AN; Sorry that this took so long, I've been concentrating on my novel. This is a short chapter; I felt the need to wrap up the last chapter. It'll probably be followed by another short chapter, then the climax and an epilogue. Yes! The end is in sight. I'm hoping to have the next short chapter up in a couple of weeks.

They woke up to a blanket of fresh snow. Kiki barrelled down the stairs and almost ran straight out the door before Hermione caught her.

'Snowsuit,' Hermione signed. She knew it was no use to try and get Kissara to do her morning routine before she got the chance to play in the thick snow. Plus, this being England, chances were that snow would be mud by the end of the day.

Kissara hurriedly dressed and Hermione had just enough time to shove a toque on her head before Kissara vaulted into the snow, landing face first. The girl sat up and laughed, brushing the snow off her face. Hermione smiled.

Another set of footsteps descended the staircase. Hermione didn't turn to see who it was and found herself stiffening when a hand reached around her waist. Hermione quickly grabbed the retreating hand and pulled Bellatrix closer. She would need to get used to the casual contact. Hermione leaned into Bellatrix. The older woman nuzzled into her neck.

"Sorry," She mumbled.

Hermione traced the hand around her waist. "You just startled me, is all."

The women stood and watched as Kissara leaped through the snow.

A black figure soon appeared in the treeline Hermione took a step forward, drawing her wand. Yellow eyes flashed. Bellatrix tightened her hold on Hermione.

"Wait."

The large dark cryptid slowly walked towards Kissara. Its gait was candid. As soon as the little girl noticed the massive beast, she charged at it. She jumped onto the tailypo's side. There was a pause before the creature pretended to have been knocked over. Kiki giggled and snuggled into the fur.

Hermione forced her muscles to relax.

"I'm going to go contact Rosie." Bellatrix pecked Hermione on the shoulder and left to find a mirror.

Hermione kept her eyes trained on the pair as they rolled around in the snow. Kissara ran to her treehouse and climbed up. She came back down with a crudely wrapped package. It was wrapped in used scraps of differently colored Christmas wrapping paper.

The package was about the size of a football and Kissara was struggling to climb down the ladder with it. About halfway down she decided to drop the package, it sunk heavily into the snow. The tailypo sniffed at the package, then looked back to Kissara. It watched her as she came back down and scooped up the package. The girl presented it to the tailypo. The cryptid watched the sphere for a bit. It then took the package, its big mouth making it seem more like a tennis ball. It just held it. Kissara reached out and pulled on a little piece of wrapper, ripping it. The tailypo dropped the package and began gently tearing the paper.

Hermione shuddered at its intelligence. Coupled with the strength it oozed and the length of those sharp claws and teeth… The beast was terrifying.

Something touched her shoulder. Hermione jumped, she turned to see Bellatrix, pulling her hand away.

"Sorry," Bellatrix mumbled. "Rosie answered."

Hermione shook her head, "Again, my bad." She looked back to the two outside. The tailypo was now chewing on a large orange ball. It looked like a dog toy. Where did she get that? "What did Rosie say?"

"That it's bloody weird but it happens."

"What happens?"

"A cryptid will just decide that it likes a person then follow it around."

"That's not really comforting."

Bellatrix took in a breath to rebut but she looked at her daughter. The tailypo was about thrice her size. "I know."

"So… We just keep an eye on it?"

"It would seem so."

"Think we could ask it to notify us when it arrives."

Bellatrix snorted. "It's worth a shot."

"I can't believe it followed her all the way from Canada."

"Wanna go play in the snow?"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't be a baby, I know you have a snowsuit."

Bellatrix took her hand and led her to the closet.

Hermione really wanted to lie down and nap, but the smile on Kissara's face, when they joined her outside, was worth it.

The morning sped by. Next thing she knew, Hermione was outside the Burrow, unsuccessfully trying to convince her parents that the Weasley's home was, in fact, a stable structure.

"What is holding it up?" Her mother asked.

"Sticks and stones. School glue. A little magic and lots of faith."

"Bellatrix!"

There was a crack. They turned to see who had arrived. Tonks and Andy made their way to them. Teddy chose to barrel towards his cousin. The two crashed into each other and tumbled to the ground, laughing.

"Tonks." Hermione addressed her as she was the only one the Grangers had known before being shipped off to Australia. "Is the Burrow safe?"

"Of course it is!" Tonks wrapped an arm around Hermione. "It won't topple. Trust me they raise six sons in that thing. If it was to fall, Fred and George would've done it by now."

Tonks's confident smile and Hermione's puppy dog eyes must have finally convinced them as they agreed to start moving towards the tower of a house.

Hermione glanced behind them when she noticed they were missing a couple heads of curls. She spotted the two Black sisters step out of an embrace before turning to follow the group. Hermione smiled and turned her attention back to the door ahead of them.

The door opened and golden light poured out from the inside. Molly scooped up both kids in her arms, giving them each a big kiss before letting them down to say hello to the rest of the group behind her. Molly gave Andy, Tonks, and Hermione big hugs before greeting the Grangers. The matriarch even sent a curt nod to Bellatrix, who was doing her best to blend into the wall, acknowledging her presence before turning back to her family.

Hermione looked around the room. It was certainly one of the quietest family dinners in the Burrow. Not all the Weasleys were present. The family was still divided, but Molly had made up her mind, and some of those who did not feel strongly about the situation had fallen in step behind her, notably, Arthur. And of course, Ginny was there. Hermione gave her a tight hug, her eyes leaked, and she took in a deep breath. Everything would be alright.