Eglantines Chambers in Hogwarts (June 2055)

Alastar shrugged, disappointed but not to the point where it really showed. He was springy after all and things usually just bounced off him.
"Okay, I'll visit, no problem." he smiled.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Owain nodded.
"I like it." he assured her. It sounded nice and comfortable; although he'd never even seen the room.
"I'm sure the quarters will suit you." Horatio chimed in. He would know best of all, since they had been his for quite a while. Eglantine had actually moved in with him after their marriage, but in the end, they'd moved back to hers, for various unspoken reasons.

Tav returned his wife's kiss, thanking Merlin that she was so sensitive. Alastar leaving would make everyone more comfortable.
"Okay." Alastar muttered, hugging Kiara before he went to Horatio and repeated the gesture. "Say hi to grandma for me."
"I'll be sure to." Horatio grunted as his midsection was squeezed a bit too tightly.
Going to the fireplace, the young boy looked back to Kay and lifted his eyebrows.
"You coming?"

Owain licked his lips to hid the smile, yeah, he could see Edwin in the boy... Sine too. They were both rather energetic and demanding.

Placing a hand on his grandson's shoulder, Horatio steered Owain toward the door.
"Your mother and I'll get you settled." he murmured, offering his arm to Kiara with a loving wink.

Kay chuckled lightly patted Tav's knee and gave him a look the meant she would see him at home.

"Coming Al, coming... " she said with amusement as she got up, becoming almost used to Alaster dragging her around the bend.

Holding a hand out for Alaster to take it as she didn't want to lose him in the floo network she nodded to everyone, "Thank you for inviting us, and Owain, I wish you good luck, know we are alway a floo call away if you ever want to comeover and visit, we would love to have you." she said wanting the boy to feel more at ease, at least she hoped.

Kiara smiled at Horatio and nodded though her mind momentarly flashed of Ciaran likely doing the exact same thing if he were still there. Taking a deep breath, she kept up the strong front.

She turned to Tav for a moment, "Thank you for coming by Tav, and for your help" she said grateful. "Don;t make your self scarse now you hear?" she said, having a feeling he would talk a little bit more later alone once Owain was sound asleep.

Owain smiled at Kay.
"Thanks." he muttered, blushing lightly. These people, known and new, were all so nice it was nearly overwhelming... not that he wasn't grateful and happy they were like that. He blanched at the thought they they could have been entirely different...

"My pleasure, Mum..." Tav reached out an arm to embrace Kiara. Chuckling he added, "Ah, you know me, in at the shout of 'fire' out by the water's end..." He kissed her forehead. "Love you, Mum, take care now."
Owain watched the mother/son interaction with mixed feelings. For some strange reason, perhaps less strange than he realized, some small part of envy and jealously rose within him... Tav (this AU one) had grown up with Kiara as his mother, loving him, tucking him in bed, listening to his fears, laughing with him, playing with him... while he... Owain swallowed and tried to take comfort in the hand his grandfather had settled on his shoulder... he was buried somewhere, forgotten and just a piece of the past.

Horatio led him out into the hallway and he managed a smile through the confusion. Suddenly it hurt badly to be there and he wanted his father. Wanted familiarity without the confusion... he needed his grandmother to grip his chin and ask him if he'd broken into the cookie jar again... the twinkle in his grandfather's eye as he tried to convince his grandmother that 'no he hadn't touched a cookie' even with the crumbs still stuck to his lip and chin...

"You okay?" He nodded quickly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." They stood in silence then, waiting for Kiara.

Kiara gave Tav a smile and hugged him back, "Yes Hon, you to okay? Love you to" she said giving him a pat on the cheek before turning back toward Owain and Horatio.

She gave Owain a smile as well, and took his hand and gave it a squeese. "Anything you would like to have in your room Owain? Books you like to read? Music? Games?" she asked curious as to some of his interests, and what they could get together to make his room.. really his room so he would be comfortable.

She couldn''t put her finger on it or why, but she worried for young Owian, all of this must have been a lot to take in. Heck she was overwhelmed by all this... heaven only knew what Owian felt.

Owain curled his finger's around his mother's hand, feeling how soft and yet firm it was. Comforting and yet strong enough to assure him, despite the fact that he was certain, that all of this was real. It was real... he could feel the floor under his shoes, the air brushing against his uncombed hair, even the faint laughter from somewhere in the castle...
"Er, I don't know. Books would be nice." he muttered, thinking of his room back in his own world. Did it exist somewhere here? Belonging to another McConn child...

Blinking, he brushed those thoughts aside. It wouldn't do any good and he was starting to tear up.
"Think there still should be some things in the room." Horatio mused as they reached the thick door. He whistled the password and the door swung open with a musical chime rather than squeak. Owain did a double take, knowing it was the exact same way his grandfather's study door opened.

Change was not really the house elves forte; and thus the room had not been altered in any way since the last time Horatio had left it... except the bed was made.
The main living room was plush and comfortable with two sofas and several wing back chairs opposite the couches. The fireplace was crackling with a cosy fire and there were enough bookcases (with books) in the room to make Owain's mouth drop open.
"Hmm..." Horatio pulled his pipe from his mouth. "Thought I'd cleaned it out years ago. Well, no matter. Bedroom's this way." He led the awed Owain past the book shelves and opened the bedroom door. "All yours, lad."

The huge canopy bed with its tasteful gold and black bed-clothes, white fluffy pillows of which there where nine and wine curtains, completed the set of complete wonder on Owain's face. In his world, his grandfather had more er simple tastes and nothing as fancy as he'd seen here. Now he was seeing that that had obviously been a choice and not the way things could have been.

Stepping away from his grandfather and mother, he went over to one of the rosewood closets and pulled it open, chuckling softly when he saw it was full.
"I think you forgot these too." he pointed the robes out. Horatio roared with laughter.
"Seems like I did." He did not point out to his grandson, for the sake of decency, that the robes were actually Eglantine's. His were in the other closet.

Kiara nodded "Just let me know if there are any you would like okay?' She said softly trying to pat his hair down, a habit she did with all her sons if there hair was untidy.

Kiara looked around the rooms true the house elves kept is spotless but there was still work to do make less like a married couples suit and for a ten year old boy.

She gave a small smile at the mistaken identity of the robes, and the fact Eglantine had also forgotten a whole closet full of her robes. "We will move them back and put in some close more to your liking" thinking of possibly taking his measurements and buying some cloths for him.

"Any favorite colours Owain? or do you like these bed sheets?" she asked softly willing to change the colour to what he wished...

Despite looking as calm could be while talking to the boy, inside she felt nervous and confused and not really sure about anything . The initial shock in instinctual feeling were wearing off somewhat and a tight feeling in her chest was starting to expand. It took alot for her to cover it with her normal face, but like a volcano the chaos was building up.

She took a deep breath though couldn't stop it from being slightly shaky, and inwardly winced hoping no one noticed.

"So Owain? What do you think? Think you'll like having a whole suit to your self?" she asked this time managing to keep her voice strong.

"Okay." Owain left the closet and glanced around the room again. He liked the bed the way it was... just maybe a bit smaller and shorter. Walking over to it, he bent over to look under it, not surprised to find it was solid under. His grandmother had no doubt used a step-stool to climb into bed, as he knew if it stayed that height he'd have to quite literally leap into bed.
"Do you think we could make the bed smaller and uh, shorter?" he asked his mother, giving his grandfather a sideways glance. It was his old room after all; although old may not be quite applicable since it appeared very much still lived in. "The bed-sheets are fine." he shrugged.

Clothes, well, he'd need some and the prospect of his mother choosing them for him instead of Tav or his grandmother was strangely wonderful.

He mustered a smile together and gave his full attention to Kiara.
"I like it." It was nice... rather odd, but still nice.
"Owain, why don't you go check the bathroom... I'm pretty sure I cleared it out... but" Horatio shrugged. The young boy laughed and went off to check it. "Kiara..." Horatio murmured, concerned. He'd watched her carefully and caught her shaky breath. "You all right?"

Not sure what she was feeling or if she desired comfort, he stuck his hands in his pocket and kept his gaze soft, although watching her closely. He was there if she needed him, ready, eager and happy to assist her in whatever she needed.

Kiara bit her lip when Horatio sent Owian out of the room and asked her if she was alright. The tightness in her chest was saying no she was not! best way she could describe it was a panic attack.

Squeezing the bed post for a moment she muttered quietly so Owain could not hear, not wanting him to think her distress was his fault, she had just been through to much that year, holding back her emotions was sometimes painful now "I'll be fine Horatio... its just hitting me now how big this is.. " to her this was big, her young son from another universe was here... and he needed her.. Over night she had gained another Son... and she wasn't really sure what the right thing was to do.. and he seemed like a sweet kid she needed to do what was best for him.

Going over the window and looking out at the Grounds facing toward the quiddich pitch she leaned on the window sill. Looking up at the heavens she closed her eyes "I've gained a son over night Horatio, will take some getting used to.." she said, and despite tightness in her chest she let out the slightest of smiles. Once the chaos settles she was sure she would enjoy it.

Slowly she turned around her mask firmly back in place, "No need to worry Horatio, thank you though" she whispered before walking out to find Owain.

By Horatio's definition there were many sorts of pain... he'd felt nearly all of them in his long life, but still felt one above all others; the pain he felt when those he loved were hurting. Agony ripped at his incarnate heart, seeking to dig it out of his chest. Kiara's fingers tightening around the bedpost gripped him nearly as he realized the depth of his daughter's emotional turmoil.

He nodded, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Ciaran's passing had been very difficult for everyone who had loved him; but Kiara had had the hardest time grieving... but that was the ancient way of life. That those closest hurt the most. Now Owain, lost once before, had come from nowhere. He was in need of comfort, understanding and yet he still embodied a resurrection of sorts. Horatio, himself, remembered the little baby's death very well; he could only imagine that Kiara remembered it much more clearly.
"Of course." he murmured, settling his pipe back into his mouth. Time was a lovely mender, he'd found.

Ah, but wasn't she stubborn. He went to the window she'd vacated and looked out at the familiar scenery. But that stubborn strength was many times all that held her together... Kiara had been through a great deal in her life, and yet still she stood straight and able. Lowering his head slightly, he sighed. "I need to worry, darling." he whispered, even though she was out of hearing by then. "It helps time pass all the quicker."

Owain had found the bathroom at first glance to be in perfect order. There was a shower sectioned off against one wall and a near swimming-pool of a bathtub against the other. A double-sink with a wall length mirror topping it made him slightly uncomfortable. Why anyone would need a mirror that big left his mind feeling like spaghetti. But then as he looked at it again, he guessed his grandfather would need a bigger mirror with him being taller.

Opening the medicine cabinet, his mouth dropped open just as his mother entered.
"Wow..." he breathed, moving so Kiara could see if she peeked. The cabinet, disguised to appear just like any bathroom cupboard was actually a much deeper storage area. Nearly a hundred bottles of various wines, ales, beers and whiskey were neatly arranged within. He looked up at his mother, eyes wide. "That's a lot of medicine..." he chuckled, hoping to lighten the situation... she looked a little sad.

Kiara's face brighten slightly at Owian's observation, "Yes that is quite a lot of medication Horatio conversantly forgot about" she said giving him a wink. 'Horatio, tell me this is Esis's stash?" she said loud enough down the hall for Horatio to hear.

She shook her head at all the "medication" was clear to all that knew her well she was no fan of alcohol for both Dietary and personal reasons.

Chuckling she once again tried to flatten Owains hair "We'll be moving this out in on time" she said.

"Oh Come I will show you where the passages are to Mine and your Grandmothers Quarters are" she said steering him to the living room.

Horatio's groan could easily be heard from the other room as he hurried in, eyes wide with remembrance.
"Ah, so that's where Lenty put it..." he muttered, blushing slightly. "Sorry about that."
Owain shrugged, finding it amusing how his grandfather awkwardly transfigured the cabinet into a bag and pulled it off the wall. "Be right back." he whispered, vanishing out the door again.

"Why's that Esis' stash?" Owain asked, as they left the bathroom. He liked how she smoothed out his hair, his dad did that too and the fact that they shared the gesture gave him a warm cosy feeling.

Kiara chuckled lightly, "Esis is quite the fanatic over such drinks, I believe Eglantine hide them form her, as you saw she had quite a lot" she said simply.

She went to one of the book cases and looked back to Owain, you brought the wand you had on you right?" she asked as it would be quicker for him to access the passage, if not she could get a portrait Guardian to open the passages for him.

"To enter my Chambers... which you are welcome to do anytime, just wave your wand in a circle and say Phoenix Song, it will take you the my living room. As for Eglantines I am not sure if she changed the password or not.. We will have to ask her, but the process is the same, just wave your wand in a circle and say the password" she explained.

"Want give it a try?" she asked.

He listened carefully, hiding quickly his amusement about Esis. It was hard to picture a grown woman searching for her stolen alcohol stash much less his grandmother hiding it in the first place. Maybe it was akin to how she used to hide the pies from him when he was younger... although she always pulled them out when his eyes filled with tears.

"Yeah." He pulled the wand out, biting his tongue as he began to carefully wave it in a circle. "Phoenix Song." The door opened to show Kiara's sitting room and he smiled. "Wow, I did it right."

In the other room, Eglantine entered with Horatio. He no longer had the bagged stash in his hands but she carried a decanter.
"Where is Owain? Kiara?" she asked, setting it down on the side table and pulling out a tumbler.
"Other room. I think she's showing him how to operate the passage."
"Oh." she filled the tumbler, swallowing back the liquid as quickly as she'd dispensed it.
"Not one of Esis' I hope." he muttered, accepting the tumbler as she refilled it and gave it to him.
"Of course not."
She moved over to the closet, opening it to reveal her nearly forgotten robes. "I thought I moved these."
He poured another drink, moving to down it when she touched his arm.
"I'll only have this one more, Lenty."

Kiara smiled when he opened the passage, "Very good Dear, remember you can come over anytime if you wish, day or night. I don't mind" she assured. She could only imgine that being all alone in this room at night would take some getting used to.

She found sometimes the pure silence of an empty room was more deafining and bothersome then the patter of feet or just the knowledge that someone would be comeing home.. being alone was terrifing now that she thought of it. She didn't want Owain to feel that.

"Thanks." he muttered, wondering if she really meant it. As awful as it sounded; his dad would often say 'anytime' and not really mean it. Day or night, meant find Tav or your grandparents cause I'll be busy or away. Owain had learnt that at a young age. Along with the fact that his dad cried himself to sleep... almost every night. He'd watched him sometimes; forgotten in the shadow of the room.

Swallowing thickly, he sniffed back the tears he hadn't known were filling his eyes.
Unable to stop himself, he wrapped his arms around his mother, hugging her tightly.

-

Horatio did as he'd promised; setting the cup down after it was finished.
"I was just thinking..." he trailed off, eyes narrowing as Eglantine held up a unique set of her robes. They both avoided each others eyes as her fingers stroked the material. She had worn those robes most often during her pregnancy with Sevie. It had been nearly two months since his untimely death; but the pain was still, at times, raw and unbearable.

"I'll take care of those, Lenty." Horatio gently pried the robes from his wife's stiff hands, patting her shoulder.
"Danke..." Tears sparkled brightly in her eyes and for a moment, the wizard forgot the robes, slinging them over his arm as he gathered her to him.
"It's okay..." he whispered, rubbing her back. The comforting sounds he automatically began to mutter did little to cover the gasping sobs as she broke down.

Both had taken their youngest child's death very hard. In fact much harder than they allowed anyone to see. It was to be expected that the 'elderly' couple would be broken by their youngest, after all, he was the apple of their eye. But there was more and only they and Kiara knew it. Sevie after all, was nearly taken from them so many times over the years. By all fates, he should have died at birth; during a kidnapping, during a fall from a tree, during the tumble down the stairs, during that fight with a seventh year... all those incidents had weakened them about their son and now he was gone and it had crushed them.

Kiara felt her heart melt when Owain Hugged her, and had to wipe a tear that rolled down her cheek as well.. they were all holding back emotions it seemed.

She ran her fingers through his dark hair, and then returned his embrace. "Your welcome" she said softly. Really the poor kid was away fromall he knew, She wasn't about to let him handle things all on his own.

Her head shifted when she heard soft cries coming from the other room, sounding like Eglantine. She bit her lip, think perhaps to let Eglantine and Horatio be.

"O.. Owain, wamt to go to my Rooms now for a bit, I'll show you around okay?" she said trying desperatly to keep her wall for her emotions in place and strong. She wasn't sure it was such a good thing to have Owain see Eglantine at one of her low points. for now anyway.

Owain pulled back slightly, having been able to keep his tears at bay. Her fingers running through his hair were so familiar and yet so foreign. It felt like he'd known her all his life yet at the same time, she was a stranger. Talk about odd. The lump in his throat seemed to lessen as he managed a small smile. However it faded as he thought he heard something coming from the other room. He was used to people crying when they thought he wasn't looking or there... especially in his family.

"Okay." he muttered, nodding, obviously distracted as he stared in the room's direction. Looking back up at his mother, he noticed how she seemed to be struggling... almost unseen behind her tired but beautiful features. Kinda like how his grandmother fought against showing how frightened she was when his father was drunk... or his grandfather covered his eyes when he was close to crying... or how Tav bit his lip. "Is she crying cause of me?" he asked softly.

Kiara felt a ping go through her at his soft question, "No dear I don't think so" and it was ture she didn't think that was the reason. But she could be wrong.

"Their going through alot right now Owain, if anything I think you have likely help her with your presence' she said trying to assure him. Though she still cast a worried glance the her mothers direction, she had a hunch what might have got to Eglantine, what else could it be but little Sevie, no one else could make Eglantine cry like that.

"Now don't blame your presence for anyones saddness okay? A lot of stuff has happened recently none of it is your fault alright?" she said before planting a kiss on his forehead. " If anything your presence is healing" she said giving him a smile.

He nodded, glad to hear his mother didn't think he was the cause. More than anything he hated it when he upset people. He did that enough at home... without even knowing it until it was too late. Sometimes it would be something he said; something too akin to how the mother he'd never known would say it... or do something... something to similar to her in that aspect. They all took it differently. Tav smiled and would say something about how wonderful Kiara had been... Eglantine would usually react kindly as well, although it saddened her at times. Horatio was like Tav. His father... he always took it sadly or badly.

"What happened?" It slipped out before he could stop it and he shifted uncomfortably. Maybe it was about Ava or Ara... he hadn't seen them or heard anyone really mention them. The kiss on his forehead nearly made him forget he's ever asked anything. Somehow it seemed to correct every problem he'd ever had; even if it was only for that breath of a moment... it was paradise.

Kiara looked down still remembering the horrible day, she shifted her eyes to Owian contemplating telling him about it, was it her place? But perhaps is was for the best to tell him at least that way he would know and not assume it was something he did.

She sighed and decided to tell him, " A few months ago there youngest son, my little brother died.." she said softly and there was little else left to say after that.

"You come into a grief filled world here Owain I am sorry.." she said giving him a sad look though she covered it up behind her mask again.

Owain felt as though his mouth had suddenly turned into sawdust. They, both of his grandparents had seemed almost more happy than they were in his world and yet, now his mother was telling him that in a way... it was even a worse sadness. They had had more children, that much he had found out from the picture shown him. And the youngest... probably that chubby baby, had died. Their baby and his mother's little brother. Now he wished he hadn't said anything.

"I'm sorry." he comforted, touching her arm like his grandmother would his whenever he hurt. "Everything's so different..." he muttered, beginning to ramble. "It's just Ara and Ava in my world and they're away at school most of the time..." He checked himself in time to not add that the reasoning behind that was that his father couldn't bear the sight of the two redheads running around the house... for reasons that his grandparents had never divulged.

Kiara felt comfort by her.. sons touch he was sweet weather he got that from his father or her she wasn't sure. "Thank you Sweetheart"

She nodded to him in understanding when he said everything was differnt she could imagine that it was so back words, The timeframe, the people.. everything.

Deciding to change the subject she asked "Are Ava and Ara in Hogwarts already in your world?" She asked curious.

He smiled, glad he had been some comfort. Her thank you was enough to make him feel light enough to float. Tav was so lucky to have known her the few years he had before her death in his world. And he wanted more than anything for those two worlds, his and hers to fade away. Some other world could take their place... one that didn't have all the pain, death and ruin.

"No, they don't go to Hogwarts." he muttered, realizing this would all sound very odd. In this world, everybody seemed quite attached to the school. "They go to Beauxbatons." Another thing he didn't ask about and frankly didn't think he'd like the answer for.

Kiara rasied an eye brow, "Beauxbatons?" she questioned. She wondered why, was it becasue of her death? Eglantine and Horatio she knew would have loved her younger siblings to go Hogwarts. Despite the fact they were little terrors sometimes.

"I have a hard time picture those two in the Beauxbatons Uniform..." she muttered but shrugged it off, it wasn't the fact they went there that bothered her, it was the reason they were there in the first place.

"Where were you going to go to school?" she asked curious

He wiggled his toes, bouncing lightly on his heels. It was a nearly broken habit he'd picked up from Tav years ago; brought about by comfort or ironically awkward moments.

"Yeah, Ara liked it better than Ava. She hates school." he sighed. Ava was interesting though. While her sister liked all around her, she cried and scowled. He'd heard from whispered conversations that Ava had tried almost everything to get expelled. He couldn't blame her. He'd miss always being away from home...

"I always thought Hogwarts." But I'm not sure, he added silently. "Grandpa mentioned maybe teaching me from home too."