"...okay."

That wasn't actually what Karen was getting at but she thanks Timothy anyway.

Yeah, getting at the thing she was getting at will not go well. He changes the subject.

A very welcome talent he has.

He has a totally functional family as long as everything is going well and they are all present to cover for each other! It's a bit fragile. He has yet to figure out how to permanently fix it.

And when it's getting late Karen has to Portkey home.

Miranda sighs at the snowy darkness outside but heads for her broomstick anyway.

"Would you like to stay the night, dear?" Nell offers. "We have plenty of guest rooms."

"If that wouldn't be an imposition..."

"Oh, not in the slightest, who'd be imposed on? As long as your mother won't worry."

"No, she said if I were invited to stay I could."

"You are invited to stay," she says, smiling. "Did the tour include the guest rooms? Probably not. You want this hallway, on your left, I'll tell the elves to start a fire for you."

"Thank you very much!"

"My pleasure!"

And some elves bring hot chocolate and the family sits around the fire and manages to stop their miscellaneous debates for a few minutes while Michael sings.

What a pleasant way to wind down for the evening.

It is! Not that it lasts; Theodore and Aaron start whisperedly debating something and Minor, who is sitting and leaning against his father, gets an idea and starts telling him about it.

Which is also pretty fun, really. What are they talking about?

Theodore and Aaron: what would happen if you sided with the goblins next goblin revolt. Minor and Finis: Igbo.

Miranda scoots closer to the latter.

They are grateful for her participation, she still speaks it better than either of them.

And is happy to do so for their edification and practice.

And they are so delighted about learning!

And eventually she has to beg off to go to bed.

It is a cozy bedroom with a fire roaring in the fireplace.

And she sleeps and in the morning she gets up.