Here we are again! I do not own Gwen Prewett nor Sandra nor Cassandra Dearborn. Thanks for all of the reviews! Many thanks again to fuegodealmas for betaing, undercrisis for practically cowriting with me, and EveyM, authentic britpicker extraordinaire (and she occasionally helps with Welsh, which I have yet to use)


Family Portrait

"This one, what's this one?" Charlie Weasley asks eagerly, looking up at Sirius. The two were sitting in the living room, waiting for Molly and Gwen. Fabian is in a corner with Sandra, Gideon sitting in the opposite side of the room, next to Sirius, though he is entertaining Bill.

"The Common Welsh Green. Looks tame doesn't it?" Sirius grins. "Eats sheep, mostly, not like the Horntail. The Horntail eats people."

"No!" Charlie exclaims, eyes widening.

"Yeah, it does! And, look at the picture, this one just looks horrible." Sirius laughs as Charlie scrambles onto his lap for a better look at the pictures.

"Alright, alright, the birthday girl is coming!" Molly says excitedly, holding one of the twins as she makes her way down the stairs, Arthur following behind her holding the other twin. "Family pictures, and then everybody needs to behave because our guests will be here, so, no double dipping, or wiping your noses on your hands or sleeves."

"Where, then, Molly?" Fabian asks, smirking. He looks over at Gideon who, upon seeing him, changes his expression to a scowl.

Sirius tries to get Charlie to close the book, which proves futile as they reach a picture of the Antipodean Opaleye, and Sirius has to admit that the dragon is actually quite intriguing with its iridescent scales. However, his and Charlie's admiration of the mesmerizing dragon is interrupted when Molly scurries over shutting the book. Sirius stands up, loosening his teal-coloured tie once Molly's back is turned.

"My eyes! They burn!" Gideon yells, and Sirius looks up to see what he was complaining about.

He knows he's staring, looking foolish with his mouth hanging open. He smiles when he sees that she's wearing the necklace he gave her on her actual birthday in May. He leans casually against the wall, waiting his turn for a hug from the birthday girl. "Look at you, all grown up." He says slyly. "We match."

"On purpose." Gwen replies. "So, why are you just standing there?" Sirius laughs and gives her a soft kiss on the lips.

"Alright,alright, break it up you lot, there are children present." Gideon bellows. A slew of family pictures follow, ranging from Gwen with her nephews to everyone in the house courtesy of photographer, the early guest, Remus Lupin.

"Moony!" Sirius shouts, after the last picture is taken. He eagerly hugs his friend, as if he hadn't seen him just a few days prior. "Is it just you?"

"No, Wormtail's here as well, he's surveying the buffet. Where's Gwen gone off to?" Remus asks.

Sirius cranes his neck and sees that Gwen is talking to an elderly woman. "Molly's taken her hostage. It's alright, I think I've learnt to share my Gwen."

"Padfoot! Look at you! They managed to get you in a tie after term!" Remus chortles. "Matching even."

"It was this or my head on a stake warning all ye who dare to anger a Prewett." Sirius snorts.

"Yes well, I think I got a preview when Fabian pulled his girlfriend into the picture." Remus says, lowering his voice. "I feared for my life! Gideon's smile looked deadly."

"That's because it probably was." Sirius mutters.

"Gwen looked frightening." Remus adds, and seeing Sirius giving him a questioning look, he adds, "No, not like, ugly frightening. She looks quite lovely. I meant-"

"Mate, I know, just testing you." Sirius laughs.

"And Molly, well, I've never seen someone smile with disappointment." Remus finishes. "Everyone else was all smiles though."

Luckily for Remus, they finish their conversation on the various Prewett reactions, as Gwen arrives, greeting Remus with a hug. "Thank you so much for being our on-the-spot photographer. Care for any hors d'oeuvres, champagne?"

"I'll make my way over there eventually, Gwen- Are you taller today?" Remus asks.

"Oh it's these horrid heels." Gwen groans. "Molly says I should keep them on."

"Gwen! Thanks for the invitation." Peter says brightly, holding an hors d'oeuvres in one hand, and a slice of treacle tart in the other, spoils from his survey of the buffet.

"Ah, Sirius would throw a fit if his only company was under the age of seven." Gwen laughs. "Now honestly, is there anything I can get you, anything at all? Oh, hide me. Sandra's trying to talk to me." She says, inching further away from the approaching Sandra.

"Er, I won't have to, Cassandra and Dorcas have arrived." Sirius whispers.

Gwen narrowly avoids striking up a conversation with Sandra, hugging her two best mates, Cassandra Dearborn and Dorcas Meadowes. "I'm so glad that you two made it!"

"Would we miss your seventeenth, Gwen?" Cassandra laughs. "Now, point us into the direction of the presents-"

"And your brothers." Dorcas interrupts.

"Oh, well, erm, Gideon is in the kitchen, Dorcas, and Fabian...he's in the garden, with his girlfriend." Gwen strains to say the last word. She looks at Cassandra whose mouth is agape.

"Do I hear correctly? Fabian Prewett, Auror extraordinaire, ladies man, has a girlfriend?" Dorcas asks incredulously. Gwen nods in response, and Dorcas continues, "Too bad, Cass."

"Sorry that I have to make this short, I promise I'll mingle with you, but Sirius' cousin Andromeda has just arrived, and I have to greet them." Gwen smiles. "Catch me up on the gossip, all right?"

Sirius already has Dora in his arms, tickling her as Gwen makes her way to them. "Andromeda, Ted, thank you so much for coming, you really didn't-"

"No, Sirius made it known that it was important." Andromeda answers. "And please, call me Andy."

Gwen chats quickly with the Tonks family before Molly whisks her away for a picture with one of the Macmillans. Two hours later, on her feetand in heels, Gwen makes her way into the kitchen, looking for anything to eat. "Gwen! Did you hear the news? Remus and Alexa are no more." Cassandra says, peering out into the living room, making sure the subject of their discussion is far from earshot.

"I didn't! Sirius never mentioned." Gwen replied, taking a sampling of hors d'oeuvres. "Any reason why?"

"Story is they just drifted apart." Dorcas adds.

"Shame." Cassandra says. "Who's the little girl?"

"Dora." Gwen replies. "Andromeda's daughter."

"Why's it a shame, Cass?" Dorcas asks interestedly, standing next to her to see what she was looking at.

"Alexa missed out on the adorable Remus Lupin entertaining a toddler." Cassandra replies dismissively, though Dorcas and Gwen share an amused look that their friend doesn't see. "Anyway, Gwen, tell us, how are things with you and your diseased flea bag?"

Gwen laughs. "Things with Sirius? They're quite lovely, he's… he's so… adorable-"

"Who, me?" Gideon asks as he enters the kitchen. "Well, that's a given as we're related. Hullo Dorcas," He winks, "Cassandra."

"Not you, you git." Gwen laughs, swiping Gideon's full champagne glass, and taking a drink. "Sirius."

"Gwen, you injure me, I, the bastion for your safety, defender of your honour, overtaken by an interloper of your affection? Cruel."

"Have you been 'round the Victorian literature again?" Gwen laughs. "Do you even know what half those words mean?"

Gideon threateningly brings a hand close to her hair. "I'll ruin it, I'll ruin it all."

"Oh bugger off, you great lump." Gwen laughs. "And Sirius Black isnot an interloper for my affections."

"And Gwen doesn't have much honour to defend anyway." Dorcas mutters into her drink.

"Now's probably not the best time to mention that, Dorcas." Cassandra hisses before turning her attention back to the living room.

"Oh come on, like he didn't know Black's style, he practically wrote the book on it, Cass." Dorcas laughs.

Gwen looks at Gideon who is eyeing the desserts, and the slightly pursed lips give away that he's heard every word, and is choosing to ignore it. "Were you saying something, Dorcas?"

"Ah, Gideon. Bless you." Gwen mumbles.

"Oh nothing, Gideon… erm, nothing." Dorcas replies, blushing.

"You should go mingle some more before Molly has your head, Gwen." He suggests, just as Fabian and Sandra enter the kitchen. "And Dorcas, you're sure you didn't say anything… important?"

"Erm. I like your trousers, are they dragonhide?" Dorcas says. Gwen bites her lip to stop from laughing, and instead pats Dorcas on the shoulder on her way out to mingle again.

Gwen sees that James and Lily have joined Sirius, Remus and Peter, and she eagerly goes to greet the new guests. "Gwen! This is a great party, good food!"

"Tell that to Molly, Peter, and she'll adopt you." Sirius laughs. "And you, Gwen, I've been looking for you."

"Why's that?" Gwen asks just before Sirius plants a very sloppy kiss on her lips. "Alright, which one of you has been giving him liquor? James?"

"Why do you always think that it's me?" James asks, grinning.

"Ah, Gwen, I've only had a glass. I just thought you could use a bit of stress relieving." Sirius says with a wink. Gwen rolls her eyes,

"I feel your pain, Gwen." Lily laughs. "Especially with this one."

"What are you nudging me for?" James asks, affronted.

Gwen unfortunately has to limit her time with them as she sees Molly approaching. Hours pass, and awkward conversations with distant relatives dwindle until Gideon has to escort their Great Aunt Mildred home via side-along.

Gwen sits on the sofa with her feet up on the coffee table. "Gwen! You're officially an adult now, sit like one!" Molly implores as she bustles around gathering the wrapping paper from the other gifts she's already opened.

"Oh, but Moll, my feet. These heels. I won't be able to walk tomorrow." Gwen sighs.

"This time you can give a legitimate excuse." Sirius grins, his arm wrapped around her. He quickly represses it when he sees Gideon glaring at him from across the room. "He still frightens me, Gwen."

"Sirius? Shush." She says, sitting up and leaning against him.

"Alright, it's time for the best presents from the most important people." Gideon says setting some presents onto the floor. "Who's going first?"

Molly insists, "I should go first! I am the eldest after all. Well this is more from Arthur and me." Though this receives no opposition.

Gwen tears the wrapping paper off, opens the jewelry box and inside, "Mum's necklace?"

Gwen stands up so that Molly could do the honours of putting the necklace on her. "You understand, now Gwen, that you are of age and therefore are a responsible young woman? Not a child?"

"Yes, Molly." Gwen replies. "Oh Sirius, you're not at all bothered, I mean, you gave me this necklace-"

"Gwen don't be silly. Now open mine!" Sirius grins.

"You haven't got one in the pile!" Gideon exclaims.

Sirius takes an envelope out of his pocket. "It's not much considering I got you two things for your actual birthday."

"But you've only gotten her the necklace." Gideon comments, and neither Sirius nor Gwen reply to this.

"Two tickets to the Caerphilly Catapults?" Gwen exclaims. "This is excellent! And they're doing so well this year! Thank you, Sirius." She kisses him gently.

"Alright, this one's from the both of us." Gideon said. "And no, I didn't just sign my name on the card."

"Ohh! My copy of Beedle the Bard! Where did you find it? I thought I'd lost it for good!"

"I'm pretty sure you left it there after staying at our flat for a holiday." Gideon replies. "Your second year, when you were mousy and awkward."

"Thanks, Gid." She feels Sirius nudge her. "And Fabian. These are excellent gifts, everyone, really."

"I'm going to go help with the clean up in the garden." Sirius says as the others disperse to help with their delegated cleaning tasks. He kisses her on the forehead and practically leaps off of the sofa.

Gwen looks at a modestly wrapped rectangular gift hidden under the mass of wrapping paper. She picks it up gingerly, and sees there is a card attached. Opening it, Gwen cringes at first when she sees that it is from Sandra.

Gwen,

Congratulations on your seventeenth birthday. Fabian mentioned you loved this book, and I have to say, I love it too. I hope we can get to know each other better. Happy Birthday,

Sandra

Curious, Gwen unwraps the paper and has not even opened the book when she bursts into tears. She clutches the book closely to her chest, as she continues to cry.

"Gwen?" Gideon calls.

"Gid…" She breathes. "Look. Look at what...she gave me."

"She who?" He sits down next to her, wrapping an arm around her.

"Sandra." She wails, holding the book up to Gideon.

"How horrible of her, getting you 'The Little Princess.'" Gideon tries to joke, though he can't help but wince when he sees the title. "This is the book dad was reading to you, right?"

"Fabian finished it."

"Oh." Gideon replies. "Is… is that what's bothering you, dad? D'you miss him and mum?"

Gwen takes shaky breaths, wiping her eyes. "Y-yeah, but it's more F-Fa-"

"Oh." He replies. "You know, Gwen… I've never been good about, er, feelings-"

"I know."

"But, you understand don't you?" He says quietly. "I was just… gutted. He's… my brother, my twin brother, we tell-used to tell each other everything. Then-"

"Then he does… acts-"

"Like a git." Gideon finishes.

"And… ergh, Sandra has to be so… sweet." Gwen replies making a face. "Merlin, I hate Fabian."

"You don't mean that, if anything I should hate him." Gideon answers. "But by all means, hate him, I can't stop you there."

"I don't." She sighs. "I'm surprised you don't."

"Like Molly said, 'It's already happened,' so…" He pauses. "Reckon we've been horrible to Sandra, it's not completely her fault."

"Kind of her fault." Gwen adds though she stops, "Makes me glad that Sirius isn't close to his family though."

"Why's that?"

"I'd be petrified to meet them." Gwen replies. "Oh god, we've been so horrible. And she goes and does something completely- ergh."

"Suppose we could be nicer to her." Gideon mumbles.

"Merlin, you are rubbish at this Gid. You know, Fabi-… I'm still mad at him."

---

"I didn't think I could eat any more, Molly, but clearly you know my weakness for treacle tart." Gideon grins. "I'm going to have to undo the button on my trousers, I've eaten so much."

"Spare us, Gid." Sirius jokes. "I don't think we can recover from such horror."

The children are all asleep, while the adults, now in their pyjamas, are taking their evening tea and dessert. Molly and Arthur are sharing the sofa with Fabian and Sandra, Gideon lazily slumped in one armchair, Sirius sitting in the other, with Gwen sitting cosily on his lap. "Right, like you snogging my sister hasn't been a scourge to my vision."

"Agreed." Fabian adds, forgetting that Gwen and Gideon hadn't spoken to him all day aside from 'More champagne?' or 'Excuse me.'

"I think I'm going to go to bed." Gwen says getting up, Sirius follows suit.

"What, no proper thank you, Gwen? Where are your manners?" Gideon says in a perfect imitation of Molly.

"I'll ignore that, Gid." Molly laughs, as she watches Gwen give Gideon a hug. "Tomorrow you're back to duty with nappies." Gwen wrinkles her nose, before laughing.

"Fabian." Gwen says with a forced smile. "I knew you wouldn't miss this." She hugs him, stiffly. "Sandra, erm, I-"

Fabian looks at his sister curiously, and looks at Gideon. He knows that even though they're not speaking, they're both thinking the same thing. 'Gwen is about to apologise, for the first time in her life.'

They're wrong, though it's close. "The book is lovely." And she gives her a weak smile, though she doesn't hug Sandra.

---

Gwen is the first one awake the next morning, only because it's when the house is quiet. She pulls the blanket tighter around her as she sits in the living room, completely engrossed in her novel, so she doesn't hear Fabian come into the living room.

"Is it good even without the voices and my poor attempt at speaking with an Indian accent?"

Gwen looks up. "Oh, erm… I was just leaving."

"No you weren't." Fabian says, emphatically. "Look, I know that this… news wasn't exactly welcome-"

"Understatement of the year." Gwen mutters.

"But you understand that there wasn't really anything I could do. I mean-"

"Seems like Molly's the only one of us speaking sense. You were about to say 'It's already happened' weren't you?"

Fabian laughs slightly, "So we're square, then?"

"I'd say we've got some rough edges."

"Lumpy square, then." Fabian grins, sitting next to her.

"Yes, but I'm still mad at you. I'll need at least another day to glare icily at you, but I'll be nicer to Sandra. This is a first edition, did you know?"

"Er, I was there when she bought it." Fabian answers.

"Merlin you two, do you know how much your voices carry?" Gideon asks, feigning annoyance.

"Gideon, you were always a bad actor."

"Come on, you big softie, get on this sofa." Fabian smirks, patting the seat next to him.

"Fine, but none of this leaves this room."

Just as Gideon sits down, Molly comes into the living room, hair askew. "What is this, a family meeting? Is someone else pregnant? Gideon?Gwen?"

"As careful as Sirius and I are? Highly unlikely." Gwen replies matter-of-factly. She clears her throat when she sees how Gideon and Fabian are glaring at her. "Erm."

Molly shakes her head. "Really, what is this?"

"Unofficial Prewett meeting." Gideon replies. "So that Fabian can earn gold stars for our approval."

"I said I'm giving him another day of cruel treatment."

"I'd watch out for your underpants as I may have put a jinx on some of them." Gideon mentions nonchalantly.