Laura looked at the woman just knock on the door and walk in if she did that at home her mother would kill her, Laura smiled to the old person and said. "Thanks." Laura skipped to where she had been told to go and then knocked on the door and waited for an answer she wanted to suprise Zhenya.

Letting out a chuckle, Alexander said "I am tired, very very tired, and super busy. The twins are incredible, but demanding, and work is just getting busier and busier." He wished he could take some time off work, but he was on the edge of a breakthrough. And the twins... well there was nothing he would do about that. He loved them and wanted them to be how they were. He would never stop getting up for them in the middle of the night.

"Brain cancer is really... not good Dima. Especially if it grows in an area that they can't get to. Sometimes they can remove it by surgery, where the muggles cut the skull open. Sometimes they can do it by chemicals and radiation, but sometimes it's aggressive and grows between all the free cells and just anchors itself in there. If the muggle doctors are saying there's nothing they can do then... there's nothing. It would be a miracle if she lived. I just don't know how to break it to her through a letter. I don't know what to do," he explained. How could he be the one to break it to her? And by a letter? He just couldn't do it. "She would be so alone and I just don't know if she could cope knowing it at school, finding out by a letter."

"I know, she's a teenager now. But she's still a child to me, I didn't think I'd be hearing about boys from her until she was sixteen, at least. I just wasn't expecting it," he said. He hoped this boyfriend of hers would be taking care of his little girl.

Zhenya was laying in bed reading. She was getting sick, and had refused to let anyone treat her. So she put up with a runny nose, coughing and sneezing and shivering. Who was knocking? "WHAT?" she yelled. She had to yell though, she was losing her voice. She didn't even think that whoever was at her door would be able to hear her, so she yelled it again.

Laura didn't hear anything maybe no one was there. "Zhenya?" Are you in there, Laura openned the door and then was shocked to see that Zhenya was ill. "Have I come at a bad time?" Laura sighed she didn't like seeing her BFF like this. "What is wrong?"

The door creaked open and Zhenya flopped back onto the bed. Probably her mother with food. Thanks, mother, for finally coming up here, she thought. But then she heard another voice. Frowning, she propped herself up onto her elbows and saw Laura. Her face lit up and she smiled, waving Laura over to the bed. Was it a bad time? Zhenya nodded, still smiling, "Yep but I need company," she croaked out. She was so happy to have a friend visit. "I didn't know you would be coming over! I'm just sick, my father says it's something called a cold. I don't know, I told him I didn't want his potion and he said okay. So I got to stay in bed," she said with a smile.

Dimitri listened to his father explanation about cancer. Aw, was it very dangerous? They need to cut the skull open to cure it?

O_____________o

He couldn't imagine if his sister knew about this. Maybe she would pass out or something? "Dad? Does it mean..." he tried to ask. "She didn't have chance to cure?" if yes, that sounded very heartbreaking. Aww.. Poor Zhenny, and Poor Raven too. He couldn't believe it. Yes, his father was right. They couldn't explain to her by letter, she need someone beside her to know about this. So, he decided not to mention it in his letter, just asked her to come home at Christmas.

Dimitri stood up beside his father and tapped his shoulder. "I know you couldn't believe it. But.." he smiled, tried to arrange the word. "I think just let her enjoy her time as a teen-age girl who was currently in love or something." He did believe that teeenage life was precious because he also experienced that. He tried to be neutral, not in Zhenya's side or his parents' side about this. "I'll write her, make sure that she wouldn't neglect her school stuffs and perhaps I want to write to her boyfriend too that he could take care of her."

=====================

What did actually he do here?

Gary was in Godric's Hollow now, he decided to visit his girlfriend's house, but actually he wasn't ready yet, especially if he would meet her parents. Meh, The blonde guy was nervous and he could feel that his heart beat very faster. He was more nervous than when he confessed his feeling to her. Ugh! Just hoped that her parents were not too annoying. Sigh.

Brace yourself, Gerald!

Okay, now he was standing in front of her house. He managed to be cool as usual. Gently he knocked the door.

*knock knock*

Gulp. Alexander even started feeling bad for Dimitri, who would probably be Zhenya's biggest rock through this time. He slowly nodded, "I'm afraid there is little hope for the girl," he said softly. He was trying to think back through his time as a healer. He had never once seen any cancer, but he had researched a lot about muggle illnesses and diseases as part of his study. They never had muggles come through his work, but he had occasionally gone to a muggle hospital to help treat someone. Of course, their memory was erased, or they were unconscious and didn't even know what was happening. But cancer? Never. If the muggle doctors said there was little hope then... Alexander didn't have anything to work with. There was no spell or potion that would help. Nothing like surgery or various treatments the muggles used which were usually quite effective. "I don't know, I assume the location of the tumor is too hard to reach, or it's progressed too far. Might have even travelled through her body to another organ..." he said vaguely.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Alexander turned around. His son was trying to tell him that it was okay she had a boyfriend. Maybe he was right. Maybe this young man would take care of his daughter. He could imagine her being really upset knowing about Raven, hopefully he was comforting her. He crossed his arms and looked at Dimitri for a while, thinking about him when he was a teenager. He was right, it was a special time. "I suppose you're right. People need to learn things for themselves, and that includes teenagers." He walked back over to his chair and sat down. "I just can't imagine her with a boyfriend," he said with a slight chuckle. Not his little girl.



Zhenya was sitting in the lounge room with a mug of hot chocolate and an untouched brownie. She was too upset to eat anything. She knew something wasn't right between her and her family. What was it? She just knew there was something they weren't telling her. Her mother had been baking all her favourite foods, and her father had been teaching her new things about his healing potions. Why were they doing all this? She felt alone in her own home, thinking that her brother and parents were definitely keeping a secret from her. She was still getting over her cold, and she couldn't stop coughing and sneezing.

There was a knock at the door, and Zhenya waited a few moments for her mother to answer, but she didn't. Where was everyone? She put her mug down and walked to the front door. Her slippers were scuffing against the polished floorboards, and she opened the door. Her heart jumped as she saw who it was. She smiled and stood there. Was it really Gary? It was! She stepped forward into his arms and stood there for a while. It was nice having human contact, even though she was with her family, they weren't really speaking. "What are you doing here?" she asked softly, lifting her chin to look at him. Had he grown even more? Or maybe Zhenya was just shrinking? No way, she wasn't shrinking.

Dimitri was shocked and speechless. How could his sister pass this reality. He just nodded at his father's explanation. Merlin.. this is.. This is hard! Though he didn't have any interest with medical things or anything related with that but.. "I'm afraid she might be depressed when she know about this." said him flat. He was in dilema, he didn't want to see his sister depressed when she knew about this, but if he didn't tell her.. She might be upset too. Huh, but soon or later, she might knew about what's happening to her best friend.

Yay! He knew he was right! Dimitri Burton was the most awesometastical brother in the world. Hehehe. The 20-year-old guy just chuckled when his father said that he couldn't imagine see her with a boyfriend. "Me neither, Dad." He still remembered how was her expression when he teased him alot if she could have a boyfriend or not. "Time flies so fast, right? It seems like yesterday when she got her letter from Hogwarts." And now his sister was already in her third year and she already had a boyfriend. Maybe later he could see her in a chapel, wearing a wedding dress with his boyfriend? He didn't know.

"I think the dinner is ready. And I'm already hungry." He grinned. Maybe his mother had prepared a big dinner to celebrate his first day at Ministry.





OOC: was it Christmas in this time?

Gary was waiting for someone who will open this door. Maybe her mother will open it, but what would he say to her? He still managed himself to be cool and calm. He was ready enough even they wouldn't like him. Okay, that's all right. But when he realized that not his mother opened the door, it was her! It was his girlfriend. The blonde guy was slightly relieve. He gave his warm smile to her.

"Surprise." he said then he hugged her tight. "I miss you.. sweetheart." He stroked her long hair, it was his favorite. But he realized that she didn't look okay. Was she sick? He touched her cheeks, it was slightly warm. "Are you sick?" suddenly he asked.

Yeah I suppose Gary's TL is Christmas :D
 

Alexander nodded, again. "Might have to do something to cheer her up a bit. Don't know what though. What could possibly cheer someone up after this news? I just don't know, Dimitri, how to break it to her. We will just have to wait until she is at home and do it with us all there. Make sure she doesn't feel alone," he said. Was that all they could do? He could teach her more potions, he knew she liked that. Lisabel would cook lots of her favourite foods. Dimitri could be her brother, she loved that. It would be heartbreaking, telling her this.

"It seems like only yesterday I was rocking her to sleep in my arms, with you running around the house as a child," Alexander said laughing at the memories. He stood up, and went downstairs with his son. He could smell something amazing being served.



Zhenya just wanted to stay wrapped in his strong, protective arms forever. Feeling him touch her hair she closed her eyes against his chest and just took in the moment. It was perfect.

He touched her cheek and his hand felt so cool against it. Nodding, she said "Yeah, I think I have a cold. I won't let my father treat me." She leaned away to cough and felt it barking up her throat. Ouch. "I like your surprise! Come in, I... I don't know where everyone is. I think they might be upstairs somewhere," she said, taking his hand and walking inside. She closed the door and led him to the loungeroom where she had her blanket and pillows on the couch. She sat down again and covered herself and Gary with the blanket, and she rested her head on his arm. Well, if her parents and brother and uncle wanted to walk around on eggshells and not tell her what was going on, she wouldn't scream at them to come down and meet her boyfriend. She just wanted a few moments with him alone before they came down and bothered them. She wished she could take him to her room and lock the door so they wouldn't even know he was there.

Having cold.. Aww, that's not good. "Have you take a potion or medicine to cure you?" asked him worry. Why didn't she let her father treat her? Gary knew that her father was a healer. He slightly frowned to her, didn't she want to cure or something? What's wrong with her? The blonde guy knew that there's something wrong with her, but he didn't want to ask her more, just let her cracked it by herself.

He just followed his girlfriend who dragged him to the loungeroom, made him sat at the couch at covered and himself by a blanket. He just realized that he didn't see anyone home, except her. Did she stay alone? At Christmas? Aww.. that sucks. But in the other side, the blonde guy felt a bit relief that he didn't need to meet her parents. Huh. "Don't you feel hungry?" he knew that a sick person need to eat much. He decided to walk to the kitchen and noticed that there was so many foods. He took a bowl and put some warm chicken soup. Then she served it to her.

"Come on, you need to eat this." If she didn't want to eat it by herself, Gary thought he need to feed her.

Zhenya sniffed, and crossed her arms with a grumpy look on her face. No, she would not let them cure her. "No, I won't let them. They're... they're... I just don't want anything from them," she said sadly. If they didn't want to tell her what they were talking about, then she wouldn't let them treat her.

Where did he go? Zhenya looked around in horror, hoping her mother wasn't out the other side of the house. She was sure they were all upstairs, probably in her father's office. When he returned she let out a sigh of relief, and relaxed into the couch. Soup? For her? She smiled at him and took the bowl. She took small sips of it, but wasn't really hungry. "I don't really feel like eating much. My mother keeps cooking food and I just don't want it," she said. She felt so miserable. She didn't want Gary to think she was becoming boring, but there was something going on and she felt really lonely at home.

She didn't want to eat? Gary knew that was something wrong to her. He took the bowl and tried the soup. Mmm.. It was delicious, but why she didn't want to eat this? He began to stroke her hair again, perhaps she wanted to share her problems to her. "Tell me what's wrong with you?" said him soft. Then he kissed her forehead.

The blonde guy also wondered if she stayed alone at home or not. Where was Dimitri? He didn't tell her that actually few days ago, a man named Dimitri who was her brother wrote a letter and asked him to came home. At first, he felt a bit lazy to be here, but Dimitri said that she might need him because.. Ah, he didn't understand what did he mean.

He decided to take a spoon and tried to feed her. "Just have some, okay?" He smiled. If she didn't want it, That's okay. He would eat it. Hehehe.

He wanted to know what was wrong with her? But... she was so sad what if she cried... again? She was getting annoyed with herself, always crying. Taking a deep breath she said, quietly, "I don't know. I came home for Christmas, because they said they wanted to see me, but they just... I think they're ignoring me. I don't know why. My father keeps showing me how to make new potions, and my mother just keeps cooking food. I thought it would be fun being home with them but it's not, and I just feel so.. so lonely."

She smiled up at him when he held out a spoon. She sometimes fed the twins and now he was feeding her? She opened her mouth and drank the soup from the spoon. Yeah, it was good but she just didn't want to eat. She couldn't say no to Gary wanting to feed her, though.

Wait... "How did you know where I live?" she asked.

*shifty*
 

Gary paid attention her story. It sounded just like a mystery. They asked her to come home at Christmas, but he could guess there was something wrong about her family. But the big question is.. Why did Dimitri want to invite him to be here too? Once he asked to him by the letter, Her brother didn't want to explain much. But he sounded begging to him, so he decided to come. Though he didn't know what would her parents' reaction when they meet him.

:blink:

Err.. How to answer her question about that? Dimitri told him not to tell her that he invited him to be here. Gary just smiled and kept feeding her. He also wiped her mouth with his handkerchief. "Now you looked like a 5-year-old girl." He chuckled. Noticing that she didn't want to eat anymore, he put the bowl and tell her how could he find her house.

"Err..."

Dimitri walked downstairs to get something to eat. Having a serious conversation with his parents made him starving and bored too actually. But he knew that this conversation was very serious because they wanted to explain something to Zhenya, his little sister. Sigh, he didn't want to see her depressed about this. But she must know, because she wanted to know right?

While he dragged himself to the kitchen, suddenly he saw his sister was with.. stranger. No, he was not stranger. He was Gary, her boyfriend. He invited him to come at Christmas, not only because he and his parents wanted to know about him, but also for a serious mission. He watched them were sitting at the coach and his sister were fed by him. Aww.. So sweet. But.. he didn't tell Zhenya that actually Dimitri invited him here? He just cleared his throat to surprise them.

Zhenya let him keep feeding her for a while, just so that he wouldn't start telling her she needed to eat. She had been given that lecture many times that week, and didn't want to hear it anymore. But for Gary, she tried to do it. She frowned and pinched his arm when he said she looked like a 5 year old. "Oh Gary, stop it I do not," she said, and blushed a bit. She leaned up to kiss his cheek, not wanting to get him sick too, and as she pulled away she heard someone clearing their throat. Oh no, she thought, slowly looking to see who it was.


She saw it was Dimitri, and smiled at him guiltily. Ooh no, what would he think? "Er... Dima this is my Gary, he is my.. my.. protector at Hogwarts," she said. "And Gary, this is my older brother, Dimitri."

She braced herself. Would they fight? Would Dimitri give him a lecture about being good to her? Oh, she really hoped not.

While he decided to tell her the truth how could he find her home, suddenly he heard that someone cleared his throat. Oh Men! His heart started to beat faster. Was he.. her father? Oh man! He didn't know what should he say to him if he saw Zhenya kissed his cheek.

Braced yourself, Gerald! suddenly someone told him that. He managed to be cool, and had thought what should he say to him to give a good impression. Nice to meet you, Mr. Burton. I'm Gary Rush, your daughter's boyfriend and she said that you're a nice father. But it wasn't her father. Good to know that. The man who was clearing his throat was Dimitri, her brother. The person who invited him to be here. He felt a bit relief. He gave Dimitri a warm smile and extended his hand to him. "Nice to meet you, Dimitri." And what did Zhenya say before? her protector? The blonde guy just chuckled about that.

If he could ask him now why he wanted to invite himself to be here, he wanted to. But Dimitri said that Don't let Zhenya knew about that. It was still a mystery.

So, here he was. Gary Rush. The boy who dared to date his sister. But..

O______________O"

Merlin, he was so tall! Even he is taller than him! How old is he actually? Sixteen? Seventeen? He didn't look like a common teenager, or Were teenagers nowadays growing up alot so they looked bigger and taller? Or did he have Giant genes so he was bigger than common teenage boy as usual? The 20-year-old guy tried not to looked awkward, he managed himself to be cool though he slightly envied him.

"Oh, Hi! Welcome to Burton Cottage. I'm Dimitri Burton, Zhenya's older brother." he grinned and shook his big hand. "But you can call me Dima." he continued. Her boyfriend looked very nice and caring his sister very much. It was proven by how he treated his sister to feed her while she was sick. Aww.. that was so sweet. Though he wondered when he could treat a girl or being treat like that. *cough*

"Do you want to have something to eat or drink maybe? Zhenny, where's your manner? You haven't served anything to him." He eyed his sister who looked a bit nervous. Did she think that he would be mad to her boyfriend? Nooo. He wouldn't. He should tell his parents that her boyfriend had come!

Laura looked at Zhenya and giggled. "But I thought you liked having potions to get better?" Laura was sure that in her first year Zhenya had told her that. "Where's your ice-cream and T.V?" Laura asked, that was the best thing about being sick, you got to sit and watch films and eat ice-cream, it always made her feel better. "I was bored at home and so got my dad to drop me off, I thought it would be a good supprise for you."

Zhenya could feel the atmosphere become tense from Gary. Was he scared? She just watched as her two men, her boyfriend and her brother, met. She was loving it. She leaned back into the couch and watched them with a smile, it was almost funny. And she could tell her brother felt awkward. Was it because her boyfriend was such a tall person? Even Zhenya had trouble looking him in the eye sometimes. But that's the way it should be. Maybe Dima was a bit shocked he was REALLY tall. She had to bite her tongue not to laugh.

She beamed at her big brother who was making such an effort to be nice and welcoming. It must have been a huge shock to him. "Dima, can you believe Gary just popped over to see me?" she asked. She felt so lucky. She had her boyfriend with her at her home. And then she picked up a cushion and threw it at her cheeky brother. "I was waiting for you to come downstairs and serve him, silly. I'm sick! I shouldn't be around other people's food and drink. Gary if you want something my brother would be glad to get it," she said, winking at her brother. She started coughing again, and felt it hurt her chest and throat. But she didn't want them to see that it was causing her pain. She refused to take their medication.

Zhenya shook her head sadly, "My parents have been acting really weird. I don't want to take anything from them until they tell me what's going on but... they still wont." She smiled at Laura for wanting to surprise her, and she leaned over and ruffled her hair. "I've been eating lots of brownies and hot chocolate, but the TV is downstairs. I just like to read," she said, pointing to her huge bookshelves in the corner. "Thanks for coming over! It's so good seeing you! What have you been doing?"

Dimitri frowned to his little sister. He was NOT Her servant, right? He was his brother. But he didn't want to look mad in front of her. "You said you were sick, but you didn't want to take any medication from Dad. Don't you want to cure? Or, you want to stay to be sick because you want to be spoiled by everyone?" he teased her and threw back the cushion toward her. Hehehe. He knew that being sick was not fun, but many people paid attention to you much. Such as her boyfriend who came and fed her by soup. But the 20-year-old guy just fulfill her request. Then he asked the giant boyfriend. "So, Gary. Do you want to have something to drink or eat? Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate with some cookies perhaps?" he offered.

But suddenly Dima gave a sign to ask Gary to have a small talk with him. He wanted to have a bit serious conversation with him. "I borrow your giant bodyguard for a while, okay?" he winked and pulled Gary to the kitchen. Then he started to talk to him.

"We need you.. to calm Zhenny. My dad will explain about her best friend's disease after this. I'm afraid.. she would be miserable and depressed so much. So.." Dimitri took a very deep breath. "I think if you were here, We.. I mean you, me and my Dad to could make her calm if she... felt down. Could you.." he begged to Gary "Please? I know it might be not easy."

She refused to take any medication? Gary frowned slightly to his girlfriend. Huh, she was a bit stubborn. She even didn't want to eat or take any medication. What's wrong with her? Or was Dima right? She wanted to be spoiled by people around her? She didn't need to be sick if she wanted ho have his attention. Hehehe. Realizing her brother offered something to drink, Gary refused it at first. "Oh, Thanks Dima. But I don't think that I'm thirst.." But suddenly he was pulled by him. What did he say to her? Giant bodyguard? Her brother was funny. Hehehe.

At the kitchen, the blonde guy listened to Dimitri's explanation carefully. They need.. him? To calm his girlfriend? But.. Why? Would they tell her about Raven? "Oh.. I see." he gave a small nod to him. Gary didn't know how to make her calm if she knew about her best friends, but.. Okay, he would give a try. Because he loved her, right?

"But.. I'm afraid she couldn't accept this." he spoke in low voice to him.

Zhenya just laughed at her brother as she copped a pillow to the face. "I missed you Dima," she said. She couldn't mess around with people in the common room like she could with her brother. "No I don't want medication. If other people can get over these things without medication then I can too," she said. Besides... not until she knew their big secret. Then she might take some medication. She wasn't getting spoiled by people. They were keeping a secret from her and made her feel alone. Her bodyguard? Oh, Zhenya liked that one. "No you can't have him, I need him with me," she said with a laugh. Who else would protect her from the... oh, there was nothing she needed protection from. But she wanted lots of hugs from him. He knew how to make her feel better.

She felt alone when Gary went off with Dimitri. She got her mug of hot chocolate from the table and drank it all, then pulled the brownie up and started picking bits off it and eating it. It didn't taste too bad. Upstairs she could hear Ava crying, so she went to see her. She was laying in her cot screaming and kicking her feet out. "Aww poor Ava, what's wrong?" she asked, picking up her baby sister and cuddling her. She walked her back downstairs and sat on the couch, cradling Ava in her arms and patting her back to sleep.

Alexander was in his study pacing. What had Dimitri said? Something about bringing this boyfriend over when they told her the news? He didn't hear the door but he didn't want to go downstairs and see Zhenya looking at him suspiciously. He hated keeping this from her, but he knew it would be best if her... boyfriend was there. He sat back in his chair and put his head in his hands, shaking it. Oh, how could he break his daughter's heart like that?

He slowly walked down the stairs, wishing he could go back up to his study and lock the door. At the bottom of the stairs he saw his two daughters on the couch and smiled. He walked up to her and sat next to her, putting his arm around the two of them. "Hey Zhenny, how do you feel?" he asked her.

Zhenya gave her father a small smile and said "I'm okay dad," and looked back down at Ava. She felt there was something weird going on between everyone, but how could she bring it up to them?

Dimitri kept his eye around. Perhaps his sister came to the kitchen or eavesdropped their conversation? Okay. He crossed his arms. "I know. It's also hard to me, to my Dad. We were in big dilemma! We didn't want to make her sad by saying about Raven's condition and telling her that.." He exhaled. "She might passed away someday. That's not easy! But in the other side..." He cleared his throat. "She.. Okay. Zhenny would ask someone else about this, or finding it by herself from books. And no one could calm her." he explained to Gary.

Then he eyed the loungeroom, his father was there? Did it mean that he would tell her soon? "I think my father was ready to tell her." he whispered. He almost forgot to make a drink for Gary. Quickly he made 2 mugs of white coffee and offered one to him.

Gary just nodded to Dimitri's explanation. But.. "Honestly Dima, I found her crying at Room of Requirement when she got the letter. She was sooo.. miserable. It was quite hard to make her calm, and I'm afraid it's also affect her health condition. She didn't want to eat at the time. If I forced her to eat, she threw it up." The blonde guy told him what happened to her when she was very down at the time. But he didn't want to tell him the night when they decided to sneak out and kissing. Hehehe.

"You were right, she need us. She need the people who she loves very much, and also love her." But he felt that he couldn't help much. Even she was his girlfriend but.. He thought that she would need her family more than him. But yeah, he would try to do it. To her, to his love, to his girlfriend.

Gary accepted the mug from Dimitri and took a little sip. Hmm.. White coffee. But when Dimitri said that her father was there, suddenly he felt very nervous. Meeting her father? He couldn't imagine it before. They have been together just for two months and now.. He would meet her father? He could feel that his heart beat very fast. He managed to be cool, as usual. "I hope your Dad doesn't bite." suddenly he whispered.

"Daddy what's going on?" Zhenya asked. "Please tell me, you're all acting bizarre and... you know you asked me to come home for Christmas and spend time with you all but you're all... weird. I know something is going on and it's not fair. I could have stayed at Hogwarts where I wouldn't be left out of things." Oops, she didn't mean to snap like that, but she was just fed up of walking around the full house, feeling empty and lonely. It wasn't fair, it wasn't! She sighed loudly and moved away from her father's embrace. No, she wouldn't be influenced by physical closeness. There was something going on.

Alexander sighed too. He understood exactly why Zhenya was grumpy, but he just wished she wouldn't be. He needed to tell her that her best friend would die, but he didn't know how to. He slowly got up from the couch after Zhenya moved away and walked through to the kitchen. He needed something to drink.
As he entered the kitchen he was confronted by a stranger. Who was this? Oh... oh, it must be... yes Zhenya's new boyfriend. "Ahh well, well, well," Alexander said with a small smile on his face, "So I finally get to meet this boy that has won my daughter's heart over. Hi, I'm Alexander, Zhenya's father" he said, offering the young man a hand to shake. He was.. very tall. How old was he? "So, what year are you in?" he asked, curiously and... a little defensively. If he was sixth or seventh year then he would have to have a serious conversation with Zhenya about the appropriate age gaps. He leaned against the fridge and crossed his arms, looking at the young man. He tried to remember the lecture his wife had given him, so he made sure his face was giving off a warm smile. The one he gave Zhenya's fiends, who he had never had any problems with. After all, if he started interrogating the young man he would have two women very angry at him.

Zhenya was alone.. again. Gee, this doesn't feel new, she mumbled to herself. She started singing a muggle lullaby to her baby sister, 'Hush little Ava, don't say a word, Zhenny's gonna buy you a trick telescope. And if that telescope don't trick, Zhenny's gonna buy you a biting mug....'

While he was sipping his coffee, Dimitri almost choked when he whispered about his father. Did he look very scary? He knew his father alot. He might be looked scary, but he was friendly and warm to each other. "I hope so.." he gave a mischievous smile to him. Then he tapped his shoulder and said. "Good luck!" Then he decided to leave him alone at the kitchen, and accompany his sisters. Dimitri let his father go to the kitchen, to meet his.. brother-in-law-to-be sister's boyfriend.

:blink:

Gary just frowned to hear Dima's statement. Huh, He hoped that her father didn't annoy him so much. Honestly, he was not ready to meet her father.. yet. They had been together just for two months! And now he already met.. him?

BRACE YOURSELF, GERALD!

He managed to be cool and calm, as usual. He sipped his coffee while suddenly, the man who seemed unfriendly to him walked to the kitchen. Oh NO! What should he say to him? Seemed like hundred butterflies flew in his stomach, His heart beat faster and faster! But he gave a warm smile to the man. "Good day, Mr. Burton." he greeted him warm. Then he shook his hand. "My name is Gerald Rush, but usually people called me Gary. And I am in my fifth year at Hogwarts." he introduced himself politely and give a small bow to him.

He just hoped he wouldn't pass out in front of him!

Zhenya heard someone walk into the lounge room and she looked around. Frowning, she saw her brother. Oh, just him. She was hoping it was her father, finally coming to his senses. "So what do you think of him?" she whispered to her brother. She gave a small laugh when she realised her father was in there meeting Gary. Oh, she shouldn't be laughing, she should have gone in there to introduce them. But, she thought her father would respect him more for doing it alone, rather than having her there. But... she wanted to stand there and make sure he was nice to her boyfriend. Ooh, she just sat there with no energy to move.

Alexander laughed lightly, the young man looked nervous. "Please, Gary, call me Alexander." He pulled himself onto the stall next to him and conjured up a mug of coffee for himself to enjoy. Fifth year. He relaxed, knowing his daughter was only dating someone two years older than her. That was... well, that was okay. Anything more, then no. He sipped his coffee and said "So Gary, tell me a bit about yourself. What do you do with yourself? You play Quidditch?" he asked. He loved Quidditch, and knew his girl had made the team again. Was it something they had in common

Dimitri walked to the loungeroom with a mug of white coffee in his hand. Then he took a seat beside his sister and smiled. "I think he is... nice." he nodded. He didn't interrogate him much since they were talking about.. her. But from his gesture and words, and also his story to calm her when she got the letter, he could jump to the conclusion that he was nice, and liked his sister alot. He was also good looking too.

"But he's very tall! Did he have a giant blood or something? I thought he is seventeen or older than it... Well, he is taller than me." said him with no expression. He admitted that he was slightly jealous because he was taller than him. But.. that's okay. As long as his sister looked happy, he would be happy too. Dimitri thought that Gary could make his sister's life more bearable. Especially when she was left by her best friend.. who might be died someday.

Gary just wondered why he was laughing at him. Did he look funny? Or ridiculous? Or anything else? But he just gave a friendly smile to him. "Okay, Mr.." but he corrected himself quickly.. "Alexander." it was weird to call someone who was much older than him by his first name. Because, he never do that except for Lucas, his own uncle. He tried to make a good impression in front of him, her father and might be his father in law too someday? :whistle: but not to look very nervous. But Mr. Burton.. eh, I mean Alexander seemed a friendly man.

About himself? Hmm.. "I just moved to England, I was born and raised in Canada, then My family moved to America when I was seven." The blonde guy didn't know if he told about his family, it could change his impression or not. Quidditch? Sigh. He just exhaled and sipped his coffee again. Well, I used to play in my old school but.." would he tell him about the accident that happened to him before he moved to Hogwarts. "I take a long hiatus from Quidditch due to health reason." Okay. He wasn't lie, right?

Zhenya laughed. Giant? "He didn't like it when I called him a statue. The first time we met I.. accidentally ran into him and fell over and he didn't even budge! But no... I'm pretty sure there's no giant in him," she said. She would be scared if he did have giant in him. She felt okay with her brother, just sitting in silence, but she felt really uneasy with her boyfriend and father in the room alone. "Hey, how is dad about it all?" she asked.


"Ahh Canada, I loved it there. Went there a few years before we had Zhenya. Have you been back to visit?" he asked, curiously. Hmm... and he was a Quidditch player. Alexander wondered to himself what health reasons caused him to take a hiatus, but thought it was none of his business. Maybe he didn't want to know anyway. Health reasons, like Raven? He didn't think it would be that serious. He finished his coffee and put the mug in the sink and waited for Gary to finish his.

"So... I'm assuming you're here for Zhenya? Dimitri had told you about her friend, has he?" he asked. He was so scared to tell his daughter, but knowing there was someone there that she wouldn't hate made a small part inside him relax.

Lisabel walked down the stairs with Theodore, and smiled as she saw her two daughters and oldest son on the couch. They looked so sweet together. She walked through to the kitchen where she could hear her husband, and she saw another man too. He was big and handsome. She knew who it was, of course, but what was he doing here? She looked at her husband's expression and heard him asking about Gary being there for the news... what new-oh that news. She walked in slowly. "Hello there, you must be Gary! I'm Lisabel, Zhenya's mother," she said with her thick Russian accent, "And this little guy is Theo." She gave him a warm smile and was pleased to see that he had a drink already. One of her children remembered their manners, but she wasn't sure which one.