Malcolm barely opens the door before being barged passed by a tall slender woman with red hair, followed by a slightly taller man.
"Mum?" Patricia stood slightly shocked at her parents appearance, especially when she made it perfectly clear they'd be having lunch with Malcolms sister.

"What are you doing here?"
"What? Can't a mother want to spend the holidays with her only daughter and her grandchildren?" Patricia glances at her husband who did not look impressed.
The older woman took off her coat and flung it at Malcolm as did her husband.
"Take it away Magnum." She waves her hand at the boy.
"Malcolm, my name is Malcolm."
The woman shrugs,
"Same thing." She turns her attention to her daughter.
"Patricia, come give mummy a kiss."

"Ah so this is the mother in law from hell you told me about." Bellatrix nudges Minerva.
The woman inhales,
"Yes, and for Merlins sake behave."
"Minerva, I'm always on my best behaviour." Bellatrix replies feigning to be hurt by her words.
" well if all these years have been an example of your best behaviour I'd hate to see your worst."
"Oh I don't know, I think you'd like it." Bellatrix winks, a smirk playing on her lips.
"You really are insufferable you know that." Minerva looks at the smirking woman who responds by blowing a kiss.

"Ah Minerva." The woman fakes a smile as she walks towards Minerva, who's lips barely turn up at the corners. Bellatrix lowers her head smirking.
"Victoria, what a surprise."
"Well I just couldn't help myself, I simply had to visit my babies." The woman laughs falsely
"Oh of course." Minerva nods politely
"Of course I doubt you'd understand the need...not having any children of your own and all."
"Mother!" Patricia's eyes widen at her mothers rudeness towards Minerva.
"What, am I wrong?" The woman turns looking innocently at her daughter.

Bellatrix took a step forward about to open her mouth when Minerva quickly pulled the woman back beside her.
"Don't." Minerva said loud enough for only Bella to hear.
"But she-" Bellatrix points to the woman who currently spoke with her daughter.
"It's not worth it." Minerva arches her brow pulling the woman's arm down.
"And not to mention It's rude to point."
"What about gutting someone like a fish?"
Minerva arches her brow, Bellatrix rolls her eyes.

"I didn't offend you did I dear?" Victoria smiles falsely turning her attention back to Minerva.
"Of course not." Minerva smiles equally as false.
"Oh good, I'd hate to think I offended you."
The shorter woman was about to kiss Minerva's cheek when Minerva quickly put out her hand for a shake.
"Yes well luckily I'm not easily offended."
The woman shakes Minerva's hand.
"Hmm." She smiles finally turning her attention to Bellatrix.

"And who might this be?"
"This is my...dear friend Bellatrix Black."
"Friend? Oh and there's me thinking you didn't have any."
"Funny that's what I thought about you." Bellatrix smiles sweetly. Minerva did her best to hide her smile.
The shorter woman frowns.
"I happen to have multiple friends."
"Oh really?" Bellatrix's eyes widen with surprise adding to her already shocked facial expression, which was quite comical if you were to ask Minerva or Malcolm but neither dared laugh.
"Well you could of fooled me." Bellatrix's sweet innocent smile made a reappearance.
"Hmm." The false smile from Victoria also makes another appearance on her thin lips.
"You have an interesting choice in friends Minerva. "
"At least I have them." Minerva just couldn't help herself, she knew it was very low of her but She couldn't let Bellatrix have all the fun.
Victoria clicks her tongue, narrowing her eyes before entering the kitchen where her daughter had disappeared to.

"I thought I told you to behave?"
"I tried, turns out I'm incapable of being a good little girl, but I can be very very bad."
Minerva rolls her eyes.
"You're unbelievable."
"You're not to bad yourself love." Bellatrix winks.

Minerva and Bellatrix returned to their previous seats, along with Malcolm who mouthed an apology as Victoria's husband followed them into the room and took a seat nearest the window.
Patricia soon returned with more drinks, her mother in tow.

Minerva sat up properly, accepting her whisky off of Pat with a smile.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome Minerva."
"Could of just brought the bottle." Bellatrix comments accepting her drink from Patricia who chuckled.
"I'd like you to remain sober thank you very much." Minerva comments taking a sip from her glass.
"That'll be a difficult task." Came Victoria's snide little comment.
"Quite bold of you, considering you know nothing about me." Bellatrix averts her attention to the snobbish little woman who sat beside her husband.
"Well you seem the sort to be consistently drunk."
"I'll have you know Bellatrix can handle her drink quite well, unlike some people who after three glasses think it's appropriate to start removing pieces of clothing whilst stood on a table where everyone can see."

The woman shuffles in her seat,
Bellatrix smirks
"Three drinks, what a-"
"Don't you dare." Minerva warns looking to Bellatrix.
"Yes well alcohol messes with your head."
"When you don't know your limit it does." Minerva took another sip.
The woman instantly turned her attention to her grandchildren who sat beside Minerva's and Bellatrix' s legs playing with there toy horses.
"My, what Pretty dresses, did mummy get you those?"
The little girls shook their head in unison
"Auntie Tabby and Auntie Trixie." Said Elizabeth as she smiles proudly at her two aunts.
"Tabby?" The woman arches her brow.
"It's just a little nickname." Malcolm interrupts
"Trixie I see, Tabby however..." the woman arches her brow.
"It's just a childhood nickname from when Malcolm and I were children."
The woman remains silent, arching her brow.

"If you feel left out I have a million nicknames for you, do you want to hear some?" Bellatrix smiles.
"No absolutely not." Minerva frowns at the woman beside her. Bellatrix smiles sweetly, and Minerva gave her best stern Professor face.
"So girlies tell us all about Christmas Day." Bellatrix smiles turning her attention towards the children.

***

The children happily told their aunts about Christmas Day, though not long after their little eyelids started to become heavy, so Patricia took the children to bed leaving the rest of the family alone, with each other.

"So Minerva, have you managed to corner some poor man into commitment yet?" The woman takes a sip of her tea,
"Or did you scare them off with your know-it- all attitude?"
"Just because I'm well educated doesn't mean you have to be a sour grape Victoria." Minerva also reaches for her drink.
Bellatrix grins wickedly, Now her Minerva was coming out to play, and boy was it going to be one hell of a game.