It was such a normal announcement that for a moment Sybille was stunned. Nobody had died. Nobody was a werewolf. Nobody was anything but normal. She had forgotten what a normal announcement was - what a normal family was.

Sybille opened her mouth to congratulate her brother and his wife when Mr. Nott’s chair scraped loudly against the floor. His intimidating personage standing up next to Avril’s frail form. For a moment Sybille remembered a different Christmas break, only Ace and her siblings at the dinner table. Avril’s teacup shattering to the floor as the sight overtook her. How different things were now.

Then to her surprise Ace’s wife spoke up against Mr. Nott. Sybille didn’t entirely understand what Mr. Notte’s issue was, it was as if they weren’t good enough for him or something, but he was furious at Ace and Lucille. The latter of whom was passionately addressing Mr. Nott, a hint of tears in her terse tone.