Late in the afternoon on the final day of the year, Altair landed on the Sky Platform on his new Nimbus 2000. His previous broom had been ruined by lightning in October during his match against Gryffindor, and he had used Cho's broom in the match against Hufflepuff.
Now, at last, he had one of his own again, a Christmas gift from the Rosier family, which spared him the trouble of purchasing another. He had just tested it against Cedric as they both sought to capture the Snitch Lord Diggory had enchanted to remain within the bounds of the lake.
Damien Rosier, Theodore Diggory, and several others had also joined in the fun, and although it had seemed a splendid idea at first, it quickly became an ordeal.
After more than four hours of intense flying, the Snitch was finally caught, and it was Cordelia who managed it, entirely by chance, when the elusive little thing came to a sudden halt directly in her path after being cornered by the others.
Nonetheless, it had been a memorable experience and excellent practice. When it was over, everyone smiled and laughed as they joined in Cordelia's celebrations. The Selwyn had proudly claimed she was the best Seeker in the world, and none of them bothered to correct her.
"Altair!"
He heard Fleur call out, glancing up to see her hurrying towards him from the long corridor.
"Yes, mon amour?"
She beamed at his affectionate greeting and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"May I take Aquilla for a ride? She isn't tired, is she?" Fleur asked eagerly, casting an expectant look at the pair of Hippogriffs that had accompanied him.
The two had been hunting while he had been enjoying himself with friends and acquaintances.
Instead of replying, he turned to the magical beasts, fully aware they were not in the least fatigued. Nevertheless, he asked them and grinned at their proud response.
"Tired, Quilla? Arc?"
Fleur laughed as the Hippogriffs reared and flapped their wings in pride, and then she bowed to them.
To her delight, both bowed back, and Altair helped her onto Aquilla's back.
Eléonore soon appeared as well, clad in her riding attire, and gave him a peck. She did not bother bowing to Archion, who by now was as much hers as his. She had been taking him out for flights frequently, and since both magical beasts had borne witness to their marriage, they never refused her or Fleur.
The young Morvaine watched his two wives soar into the sky. Strix, who was perched atop the castle's highest tower, took off after them, perhaps to keep watch or simply to join the fun.
Altair gazed up at the clouded sky and drew a deep breath of cold, bracing air.
The winter holidays thus far had been some of the most memorable days of his life.
He missed Aurelia and Cho, but neither girl was even in Britain. The Malfoys were in Spain, and the Changs had travelled to visit their extended family in China. Still, the girls would be returning that evening.
After all, they were due to join Magister Scamander and his family for dinner, as promised.
Altair was just about to enter the corridor when he sensed a magical signature overhead and looked up.
A magnificent snowy owl swept down, and Altair raised his broom so the bird could perch upon it.
"Hello," he greeted it, recognising the owl at once and smiling as he accepted the letter. "Has she given you a name yet?"
The owl responded, and Altair chuckled.
"You have a beautiful name, Nivalis. And do you know what she called the kitten?" He laughed all the more, unable to help himself. "Truffles, is it?"
Altair reached out to scratch the owl under its chin, making it close its eyes in pleasure.
"Fruska," he called gently, and his House-elf appeared at once.
"Yes, Master Altair?" She seemed especially cheerful that day, perhaps something good had happened with Gibble, and when Altair gave her a pat, she looked even happier.
"Would you fetch some treats for Nivalis?"
"Of course." She vanished, then reappeared moments later with a packet of Magical Meatballs for Owls.
She opened it and fed Nivalis one by hand. The owl relished the treat, and, delighted, she gave it a second and laughed at its antics.
"No more. Two in a day," she chided when the bird insisted on more, and Altair too laughed at the owl's protests.
"Go on, explore the grounds, Nivalis. I'll have a letter ready for you before evening."
At this, the owl flapped its wings and flew away to hunt. After watching it disappear into the woods, Altair thanked Fruska and took his broom inside.
He bathed first, dressed for the evening, and then he sat at his desk and opened Hermione's letter.
He read it fondly, amused and touched by the girl's fascination with magic, and chuckled to himself when he saw the array of academic questions on the next page. She was eager for answers to all manner of things.
The following sheet was crammed with yet more questions, as well as a detailed account of her readings on House-elves.
She was plainly curious why Fruska seemed so content and happy as his slave, and she also alluded to the Blacks in her reading, though she hesitated to be too direct.
Altair could sense that the idea of slavery seemed very wrong to her, but, having been raised by Muggles, her worldview was naturally shaped by their customs, history, and assumptions. She was, as yet, unfamiliar with the deeper magical meaning of certain bonds.
When he finished reading, Altair picked up a couple of sheets of scented golden parchment and began writing his reply with a long, elegant, enchanted peacock-feather quill.
He told Hermione that he liked the names she had chosen for her pets, praised her hunger for knowledge, and commended her quick understanding.
Altair described the Snitch Chase he had participated in that day, sharing the fun of it.
Then, one by one, he answered her questions, and on the final page, he gave her a brief history of the Elves, explaining Fruska's happiness, and advised her not to judge the magical world from a Muggle perspective.
Lastly, he slipped into his trunk to fetch a tiny book on Elven history and their role and importance in wizarding society. He magically shrank it so it would fit within the envelope and applied a weightless charm so as not to overburden Nivalis.
Owls could carry such a parcel easily, but Altair did not wish to burden it unnecessarily.
He wrote out a playful but simple riddle explaining how to restore the book to its proper size and remove the charm. All Hermione had to do was open page nineteen.
He enchanted the envelope, asked Fruska for a blue rose, and enclosed it as well. At last, he wrote Hermione's name on the back, just Hermione, sealed it with wax, and stamped the House of Black's crest upon it.
Stepping onto the Sky Platform, he saw Aurelia and Cho conversing with Eléonore and Fleur, who were seated together in one of the Hanging Gardens below.
He had to wait less than a minute before Nivalis returned to his side. The girls looked up as the unfamiliar owl swooped down.
They watched Altair fasten the letter, charm it, and send the snowy owl on its way.
"Whose owl is that, Altair?" Cho enquired. The other three didn't ask, but were clearly listening for the answer.
"A cousin," he replied with a lazy stretch. "You missed the Snitch Chase, Xue'er."
Cho glowed at the affectionate nickname he always called her by and leapt up.
"Snitch Chase?"
"Yes. Cedric's uncle lent him a Snitch bound to the lake's boundary. Damien, Theodore, Alexius, Sebastian, Magnus, Hadrian, Cordelia, Cressida, Isla, and Laetitia all joined. Guess who won."
"You!" she guessed with a grin.
He shook his head, laughing. "No."
"Then who?" she pressed.
"Cordelia."
"What?!" Her incredulity made him laugh harder as he recounted the whole Snitch Chase for her.
By the end, the four of them were close to fits of laughter, and together they made their way inside.
Fleur spoke next, telling Altair about her Hippogriff ride. Her excitement made him smile in turn.
Aurelia then told them all about Draco getting lost in Callejón de los Arcanos, the Arcane Alley hidden in Madrid, which served as Spain's equivalent to Diagon Alley.
Altair had never been there, but Fleur had, and the two eagerly described it, painting a vivid picture for the others.
When Cho looked puzzled, Fleur drew her wand and conjured an illusory layout of Arcane Alley that was so accurate even Aurelia was impressed.
"You're brilliant!"
"I know," Fleur replied, wearing a self-satisfied smile. The others laughed.
Aurelia continued, explaining where they had found Draco. Once he realised he was lost, the boy had gone into Tesgarrón, the wizarding bank of Spain, to wait for them. Young Miss Malfoy described the interior as grand indeed.
Fleur, showing off her mastery of illusions again, conjured a vision of Tesgarrón for all of them, and Cho gasped at the sight. It truly was grand...
"How did Draco end up lost?" Altair enquired, and Aurelia grinned.
"He was not attentive and took the hand of a witch who had the same hair and dress as Mother. The woman didn't mind and let him hold on for ages. Only later did she ask him to let go, and then he realised his mistake."
"Unbelievable."
The girls giggled at Draco's mishap and grew quieter as they approached the Hall of Honour.
Aurelia was anxious about meeting Altair's grandparents, who were also her great-granduncle and great-grandaunt on both sides.
When she finally saw them, she was dumbfounded by how young they looked. So was Cho, whose jaw dropped in shock.
Neither could fathom how people in their nineties could appear little older than their late thirties or in their early forties.
The girls regained their composure when Viviane drew them both into an embrace and engaged them in gentle conversation.
"As for you two," Viviane said, turning at last to Eléonore and Fleur, who immediately tensed. "Weren't you meant to be back in France today? Your parents are expecting you for dinner."
"May we stay another day or two, Grandmother?" Eléonore pleaded, but Viviane shook her head, allowing no argument.
"Go on, get your things. Your Granna will see you home."
Disappointed, the girls obeyed without protest, bowed, and shared hugs with Altair, Aurelia, and Cho. They gave a final stroke to MoonFox and the two cats, and invited everyone to France for the summer.
When they had left the hall with Granna, Viviane turned to Altair and his two fiancées.
"Shall we go?"
"You're coming with us?" He asked in surprise.
"Yes. I have not seen Porpentina for a long time."
"Are you just acquaintances?" Aurelia wondered, and Viviane shook her head.
"We're friends. Old friends."
"Tell us about her!" Cho happily asked, and she smiled at her.
"Porpentina is a capable witch, one of the finest I have ever known. She is also a former renowned and decorated Auror of the MACUSA Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her family, the Goldsteins, trace their roots to Germany and North America. She was just seven when her parents were murdered in Germany, after which her uncle took her to America. She grew up with her half-blood cousin, Queenie. Tina calls her 'sister,' but Queenie's mother was a Muggle, and she was afflicted by the North American disease of utter disregard for blood and honour. She even joined Grindelwald for the sake of marrying a Muggle and later did so."
A faint chill crept into Viviane's voice.
"Still, one cannot wholly blame her. Her own mother was a Muggle, so she was always going to be influenced."
"Mrs Scamander is a Pure-blood?" Cho asked, and Viviane nodded.
"She does not flaunt it, but she is honourable and respects her blood. She was in her mid-twenties when I first met her, and, unlike her cousin, who lived carelessly, she was still a maiden. Her steadfastness is remarkable. She is resolute and compassionate. For all Queenie's faults, Tina still cares for her deeply."
The girls nodded, and Viviane patted their heads gently.
"Don't speak of these things at the table, or ever. Keep them close to your heart."
They nodded obediently and took her hands.
"Fruska," Altair said softly, and his House-elf appeared and took his hand. "Hippogriff Hollow, Dorset," he instructed, taking Aurelia's hand as well.
With a snap of her fingers, Fruska transported them to a beautiful and expansive cottage in a broad clearing, ringed with trees.
Several Hippogriff sheds were scattered about, and the two girls beamed at the sight of the magical creatures, who glanced their way.
The next instant, a House-elf appeared before them.
"Lady Viviane," the elf intoned reverently, bowing low.
"Good evening, Twillip. Kindly inform your master and mistress of our arrival."
"They have been expecting you, Lady Viviane," Twillip replied, and after Fruska left to fetch Strix, the elf led them into the cottage's great lounge, golden-lit and welcoming.
The elderly couple were momentarily surprised to see Viviane, as were the others.
"Viviane!" Porpentina hurried forward and embraced her friend. "You look younger than you did last time!" she exclaimed in surprise and curiosity.
"Thank you, Tina. That's kind of you."
"I'm not joking." Porpentina shook her head and Viviane laughed.
Mrs Scamander's gaze softened as she looked to the children, who had brought their pets.
"Mrs Scamander." The three bowed, and she patted their heads.
"Where's Strix, Altair? You promised to bring him."
"He's outside, in the woods," Altair replied, then bowed to Newton Scamander, who approached. "Magister Scamander."
"Good evening, Altair." Newton patted his shoulder, then sat to give attention to the two cats and Illya, who, for once, did not object.
As Newton busied himself with the magical creatures, the others greeted the Fawley family, and Aurelia and Cho hugged Gemma, who was present.
"Lady Dumbledore," Altair said, bowing to her and kissing her knuckles, amused at how unsettled she seemed.
"Heir Morvaine." She curtsied to him and smiled at the two girls who were staring at her in shock.
"You're officially a Dumbledore now?" Cho asked, and Gemma explained she had just become Head of the Dumbledore family that very afternoon.
"Where's my birthday present, Altair?" The now Dumbledore asked, changing the subject, and Altair smiled.
"You'll have it, don't worry," he promised, and she accepted his answer with a small nod.
Next, they met her older brother, Sebastian, whom Altair had played with earlier today. They also met with Gemma's little brother, who was only three, and of course, her parents, Lord and Lady Fawley.
There was also a boy, about seven years old, tanned, with a very cute face and wavy brown hair, and his blue eyes were glinting in excitement as he stared at Altair.
"Heir Black!" His voice was a little upbeat when he greeted him, and the young Black man smiled. "My name is Rolf... Rolf Oris Leif Scamander."
"Nice to meet you, Rolf." He shook hands with the boy who became even more excited, and Gemma and her siblings laughed at his antics.
"He's your fan," his Duelling Partner informed him, and laughed when the little boy complained that she sold him out. "And it's his birthday on 2nd January and he wishes to invite you to it."
"I will come if I receive an invitation from Rolf. Written by him," he said, and the boy's smile melted everyone's hearts.
"Why don't you come over to Castle Nocturnum tomorrow, little one? My husband and I will be holding a small celebration for our birthday. We would love to have our old friends over," Viviane said, much to everyone's delight, and soon their wishes followed.
"The invitation?" Porpentina playfully asked, and rolled her eyes when Viviane created an invitation letter out of thin air, not even using her wand.
Her display of magic shocked everyone except for her old friends and Altair, and also made Gemma extremely nervous in her presence.