Chapter Twenty-Three: Hill-Walkers’ Breakfast

Chapter Twenty-Three: Hill-Walkers' Breakfast

Malcolm rolled over onto his left side and groaned. He had opened the draperies on his east-facing windows before he'd gone to bed, and now he regretted it. Dawn light was shimmering gently through the many diamond panes of the windows, and he closed his eyes tightly against it. He remembered the hill-walking, though, and the glorious feeling of the cool, damp, fresh air entering his lungs, and the early morning sun making every blade, leaf, and petal stand out, bright and vibrant. Rolling over onto his back, Malcolm stretched, reaching his arms above his head and grasping the headboard as he stretched out his legs and wiggled his toes.

Throwing off the covers, he bounded from the bed and, shivering slightly as the cool air hit his naked body, he crossed the room, unlatched the window, and leaned out. Frost glittered across the grounds, and Malcolm grinned. It was a clear, magnificent morning. By the time he and Johannes left for their walk, the sun would have brought the frost to a sparkling dew. He could tell the areas where Johannes had cast strong microclimate charms, protecting the gardens from the cold night air, since they lacked the frosty sheen of the rest of the grounds.

Shivering even more from the cold breeze, Malcolm closed the window and Summoned his heavy, dark-green terrycloth robe from the wardrobe. Shoving his arms through the sleeves, he shucked on the slippers he kept in his room at the estate. He grabbed his kilt, a fresh shirt and waistcoat, and a pair of socks, and set off for a hot shower.

The shower was not as hot as he would have liked, and the pressure kept changing...he would be glad when Siofre got the pipes on this side of the house taken care of...but it refreshed him, and he whistled happily as he trotted down the stairs to the morning room, hopeful that the house-elves already had breakfast underway.

"Lydia's tune stuck in your head, eh, laddie?" Siofre asked as he bounced into the room, his dark curls still damp.

"Has it? Yeah, I guess it has! You're up early." Malcolm bent and gave his grandmother a peck on the cheek.

"Aye. I have work to finish. Breakfast's on the sideboard this morning. Multry spoils us when you're in the house," Siofre said.

Malcolm turned to look at the sideboard. Bacon, both thin-sliced smoked and fried crispy, potato scones, hard rolls, sliced cheese, grilled tomato wedges, sauteed mushrooms, bangers, soft-cooked eggs...no doubt kept at the perfect state by house-elf magic...kippers, salty porridge, fruit, and even a covered dish of kedgeree.

"How many people does Multry think she's feeding?" Malcolm asked, helping himself to the kedgeree, some grilled tomatoes, and a bowl of sauteed mushrooms. "And do you often have kedgeree for breakfast?"

"Never. Seemed a whim of hers. And when I asked, she said that Master Honnie and Little Collie would need a good breakfast for their hill-walking, especially after all they drank last night."

Malcolm opened his mouth to protest, but Siofre interrupted, holding up her hand. "I am merely reporting what Multry told me." She looked at the kedgeree on his plate. "Seems the kedgeree wasn't the odd dish I thought it was."

Malcolm shrugged. "Smelled good to me. And I've had it for breakfast before. Just never thought it would be something you'd ask for, that's all." He gestured toward her plate. "Besides, you're eating kippers and porridge. Not much difference."

Siofre shook her head but didn't contradict him.

"And is that a pot of coffee?" Malcolm asked, sniffing. He poured a cup and smiled. "Good coffee, too."

"I canna drink coffee until at least ten in the morning," Siofre said as she watched him pour cream into the cup.

"I know, that's what you've been telling me for fifty years." He took a sip of his creamy coffee. "But early in the morning after a late night, it's just the thing to clear out the cobwebs."

"So Lydia claims," Siofre said drily, watching as Malcolm squeezed lemon over his fish and rice. "But the magister prefers coffee in the mornings, so we always have a pot now. I have become used to its aroma. Or inured to it."

"Mmm, great breakfast," Malcolm said, swallowing a mouthful of kedgeree. "Really. I ought to stay the night more often."

"You're always invited, always welcome, you know that."

"I know. I know you'd wanted me to move back here when I was finished with my contract at Hogwarts, too, but you know that I wanted to be close to Gertrude and have a place of my own to have her come whenever she can get away from the school."

Siofre nodded. "And I am very glad that you are so happy, Malcolm. This summer, you and Gertrude must come and stay for a few weeks. Or a week or two, anyway. However long you wish. I would enjoy getting to know her better. The magister speaks highly of her."

"The magister . . . you know, Grandmother, about Johannes . . . I know it was a disappointment when I didn't move in here, and I know you miss having more family about, but things are changing now. Morgan and Fiona and their kids are here, Bert and Sally are coming back to Scotland, and whether they live here on the estate or not, they'll be in and out all of the time."

"Aye, 'tis good to have more family near," Siofre agreed, "and very good to have the wee bairns growing up here, too. The magister has begun a special garden for them, you know. Filled with plants they can safely put in their mouths, as wee ones are wont to do, and many surfaces, textures, and colours. He even has a tree picked out for them to have a fort in when they are older. This is a good place for them to grow up."

"Aye . . . the 'magister' does have plans for them..."

"Wonderful plans for the entire estate. Sometimes, I think he looks out across the land and sees not what is there, but what he will bring into being. Has he asked you about helping with the greenhouse?"

Malcolm shook his head. "Nay. He mentioned only that there will be one, and I helped him get acquainted with Caroline so he could order the glass from her."

"We're doing it together, building the greenhouse. Morgan's helping, although he's not very good with things like that, and I think that Lachina plans to help...she'd be good with her metal-charming and Lapidomagic talents...and I'm going to ask Loran, Tell, Maire, and Hamish from the island. I haven't asked your parents yet, but I think if we get enough people working on it, we can finish the structure in no time. Have you seen the plans? It is more than a greenhouse. Honnie's designed a work of art. Cupolas, bays, a fountain right inside the greenhouse, and all sorts of things. It will be beautiful as well as practical."

"About Johannes, Grandmother . . ."

"Aye?" Siofre pulled her small plate of fruit toward her. "What about Johannes? Was he ill last night after the apple brandy?" She frowned and started to push away from the table. "P'raps I should peek in on him, or have one of the house-elves check on him."

"Nay, nay, he wasn't ill. Just a wee bit squiffy. But he seemed fine after we had some coffee."

"Ah, very good." Siofre pulled closer to the table again. She looked at the fruit, then looked at the sideboard. "Tattie scone, Malcolm?" she asked as she Summoned one for herself.

"Um, that would be good," Malcolm said with a nod. He cut off a large knob of butter, put it on the still-warm scone, and let it melt.

"Mmm, Shoolie did these, I think," Siofre said, Summoning another fat round scone, "or it's her recipe. Multry's are more like ordinary griddle cakes. I could make a meal off of these."

"As I was saying, Grandmother, about Johannes..."

"I'm sure he'll be down soon. He's never a late sleeper."

"But, Grandmother . . ." Malcolm sighed. "As I said, I know that you've felt that the Tyree estate was a bit empty, that our family here is . . . dispersed. But you know that we're all really here for you. Whenever you need us."

"So you will help with the greenhouse. Very good," Siofre said with a nod.

"Aye, of course I will, but I'm talking about something different," Malcolm said.

"Well then, laddie, spit it out, dinna dance about it so!"

"I'm not, that is, I am trying to. Why on earth did you join Johannes to the clan?"

Siofre finished the last bite of her scone and looked at him. "Ah, he mentioned that, did he?" She licked a dribble of butter from her finger, then used her napkin. She picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"Aye, after I asked him about it," Malcolm replied. "I'm trying to understand it, Grandmother. But as much as I like Johannes...and I do...I don't understand why you joined a near-stranger to the clan."

"'Tisn't for you to understand or to judge, Malcolm," Siofre said firmly. "But aside from whatever reason went into my inviting him to join the Tyrees, you must be able to think of some good reasons, yourself. You say you're his friend. He is no stranger to you, laddie. Why would you invite him?"

"I wouldn't," Malcolm began. He sighed and reached for his coffee cup. "All right, if I were to invite him to join the clan . . . I suppose he's quite magically talented. His talents are in areas that might help the Tyrees. If he marries one, he could pass that on to his children, I suppose."

"An' for him, though? D'you think we only bring in wizards or witches for the benefit of the clan?"

"Nay. But usually it's because they're marrying a Tyree. It's for the couple. But for Johannes . . . I suppose . . . he did say that he had a place now, a sense of belonging. He lost his family. He's felt quite rootless, I think, especially after he decided not to return to Germany right away and decided instead to see what kind of life he could have here. I suppose that if I were to invite him, it might be to give him a sense of family here. And he is a decent man."

"Aye, and that's faint praise you give the man, laddie," Siofre admonished.

Malcolm shrugged. "You might know him in ways I don't, Grandmother. Talk about different sorts of things together. He is a fine wizard, but I don't think it's fair of you to . . . to let him think he has more of a home here than he does. Once his work here's done, he still has the rest of his life to live, you know. It's fine for now that he has a sense of belonging, but don't let it become a crutch for him that keeps him from getting on with his life."

"Nay, never...though you are wrong about one thing. If ever he needs a home, the man has one here. He is of the Clan Tyree now, and he is my kin. 'Twas my blood and magic that brought him into the clan, and as long as I breathe, he is welcome here, and not as a mere guest. But you are right that Johannes mustn't neglect his own life, however he may choose for it to proceed. So encourage him to visit you in Hogsmeade and to do all the things he may have done before he came here to live with us. He must remember all the options in life, the many opportunities he may have."

"It seemed to me last night as if you'd hired a general estate manager in Honnie, not just a gardener and Herbologist. That's never anything I'd have thought him well-suited to, but it sounds as though he does have some good ideas to contribute."

"Aye, he does, and he has been doing more than planning gardens and planting vegetables and flowers. He's going to manage the coppice again, and that's not been done in twenty years, at least, he's bringing all the orchards back into good shape...some have been neglected for decades, but he's hopeful for them...and he even has plans for the bogs eventually, everything from medicinal plants to Droobleberries. He has helped with a number of projects that are not even tangentially related to the gardens, and always to our benefit. His work...and his value, both to me and to the estate...goes far beyond the four corners of his contract."

"If he stays on here, if he's here more than the matter of months you'd originally planned," Malcolm said, "you might want to have him in his own house somewhere on the grounds. There are a few other than the lodge...and then there are those wee cottages near the northern edge of the estate by the sea...he might like to have a real place of his own, or at least, if it's not his, at least, it's a house he's not sharing with others."

"Those wee cottages by the sea, laddie, they've not been tended since you were in school, I think, and not a soul has lived there in even longer. If there's a one of them with a roof left, I'd be surprised. Nay . . . and as for any of the other houses . . . we shall see."

Malcolm shrugged. "As you wish. I'm sure that when this living arrangement becomes cramped for him, he'll find some way of . . . accommodating it or changing his situation."

"The magister is aye welcome to have guests and to make whatever arrangements he deems appropriate for them...in consultation with Lydia and Multry, of course...and he knows this."

"Speaking of arrangements, Lydia said that Trudie and I are to have the Capercaillie Suite this weekend."

"Aye...unless you'd prefer to share your usual bedroom, but I thought that a wee bit small, and you might prefer the suite."

Malcolm quirked a grin. "So, no separate bedrooms this time."

"It seemed a pointless waste of a bed unless your witch wanted them for the sake of discretion. Have you consulted her?"

"Nay...but I will ask her, and in time for Lydia to change arrangements if for some peculiar reason Trudie wants separate bedrooms."

"I believe she plans to put Lachina in your room, an you've no objections to that."

Malcolm shook his head. "She already told me. I don't keep much here, anyway, and the elves will move all my personal things, my robe and whatever, to the suite. It's fine for her to use that room...after all, I have a very good reason to want the suite, instead!" He grinned.

"If ye both like it, then 'tis yours whenever you and Gertrude visit. Just tell Lydia. And if you don't mind giving up your boyhood room, you could always stay in the Capercaillie suite, e'en when Gertrude canna be here with you."

"That sounds fine. In fact, if I stay again tonight, I may just move over there right away. The plumbing's bound to be better on that side of the house."

"Brian will be working on the plumbing next week, but I dinna know an he'll be done before everyone descends on the estate. What problem did you have? Skretchin?"

"Nay, no ghoulish sounds this time. Just the pressure wasn't good and it seemed that the hot water got cold again before it reached me."

Siofre shook her head and frowned. "That should not be."

"I can see if there's anything I can do for it before I leave, if you want."

"Nay, that's fine. Honnie's not complained at all about the water in his suite, and although Lachina will be arriving in a couple days, she can use a different bathroom if that one isn't working yet. We'll cope until Brian is here."

"And Lydia?"

"She's fine. She has developed her own solution," Siofre said discretely.

"She uses a bathroom on the other side of the house when she wants a hot bath?" Malcolm asked with a grin.

"Aye." Siofre returned his grin.

"Not Honnie's?" Malcolm asked, eyebrows raised.

"Heavens, no! Where do you get your ideas, laddie?"

"I don't know...it just popped into my head and out of my mouth," Malcolm said. "She does seem very fond of Honnie."

"Aye, she is. He is good to her."

"I hope she doesn't become silly about him, though," Malcolm said. "Not at her age. I'm sure that Honnie would be kind about it, but it could be embarrassing for her."

Siofre raised her eyebrow. "I am older than Lydia, remember, so do not bring up her age. And she has a warm and open nature, which I am sure that Johannes appreciates. She is unlikely to embarrass herself in any way. They have become friends."

"Lydia does know how to loosen up and have a good time," Malcolm said appreciatively. "I think living with her is loosening you up, too, Grandmother. You seem more enthusiastic about the ceilidh this year than last...all these guests, a four-day party! You're becoming positively sociable."

Siofre laughed and shook her head. "Ah, well, this is an easier year for me than last, and I thought that with Murdoch's birthday on Friday, we could have a party for him on Saturday, and it seemed sensible to combine the bonfire night with his party and give the family a few days of celebration."

"You were missing Herbert last year," Malcolm said.

"I still miss him," Siofre said softly. "And Mother. Especially . . ."

"That's right, she and Murdoch shared a birthday. I remember when Murdoch was little, how he loved sharing a birthday with Grammy Bridget."

"Aye, I remember," Siofre said with a smile. "Anyway, most of the planning, I've left to Lydia and the house-elves. The case with Butterworth and his winged horses does not come at an opportune time, but I can give him a good defence, so it's a worthy use of my time."

"Don't you know someone else who can do it? Point them in the right direction and let them have at it?" Malcolm asked. "Then you could come out with us today, too...at least come on our picnic for lunch."

Siofre shook her head. "Nay, I canna. There's another factor, one I plan to take advantage of. The neighbour who reported the Butterworths' horses, it was Drusus."

"Drusus? You mean Drusus Prince, Charles's son?" He asked. When Siofre nodded, he said, "He's one miserable son-of-a-Crup. Does Lydia know?"

"Aye, I told her last night. She said not to treat him any differently than I would anyone else."

"Poor Lydia. It's hard to believe such a sweet lady came from such a nasty pureblood family."

"Lydia?" Johannes's voice came from the doorway. "Is she all right?"

Siofre smiled up at him. "Oh, aye, she is fine, Honnie. Dinna worry. 'Twas one of her relatives we were speaking of."

"Ah, good. Lydia is a sweet witch, as you say, Malcolm," Johannes said, picking up a plate and helping himself to rolls, thinly sliced bacon, and cheese. Siofre was already pouring his coffee for him when he pulled out a chair and took a seat at her right, across from Malcolm. "She seems to have little contact with her relatives."

"She doesn't," Malcolm said, pushing the cream pitcher toward him. "I actually think they're one reason that Bert and Sally were gone for so long, why they left in the first place. Louisa picked up her husband's family's airs."

"Ach, laddie, it's not that simple, but you are right, Sally and Louisa's relationship was strained when Sally and Bertrand left. And this hearing won't help the Tyrees and Princes become any closer."

"Hearing?" Johannes asked, confused. He broke open a roll and folded some ham and cheese into it. "What hearing?"

"The Butterworth case," Malcolm replied. "The miserable neighbour is Drusus Prince."

"Ah, Eileen's father. That is unfortunate," Johannes said with a sad shake of his head. "Poor girl."

"Aye...not that she's much better, from what I saw of her at Hogwarts."

"She is not so bad," Johannes said. "She is sad . . . withdrawn."

"That's what you saw; what I saw was a haughty girl who wouldn't speak to anyone she considered lesser than her...including Mudbloods..."

Siofre reached over and rapped his knuckles lightly with her teaspoon in a gesture of reproval. "That word is forbidden in this house, an' you know it."

"I wasn't calling anyone that, Grandmother! I was demonstrating what Prince thought of so many of her classmates. You know that I'd never call anyone that."

"It was an unnecessary use of the word, Malcolm. The words we choose to use are important; they can shape our thoughts and the thoughts of others...and how others perceive you, as well, laddie," Siofre admonished, though gently.

"I paired Eileen with a Muggleborn in her fourth and fifth years," Johannes said, avoiding the familial squabble. "They did not become friends, but I never saw any tension between them. They both did equally well. Eileen did not attempt to sabotage her classmate's work...and I have seen some students try to do that, for whatever reasons they may have."

"Hmph." Malcolm shrugged. "She still isn't a pleasant girl. And I don't think she knows anything about how to have fun. You should have seen the glower on her face whenever I tried to introduce a little levity into the classes. You'd think that someone'd told her once that a smile would crack her face, and she believed them."

"You'll need more than those sandwiches, Honnie," Siofre said, changing the subject. "I think Malcolm will be leading you on quite the ramble today. Have some porridge. It will stick with you."

Johannes looked dubious, but got up from the table and ladled a spoonful of porridge into a bowl.

"Grandmother Siofre would not look askance if you added sugar," Malcolm said with a laugh. "Would you Grandmother?"

"He may eat it in whatever fashion he prefers. Or have some of that curried rice and fish you had," Siofre said with a thinly disguised expression of disgust.

Malcolm laughed. "It was good. In fact, I'm going to have some more. You should try some," Malcolm said, standing and bringing his dish back over to the sideboard.

"Nay, I am glad Multry made it for you to enjoy, though."

Malcolm sat down and ate a forkful. "Mmm-mm! Here, have some. Just try it. Then you can dislike it all you want!" He held out his fork to her. "It's got some very nice haddock in it!" he wheedled.

As Johannes looked on, smiling, Siofre took the fork and brought it to her mouth, a dubious expression on her face. She sniffed. Then she tasted it. She chewed, swallowed, and handed Malcolm his fork back.

"Well?" Malcolm asked.

"I would not choose to eat it for breakfast, but it was not entirely disgusting," Siofre said.

"Maybe it's like coffee," Malcolm said with a grin, "best after ten in the morning!"

Johannes chuckled, evidently having heard Siofre's opinion of drinking coffee first thing on waking.

"I think we should bring some of these rolls and the cheese with us," Johannes said, "and a few bananas."

"Good idea, Honnie. It will help us to last until Lydia's picnic!"

"I am ready to leave as soon as you have finished your kedgeree," Johannes said.

"So'm I," Malcolm said. He quickly finished the last bit of his breakfast. "Ready right now."

The two wizards stood, and Malcolm bent and kissed Siofre's cheek. "Have a good day, Grandmother! Save Butterworth's bacon!"

"Do not exhaust the magister, lad!"

"Nay, he'll be fine. We'll have a grand time, right, Magister?" Malcolm asked, turning to Johannes.

"Aye," Johannes agreed with a nod. "It is a beautiful day. I hope you do not spend the entire day indoors," he added to Siofre.

Siofre smiled up at him. "I will get out for a while after lunch, I am sure."

"Come have lunch with us, Siofre," Johannes said impulsively. "You must eat. A picnic after a hard morning's work, that would be a good reward for you. Please. Bitte. We would enjoy your company."

"I dinna know . . ."

"Please join us for lunch," Johannes repeated, taking Siofre's hand lightly in his. "You can return to your work as soon as you wish, but give us the pleasure of your company for a little while."

Siofre smiled and shook her head. "All right, Honnie. I will, unless I am in the midst of something. Come find me when you're ready for lunch. I'll probably be in my study or in the library."

"Very good." He bowed and released her hand. "I will see you later today, then."

As the two wizards left the morning room, Malcolm said, "How'd you do that, man? Is it the accent? The bow? All those Continental manners? I wanted her to join us, and she just ignored me." He shook his head. "And I thought I was the charmer around here...are you muscling in? Must be that accent. Aye, the accent."

Johannes's laughter echoed back into the morning room, and Siofre grinned.