“I’m positive.” Angus replied emphatically “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Cash himself, and I know Angel will say the same when she comes back.”

“Is she coming back?” Raul asked, “She looked… I don’t know, she didn’t look good.”

“She’s tired, and she’s frightened, she nearly lost her son and she feels even more guilty about it than you do, at least you were here to try and protect them, she wasn’t.” Angus explained “She’ll never forgive herself for that, she’s too much like Cash, takes the weight of the world on her shoulders.”

They continued in silence until they reached the inner door of Albus’s office. Knocking softly, Raul opened the door and peeked in slowly, almost afraid to face Cash. His brow knit in confusion when he saw only Albus sitting at his desk, deep in concentration…..

“Oh just stop” Cash teased as he jumped out from behind the door and yanked Raul into the office by his shirt “As if I didn’t hear you coming up the stairs or something.” he added as he placed the Primogen in a head lock and playfully ’noogied’ his head.

“Cash, knock it off” Raul laughed, more from relief than anything else. “Albus, control him please.”

Albus looked up from his desk, a mischievous grin on his face and a twinkle in his blue eyes. “I am not the Primogen Raul” he replied as he raised one eyebrow and tried not to laugh. “I believe it falls to you to control Clan Gangrel, even that one.”

Raul sighed as he gave up trying to get away from Cash “You two planned this, didn’t you?” he asked as Albus and Cash laughed. “FINE, I apologize, I was wrong.” Raul said “I was upset and spoke without thinking, now let me go!”

“Told you it would work” Cash grinned and winked flopping on one of the chairs as Raul sat down next to him, giving him a playful knock on his shoulder as he did so.

“We were just discussing how to explain all of this to the twin’s parents.” Cash explained “And we’ll need to take Ron and Ginny back as well, it may not be safe here for any of them.”

“Is it any safer for them at their home? Should we have asked Angel to take them with her?” Raul suggested.

“I thought of that, but as Angus pointed out earlier, it was a huge strain on her to take Sirius and Remus with her and Harry. Remus can muddle his way through a lot of things, but with an apparation of that magnitude, all he can do is catch her when she collapses. Adding four more people would have done her in.” Cash replied, all traces of humour gone from his face. “So its up to us to get them home and make sure they stay safe.”

“Are you taking them all home to their parents?” Albus asked softly. He smiled kindly as Cash nodded “You must realize their mother will be quite beside herself when she sees her son.”

“I know” Cash grimaced “but it happened because he chose to help us and defend his family. I can’t just let him alone to face this.”

Raul shook his head sadly “I honestly didn’t think they would be injured at all, not with so many of us there.” He smiled gratefully when he felt Cash’s hand on his shoulder, reassuring him that he stood behind Raul’s decisions.

“Stop beating yourself up over this” Cash insisted. “You kept them all alive, you protected the students and the clan. Things happen, and were Gustavas is concerned, nothing may be assumed.”

“To be completely honest Cash” Raul replied “after hearing the stories the twins tell, I’m actually more frightened to face their mother than I ever was to face any Tremere. They tell me she’s a redhead like Angel. ”

“And with that, I will wish you good luck” Albus smiled “I am sure Molly and Arthur will understand…”

Harry and LJ continued to talk about Maharet and Cat, Harry wanted to know everything he could about them, and he very quickly convinced LJ to talk to his father about Sirius as a husband for Cat. “How much further LJ?” Harry asked as he realized they had been walking for nearly fifteen minutes.

“Not much further” LJ grinned, “We lucked out this year. They’re leaving us camp out in the trees this year. I love it up there, its just so amazing. And the nooks are great, they love having company.”

“Nooks?” Harry questioned.

“Yeah, nooks, you know, tree spirits, not like naiads or anything, but hey, there is no way my mum would let me sleep in a room full of ….. Well, you know.” LJ said quietly as his face turned bright pink. Hoping to change the subject, LJ paused as he passed one of the rooms, he waved and smiled brightly to a young girl who was sitting on a bed, absorbed in conversation with a very strange looking animal.

Within moments, the rest of their little group had caught up with them. “Harry this is Tanja, yet another cousin, I think she and Sara are supposed to go back with you at the end of the holidays” LJ explained. “But I’m not sure if Tanta Tara has given her permission to go with your mum yet.”

As Sara, Kelly and Callista come up from behind, Harry heard a loud comment from Kelly “Ehww, why did you bring that thing.” she asked as she pointed to the animal. “Hey, Aunt Kitty gave him to me” Tanja replied defensively, “and he’s not a thing, so don’t be so rude.”

“She didn’t give him to you,” Sara corrected her as she stuck out her tongue “You begged her not to kill him, and she told you that if she spared him, you would have to take care of him.”

“And I do, ….don’t I Monty?” Tanja asked the rainbow colour python as it lifted its head lazily, staring with indifference at all the children in the doorway.

“Sure you do Tanja, that’s why he’s so fat” Sara laughed as she entered the room and scratched Monty under his chin. “But granted, between Stryker and Monty, we never have to worry about mice or rats.” she added as the python began to glow faintly.

Harry joined with his cousins as they laughed, even Tanja was giggling now as Monty slid across her shoulders to greet the cousins. “Hey, I think he likes you Harry.” Tanja said as she watched Monty raise himself high, so he could look Harry in the eyes.

“Uhm, yeah, most snakes do, I’m…uh… kind of a parsel tongue” Harry said bashfully.

“Parsel tongue?” Tanja repeated as she squealed with glee “You mean you can actually talk to snakes? Can you talk to Monty for me? He seems to be depressed lately, can you ask him why?” she pleaded.

Harry felt every eye on him as he stared at Monty.

“Oh yes, do. I can’t wait to see this” a cold voice said from the back of Tanja’s room.

“Stuff it” yelled the entire group in unison, causing Harry to jump several feet, much to everyone’s amusement.

“Sorry Harry,” Callista said as she grabbed his hand. “That was just one of the ghosts that won’t leave Uncle Luke alone. Every time he comes home, the ghosts get lost and wander about. We don’t even pay attention to most of them any more.”

“SSsssoooo, are you going to talk to meeeeee?” a soft voice whispered in Harry’s ear.

“Monty?” Harry asked softly, turning to see the snake still waiting patiently.
“Yesssss”……….

Remus was laughing deeply as the toddlers clamoured for more ‘horsy rides’ from their Uncle Remus. He had forgotten how truly wonderful it was to be with such a large, loving family. They were more his family now then his own flesh and blood, Clan MacLeod accepted him openly, even after what he had done to Kitty, they never held it against him, they understood he never, ever meant to harm her. In fact, they had always been exceptionally generous towards him, especially with their friendship.

Remus finally collapsed on the floor, scooping up two of the toddlers as he rolled onto his back. Growling playfully at them, he tickled them as they squealed with delight and giggles. He looked up to see Kitty smiling widely at him, her hair shimmering as she shook her head at his antics. He watched as Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her off to a quiet corner to speak with her. Hopefully, between her brothers and himself, they could get this whole marriage issue out of the way by the end of the holidays……

Fang woke the moment he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the Gangrel’s haven. He quickly untangled himself from the sleeping forms of Kara and Regeane as he made his way to the door, crouched and poised to strike should the intruder turn out to be an enemy. He turn to take one last look at the sisters, right now they were all he had left of ’his’ clan, granted there were more Garou with them, but it had been him, Gaz, Kara and Regeane that had convinced the rest that this was worth while. Then Olia had joined their little clique, he felt the overwhelming need to protect them, no matter what the cost.

Fang sniffed the air and scented a great deal of blood and death on the approaching beings, so much so he couldn’t identify who they were. He unsheathed his claws, and held his breath as the door slowly opened, he wished there had been more light in the haven, but with no window and very few candles, there wasn’t much hope for that.

“I think they’re all asleep” a deep voice said softly as two men entered the haven.

“Yeah? Then where’s Fang” the other man pointed out.

“Rick? Roel?” Fang whispered as he half stood from his attack position. Sniffing the air around them, Fang crinkled his nose “What happened, I thought you would have cleaned up by now.”

“We did” Roel groused, “but the students in the hospital wing are there for a reason. And then we still had to get rid of all those death eaters. Luckily this weather is good for cold storage.”….

Harry’s cousins watched as he spoke to Monty, the snake for his part swayed back and forth as it raised itself high to keep eye contact with Harry.

“Tanja is worried about you, she says you seem depressed” Harry said, not really being sure how to begin a conversation with a multi-colour, glowing python.

“Yessssss, very depresssssssed” Monty replied as his head dropped.

“Do you miss your family?” Harry asked, thinking it was a reasonable guess, only to see the python shake it’s head no. “What then? Can I do anything to help?”

“She’sssss going to leave me behind” Monty sighed, turning towards Tanja “and she hasssssn’t given me any cricketsss in weeeekksssss”

“Crickets? You’re depressed because she isn’t feeding you crickets?” Harry replied, a look of surprise on his face. “And where is she going that you can’t come along?”

“Hogwartssssss, I’ve heard the mother talking. They want her to go with the otherssssss” Monty replied as his glowing became fainter and fainter. >/I>

“OH NO” Tanja yelped, “He’s upset again. Harry what is it? What did he say?”

Harry turned to Tanja, “He’s upset because you have to leave him behind when you go to Hogwarts with us.” he explained, then added sheepishly “and because you don’t feed him crickets anymore.”

Tanja made a strange face at Monty “Crickets? It’s the middle of winter, where am I supposed to get crickets at? And who said you can’t come with me?”

“Uhm, Tanja” Harry spoke meekly “They usually only allow owls, cats or frog at the school, and the occasional rat.” Harry jumped as Monty suddenly turned towards him as Tanja laughed.

“You said rats, he ‘loves’ rats, especially the fat ones.” she laughed as Monty wrapped himself around her shoulders and twisted his way through her hair. “And if they can bring those other animals, I don’t see why I can bring Monty” she added as she crossed her arms over her chest, daring anyone to argue with her.

Harry shrugged “I don’t know? Mum can probably talk Dumbledore into letting Monty come with you, but you’d have to ask her.” he smiled when he saw the grin on Tanja’s face as Monty began to glow brightly again.

“Oh look” Tanja said joyfully, “he’s happy again. That‘s my handsome boy.” but no sooner did the words leave her mouth, than Monty went dim and dropped his head onto her hair. “Monty?! Monty?!!! Harry, was is it, what’s wrong?”

“Monty, what is it? Are you feeling sick?” Harry paused as the snake gave him a penetrating gaze. “I thought you wanted to go with her? Did you change your mind?”

“No, I want to go with her, but she hasssss to sssstop calling me that.” Monty hissed.

“Calling you what? Isn’t Monty your name?”

“Yessss, but itssss ssshort for Montalurie” the python replied, “I’m a girl, not a boy.” ………