"Bannochdaen Castle Parlor..."

“ARGH!” Gabriella screamed as she was dragged into the fireplace abruptly and began to spin uncontrollably in the vacuum that was sucking her all the way up to Scotland. This feeling was about as pleasant as having a dragon vomit on your head. And unsurprisingly, Gabby knew how that felt, having fed a certain young dragon the last of her stale coco pops and milk. Apparently, Dragon’s bellies didn’t take too well to coco pops. Not that Norman had seemed bothered while he took indigested them in one tiny swallow. Felix had. That was the last time Gabs had shared her food with a dragon. She tended to avoid making her dad turn into one.

It was clear to see Gabriella detested floo travel. She always reappeared the other end dizzy and looking as if she’d been stood on the wing of a plane for a ten hour flight. It was a detestable form of travel but necessary in order to get up to Scotland in a suitable time frame. Besides, it beat apparation. The only time she was allowed to do it was sidelong and you never knew what the adult was going to actually do it! Gab was certain they thrived off of that power, especially the grownups that had apparated with her before.

After minutes of pulling, sickening swirling and screaming, Gabriella was thrown out of a fireplace , tripping over the ledge and landing on her back on a hard stone floor. The yelling finally stopped as one large bag was spat out, hitting her stomach hard and winding the young girl. She lay there for a few moments, arms spread out and trying to get her breath back. Eyelids closed over the dark eyes as Gabby willed the world around her to stop spinning. If it didn’t, she’d be feeling that bacon sandwich from this morning making a reappearance. Now that would definitely be making an entrance.

The now queezy Miss Dagon hadn’t had the privilege of visiting Bannochdaen Castle before. Hell, she’d only met Mr Jason MacDonell just before the summer and when her father had found out, he’d pulled a hissy fit. As usual. But he didn’t know she was here so all was well. They’d written regularly to one another but now Gabby wanted to get to know the man her mother had been close to, and escape Sophie’s happy family. It had been great spending the holiday with her best friend, but quite a few times over the last couple of weeks she’d been reminded what she didn’t have.

“Sur...surprise.”

Many things defined Jason MacDonell, and by extension Bannochdaen Castle, his ancestral estate. He was a retired Auror, and the place was enchanted with so many defensive spells that Gellert Grindelwald would think twice before attacking it. He was also a Ravenclaw, and a bust of the famous Hogwarts founder sat in a place of honor in the library (though, unlike the nineteen busts of Jason's forefathers, Rowena's was simply a statue), not to mention the occasional word games and puzzles the master of the castle would leave for his two young children, hoping they too would wind up Ravenclaws. So too was he a father and husband, and thus he was spending this holiday with his wife and children.

But he was also a Scotsman. And it was Hogmanay.

Bannochdaen Castle glowed with a sort of festive warmth, garlands and holly strung up the stone banisters of the castle's staircases. Some clutter from the early morning's festivities (which even Jack and little Alex had been allowed to stay up for, being little half-Scots themselves) still filled the Great Hall. The nineteen busts of the previous Lairds of Bannochdaen were moved to the Great Hall as well, ringing it and conversing jovially amongst themselves. A towering Ravenclaw banner, the bronze eagle on blue, hung from the third floor ceiling and draped nearly to the floor, for it was tradition that on this most festive of Scottish days, the master of the castle displayed his House colors.

In the kitchens, Thalia the house-elf was hard at work, having insistently rebutted all attempts by her family to help her at all. A giant keg of mead had been brought up from the basement, sitting in the Preparation Room for the coming night's feast. Even now, with hours to go, smells were wafting from the kitchen that turned the warlock's usual stoic look into a dreamy, smiling expression.

Jack and Alex were still asleep, having burned themselves out staying up for midnight. Jason, by contrast, was wearing his seldom-seen kilt, the Clan MacDonell tartan pattern a marked deviation from his usually subdued robes. Normally he would have worn his Ravenclaw-blue dinner jacket over it, but since they were expecting no dinner guests earlier than six, he had opted for comfort and had a half-unbuttoned white dress shirt on, an opaque white glove over his left hand.

"MacKenzie going to first-foot again?" he found himself asking Aurora with a grin. A few of his nearer relatives (including Molly and Arthur Weasley) had been invited, along with most of Aurora's Avalon family and a few old friends from the Ministry. "With the way half his experiments turn out, I always wonder what kind of 'luck' he's really bringing us..."

Stopping in the hall to inspect its majestic appearance with a smile, Jason had a brief moment of peace, enjoying the splendor and radiant aura of his home.

But peace was just not Jason's sort of luck.

A thunderous rumble from the second floor wiped the joy from his face, and he turned to Aurora quickly, emerald eyes suddenly narrow and serious. "Second floor!" he said, reaching down to the thick leather belt at his waist with his real hand and drawing out his wand. Limping toward the staircase as quickly as he could, he barked aloud, "Tertium Glissea!"

Instantly, the stairs leading to the third floor turned into a smooth stone slide, impossible to climb for anyone who had not cast a Sticking Charm on his hands. That would keep any attackers away from the children, safe for the moment in their rooms. Gritting his teeth against the stabbing pains in his leg, MacDonell was up the stairs in record time and at the door of the parlor, from whence he thought the sound had come, ignoring the cries of his ancestors below.

"Drive th' bastards oot o' m' castle, laddie!"

"Aye, give 'em on for the old MacDonells o' Bannochdaen!"

"Cnaimhean briste don eucorach!"

He briefly leaned on the wall, taking a breath to let some of the ache in his leg diminish, and reached down with his gloved hand, drawing the sgian dubh there into his magically powerful grip. Stabbed down full force with that limb, he could drive the blade through a troll's skull. Pausing only to make sure Aurora was right behind him, he smacked the parlor door with his gloved hand, and the bolt broke under the blow.

Stepping inside, his eyes found the movement as his wand arm cocked to the side. "Angustium --"

"Sur...surprise."

The second half of the lethal curse died unspoken on Jason's lips as he simply stared for a second. Then, recognition kicking in, he flicked his wand to set up a Shield Charm, not sure what Aurora was planning to follow with. "No, wait! It's..."

He looked back at Gabriella as if to make sure she was really there, eyes narrowed in a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. Tone a trifle bemused, though a smile was slowly starting to tug at the corners of his lips, he said, "When ye said 'talk', lass, I did nay think more than your head would be coming to visit."

"My love," he added to Aurora, "this is..."

He paused, eyeing Gabby as his face relaxed into a genuine smile, then turned back to Aurora, lowering his wand. The girl looked so much like Kayleigh that there could be no mistake. His voice was amused, but just a touch wistful, too. "Well, I suppose ye do nay need me to tell you, do you?"

Aurora marveled every year at how beautiful Bannochdaen looked at Hogmanay.  The MacDonell tartan and coat of arms mingled with the royal Ravenclaw colors.  It emanated the pride they both felt for their house and their clan.  A smile broke across Aurora’s face as she inspected the Great Hall for not only damage from the festivities the night before, but to see what needed to be done before their family and friends arrived.  As the Lady of Bannochdaen, it was her duty to make sure everything was set.

Content that everything was almost ready for tonight, Aurora gave a respectful nod to each of the busts as she past them. Her dress was a Ravenclaw blue with bronze trim. The overall style of the dress was sleek and reminisce to Morgana’s dress from her portrait, yet the skirt flared enough to allow Aurora to run if she needed to. However, a plaid with the MacDonell tartan was draped over her shoulder and secured by a silver pin bearing the Le Fey crest. Gently, she smoothed the plaid and made sure it was on right.

MacKenzie going to first-foot again? With the way half his experiments turn out, I always wonder what kind of 'luck' he's really bringing us..."

Aurora smiled as she turned to look at her husband, “Only if he gets banned from Glaymorden again so he shows up clean. You have to admit lately he has been having more success than failures.”

Aurora looked over her husband. True they weren’t expecting guest for a while. However knowing her family, they might show up sooner than expected. Mostly just to try and escape each other, but they still came. Rory was just thankful that everyone got along. This year Gwennie who was in her fourth year decided to come home. So Jack and Alex couldn’t wait to see their older cousin. Then there was their bit of news.

“Are we going to tell everyone about…” Aurora started.

However, she didn’t get to finish.  She heard the rumble from the second floor. In a blink of an eye, her wand was in her one hand and the skirt of her dress was held up by the other. The hunter was up and awake. Someone was in the castle, much earlier than any of her family would dare intrude. Which meant it was an intruder. In The hallway, Janus was cawing violently and on his way to delay the invader.

"Second floor!"

Aurora reacted immediately. She was already running towards the stairs right behind her husband. It was amazing how fast he could move at times in spite of his leg. That was MacDonell, never let anything slow him down. She heard Jason cast a spell to protect the children. Aurora didn’t even glance. Jason knew his spells. Right now she was focused on making sure whoever it was wouldn’t get the chance to hurt her babies. Aurora stopped next to Jason as they reached the parlor.

Aurora discreetly rolled her eyes at the cheering section. At least someone was enjoying this.  Aurora caught Jason’s look and nodded. They could always fix the door. She didn’t even blink when he pulled the dirk and prepared to break down the parlor door. That would scare whoever on the other side. However enough so they could get the drop on them.

Soon the door was gone, revealing something Aurora wasn’t expecting. Any curse she had died on her lips as she took in the sight in front of her. Immediately, she was back on Avalon ten years earlier with Kayleigh Cow. She was teaching the young teen a few defense spells in case she ever came to the mainland to fight. Kayleigh, who had become as much of a member of the Le Fey clan as one could be. 

"No, wait! It's..."

“Kayleigh?” Aurora whispered. No it couldn’t be. Kayleigh was gone, killed. This wasn’t her. It couldn’t be her unless someone had not only resurrected her but made her a teenager again.  No, it wasn’t possible. However if this wasn’t Kayleigh,then it must be…..

"My love, this is..."

“Gabriella.” Aurora realized as well as her husband’s role, “Jason Darius MacDonell! When we you going to tell me?”

From her uncomfortable position on the hard, painful, cold floor, Gabriella could hear banging and running. This, however, didn’t bother the flustered girl. Instead she remained laying on the floor, trying to regain her breath and make to queezy feeling in her belly leave. The MacDonells wouldn’t exactly fancy a mess on their floor because their friend’s daughter couldn’t quite stand floo travel. No, Gabby was going to take the time to recover before she made any quick moves. It was safer that way.

Then she heard a bolt on the other side of the door and a couple barge in. Well they were eager beavers  weren’t they? Gabby opened her eyes and made an attempt to move but the sicky feeling only multiplied and she screwed her face up, throwing the bag off her stomach and onto the floor. Why did the world have to spin so much? It was as if she were riding a drunken dragon! Of course, last night’s party probably didn’t help her belly. No one needed to know that one, though. As far as most grownups new, Gabriella was a very well behaved young girl. Ha!

The old scot’s comment made Gabby smirk slightly as she finally pushed herself up into a sitting position, keeping her eyes tightly squeezed shut. “Well when I smelt the food my stomach had to follow.” It would have been true if she didn’t feel so sick after the travel. Gabby lifted a hand to her head, brushing some messy curls back before finally pushing herself up onto her feet.

The usually tanned face had gone very pale as she turned to face the couple. “Nice kilt.” She commented, eyeing the old man she’d only seen once before. He seemed to be smiling. That was a surprise considering her Dad had spent a large amount of the summer grumbling about the grumpy old fool that tried to get too involved in their lives and was far too damn judgemental. Well Dad didn’t have to deal with Jason. Gabby chose to. Anywhere was better than the house in the Alps and right now, she just needed some relief from Sophie’s charming family. Of course she loved Sophie to bits. And adored her parents but there was only so much one could take without feeling like a complete outsider.

The red headed woman turned to the scot, reprimanding him and Gabby smirked as she looked up at the two. “You must be Mrs MacD.” Without a second thought, a hand was thrust out for the shaking. “He wasn’t going to tell you. He’s had this planned for weeks.”

"Well when I smelt the food my stomach had to follow."

Somewhere inside Jason, the Ravenclaw in him came back to life. "Och, and that's just the starters," he said slyly. "Wait until Thalia gets the haggis going..."

Kneeling for a moment to replace the dagger he had drawn in its sheath, he rose with a wince, gritting his teeth for a moment. The run up the stairs had cost him, and badly. "Duck, love," he said to Aurora, then flicked his wand and added, "Accio cane!"

It came soaring through the air a moment later, shooting forward like a javelin. Catching it with his gloved hand, he leaned his weight on it gratefully, sighing in relief. Though his kilt hung to his knees, almost completely covering the jagged scars on his right leg, it was obvious that it hurt; his leg muscles were tensed up to keep them from trembling.

"Kayleigh?”

Jason caught Aurora's whisper, but said nothing, hoping his brief flinch would appear just another symptom of his aching leg. He had had the exact same reaction initially, and if Robin showed up tonight he probably would as well. Gabriella looked so like her mother...

"Jason Darius MacDonell! When we you going to tell me?”

Clearing his throat, the former Auror began, "Well, no time like the present..."

"He wasn’t going to tell you. He’s had this planned for weeks.”

"A chat only," Jason insisted, giving Gabriella a disgruntled look. "Hardly expected another visitor in person. Or this early," he added, glancing at a clock mounted on the wall, with a tiny Golden Snitch on the minute hand and a Seeker, pursuing it far too slowly, on the hour hand. "Ye're lucky I took the protective curses off early, lass, or that Nundu wouldn't be so docile about ye dripping ash on its head."

He glanced pointedly at the pelt of the African wizard-killer that took up the entire floor of the parlor, and even then had obviously been cropped severely; Gabriella was standing near what had once been a paw, and still featured several razor-sharp claws. Jason wasn't sure how his ancestors had managed to come by the rare pelt, and was afraid to ask the busts of his forebears. Instead, he settled for waving his wand at Gabby and saying only, "Tergeo."

As the soot was siphoned from her robes, he looked at Aurora for a moment, then back to Gabriella. "Ye staying for dinner, lass, or will your father expect ye home?" There was just the slightest bit of distaste in Jason's voice when he mentioned Felix Dagon; he had been expecting Gabriella this time (albeit not in person), so he was resolved to behave.

Then he spotted the bag beside the young Gryffindor, and his eyes widened a bit even as his trademark smirk began to creep slowly onto his lips. "Or will ye be staying for a while, then?"

Aurora was still recovering from the shock that Kayleigh’s daughter was here. The last time she had seen her was when Kayleigh brought her to Avalon. She had grown so much in that time. Now she was the spitting image of the girl that Aurora would always consider her daughter.  She barely heard Jason’s warning about the cane. However she heard the cane come whizzing and ducked in time.

Aurora placed on hand on Jason’s arm. She glanced at him to make sure he was all right. He was tough  but he certainly made good time getting to the parlor. That was going to do something it his leg. If he needed anything, Thalia would get it in a heartbeat. Plus Serena would be by later , so she could check on him.

[ "Well, no time like the present..."

"He wasn’t going to tell you. He’s had this planned for weeks.”

"A chat only. Hardly expected another visitor in person. Or this early,"

Aurora leveled her husband a lethal look. She could see him orchestrating the whole thing.  He had fibbed about who he was sending those letters too.  They would discuss that later, much later.  Instead, Aurora began to walk forward to help the young lady up. It wouldn’t do to just let her lie there. Jason wasn’t going to so Aurora extended a hand to her.

Ye're lucky I took the protective curses off early, lass, or that Nundu wouldn't be so docile about ye dripping ash on its head."

“That Nundu knows how the Lady of this castle feels about blood in the parlor.” Aurora stated jokingly, “He would have dragged you to the hall before doing any real damage.”

Aurora waited as Jason siphoned the ash off Gabriella. It was so surreal, looking at the girl and seeing Kayleigh. Aurora smiled sadly as she brushed some stray ash from Gabriella’s hair.  Aurora took her hand and gave it a shake before giving Gabriella a hug. A handshake was too impersonal for someone who was a daughter of dear friend. After a few moment, Aurora pulled away and looked at her new guest with a smile.

“Welcome to Bannochdaen, dear.  I see you brought a bag with you.” Aurora smiled softly.

"Ye staying for dinner, lass, or will your father expect ye home?

Aurora didn’t outwardly frown at the mention of Felix Dagon. She did frown internally. She honestly hoped Jason behaved while Gabriella was here. Aurora herself didn’t know the full extent of Felix’s loyalty to Death Eaters. She doubted it wasn’t much since he loved Kayleigh and knew the truth of her own bloodlines. He might have joined them to protect Kayleigh from them. After all, if one had joined the group than their family must be pure. That would be how the Death Eaters would look at it.  Still Aurora never jumped to certain conclusions on that subject. She needed more facts.

“You are welcomed here, Gabriella. I hope you can join us to celebrate the New Year. Several people are coming who would love to meet you and they can tell you stories about your mum.” Aurora offered

“Chatting is something adults do to try and pretend they’re smart. I don’t need to do that, I’m a genius anyway.” Gabby offered the old scot a small smirk. Apparently MacDonnell had been worried for Gabby’s safety. She didn’t seem too bothered herself.  She glanced at the ferocious looking thing and shrugged, trying to play cool, nonchalant. “You’re paranoid. My dog, Merlin’s scarier than that harmless pussy cat.” Ha, as if there were true. But Gabby possessed a distorted sense of danger. She’d grown up around dragons after all. She got on a broom being attacked by beaters every chance she got. Gabby didn’t scare.

Ash removed by some snazzy spell and Gabriella still looked slightly worse for wear. She was beginning to feel better now, less like she was about to hurl. Breathing and being stood helped. And she wasn’t seeing two of anything anymore. Always a good sign. It reminded her of when she’d been bludgered to the head once. That had been one hell of a sense of vertigo. And pain! Sophie was convinced that was why Gabby was so ‘odd’.

Before she knew it, Gabby was being hugged by the redhead. This wasn’t a usual occurrence. She frowned slightly, wondering if this felt like it would have if her mum hugged her. Kayleigh wouldn’t have been much younger now. Gabby frowned as Jason’s wife pulled back before she glanced back at the bag. Would they let her stay? She hoped so. Or she was going back to Sophie’s. Definitely not her Dad’s. He could continue to believe she was at Hogwarts. Maybe next year then they could have a better Christmas with him realising he’d done wrong. She doubted it.

The young Gryffindor had to resist the urge to purse her lips at the mention of her dad. He definitely wasn’t expecting her home. But Jason needn’t know that. She offered Mrs MacD a grin.
“I’d love that, Mrs MacD.” She said quietly before glancing at Jason. “He’s not expecting me back. I’ll all yours to tell loads of stories to.”

"Chatting is something adults do to try and pretend they’re smart. I don’t need to do that, I’m a genius anyway."

She was definitely...different. Brash and cocky, although Jason could not yet tell how much was real and how much for show, or how much power she had to back it up. He pressed his lips together, trying not to grin; over six centuries old, Bannochdaen castle had a great deal of deep and powerful magic about it that could test and try the unwary wizard. Perhaps it might be...instructive if Gabriella did stay.

"You’re paranoid."

"Yes, I've been told that..."

"He would have dragged you to the hall before doing any real damage."

"My dog, Merlin’s scarier than that harmless pussy cat."

MacDonell glanced automatically at the claws in one corner of the room, which twitched ever so slightly like a human drumming his fingers, as if the severed pelt was offended by the comment. Flicking his wand at them, Jason said, "Down, kitty."

He watched as Aurora hugged Gabby, smiling a bit more gently, for he knew exactly how she felt, though he managed to contain the embracing impulse himself -- Gabriella seemed a bit startled by the affection.

"You are welcomed here, Gabriella."

"Aye," Jason agreed firmly, gesturing with his wand hand toward the parlor door, back into the castle proper. "Any child of Kayleigh Cox will always find welcome in my castle. But come, we can nay stay in the parlor forever. Mobilisaccus."

This last was accompanied by a flick of the ebony-and-holly wand at Gabriella's bag, which hopped up into the air obediently and drifted after them, passing the giant world map which covered an entire wall and noted dozens of Wizarding settlements, including tiny word bubbles that named them. Leaning heavily on his cane, his gait a bit more accented than usual, MacDonell looked back over his shoulder as Gabby spoke to him.

"He’s not expecting me back. I’ll all yours to tell loads of stories to.”

"At all?" Jason asked, a bit more sharply, eyes narrowing. He looked at Aurora for a moment, then back to their guest. "Did ye leave, lass, or run--"

"Mommy? Daddy? What's going on? DaddEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Jack's voice jumped an octave and started to become increasingly louder, and MacDonell realized belatedly that he'd left the jinx on the staircase. Rolling his eyes, he stepped out into the hall in time to see his daughter careening down the chute the third floor stairs had become, giggling and clutching a bundle of fluff in her arms. As she hit the stone second floor with a bump, the puffskein flew out of her hands, but Jason quickly transferred his wand to his gloved hand with his cane, and his real hand darted out like a striking snake to catch the puffskein before it hit the wall.

"Thanks Daddy..." After a thirty-foot slide from the floor above, Jack was still a little dazed, and her grin seemed a bit unfocused.

"Any time, lass," the former Auror returned dryly, tossing Jack her pet, which made a contented crooning sound in her arms. He shifted his weight to his left leg, then gestured behind him to Gabriella with the head of his cane. "This is Gabriella. She'll be staying with us for..." He looked again at Aurora, then finished simply, "...a while. Gabriella, our daughter Jacquelynne."

Her name would easily have sufficed; Jack had her mother's fiery red hair and her father's gleaming emerald eyes, though the latter lacked the hardness Jason's had acquired. She eyed Gabby with interest for a moment, before her entire face lit up.

"Hi! Do ye go to Hogwarts?"

Jason groaned, massaging his eyes with his real hand. "Oh, Merlin's wand, here we go..."

Aurora watched Gabriella as she acted tough. This young lady was definitely like her mother. It brought a gentle smile to Auroras’ face. Truly the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  Even as she claimed the Nundu wasn’t any worse than her dog, Aurora had to stifle a chuckle as the claw seem to take some offense to the comment. Of course Jason’s response made it even harder to keep a straight face.

"My dog, Merlin’s scarier than that harmless pussy cat."

"Down, kitty."

“Now, now boys. Thalia will not be pleased to have blood on the carpet.” Aurora warned the claw, “Remember she is the one in charge of deciding the cleaning schedule.”

Aurora felt Gabriella stiffen a little at the hug. Obviously she wasn’t use to any signs of affection. It saddened Aurora a little. Ever since becoming a mother, she couldn’t help but show affection. Of course after losing both her parents, she wanted to treasure every moment with her children and Jason.

"Aye. Any child of Kayleigh Cox will always find welcome in my castle. But come, we can nay stay in the parlor forever. Mobilisaccus."

“The room between Jack and Alex is available so you can freshen up from the Floo.” Aurora smiled as the bag began to float up. Gently she looped her arms through Gabriella’s to lead her to the room.  She paused through at Gabriella’s next admission.

"He’s not expecting me back. I’ll all yours to tell loads of stories to.”

"At all? Did ye leave, lass, or run--"

Aurora exchanged a look with Jason. There was no question that Gabriella could stay with them. However, if her father was looking for her, they would have to tell him. Unless she was in danger then Aurora felt no obligation. She was sure Jason felt the same. Aurora didn’t get to finish that thought when she heard her daughter’s voice calling for them.

"Mommy? Daddy? What's going on? DaddEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

The stairs was still a slide, Aurora realized belatedly. Flicking her wand and whispering a few words, a pillow popped up at the bottom of the chute to catch the speeding girl. Jack was giggling and laughing the whole way down. When she land as graceful as a speeding child can, her puffskein went flying. Aurora moved to catch it however, Jason got it first.

“Good catch, dear.” Aurora grinned as Jack wobbly got up to join them. The puffskein was crooning in her arms. It was another stray that Jack had found and adopted. By the time, anyone realized what she had, the puffskein was already attached to the girl.  Aurora briefly wondered where her daughter’s ability to tame and charm most animals came from.

"This is Gabriella. She'll be staying with us for...a while. Gabriella, our daughter Jacquelynne."

Jack eyed Gabriella. Aurora had a feeling she was trying to calculate something. However when Jack’s grin broke out. Aurora felt a bit of pride that Jack figured out Gabriella’s age. Of course that was going to lead to…..

"Hi! Do ye go to Hogwarts?"

"Oh, Merlin's wand, here we go..."

“At least Alex isn’t here. Or the poor thing would be double teamed with questions.” Aurora assured her husband. Hogwarts was both children favorite topic. Every day brought new questions about the school. Only a holiday or Mackenzie’s experiments could dissuade them.

”Ooooo, slide! My turn, my turn!”

Aurora turned as she heard their son cheering get closer. She shook her head as she move to the bottom of the chute to catch her son. The laughing four year soon came into view with his arm outstretch for Aurora to catch him when he landed. With an thump, Alex was grinning in the middle of the pillow. A few feathers floated about his head as reached for Aurora. His Bright gray eyes wer laughing at the fun he just had. His brunette hair was mussed up from the ride. Over all, he was still relatively neat compared to his usual state of being. With a small smile, Aurora plucked him up and settled him on her hip.

“Have fun, luv?”

“Go again?” Alex asked with puppy eyes.

With a laugh, Aurora walked back over to the group, “Later, dear. I have someone I want you to meet. This is Gabriella. Her mother was dear friend of ours. Gabriella, This our son, Alexander.”

Alexander gazed at Gabriella for a moment. Then in a rare act of shyness, he buried his face into Aurora’s shoulder. Coyly, he peeked at the new face with a shy smile, before re burying his face again. Aurora giggled at her son’s new found shyness.

Freshen up from the floo? Had the MacDonell’s seen the state of Gabriella? She was only just recovering from the need to empty her insides after the horrible trip. Freshening up and feeling perky as ever so soon was about as likely as Jason turning into a hippogriff and singing a Christmas carol while cycling around them on a unicycle. It wasn’t going to happen. Gabby needed water, a sit down and some air. That probably wasn’t going to happen soon either. She needed to be polite, simply follow her mum’s friends and remember her Ps and Qs.

An arm was hooked through her own and Gabby glanced down for a moment. The arm didn’t belong to the usual 15year old teenager, instead it was attached to the redhead she’d just met. Wow, this couple really must have adored her mum to take her in so quickly and show this much affection as if they’d known Gabby for years and were practically family. Gabby didn’t stiffen this time. Until Jason started to question why Daddy Dearest wasn’t expecting his darling daughter home at all.

However, as if sent by Merlin, a voice rang through the corridors and the room they’d just exited as a small girl came whizzing down the...Gabby’s brow furrowed as she eyes what she’d expected to be stairs. Well that was definitely different. Not many parents would turn such an amazing house into an awesome playground for their kids to slide around in. Why couldn’t these people have been Gabby’s parents!? She’d have behaved perfectly for them. Honest!

Both the young girl’s eyes and head tracked the progress of the small furry puffskein as it flew through the air towards the three of them, landing happily in the hand of the ex-auror. Gabby’s eyes widened slightly, admiring the quick reflexes for an old git with a walking stick. But to Gabby anyone over 25 was old and anyone with a walking stick? Well they must be older than her grandparents! Ready to kick the bucket if anyone asked Gabs. But apparently this little girl was his. Wow, some people waited a while didn’t they!

"This is Gabriella. She'll be staying with us for....a while. Gabriella, our daughter Jacquelynne."

A while? That was a relief, they weren’t about to turf her out and send her back to Mr Sulky’s house. Gabby eyed the young girl who was now staring up at her with mild caution. She didn’t normally encounter kids that young. What was she supposed to say to them? She sufficed with a smile. Children liked smiles didn’t they?

Then the kid looked excited and questioned Gabby. The Gryffindor’s eyebrows rose and she nodded. “Yep, and I play quidditch for my house.” It was a big thing, being on the quidditch team. Gabby adored it and liked to tell anyone who would listen.

Before Gabby could get used to the appearance of the first mini scott, a second appeared and whizzed excitedly down the slide. Damn she wished she could have had one of those at her house! Mrs MacDonell picked the boy up and introduced him as their son. Gabby offered him and smile but he only decided to bury his head in his mum’s shoulder. Was she ever that shy!? No. But Gabby frowned, she’d not been more than a year older than Alex when her mum had died.

“Alex? That’s a cool name. Like after a warrior or something.” She forced a grin for the boy before glancing back at Jason. “Can I really stay a bit?”

"Good catch, dear."

"Thank you, love," Jason replied with a smile, a bit proud of himself. But then, being friends with Tamis Raynor and married to Aurora had ensured that his reflexes remained lightning-quick. Especially Raynor; he had the edge on her in a duel for experience and raw power, but the Head Auror's quickdraw with a wand was unreal, her robed arm just a scarlet blur. Jason had had to work hard to keep up.

He had only a moment to groan about Jack before Aurora offered the upside, and he nodded with a grunt. On the one hand, Jack was older and could understand more, and thus would harry any Hogwarts student she could pin down for specific details to every conceivable question (and, for a seven-year-old, she could conceive of some interesting questions). Alexander would miss the finer points, but he would also sit, captivated, and listen to the same information again and again, as long as it sounded exciting. Alone, either could be a menace to the quiet-loving Hogwarts student; together, they were a human Devil's Snare.

"Yep, and I play Quidditch for my house."

Jason winced, trying to make a subtle warning gesture over Jack's shoulder. Aurora, of course, had played Quidditch for Ravenclaw, and now the idea was seated in Jack's mind. If Gabby played Chaser, like Aurora, they'd never hear the end of it...

And indeed, Jack's face had just assumed the most rapturous expression, as if Gabriella had said, 'Yep, and I can make candy by winking and turn lead into gold!' Her mouth had just opened to unleash a torrent of questions when a second voice echoed through the massive Great Hall and the upside Aurora had mentioned fell flat on its face.

"Ooooo, slide! My turn, my turn!"

Sighing in a resigned sort of way, throwing Gabriella a sympathetic look, Jason turned his emerald eyes up to the third floor just as his son came skating down the opposite staircase.

"Go again?"

Though he smirked despite himself -- both Jack and Alex had pronounced Scottish brogues, only a bit weaker than their father's, and they were delightful to hear -- Jason also snapped his fingers. With a deep thunk-thunk-thunk, the twin staircases turned back to stairs, each stone step popping into place one by one.

"Alex? That’s a cool name. Like after a warrior or something."

MacDonell smiled, as much in appreciation for Gabriella's kindness as amusement for Alex's uncharacteristic shyness. But then, the only witches he saw on a regular basis were his sister and mother. Noticing Jack biding her time for the first moment she could possibly insert a question, almost bouncing on the balls of her feet, he intervened. "Ye should go down and have some breakfast."

"I'm nay hungry, Daddy. Gabriella, do ye--"

"Breakfast first, Jacquelynne."

It was a mark of how totally entranced she was that Jack ignored the fact that her father had used her full name. "Right, but...are ye a Chaser on your Quidditch--"

Rolling his eyes, Jason stabbed his wand at Jack, jinxing her with a Silencing Charm. She was so focused, and speaking so quickly, her mouth continued to move for several seconds before she realized what had happened. Glaring sullenly up at her father, she crossed her arms, looking so ferociously like a miniature Aurora that Jason almost took a step back on reflex. But then he smirked and called out, "Thalia!"

With a CRACK, the house-elf materialized beside them, giving Jason a very put-upon look. She gave Gabriella a look that was much more curious and confident than a normal house-elf, then looked back to MacDonell.

"Sir called?"

In over a decade they'd known each other, even after Jason had married Aurora and brought them both to the castle, Thalia had never taken to calling him 'master'. This by itself pleased him -- he got more than enough of that from the castle gargoyles -- but nor would the elf call him Jason, or even MacDonell. Always 'sir'.

"Aye," Jason replied, having long since learned not to argue the point. "Gabriella here will be staying with us for a while." The words flowed more smoothly this time. "And the bairns could do with some breakfast."

Noticing Jack protesting this silently, Thalia raised an eyebrow. "And Sir could use the wee ones-" Even Thalia had started to pick up Scottishisms after years at Bannochdaen. "-some place else?"

"Exactly," the former Auror said dryly.

Nodding resignedly, Thalia took Alex's hand, and with some effort secured Jack's as well. She looked up at Gabby, unafraid. "Miss is welcome in the castle, but Miss must not make a mess of things, Mistress and her husband are having a party tonight." And with that, she and both children Disapparated.

Jason rolled his eyes, but at least she had given up calling him Aurora's 'consort'.

"Can I really stay a bit?"

"Yes," he answered promptly, then paused. Frowning just slightly, he said, "If your father doesn't know you're here, we will have to tell him." Then, thinking of Felix Dagon, he smiled slowly and added, "But perhaps not yet. After all, it's Hogmanay! No good father would want his child to miss a Scottish New Year, so there's no point asking when the answer's clear."

This was quite a strain, especially for a former officer of the law, but Jason imagined Aurora would agree; she was little more fond of Felix than he himself. Clearing his throat pointedly, he stepped out onto the landing where all three staircases met and gestured sweepingly to the Great Hall with his cane.

"This is Bannochdaen. Mostly art on this floor, ye'll probably nay be back until ye leave." Of course, there was also the concealed armory, but it was likely best not to tell Gabby about that just yet. Pointing up to the bedrooms visible on the third floor, he added, "Ye can stay there. We only have Jack and Alex-" He kept the 'for now' to himself. "-so the other childrens' bedrooms are free. Have been since the 1700s, actually, but they should still be clean."

When it had become clear that Aurora was pregnant with Alexander, it was obvious that they would need the second child's bedroom. But there had not been a second MacDonell since 1809, and thus no one to live in the room. Consequently, Jason, Aurora, and Thalia had wound up waging what amounted to a three-day battle against the additional children's bedrooms (and the things that now occupied them) before they were fit for human habitation. Unwilling to go through that process again, Thalia now cleaned all of them every month, wearing a surly look as if daring a doxy to show itself and face her wrath.

"Most of the things ye'll find interesting are downstairs," he added, then winked. "Only be careful what ye poke into, some things will poke back."

"Yep, and I play Quidditch for my house."

Aurora chuckled at that magic sentence. Poor Gabriella wouldn’t get a moment of peace now. She was just elevated to hero in Jack’s eyes.  The only thing that could make it better would be if Gabriella was a chaser like Aurora was when she was at Hogwarts.  After Jack learned that her mother played, she was determined to be a chaser.  Rather than try to stop Jack from climbing on every broom imaginable,  Aurora told her that Aurora was good as a chaser because she played Rugby with her cousins  on Avalon. It was a tactic that her Uncle Scott used to stop the same nonsense. So far it worked beautifully. She wasn’t sure for how long now that Gabriella was here.

Before Aurora could intercede, Alex soon joined them. Her little boy loved it when stairs became slides or things began to fly through the air. He longed to be able to do the same with a wand. Hence his never-ending quest to find one by waving every stick in Bannochdaen. She nodded as Jason turned the stairs back to their normal form.

"Alex? That’s a cool name. Like after a warrior or something."

Alex’s eye peeked out and he gave Gabriella another smile. He seemed to straighten a little in Aurora’s arms at the comment. Aurora gave Gabriella a soft smile as Alex began to warm up to the new witch in the house.

“Can you say thank you, luv?” Aurora asked Alex whose only response was another shy smile, “You normally are not this shy.”

“Pretty.” Alex stated shyly as he looked at Gabriella, before burying his head again.

Soon Jack was starting back up. Aurora merely smiled as Jason handled the little girl. Jack usually was her fathers’ girl. She adored Jason to pieces and did what he asked without hesitation. However, it seemed that now that she had Gabriella, who went to Hogwarts and played Quidditch, she was going to milk it for all it was worth. Alex giggled in her arms as Jack was silenced but her mouth kept going.

“Silly Jack” Alex stated happily.

Aurora gave Thalia a smile of thanks as Thalia took Alex from her arms, “Do ye need any help, Thalia?”

“No, Mistress, Thalia has everything under control. Is there one more for dinner?” Thalia asked as she retrieved Jack.

“Yes Thalia. Gabriella will be with us for a bit.” Aurora confirmed Jason’s words for the house elf.  Thalia turned to the young witch and welcomed her to the castle before disappearing. Aurora laughed at Jason’s eye roll. Thalia just enjoyed giving Jason a hard time.

"Yes, If your father doesn't know you're here, we will have to tell him. But perhaps not yet. After all, it's Hogmanay! No good father would want his child to miss a Scottish New Year, so there's no point asking when the answer's clear."
 
“It can definitely wait until after Hogmanay is done.” Aurora stated firmly. While she was friendlier to Felix, she wasn’t why Gabriella was here. Obviously, she had been exchanging letters with Jason.  She would have to question her husband later once Gabriella was settled.

"This is Bannochdaen. Mostly art on this floor, ye'll probably nay be back until ye leave. Ye can stay there. We only have Jack and Alex so the other childrens' bedrooms are free. Have been since the 1700s, actually, but they should still be clean."

“It’s a battle Thalia wages about every four weeks. Most creatures that lurk here now fear her more than Jason and I.” Aurora explained she followed Jason, “If you have any trouble, just call for any of us. We’ll be there quite quickly. Jack and Alex gives us lots of practice.”

"Most of the things ye'll find interesting are downstairs. Only be careful what ye poke into, some things will poke back."

“Again Jack and Alex. If they get to be too much, just let us know. Jason and I can usually distract them.” Aurora added in before asking the question she was wondering, “Gabriella, where exactly does your family think you are?”

Where did her father think she was? That was the question she hadn’t been looking forward to. This couple were responsible parents, much unlike what Gabby thought her father was. Mr MacDonell was a man of the law, spending his life enforcing it. If he was for some reason led to believe Gabby had lied to her Dad, causing him to believe her safe at Hogwarts, of that she’d just done a runner without telling him, Jason would no doubt take her back to the useless father himself.

Gabby wasn’t stupid. She wasn’t about to spill the beans for the ex-auror and his wife, regardless of their past relationship with her mother. Despite what everybody that had known her mum believed; Gabriella Dagon was not her mother and never would be, just like she would never know her. One could only hear so many comparisons of ‘extreme similarity’ before they were driven crazy.

Gabby looked between the older woman and MacDonell and shrugged her shoulders.
“Here, Scotland.” She folded her arms, deciding lying was the best bet for her now. “He wasn’t happy with it,” well that would have been an understatement if he actually found out. Gabby was used to lying to her dad, if she didn’t he’d lock her away in her room forever! The sulky old man was already threatening her being on the Quidditch team.

But lying to two grownups she was supposed to trust and respect and that she’d only recently met? Gabby didn’t feel overly sure of herself. She wanted to create a good impression but so badly didn’t want to end up at home with Moaning Melvin, Moaning Mertyl’s big brother. “I refused to speak to him all Christmas until he agreed to let me come.” She smirked as if to solidify the barefaced lie. “That made Christmas dinner with my grandparents awkward.”

Gabriella could clearly imagine the scene she’d just described. Maybe that would be the best way to deal with Mr Dagon. She could just completely ignore him when at home as if he were nothing but background noise determined to give her a splitting headache.

Now to change the subject. The short girl turned her head t look back at Mrs MacDonell, biting her lip.
“Did you know my mum well, Mrs MaD?” she asked quietly. The sooner they were away from a topic that could get her fed to a dragon, the better. Even if it meant talking about a topic so close to heart. Gabby never tired of hearing stories about her mum. Her father had never indulged her, he just refused to talk. That meant over the past few years as she met people, she had a terrible habit of badgering them much like Jacqueline MacDonell bombarding anyone available about Hogwarts.

"Gabriella, where exactly does your family think you are?"

"Here, Scotland."

There was something off in Gabriella's tone, though only just. A less observant listener would have bypassed it entirely. But Jason was a bit suspicious to begin with, and a former Auror on top of that. He turned to face Gabby as she spoke, expression only politely inquisitive, shifting his cane so it clicked lightly on the stone and might draw the eye from his wand, held in his real hand, which hung in a loose grip at his side and drifted almost unconsciously to point in the young Gryffindor's direction.

Legilimens.

Jason's Legilimency was only so-so to begin with, and attempting it nonverbally rarely worked out better than just asking his questions aloud. But Gabby was young, untrained in Occlumency, and not expecting it, so he figured he had a shot. When her eyes flicked up to meet his, he caught a blurry glimpse of...somewhere. A city, far too bustling to be Inverness, or even Edinburgh. It looked like London. Was that where she was supposed to be, or simply where she was coming from? Or both?

But that was all. Whether by luck or some innate ability to privatise her thoughts, she revealed nothing else to Jason before looking away to Aurora. When Gabriella's back was turned, MacDonell frowned briefly in frustration.

"I refused to speak to him all Christmas until he agreed to let me come. That made Christmas dinner with my grandparents awkward.”

"I can only imagine," Jason replied smoothly, one corner of his mouth twisting up in return, looking utterly relaxed and not at all as if he had just tried and failed to read her mind. Then, in a dry tone, he added, "And I mean that quite literally. As ye probably noticed, Jack has nay discovered the silent treatment yet."

"Did you know my mum well, Mrs MacD?"

Seizing the opportunity, Jason smiled a bit more softly and said, "Perhaps I'll leave you ladies for a moment. I need my dress coat anyway, and I'll take this up for ye on my way, lass." Shooting a quick, significant look over Gabby's head to Aurora, he gestured to the girl's bag, then beckoned it with his wand. "Come along, then."

The bag drifted obediently behind him as the wizard started up the stairs, finally pocketing his wand so he could hold the wide banister with his real hand, leaning heavily on his cane. He wondered for the thousandth time if Bannochdaen was too magical for one of those Muggle...what were they called...evelators to work. But finally he made it to the third floor, and limped a bit more easily over to the bedroom beside Alex's.

Drawing his wand, he tapped the door handle with a nonverbal Alohomora and brushed it open. The room beyond was dark, but otherwise seemed perfectly habitable. Nodding, he waved Gabriella's bag over, and it soared to land silently on the bed, cushioned by the heavy comforter. Closing the door, Jason strode off down the hall.

Once he was out of sight of the main foyer, he increased pace a bit, ignoring the lingering sting in his right knee; he could not be gone too terribly long or they would get suspicious, although Aurora could probably keep Gabriella distracted with stories of Kayleigh for a while. Taking the back hallway into the master bedroom, he ducked immediately into the study and library nearby, waving his wand to light the lamps. Ignoring the Dark Arts tome he had left open on the desk, he drew a piece of parchment to him, dipped his eagle-feather quill into a bottle of ink, thought for a moment, and began to write.

"Here, Scotland."

Mentally, Aurora frowned as she heard Gabriella’s answer. She might be persuaded to believe the girl if it wasn’t for something about her overall body language. Plus Aurora had dealt with Felix Dagon several times. She doubt her father would easily agree to let his daughter to Bannochdaen. No, sometimes wasn’t quite right. Glancing at Jason, She noticed his wand was in his hand. Realizing what he might try, she only hoped Gabriella didn’t suspect anything.

Aurora watched quietly as Jason did his magic. Gabriella was too caught up in her story to notice. Or if she did, she wasn’t showing any signs of it.  Aurora listened to the young witch when she noticed a look of frustration spread across her husband’s face. Keeping her own frown off, she refocused on Gabriella.

"I refused to speak to him all Christmas until he agreed to let me come. That made Christmas dinner with my grandparents awkward.”

And Aurora highly doubted that even took place. It was a good try. Yet Aurora even doubted that silence would work on Felix. After all, he was use to much more dangerous coaxing. His daughter not talking to him, probably wouldn’t faze him.  Plus she knew from experience, it didn’t really work. She had tried it on her parents. Both ignored the silent Aurora and continued to talk with her as if she wasn’t trying to be silent.

"I can only imagine. And I mean that quite literally. As ye probably noticed, Jack has nay discovered the silent treatment yet."

“Plus she adores her father too much to not talk his ear off.” Aurora added, “Unless he talks about selling the Abraxans in the stable. She considers them her pets.”

"Did you know my mum well, Mrs MacD?"

Aurora refocused on Gabriella’s eager face. Smiling gently, Aurora’s heart ached that Gabriella lost her mother so young.  The least she could do is telling Gabriella a few stories about her mother. It would make Gabriella more comfortable.  Glancing at her husband, she caught his look. It clear read, Distract and stall. Giving a very slight nod, Aurora grinned at the girl.

"Perhaps I'll leave you ladies for a moment. I need my dress coat anyway, and I'll take this up for ye on my way, lass. Come along, then."

“Take it easy, love. Yer leg looks like it’s hurting you.  Make sure you see Thalia for something. I don’t need ye surly because of yer leg. We’ll be in the Record Room.” Aurora teased as she kissed his cheek before leading Gabriella away.

“I knew yer mother quite well. I even helped teach her when she would visit Avalon.” Aurora stated as she led Gabriella to the first floor, “I’m sure you have a great deal of questions. I know I would if I met two people who knew both my parents when they were younger. “

Aurora opened the door to the Record Room. Over the years, the disarray from all the different family trees got more unruly. Fortunately, Thalia was amazing at organization. So the chaos was under some control. At least until Jason got started on something.  Moving to her favorite chair, Aurora lowered herself in to the overstuffed chair. Motioning for Gabriella to take a seat, Aurora pulled her wand out. Casting a summoning charm, Aurora easily caught the journal that came racing towards her and placed it in her lap.

“Where would like me to start, dear?”