"Welcome to our humble home," Mary Macdonald said with a smile as she led the others to her house. It was the day before New Year's and Mary had invited them to spend the day at her house.

The house was a small cottage built of dark gray stone. Its appearance would have been gloomy if not for the cheerful additions of snowmen in the yard (holding wands and wearing pointed hats) and the happy voices of many girls.

"This is my mum," Mary said, hugging a very tall and stately looking woman.

"Hallo pets," Mrs. Macdonald said kindly. Her face, lined but jovial, broke into a smile as she embraced her daughter. "The others are in the house. Lari is home with the girls," she added to Mary.

Mary's entire person seemed to grin. "Lari's here? I'm so glad. I haven't seen her in ages."

"Then go on in, pet." Mrs. Macdonald looked at the others. "Go on, everyone. The girls are inside."

Mary led them into the small cottage. Lily was surprised to see how roomy it was, something that wasn't obvious from its tiny exterior. "Enlarging spells," Marlene whispered, noticing the surprised look upon Lily's face.

They walked past a small kitchen where three girls were seated. Lily recognized a few of them.

"This is my sister Nati. She's two years behind us at Hogwarts," Mary explained while she hugged her sister. Nati was a tall brunette with her gently waved hair falling down onto her face.

"Ooh I know you!" Sirius said happily. "We went to Hogsmeade together last year."

"Yes, we did." Nati nodded calmly.

"And you ditched me for that Ravenclaw boy, that prefect." Sirius's handsome face turned downward. "That wasn't very nice."

She laughed. "Sorry Sirius. Let's think of it this way, it saved me from you breaking my heart."

"Ach well…" Sirius grinned at her, "We may have to rectify that first date."

Nati rolled her eyes but looked pleased. A small cough came from the little girl beside her.

Mary smiled at her youngest sister. "This is Fay. She's not at Hogwarts yet but she will be soon."

Fay was a brunette, like her two older sisters. She had a thin face that would someday grow into a great beauty.

"Hi," said the future beauty quietly.

"Hello Fay," the others chorused, smiling at her.

"And this is Della. She's in 6th year." Mary placed her arm gently around Della's shoulders. Della was a pale beauty, stunning to look at but also haunting. There was an element of mystery around her, something that no one could completely place. The other girls, though all pretty, didn't have the stunning beauty of Della. It was obvious that Della was the most beautiful of the nine Macdonald girls.

Della gave them a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Do you know where Lari is?" Mary asked.

"She's with the twins in the den," Nati replied.

They left Mary's three sisters, all of whom were in various states of relaxation. Fay had been drawing while Nati read. Della had been staring out the window, looking unseeingly before her.

The den was also small but cheerful. Mary's entire house could fit into the foyer of James's and yet both were pleasant. Mary's was quaint, small and loving. James was large but equally filled with love.

"Lari!" Mary shouted when she saw her.

She had dirty blonde hair that fell down to her waist. Her eyes were deep pools of chocolate. Her small hands held the even smaller hands of two little girls.

"This is my oldest sister, Lari, and her two daughters. That's Abby and that's Gabby." Mary grinned, hugging her nieces.

Remus was the first to speak. "Er hello," he said with a small grin.

Lari smiled at him warmly. "Hey everyone. It's lovely to meet you all but you'll have to excuse me. It's time for my witches' nap." She laughed as the two little girls, both blonde like their mother, tried to run away and play. Sirius caught one of them and James the other.

The girls looked up at them beneath their long eyelashes. "You've got some flirts, here," James said with a grin.

"Oh definitely. But I'll save you lot from falling in love with them," Lari laughed, scooping the girls into her arms. "I'll see you later, Mary." She kissed her sister's cheek.

"If you see Caty, Ela, Carling, or Ads can you tell them I'm home?" Mary asked, sitting down upon the floor near the fireplace.

Lari nodded as she left, leaving the boys in a state of awe.

"She's married," Mary said warningly but with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Damn," Sirius muttered.

Remus laughed. "You can't have all the Macdonald sisters, Paddy. You've got
Nati for a date, leave one for me!"

The others sat down around the small room, gazing around at the place where Mary was raised.

"It's small, I know. But it's home." She smiled. "It's nice to come back."

"Is that my Mary I hear?" A voice called out.

"Caty!" Mary squealed, running with open arms to her sister. They embraced for a moment before Mary turned to the others. "Do you remember Catherine? She finished last year."

Catherine hugged James, grinning at him. "How goes the team, Potter?" She asked. Catherine had played Seeker.

"It's alright. I have to play Seeker though. No one's near as good as you are."

Catherine giggled, hugging Sirius next. "Breaking many hearts, Sirius?"

"Of course!" He grinned at her. Sirius and Catherine had had a fling last year. It had ended quickly but left them as good friends.

Three more girls walked in, resulting in more hugging.

"Carling, Adelcia, and Athela," Mary explained in between hugs.

"But we prefer to be called Carrie, Ads, and Ela." The youngest looking one said. "I'm Carrie, first year." She had curly strawberry blonde hair and a handful of freckles sprinkled across her face.

"Ela, second." Athela had the same colored hair as Carling but it was much shorter and straighter. Her face was thinner and lacked the freckles.

"And I'm Adelcia." The boys gave Adelcia an appreciative look. Her long brown hair was curled at the ends, giving her an air of kindness somehow. Her face was thin like Athela's and had the same mysterious eyes as Della. "I'm a 4th year."

"You're in the Slug Club, right?" Lily asked, referring to the small group of students Professor Slughorn patronized.

Adelcia nodded. "I hate it though."

"Me too," Lily rolled her eyes. "I just don't want to lose my grade."

"Likewise," Adelcia smiled at her. Lily knew she had found a fellow ally, someone she could now talk to during those dreadfully boring dinner-meetings that were held once a month.

Mary smiled as her other sisters walked in, creating a loud but happy atmosphere. The room was spilling over with laughter as the girls entertained their guests with stories.

Lily sat beside Adelcia, exchanging horror stories of dealing with the Slug Club. James was talking Quidditch strategy with Catherine and Nati. Remus, Marlene, and Fay were laughing wildly as Carling entertained them with her parodies of the professors. Lari sat beside Mary and spoke quietly with her sister, loving the closeness. Even Lavina, who had tagged along from lack of anything better to do, was enjoying herself, talking to Athela about clothes and gossip. Only Della sat apart from everyone, though not physically. Della's haunting near-black eyes stared out the window. Sirius was watching her, though she didn't notice it.

"Do you still fancy Sirius?" Lari asked quietly, looking at Mary.

Mary shook her head. "No… I've realized that, while he's a brilliant mate, he'd make a crap boyfriend. I'm alright with our flirty fun."

"Does Nat realize he'd be crap as a boyfriend?"

"I think so. I talked to her about it before the holidays, when I told her I was over my crush. Caty and I both did."

"Good. I'm glad you did. Nat's smart. She only thinks it'd be fun to go out with him for a laugh and a story."

"I'm glad she's smart." Lari looked at Sirius, who was still staring at Della. "He seems to be interested in Del."

Mary didn't reply, she was too busy watching Sirius watch Della.

Sirius gazed at her, watching Della's aloofness with a sort of tenderness. He walked over to her after a few more minutes, plopping himself down comfortably beside her.

"You don't mind, do you?" He asked with the smile that usually won over any girl.

Della shrugged, still looking out the window at the snow.

"So you're behind us a year?" Sirius said, looking at her.

She nodded, not speaking.

"Do you not talk?"

Della gave him a piercing look. "I talk."

"Just not to me?"

"Basically."

"Why's that?"

"Because."

"Is two words your maximum statement? Because the longest thing I've heard form you is 'I talk'." He spoke teasingly.

"Maximum is three." She finally looked at him, her eyes smiling a little.

"See, I knew you could do it. I'm bloody proud of you, Della. You can talk."

Della rolled her eyes and turned away from him.

Sirius attempted conversation a few more times before giving up. There was something about her, something aloof that kept him wanting to find out much, much more about her.