8pm, Spectre Estate

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After a relatively quiet dinner in Wiltshire, Gabrielle sat in silence within the study until she could bear it no longer. Grabbing ahold fthe tartan throw Ambrose had given to her on her birthday and securing it tightly around her form, she headed for the kitches. "Imp!" came her voice, her eyes looking for the faithful servant. A huff of smoke and the scent of sulfur filled the room as the creature appeared, his ears perked up in interest. "Yes, my Mistressss?" Gabrielle smiled weakly to him, patting his head, which only led Imp to grumble from the affection. "Oh, stop it, it's not going to kill you...and don't remark it might."  The creature grinned, his pointy teeth peering from the lips, causing Gabrielle to smile briefly herself. "You troll. Anyhow... I'm going to visit up north, should be back before too long. If I'm not in by dawn, send an owl. I have tea at noon. Thank you again, Imp." The creature nodded. "One is always glad to be of service, miss," he responded before disappearing once again.

His departure soon marked her own as she walked out through the back door to the backyard. Securing the blanket, Gabrielle closed her eys tightly before apparating with a resounding CRACK! in the chilly  night air. Her landing went  a bit wobbly as the terrain was a bit diffeerent than that in Wiltshire. Looking forward, Gabrielle smiled and began to stroll forward towards the entrance of the homestead. Once there, her hand grabbed the handle, knocking it roughly to indicate someone was standing outside,prepared fully to go head indoors oposed to out here in the ruddy cold. "Come on now....doesn't take that longgggg," she grumbled as a gust of the cool Scottish air ripped through. The wolf upon the handle growled low; Gabrielle squinted at the metal creature, unamused. "Pffft. Sooooooo scared  of you, darling."

The manor was abound with relatives, this night. Nathaira had made the house elves set their dinner up in the bigger dining hall, just off the main entrance, and after their meal it seemed like cheerful voices echoed from every corner of the home. Father and mither were both entertaining in the kitchen - as was custom when the aunts came over - but the rest of the Spectres were playing a convoluted clan version of Snickering Heirs[1] when they heard a low growl in the distance... followed by a howl.

Nathaira looked up from the coffee table with a wondering expression. Her fiancé was being conscientiously taught game rules by a hatchling of young cousins, so she rose from the couch and flitted into the foyer. Goraidh had beat her to it.


The tall, athletic Scotsman opened the door to find their cousin Gabrielle outside in the cold. Knox laughed, watching as her little brother grabbed the other witch into a hug and swung her around with affection. He would have tried to do the same if Rubeus Hagrid had appeared at their doorstep.

"Gor! Be gentle now!" she scolded through laughter and crossed over, addressing their guest. "I wasn't expecting you so early! Have you eaten? It's bloody cold tonight, we might send for something hearty." To their left, back in the drawing room, the children screamed something indecipherable in gaelic alluding to the swearing of adults. Knox smiled helplessly. "In my parlour, maybe."

One of the most comforting things about Spectre estate was its entrance hall, a reminiscent miniature of the one at Hogwarts. The front door opened into a large atrium where a stairwell in the centre led up to the other two floors. To the left, the large dining hall gave way to kitchens and tea rooms and playrooms. To the right, the drawing room lead into a formal gallery and a series of offices or parlours.

Nathaira rescued her cousin from Goraidh, taking her amiably by the arm. "We'll have to plan Samhain sober this year, I'm afraid." She explained with a hand on her belly - not showing just yet - and humour in her tone. "But apparently I'm allowed all the boiled sweets and lemon tea that a witch might desire."

1.	Scottish wizarding card game bearing resemblance to the rules of Black Jack

Another riptide of Scottish air and Gabrielle grumbled  in annoyance with a few laced choice Scottish curse words. Had the open invitation been somehow forgotten? She began to grasp at the wolf handle (of which it attempted to growl again, but stopped at her glare) when the door swung open, revealing a wild grinning Goraidh. Gabrielle was about to give her greetings when she was immediately hoisted into the air by the lumbering fellow. Letting out a shriek of laughter, Gabrielle clung to Goraidh's neck, laughing from where she had been frowning moments before. Fond memories of seasons past filtered in her mind, causing her to lean into Goraidh until Knox began to chastise in semi seriousness. Lowered in a moment's notice, Gabie thanked her overly muscular cousin before embracing Knox warmly, her loneliness subsiding and the happiness taking its place.

"Ate only just, but I'm sure I'll eat again before too long, love.  After all, when has this family allowed someone to go hungry? " she mused warmly, readjusting the tartan before being led off to one of  the parlor rooms. Listening to the children and others, Gabrielle soon grinned from those clauses and soon from Knox's announcement. "Wait a tic -- you're meaning to tell me that I'm bound to be a cousin again?! Congratulations, Knox! ...You do know though if the baby is adorablelike you were I may have to babynap them like I always threatened to do to you when you were a wee thing," Gabrielle teased gently with a proud grin.

A flurry of strawberry blond hair rushed past, but not quick enough for Gabrielle to unlink from Knox and pluck the wee one into the hold. "Oho, got me a Niall fish!"  The child shrieked with laughter, squirming and  flailing as though he were one. His giggles mixed with  cries to be let go were ignored until Gabrielle kissed his cheeks, putting him back down to the ground,  swatting his bum. Sticking out his tongue, Niall rubbed his  hide, the kisses away, scampering off, leaving Gabrielle to laugh, relinking with Knox. "Were we ever like that?" she teasedher cousin, grinning. "Just being here brings back memories of the past. I recall  being five and celebrating my birthday here per Uncle Bhaltair's, or as I called him, Unca Air, wishes. He knew our family needed it and oh, the rage Carmina had  in hearing her sole grand baby was frockling in mud after a few days."

Gabrielle sighed at the fond recollections. "That summer remains one of the happiest times in my life."

Nathaira shook her head with laughter, tickled as always by her cousin's threat of kidnapping. Like many children she too wished that she could have been whisked away by a fun relative - saved from the responsibilities of first born, or being the eldest sister of three rumbustious lads. Only one of them ever did fulfil their ultimatum to run away.

"Every bit as wild," she replied fondly as they made their way through the drawing room. Knox cast a glance at her fiancé at the coffee table, his dark head bent over a spread of cards. Three of the cousins were badgering him to show his hand. "Carr, we're in my parlour. Drop by when you can? And have Grizelda[1] bring some coffee and tea."

A hand went up to acknowledge this - followed by a quick flash of kindly blue eyes. "Will do. Hello Gabbie, don't mind me. Serious business, Snickering Heirs." The children shrieked at him not to say the name of the game - bad luck! The wizard flushed, grinning self-consciously as he watched his wife bite her lip in amusement.

Knox led them out of the room, through another two that were much emptier, until finally she pushed past a set of tall doors and into her private office. "Uncle Bhal's as wry as ever. He won't be here for another week, has a bone to pick with Balfour..." she trailed off with a smirk.

It was a cosy room. Old, mustard yellow rugs crisscrossed the stone floors in a haphazard fashion, pulled together only by the comfortable armchairs. Towering bookshelves lined the walls on all sides but one - above the blazing fireplace a portrait of great grand aunt Davina was covered in little pieces of parchment. Names and costumes were listed alongside antiquated sketches of Samhain rituals.

"Costume sorted yet?" Nathaira plopped herself on to one of the armchairs, crossing her legs. "Can't have repeats again this year, not after what happened with Culledona and Murdock, bloody nightmare. Carr's gone with a Thestral but I think it's only to make fun of how mither never realises he's in the room."

Without so much as a muted pop, a house elf in a tartan cap appeared in the middle of the parlour with a small tray, which she began to set up on a low table by the armchairs. Knox continued over the serving. "The wee ones are all going as Pigmy Puffs, or at least Vanora's are."

1.	One of the Spectre house elves.

Mm, they had been wild, hadn’t they? No matter, really. The Spectres and Murrays received one another’s company in the best and worst of times. Gabrielle was grateful for the times spent here in every occasion, enjoying the memories spent well together because of the union in the family. Her eyes had trailed all over the drawing room, seeing if she recognised anything different in the room, eventually snapping to semi-attention when Carr spoke his greetings. “Hullo, Carr. Good to see you too; been a bit,” Gabrielle began to muse when the shriek rang out from the cousins.

“Tsk, tsk. Stop testing your luck – wouldn’t want to lose against them, I imagine~” was all she added before heading once again with Knox.

Costume sorted?

“Erm. Stuck in intermediate decision making. Work’s been particularly busy, as you well know. Shame I’ll have to wait until the festivities to see my uncle, but it’ll be quite worth it, I’m sure.” Eyes continued their glances around the surroundings even as they entered Knox’s study, flopping herself into the chair next to Knox, grinning at the impropriety that a woman her age should not be employing.

“Pygmy Puffs, the lot of them? Crim, that’s a horrible sight to begin imagining, but I’ll be certain to retreat away from the chances of being squished by their fluff. That is, if they even choose to take part in giving their cousin fluffy hugs. If Niall was any example, it’s clear it won’t be many at all.” Gabrielle thanked both Knox and Grizelda for the cuppa, inhaling the contents before taking a gulp, sighing in pleasant surprise.

“New blend, cousin?”

Nathaira smiled gratefully at their house elf, although Grizelda maintained a perfectly sombre poker face as she disappeared from the parlour. It took at least an army of brazen-faced children for that one to crack a smile.

"You won't want to see grandfather before then at any rate," she wrapped her long fingers around her coffee cup and made a disparaging sound. "All he does is grouse. Thinks he's going to lose a precious galleon if Balfour brings a lad to Samhain."

Ever since her brother had expressed an equal interest in wizards as he did witches, the older Spectres took annual bets on which he'd bring to clan events - typical teasing for a pureblood heir. Not that she ever took part. Unfair advantage. They didn't take it very seriously outside of losing or gaining the odd bit of money but grandfather Balthain had a four year winning streak now.

He would owe their father twenty solid galleons.

"Mm yes. Rose darjeeling. Some Parisian tea-maker that Carr likes." Knox glanced at the teapot with a hint of endearment. "A bit too floral for my taste. Are you bringing anyone? I've lost count of guests but Aunt Abigail will want to know, to arrange the divining stones."

She drank her coffee and watched Gabbie over the rim, a speculative light entering her eyes. These parties were so much more relaxing when it was other people having to introduce guests to the clan.

"I hadn't planned on it -- bringing someone that is. I mean, there is Francis, but I don't know if he'd be really into that sort of thing. He's busy at his job, busier than mine can be sometimes," Gabrielle responded, taking another drink from the teacup. "It might be a bit too floral, yes, but you and I will survive, you young thing." Picking up a small sandwich, Gabrielle munched on it, thinking about everything as of late. "I'm grateful you had me over here, Knox. It's been greatly needed." Sighing gently enough, Gabrielle refilled the tea for herself, swallowing the bite of food down her throat, eyes crinkling to look at her cousin.

"Sometimes it's nice to have family, isn't it?"