Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Bit of Joukerie-Pawkerie

Chapter Twenty-Nine: A Bit of Joukerie-Pawkerie

"I have some news that might interest you, Lydia hen, about one of your Prince relations," Siofre said, setting down her wineglass as the soup bowls and spoons were house-elfishly removed and replaced with the next course and the appropriate silverware.

"Really? Which one...Drusus?" Lydia guessed.

"Nay, his daughter, Eileen. She is apparently engaged to someone so unsuitable as to be beyond the pale," Siofre said with a smirk, "which, to my way of thinking, can only be a good thing."

"A Weasley," Malcolm guessed immediately. "They're always wonderful for tweakin' a pureblooded snoot."

Siofre's smirk grew. "Nay, even worse."

"A Muggle-born, then," Phoebe guessed. "One of the things I was shocked by when I went to Hogwarts," she explained to Johannes beside her, "was the bizarre prejudice against Muggle-borns. I'd heard there was such a thing, but I'd never actually encountered anyone who had such a belief, myself, and so I thought it had to be something only a few very old-fashioned and ignorant people still believed in. I was quite surprised to see that there were a lot of my contemporaries who had been raised to think that way."

"A naivete that I must say speaks well of your parents," Lydia said with an approving nod, "even if one of them is my own son!"

"So, it was a Muggle-born?" Johannes asked.

"Worse still: a Muggle!" Siofre said, some glee in her face.

"A Muggle?" Lydia asked. "How did she ever even meet one?"

Siofre shrugged one shoulder. "Not a clue, but she's set to marry him, and her father's very unhappy about it. I overheard him with her today...the man has a violent, nasty temper, and she'd be well away from him...and it sounded to me as though his antipathy toward the lad only caused Eileen to become e'en more fond of him. In any case, the last thing I heard before I had to flicker away was her saying that if he tried to interfere with the wedding, she would just run away and marry the man anyway. Sadly, I did not hear his response to that, as Drusus was coming rather close to my little corner, and since I did choose to visit unannounced and unremarked, as well, I thought it most discreet to leave before I was noticed."

"You were in his house?" Phoebe asked, looking alarmed.

"Just outside it, getting a wee keek," Siofre said. "Dinna trespass exactly . . . simply didn't announce myself, jouked beneath the window, and then left without knocking...I doubt that anyone would have stayed after hearing that man thundering on so."

"I wish you would not do such things," Johannes said with a slight grimace. "It seems risky."

Siofre shrugged. "I thought I might learn something of value...and before I arrived, I had not decided not to knock. I thought I would simply see what the situation was before I stepped up to the door."

"And if he had seen you?" Lachina asked curiously. "What would you have said?"

"Just that I was stopping 'round to give him friendly advance notice that he'd be formally notified by the Wizengamot that I was defending Butterworth and would be calling for his neighbourly testimony," Siofre said. "But he dinna see me...and I was Disillusioned, in any case...and no excuse was necessary."

"Was it useful?" Johannes asked. "Did you learn anything you may use?"

Siofre paused to eat a bite of fish. "Not there. Not precisely. But it has helped me decide a course to take."

"What is that?" Lydia asked.

"We'll speak of it soon, we two, later. We dinna want to spoil our dinner with too much talk of such things. I would rather hear, anyhow, what you have done today, all your preparations for the week, and how Brian has got on with the plumbing so far."

Lydia said that Brian Mackintosh had worked about three hours on the plumbing, doing what he could with charms, and the skretchin seemed to be gone, but that Gweller would fetch him again the next day, and bring more pipe and other supplies. "He'll have a lot of the work done before Thursday, but he said he won't be able to finish until next week, after the party, and then he'll get a start on the new plumbing in the orchard cottage, as well."

"Very good," Siofre said, nodding. "And the other arrangements?"

Lydia recounted her latest activities in readying rooms and seeing to food procurement and preparation, as well as naming a few others who had decided at the last minute that they were also coming to the estate's bonfire rather than the celebration held on the island.

"The northie Tyrees will all be here...Donald is over his annual bout of the raging roupies, so he and Norma will be coming with old Rory and the others. Philomena's bringing her great-nephew along with her...a boy named . . . let me think . . . something a bit outlandish, it was . . . Dill? Basil? Alfalfa? No . . . ah, yes, Coriander. I think she wants him to meet some witches outside of pureblood society. She said he's a good lad, well-spoken and polite, educated at Beauxbatons, so I'm trusting her," Lydia added when Siofre raised an eyebrow. "Then Minerva owled this afternoon and said that Albus will actually be able to come on Thursday night, though he probably won't be able to stay overnight." She hesitated a moment, then, after taking a fortifying swallow of wine, Lydia added, "And another old friend of yours also sent an owl today saying he'd be here."

"Who, then?" Siofre asked after waiting a moment for the old friend's name to be added to the list.

"Sorley."

"Sorley Mòr?" Siofre asked, her fork stalled halfway to her mouth.

"Yes. He's coming Thursday afternoon. I think he plans to stay on for young Murdoch's party on Saturday, as well."

Siofre chewed her fish and nodded.

"I haven't seen Sorley Mòr in a long time," Phoebe said. "Not since . . . well, I think he came to Grandfather's funeral, but other than that, I think it must be at least ten years, maybe more."

"He's oft away," Siofre said.

"But he also spends a lot of time on the island still," Lachina said. "I see him now and again when I'm there. You must, too, Siofre."

Siofre picked up her bell and rang for the next course.

"Who is Sorley Mòr?" Johannes asked.

"One of the cousins." Malcolm smirked. "He used to call on Grandmother Siofre when I was a boy. That was before Herbert, of course. Seemed a good sort to me. Used to take me out to the standing stones on the island, and he'd play and sing and teach me some of the old songs. He gave me my first penny whistle, and I still have the drum he helped me to make when I was eight."

"Oh, do you have it here?" Phoebe asked. "I haven't heard you drum in years, it seems. You could play it this week!"

Malcolm shook his head. "Nay, it's down at the Cliffs. But I could pop down and fetch it. There will be better drummers here this week than I, though."

"Still, bring it along," Lachina said. "I especially love it when all the drummers come together and play...sends shivers all over me. Yours will add one more voice to the drumming."

"All right...and maybe we can teach this new Tyree to play a wee bit of something, eh? Start him on my drum!"

"Nein. No. I am not musical. I appreciate it only," Johannes said.

"A tune or two, then...a good song," Phoebe said, "something in German, perhaps?"

Johannes blinked. "I do not sing. I do not know lyrics. Only a few. Nothing for a party."

"Then it'll be dancing we'll have you at," Lachina said, grinning at Johannes. "Some good Scottish ceilidh dancing!"

Siofre chuckled at Johannes's expression. "Dinna perturb the lad. He'll have fun enough in his own way."

"So are you of Tyree now?" Phoebe asked, reaching for a cheese biscuit.

"Aye, but only since a few days." Johannes quirked a small smile. "I am like a newborn here."

"We'll have you feeling right at home at the party, won't we, Phoebe? You'll feel like a real member of the family by the end of the weekend," Lachina said. "We'll introduce you around. Siofre will certainly see to it that you are properly introduced to everyone, I'm sure, but we'll make sure that you meet everyone...or at least, the more enjoyable folk."

"We only invite the enjoyable ones," Lydia said. She thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. "Of course, sometimes others do come. Can't turn away family, after all. And it is open to any Tyree, always understood to be...at least the Beltane celebration is. Not everyone's staying for the birthday party on Saturday."

"But Sorley Mòr is?" Johannes asked, examining the figs and cheese on the plate that Phoebe had passed to him.

"I think so," Lydia replied. "He's a very old friend, as well as a Tyree...a Mackintosh, actually, but Tyree clan Mackintoshes, and his mother was a Tyree, too, wasn't she, Siofre? Your father's first cousin, if I remember right."

"Aye," Siofre said.

"I look forward to seeing him," Malcolm said. "I can show him my Singing Stones."

"Where hae you put him, then?" Siofre asked.

"He'll be staying over at the old gatehouse with a few other Mackintoshes and a couple Mackenzies," Lydia replied.

Siofre nodded. "He should be most comfortable there."

Lydia twitched a smile. "I thought so."

"Which Mackenzies are you putting up in the gatehouse?" Siofre asked.

"Douglas and Alasdair."

"I know them, I believe," Johannes said, "if they are the brothers I taught a few years ago."

"Aye, that's them," Siofre said. "A bit rowdy, but basically good lads. But good to have put them in the gatehouse, Lydia."

"I thought that Sorley Mòr might be a sobering influence on them," Lydia said with a twinkle in her eye.

At that, Siofre and Malcolm both laughed loudly, and Lachina grinned.

"If you want a good influence on those two Gryffies," Malcolm said, "better to put in old Bridie and Auntie Sara."

Siofre chuckled. "They'd likely just run away, affrighted of those two old witches."

"Hamish and Fern Mackintosh will be staying in the gatehouse, as well," Lydia said. "I thought that Sorley would enjoy spending a little time with his niece and nephew."

"It's their first anniversary soon," Phoebe said. "We should do something for them, maybe on Friday?"

Siofre shrugged. "An ye like. I'll leave that to Lydia to decide. I don't want anything to interfere with young Murdoch's party on Saturday, though. It's the first one we've celebrated here in twenty years, so I want it to be special for him."

"Of course," Phoebe said with a nod. "Their anniversary isn't for another few weeks, anyway. We could do something closer to the time."

"If they're not celebrating it just by themselves," Lydia said. "See what they'd want. They may simply want to spend the day alone together . . . celebrating." She winked.

Phoebe smiled. "I wouldn't want to interfere with their enjoyment of their anniversary, of course!"

"By the time you and Declan marry, you'll probably not even want a honeymoon," Lydia said with a sigh. "And your first anniversary...if I ever live to see it...will not still be filled with the flush of new love and discovery. You're already past that." She sighed again.

Phoebe smiled at her grandmother and reached over and patted her arm. "No, we're not past that yet, Grandma, and I'm sure you'll see us marry...in due course...and celebrate many anniversaries with us!"

"Besides," Lachina interjected, "Fern and Hamish knew each other from childhood, and they're still as eager a young couple as I've ever seen."

Siofre chuckled. "I remember their wedding. Seemed they could scarcely wait to be off and away from the rest of us."

Malcolm grinned. "Well, Fern had been insistent that they spend the month before the wedding apart, if you get my meaning, so they were rather keen to begin their honeymoon, Hamish especially."

The others laughed. As the desserts appeared on the table, though, there was a loud clap of thunder.

"We're getting a storm," Lachina said. "No more garden tours today, I'd say."

"I will be glad to continue them tomorrow," Johannes said. "You will be here?"

"In the afternoon. I have to go into the shop in the morning. I have a few commissions I'm working on, and I also have a large piece that I'm trying to finish in time for a show and competition in London this summer. But I'll return here straight from Aberdeen, then after lunch, we can have a nice afternoon, walking through the gardens."

"I'd love that," Phoebe said. "I do love this place, and Grandma tells me you've done a lot since you arrived...and just the little I've seen has been impressive."

"It is a beautiful place," Johannes said, "and your aunt has provided me with much guidance. I am pleased to be able to draw out some of the beauty that is already here and to add a little more where I can."

There was another bright flash of lightning followed almost immediately by a loud crack of thunder.

"I hope you don't plan to Apparate home tonight, Malcolm," Lydia said worriedly. "You might Splinch."

Malcolm shook his head. "I could have Gluffy bring me back, but we might as well stay the night."

"Excellent!" Lachina said. "Now that you're not in Aberdeen any longer, I hardly see you anymore...you might as well be off on your wanderings as at home here in Scotland."

Malcolm gave a crooked grin. "Well, Hogsmeade's as close to Aberdeen as Aberdeen is to Hogsmeade. You could always come by and see me!"

"True enough," Lachina said with a grin, "but I do miss you dropping by the shop and paying me surprise visits."

"You just miss some of the little gifts I'd bring you," Malcolm said.

"Gifts? The last I remember, I paid you a good ten Galleons for that piece of petrified wood you brought by."

"Aye, and that 'piece' was a nice-sized log, and it had some very pretty colours in it...and I challenge you to find any such prize anywhere for so little," Malcolm replied. "And I gave you a number of very nice crystals, too, and that Mackled Malaclaw shell."

"All right, you've got me there," Lachina said, laughing. "But I'm glad you'll be staying tonight."

"So am I," Lydia said. "Does everyone want to go into the music room now?" She looked around hopefully.

"Aye, that would be pleasant," Johannes said.

"Sounds good to me," Phoebe said, pushing back from the table.

"Malcolm had said something earlier about a piece you're writing for Bertrand and Sally...may we hear it?" Lachina asked.

"Of course! I am still polishing it a bit, and it's a pity that Morgan's not here, as there's a part for violin now, but you can have a listen and let me know what you think...Malcolm's joining on the recorder, too."

"I will go up to my study and finish some work," Siofre said, "but I may be down later."

"Must you, Aunt Siofre?" Phoebe asked.

"Weren't you working all day?" Malcolm added.

"She was, since very early," Johannes said.

"Then stay," Lachina urged.

"I still have things to do now, childer," Siofre said briskly. "Much of my work today will be for naught if I don't do more now...and that would be a waste."

"Come, now, leave Siofre be," Lydia said as Phoebe opened her mouth to protest. "She'll join us when she can. Let's just go into the music room now and let her get her work done."

"Come see me before you retire, Lydia, if I am not down afore then," Siofre said. "Just a thing or two to discuss with you."

~*~*~*~*~

Rain rattled against the windows as Siofre wrote in her journal, the one lamp on her desk providing the only illumination as her quill scratched away, outlining steps taken and plans laid, and including a row of figures tallying expenses. She was just subtracting those she had decided not to charge to Butterworth, as they were not strictly necessary to his defence...and some would call them excessively diligent...when she paused. There was another light rap on her door.

Siofre set her quill in its holder and raised her wand, flicking it as she swivelled her wooden desk chair to face the door. She had expected Lydia, but she guessed from the gentle tapping that this was not she.

"Honnie."

"Siofre. I thought you might come join us for a while. Phoebe is playing the piano, Lydia has pulled out a guitar, and Malcolm is playing his penny whistle and singing...not at the same time, of course. The audience is smaller than the performance, although Lachina knows many of the songs and sings along."

"Ach, Honnie, it has been a long day..."

"More reason to join us. If you do not, you will only work more and make the day longer. Surely you have finished what you must. Come down, sit with us, relax before bed. You will sleep the better for it," Johannes said.

"I still have just one or two more things I must do," Siofre said.

"In the morning, when you're fresh. Come down, join us. Sit beside me," Johannes replied.

Siofre hesitated.

"You received my letter?"

"Aye, yesterday evening. Kiera brought it straightaway."

Johannes stepped into the room and closed the door behind him, shutting off the sounds of distant song. "I hope I did not presume too much in my letter, but it was true that I missed you this weekend. It seemed you might also have become accustomed to my company, and glad to have it, too. I wished you to know that your company . . . it is what I will always seek and rather have than any other." In the warm lamplight, his blush was barely evident, but his eyes did not waver from hers.

"You did not presume too much, Honnie," Siofre said softly. She nodded. "I will come down for a while. The figures can wait, and perhaps the conversation with Lydia, as well."

"If I may ask, the conversation with Lydia, what does it concern? May I help in any way?" Johannes asked as Siofre turned and closed her large journal and then turned and faced him again.

"You may ask . . . but help, I dinna know. Perhaps, if Lydia wishes to speak about it. She may need someone to confide in." Siofre removed her glasses and set them down on a stack of books. She gestured toward the other chair, and Johannes sat. "I have decided to have Drusus Prince sent to Azkaban. It may not be my place to decide such a thing, to meddle in such a way, but . . ." She shook her head. "I do not have any prescience, but as I stood there, listening to Eileen and her father this afternoon, I thought that perhaps the only way the lass will ever find any happiness will be if she has some freedom from him now, if she can marry this Muggle lad who seems to love her, spend the first months of her married life in peace . . . p'raps she can break wholly free from Drusus, have her ain family with that nasty man nowhere nearby. I . . . I do not do this lightly, and I have many misgivings. It could be for the best, or I could be wreaking havoc on many lives. But I think that if Drusus is absent from her life for a while, Eileen might have an opportunity, at least. What she makes of it, that is up to her, though I think she'd do well not to let Drusus back into her life once he's out of it."

"And what of Drusus? I do not know how you can plan to send him to Azkaban when you have no direct say in such a thing, and yet I do believe that you could . . . you could manage it somehow. But if the man is sent to that prison, one of the worst in the wizarding world, what will that create for his life? And to decide such a thing"...Johannes shook his head..."do you know that he has committed crimes to warrant it?"

"I am certain that he has in the past, and if Drusus has changed his ways recently, then I will not find it possible to send him away. But if he still is dealing in Dark magic, as I believe, I have set things in motion for him to be exposed, my own wee bit o' joukerie-pawkerie. I have aye jaloused that Mabelle Prince's death was something other than a simple workshop accident, though whether his wife's death was merely a result of some carelessness on his part or was outright murder, I could not say; I only have suspicions. But he brings misery into lives and he willingly traffics in Dark objects used for nefarious and gruesome purposes. That is sufficient."

Johannes stood and held out his hand. "I was right. You need to come down and spend time with us. You do not want to fall asleep thinking of such things. Come, sit beside me, keep me company, and listen to Malcolm sing of drunken Glumbumbles and Hinkypunks in cranberry bogs. Then you will sleep well."

Siofre looked up at him and smiled. "You are right." She took his hand and stood. "I'll sit beside you and you'll learn the song of the drunken Glumbumble...you need not be able to sing well or remember many words, as it's meant to be remembered and sung e'en when you're more'n a wee bit stocious. It's one of Malcolm's, and complete nonsense, of course."

Johannes returned her smile. "Then precisely what you require tonight, I think."

"Lead on, Magister!"