The Provisional Laws of Acquired Behavior or Learning
Authors Note: Updated the summary and as of the last chapter this is now the longest story in its category and I can't write accents worth cheese.
Disclaimer: I don't at this time own any published work of Sega or JK Rowling, if I did I'd gut the current Sonic fandom and only allow literate people to contribute cutting the fandom back by 90% and improving the quality by the same percentage.
Gryffindor Common Room, December 26th 1991
"Well ain't he the gosh darndest cutest little thing ah've evah seen" Miles blushed pink and ducked into Maurice's side wrapping the long robe around him like a blanket with his head peeking out like an owl mumbling a thank you shyly. Bunnie was sitting on one the armchairs combing Susan's auburn hair carefully while Susan was sitting up straight and trying to remain as still as possible through the brushing.
Miles was wearing one of Maurice's oversized warm winter blue jumpers and a pair of running trousers resized to him, as he'd found it cold in Hogwarts. He was also wearing one of Bunnie's yellow and excessively woolly Quidditch scarves wrapped around him like a headdress of some eastern origin.
"Well, his parents are away so I'm looking after him." An understatement and a lie by omission considering Miles parents were missing and presumed dead considering the mess in that basement.
"That's so nice of you" cooed Bunnie causing a pink blush of embarrassment to dust Maurice's own cheeks.
Just then an owl soared into the common room through the open window holding a lopsided package in its talons and landed in front of Maurice with a put upon hoot.
Disentangling the package from the owl it promptly left the way it came not waiting for a reply. Maurice checked the address on the letter "It's a late Christmas present from Sophie to us"
"I'm a bit busy" Susan spoke as Bunnie brushed her hair aggressively in warning "Why don't you open it for me"
Maurice shrugged and tore into the paper, revealing "Who likes chocolate? Because we're going to be sick of it by the time Easter rolls round" A extra large bonus pack of chocolate frogs containing fifty Chocolate Frogs.
"I thought you didn't like chocolate frogs" remarked Susan as Maurice handed them out and then opened one for himself. "I don't like animated chocolate" Maurice corrected grabbing a nearby bowl and stuffing the surprised chocolate amphibian into it putting a lid on it and proceeding to heat the bowl over a candle.
Maurice picked up the card that came with the package and read its contents "Apparently Sophie wishes us a Merry Christmas and is currently at the Sky Patrol Task Force's training grounds having fun learning about them, she also offers her congratulations to Susan for her ascension to royalty." There was a brief silence.
"Who's Celestina Warbeck?" Asked a chocolate smeared Miles who had taken to rummaging through the rapidly growing pile of chocolate frog cards.
"She's a famous singer, I heard she's visiting Hogwarts soon to encourage new talent" spoke Neville around his own chocolate frog.
Then Maurice grinned gesturing with his arms in the air as if unrolling a banner "I can see it now 'Neville and the Boomers'"
Neville blushed and retorted "And what would your band be called then, Mr. Dude-itude?
"I'm partial to The Underground myself" responded Maurice with a grin not missing a beat.
"More like Dreamboat Express, ah can jus see the silver sequins" murmured Bunnie to Susan eying the boys causing both to muffle snickers.
The boys eyed the giggling girls warily so Maurice decided to change the subject he turned to Susan "So you're a princess now?" Spoke Maurice gesturing at the parchment on the table as Miles quietly ate some porridge warily eying the girls for any surprise check pinching that Maurice had teased him about on the run to Hogwarts.
Susan's gaze became remarkable fixed on an interesting far point of the wall "It hasn't been announced yet, I only got to read Aunties letter this morning"
"And how do you feel about that?" Maurice poked not able to decipher Susan's expression.
Susan half shrugged before sighing "Conflicted I guess, it's just been Auntie and me, I didn't know she was even seeing someone and this princess stuff… did you know they're sending over an etiquette tutor? On the 28th" Susan didn't really know what to say about that, was there actually protocol for becoming magical royalty already in place for this situation or was Amelia just making it up as she went along?
"I read" Maurice again pointed at the parchment.
Bunnie chirped "Ahm now hairdresser to ah princess, mah life is strange" a subtle tug of the hair brush a reminder to Susan to stay still so she could do her job
"Um this one is in a different language?" Spoke Miles handing the card to Susan meanwhile Maurice read the back of the package "Huh it's a international edition"
"Ryotaro Tanaka" read Susan aloud "Chaser and Captain of the Japanese National Quidditch Team famed for passing the tryouts and joining the team at age twelve. At age thirteen Ryotaro Tanaka currently attends the Japanese premier magic school Mahoutokoro"
Maurice spoke "I didn't know you knew Japanese"
Susan smiled "I don't actually if you tap the back they swap through languages"
"All I need is Yardley Platt then that'll be my collection complete" stated Neville with a grin.
"You can always trade with Ron Weasley when he comes back, I heard his collection is massive and includes the entire international extended edition, the perks of having world traveling brothers." Interjected Blaise, having been quietly practicing his throwing technique on a corner wall with his shuriken and kunai.
"Well I'm not much for collecting things" Maurice dropped the cards in a delighted Mile's lap.
Just then Susan straightened her posture with a jerk wariness entering her tone "Did anyone figure out why the teachers didn't miss us, yesterday?"
"-And how did they not notice the third-floor corridor caving in?" supplied Neville idly attention half on the group and half on chocolate.
"That was nawt mah fault" Bunnie stated her face impassive though her eye gained a persistent twitch as though she'd repeated herself a dozen times. Susan flinched as her hair now in an exquisite multilayer Celtic braid was harshly tugged as Bunnie put the last clip in.
"An unholy combination of a magical alcohol-fuelled magical Christmas party gone wrong and really easily biddable House Elves willing to keep the booze flowing?" Blaise offered wryly.
Having been in another dimension at the time Maurice wanted to ask what he'd missed in the hours he'd been missing, he really, really did, but then Miles squirmed into his side with dewy eyes with a sudden request for a snowball fight and his focus shifted.
Hogwarts Great Lake Shore
"Gotcha!" Shouted Susan gleeful as Maurice hopped away with a shriek and freezing snow sliding down his robe. Bunnie laughed rearming herself with a snowball and attempted to pelt Neville in the face with it.
Miles giggled then shrieked as Maurice mock charged in him in retaliation burying the laughing child up to his knees in a show drift, Maurice's eyes widened as he felt himself skid on the icy ground, over the small embankment and into the lake which was at this point frozen solid.
Getting his balance Maurice began to cautiously skate and slide around on the ice, "Hey the lake is completely frozen solid come on over!"
"I don't know how to ice skate!" Shouted Susan over the distance with Miles right beside her cheering Maurice on. "I'll teach you then!" Maurice shouted back gleefully spinning on the ice. Heading back to shore rapidly Maurice used the momentum to jump the embankment doing a forward flip and landing on his feet in front of Susan holding out a hand to her. "Come on, I'll show you how" Susan felt her face warm at his carefree grin and gave in with a smile "Ok but if I fall I'm pulling you down with me"
"I'd never let you fall Sue" spoke Maurice sincerely and for a moment of silence neither knew what to say to each other until Susan felt a tug at her sleeve looking at Miles who was bashfully trying to get her attention "Can I learn too?"
Susan didn't get to reply as Maurice scooped Mile up into the air and stood him on the ice carefully beside him "Of course you can little bro before you know it you'll be skating rings around even me"
"Oi, Sugar! Race you to the other side of the lake, most tricks before the finish line wins" Bunnie had gone on the ice behind him and was doing her own sweeping spins and jumps earning her own cheering section in Miles. Maurice grinned and turned to Neville "You want to come with?" Neville shook his head "I was actually going to pick some water plants from the shore and according to Bunnie I'm the judge of the race"
"Wheeeeheeheeeee!" Laughed Miles as Bunnie propelled Maurice's little bro around the lake as fast as she could "Look at me brother! I'm ice skating! This is really fun!"
Maurice laughed surprised and pleased at how fast he'd picked it up and hollered back "Just remember to look where you're going!"
Spotting Susan tentatively stepping on the ice Maurice skated closer grasping her hands and pulling her forward with a yelp "Maurice don't I'm going to fall!" "Not while I'm here, come on move your legs about its really easy once you get the hang of it." Slowing to a near stop but still moving Maurice leaned close "Open your eyes Sue" Susan gasped as he pulled her through a slow circuit of the icy lake "Maurice, thanks" he grinned a tilted his head towards Bunnie and Miles. "Feeling up to joining that race?" Susan laughed "Maybe after more practice" Bunnie skated past the two with Miles held over her head in both arms screaming joyfully "Wheeee!" causing Susan and Maurice to chuckle "A lot more practice."
Gryffindor Common Room
Maurice smiled as Miles snoozed curled up on the large sofa in the common room closest to the roaring fire, exhausted from playing in the snow all day, Pulling a blanket over the kid careful of waking him up Maurice smiled warmly happy that Miles wasn't letting what had happened to him pull him down, indeed Miles had bounced back from tragedy with a vengeance.
Just then Susan entered the common room quietly approaching the duo smiling warmly at the sleeping Miles. "He's really tired himself out"
Maurice smiled "Today was fun"
"Sooo-" Susan's nervous tone perked Maurice's curiosity, dimming his smile.
"-I was wondering if you wanted to go skating again"
That surprised Maurice "Now?" it was nearly midnight!
Susan nodded firmly "Now"
Maurice looked at the sleeping Miles, not even a cannon blast charm would wake him up sleeping that deeply "Okay then let's go"
Secret Clubhouse – Name Pending
Susan pushed open the exit door to the school grounds, the overhang appearing full of glimmering ice spears, the harbor water was frozen solid. Light refracting off every icy surface from the few enchanted torches dotted around the entrance and the pier.
The lake here was also frozen solid as if made of polished white marble "Its beautiful isn't it" Susan lowered herself to the ice taking a careful lap on the ice, joined by Maurice a second later.
"Yes, it is" the duo circled each other on the ice for a few minutes before Maurice spoke up "What's wrong Susan?" The use of her first name caused Susan to shake "Sue?"
"Tomorrow it all changes" She spoke "I'll be a princess, everything I do and say will be judged"
"Not until the students come back" Maurice reminded her lightly.
Susan ignored him and looked beseechingly into his green eyes "What if I mess it all up?"
Maurice moved closer placing a hand on her shoulder meeting "Then we'll still be here for you. Bunnie, Neville, Miles.. and me, If you mess up then we'll pull you back to your feet. If someone's mean to you then we'll be right there hexes at the ready. You're our friend Sue, You're my first friend and my best friend"
Susan gave a watery smile.
"Us too y'hear" Yawned a voice from the bank startling the two who looked over to see Bunnie and a blearily eyed Neville who looked half awake.
"I thought you were asleep?" Questioned Susan surprised and slightly embraced.
Neville answered with a yawned explanation "Miles wanted hot chocolate and couldn't find you, then found me instead, woke me up, we woke Bunnie up and we went looking for you" Bunnie skated on the ice gathering the surprised Susan into a hug which was joined by Maurice and Neville.
"We were ere first, Dalin. No one judges ya without hankering fer a good ol thumping from us" Susan shook as she found herself in a group hug the group went down in a heap on the ice courtesy of Neville.
Returning to the common room together Bunnie and Neville split saying they were going to sleep Maurice merely nodded going over to the drowsy looking Miles who was sipping a large mug of hot chocolate.
"Are you my aunt?" Susan startled at Miles question.
"What makes you ask?"
"Well, You and big brother like each other, so.."
Susan blushed very lightly as did Maurice, the firelight making it look as if a trick of the light.
"It's true!" Miles accused pointing at her face.
Susan smiled softly ruffling Miles hair fondly causing him to squawk in dismal "If you want me to be your Aunt Susan then I'd be honored"
"You didn't answer my question" Miles whined indignantly.
"Oooh, is that hot chocolate, yummy!" Spoke Maurice gleefully picking up Miles mug neatly distracting the kid.
"Big brother! That's my hot chocolate!" Maurice and Miles descended into friendly bickering.
London
Angelina Johnson hummed as she unraveled the odd cheese wheel patterned paper packaging on the parcel, having gathered the courage to investigate the present from the Weasley twins, she was surprised to find a large egg the size of an ostrich's egg. It was completely white apart from a light yellow dusting on the top and large blue spots all over, now confused at the odd gift Angelina picked up the card and read it aloud "Introducing Weasley patented companion, the next step up in low maintenance pets, If treated well the companion will live forever." Reading the rest of the manual then looking at the egg then the packaging she stated seriously "When you hatch I think I'll call you Cheese" Angelina laughed and continued to put away the moving boxes.
Gryffindor Common Room, December 27th
"Aunt Su? I painted you a picture" Mile presented the picture proudly a smudge of purple paint of his cheek. The painting was of a colossal willow tree as if the viewer was standing beneath its vast trailing branches looking up.
"Oh that's beautiful, you are very talented Miles" commented Susan very impressed at the painting. "Thanks! Big Brother helped me make it by charming the oil paint to behave for me" Magical oil paint named so for its enchant-ability tended to result in paintings that mirrored how the user through the end result should look, real masterpieces required strict mental acuity to create something nice, making it all the more impressive that a child had managed to create this, opposed to an eighty-year-old professional wizard painter.
Miles blushed and explained "It's the Whomping Willow that Mr. Ninja Detective Blaise told me about, I thought you could put it in the clubhouse"
"Nrk!" Susan suppressed a laugh at Blaise's new title, something that Maurice had no doubt put him up to "I have a better idea, let's make it the door guardian"
Miles tilted his head to the side in though "Mr. Ninja Detective Blaise said that the real one stops moving if you press the big knothole at the bottom"
Susan smiled eyes on the painting "There's an idea, Miles can you go grab Maurice and the others."
The Secret Clubhouse – Name?
"For too long our clubhouse and retreat from the other students has gone unnamed, now with the assistance of Miles Bluewind I give you our newly christened secret clubhouse" With a wand swish the ribbon cut and the drape fell from the entryway revealing the now animated wizard painting of the Whomping Willow which began shaking violently shaking in its frame.
"Welcome to The Knothole as painted by Miles Bluewind" Susan poked the large knot on the tree with her wand, the tree froze and the painting swung inwards. Maurice, Bunnie, Neville, Blaise, and Fred cheered "Well done Little Brother" complemented Maurice as the group gathered around to inspect the painting.
