A/N First off, this is one helluva chapter lengthwise, and I'm not sure how well it flows, but I really wanted to get the holidays over so I could get on with the plot. I actually wanted to include Minna and Nat's New Years knees up and Possibly some other stuff but it would have been ridiculous! At the moment it's also unbetead, so it will hopefully be improved fairly soon. Sorry for the wait, I hope the length makes up for it, and thanks to serelunaelf, sabrina-luna-ptter and Tom for reviewing. Only 3 more to get me to 40 reviews!

What's that?"asked Mouse indistinctly, through a mouthful of cereal.

Minna looked up from the letter she was reading, and at her expression he swallowed hastily, repeating his question.

Minna sighed heavily, for the fifth time in as many minutes.

"It's not really any of your business Mouse."

Nat lifted his from his converted copy of the Prophet.

"Is it mine?" He asked, his voice teasing as he reached out to Minna.

"Yeah, I could do with a second opinion. Mouse, give us five minutes?" said Minna, her voice still troubled.

Mouse nodded and got up from the table, making his way to his room. As he dropped on to his bed, Mouse thought back to the first time he'd ever been in to Nat and Minna's home. And a home it certainly was. A house on the other hand...

"Is it much further?" A 9 year old Scorpius had whined. There were a few houses near here, but if they were going to one of them, then why were they walking on the canal tow path?

Mouse bumped into Nat's back as his cousin stopped abruptly.

"What is it?" Mouse was confused.

Why have we stopped? The only thing near here is a boat...his jaw dropped as his cousin gracefully stepped down onto the deck of a navy blue narrowboat, winking at Minna, who tossed Nat some keys.

"Come on Mouse, let us give you the tour." Nat quipped and dropped down the steps into the cabin.

Mouse's eyes widened incredulously as took in the sight before him. He then ducked out of the cabin to check the exterior of the houseboat.

"Its...bigger on the inside! What?!" He asked Minna indignantly, who had burst into laughter at his exclamation.

"Nothing...well Muggle stuff." Minna managed to get out, once she had managed to get control of her laughter.

"Ignore the crazy half-blood Mouse. Besides, we're wizards, Undetectable Extension charms aren't exactly a new thing..." Nat said, playfully punching his cousin on the shoulder. "So, want the tour? Woman, get a hold of your self, it wasn't that funny!"

"Did you do all this?" Mouse asked, impressed.

"No, that's the crazy thing. You know Min always wanted to live on a barge or something?"

"Yeah?"

"Well we were looking around, and we found out this old wizard had just lost his wife, and didn't want to live here any more and since he couldn't sell it to Muggles, he gave us a really good deal."

"All we did was spruce it up a bit and add an extra room. Course, I can't exactly invite any of my old school mates over, but it's pretty amazing right?" Minna added as she came over to the cousins, and kissed Nat in a way which made Mouse look away hastily.

I know they love each other and stuff but do they have to kiss all the time?

Of course they hadn't gone completely over the top with the refurbishment, so it was only a little wider than it looked from the outside.

But even so, the whole effect was a cross between cosy and airy, and the whole thing came together to create a welcoming home. Some of the décor looked as if it might have been a little inspired by Ravenclaw Tower, but as Mouse reflected, it wasn't really surprising, considering Nat had spent a good 7 years of his life there.

A soft knock on the door interrupted Mouse's reminisces.

"Can I come in?" Nat called from outside.

"Sure. Give me second though..."

"I can't exactly see if your room's a tip, Mouse, as long I don't break my neck." Nat remarked dryly. Mouse quickly shoved his dirty clothes under his bed.

"Clear!" he called.

Nat came into the room, feeling his way towards the desk chair.

"So... I imagine you want to know what Min's letter was about?"

"Duh..."

Nat laughed.
"Fair enough. Well me and Minna had a good chat, and we reckon that as you both have a tendency towards 'foot in mouth' syndrome, her words, not mine, you need to know this." said Nat, unusually serious. "The letter was from Professor McGonagall, and she wants Minna to visit the mum of one of the Gryffindor first years. Apparently, this first year's mum isn't well, and doesn't want her to go back to Hogwarts"

"What!?"

And who?

"First I need you to swear you won't tell anyone, especially not your friends."

"Why? And why does Professor McGonagall want Minna to go?"

"Well... Thanks to Minna's unique upbringing, she's perfectly placed to try and convince the girl's mum, and since she spent three years living in the same city..."

"You mean...what, Sunderland?" Mouse's jaw dropped as the puzzle pieces dropped into place. The strange overheard conversation at King Cross, Becky's unwillingness to talk about her family, and her accent.

"You mean Becky's mum?"

Nat nodded slowly, a troubled frown creasing his face.

"Uh huh. The thing is, Ms Fletcher has something called bipolar disorder. It means that some times she get really depressed. But usually she's all right, as long as she takes her medication."

"So?"

"So, sometimes the meds don't always work, which is what happened last year, around the time Becky got her letter. And even though she's still seen proof of the wizarding world since, she doesn't feel like Becky should be at Hogwarts, and wants her to stay at home." Nat explained.

"But that's stupid! How can Becky learn magic at home?" Mouse said, explosively. He looked at Nat's resigned expression and his jaw dropped. "Becky's mum doesn't want her to learn magic?" Mouse said eventually, his voice hoarse. Nat nodded again, and sighed.

"It's really not ideal, but what can we do? At least Professor McGonagall seems to think that Minna might be able to persuade Ms Fletcher." Nat smiled wistfully, and ruffled his cousin's hair as he stood up. As he left, he turned back to Mouse. "Oh and hey, you have a visitor."

"A visitor?" Mouse asked cautiously.

Please don't let it be Grandfather...

It wasn't. A head of ridiculously messy black hair appeared round the side of Mouse's door, and a pair of bespectacled green eyes looked at him mischievously.

"Hey Mouse!" Albus Potter said, with enthusiasm.

"Oh. Hello Potter." Mouse said, in his best, cold, 'pureblood' voice.

"What's wrong with you?" asked Al, affronted.

"I thought we were supposed to be friends? But no, obviously a Potter is far too good to mingle with a Malfoy... no letters, no nothing?! What?" Mouse stopped abruptly, looked at the amused look on Albus' face.

"Scorpius Malfoy, you, sir, are a prat." Al said, shaking his head.

"What?"

"We didn't write, or post your present 'cause you were at Malfoy Manor you spanner! Hey, that rhymes."

"You're a poet and you didn't know it." replied Mouse dryly. "So when you say you didn't post it...? he trailed off hopefully.

"Here. Sorry it's late" said Albus, and threw a large, squashy but heavy package at Scorpius, who caught it neatly, and immediately tore off the wrapping paper.

"A jumper...thanks?" Mouse said, as he looked at the teal knitted sweater.

"Gran made it. Thinks it's great that we've 'been so kind to that poor boy'." Al said, mimicking Molly Weasley's voice. Mouse snickered, and lifted the jumper.

A jumper shouldn't way this much...he thought. Not even one this bulky...

He unfolded the jumper and grinned. Inside was a large box of Honeydukes finest, and a selection of the best Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes joke material. And a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, which was welcome...

but it's not very 'Albus' Mouse thought.

"Hey, thanks Al." Mouse said with a slightly puzzled grin.

"No probs. Oh, and the book's from Rosie and Becky, by the way." Al said, smirking.

"I didn't think you'd get me book – can you even read? I mean, your handwriting's bad enough." Mouse teased.

"Hey! Cocky git. Just cause you have a perfect bloody copperplate. Any way how've you been? Christmas with your Grandparents must've been awful. When you didn't write, me and Rose thought you'd been rumbled and they'd locked in the cellar."

"You shouldn't joke about that Al. People really have been locked in the cellar..." Albus gulped as Mouse continued. "But it wasn't too bad. And it's been pretty good since I got here. You should have seen how drunk Nat and Minna and their mates got on New Years..."

"Go on then. What was it like ? Drunken Singing? I bet it can't be as mad as our Boxing Day..."

As Mouse gleefully dished the dirt on the drunken antics of their professors and their professors' friends, and Albus attempted to outdo him, Mouse could feel his face sliding into the expression it usually wore around his friends. A happy grin, with just a little astonishment that anyone so firmly of the old 'Light' side would ever consider being friends with someone with such a Dark family history like the Malfoys'.

And I nearly thought it was just a show. Merlin knows I can be thick sometimes...

Minna looked up from what she was doing as a particularly loud thump came from Mouse's room, and winced half-rising from her seat.

"I hope that was nothing valuable..." she said, worried. Nat laughed breathlessly and brought her back to sit next to him.

"They'll be fine. And I believe that means you owe me..." As he turned his head, Minna took hold of his head and kissed him passionately.

Life is good. Nat thought muzzily, and returned his fiancée's kiss just as enthusiastically.

Two days later, Mouse was shaken awake from a confusing dream of unearthly music and whirling colours, to find a bleary eyed Minna shaking him awake.

"Whuzzit?" He asked, barely awake. As he sat up, Minna shoved a pair of jeans and a t-shirt at him. As she did, he noticed to things, well three actually.

"Minna, what are you doing, It's dark outside! And hang on, these aren't mine..."Mouse blinked at her as she stifled a yawn.

"I know they're not your clothes, but where we're going, you'll stand out in designer gear or robes." Min shivered and Mouse realised how pale she was and stifled a smirk.

I forgot how rubbish Min was at really early... Then he registered what Min had said.

"Wait, what? Where are we going?"

"Well if you don't want to see Becky?" Minna asked, and Mouse remembered the discussion they and Nat had had the evening Minna got her letter. Mouse had contacted Becky asking whether he could visit, and somehow, her Mum had agreed. He sat up, suddenly properly awake.

"We're not driving are we?" he asked as he pulled off his pyjama top and grabbed the t-shirt. Minna was about to leave the room to give Mouse some privacy, and now she shuddered dramatically.

"God no. In this weather it'd probably take about 8 hours. We, are taking the train."

Mouse tried not to show, how actually, he didn't mind that at all.

"A muggle one?" He asked casually "Won't that take ages? Besides, why can't apparate or Floo?"

"4 hours. And you know I can't apparate. Besides, we'll be Flooing back, and you know what Muggles are like, if they're being polite. It'll be all oh how was the trip, good journey, did you drive, and then we'll be like it, 'oh was instantaneous, but that's the benefit of magic', which if I'm right will go down brilliantly...so we're getting the train." Minna concluded, and left the room to allow Mouse to finish dressing, although he did think he heard her muttering, 'coffee, right now, I need coffee.'

Five or so hours later, they knocked on the rather battered door the Fletchers' house. As they waited, Mouse looked at the building where his friend had grown up.

It was a small, terraced bungalow, and although an attempt had been made to cheer it up with yellow paint, the paint on the windowsills was chipped and peeling, and weeds grew out of the pavement. It was, Mouse reflected, no wonder Becky had wanted to stay at Hogwarts.

The door swung open suddenly, and Mouse was shocked at how Becky looked. She looked exhaustion and there was a bruise on her cheek bone.

"Hey Mouse. S'pose you'll want to come in. Hello Professor." she said dully, and Minna who had been looking at her student in horror, shook her head and followed Becky in to the house.

Pleasantries, out of the way, Becky and Mouse were banished from the main room, where Minna was about to try and persuade Naomi Fletcher to allow her daughter to return to school.

"How are you Becky?" Mouse asked in an effort to break the awkward silence.

"Why are you here?" She replied, bluntly.

"What?"

"Mum's never gonna listen to Miss Min, is she? And I'll be stuck here for ages, going to a school with all me old bullies." Becky broke off, and her eyes looked suspiciously bright. Mouse smiled weakly at his friend and frowned.

"But you don't know Min, when she's really determined, it's...kind of scary" said Mouse, trying to reassure her. Becky smiled wanly, then sighed.

"I just wish we could hear what they were saying...what?" She asked Mouse, who had just broken into a huge grin.

"We might be able to," he said, dragging two flesh coloured pieces of string out of his pocket. "Extendible Ears – Christmas present from Al – s'pose it's helpful to have too Uncles work for the most successful wizarding joke shop in the country."

"Brilliant." Becky breathed, a real smile lighting her face for the first time since Mouse had got there, and so the two of them crept back out into the hall.

"...think you understand the potential consequences." Minna's voice came through the connection, clearly, and Mouse and Becky both shivered at the ice in her voice.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Becky's mum replied, defensively.

"I mean, I know how dangerous it can be for an untrained witch or wizard to to grow up without knowing how to use their gifts properly."

"Oh, yeah? And how would that be?" Ms Fletcher scoffed.

There was a pause, so long that Mouse thought for a second the Extendible Ears had broken, when Minna finally replied.

"Because I didn't know I was a witch until I was eighteen. And before then I nearly killed a boy I went to school with, with raw, untrained magic. Not to mention the ostracism I went through for being a freak." Minna spat. They heard an unsteady breath and Minna continued. "I nearly killed myself when I was sixteen, because I couldn't take it any more. Do you really want to put Becky through that? Because she's incredibly bright, and loyal to her friends. She's happy at Hogwarts."

There was another pause, and then Naomi Fletcher spoke again.

"You really think it would be that bad for her?" She asked, her voice wobbly.

"Worse, if anything. She knows who she is, she has a wand, and I can just imagine her trying to teach herself at home – which is illegal by the way."

"But, I need her here. No to mention, you look bloody happy for someone suicidal."

"I met someone. A special someone. Saved his life the day we met actually." Minna replied, and Mouse didn't need to see his cousin's fiancée to know she was smiling like an idiot. "He introduced me to this beautiful, crazy world, the world where your daughter belongs, Ms Fletcher. And as to your needing her, I'm sure some sort of special arrangement can be made so you can see her at more than holidays."

There was a strange noise then, and Mouse thought again that there was something wrong with the ears. Then he looked over at Becky and realised that the horrified stifled squeak had come from her. It seemed Minna had heard it as well, as she continued.

"Although, I have to say that the bruise on Becky's face seems a bit odd. Just where exactly did that come from?" said Minna, and again Mouse just knew her eyes would be flashing angrily, her voice full of steel.

"It, it was an accident!" Naomi Fletcher stammered. "Mike said – hang on are you accusing me of abusing my own daughter?"

"I'm not accusing you of anything. But I would be very curious as to whether Becky's had bruises like that before?." Minna asked faux-sweetly.

"I- I, Mike always said she fell! What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that's very interesting, and it'd certainly be very interesting to see what Social Services say. I'm sure a few of my contacts in the Ministry would be able to get something sorted pretty quickly."

"How dare you! What sort of a bloody teacher are you?"

"One who used to be a Journalist, actually. With a specialism in Human Interest stories. I can just see the headline now, can't you?"

"Alright! Alright! She can go back. Actually there's something I want to ask you."

Much later that evening, Nat looked up from the parchment he was marking, as he heard Minna open the door.

"How'd it go?" He asked, then frowned. There seemd to be something off with Minna and Mouse's footprints.

"Good." Minna replied, before Nat got a chance to work out what was bugging him, and she continued, her voice hiding an undercurrent of laughter. "Actually, it went better than good. Becky is going back to Hogwarts."

"And I'm staying with the Rose's family for the rest of the holidays, Professor! Oh hello, as well, sir." A young, exited voice said, and Nat laughed, throwing his head back.

"Hello, Becky. Blimey, Min, you really never do anything by half measures, do you?" He asked, rhetorically, but Minna answered him anyway.

"Nope." She said, popping the 'p'. "Mrs Weasley-Granger should be here any second to pick her up."

As if timed, the distinctive crack of Apparition came from outside, followed by a knock on the door, which Mouse darted to open.

"Hi Mrs Granger-Weasley!" Becky said beaming. "I've got all me stuff, so if you want we can go now."

Hermione blinked, a little surprised by the small whirlwind Becky seemed to have been transfigured into.

"Well, I"

"You sure you wouldn't want a cuppa before you leave?" Nat suggested. "After all, you were my boss for two years." Nat said, jokingly, and she smiled.

"I'd love that, actually. How've you been since well, you know?"Hermione said and sat down next to Minna, gratefully accepting hot drink.

As the adults caught up and chatted about dull things like politics and office work, Mouse and Becky slipped out of the boat onto the decking at the back, where Becky slumped down, suddenly exhausted. As she did, the revelations about both Becky and Minna's childhood almost pushed thoughts of the strange events of the last few months from his mind completely. Almost.

A/N so what did you think? I've also decided to a oneshot of the Halloween prank and publish it on the 31st, as it's now rather seasonal. :)

To make matters more amusing, Nat and Minnas' houseboat is also painted TARDIS blue, for clarification. Also, if you're curious about the reference to Nat and Minna's first Meeting referenced in this chapter, look up Scorpius Malfoy and the Birth of Mouse, it's series of drabbles that I intend to write, but only one chapter has been published so far, cause my life is mentally busy. Please don't forget to review! My question this chapter is, who do you want to see more of?