A/N: ok, many thanks to the people who reviewed. Your input is much appreciated! D Hopefully this chap will throw some light on what the hell Eva was thinking!

(Once again, italics signify thoughts, only Eva's thoughts this time)

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. I am just playing in JKR's universe J

Keeping It in the Family

Eva Carmichael whistled the theme song to "Singing in the rain" cheerfully as she swung up the street. It had been a good day at the hospital, and even standing in the rain for fifteen minutes until the bus deigned to arrive had not dampened her mood.

As she made her way homeward, she fell to musing over the strange phone call she had received at work that day from her sister and her daughter. Apparently, they had some wildly exciting news to tell her which couldn't possibly wait, and could she "please come home immediately?"

Eva had laughed, told Dani not to go outside without a raincoat on, and requested they kept some Shepard's Pie back for her to eat later, before hanging up and returning to ward D15 and work.

She decided the fact their mysterious news had kept her guessing all day when things got dull was a fact that they really did not need to know.

The lights of their cottage shone out to her like a beacon as she drew closer towards it. This was her favourite part of the day, coming home to her "family" after work, knowing they would always be safe and secure in their home. It meant a lot to Eva, that knowledge. Clicking the gate shut with her heel, she pulled out her key and opened the door.

Eva had barely arrived when she met a glowing Dani in the hall. Her eyes were shining, and she broke into a large smile upon seeing Eva.

"Mum! Thank God you're back; I have the most unbelievable News!"

Eva kissed her daughter. "Hello to you too, Dani."

"Eva!" Kat arrived promptly in the hall. "The most amazing thing happened today! Apparently-"

"No!" Danielle exclaimed. "You have to let me tell."

Eva looked at both of them. They had the gleeful look of two children who were about to rip into a big Christmas present, bouncing around like two excitable puppies. Both seemed unaware of the identical grins they seemed unable to wipe from their faces- it was making her smile to see them.

They all trooped back into the house, Kat heading to get her caffeine fix in the kitchen. Dani perched herself in the armchair, sitting regally upright like a queen, and prepared to drop her bombshell.

"I'll give you three guesses!"

"Tell me honey. I couldn't possibly guess…." Eva coaxed her daughter. By now, she was wildly curious as to what type of news had unsettled everyone so much.

"Well, you'll never believe this, but I swear it's true…..I'm a witch! There's a special school I've been accepted into and everything!"

She sat back and beamed, looking exactly like that cat must have looked upon finding out he had gotten the cream.

Eva's brain froze, and then went into super fast panic mode. Witch. Magic. Wizard. Dean…Oh bloody hell! I can't do this, not here, not now…" All the bad memories Eva had kept hidden away came flooding back to her. Every bad decision, every angry word… and what would Dani say, if she found out her own mother had lied to her? She'll never trust me again-she mustn't find out! She can't go to that school place! I

Worked so hard to raise her on my own, I will not let her go; I CAN'T let her go…

Dani's enthusiastic ramble concerning Info Packs and pillow fights and people vanishing into thin air came to an abrupt halt when she realised her mother was not taking in a word of it.

"Mum? Are you Ok? You look…shocked. You've gone awfully white-Mum? MUM!"

Eva walked unsteadily across the room and sat shakily down. She could not quite register what she was being told- the suddenness of it had shocked her into silence. To be reminded of-that-after all these years…

"Dani, I'm very tired, I've - had a hard day at work…you should go to bed, we'll talk about this in the morning, ok?" Eva's tone was soft, almost pleading, and had a misty, detached sound to it.

She hoped her daughter would just go. She needed to buy time, before Danielle derived a conclusion concerning her father. She saw a surprised look cross Dani's face-Eva had never shut her out emotionally before, when she needed most to talk.

"Mum, I thought we could…are you really feeling ill?"

Eva could not meet her daughter's eyes. "Very ill, one of those twenty-four hour things- probably picked it up at work…" She murmured.

Dan shrugged. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. 'Night."

Eva now felt horribly guilty. What sort of Mother am I, to lie to my child? She looks so hurt and disappointed, and I can't bear that!

"Dani-wait!"

Dani turned, smiling. Eva's courage failed her. It was most likely she wouldn't still be smiling after the truth was revealed.

Hating herself, she stammered "Oh - um- sleep tight, sugar."

Danielle smiled tightly, and resumed her walk to the door. Just before she left the room, however, she turned. "By the way, Mum, I was wondering, do you think it's possible my dad's a wizard? I, mean, I must have got the magical gene from somewhere- you do believe me, don't you? This magic thing is real, it isn't a joke."

Oh, no. OH NO. NONONO! BLOODY NO! Not this question. I don't have an answer to this question!

Eva looked anywhere but at her daughter. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "Well, I wouldn't know sugar. You don't generally exchange personal information when you have a one-night stand. And of course I believe you!" She tried to smile in a light, joking way. It didn't work. Dani shot her a dubious look and left the room.

She kept the fake smile on until she heard the sound of Dani's bedroom door closing upstairs, then she flopped back on the sofa and buried her head in the cushion. "This is like the scenario from hell," she mumbled.

"I've heard even those can get worse."

Eva gaped and yanked her head up. Kat was standing in front of her, arms crossed. She must have heard every word. "You and I need to have a little talk."

Eva faced her little sister, and waited for her to start her rant. She knew she deserved everything Kat would throw at her - after all, hadn't she lied to Kat too?

Surprisingly, Kat did not rant. Very, very calmly she asked "So? Is this why you broke up? Got unengaged? Because he was a wizard and you couldn't handle it? Cos you forgot to mention that tiny little detail at the time, Sis. Is it true? Is it?"

Eva stared at her hands. "Yes." It was almost liberating to admit it, as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Kat pursed her lips. "I lied for you."

Miserably, Eva nodded.

"You lied to me-yes you did!" Kat shot down Eva's excuse and jumped up. She began pacing. "I did nothing but cooperate with your wishes, against my will, even! I lied to Dani, just because you were too cowardly to face your demons!" Her voice was steadily increasing in volume.

"She's my daughter! It's my responsibility to make the decisions!" Now Eva was yelling.

"Who are you? And what did you do with my sister? I think you should tell Dani about the situation-" - Eva made a despairing gesture, but Kat ploughed on - "And I think you should contact Dean and his family, and talk about this!"

Even while yelling, Kat had kept her composure. In contrast, Eva's face was tinged pink with anger. She defiantly answered Kat.

"There is no point contacting Dean! No point at all!"

"WHY NOT!"

"Because he doesn't know she exists!"

A gasp sounded from the hall, followed by the sound of glass shattering.

Dani sat on the stairs, wide-eyed, tousle-haired, with a small cut on her hand where the broken water glass had pierced her skin.

A/N: I think I'll leave it there!

I tried to make this chap longer than the other two, as they were kinda on the short side.

As always, r&r if you have any comments…