Guest Chambers (currently occupied by Ciaran McConn and his son)

Ciaran blinked several times. "His informant?" he repeated. Apparently Horatio had not told his nephew about why he had come to Hogwarts...

"I was not aware that their knowing each other was secret... But it's making sense." he murmured. "If they knew about the list...they wouldn't want anyone to know they knew each other long... maybe someone is watching them."

Kiara blinked and shook her head, she found it strange Horatio and Eglantine met and fell in love because of the Dark arts Horatio hated so much.

"The list had little to do with it, Horatio came here for a very different reason.... or at least it seemed like it at the time...." paused trying to make sence of it all

"It is like they live a second life, one they don't talk about" she mumbled takeing a sip of her hot water.

Ciaran nodded. "Apparently it would be seeming so." he muttered. It struck him as odd that his favourite uncle, who hated secrets and other keeping them...had apparently pulled the wool over his eyes for many years. "Want ta talk to em about it...or just trust em, Ara?"

"I do trust both of them, but I am as curious as to what as going on as you. I am going on what Horatio and Eglantine have already told me" Kiara paused again thinking aloud.

"Eglantine had to have been his informant, it makes sence, how else could he have gotten that photo, and why he refused to tell me who his informant was....but why would Eglantine tell Horatio where to find her and the research she had?"

Kiara ground, "Perhaps we could ask them..... or my mind will never let this down"

She looked over at Ciaran "You may find out somethings about your uncle you may find.... shocking dear. There is a reason why Horatio is on the list"

Ciaran stood up from the couch. "Needless ta say...I'm confused." he muttered. His blue eyes looked at Kiara.
"Why is he on the list, Kiara? The dark arts? Me uncle hates em with vengeance." he protested...although without much certainty in his voice.

Kiara nodded "I know, his hatred for the dark arts is why he came here, to destroy a piece of reseach he helped to create many years ago... at least that is what he said"

She looked up, "here is where I am confused, Eglantine is the one keeping that research, a research she has helped develope over almost a decade. And Eglantine is very protective over this research, and she was none to happy when Horatio asked her to destroy it. Once more they didn't act as of they know each other before, Eglantine came to me in quiet a huff about him actually.."

She sighed "I am not even sure if am allowed to say any of this, but it doesn't make sense that they would know eachother from before..... it fits but yet it doesn't it, unless it was all an act, but I find that hard to believe.... now I am confused"

She sighed and got up, she walked over to Ciaran and placed her hand on shoulder.

He obviously didn't know of his uncles past experience in the dark arts. She was both curious and worried over Ciaran's reaction to this news. More worried then curious actually.

"This all started before you and I were even born Ciaran dear, perhaps he didn't think you needed to know.... but I admit what they have told me and what you have just said.... something doesn't add up. Do you think we should talk to Horatio?" she asked.

Ciaran listened, still too shocked to say much. All those years he had known his uncle... had they all been a careful facade? Had he been tricked into thinking that Horatio McKevin was an honest wizard? Or was he just missing a few pieces to the large and complex puzzle. When he had first come to Hogwarts, Ciaran had seen Professor DeLanquar and had not thought that she was the "Eglantine" his uncle often spoke of so fondly...until he had heard her first name... from there everything had clicked into place. Or so he thought.
Now he had no idea what to think.

"Aye, maybe we should, Ara." he muttered. "Best to hear it from the horse's mouth."

Kiara nodded, but took hold of Ciaran's hand, and gave it a squeeze

"Yeah lets go" she said with a sigh. "I am sure there is a reason for it,"

((to Horatio's quarters then?))

((yes))

Ciaran nodded, and rose to his feet. Checking on his son real quick, he soon opened the door for Kiara and they made their way out to find the venerable wizard.

~Christmas Morning~

Tav McConn stood in his pyjamas intently staring at the tree that his father and soon to be step-mother had set up the night before. No presents were to be seen under its green branches, but Tav knew it was traditional that the child had to wait until the adults told him he could open them... and sadly Tav had a history of opening presents before he had been given permission...

Ciaran yawned as he sat down on the couch. Kiara would arrive at any moment and the three of them would have their first family Christmas... complete with some mistletoe he had charmed to float about the room.

Chuckling at his son's impatience, he wondered briefly if Kiara would like her present but then brushed the thought away.

Kiara arrived guest quarters her for both Tav and Ciaran in her hands, she hoped they liked them, she had spent countless nights working getting them done on time. It was worth it, they both turned out wonderfully.

Dispite the set back of the smoke bombs in the halls the one night she had managed to finish on time, and she was almost done recovering from the incident and she wasn't about to let it ruin Christmas.

Putting her hand up to the door and smiling she knocked twice.

"Marry Christmas.." she said through the door.

Tav heard the knock and bolted for the door, opening it and embracing Kiara before the last syllable of Christmas was said.

"Merry Christmas!" he chirped, beaming at her.

Ciaran rose form the couch and repeated the cheerful line after his son.
"Would ya believe he's been up for three hours already..." He murmured, pointing at Tav. Yawning, Ciaran motioned toward the mistletoe which had incidentally floated over the couple's head.

"Merry Christmas, love." he whispered, leaning over Tav to kiss Kiara passionately on the mouth.

Kiara let out laugh when Ciaran mentioned how long Tav had been up for. She had been about to reaspond she suddenly found herself in a very passionate with her fiance.. Oh how good that sounded... her fiance.

She of course Kissed him back and without a second thought floated the wraped presents under the tree. Tavs was a lable that said "shake me it you want, but no opening until Kiara says"

Ciarans gift was simply labled, "To: Ciaran, my love, Very Merry Christmas to you, from now and the years to come"

"Merry Christmas to as well Love" she whispered breathlessly.

Tav was completely "grossed out" by the display of affection and quickly squirmed from between the couple to rush to the tree. From out of nowhere his presents, and a few others had appeared and had his smile been any larger, it would have split his face.

"Can I open them now???" he begged.

Ciaran pulled Kiara against him and gently cupped the back of her head in his hands. Breaking the kiss, for some odd event called breathing, he chuckled at Tav and winked at Kiara.

"After a bit..." he teased. His son sighed heavily and sat down on the carpet.

"Not even one?" Tav asked, obviously to excited to note the teasing tone.

Kiara chuckled at the exsaperated look on Tav's face, and turned an amused look to Ciaran.

"You torturing him Love, letting all those presents appear and not be allowed to open even one?" she said hugging Ciaran lightly looking at Tav.

Secretly it was perfectly alright with her if he opened hers, the anticaption of seeing his face was just as nerve wracking for her.

Whispering to Ciaran with a smile on her lips she said "Let him open em?, I am anxious enough to see what he thinks of mine. Not to mention I am curious as to what you will think about what I made you to"

Ciaran chuckled and nodded. "I can't be fighting ya both. Go ahead."

Paper flew as Tav dove into unwrapping his presents... "Oh WOW!" he exclaimed holding up Kiara's present to him. "Thank you!"

Ciaran's eyebrows rose and his mouth opened. "A wand, dearest...goodness."

Kiara beamed, "I am glad you like it Tav, you will still need to get a ordinary wand when you are 11 as it was bond with you given it will back a animal core, but that one will work just fine until then, the core of that wand is my own magic." she explained just so her knew that wand wouldn't be as powerful as normal wands but it would give him a head start.

She then smiled and leaned her chin on Ciaran's shoulder, "Like you didn't know.." she said with a chuckle and kissed him on the cheek.

She then levitated her gift over to Ciaran. "Hope you like it Love"

Inside the silver and blue wraping, was quite possibly the most heavely enchanted piece of clothing she had ever made, had she bought the same thing at the ministry would have been a small furtune. Inside were costum made Auror robes, her own personal design, they were black with gold trim, and the material was as soft as silk but as hard to pernitrate as rock. There were numerous protection spells on them and also spell for the perfect fit. If on were to look closely enough the could see the runes that her had weaved in to the faberic for a number of nights with her magic. On the back of the torso of the robes, right between the shoulder blades was her symbol a blue pheonix permanantly pressed in there by her own magic.

Yes it was safe to say Ciarans present was the most magicly heavy object she had ever done. She thought it turned out rather well.

Ciaran gently unwrapped his present, his nimble fingers soon tossing the paper aside. Robbed of speech, he sat and stared at the robes. Lifting them carefully, he noted the intricate design and how beautiful it was. He could sense the magical charms woven into the robes and sighed softly.

"Oh Kiara..." he whispered. "Tá se go hálainn." setting the robes aside he pulled Kiara into his arms and kissed her again.

Tav wrinkled his nose. "Why are you always kissing?" he asked, reaching for another present.

Ciaran chuckled and pulled away from Kiara to summon her gift. "Here ya are." he smiled, handing her the box.

Inside was a dark blue gown, with a halter top, fitted perfectly for Kiara, due to Ciaran asking Eglantine about her size and finally sneaking into her closet for measurements.

Kiara sat with her mouth a gap for a moment or two, it was a beautiful dress her favorite colour and her perfect size.

She was just about lean in and kiss/thank Ciaran when a funny entered her mind and she said.

"Tav, you father and I are going to Kiss again, so don't look" she said and with that said she wrapped her arms around Ciaran's neck.

"It is beautiful Love, I love it, thank you" she whispered. Before planting a Kiss full on his lips.

Tav laid aside his wand, after several moments of staring at it and wondering how to make it work. Covering his eyes, he sighed.

"I've two gifts for each of you!" he exclaimed, obviously very proud of himself.

Ciaran returned Kiara's kiss passionately, amused that she had warned Tav.

"I'm so glad ya like the dress, Ara." After they paused to breath. In a softer tone, he continued. "Ya can where it on our honeymoon, aye..."

Tav stood and carried over several wrapped boxes. "These two are for you, Da." he murmured. "And these two are yours, Mum." he smiled broadly as they took their presents and waited patiently for them to open the boxes.

Ciaran's first present was a pair of sheep wool slippers. He happily slipped them on and held up his foot, causing Tav to laugh.
The other present was leather wallet with turtles and a bird that looks remarkably like a phoenix stitched into it.

The first gift for Kiara was a blue china plate, with a blue phoenix printed on it. The second was two items in one box. A jewelry roll and a pair of white woolen slippers.

The soft comment on the honeymoon made Kiara blush like mad, or at least she sure she was blushing judging the heat in her face. Felt like there first kiss all over again.

She smiled at Tav when he exclaimmed he got presants for them, he looked proud. The moment Tav called her Mum however, she didn't care if Tav got her 2 stones or nothing at all. Tav calling her Mum was all she would ever want for Christmas.

The gifts Tav gave her however were gorgous, The slipper were lovely and china plate was just exsquisite.

Kiara got up and hugged Tav then gave him a kiss on the for head. "Thank you Tav, and a very merry christmas to you. Oh, I love you.."

Ciaran said nothing, instead pulling out a muggle device known as a camera to snap a picture of Kiara and Tav embracing. It was a perfect picture...

"I'm glad you like it, Mum. It took forever ta find the plate." Tav smiled.

Rising from the couch, Ciaran chuckled. "And well worth it... Thank ya, lad for the slippers and wallet."

Tav in turn hugged his Da as well before a new idea came to mind.
"What did you get me, Da?" He asked. Ciaran smiled.

"It's under the tree, lad." he laughed.

Tav dived under the tree and soon emerged with a rather large box. Shaking it, he set it down and ripped away the paper.
Soon a stuffed cat was revealed and Tav froze....amazingly so did Ciaran. Looking as if he had never seen the gift before in his life, Ciaran's mouth dropped open in shock.

"WOW, a mechanical cat!" Tav exclaimed.

The stuffed cat was very life liked charmed to walk, meow and even purr. A collar around its neck claimed that its name was Tine, Gaelic for fire.

"Um...Kiara, did ya get that for him?" Ciaran asked.

Kiara found Ciarans reaction to the mechanical cat incredibly funny and she found it impossible to hold her laughter in as she shook her head no.

"Nope don't look at me, I have feeling I know who did though" she managed to say inbetween her giggles. Of cousr eventually she had to stop it was starting to hurt from laughing so much.

Could it had been Eglantine? that was the only person her think of would get Tav a present like that.

"It looks amazing Tav, looks like fun" she breathlessly as her giggles finally faded away.

Looking at Ciaran said in amusement " Surely a Mechanical Cat and you can get along?" she said with a smile on her face.

But that thought made her wonder, what was she going to do after the wedding with Lav?

Ciaran slowly, very slowly sat down. It wasn't that he wasn't thrilled that his son had received a mechanical cat for Christmas... it was just the fact that it had been totally unexpected.

"Thank you, Mum!" Tav smiled, holding up the cat, which purred and rubbed its head against his hand, almost like a real cat.

"Goodness, Ara. Quite the feat. A wand and a cat." Ciaran smiled.

With the cat still under his arm, Tav pulled out another present and soon was cooing and thrilled over a broom his father had gotten him.

Kiara looked at Ciaran and Tav, "Honest you two it wasn't me, your giving credit to the wrong woman here" she said with a smile.

She walked over and sat beside Ciaran, " I think I know who did though, someone who loves cats even more then I do. I think it is from Eglantine" she said.

" Are you really so shocked?" she asked with a smile.

Then she waved her hand and a different package floated to Ciaran, and there was still one more for Tav under the tree as well.

The package for Ciaran, had a magical painting inside, On the canvass was a Black Panther and a Turtle, sitting under a cresant moon. Every minute or so It would change into them in the moonlight.

Kiara crossed her fingers hoping he liked it.

As for Tav's second gift, she had come across on her trip to find Abraxas's gift. It was a baby Red Pheonix, when she found it his had been in poor shape, looked like a dementor had wandered through and nearly froze the poor thing. As she was already bonded to Saturn, so she couldn't bond with another one. She thought perhaps Tav would like to bond with one...