, you realise."
"Uncle do you have to keep reminding us!

Ignan gave the wizard across from him a longer than usual stare, but he didn't seem to notice, too busy asking Linus about frogs, one of which was visible.

Quite rescuing them all from making awkward small talk, the food arrived. Conversation turned quickly to exchanging condiments, and admiring each other's plates. Then there was laughter. It was hideous. They better not get married - he'd have to sit through this all again, for a whole day.

Splot

Merlin, that was a frog in the mashed potatoes.

Without thinking twice about it, Ignan speared with his fork - and there was an exclamation of horror from the younger end of the table at his actions. At the angle they were, it looked like Francis the frog had been impaled by their least favourite professor.

"This is grand, love, but it compares so little to Italy. Too bad we can't just picnic our life away again, hm? Just you… and me. Alone."

"I er…" Francis flushed a little, "I thought you wanted to do this, my love?" He suddenly thought he'd made a grave mistake dragging all the family out to The Rover's Return, and Gabrielle was hating her birthday.

"We'll do something together, soon, I promise."

The arrival of the food ended the conversation for the time-being. Francis reached over to refill wine glasses for those around him, and enquired briefly what Chris and Theta had chosen when there was a great noise from the other end where the children were.

"FRANCIS!!"

His name and an exclamation of Dad from a young voice were, aside from a pained scream, the quickest way to instinctively get a wizard's attention as a father. Eyes shot to the end of the table, full attention. Son, Tim had leapt to his feet, and his niece, Eta had slapped her hands over her eyes with a screech, the one to have yelled the name. Clearly it wasn't to him, but the darned frog Linus had named after him.

In the middle of the table, Professor Storm had his fork in the middle of a bowl of mashed potato, and was staring intently into it with a frown, opposite Monty who had stopped and was staring into the same place. His wife, Catherine swallowed visibly and blinked from beside the Professor - everyone transfixed with the mashed potato, apart from Johann who on seeing what his relative had done, choked on his wine.

Shite.

Playful remark gone awry. Gabrielle felt rather awful about the situation -- all of it on her birthday, no less. Her brow furrowed because of it, but eased momentarily when Francis reassured her the situation would be remedied soon enough. This all in mind, the meals arrived and soon, Gabrielle was preparing to tuck in when hell broke loose with the shriek of her lover's name.

Jolting out of her seat because of this, the ladylikeness slipped with a brief moment of a colourful metaphor towards the entire situation. Sitting down back down, her eyes took on the hawklike gaze she often gave when unamused. And was she was quite unamused.

Her teeth were gritted towards Ignan, brain grinding and formulating less than popular words to say to him. Yet.....Gabrielle worked herself down, resigning to not blowing up but still eyeing him in displeasure for a few minutes more.

Lowering her head to the food, Gabrielle cut into her pie and began to eat quietly, avoiding the meltdowns. For now.