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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 18, 2009 23:57:00 GMT -5
The Black Cat Apartments had been damaged pretty bad after the attack on Hogsmeade. That was the major downfall for Claire. The building wizards told people that they couldn't go back in because it could collapse. Other than her apartment, Claire didn't have anywhere else to go. That was until Edmund actually invited her to stay at his house.
Naturally, his invitation nearly floored her. She remembered staring at him for a few moments before she answered him. It was probably the nicest thing that he had ever done for her. Part of her couldn't help but wonder what he was up to. She had never known Edmund to do such a thing.
Claire accepted the invitation to stay at his house, seeing as she didn't have anywhere else to go. She went by the apartment and at least attempted to get a few of her things. She would have to go shopping in order to replace what she lost.
She sent what she could get on over to his house before she apparated herself to his house. Once she was there, Claire took a deep breath and as she rang the doorbell, she attempted to let it out slowly.
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 19, 2009 0:07:08 GMT -5
Although most wealthy wizards owned house elves, Edmund was a rare exception. The Fairfax family was so ridiculously rich that they actually employed a full staff of human servants. All of them were fully trained wizards, and were well paid.
So it was that a butler, by the name of Richmond, opened the door in formal dress robes, when Claire rang the doorbell.
"Yes?" Richmond inquired politely, looking down at Claire through a pair of spectacles. "May I help you?"
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 19, 2009 0:12:28 GMT -5
While she waited on the door to be opened, she had finally exhaled all the air out and tried to keep her breathing normal. There was no way in the world that she was going to admit that her stomach was tied in knots, or that she was even slightly nervous about being here.
As the door opened, Claire wasn't expecting to see an actual person standing there. "Um, hi," she said politely. "I'm Claire, um, Edmund invited me." There was just a hint of her being sort of nervous at the moment in her tone, but she did her best to hide it.
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 19, 2009 0:23:20 GMT -5
Richmond hesitated for a long moment, looking her up and down with a doubtful expression. Then a sudden spark of realization seemed to hit him and he nodded. "Claire Weiss?" he said. "Yes... Master Edmund is expecting you. I will show you into the parlor."
He stepped aside to allow her passage into the house. "I am Richmond, the butler. I can take your cloak, if you would like."
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 19, 2009 0:30:54 GMT -5
When the butler said her name, she nodded. "That's me," she said a little more at ease. The butler seemed nice enough. Claire took a step into the house and she looked to the butler again. "Well, it's nice to meet you Richmond." Claire gave him a smile out of politeness.
She never had anyone ask if they could take her cloak, but she thought it would be rude if she said no. Claire took off her cloak and handed it to Richmond. "Thank you."
Following Richmond to the parlor, Claire looked around, taking in everything. If it was one thing she liked, it was the paintings that she saw. They were filled with color and it just seemed to fit in a house like this.
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 19, 2009 0:40:58 GMT -5
Richmond led Claire to the parlor and nodded for her to sit down. Still holding her cloak draped elegantly over his arm, he turned back for the door, but stopped in the doorway and turned on his heels. "I will inform Master Edmund that you have arrived. Also, someone will be here to take your bag up to your quarters in a few moments."
Then he was gone, leaving Claire alone with her thoughts.
A few minutes later, a tall, lanky wizard entered the room. "Hello, I'm the steward, Hammond," he said. "I'll just take your bag up to your room."
He was less formal than Richmond had been, and he seemed to be rather young. He approached Claire and, taking out his wand, levitated her bag out of the room, pausing only to give her a polite bow before disappearing.
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 19, 2009 7:46:21 GMT -5
Claire wasn't used to having people do things for her. She was used to doing things herself, because in her apartment, she didn't have any house elves, or people that would help her.
"Thank you," she called out to Richmond as he disappeared. She ended up getting lost in her thoughts. The thoughts consistented of why did Edmund invite her to stay. She wasn't complaining because she had a roof over her head, but it was the reason that she was trying to figure out.
Claire's thoughts were interrupted as another wizard appeared in the room. "Hi, Hammond," she said being polite. She was going to tell him that she could take her own bags up to her room, but that would be rude. Claire sighed. "Thank you."
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 19, 2009 12:14:44 GMT -5
A few minutes later, Edmund finally entered the room. He was dressed casually in muggle clothes, which seemed very much at odds with the formal attire of his staff and the ostentatiousness of the decor. But he moved with an easy grace that came from being utterly at home in his surroundings.
He had invited Claire to stay for one reason, and it was not simply out of charity. But Claire had never been to his home, and a part of him wanted her to see how he lived, and how she could live if she would only stop fighting him. There was also something to be said for the old "home court advantage." He'd spent time in her apartment, so now it was time for her to spend time in his home.
The Fairfax estate, with its ornate decor, household staff, lavish gardens, and sheer size, could be simultaneously impressive and intimidating, and Edmund wanted to see how Claire would react to such an atmosphere.
"Ah, Claire," he greeted her, smiling broadly. "I see you made it. I'm so glad you decided to take me up on my offer to stay. What do you think of my humble abode?"
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 19, 2009 12:39:21 GMT -5
After Hammond disappeared, Claire looked around the parlor again. She knew that she could more than likely get lost in a house like this, but there were plenty of things to look at, she was sure. At the moment, a vase on mantle caught her attention. It was painted perfectly and had a painting simlar to the "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" painting.
Edmund's voice filled her ears as she was still looking at the vase and she turned around slowly. "Edmund," Claire said in greeting. She even had a smile on her face. Taking in his appearance, Claire decided that Edmund wore muggle clothes extremely well.
"I like it so far. There is plenty of artwork, and the people here seem nice, or well, at least Hammond and Richmond have so far. Thank you for letting me stay."
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 19, 2009 20:30:27 GMT -5
Edmund's smile widened, showing off his brilliant white teeth. "I'm glad you like it," he said. "I've worked hard to maintain the estate, so that it's still in the same state as it was 100 years ago."
He nodded to the vase she was admiring. "That was specially commissioned by my great, great grandfather as a wedding gift for his bride." He took a quick glance around, waving one hand. "Pretty much everything in this place has a story to it... even I don't know all of them. Would you like to have a tour of the estate?" He held out his hand to her.
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 19, 2009 20:54:43 GMT -5
Edmund's house was truly lovely so far. She knew that the rest would be just the same. "Really?" Old items interested Claire, especially artwork. She didn't really know too much about it, but she did like to look at them. She looked back at the vase again before turning back to him.
"A tour sounds nice," she said reaching her hand out and putting it in his. Claire wasn't thinking about anything as she did it. It just felt natural for her to do so.
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 19, 2009 22:57:18 GMT -5
Edmund hesitated for a moment when she placed her hand in his. He was half tempted to pull her to him and kiss her, but he knew now was not the time. It was too soon.
Instead he held her hand in his and began to walk to the other side of the parlor, where the large oak double doors were. "These doors are as old as the house is, nearly 200 years old. They have to be refinished every five years, to protect them."
He threw open the doors, which opened into a large library. The entire room was lined with bookshelves that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. There were two large oak desks in one corner, and in another was a semi-circle of leather armchairs surrounding an antique oak coffee table.
"The leather chairs aren't original, of course," Edmund said almost apologetically. "But the old brocade chairs that used to sit there were terribly uncomfortable."
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 20, 2009 8:27:46 GMT -5
Claire's mind was going in all kinds of different directions to really notice that Edmund hesitated for a moment. She started to move her feet to keep up and as he opened the doors, Claire's eyes widened slightly. Never had she seen so many books before. She, just like almost anyone else, read occasionally, but of course her selection was just an extremely small fraction compared to this.
She took her time looking around the library and then as he spoke about the leather chairs, her attention was directed there. "I can imagine," she said with a smile. "So what kind of books are here? Everything?"
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 20, 2009 18:29:31 GMT -5
Edmund smiled. "These are all muggle books, actually. As part of our family's title, we have a number of tenants who rent from us... it's sort of a modified feudal system. It's always been that way, and the people have no desire to change it. But since we work extensively with muggles, we like to keep a large collection of muggle books on hand... mostly fiction, but all kinds, really. We even loan them out to the locals from time to time. The only wizarding books we have are over in that corner." He pointed to a single bookshelf that stood apart from all the rest, flanked by two suits of armor, one on each side.
He gave her hand a light tug and pulled her over to that bookshelf. "I have to show you something," he said with a mysterious smile.
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 20, 2009 18:48:28 GMT -5
"That's interesting," Claire said as she continued to glance over titles that she could see. Maybe while she was staying here, she would come back and visit the library. "Some muggle books are not all that bad to be honest." Part of her felt like a little girl again as she looked around.
She felt a light tug on her hand and started to move her feet toward the bookshelf that she was being led to. "Don't tell me that you have random pictures of me everywhere," Claire said teasingly.
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 21, 2009 15:05:49 GMT -5
Edmund chuckled. "No, actually, I keep my secret shrine to you up in my bedroom, where I can enjoy it in privacy," he teased, winking at her.
They stopped in front of the bookshelf and he reached over and touched one of the books on the shelf. It was right in the middle of the shelf, just at eye level with Edmund. The book stood out, because in a shelf filled with dusty old wizarding books, this book had a bright red leather cover and was embossed with gold writing and gold-tipped pages. It was also the only muggle book on the shelf. The title read King Lear, by William Shakespeare.
Edmund smiled at her, then pulled the book forward. Immediately, there was a groaning sound, and the bookshelf slid to one side, revealing another room hidden behind it. He turned to her and held out his hand again. "Want to see where it goes?"
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 21, 2009 15:22:23 GMT -5
Claire let out a laugh and rolled her eyes.
When they stopped at the bookshelf, her eyes were scanning the spines of each book just to see if she was familiar with any. Of course, she didn't didn't even get far because the movement of Edmund's arm caught her attention. She looked at the book he was reaching for. What was a muggle book doing on... her question was answered before she could finish thinking about it.
Her eyes widen just slightly, as a look of curiosity crossed her face. Claire, feeling brave, reached her hand out and nodded. "Yeah, sure. As long as you're not leading me down to a pit of snakes were you decide to leave me, I'm all for going," she said teasing him again.
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 22, 2009 15:52:32 GMT -5
Edmund laughed again. "Damn, you've got me figured out," he replied. "There goes my evil plan. You're just too bloody smart for me, love."
The room was dark, so he touched a button on the wall before he led her into the room. As the room lit up, it revealed a strange atmosphere. At first, it looked like they were standing on a tropical beach. The lighting in the room was provided by the blazing sunlight of an enchanted ceiling. At their feet was thick white sand, and right ahead of them, crystal blue waves lapped gently at the sand. There were beach chairs and umbrellas set up by the edge of the water, and there were even several palm trees stretching up toward the enchanted sky.
He smiled at her. "I couldn't be content to just put in a pool," he said with a smile. "You'll want to take off your shoes."
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Post by Claire Weiss on Feb 22, 2009 16:24:24 GMT -5
"Ah, well, it's my job to figure out your evil plans," Claire responded smiling.
After Edmund turned on the light, Claire had the feeling that this house would never cease to amaze her. The beach reminded her of the place that she had always imagined going to for vacation whenever she had the chance. This room might be her favorite room in the house, other than the kitchen, that would be if she was even allowed to have the chance to possibly cook sometime.
Claire let go of Edmund's hand as she reached down at took her shoes off. "Well Mr. Fairfax, I admit that I adore your house already. I would have never imagined of anyone ever having a room like this."
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Post by Edmund Fairfax on Feb 25, 2009 0:58:55 GMT -5
Edmund grinned again. So far, he was greatly enjoying her reactions to his house. He wasn't sure why he had waited so long to show it to her.
"I don't show this room to just anyone," he said, winking. "I mean, if most people knew I had a tropical beach in my house, they'd turn it into a vacation destination. I just like it because it's warm and relaxing. I like to jog along the beach, or just sit and listen to the waves."
He took off his own shoes and left them at the edge of the beach. "Come, let's go for a little walk."
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