Chapter Twelve: Christmas Day

Christmas morning dawned bright and beautiful. There was a thin covering of snow on the ground from the night before, nothing like what they'd often had at Hogwarts, so much further north in Scotland, but enough to make things look festive.

Harry took a cup of tea to Ginny in bed, then, smiling at her grumbling, and patting the little bulge of her belly that was just becoming noticable, he left to shower and dress while the house was still quiet.

Half an hour later, doors were opening and closing all over the house, the sound of running feet up and down the stairs and the scent of bacon and coffee in the air, greeted Harry as he stepped back out of their room, Ginny beside him.

"Happy Christmas, love," Ginny said quietly.

"Happy Christmas, Gin," he put an arm around her and they headed for the stairs, where they met with Ron and Hermione who were heading down, as well.

"And how is the happy couple this morning?" Ginny teased.

Ron flushed, Hermione glowed. "Very happy, thank you! Happy Christmas, Harry!"

Harry hugged her tightly, then shook hands with Ron, and the foursome headed down together.

The kitchen was in chaos. Molly, Anna and Amelia were trying to make breakfast. Alicia, Angelina and Janie were setting the table and herding children, and Harry noticed Meg and Mary, both with a twin on their laps, trying to drink their tea.

"I wondered where they were," Harry grinned.

"We heard them early," Meg said, "so we brought them into our room for a while, then brought them down here. Grandma Molly seemed okay with it."

Harry laughed. "I bet she was."

"Grandma said we couldn't open presents until everyone had breakfast!" Maddy said, a distinctly grumpy look on her face. "And Uncle Charlie isn't even up yet!"

"I'm up, I'm up..." Charlie ambled into the kitchen. "It's not possible to sleep late around here."

"You're not supposed to sleep late on Christmas morning, Uncle Charlie!" Maddy said with disgust. "Can we open our gifts now?"

"After breakfast, love," Ginny smiled, patting Maddy on the head as she sat down to have Molly place a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her. Ginny looked a bit green, pushed the plate away, and sipped at her tea. Ron, seeing this, grinned and hooked her plate with his left hand while eating with his right, pulling it up in front of him.

"Ron!" Hermione scolded.

"What?" Ron looked up at his brand new wife. "She's not going to eat it!"

"It's okay, Hermione," Ginny laughed. "I'm used to it, and I'm really not hungry anyhow."

"You have to eat, love," Molly looked pointedly at her.

"Mum..." Ginny sent her a warning look.

"Ginny!" Molly returned, staring her daughter down. After all the years spent in the company of this family, Harry knew that when Molly said 'eat', you ate.

He looked up from his plate to see most of the eyes in the room on them. He swallowed, then looked over at Ginny. She had insisted they keep her pregnancy to themselves until she passed the four month point. She was nervous about her ability to carry a baby at thirty six. Harry had thought that this was a silly concern, as she had carried five children easily prior to this, but was perfectly willing to go along with it.

But with everyone looking at them, he turned eyes on her that said it was time.

Ginny glared at him, then, with a sigh, smiled, and stood.

"Alright then, everyone? Look," She turned sideways to the table, drew her loose sweater across her belly and pointed to the noticable distention.

"Mum?" Meg's eyes grew wide. "Really?"

"Bloody hell, Harry!" Ron said through a mouthful of egg. "Again?"

Molly, who had known full well what was wrong with Ginny recently, smiled and kissed Harry on the cheek before patting her daughter on the shoulder and turning back to the stove.

Congratulations were made, and the girls were completely overexcited, even before they managed to congregate in the lounge for the opening of gifts.

The floor was strewn with paper which the gifts had been wrapped in moments before. Harry sat back, rather stunned at the short work the children had made of the pile of presents. The room had been complete mayhem for the last half hour.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Hermione smiled from where she sat on the arm of Harry's chair.

"That's not quite the word I would have used," Harry grinned back at her.

"Merry Christmas, Harry." Hermione looked down at him, her eyes losing some of their sparkle, but her smile remaining.

"Happy Christmas, Mione," he returned, smiling at her pensive look. He could almost read her thoughts, could see how she was struggling with the knowledge she had of his future.

"Harry, we need to get ready if we're going to..." Ginny said from where she sat beside her mother on the sofa.

"I know, love." Harry nodded.

"What's going on?" Ron asked.

"Ginny and I are taking the kids to meet my cousin," Harry said quietly, but apparently, not quietly enough. His comment drew the attention of everyone in the room.

"Alone?" George asked.

"Just us, yes," Harry confirmed.

"Harry," Bill stood. "You can't be wandering about Surrey alone."

"We're apparating into their back yard, Bill, and then going directly into the house. We won't be 'wandering' anywhere."

"Still..."

"Look, Harry," Tonks stood from where she'd seated herself in front of the tree upon her arrival earlier. "I know I'm not much good as an auror anymore, but let me come along... you won't even see me, but I can be an extra set of eyes..."

"Tonks, I'm not going to interrupt your Christmas..."

"Harry," Charlie stood. "Tonks has a point. I'm coming, too."

"Everyone, just relax, okay?" Harry said. "We're just going for a cup of tea and a short visit..."

"Good, then we'll be back in time for lunch, then, won't we?" Fred said, nodding to Alicia, who smiled up at him as he stood.

Harry sighed.

"Forget it, Harry," Arthur said. "A few sets of eyes watching the neighborhood for you won't do any harm, and we'll be back in time for Molly's Christmas lunch."

"I won't be serving until two, at any rate, love," Molly nodded. "And I'd feel better if Ginny and the girls were guarded..."

And how am I supposed to argue with that? Harry thought. He sighed again, stood and held out his hand to Ginny to help her to her feet.

"Fine," he agreed. "And thank you."

Half an hour later, they stood, Ginny and Meg each holding a twin, and Harry holding the hands of Mary and Maddy. Meg had learned to apparate the year before, and had been practicing while holding the babies. She could manage it with one, but not both.

"See you there," Harry nodded to Ron and Hermione, who both were going to apparate with them.

With a pop, they disapparated from the den and into the back corner of Malcolm and Marion's back garden, under a large apple tree, where they would be hidden from any neighbor's eyes.

Glancing around, Harry noted that the back garden was empty, and nodding to Ron and Hermione, led them all towards the back door.

Malcolm was waiting for them.

"Harry," the other man smiled. "We've been waiting for you. I was so glad you called..."

"I thought it was time our families met, Malcolm," Harry replied as they were led through the garden doors and through the dining room into the lounge. There, Marion was sitting on the sofa, watching two children happily opening Christmas gifts in front of a huge, brightly lit Christmas tree.

"Marion, they're here," Malcolm said.

Ginny smiled at the woman who stood, rubbing her hands on a her jean-clad hips before coming forward and holding out her hand to Ginny.

"You must be Ginny," she smiled, then looked uncertainly at Ron and Hermione behind them.

"Malcolm, do you remember Ron?" Harry asked, stepping back.

"Vaguely," Malcolm nodded, adding ruefully, "I remember your twin brothers much better, actually."

"Yes, well, they're about somewhere..." Ron said, his blue eyes taking in every detail of the room before he shook Malcolm's hand.

"About?" Marion looked curiously at Harry.

"Security, love," Malcolm said quietly. "I'm sure that that is what Ron means."

"Security?" Marion looked startled.

"Being the family of the Minister of Magic is sometimes..." Ginny glanced up at Harry. "Well, we tend to be pretty well protected."

"Not to mention your mother would have skinned me alive if I had insisted on everyone staying home and letting us come alone," Harry said with a smile. "Marion, Malcolm, my wife, Ginny, and our daughters... this is Meg and Mary and Maddy. The twins are James and Lily Mione. And you know Ron, and this is... this is my sister, and Ron's wife, Hermione."

"Sister?" It was Malcolm's turn to look confused.

"We... it's a Wizarding thing..." Hermione stepped forward, holding out her hand. "Kind of like a mug... like an adoption in the non-magical world."

"But I know you," Marion studied Hermione for a moment. "You're... you're that reporter... the one who was reporting from the middle east..."

"Yes. In your world I'm known as Maura Kennedy," Hermione agreed. "It's a very long story. I've known Harry and Ron since our first day of school at Hogwarts. I took a... different path."

"Hermione Granger..." Marion agreed. "From the books."

"Yes." Hermione looked uncomfortable for a moment, and Malcolm, noticing this, stepped back.

"Well, David, Susan, come and meet our guests."

When Harry turned to look at Malcolm's children, he was momentarily startled. David, Malcolm's son, looked exactly as his father had at that age. He was hefty, as his father had been at the time. Malcolm had continued to gain weight into adolescence, but at eleven, he had not been as hugely fat as he had gotten later. In front of Harry stood a stocky boy, and a slim, quiet, dark-haired girl who had a look about her that Harry recognized, as well.

Not exactly, of course, but there was a very strong Evans family resemblance.

"David, Susan, this is my cousin, Harry, and his family... Ginny, and the girls..."

After introductions, they took seats around the lounge, and Harry studied the children. Meg sat beside her mother, with Mary on the other side, but Maddy was down on the floor with the twins and Susan, who seemed to be shyly taken with the babies. David was occupied with his new toys.

"Good year, then, Harry?" Malcolm asked.

Harry looked up at his cousin who was holding out a glass of what appeared to be eggnog to him. How much to tell him?

"Yes, and no, Malcolm," he said quietly, taking the glass.

Malcolm looked into the green eyes staring back at him, glanced at Ron and then the children, and nodded. "How about we move into the den, then? Leave the women and children to... talk?"

Ron glanced around the room, made eye contact with both Hermione and Ginny and glanced around the room again, noting the doors and entries.

"Mione?" He inquired, his question unspoken.

"We're fine, Ron," Hermione nodded, indicating her hip, where Ron and Harry both knew her wand was strapped. Ron nodded, turning to Harry and indicating he was comfortable with leaving the room.

"You two are unreal," Malcolm said quietly as he led them from the room, across the hall, and into another room. Harry had seldom been in this room as a child, it had been his uncle's private domain for doing business at home. Malcolm indicated to the comfortable sofas which sat in front of the fire and waited for his guests to sit before seating himself. "How do you do that?"

"What?" Ron asked, looking straight at the other man. Harry could see the look in Ron's eyes. He was willing to give Malcolm the benefit of the doubt, but was still on guard with him. His blue eyes were hard.

"You kind of... communicate without saying a word."

"We've been friends for over twenty five years, Malcolm," Harry explained.

"We've guarded each other's backs in enough battles," Ron said. "It kind of comes with the territory."

Malcolm just shook his head. "Amazing."

"Malcolm, I don't want to put a damper on your Christmas, but..." Harry sat forward, leaning his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands.

"But I need to know," Malcolm said quietly. "I think I've got a pretty good idea, Harry."

Ron's eyebrows rose, and Harry nodded.

"You've been following the news then?"

"This muddle in the Middle East..." Malcolm nodded. "It's not just us, is it?"

"No," Harry agreed. "But that problem was... well, the original instigator is dead, now."

"Osama bin Laden?"

"No. Bin Laden was merely..." Harry didn't know quite how to put this. "He was what you would think of as one of Mahood's generals... the muggle world believed him to be the leader, but the true leader behind it... well, he was a very powerful wizard, known as Philip Mahood, and he's dead now."

"How?" Malcolm asked, his eyes firmly on the dark-haired man he had grown up with.

Harry looked him straight in the eye. "I killed him."

Malcolm swallowed. "So there are no more wizards involved?"

"Oh, no, they're involved," Ron shook his head. "They're just busy jockeying for position right now."

"Oh," Malcolm took a drink. "And when they..."

"Malcolm, it's not going to be good," Harry said quietly. "Right now, I can't tell you what is going to happen. We know who has stepped forward as a leader in England, but we're not sure exactly who is following his lead, and we don't know how far his influence is extending."

"And these stories I'm hearing, Harry... of gas leak explosions and house fires? And funny lights seen over houses? They're everywhere...."

"They're not gas leak explosions or house fires, Malcolm," Harry said, watching the other man closely for his reaction.

Malcolm swallowed, then locked gazes with Harry. "Is my family in danger, Harry?"

"I don't know, Malcolm. I really believe that they don't know who you are, or where you are. Even if someone did have knowledge of your identity, which is a very, very remote possibility, the wizarding world believes I have had no contact with you in twenty years or more."

"But you can't make any promises."

"No," Harry agreed.

"What should I do?"

"Live your life, Malcolm." Ron said. "There is nothing more you can do. If you are on their list... well..."

"There wouldn't be anything I could do, would there?"

"Not really, no."

"What if I got a gun...?"

Ron laughed without humor, "Guns would not be any protection against a fully trained wizard."

"Ron's right, Malcolm, you would have to be faster than... well, it's just not possible. However, I will arrange for some security if you..."

"No, Harry," Malcolm shook his head. "As you said, they have no idea of who we are, and even if they did, they think we're... less than nothing to you. There's really no reason, is there?"

"No," Harry agreed. "But if you need me... you call, right?"

"Of course," Malcolm nodded, a smile on his face, but a shadow in his eyes.

In the lounge, Hermione and Ginny chatted comfortably with Marion. Ginny had been prepared to dislike these muggles, after everything Malcolm had put Harry through as a child. She still wasn't sure about Malcolm, but Marion seemed quite nice, eager to share stories of their children, and shyly asking questions about their world.

Hermione watched the windows and doors, keeping a ear out for any odd noises. Once, she thought she saw a glimpse of movement outside the front window, and stood, walking casually over to look out, arms crossed comfortably in front of her, but her fingers slipping unnoticed around the handle of her wand under her jacket.

Looking out, she glimpsed movement to her right, and turned quickly to see Tonks walking down the street.

Turning back to the room, she saw Ginny's eyes questioningly on her, and shook her head.

"Tonks," she said. Ginny relaxed.

"Excuse me?" Marion glanced between them, not understanding the exchange.

"Sorry," Hermione smiled. "Nymphadora Tonks just passed by... one of the people who came with us to keep the neighborhood... secure."

"Oh..." Marion looked surprised for a moment, then blushed. "It was a bit of a shock when Malcolm told me who he was. In relation to Harry, I mean."

"I can imagine," Hermione said. "When I was first told of the magical world, it was a bit of a surprise, too."

"You?" Marion asked. "But you're a..."

"Witch, yes. But I'm also a muggleborn."

"But I thought...?" Marion asked.

"There aren't as many of us as there appear to be in the books," Hermione confirmed. "But we do exist."

"They're quite rare, actually," Ginny said. "It has a lot to do with the upbringing of the child. Magic is present in all children, or the prospect of it, at any rate. Children who are encouraged to have an active imagination... who aren't encouraged to grow up too soon, tend to retain the ability better, and there are several other factors, as well, but... overall, only one in about one hundred children at Hogwarts are muggleborn."

"But... but it's still possible?" Marion's voice seemed faint.

"Of course," Hermione smiled. "I'm living proof."

"But... how did you know?"

Hermione grinned. "Getting a letter from Hogwarts kind of gives you a clue... but having a witch show up on your doorstep and scare your parents rigid does it, as well."

"But were there any signs? Before?"

"Manifestations, you mean?" Hermione asked. At Marion's nod, she continued. "Looking back, yes. At the time, of course, they just seemed like weird things that could happen to anyone. I remember my cat was up a tree once, when I was about six or seven. I'd only just gotten her... she was still a kitten, and stuck good. I was at the bottom of the tree crying, because I couldn't get her to come down, and she was up there, crying, because she couldn't get down, and the next thing I knew, she was in my arms. My father said she must have jumped to me, but she didn't.... she was just... there."

"Magical children tend to make things happen during times of high emotion," Ginny explained. "They don't mean to, but they have physical manifestations of the emotion they're feeling, or somehow solve a problem that is causing them emotional upset."

"What about..." Marion smiled. "What about repairing things that have been broken?"

"Yes, that can happen, too, if the child is very upset about the object being broken, or feels a great deal of fear about the consequences of breaking it, and that it was their fault. Why?" Ginny looked curiously at the other woman.

"Just... nothing," Marion took a deep breath. "What would be the... process involved if a non-magical child was found to have magical ability?"

"You mean a muggleborn, not a non-magical child," Ginny smiled. "If they've shown manifestations, then they are magical... they simply require training to retain that ability."

"So... Hogwarts then?"

"Well, there are other schools," Ginny said. "But Hogwarts is the best."

"You're talking to the most authoritative person there is, Marion," Hermione grinned. "Ginny is the muggle admissions administrator for the school."

"Oh?" Marion turned surprised eyes back on the redheaded woman. "How do you manage that and five children?"

"Well, the girls are at Hogwarts, and the twins are too little to really be much bother at all," Ginny said. "If magical ability has been detected in your child, they will receive a letter from the school the year of their eleventh birthday, offering them a placement."

"Detected?"

"The Ministry maintains magical monitors throughout the country," Hermione explained. "That's how they detected me, by the magic I was doing without knowing it."

"I see," Marion said. "What if... they're missed by these monitors?"

"It happens," Ginny said. "The child, if they have a very strong ability, will continue to do things that seem inexplicable. Eventually, because they aren't being trained, they'll come to.. well..."

"What?"

"What Ginny is saying," Hermione explained gently, "Is that most people who have magical ability that goes undetected and untrained... well, they don't lead very easy lives. Many end up on the fringe of society, because they've been labeled as 'strange' or 'odd' their entire lives, because strange and odd things happen around them. They tend to give off a feeling of unrest, making them difficult to feel comfortable around, and these things tend to make them very defensive people. They turn to many... alternative lifestyles... where personal acceptance isn't quite so necessary."

"Criminal behavior," Marion said quietly.

"Sometimes," Ginny confirmed. "Sometimes... well, when something happens and the perpetrator explains it by saying the 'saw a light' or 'felt a tingling sensation' just before something happened, and it happens repeatedly, well... sometimes they end up in psychiatric hospitals..."

Marion seemed to blanche. "Not a very nice thing to think about, is it?"

"No," Hermione agreed, turning to the boy who was suddenly standing next to her. "Hello, David."

"I've read your books," he said firmly, looking directly at her.

"My books?"

"You're Hermione Granger. My Dad's cousin is Harry Potter, and Dudley was really my Dad," he stated.

"Yes, David. You're right," she agreed.

"Did you really fight Voldemort?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes, David, we did."

"And there really is such a thing as wizards and witches?"

"Yes," Hermione said. "I'm a witch."

"And Death Eaters."

"Yes, there are Death Eaters," she agreed.

"I know," he nodded. "Cuz I saw one. They wear funny robes and masks."

With that, he turned and went back to his new toys, leaving the three women and Meg sitting, stunned.

"David?" Meg moved toward him, sitting cross legged on the floor beside him. "Where did you see a Death Eater?"

"At school," he said.

"On a film?" Meg asked. All three women wondering if he was referring to the movies that had been recently released based on the books.

"No, in the play yard."

"In the..." Marion went white. Hermione thought it was probably a good thing she was sitting down. "When?"

"Last week before school ended."

"David, what was he doing?" Meg asked.

"Just walking. He walked out of the shrubbery, then kind of looked around, then disappeared. He made a pop, then he wasn't there anymore."

"David, did anyone else see him?" Meg asked.

"Nope. Just me. I was..." he went red, then glanced at his mother, then went back to his toy.

"David, was this when you were outside without permission? When Mr Nott called me?"

"Nott?" Hermione gasped.

"Marion, where is David's school?" Ginny asked urgently.

"In the Cotswolds... near Chipping Campden."

Ginny turned to Hermione, "Mione...?"

Hermione nodded and left the room, heading in the direction the men had gone.

"What?" Marion said softly. "What is it?"

"Marion, how long has David been going to this school?"

"For... two years now... why?"

"How did you hear about it?"

"It's Malcolm's old school..."

Ginny took a breath, stopping to think for a minute. "Who is Mr Nott?"

"The Headmaster..."

"Nott?" Harry asked as he strode into the room, closely followed by Ron, who immediately stalked around, checking out windows. Malcolm stood in the middle of the room, looking lost.

"Mr. Nott?" Malcolm said. "He's the Headmaster at David's school, why? What's wrong?"

"Theodore Nott," Harry said. "Is a Death Eater."

"But.." Malcolm swallowed. "This man's name isn't Theodore. It's Wilfrid!"

"Wilfred Nott?" Harry said, pulling out his cel phone and quickly dialing.

"Yes... he's..."

"Bill?" Harry spoke into the phone. "Get here, now."

"But I don't understand..." Marion said.

"Marion," Ginny took the woman's hands and sat down on the sofa next to her. "Theodore Nott is a very well known Death Eater, as was his father before him. His father served Lord Voldemort... Theodore was in the ranks of Philip Mahood... and now... well, we think he might be in service to the new Dark Lord."

"Who is?"

"It's believed to be Draco Malfoy," Hermione said quietly.

The doorbell rang, and Harry nodded to Malcolm. Malcolm held out his hand in invitation for Harry to open it. Striding down the hallway, Harry threw open the door to find Bill and Tonks both there.

"What's happened?" Bill asked as Harry closed the door behind them.

"Where is Theodore Nott?"

"We have no idea, right now, Harry. He hasn't been sighted since the battle with Mahood, but no body was recovered. Why?"

"Because the Headmaster of my cousin's son's school is named Wilfred Nott, and because young David says he has seen Death Eaters near the school."

Bill's eyebrows rose. "Where is said school?"

"The Cotswolds," Malcolm cut in, looking at Bill and recognizing him as a member of the Weasley family. "Just outside Chipping Campden."

"Nott came from Blockley..." Bill looked alarmed.

"And that is?" Harry shook his head.

"Next county over," Hermione said quietly. "Harry..."

"Family," Harry said.

"One could assume that," Bill agreed.

"When is David due back at school, Malcolm?" Harry asked.

"Not for two weeks yet. The sixth of January."

"How many students in that school?"

"About three hundred, I would think."

Harry paced, thinking.

"Harry, if Nott is in that neighborhood, it's entirely likely that Malfoy..."

"Is as well," Harry continued to pace. "Yes, Bill. I know."

"And if that is the headquarters of..."

"Yes," Harry nodded, stopping and turning to his cousin. "Malcolm, have you noticed anything strange when dropping David off or picking him up? Anything... odd?"

"Odd?" Malcolm shook his head. "No... not at all. It's a school, Harry. It was my school."

Harry nodded. "When you were there... did you ever see anything..."

"Magical?" Malcolm laughed. "No, Harry. Nothing."

"Any... uneasy feelings around any of the faculty?"

"No, of course not!"

"Malcolm..." Marion tugged on his arm. "Tell them!"

"Marion..."

"What?" Harry's cool green gaze swept over both of them.

Malcolm sighed. "It's just kids, Harry. Really, it's nothing."

"Then there is no harm in telling me, is there?"

"David got into a spot of trouble... he's been... well, he's been unhappy there, and run off a couple of times. Then, well, the week before school ended for the term, in addition to being caught outside during classtime, he and some of the other boys... well..."

"Malcolm, this could be important."

"The boys call one of the teachers 'the witch'. Some of them say..."

"Say what?"

"That she brews potions in the cellars."

Harry, Hermione and all three Weasley's in the room exchanged glances.

"What kind of potions?" Hermione asked quietly.

"She's the bloody chemistry teacher, for God's sake!" Malcolm said. "They're kids. They say things like that without realizing..."

"What is the chemistry teacher's name, Malcolm?"

Malcolm sighed, glancing over at his son who was watching his father with wide eyes, then turned back to Harry and the others. "Mrs. Goyle. Millicent Goyle."

To my lovely readers, you're all more appreciated than you could possibly imagine. You have no idea of the boost I get from reading your reviews... please keep them coming!

First, I have to apologise. I know that this is an especially long chapter, but there just wasn't a good place to cut it. Things seem to be coming together nicely in the personal lives of our characters... it's probably time to shake things up a bit...Hang on... it's about to get rather bumpy!

CQ

CrazyPsychoBananaHead: I agree. But that will be the last one, I think. For this generation, anyhow!

Merlindamage: Malfoy has a role to play yet... hang in there!

Pdlegirl: How little it takes to make you happy! Ron & Hermione were predestined, absolutely! I like a good fluffy chapter every now and then, too... but now I think it's time we get back to business...

Shotgunn: Sorry to hear you've not been well. Hope it doesn't last long. Hey, Snape isn't the prat he is made to be in the books. He's a prat, just not quite as bad... and you're lovely, giving me that little compliment. However, I would have to admit that twenty-two was a few years ago... I actually started listening to Annie Lennox in my "early" teens!

Elise: Thanks!

James Milamber: Yeah, yeah... one of those things that my readers call a mistake and I call a clarification.... in actual fact, it came about because of a poor caffeine choice and writing at three in the morning, coupled with a breakdown in proofing... shoot me.

Larna Mandrea: One day, I will find out where you are and what you're doing. You seem to be online at the strangest times... and standardized testing on a Saturday morning? Ewww. I have a basic kneejerk shudder reaction whenever I hear the words "standardized testing".... it's the homeschooler in me, I guess!

CQ