Albus Dumbledore was beyond dumbfounded. He for sure hadn't ever met or seen this woman before in his life. Yet here she was addressing him by his full name, scolding and looking at him as if he were a very naughty child in need of a smack. He personally didn't believe in corporal punishment but as the old man stared into her cold piercing blue familiar eyes, he knew he shouldn't put it passed her. Still, he attempted to retake control of the situation.

"My dear girl, I don't know who you are or how-"

"Your bloody carrier pigeon brought us here! I am not your "dear girl" That is disrespectful, I am a grown woman and I am your niece: Aurora Ariana Dumbledore!" she said, leaning over the desk, unwilling to let herself be intimidated. "I am Aberforth's daughter"

The man now paled as his mouth hung open, eyes widening "WHAT? No! My- Madame you are mistaken! I-! I would know if-!"

"Are you sure? How often has he shared is personal life with you since Ariana?"

The Headmaster made a face.

"Try little to none, if Father could help it. Once he eventually found love again, a different kind, mind you. He's spent his life trying to protect us (my mother and I) from your shenanigans. Both with Grindelwald and Voldemort. He sent us to the south of France. I was born in 1937 to Aberforth and Isabelle Louise Dumbledore (nee Lafayette)"

Lucy and the other teenagers raised an eyebrow; Miss Aurora was older than they thought. She sure didn't look it. Must be taking care of herself really well.

"My father almost missed out on the last decade of my Mother's life because of your "For the Greater Good," philosophy"

Albus was now beginning to see just who had been Lucy's influence outside of her mother. He also found himself automatically shaking his head as thoughts of horrified real shame started repeating. He had once told Leta Lestrange that regret had been his constant companion. It turns out the old man was only fooling himself that he had gotten rid of it by the successful "joys" he'd received from his many accomplishments. Echoing his thought from earlier, about the ends justifying the means? They did not.

The fact that Aberforth, his own brother, CHOSE to hide something as important as her and his own wife from him spoke volumes: Albus Dumbledore had paid a price he hadn't intended to pay and his actions made him a villain of both Lucy and his own family stories.

"I am sorry, so sorry. I truly am not the person you think I am"

"Then prove it" said Lucy, "Don't give me some sick bribe from my dead parents. Give me something real, something I can believe in."

The Headmaster raised an eyebrow, "Lucy…"

"Severus Snape is my father, I'm just getting to know him, but he is my father. James on the other hand, became my Dad. Leading up to the "I do's" and long after. He matured, and turned into the husband and partner my mother wanted. I say "our" parents in front of Harry because that's who they were. You don't have the right to take advantage of that, like you do everything else"

"Lucy," Miss Aurora comforted, putting a calming arm around her shoulders. "What I want to know is why your bird kidnapped us?" asked her tutor, returning to the problem at hand.

"I discovered that Lucy had left the grounds, so I sent Fawkes to find her."

"I had Professor McGonagall's permission to be gone for a few hours. She knew where I was, Miss Aurora and her have been in contact since Halloween."

Albus' eyebrows shot up. Minerva knew about this? That was another mental hit for the elder Wizard. One of his dearest colleges knew and hadn't said anything.

"Miss Aurora" asked Midnight, "Where are we?"

Her teacher looked back at the girl, her eyes softening. "We are at Hogwarts"

Mary Jane and Midnight's eyes widened in excitement. "What? Really?"

"This is it, well at least the Headmaster's office" confirmed Lucy, obvious not impressed to be in this space.

"You let your students call you by your first name?" questioned her Uncle.

"I like having my own identity, use the name "Dumbledore" and people in Great Britain have certain expectations. I would never want to get a job in this country otherwise" That seemed to shut the Great Wizard up momentarily.

"Please…Stay. At least the rest of the day and night, it's Christmas and a storm is coming" he said, looking up in the direction that Fawkes had flown in.

Miss Aurora sighed, not wanting to endanger her students. "Fine, as soon as the weather clears. We are gone"

"However it has to be," said Dumbledore, solemnly.

Lucy quickly followed Miss Aurora and the other two girls as they left the office.

"Fawkes" the old man called out, finding the bird still nursing his injured leg. "You were only supposed find Lucy and retrieve her"

"Who am I to break up a family on Christmas? Even if it did hurt worse than a pain in the pinfeathers. It's still worth it and now you know the truth as well" the phoenix trilled, trying hard to have his healing tears reach his foot.

Oh, Albus knew the truth alright!

His so called "niece" had stared directly into his eyes as she spoke, letting her mental shields fall before assaulting him with images. It was all real, including the one last heartbreaking "Goodbye" between Alberforth and his beloved wife. His brother had even crossed the border with Voldemort being at large just to be there when it happened. It spoke devotion, something he apparently didn't have when it came to people and family. For the first time in many years, Albus Dumbledore closed his eyes and actually sobbed…

...

Once they were away from the Headmaster's office, Lucy cheered up a lot and began eagerly showing them around. Starting with the Great Hall. Good timing too for Neville had just come out from the Gryffindor Common room.

"Wait right here," Lucy whispered before she walked over to the boy. "Merry Christmas Neville,"

"M-Merry Christm-as Lucy," he stuttered nervously.

"What's got you so glum?"

"My Gran," he said, "I thought over your advice about getting my own wand as this one doesn't quite work for me. I asked her when she brought up what I wanted for Christmas. Sh-She was pretty mad, said I should be honored to have my father's wand. I just need to work harder to make myself worthy of it."

Mary Jane growled in disgust, alerting him to her presence. "Who-?"

The sixth year sighed, "Neville, do you remember how you wished to have someone in your family like you?"

"Y-Yes?"

"Well then," said Lucy turning him around to face her, "Meet your Christmas present: Mary Jane Longbottom, your father's sister"

Poor Neville's pupils grew as his mouth hung open. "What?"

The taller teenage girl slowly walked forward and got down on her knees to make herself more at level with him. "Hello Neville," she smiled gently, "My have you grown! The last time I saw you, you were just barely fourteen months and starting to walk"

"You're- You're really my Aunt?"

Mary Jane softly nodded, continuing to smile. "Is it alright if I hug you?"

Neville was stunned, his other relatives weren't much for physical affection. "S-Sure,"

The girl gently placed her arms around him, caressing his dark brown hair. "I missed you, your mother and Father use to bring you by once a month to see me. It stopped when they-" she broke off looking as if she was about to cry. The boy quietly returned the hug, silently saying what words couldn't.

Despite having just met her, Neville was finding he was starting to like his new Aunt, he could tell she felt the same. Merry Christmas indeed!

"Where were you?" he asked, not recalling seeing her at family gatherings or his Gran even mentioning her. Mary Jane sighed, wanting to tell him the truth but not scare him.

"My poor brother and your mother weren't the first attacks on the Longbottom family. Because of You-Know-Who's followers. I very early on, attracted an illness which makes me contagious once a month. Your Grandmother hid me for the good of the family"

"The family Name you mean?"

"That too,"

The boy paused for a minute, thinking. "You're a Werewolf?" he finally asked in a gentle non-accusatory tone.

"Yes," said his Aunt sadly, "But I won't bite you. I try not to bite anyone if I can help it. That's why I live in a hospital full of Animagus' and borrowing my teacher's magical suitcase for extra protection on the full moon. One of the spaces is nothing but forest down inside there"

Neville nodded, his Aunt didn't ask for this, just like his Mum and Dad. They were all victims. But Mary Jane-? (At least that's what he thought Lucy had told him her name was) was comprehensive, most of the time.

"Neville," His Aunt said after a minute, "Your Grandmother still has the image of Frank acting a certain way because that's what he showed her.

Your father was his own person, the same as your mother. Which is why they originally got along so well. They were independent thinkers. When most of the family turned their back on me, he was there. Looking after me, playing with me and starting to teach me things. Even when I was clumsy, falling and breaking stuff. Alice actually one day demonstrated her own lack of balance. Coming in with a tray of drinks, wanting to help out the overworked house-elf "Bitsy". She tripped over the rug coming into the living room. The liquids went flying everywhere as her back crashed against the "Grand Piano" some Muggleborn had given the family as a wedding gift"

"My-Mother was clumsy?"

"Yes," and Frank loved her anyway. He once said, "She may not be always graceful on her feet but she always takes very good care of my heart, both of them" Alice was pregnant with you at the time. Don't you see? it is alright to be yourself. And that, is what your parents would truly want for you.

"Don't compare yourself to me son, just do the best YOU can" That's what my brother would want to say if he was here in his right mind. Augusta, your Grandmother does not handle grief well at all. Whether it's me, your Grandfather or…. She's always been like that. She just focused her attention on the next "important" thing which I guessing is you. She wants her son back, but Augusta knows that won't happen, so she puts extra pressure on you to make up for it. It is not right, it's just the way her mind is"

Neville's eyes widened as he took in her words: Gran was still grieving?

It made so much more sense now! He would continue to do his best, that's after all what his parents would've wanted. He would continue to try and make them proud. But it was alright if he messed up.

"As for the wand, Augusta should know that it IS the wand who chooses the Wizard. If you are still having problems when the weather gets better? Please write to me. Harry's bird, Hedwig knows where to go as she takes letters back and forth from Lucy to us on a consistent basis. Maybe once we explain the situation to Professor McGonagall, she will back you up as well?"

"Back up for what?" questioned the Head of Gryffindor, having just entered the Great Hall. "Mr. Longbottom, and who is-?"

"Hello Professor McGonagall, I am Miss Aurora. It is nice to finally meet you in person" said their teacher, stepping forward with a polite handshake.

The cat Animagus was stunned, but quickly recovered herself as she set her eyes on Albus' niece for the first time. When she had pictured her, she hadn't thought of somebody much younger and closer to her own age. The eyes however were the same, must be a family trait? She accepted the handshake.

"This is a surprise, I thought Miss Potter had already made other plans with you?"

"We did but Fawkes and the Headmaster had different ideas. A bird kidnapping later, and here we are" Lucy grumbled.

Minerva McGonagall knew by now it would do no good talking to her about Albus. His actions just made the girl more set in her ways of not trusting him. He would have to do something drastic to ever redeem himself in her eyes. The Professor was just grateful she hadn't taken the "Marauders" or "Fred and George Weasley" route. If he left her alone, she would leave him alone.

"I am sorry for the circumstances. How long are you going to be staying?"

"Through the rest of today and tomorrow morning until the storm ends"

"Yes the wind has picked up tremendously in the last hour," she agreed listening to the rafters as the sound of a branch hit. "Well," she said, beginning to smile as she focused on the girls. "Welcome to Hogwarts, as you heard earlier. I am Professor McGonagall: Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration Teacher for all classes"

"Hello," the two girls who weren't students chorused. "I am Mary Jane Longbottom," said the tall girl, "And I am Midnight Black" continued the shorter one.

The Professor was surprised by their names. "You're Augusta's daughter? "And you are-? There's no way you can be a Black unless-! Are you his daughter? Sirius Black?"

Midnight shook her head. "No, but he is a relative, according to my late mother's journal. She Ah-, died in childbirth."

"Oh, I'm so sorry"

"It's fine, Mary Jane and Lucy are like my older sisters anyway."

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen, but I became an Animagus early because of who I live with."

Professor McGonagall nodded, having just remembered about Mary Jane's lycanthropy. Which is probably why Augusta hadn't sent her to school here? Despite them fully being prepared to handle it as they had Remus Lupin. That woman could very give someone a headache if they were around long enough. And fourteen was still a little young to be Animagus but she understood it and hoped the girl was perfectly supervised.

"What are you interested in?"

"I like music," answered Midnight, her mind instantly going to Christmas carols as she stared at the huge decorated tree, closing her eyes and beginning to sing "Oh Holy Night…"

"Sarah?" a man's voice questioned as she finished her last note, causing her to turn around and meet Professor Flitwick, his eyes tearing up. "Is it really you…?"

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Hope you enjoyed and will review...