“And right you were” George agreed, holding up a thick, red book “Who would have thought she was good enough to get into one of these beauties.”

“Well just don’t let your mother see you with those.” Arthur warned, “I have a feeling Miss MacLeod had those false covers on for a reason.”

“Nah, that’s how they come, it so no one knows that you’re planning anything” Fred explained. “Besides, Mum should appreciate the fact that MacLeod and Lupin are ‘published’ and all.”

Arthur snorted as he took the book from his son’s hand and reread the inscription again.

“Fred and George,

Volume 1 and 2 of Practical Jokes and Spivvy Spells. Just to prove to the two of you that Remus and I did, in fact, write the book. (see chapters, 6, 19, 33, & 39). So don’t think for one moment you can fool us. Although you are welcome to try, Remus and I both enjoy a challenge.

Arthur had to chuckle at the little smiley face she had drawn at the bottom of each inscription. “Well if nothing else, she must have a good sense of humour.” he sighed as he gave the book back to Fred. “So did you read those chapters?”

“Not all of them, but we did see who wrote them” George replied, smiling from ear to ear, Remus Lupin and Catri MacLeod. Apparently the two of them have quite a reputation.”

“Again, don’t let your mother know that.” Arthur reminded them. “I’d prefer that when she meets Miss MacLeod she doesn’t think of this. As it is, the meeting will more than likely not be under the best circumstances.” “Has something happened” Ginny asked as she grabbed onto her father’s hand. He had always seemed so strong and sure of himself, but today, at this moment, Ginny saw how old and how tired her father had become. It seemed to her as if he had aged overnight, and the way his eyes kept darting around the room, she knew he was keeping something from them. “Nothing for you to worry about Ginny, its Christmas, enjoy it.” he told her, brushing her soft, red hair from her face. “Why don’t you read the letter that came with the package. You do know it was very rude of you all to tear open the presents without reading the letter first, don’t you?” “Yes, Father.” they sighed in unison as George grabbed the letter out of the box and began reading it. Greetings all, I hope this letter finds you all well and happy, and I am sure you are all enjoying your Christmas. Fred and George, remember what I wrote in the books, I’m not joking, Remus and I will take you on any day of the week. And Ron, I still think you’re completely wrong, but I hope you enjoy watching the Cannon’s play (lose) a few Quidditch matches. Ginny, I remember you and Sara looking at the Peace Planets, I’m sure it will look beautiful on you, and maybe you and Sara can talk to Hermione and see if they do actually help world peace. Did I forget to tell you Sara is coming to Hogwarts with us? Her mother has finally given me permission to take her back with us. A few other cousins, Callista and Tanja, to name two, will also be returning with us. I can’t wait to see you all back at school in a few weeks, and make sure you don’t pick on Ginny.

Love,

Cat MacLeod

P.S.

Hi everyone, I didn’t have time to write my own letter, so I thought I’d add onto Mum’s. Fernglennis is amazing, I have more family than I ever could have imagined, and Hagrid would go into fits if he could see some of the animals they have here. We could do a whole year of CoMC in the barn alone. Sirius and Mum seem to be getting closer and Remus seems to think they’ll get back together soon. (can’t be soon enough for me). Ron, if Percy is there, tell him and Charlie that I have two cousins that can’t wait to meet them (and tell Charlie that Meg is really pretty, and she loves dragons too.) I have to go, Uncle Duncan is teaching me how to saddle a firebrand (it’s a type of horse, I’ll explain when I see you) and Aunt Siobhan has promised to make apple dumplings later. I’ve taken lots of pictures of my clan and of Fernglennis so you can see what I mean.

Harry

“Fernglennis” Arthur laughed, “why don’t you just say Avalon and get it over with?”

“What does Avalon have to do with Fernglennis?” Ron asked as he grabbed the letter from his brother, looking at his father as if he were daft.

“Everyone knows Fernglennis isn’t real, it’s a mythical land, like Avalon and Tir na n’Og” Arthur explained. “I think your friend is having a joke with you.”

“Harry wouldn’t do that” Ginny stated, ‘Besides, I know its real, Cat…. I mean Miss MacLeod took me there herself when my dress….got….uhm…” she became very quiet as she felt everyone turn to stare at her.

“That letter was from Harry?” Arthur asked, becoming suddenly concerned “What’s this about his ‘mum’ I distinctly hear the phrase Sirius and mum. Harry does know his mother is dead, we all KNOW that. If someone is trying to convince him otherwise.”

“Relax Da,” Fred said, “He knows Miss MacLeod isn’t his real Mum, but she might as well be. I mean she’s stepped in and taken care of him, and she’s always there when he needs her. You should see the two of them, they even look like family.”

“Yeah,” George agreed “Can you believe they both have those green eyes, and the same smile. It’s completely freaky sometimes.”

Molly walked into the room, listening intently to the conversation “Arthur, do you think it’s a trap. If anything happens to my poor Harry.” But before Arthur could say anything, Ginny spoke up again.

“Isn’t anyone listening to me? I’ve seen her home, her family, they all look like that. They all have bright eyes and big smiles, and everyone is so friendly and so sweet.” Ginny explained “I know Cat would never do anything to risk Harry’s life, I saw what she did when Cho hurt him. I saw the look in her eyes, and the way she held onto Harry and let him cry….”

“Cho? Cho who, and what did she do to Harry.” Molly asked her eyes narrowing. “And exactly who gave you permission to go off with this woman? How do you know she isn’t working for you-know-who, she could have done anything to you young lady.”

As the rest of her family argued, Ginny ran upstairs to get what she hoped would be proof from her room. Tearing through her trunk, she quickly pulled out a small box and dashed back downstairs to her family. “Here, I’ll show you what we mean.” she said as she burst into the room and dumped the box full of snapshots onto an empty chair. Rummaging through the pictures, she found one of Harry and Cat dancing at the Yule ball. “Here, look…. See for yourself.” she exclaimed, handing the photo to her father.

After a few thoughtful moments, Arthur knitted his brow and asked. “Ginny, do you have any other pictures, one that shows her better?”

Ginny nodded and quickly found a picture of Cat, Remus and Cash, “How about this one?”

“Good gods,” Arthur whispered lowly “I can’t believe how much she resembles Lily Potter. Its uncanny.”

“Arthur?” Molly said uncertainly, “You don’t actually think…”

I have no idea what to think, except that she seems very friendly with your new friend Cash. And she certainly looks like she could be his mother.” Arthur told his wife. “Ginny, were did you get these pictures?”

“Collin Creevey, he’s always taking pictures of Harry, and now of Miss MacLeod too.” Ginny explained, “He makes extras and gives them to me if I ask him.” Ginny handed the photos to her father, allowing him to look through them as Molly walked behind him, looking over his shoulder.

“Virginia Weasley! Where did you get that dress?” Molly asked as she saw the photo of Ginny and Harry standing with Ron and Hermione.

“Now, Molly. I think our little Ginny looks very nice in that dress, very grown up.” Arthur interjected, smiling softly as he realized his daughter was growing up.

“Yes, ‘VERY’ grown up.” Molly huffed. “Thank Heavens you were with Harry, I’d hate to think what some other boy may have thought of you dressed like that. Did ‘she’ give you that dress? Is that the sort of mother she is?”

“That’s not fair” Ginny shouted, “They ruined my gown, they burnt a hole right through it with their stupid pranks. Miss MacLeod found me crying in one of the classrooms and felt sorry for me. She took me to her home and asked Sara to lend me a gown,” Ginny said as tears began to fall from her eyes. “She knew we couldn’t afford another one, and she knew how much it meant to me to be able to go to the ball this year. She’s sweet and kind and you have no right to be mean to her. You liked Cash well enough, so why don’t you like her? After all, she is their Angel.”

Sensing an impending storm, Arthur stood up and placed himself between his daughter and wife. “Ginny, Miss MacLeod is the one Cash and Raul call Angel? The one who fought the death eaters at the school?” He sighed as Ginny nodded her head vigorously. “Fine. Ginny, boys, why don’t you take your gifts and go upstairs and play for a little while. Your mother and I need to talk.”

“Talk? About what, the fact that Harry is with some strange woman in a place that doesn’t exist doing who knows what?” Molly retorted.

George pulled Ginny by her hand as she went to gather her photos “Leave them Ginny, we’ll grab them later. Mum’s about to blow her top…. When we get upstairs we can owl Cash and ask him what to do…..”

Breakfast in the great hall was a small affair this Christmas morning. Precious few students had remained at the school after Minerva had contacted the parents of any one still left at the school. As it stood, only ten or so students, and half a dozen teachers had stayed over the holidays. Severus sighed deeply as he rearranged his breakfast yet again, his mind preoccupied by the glimpses he had stolen of Catri at Fernglennis and the memories of their passionate, albeit brief, time together at his home. He nodded politely to Minerva when she inquired about his health and wished him a merry Christmas, but he had stopped feeling merry and cheerful the moment Catri had left his side. He had wanted to share the holidays with her, to be at her side holding her hand or stroking her hair. He closed his eyes as his dream of Catri and their children replayed in his mind. He smirked as he realized how much like Harry his first son looked, having his own jet black hair and Catri’s brilliant green eyes, perhaps having Harry Potter as a step son would be possible, if a bit awkward.

Just as Sev was about to excuse himself, he became aware of someone watching him. Several someones in fact. Looking up he saw Albus, Minerva, Professor Vector, and the two vampires Cash and Rick staring at him. “I am sorry, I was preoccupied with another thought, what was the question?” he asked, ready to kick himself for not paying more attention.

“The ‘question’, as you phrase it” Cash smirked “was what exactly are you doing to your breakfast?”

“Excuse me?” Severus snarled, “I was not aware it was a crime to not be hungry.”

Approaching the potion master, Rick the Gangrel smiled softly as he shook his head. “Of course not being hungry is no crime. But spelling Catri Snape with egg yolks may be” he said quietly, both amused and touched by the deep blush that crossed over the professor’s face. “Just don’t let Hamish see that, alright? Cash is under oath to keep you safe, Hamish isn’t and I don’t think we’ve quite managed to convince him yet.” Rick added as he waved his hand over the plate, returning the eggs to their original form and erasing all signs of Snape’s subconscious longings.

Severus clenched his jaw when he realized what he had done, but at least this vampire was more like the blonde woman Tris. He was at least civil to him, and in fact, seemed to be going out of his way to be kind to him. Severus spared him a half hearted smile as he noticed for the first time what bright blue eyes the Gangrel had, and how well they were set off by the man’s long dark hair. “Gods above and below” Sev muttered under his breath “he could be Black’s brother.”

Rick’s head immediately turned to look back at the potion master, smiling with amusement, he responded to the professor’s comment “I know, and trust me, you’re not the first to notice or mention it.” he explained, winking playfully at Snape, laughing merrily as the professor’s eyes grew wide with shock. Obviously the man had forgotten how sensitive a vampyres hearing was, actually all of their senses were hyper acute, and the Gangrel knew better than most how to use them.

Cash and Albus looked at each other and exchanged knowing glances, it was just like Rick to try and smooth things over, after all, he and Angus had been doing precisely that for most of their mortal and immortal lives. “Ten sickles Rick gets him to open up by New Year’s day” Cash whispered, “he’s the sort everyone trusts, very sweet, honest, …..”

“Hmm, yes, but very physical as well” Albus murmured back. “And our Severus does not like being touched, not in the least.” Stroking his beard, Albus sat thoughtfully for a moment, “Very well Cash, ten sickles” he agreed, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief as the students filed into the hall. Since their were so few remaining, it had been decided that they would all sleep in the Hufflepuff dorms, they were the easiest to defend, and with Angus and Hamish watching over the students, everyone was sleeping soundly and safely.

“Hold that thought Albus” Cash said, “I have to get something before the students start breakfast.” Faster than human eyes could see, Cash made his way to their haven and back to the great hall, an oddly shaped packaged in his hand. Just as the students crossed over the threshold Cash sat the packed, draped with a brightly covered cloth at a particular seat and immediately reappeared at Albus’s side. “I can’t believe I almost forgot about that, especially after I made Meg bring it to me last night.”

“Meg? My heavens, I haven’t seen her since she was a toddler. She is doing well I assume.”

“Of course” Cash responded, then added quickly “But perhaps you can tell me something about a Charlie Weasley, all she did was ask questions about him when she and Remus were here. Remus kept chuckling and shaking his head, but he didn’t have time to tell me what was going on.”

“Charlie Weasley?” Albus repeated, “A fine man, a good student, works with dragons as I recall.”

“AH,, that explains it right there.” Cash grinned “she’s almost as bad as Hagrid when it comes to dangerous creatures, you should see her with the firebrands and chats.”

“Ah, yes, the chats.” Albus repeated, a heart-warming smile on his lips, “I seem to recall someone letting them lose when hunters tried to breach the veil and enter the hollow”

“I was told “I” wasn’t allowed to kill the hunters on hollow land, no one said nuttin about not letting the chats chase the blighters down.” Cash said firmly, barely containing a smile as he remembered the look of abject terror when those cowardly hunters had opened a tear in the veil, only to be pounced upon by the chats. Too bad a few of the chats got away, although he had the distinct feeling many of the demon dog and large cat sightings had a great deal to do with ones that had gotten away. “I’ll be right back. It looks like Neville’s finally noticed…”

And indeed Neville had noticed something, as had the other students at his table. A large package sat were his plate should have been. Staring at it with uncertainty, Neville jumped when he touched the fabric and heard something underneath it move. “It’s alive” he said, his voice as shaky as his hands “What do you think I should do?”

“Well, mind you its only a suggestion” Cash quipped from the other side of the table “But seeing as how its Christmas morning, and it looks to be a present, I’d have to say…. Open it.” Cash grinned from ear to ear as he watched Neville’s trembling hand reach out to pull off the cover, covering his eyes with his free hand, as if it would somehow protect him.

Neville heard the ohhs and awws coming from his fellow students when he pulled off the cover, becoming more curious than afraid, he peeped through his fingers and saw a large bird cage in front of him. “Well, it’s certainly not an owl.” he stated as he took the card from the bars of the cage.

Neville,

We heard about Trevor’s disappearance and thought perhaps you would have better luck with this. We have spoken with headmaster Dumbledore and he has given special permission for you to keep him with you. His name is Wafa, but feel free to change it.

“Hey it’s not signed” Neville exclaimed. “And what exactly is it, or…uhm..he?” he asked as he looked at the bird. Its body was mainly blue and green, with several long tail feathers of crimson and purple and it seemed to glow softly as the students grew nearer to it.

“I’ve seen those before” Cash interrupted, trying to sound as shocked and spellbound as the other students seem to be. “They only live in the Highlands of Scotland, around Loch Argyll. It’s a relative of the Phoenix, its called a grian eun, They’re very smart and very, very lucky to have around. You should see if you can get him to sing, I think they like apples and pomegranates.” he added, smiling as several of the students hugged him tightly and wished him a merry Christmas.

Cash was so busy enjoying the look of joy on Neville and the other student’s faces, he almost didn’t feel Albus calling him. Almost. “You kids have fun with him, I’m going to see how the teachers are doing.” Cash told them as Neville took the bird from its cage, beaming with joy as the bird eagerly jumped onto his hand and started to coo softly. Cash could already see the look in Albus’s eyes as he approached the dais.

“So glad to know I gave permission for this Mr. MacLeod” Albus stated, giving Cash a knowing look. “However, can you inform my as to ‘why’ I allowed this. I seem to be suffering from a lapse of memory.”

Cash felt his ears turning red as the Headmaster addressed him, he knew it was silly, after all, he was much, much older than Albus. But still, he felt like one of his wayward students at the moment. Clearing his throat, Cash looked up at Albus and explained. “Do you remember the night Olia was killed? Well, when I went to check on Harry and the other Gryffindors I was a bit…high-strung shall we say.” pulling his hand through his short blonde hair as a blushed crept up his face, Cash quickly added. “Neville’s toad…well, it kinda jumped at the wrong time, I … uhm.. Damit Albus, I squished his toad.” Cash finally admitted, “I mean, I had to do something to make it up to him, I offed his pet”

“Only you Cash, only you” Minerva sighed as she placed her head in her hands, oblivious to Albus’s soft chuckling or the look of out and out shock on Severus’s face.

“You seem surprised” Rick said softly to Severus, “Even Cash makes mistakes now and then.” he explained, smiling kindly.

“Its not that. It does not surprise me that he killed the toad” Severus admitted. “But I am surprised that he cares that he did it, that he feels remorse. He honestly seems distraught that he upset Longbottom.”

“He is” Rick replied simply “the last thing any of us want to do is cause the children pain. We’re here to protect them, even at the cost of our own lives, Olia alone has proven that.” Rick added as he hung his head and walked away from Severus, not bothering to look back. He didn’t want anyone to see the crestfallen look on his face or the hurt in his bright blue eyes. He had thought they had proven themselves by now, most of the students and teachers accepted them as they would any other person. So why couldn’t the Slytherins? Or more to the point, why couldn’t their head of house. After all, he accepted Angel, and she was far more Gangrel than she was human.

“What’s ailin ya Rick” Roel asked as he draped his arm around his fellow Gangrel. “You look like someone just kick ya or something.”

“Or something” Rick agreed, moving his arm to Roel’s shoulder. “I just don’t know what to make of people sometimes. Or even worse, I know ‘exactly’ what to make of them.”

“How so?”

“That potion guy, the one who’s in love with Angel.” Rick explained, “That was me three hundred years ago, right before the clan took me in, opened my eyes and my heart.” he turned and gave Snape a quick glance, and was somewhat shocked to see the professors dark eyes still fixed on him. “He has the same sort of pain in him that I endured for all those years. He wants to love someone, he wants to be loved, but he just doesn’t know how. He’s scared to death to touch or be touched, Angel’s the only person he trusts enough to risk that sort of intimacy with. But he doesn’t understand what that’s doing to him, or what it will do to her.”

“Hey, Ricky, come on. You can’t heal the world, none of us can.” Roel soothed, “And when are you going to put all that hurt behind you? I remember the fear and pain in your eyes when you told me about your life before the clan. But you’re one of us, you have been for centuries, you risked your mortal life to save the children of the clan. They accepted you and made you one of them, blood or not, you are a MacLeod. Cash never would have embraced you if there were any doubts on that front.”

Rick smiled as he placed his forehead against Roel’s “I know, but it doesn’t take away the memories. I was raised to be a fiend, and to raise other fiends, blood and death were all I knew of life. I was beaten, abused, tortured…all supposedly to make me strong and cold. They cut me off from my own heart Roel, and that is a pain that never goes away. Even now I can hear their curses when I refused to kill those children, when I stopped them from killing …..” he choked back a small sob as the memories of his past reared up to stare at him. They had accused him of being weak, soft, of having no honour…where was the honour in slaughtering children, of ending a life before it had even truly begun. It made him sick to his heart and his stomach every time he remembered it.

Roel kissed Rick’s forehead as he patted him on the back. “Now, now Rick. We all have our ghosts, you, me, Cash, even Angel and Tris have their pain. It doesn’t do anyone any good to dwell on it, and if this potions bloke is causing you any grief…”

“No Roel, nothing like that.” Rick assured, “I just see to much of myself when I look at him. Those first few years with the clan…wanting, needing, to be held, but scared to death that someone would.” he shook his head sadly. “I’d like to spare him that pain, let him learn from me, but I don’t know if he’ll accept my help, he’s a very proud sort of fellow.”……..

Dimitri smiled sleepily as Elora’s children played with their toys, laughing and screaming as they tried to use the wooden swords and leather shields that the MacLeod’s had let behind for them. He winced as he heard one of them trying to play the wooden flute that Paddy had left as a special present for Elora’s daughter, she had been so thrilled to get a special gift. “Only two more days Fallon, and we will finally be back at Hogwarts. I hope Cash is still there, I miss him and the other Gangrels, they are more my clan than the Ventrue it would seem.”

“I’m sure he’s waiting, and probably quite worried” Fallon whispered, kissing Dimitri’s head as she brushed his dark curls off of his face. “From everything you’ve told me about him, he’ll probably hug you half to death with relief and then scream at you for making him worry so much.” she added, smiling happily when she saw smile dance across Dimitri’s pale lips. “That’s better. Now get some rest, Erich and I will watch over Fallon and the children until this evening. Its Solstice, the children are recovering quickly from our hardships, we are travelling under the protection of Clan MacLeod and Magda has not been heard of in days.”

“She’s right Dimitri, get some sleep” Erich agreed as he stood behind Fallon. “Besides the sooner you rest, the sooner we get back on the road. I want to get to Hogwarts by tomorrow evening at the latest.” he grinned “Because if I have to hear my sister mention Padriac MacLeod one more time, I may just pull out my hair and stuff it in my ears.” he teased, laughing softly as Fallon rolled her eyes…….

Leumadair and his mother shook their heads with puzzlement as Leonora’s children tossed the conch shell back and forth, trying to throw it through a small hoop at the end of the courtyard. “It’s an American game called basketball” she sighed, “They saw some children playing it over the summer and have been mimicking them ever since. They found that shell this morning and insisted it was a gift from Saint Nicholas….you know, Santa Claus.”

“Ahh, Santa Claus, you must be referring to Christmas. That isn’t celebrated here” Leumadair explained. “Our celebration is more akin to Solstice, only instead of celebrating the decline of winter, we celebrate the return of the warm currents and the bounty it provides. Judging by the movements of the moon, they should be changing within the next few weeks. The ice drifts have gotten smaller and smaller, and the seaweed is beginning to bud, you should see the fields of it on the other side of the bay. Its glorious.” he sighed.

“I would love to see them, I just wish I could go explore. But no one will speak to me or the boys” she said dejectedly. “Its not right, they didn’t do anything wrong”

“Neither did you” Leumadair said softly, “they are simply afraid of my father. He is a great and honourable man, but he can be harsh in his wielding of justice. So until my cousin and her son arrive to pass judgment no one dares to befriend you.”

“Pass judgment?” Leonora said nervously, “But what have I done? I’ve never even met her, let alone done anything to her.”

“Hush” Leumadair said gently “I know that, and so does she. My father will not accept you because your clan attacked the Roma that were under my cousins protections, so in effect, she attacked us. Catri will be asked to pass judgment on your involvement in this, in short she must weigh your heart against the actions of you own clan. Not very comforting I know, but she is a kind and forgiving woman, and if I am allowed to speak with her, I ‘know’ she will be generous in her judgment and mercy.”….

“But Arthur, what if she is working for you-know-who, or Malfoy, or, or…” Molly sighed, tired of the argument but still terribly worried about Harry.

“Albus Dumbledore trusts her, that’s good enough for me. Besides, I have the distinct feeling that the only thing keeping Hogwarts safe is her presence. According to what Raul told me, they waited until the evening she left with Snape to attack.” Arthur explained, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I wonder if her people would consider and out and out alliance with the wizarding world. Now that Fudge is gone, I think the government will be a bit more progressive than it had.”

“Now that Fudge is gone.” Molly repeated flatly. “Not that I don’t think he should have left office years ago, but you make it sound like he’s retired.”

“And so must you. Until we have the chance to talk to Albus and decide how this is to be handled.” Arthur reminded her “We don’t want panic in the streets, we have to use our heads, dear. The future of our world and of our children depend on it.” he added gently as he wrapped his arms around his wife, holding her closely as the invisible storm raged around them. The next few days promised to be the most treacherous and frightening any of them had ever encountered……