A/N I have decided to stick to an Amelia focus for this two part story. I do realise that my take on these characters is not canon but really, it's a bit too late for me to worry about that now isn't it? :) Thanks yet again to AndDreamOfSage for your inspiration.

Disclaimer: I own no characters bar Ava, Abby and Tom.

"Shall we pay Granny a visit little one?"

Imogen and Abby along with Tom, had gone to a Scouting event and would be away for a couple of hours leaving Constance and Ava at home.

At the mention of Granny the one year old suck her head out of her indoor tent and beamed at her Mama.

"Yeh!"

"I believe you mean yes please. Come along so, what would you like to bring with you?"

Ava was at an age where she liked having certain possessions around her, regardless of the location. Today it was her doll Katie, a picture book, one of Mummy's socks and a building block that were placed into her wooden trolley before she toddled down the corridor alongside her Mama.

"Here we are. Will you help me knock please?" Constance and Imogen were trying to encourage Ava to say 'please' and 'thank you' from an early age so both were making a special effort to be extra polite themselves.

After tapping on the door Ava leaned over and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh thank you." She absolutely loved how affectionate her daughters were. Not a day went by where she wasn't showered with kisses, hugs and requests for cuddles and she enjoyed every minute of it.

"Do I get one of those too?" Amelia was smiling as she took in the scene in front of her door. Her question was answered by Ava giving her a kiss as she was handed over. "This is a nice surprise. I was just making some tea. Come in."

Ava was placed on the floor and immediately scooted over to pet Amelia's cat, Jet who was curled up in the corner of Amelia and Tom's sitting room. Jet was an older cat now but good natured and he very much enjoyed the attention of this gentle little human and her older sister.

"Is this a social visit or was there something on your mind?" Amelia handed over the cup of tea before sitting down with her own cup and saucer.

"Social mainly, I did want to ask you if there was anything you needed me to do before Gabrielle arrives?"

As part of the preparations for the arrival of Constance and Imogen's next daughter, Amelia's niece Gabrielle Gribble was joining the Cackle's staff. Initially she would be taking the second and third year potions classes as well as second year Spells. Come February when Constance took leave to be with Imogen and their newborn baby she would take over all of the Deputy Head's classes.

"I don't believe so. You've done a very thorough job of putting together what she will need. Oh, there was one thing, if the girls ask why Gabrielle has joined us what shall we say? I know Imogen doesn't want to announce the pregnancy just yet."

"Well, you were considering it before you found out about the baby. All we need to say is that with the increase in students and our teaching structure we decided to take on another staff member. It won't be long before Imogen tells them but I understand why she feels like this. I was showing a lot more than she is at this stage. I think she's just wants to 'look' pregnant before she tells people outside of our family or friends."

The two sat in compatible silence for a moment watching Ava who was pointing out the pictures in her book to Jet.

"She wasn't much older than Ava when you think about it. Just three and a half years old when we first met her, I didn't even know she existed."

The silence was broken by Amelia's reflection.

As she looked at her daughter Constance thought of the contrast. Ava was well fed, well dressed, clean, cared for and absolutely adored. Even in her own miserable childhood she had been spotless and never hungry. Gabrielle on the other hand had been a different story. At that point the questions she had been holding in for twenty years came out.

"Did you ever regret not keeping her here? Did I do something to stop that happening?"

Amelia sighed and moved closer so she could take Constance's hand.

"Regret? No, Lucas and Francesca were the right people to take her. They could make her a part of their family and even though their girls were older they looked at Gabrielle as a sister straight away. Did I question my decision at times? Of course I did but I had the school to run and honestly, although I would have loved her like a daughter, she needed two parents.

"And as for you doing anything. No. I remember you being very kind to her and helping me when I couldn't focus on the school as I should have been. You were only a year older than she is now and I knew then that you were struggling. It was never a choice between you both so don't think that but you needed me too, I knew that. I did the right thing and I know Gabrielle agrees because we've spoken about it a lot over the years."

Now that the questions were out there it was hard to stop thinking about that February night twenty years before.

Flashback

"Constance, have you seen Amelia?" Davina had already run past Miss Hardbroom who was on her way up the stairs to complete bed check.

"I believe she is in the library. Shall I get her?" Constance could see how flustered Miss Bat was, even more so than usual. It was probably over nothing as always.

"Yes, tell her that her sister is here and she's not alone."

She hadn't even known that Miss Cackle had a sister. Strange she had never mentioned her when she spoke about her brother so often. Still, Constance was a private person and respected that in others, however, from the reaction of the principal when she passed on the message there was a definite reason for her silence.

"No? Agatha here? And she's not on her own? Oh please God don't let her have brought those dreadful women with her? What does she want? I have no money to give her. Did Davina say anything else?"

Constance shook her head, she was beginning to worry now, apparently this was not a happy family reunion. "No, that's all. Shall I come down with you?"

Amelia took a deep breath. "You see to the girls. I may need you later so come back down when you're done. I need to see what she wants."

With that she rushed out of the room leaving a dumfounded Potions teacher behind her. She ran to her office where she found Elizabeth Gimlet guarding the door alongside Davina.

"What's happened? Where did you find her? Is she on something? Who's with her? Is it Coldstone and Bindweed again?"

Elizabeth and Davina exchanged a glance, they had never seen their employer and friend so frantic. Although nobody had heard from her for a number of years, after the last time with Agatha they could both understand why Amelia was so upset.

"No. She knocked on the door and was actually very civil. And no, they are not with her, it's actually a little…"

Before Elizabeth could finish her sentence Amelia had flung the office door open. She was fully prepared for anything that was waiting for her. Except for what she found.

"Hello Amelia."

There, sat in the armchair was her identical twin. In many ways it was like looking in a mirror, same height, same build, same haircut despite not seeing each other for years. There were differences though, Agatha's lifestyle had caught up with her in a number of ways and she looked far older than her sister. Her skin was dull and her teeth looked neglected. Personality wise they were polar opposites. Many times over the years their mother had reflected that Amelia seemed to have double the empathy of most people while Agatha had absolutely none. Their older brother had described her as a sociopath and based on her behaviour it was hard to disagree with that analysis.

Right now Amelia found that she wasn't looking at Agatha. Her attention had become focused on the raggedy looking little girl who was almost cowering in the corner.

"Agatha. It's been a long time. And who's this?"

"This is Gabrielle. My daughter. Aren't you going to say hello? No? She doesn't talk much."

There was silence from the child although she briefly looked up to see who had entered the room. By the look on her face the fact that this woman looked so much like her mother was a total surprise.

The shock was mirrored on her Aunt's face. "Your daughter? You had a child and you never even told us?"

Agatha sighed loudly as she stood up. "Don't start. Yes. I had a child three years ago. Or was it four? I don't know. Three and a bit anyway. And I didn't tell you for a reason. You remember Gary Gribble, you should do, you hated him enough. Anyway, I ended up pregnant by him and by the time I realised it was too late to do anything about it and she's the result. Oh don't look at me like that Amelia, so judgemental as always."

By this stage Amelia had grabbed one of the spare chairs in the office and sank down on it. She didn't trust her legs to hold her any longer. Agatha had given birth to a baby and none of her family knew about it. It wasn't like she was a teenager, she would have been in her thirties when she had the child and for some reason that made it even more shocking.

"You 'ended up' pregnant? Really Agatha? You say it like there are no ways to stop that from happening?" Even as the words left her mouth she regretted them.

"What's that sister dear? Abstinence? You'd know all about that wouldn't you?"

There was a tense silence for a moment before Amelia spoke again.

"I apologise, that wasn't helpful. Please carry on, clearly you decided to keep the baby, Gabrielle I mean." She looked down at her niece and gave a smile, noticing that it wasn't returned.

"Yes, I did. At the time things were good between Gary and I and we decided to try and settle down. We had a house, he got a job but it didn't last. He started using illegal magic again and then he just left one day. I couldn't manage to pay the rent on the house we were in and so we've been drifting around ever since, sleeping on friends floors mainly. We've gone to a couple of refuges but we can't do that forever.

"That's why I'm here Amelia. I know I've done things in the past to hurt you and I know you hate me but I need your help. We need your help."

Amelia could never remember hearing her sister speak so softly. Normally Agatha had one tone of voice, angry. Right now she sounded broken. Almost forty years of experience told her not to be taken in so quickly though.

"You and I have a lot to talk about but I would suggest that Gabrielle may not benefit from hearing what we have to say. How about we send her with Davina to get something to eat and we continue our conversation then?"

She walked over to where the child was still cowering. As she got closer she noticed the smell but tried to keep the horror from showing on her face. Without getting too close she spoke directly to Gabrielle in a very quiet voice.

"I'll bet you like toast don't you? Well, my friend Davina makes marvellous toast with chocolate spread. If your Mummy agrees why don't you go with her and have something to eat?"

Gabrielle looked at her mother for approval but she also knew the rules, if food was offered you took it.

"Go on."

Amelia opened the office door to find Davina and Elizabeth still waiting outside. "This is my niece Gabrielle and she's rather hungry. Davina, I wonder if you could make her some of your special toast?"

"Oh of course I will. What a pretty name let's go to the staffroom, I'll show you my cupboard."

As Gabrielle cautiously followed Davina down the corridor Amelia called Elizabeth back.

"Cast a cleaning spell on her, she needs a bath but I don't want to push things too soon. Do what you can."

The fact that her sister hadn't even managed to use magic to keep her child clean was beginning to anger Amelia. From what she could smell and see Gabrielle was still in nappies. It was inexcusable. She took a moment to gather herself before re-entering the room. If they were to have this discussion the least she could do is keep it civilised on her part.

"We can go down and join them in a bit. Would you like some tea?"

Agatha paused before asking, "Do you have anything stronger?" She saw the look on her sister's face. "Just one drink, you know I'm not an alcoholic. I just need something to settle my nerves. This is hard for me."

What she was saying was true, alcohol had never been Agatha's weakness. Her poison was far worse in many ways.

Amelia used magic to summon a glass of vodka for her twin and a small glass of sherry for herself. She also took some biscuits from the drawer, by the looks things Gabrielle wasn't the only one who hadn't eaten for a while.

"Still a sweet tooth?" Agatha was shoving digestives in her mouth as she spoke and Amelia chose to ignore her.

"You said you need my help. Agatha, I need to be honest with you, seeing you has been a shock, finding out about Gabrielle a bigger one. But you are my sister, I know we've never been close but I promise I am willing to listen to whatever you have to say."

It took a moment for Agatha to swallow her biscuit but eventually she spoke. "I have never been a good person, you know this. Even when we were children there was always something in me. Now, don't try and make excuses for me like you always did, I know its true. You and Lucas were always the good children while I was the dark sheep. I've done a lot of things I regret in my life but quite honestly, once I left home I felt more free to be myself. I met other people who weren't perfect, who understood some of the urges and needs that I had.

"Gary understood me, it was like meeting a kindred spirit in a way but our life got boring, that's why he left. And if I'm truthful I understand why. Gabrielle coming along ruined things between us and now I'm left alone with a child and no means of looking after her. "

Amelia could feel herself getting irritated by her sister's words. She had a child, something Amelia had wanted for years. And from what Agatha had already said it was her and Gary's over reliance on illegal magical substances that had ruined things, not that innocent little girl. Somehow she kept her thoughts to herself, instead encouraging the conversation to continue.

"And what is it that you want me to do to help you?"

Agatha knocked back the last of her drink before answering, "I want you to take her. Or help me find a home for her. I've tried but then the authorities get involved and it gets too messy, too many questions. I thought that with your connections and good name you would be in a position to help."

"You want to give your child away?" Amelia didn't even know why she was surprised.

"Yes. Amelia, I would have aborted her if I'd had the chance. I wanted to give her up for adoption but Gary convinced me to give family life a chance. My biggest regret is having her but I know that none of this is her fault either. She deserves a chance at life and I can never give her that. You can help to give her the life she deserves. I know you don't owe me anything but please Amelia, release me from this burden."