The Dreaded Dinner of Doom

Reginald smiled. "I'm going to work...Well, the work that never ends anyway. Don't worry, you'll hear from me soon."

He patted the boy's head. "Be a good boy for your mum...And for your Dad. He'll look after you well...They both will."

Reginald smiled and turned to Ana. Ana gave him a quick hug, and he smiled at his grandson. "Goodbye Darius... Ana... Nick."

"Why doesn't you stay for supper?" Darius blurted out.

Reginald was unsure how to decline.
"No Darius, Grandad has to go...Don't you grandad?"

"Afraid so." Reginald smiled. "I must be going...Farewell."

He walked towards the door, and Ana opened it for him.

"Bye all." Reginald said, waving as he left.

"Daddy, why can't he stay for dinner?" Darius demanded.

Nicolas looked uncomfortable. He looked at Ana.

"Daddy please?" Darius continued to beg.

Nicolas shifted his feet. Darius was his weakness.

"Daddy?" Darius used his little puppy dog eyes.

Nicolas sighed. "Fine, go and get him then," Nicolas said. At five years old, the boy was good.

Darius smiled and ran to get his Grandfather.

Reginald turned at the sound of approaching footsteps...

--

Ana winced at Nick. "This...is awkward...Sorry Nick..."

"Granddad! Granddad!" Cried the running toddler, "Have supper with us."

~~~~

"If I get through this without cursing him," Nicolas said watching Darius run out. "You owe me something."

Reginald's face broke into a smile. "Have you asked your parents?"

___

Ana raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly would that something be?"

Darius nodded and beamed. "Daddy said it was okay." He was still holding the craved wolf Reginald gave to him.

~~~

"I'll tell you when I think of it." Nicolas said with a small smirk. He stood waiting for Darius and Reginald.

Reginald grinned, triumph in his eyes. "Alright then. Grandad will stay."
He patted Darius on the head gently and smiled at the carved wolf. "What're you going to call him..or her?"

-----

Ana rolled her eyes. "Why does that make me feel suddenly fearful?" She muttered.

Darius looked pensive for a moment. "I... don't know... Did you already name him Granddad?"

~~~~

Nicolas merely smirked. His smirk though turned into an odd scowl as he saw Reginald returning with Darius.

"Killa!" Nicolas called. "Set another place at the table!"

"Yes Master," was the elf's response before disappearing.

"No, I thought you might like to." Reginald smiled, eyes still twinkling with triumph...but also with happiness...

----

Ana sighed. "Why am I having flashback to the previous dinners..."

"Wolfie then," Darius said smiling at the wolf. He then stuck his hand out for his grandfather to hold.

~~~~

"I have no idea." Nicolas said. "To the Dinning Room?"

Reginald nodded. "A good name."
He blinked, not used to holding hands with anyone...Vaights were not really group-hug families...
But he accepted the hand and walked back towards the house with his grandfather.

---

Ana sighed. "Yes...To the dining room."

Darius pulled Reginald to the Dinning Hall and took his usual seat. Fitzwilliam and Nicolas were already in there.

Nicolas remain stoically polite as Reginald and Darius entered.

Ana returned with Elizabeth who glanced at Reginald quizzicly.
"Who's he?"
Reginald laughed. "I suppose you're Eliza. I am Reginald...Ana's father."
Eliza blinked. "Hello." She extended a hand for him to shake, still slightly wary. Reginald shook the proferred hand and waited for Eliza to sit down. She sat opposite Darius, and Ana sat between her and the empty chair. Reginald sat next to Darius and Ana.
Reginald smiled at the boy, Fitzwilliam he presumed, near Nick. Eliza opened a book under the table and began to read.
Ana sighed. "Not at the table Eliza."
"It's not at the table. It's under it." Eliza replied.
Ana fixed her with a gaze, and Eliza sighed, and pushed the book towards Ana.
"Thank you." The book vanished, back to Eliza's room.
Reginald glanced around. "So..."

A second later, Dinner was served by Killa.

"Thanks." Fitz muttered quietly to Killa, rather shy by the visitor that they had.

"What brings you here?" Nicolas said to Reginald relatively polite. He applauded himself inwardly. "I mean, you had to have come for a reason."

Reginald smiled. "Why, to see my extended family of course. I feel I have neglected you all for too long, and I was nearby so I decided to stop by to see my daughter and son-in-law."

Eliza glanced at Fitz and began eating, transforming her cutlery to chopsticks, as was her habit.

Ana smiled slightly and began to eat.

Nicolas rolled his eyes. "So... it took you five years to realized that?"

Fitz shrugged at Eliza and started to eat.

Ana stared at Nick, claiming his attention, then flicked her eyes to the children, Darius in particular.

Reginald shrugged. "I apologise...I have had a rather hectic life for a few years..." He tasted the food. "Very excellent."

Eliza nodded. "It is. Killa's a very good cook. Are the house elves as good cooks as Killa at Hogwarts Will?" She asked her brother, sensing the tension between Reginald and Nick.

Will nodded, sensing the tension as well. "Yes, but I like Killa's better for some reason. At Hogwarts, you really have to got to eat early or else the other Slytherins would eat your share of the food... course, I always go to the kitchens anyway..."

Nicolas chewed his food, swallowed and gave Ana an innocent smile.

Reginald beamed. "Ah Hogwarts...Which house are you in young man? The serpent or the lion?"

Eliza chewed some more of her food, listening.

Ana speared Nick with a look that clearly said 'keep eating, stop talking'.

"Slytherin sir," Will answered.

Nicolas gave Ana a smile that said, 'You owe me.'

Reginald's smile grew. "Excellent, excellent. A fine house...Slytherin. I was in it myself...as was and is my family. Thrashed Gryffindor in the House cup, I hope?"

"Dad...House rivalries are a thing of the past..." Ana cut in.

Reginald smiled. "There is nothing wrong with some healthy competition Ana."

"House rivalries are hardly friendly..." Ana muttered, sighing at Nick's smile. yes, she owed him...and she knew it.

Eliza frowned slightly, but decided to ignore the strange behavior of the grown-ups. She was trying to work out who had commited the murder in the book she was currently reading. Poroit would find them out of course, but she wanted to work it out as well...

Reginald sensed Ana's unease and turned back to Fitz. "How are you enjoying school?...I suppose you two are starting in a few years aren't you?" He glanced at Eliza and Darius.

Eliza nodded absent-mindedly. "Yes, in about 2 and a bit years..."

Reginald turned to his grandson. "How many years until you start, Darius?"

"When I am eleven and I get an owl!" Darius said excitedly. He gave his grandfather a toothy grin.

"Yeah, Gryffindor has a few dozen points above us, but there is still half of term left so..." Will slid his shoulders back. "Who knows?"

Will stole a glance at Nicolas who rolled his eye at him at a playful manner.

"I still think the Sorting Hat was either re-charmed or hexed. Honestly what was it thinking?... though I suppose it is a Hat..." Nicolas said. "But yes Will, how is school?"

"School is good well enough, though. But everyone is deathly afraid of Purgers..." Unsure if he could be open with Reginald around, Will stopped talking.

Reginald laughed. "Good to hear."

He looked at Will. "Ah, I'm sure Slytherin shall make a comeback." He decided to ignore the Purger comment, mostly to ensure he was not tempted to disclose anything that could break his vow...and therefore his life.

Ana glanced at Eliza, who'd already finished her food and was watching her intently. Ana sighed and raised her goblet. "Still no."

"But Aunt Ana..."

"No. The book stays where it is, and you stay here and listen to this very exciting conversation." Ana replied.

"Come now Ana, surely that is a bit hypocritical of you." Reginald laughed.

Ana rolled her eyes but made no reply. Eliza looked excited. "Can I read? Can I?"

"Which book is it you are so desperate to peruse?" Reginald asked.

"Poroit." Eliza replied, beaming. "By Agatha Christie. It's a murder mystery."

Reginald nodded. "No doubt very intriguing." Eliza grinned.

"Either way, we are not reading at the table." Ana stated, glancing quickly at Nick.

Eliza noticed the glance and pulled her best pleading face. "Pleaaaaase Uncle Nick? Please?"

Reginald glanced at Will and Darius. "So what do you boys like to read? Murders? Magic? Fantasy?"