Welcome to Gaia! ::

David's return from Hogwarts brought an odd request from him-he asked to start taking piano lessons but less than a week into his return from the school came the following letter that would forever change the League family:



It was then that all the assumptions that Cathy League was a squib like her father had turned out to be wrong. Surprisingly, after a very long discussion/argument and explanation about what exactly Hogwarts was Cathy took the news quite well and was thrilled and her older brother calmly glanced at both of his parents and said standing from his ding table, "I know you both are busy. I can take her to Diagon Alley and answer any of her questions about the school. And I'll look out for her once she gets to Hogwarts this year..." Thus, it was decided that David would be his little sister's mentor more or less to the wizarding world that the entire family had neglected to tell her about.

Maybe I should have forced Cathy to come home too... or maybe not.

David sighed as his father dismissed him more or less and his concerns. Then again, he did have a point about the migraines, though David was fairly sure that if his father had actually bothered to let him get magical medical treatment first it wouldn't have been nearly as big of a concern. He watched as the door to the kitchen and then glanced at his mother. "Boy or girl, Mum?" David asked, bluntly.

Cara turned red and said with a laugh, "It's fairly early... and I never bothered finding out the gender of you and your sister till you were born I plan to keep up the same tradition. It is more fun for it to be a surprise, yes?"

"The options are fairly limited, it isn't that exciting," David said half amused. "Am I supposed to call my next sibling an it for the next... how many months?"

"The due date is in January or early February at the latest," Cara answered with a smile. "I see your grandfather told you. Does Cathy know yet?"

David shook his head, "I doubt she'll be told. Isn't it better for her to hear from you and Dad anyways? Besides she'll be back at the end of the summer." Cara nodded, standing. "Anyways, fairly recent this happened then. Most people take longer to notice."

"Oh, we've been trying for a few months. I find winter babies more entertaining, anyways," Cara added with a smile. "For example you were such a wonderful Christmas present and-"

David held up a hand, "Sure. And you'll be late for work if you keep talking to me. I'm going to take Dad's advice and catch a few hours of sleep. I rather sleep in my own bed, anyways."

"You're the only one who uses the Gothic guest room at the manor," Cara pointed out.

"Anymore... but when the family had house elves they used to live there," David answered. "I still sleep better not at the manor, regardless. Have a good day, Mum." He added with a wave and a slight yawn before he headed upstairs with his things to go to bed for a bit.

I'm fairly sure Wendy isn't one of my worst relatives, in my book...

"Rereading, actually," David answered glancing at his herbology textbook. "As for my second cousin, I think it really depends on what you consider 'that bad' or not. She's polite enough and Cathy didn't say anything negative about her. Of course, if all Cathy does is complement on how pretty you are or your nice smile, that doesn't exactly reflect well for you. I'm more neutral on the girl at this point."

He sighed leaning against his wardrobe, "I figure I can worry about her once school starts, till then it isn't the slightest bit of my concern." Listening to Leo explain about her father insisting on her having a 'life outside the house this summer' and then asking if he would like to hang out with her and warning one of her sisters was going to be with her-Grace, who he thought was the youngest, but he couldn't remember most of his classmates or housemates names, he wasn't going to trust himself to keep track of people he hadn't met yet.

"In the neighborhood, 'so to speak'?" He asked before adding half amused. "There's quite a few neighborhoods or areas of London. Belgravia, where I live, is a muggle area. I doubt you'd have much reason to be in this particular neighborhood. But sure, it would be nice to have something else to focus on. And, Grace being there will be fine. Your other sister, Mira, I don't mind either," He added. "How long are you planning on staying in London? Where? What was your plans exactly, besides probably picking up school supplies in Diagon Alley...?"

He trailed off realizing he had just bombarded with several questions. Honestly, he probably would have preferred to spend more time with just Leo, but it wasn't like he could actually point out any major issues with her younger sisters being around.

David listened as Leo answered about actions speaking louder than words-it was very much true. It was probably why he didn't actually care if he came off rude when he said something. If he showed he was competent that is what should matter, though, he was fairly sure in general he would need to be more careful about that, or at least until he graduated from Hogwarts. That was when he registered that Leo agreed to stay at his place. He had sort of caught her pause about cats but quickly dismissed it being too happy about Leo agreeing to say. A huge grin cracked on his face and he tried to mask exactly how happy he was to hear her agree, "Sounds good. I'll make sure things are ready ahead of time. And, your sister can find enough books to keep her entertained for months in the house. I'll be sure to leave the option open for your other sister to come too, if she decides to last minute. See you soon, then." At that he hung up the phone, setting it on his desk. Never mind what happened two days earlier at the manor and his more limited reign, Leo was coming to stay for a bit. Besides, he could easily brush off his relations with Leo, no matter any way they fell, since she wasn't of some "impure bloodline" which would have been the head's greatest concern.

A couple days later...

His parents didn't even question when David asked about Leo and one-maybe two- of her sisters coming for a few days. David half expected his father to be a bit unhappy about having anyone else who could perform magic in the house but Dr. League just agreed. Maybe because it was that his dad knew they all would be underage and restricted to do magic by the Ministry.

When the time came for Leo to come, David was glad both his parents were at work for once not to watch as he waited pacing the hallway, sitting for a few minutes on one of the bottom steps of the house, going back to pacing and then sitting down again. Dad's cat Tara seemed fairly entertained by it; however, watching him with her mismatched eyes from one of the higher steps. He was fairly sure Tristan was probably taking advantage of the fact that for the first time in quite some time when either David or Cathy was home he didn't have to deal with any other pets, be it David's owl or Cathy's cat.

He kept checking his watch and glancing at the door as the time Leo was supposed to get there approached. Could she find the address of the town house among the rows and rows of similarly large town houses that generally looked the same? Would it be weird for her to be at the house? He realized he hadn't a clue how her house was set up or how big it was, but it was unlikely, it was that similar to where he lived. He paused glancing at Tara on the top step and sighed sitting down on a lower step as he waited. The white Rex Devon after a few moments came down the steps and then curled up beside him obviously expected to be petted and David obliged more out of something else to focus on then anything.

I guess I get to meet both of her sisters then...

David quickly stood up when he heard the doorbell ring and hurried down the few steps of the staircase receiving a glare from the white cat. He was fairly sure his Dad ridiculously spoiled his two cats since they were kittens and he always suspected that since both Tara and Tristan were in his father's care before his Dad met-or met again- his mother and definitely before either he or his sister were born the cats held the view they merely tolerated the intruders in their lives as long as they came first. Not, that David thought his father made the cats, who were really getting quite old all things considered, his biggest priority.

Opening the door David saw Leo with two younger girls who shared at least a vague resemblance to Leo in looks. He noted that it seemed the youngest had rang the doorbell. "Leo," He said, with a bit of a laugh, "I see you brought both of your sisters. Mira and Grace was it?" He glanced at the two and then to Leo. He really hoped he had gotten the names right. "Come in. Feel free to make yourself comfortable. Mum and Dad are both at work at the moment. There is one guest room on the second floor and the other two are on the third floor."

He stepped back opening the door wider and glanced away awkwardly before glancing back at them, "Uh, do you want a tour first? Or do any of you need anything?"

I guess I get to meet both of her sisters then...

"It is fine," David said regarding Leo's sisters. He glanced at Grace who introduced herself brightly after asking about Leo telling him about them. "She met my sister last year, it wouldn't be that weird I would know a bit about you two." He sighed as he shut the door when Grace glanced around the house in awe. "You can let my father know he did well in picking a home then. It was his choice and investments that went into here."

When Mira commented on the cats, he decided that having Leo's two sisters here would probably be almost like herding cats. He actually wished his sister was here because she probably would have been able to entertain both of them fairly well. Or at least the youngest. Mira didn't seem the easily distracted type. "Actually, the cats aren't mine, Tara and Tristan who are here right now are my father's and my sister's cat is with her at the main family manor."

"Anyways, a tour, sure. You can leave your things in the hallway for now. We can start on the first floor," He said, leading the way, into the living room. "Our living room both our dining rooms, a bathroom, and the kitchen are all on this floor." He leaned against the wall and glanced around the living room which was open to a dining area with the grand piano between the two areas and near a fireplace. If Grace was impressed by the mere hallway, he was half curious how she would react to the rest of the house. His parents hadn't exactly been cheap in how the decor they chose.

He glanced over at Leo, looking half overwhelmed. He was used to Cathy's energy, but he wasn't quite sure how to handle Grace's energy and Mira's minor interrogations, though he couldn't say Mira's cynicism wasn't something that was as hard to handle-even his sister who was always full of smiles had hints of that on occasion. Maybe in Grace's case he could lock her in his father's study and she could be entertained with his library for a few hours.

I guess I get to meet both of her sisters then...

David raised a brow when Leo assured him that Grace was just happy to be out of the house and commented on the place. He generally took the house for granted, probably because he grew up living there. It seemed normal to him. When Mira asked bluntly about how he lived in a house like his David answered equally as bluntly, "It's a house built on mostly the endless amount of vanity people have. My father is a surgeon who owns his own clinic with quite a bit success." He sighed, "The Avery Manor, my mother's childhood home, is far worse in excess. Of course that is what happens when you have generations upon generations to build on old money."

When Grace popped up with asking about the piano he remembered when his second cousin bothered him about his piano playing back at the Avery Manor. "The piano? I started dabbling in learning it last year. I've taken a few lessons." He shrugged, and glanced over to Leo noticing her rubbing her eyes and frowned slightly. It wasn't normal for her and he wondered about it, but dismissed for the moment. Besides if she was getting sick David knew his father would notice within minutes of coming home. Actually it was fairly annoying how much his father noticed any physical ailment but insisted on primarily only muggle medicine for the family.

He left where he was leaning against the wall and headed towards the main dinning room that was connected to the kitchen. "Our actual dining room is this way and connected to the kitchen," He said, opening the door to the dining room.

I guess I get to meet both of her sisters then...

David made a small chuckle at Mira’s answer and shook his head when Leo chided Mira, “No, it’s fine. And, actually, Mira, no I don’t have money. My father has money. And, my Mum has her own steady income from working. At least when it comes to my family, close and extended, to various degrees, you don’t get anything without earning it.” He raised a brow at Mira, fairly unfazed by the anything she said. Despite her bluntness, Mira was downright delightful compared to practically anyone on either side of his family. However when Mira asked if Leo had anything to do with him picking up piano he paled a bit before turning a bit red and glancing away hearing Leo say Mira’s name after hitting her on the arm.

“I… Leonette had some influence in the decision,” David answered regaining his composure. “But, we've had the piano for years and it served no particular use in the house as no one in this branch of the League family could play.”

That was when Grace spoke up as they came into the kitchen and asked what was wrong. He turned to hear Leo state their mother would have loved a kitchen like this and then Mira agreed. Glancing away he realized he hadn’t really thought about Leo’s family situation, at least in regards to her mother, or that anything in his house might have potentially bothered them-though could saying a deceased loved one would have loved something count as something negative? He took a deep breath trying to think of the best way to word it-honestly the kitchen in many ways was the least utilized place in the entire house. “It’s free for use if any of you want,” David said quietly, leaning against the counter. “As long as no magic is involved…”

He saw a covered plate of cookies on the counter and he cautiously took one out and paused glancing at it trying to decide if it was the result of his mother’s cooking or catering. It was hard to tell and he took a bite and paled, with a bit of a cough and he dropped the rest of the cookie into the sink’s garbage disposal flipped the switch for a moment and then turned it off returning the kitchen to silence. “And, avoid the cookies, apparently.”