family time (Burkes & family)

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon smiled at Fee, and caught her attention.

"Ophelia, darling, I have no doubt you will be the most beautiful girl there, even if Kassia and Allaire give you a run for your money. You'll be beautiful enough to break my heart." Jadon meant that. Anytime he had any indication that his sisters were growing up, he felt a pang. He wanted them young so that he could protect them forever. Fee still let him, and Kassia pretended that she needed him. Allaire was a girl all on her own, though.

[benjamin]

Benjamin beamed at Ophelia, she was his pride and joy and Ben made sure she knew it every day. "Fee, your a Burke. Price is nothing, you just point my little angel and it shall be yours." Leaning back in his chair slightly, he allowed his family to continue their conversation, he loved just being around them. He had the perfect family and their was nothing more any man could ask for. Listening as Jadon spoke to Ophelia he knew the hidden messages behind those words, Ben himself felt older than Merlin as he watched his family grow.

"Well Jadon, I think it's official son. Your getting old!" Chuckling he winked at his eldest and the one who had already followed in his footsteps as far as service to the Dark Lord went.

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon just laughed at his father's words. "That explains why the back keeps going out," he joked. He felt old, sometimes, next to his sisters. Fee still had another year in school, and he'd already been out for a couple. It felt... it felt different. There was a lot that could happen to a person after they graduated, and a lot fo the things he had seen and been through, he prayed his sisters would never experience. Yes, he was devoted to the Dark Lord, but he didn't want them in that kind of danger.

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia paid close attention to her brother as he spoke and her eyes narrowed a bit speculatively, lately she always felt as if he were keeping secrets from her and it was odd at times but then of course he'd always be able to recover as quick as he could so that it appeared as if nothing had happened. Still she smiled when he mentioned Fee outshining the world and Kass smiled, she didn't have Fee's vanity and it didn't need to be stroked...as a matter of fact she didn't know what she had. Duty? Responsibility? Those were the only things that seemed to be important to her, besides her family of course.

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia beamed happily. Compliments were like oxygen to her, without them she withered and weakened. "Thank you, Daddy!" She said happily. She was already envisioning spending a large quantity of galleons on the perfect dress for the ball and doing her hair up in curls... if only she could imagine the boy who would be standing next to her, it would have been her perfect fantasy.

"You said you were visiting Nathalia?" Ophelia said. "How is she? I miss her so... I hope she will come and visit us soon."

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia allowed her mind to wander and fall about what Fee was thinking. Dresses...her hair. True Kassia never cared really, as long as she looked presentable and proper.

An image flashed in her mind of a red dress hanging off her shoulders with a slit up to her hip, it was a beautiful dress meant to tempt a man and hint at the mysteries and possibilities that were beneath the material. It was hardly appropriate, presentable, or proper.

Kassia would never design or wear a dress like that, but the image had come to her already and she was staring thinking about the dress and thinking about why she was thinking about such a naughty costume.

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon nodded to Fee. "Yes... I was visiting her. She and I actually came back to town together," he revealed, wondering if his sisters would be angry, though he wasn't quite sure why they would be. "So I imagine she'll be by. I know she was going to Ursula's tonight. But to answer your question, Fee, she is doing well and she says to tell all three of you that she misses you."

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia chose not to comment about Aunt Ursula, who she thought to be rather odd. She'd heard whispering from her parents about her aunt, and she didn't quite know what to make of that. All she understood was that Aunt Ursula refused to ever marry and apparently didn't like men.

But Nathalia was one of her favorite cousins. She was pretty, of course, and smart. But what Ophelia liked about her was that she did things her own way and didn't seem to be intent on following all the family conventions. It wasn't that Fee was a rebel, but she did have a mind of her own, and she liked to see that at least one of her cousins was the same way and wasn't afraid to be herself. Fee secretly admired Nathalia's free-spirited nature. Imagine going to live in New York City! It seemed so exciting to Ophelia.

"I do hope she'll visit soon," she said enthusiastically. "Oh! Maybe she could meet us in Hogsmeade to go dress shopping! Wouldn't that be fun? I must remember to owl her after dinner!"

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon smiled at Fee, having to keep from outright laughing. She was the epitome of princess, and she could have her fits as well, but most of the time, she was one of those simple souls that could find the good in anything, without being annoying about it. He truly prayed that she never losed her sense of that.

"I'm sure she would love to, Fee. Tell her, in your owl, that I said she must."

[Kassia Burke]

That was precisely what Kassia loved about Fee as well. Her light demeanor, the sunshine that surrounded her was brilliant, but Kass worried all to often that someone was going to crush her older sister because of that light and of her two sisters she worried about Fee more. Allaire, was quieter, she knew she was looking for love, but at the same time she was sensible, she idolized their mother and therefore would curb any wild inhibitions....Kassia hoped.

Kassia as the middle child, well middle girl anyhow, often felt she was outside looking in. She loved her family to a fault, and she would do anything to be obedient, somehow equating obedience with their love. She had never broken a rule, never strayed too far from what was proper, and always did what she was told. Was she unhappy? Did she even realize she should have been?

[Emma Burke]

Emma took her husband's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. They really had four perfect, amazing children, and she couldn't help but think of how the Scotts faired... and she was even more proud of her kids, and of her husband for them. They made her feel like she was a worthy mother, and not a day went by that she wasn't proud of them.

She didn't think any of the girls were going to join Voldemort's ranks, but she was okay with that. Kassia was too gentle, Fee too... high maintance. Allaire maybe could handle it, but she almost hoped she never had to find out. Jadon had joined, and that was good enough.

She wondered if together, they could convince Nathalia to join. Glancing at Ben, she made a mental note to bring it up later.

"Is there anything else new from any of you?"

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia rarely felt the need to show off in front of her parents, she knew they loved her for who she was, but sometimes she wanted praise too like Fee. She didn't like that part of herself, she considered it a weakness, not for Fee of course but only for herself. She was hard on herself, harder than she was on anyone else. For whatever reason at a young age she adopted the Burke name as if it were a badge of honor, and she accepted the terms that it was also a prison that was now self made.

Regardless of appearances she still had Fee's desire to be acknowledged and loved, and she did have Allaire's quiet passion. Kassia's passion bloomed under the surface of quiet serenity, it had been pricked and cut sore by the restrictions she placed on herself under the privilege of being a Burke. Quietly then for her mother's question she mentioned Slughorn's inevitable invitation.

It wasn't that Slughorn himself was a great man to get into good graces with, but the invitation meant that you were somebody and he wanted to get to know you, it's benefits however were getting to rub elbows with other somebodies and the girls getting their name even more out there for whatever eligible men there were was always a good thing.

[Emma Burke]

Emma wasn't sure what to make of that, the invitation from Slughorn, and she glanced at her husband. His name wasn't familiar.

"Oh," she responded at length, smiling at her daughters. "And what happens at his little get togethers? Are they... fun?"

She was always glad to know what was going on in her children's lives, but really, what was she supposed to say about this? She thought it would be a bt overprotective and premature to warn them that it sounded like he only wanted to get on their good sides. And besdes, the girls were smart enough to have probably already figured it out.

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia smirked. "Ok, really, mother, they're dreadfully boring affairs, really. Just a bunch of people from important families and the occasional really good student, sitting around in a room eating food and listening to Slughorn go on and on about how great he is. I mean, of course, we have to go... everyone who's everyone is there... it would have been a complete insult if we were left off the invite list. And if we were to not show up, it would look as if we'd been slighted, and we couldn't have that, now, could we, mother? Besides, it gave me a chance to wear my new dress."

[Jadon Burke]

Jadon listened to Fee carefully. He could see that his mother was a tad wary, but he remembered Slughorn and he was a bumbling fool, really. It didn't surprise him that he wanted to get in good with all of the influencial families.

"And did anyone notice your new dress, Fee?" He asked, diverting their mother from asking any more about Slughorn.

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia dropped her eyes to her plate. She didn't entertain the same ideas about the club. She didn't value Slughorn any, of course, but she did see the potential in finding more reasons to ingratiate herself with the "right" sort of people. Not that she could necessarily *stand* the right sort of people, but she wanted to do her father proud and have as many offers for marriage in hopes that she would bring honor to the Burke name.

But she had commented out of desperation for a talk and since it wasn't a favorable topic she'd concentrate on her food instead.

[Ursula Webb]

Dinner was about half-finished when the knock came on the door. One of the little house elves, a tiny little thing known as Bobi, hurried to answer it. When the door opened, Ursula burst in, leading her daughter inside as well. "Good evening," she greeted the elf. "Will you tell my dear brother Benjamin that his favorite sister and niece are here for a visit?"

Bobi nodded and scurried into the dining room. "Pardon Bobi's intrusion," the elf squeaked. "But Master Benjamin, your sister and niece have come for a visit? Does Master wish Bobi to send them in?"

[Kassia Burke]

Kassia glanced upward quickly at her father after Bobi's message. Ursula was here? And Nathalia too? That was almost too much to hope for what with Jadon home as well. Kassia had always admired the strength and independence of her Aunt and Cousin of course Kassia would never behave in any way contradictory but she was amazed how well her relatives pulled it off.

[Ophelia Burke]

Ophelia was also very excited by this news. She broke into an enthusiastic smile. "Oh! Nathalia's here! And Auntie Ursula... Daddy, we must let them in! I'm sure we have enough food for them, right? Please?"

[Kassia Burke]

(Just thought this thread could be bumped)

Kassia looked at her father expectantly although he was taking a while to decide and then transferred her somewhat pleading eyes over to her mother to allow her aunt and cousin in. She had a soft spot for both women, of course Kassia had a soft spot in general for family.