Outtakes.

August 31th, 1938, Campbell House, Scotland, evening.

Meldrin and Andrew arrived home to find supper already started, "You boys are late," Grandmother Elanor greeted them cheerfully, "Soup course is nearly over."

Andrew assisted Meldrin into a chair, then sat next to him, "'Pologies, Granny, but ye ken how it is th' las' day o' summer hols. Fair swamped, we were, after lunchtime."

Meldrin smiled as bowls of cockaleekie soup appeared in front of them both, picking up his spoon and taking a bite before answering as well, "Aye, and before lunch was rather eventful as well. Master Dumbledore brought in his niece."

Elanor exchanged glances with her husband Alexander, "Ah dinna ken there was a girlchild o' House Dumbledore."

Meldrin shook his head, "No, not exactly. Professor Dumbledore Blood Adopted a Muggleborn he'd found in one of the Port City Orphanages down south. She didn't say which one. Her name is Ariana, and she's very polite."

Andrew grinned at them triumphantly, "Ye'll be happy to ken tha' Miss Ariana took a likin' to yon dollie in th’ winder. Geiliss went home wit' th’ Dumbledores today." He winked impudently at his grandfather and added, "Mayhap now ye'll gi' us th' tale o' how ye skelped a selkie wi'oot pinchin' its pelt."

Alexander shook his head, smiling back, "Nay, ye rascal, yon tale's fer th’ lassie alone, iffen she writes ter me."

Meldrin smiled broadly, “I’ll eat my hat if her owl Diana doesn’t reach you before Mabon. You could tell just by talking with her for two minutes that she’d be a shoe-in for Ravenclaw if Professor Dumbledore would allow her to attend Hogwarts.”

Elanor raised an eyebrow, “An’ where does Albus plan on sendin’ th’ wee lass, then?”

Andrew harrumphed into the last of his soup, “Beauxbatons. Maister Dumbledore claimed ‘twas to protect th’ lass from bein’ made fun o’ by her mates.”

Meldrin nodded, “To be fair, there are several students who have been teased for having family in or near the castle while they’re in lessons. Angus McTavish, for one. And Kendree MacDougal.” He laughed as the house elves swapped out their empty soup bowls for the entrée courses, “Master Dumbledore says Angus is starting to Court Kendree, so we might see a wedding in a couple years.”

Elanor raised an eyebrow, “That fiery lass whit played Beater, wit’ a Muggle mother? Nivvah though she’d settle down wit’ anyone.”

Andrew nodded, “Maister Dumbledore gave us a righ’ surprise, ye ken, introducin’ us to his new niece an’ then droppin’ tha’ wee bit o’ kenning on us.”

Alexander ruminated on this information a bit, the four of them eating in silence, then asked, “An’ how did th’ wee lassie strike ye boys.”

Meldrin exchanged grins with his husband, “Oh, she’s a right spitfire, fits in quite well with her uncle and father. I wouldn’t doubt she’ll be changing the face of Wizardry as we know it, when she grows up. From the ground, though, we’re informed that when Mick gave her a flying lesson it ended with a week of bedrest and a lifetime ban against getting on another broom from the Mediwitch, Madame Angelica Willowbark.”

Andrew winked at his husband, “Nay, she’ll be at hospital, accordin’ ter Explodin’ Snap. Summat made th’ cards that Sprout boy owns add a pair o’ portraits fer Lady-Healer Dilys Derwent. We saw ‘em, spoke wit’ th’ image. She’s quite th’ chatterbox.”

Elanor quite lost her composure at this and dropped her fork, “Lady-Healer Dilys Derwent??! A talkin’ Snap card? Ah nivvah heerd th’ like! Whit in Lady Magic’s name is goin’ on?” A house elf unobtrusively whisked the fork away, which had landed on the floor, and slipped her a new one.

Meldrin and Andrew exchanged glances, “Er, we promised we wouldn’t say, Granny Ellie, but I promise it’s nothing bad. I don’t think Lady Derwent would have appeared if she was an ordinary witch.” He sighed, “But I still wonder how her cards showed up in the first place. Would be interesting to speak with the portrait artist, if they’re even still alive after all this time. It’s a very complicated piece of magic, to imbue a portrait with the imprint of a witch or wizard, even harder if you’re trying to replicate their speech patterns and mannerisms and personality. The portrait also recalls everything from her life, which is a surprise given she was painted as a young woman, rather than the staid and stern older witch who appears in the Headmaster’s office and at St. Mungo’s.”

Alexander blinked, stroking his beard thoughtfully, “Ah ken th’ process, Meldrin, an’ aye, ‘tis righ’ difficult. Well beyond N.E.W.T. an’ inter Maistery-level Charms. Enchantin’ th’ figger t’ move is simple enow wit’ th’ righ’ potion an’ spell, but givin’ it all th’ memories o’ a person, even long after th’ sittin’, an’ havin’ it respond is another thing alt’gether. An’ t’ spell it so it only appears fer a certain person or under certain conditions is even moreso.”

Elanor nodded, "I kin reach out t' me old Maister, see if he kens summat. Shall I add it t' th' reply when yon lassie sends a writ?"

Meldrin nodded as the house elves cleared away the entrée plates and set platters of fruit and cheese on the table instead, "I think she'd like that, she struck me as very inquisitive about everything she saw."

Elanor smiled, "Then I shall, as soon as we've finished." She smirked at both young men suddenly, "Speekin' o' childer, any news on yer own surrogate?"

Meldrin choked on a grape and Andrew clapped him on the back, giving her a glare, "Merlin, Granny, dinna surprise a man so! Aye, we've begun talks wit' a couple o' braw witches, ye'll meet one when we choose her."

Meldrin gasped for air, took a drink of wine to clear his throat, and continued, "We're young yet, Granny Ellie, but I think we'll have made our decision before the decade ends."

Alexander frowned, but there was a twinkle in his eye as he responded, "We ain't gitten any younger, lads, and we wish ter see yer heir, our heir, afore we join Merlin an' Lady Magic in th' Afterlife."

Andrew nodded, exchanging rueful smiles with his husband, "Aye, Granther Sandy, as soon as she says th' word."

Elanor beamed, getting gracefully to her feet, "I'll expect developments by Samhain, Solstice at th' latest." The three wizards hastily stood as she did, then watched her leave with varying levels of humor in their faces.

Meldrin yawned, "And I think on that note we'll turn in, Grandfather, it's been a very long day. G'night." He took Andrew's hand and the pair of them ascended to their bedroom, leaving Alexander to ruminate on the day's events, "Do you think we told them too much about Miss Ariana?"

Andrew shook his head as they changed for bed, "Woulda needed t' ken summat about th' lass, Mo ghràdh, fer when her owl comes. Ye did aright." The two men got under the covers and cuddled until they fell asleep.