May 31st, 1890 — Wellingtonshire

The front of the Valenduris Hogsmeade home was a pristine white stucco, along with the rest of the houses in the street, the air was fresh with the smell of the festooned window boxes and planters that dotted with wide street and every window of the tall Georgian style home.  From the street it appeared to be a fairly normal Muggle house of this period, 5 floors, not including the basement, which was settled below the ground level accessible from the front by a small set of servant steps, and the coal shoot which led to the subbasement and storage areas of the house, and the servants quarters stationed in the attic, their windows faced skywards rather than out onto the street.  As with many magical homes, while there appeared to be 5  living floors, in reality there were 8, magic enlarging and nesting the floors within each other, providing enough space for the large family and their guests.  It was small in comparison to the families country park, but the Hogsmeade home was Katerina’s favourite so the family spent much time there, with Rasputin and his wife having almost free reign in the country estate. 

Although Mister Leverett had left school ahead of him, Meserimus had made it home before him.  The students were dismissed before the teachers, but as soon as he had seen the last of house off homeward he had fluued to his study in Hogsmeade.  His Brougham and footmen had taken Mister Leverette from the school down to the house with his trunk, with a disparity of only about 15 minutes between Meserimus appearance in the fireplace and Mister Leveretts arrival by carriage

The Valenduris clan was at the front door to greet their guest, just as they would for anyone else coming to stay.  His children in line, in order of age, including his eldest living son, who just happened to be visiting. The 64 year old felt rather ridiculous to be lined up with his younger siblings to receive a teenager – but his father had insisted.  As the carriage pulled up, Katerina was busy fixing the cravat Nicholas who had somehow managed to have it come undone in the time since his nanny had sent him downstairs to join the line. 

One of the footmen jumped off the back, and hurried to open the door of the Brougham to allow the occupant to alight, while the other busied himself undoing the lashings of the trunk, a maid, house elf and an under butler appearing to help with taking the things upstairs.  ’Mister Leverett’ Meserimus greeted gregariously, ’Welcome to our home.’

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