bon appetit ((burke family + invite))

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After months of discussion and arrangement, Millicent and the family elves had gotten the manor in order and prepared to host a rather formal feast. Other than having her mother-in-law joining them, their future in-laws from Hector's arrangement were also slated to attend. She wasn't sure of the exact time yet, but she made sure there was plenty of time allotted time before and afterwards for chatting and leisure.

Millicent was sitting in the drawing room sipping a relaxing cup of Earl Grey. Surrounding her on the walls and throughout the room were various artifacts the Burkes had possessed for generations ranging from taxidermy dioramas, ancient vases with dried flowers, a magnificent harp that was playing a light tune, some family portraits, and one of the many libraries scattered throughout the property that tied the room together.

@Hector Burke @Melanthius Burke @Cecelia Burke @Minnie Bulstrode @Bellona Lestrange

"Maybe you could just call me Bel? That's my nickname, if it's any easier."

Adorable. So adorable. She wanted to squish him.

"I have a cat called Nightstar who protects me from rats," she told him, giggling. "Tomo is beautiful, though."

What was a girlfriend. What was a girlfriend?! How would you try and describe that? What did they call it when an unmarried boy and girl were together?!

"Er - it's-- er..."

Ah, yes, he should've expected that their names wouldn't roll off the tongue as easily. The curses of standard names in the magical world...

"And you can just call me Thius as well," Thius added as he glanced over at the familiars. He'd never seen anything quite like them, especially as it appeared two of them had multiple tails. And coat colors that appeared utterly unnatural. It was quite fascinating to see in the flesh...

Thius looked over at Bellona and then back at Saburo as he tried to think of a way to explain the concept. Er...

"Well, Bellona is my girlfriend, and I'm her boyfriend, which makes us a couple. Your sister and my brother are betrothed, we're a step below engagement."

Yes, that should make enough sense.

@Bellona Lestrange @Saburo Tokugawa

She didn't expect him to be so flustered, it was sort of adorable, but it made her feel so humbly embarrassed! They had just met, and Hector was already losing his composure. He must've been so nervous!

Sakura was nervous about it too, especially as she and her family had to uproot their life to come to Britain and expand the family. So far, she had no idea what she expected. It was all so different, and it was going to be strange to not be tutored at home anymore. Instead, she was going to attend an actual school. What was that supposed to be like?

Looking up at the portrait, she bowed to it as well. "You and your father look alike, Hector. You're like twins." The resemblance was quite striking to her.

@Hector Burke

While everyone else was conversing, Minnie let out a loud squeal as she knelt down to try and pet one of the kitsunes. "What's your name, guest pet? You're so kyoot!"

Feeling a tap around her elbow, Millicent noticed Mitsy was there. Was there something wrong with the meal they had planned? "Give me one moment, Mrs. Tokugawa," she said to her, following the house elf out of the drawing room.

Cecelia wanted to talk to her? The least she could do was stop being so insubordinate for the remainder of the evening. She went upstairs and approached her daughter's room. Millicent was bounced back as she realized the kind of spell Melanthius had put around her room. She pulled out her wand, taking down the invisible barrier. "Cecelia? What do you need to talk about? Do you promise to behave?"

@Violet @Cecelia Burke

Cece heard her mother's voice and slowly opened her door, poking her face into the opening a bit, like a child hiding. She then opened the door more to show that she had changed into the dress her mother had picked out for her to wear for the evening, "Yes mother. You win. I'll do all the lessons that grandmother wishes." She felt like she was choking on her tongue when she said the next part, "And I will allow her to arrange a marriage if she wishes to do so." She looked at her mother, trying to get a read off her but ending up empty, "Plus, I'm starving." As if to prove her point her stomach growled loudly, "Please mum?" Cecelia very rarely called her mother mum, it was always mother, "I promise to be good." 

@Millicent Bulstrode Burke

Glaring at her daughter, Millicent ended up pleasantly surprised that she had done herself up properly for the dinner. "Very well, Cecelia. I'm proud of you for making the right choice. Our guests just arrived, so you'll have to tell them that you got out of your unexpected plans early and that you arrived through one of our fireplaces."

She could only hope that her daughter actually meant those words and that she'd find better company when she returned to Hogwarts...

"Let's head back down."

@Cecelia Burke

He admired her side profile as she bowed to the likeness of his Father. How exemplary was she? Her behaviour was fine-tuned to the exactness of what a good, well-bred woman should be like. And yet, it really didn't seem as she was trying hard or putting on a show or anything of the like.

Far from putting him at ease though, his heart rate only sped faster.

"You... think myself to look surly?" he breathed bashfully, as the air of a short, nervous chuckle took hold. Merlin, why did he say that? Of course she didn't mean it in that way! Hector turned to her, aghast. "Oh - I'm sorry. I know that's not at all what you meant. You only meant to pay me compliment, yes. I know what you mean. We do look very similar and... we are quite similar in nature, as it happens."

Hector couldn't take the dryness of his throat. The tight clutching of his chest. The way she seemed unperturbed by it.

He leaned a little closer to her, but only in a way that it was clear he wanted to confide something:

"I'm really nervous," he admitted in a whisper, smiling ruefully. "I have been very nervous. About meeting you."

@Sakura Tokugawa

Cece nodded and followed her mother down the stairs. She straightened hher posture with her shoulders back as she entered the room. She smiled when saw Idina there and went to hug her friend, kissing her cheek, before turning to her grandmothers guests, "I'm so terribly sorry I'm late. I got caught up in a tutoring session. I just got back through the floo." She then looked at Andrea and idina again, "I do hope my brothers are behaving themselves." She then looked over at Bella and simply nodded. That was when she noticed an unfamiliar and, "Is that a kitsune?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. 

@Millicent Bulstrode Burke @Bellona Lestrange @Melanthius Burke @Saburo Tokugawa

"I have not met your father, but I can see why. Your father raised you well."

First impressions really did matter, and it especially showed when it came to a previously-unknown fiance. So far, he's been nothing but polite and gracious to her, and for that, Sakura was grateful. She was afraid that she'd somehow be a bad guest, but that hasn't been the case.

Watching as he moved to whisper in her ear, Sakura cracked a smile of understanding. "I was nervous too, Hector, but being welcomed by you and your family made it go away."

Her kitsune was also starting to get more comfortable with all of the people and objects in the Bulstrode Burke manor; she was somewhat wary of Minnie and her jumpiness however.

"Are you going to Hogwarts with us?"

@Hector Burke