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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Clue Leverett

  

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Bee is amazing

Far be it for him to even care, Clue had long accepted that he'd never be a gentleman. He'd never doff his hat at a lady, he'd never make small-talk with some peer at a ball. He'd never marry, never father children, never grumble about finances to a weary wife. But maybe — just maybe — he could be a man. Certainly this boy looked more like a girl, with his elfin features and delicate physique, incapable of ever growing a beard or towering over so much as a post box; but he could still be a man. Someone with responsibilities, someone with expectations placed upon him. Someone with a calling.

This was how Clue felt as the carriage pulled up to the enormous Valenduris home in leafy Wellingtonshire. He exited the carriage gracefully, still staring up at the vast Georgian exterior, mildly alarmed to have the carriage door opened for him — just as he'd been to be offered such transport at all. It had all happened so quickly... his last OWL exam, a few final days left in the sunshot grounds with Narcissus Laurent, then an end-of-term feast at which Clue managed a third course of dark chocolate pudding. Vague packing, a sudden sleep, a bright morning, a final silent glance at Narcissus — and then here he was, Clue Leverett, the orphan, the foundling, the nobody, here to begin a prestigious apprenticeship that allowed him to escape his old foster home entirely.

It was all too much to properly think about. He merely had to take things as they came; even something as surreal as an entire family, tall and stately, lined up magnificently like a flock of watchful swans. As for Clue, he was wearing the only new piece of clothing he owned (black robes with a spidery black-and-white collar), but beneath it his white shirt was too big, the knees of his trousers were well-faded, and his shoes were peeling from their soles. Clue felt almost like he was a purposeful display of poverty. But mainly he felt completely astonished. And as Professor Valenduris himself swept towards him with a regal greeting, Clue could only blink. "Erm..."

  

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As the young man alighted the carriage, Morgan and the twins gave their proper little curtsies, and with a slightly exasperated look Rasputin shook the boys hand – man to man as it were. The eldest living Valenduris son, gave his father a look that said I’I’ve done my social duties now I’m leaving’ and with a curt nod to the newcomer, and a dutiful kiss on his step mothers cheek he excused himself to the inside of the house, where a sharp crack a moment later indicated his departure for the families country estate.

’Mister Leverett, let me introduce my family, My wife Katerina, please do let her know if you have need of anything while you are here’ he explained, and the former Durmstrang student greet him in heavily accented but perfect English, her relative youth meant she could have passed for the daughter of the house rather than it’s mistress. And Meserimus for a moment wondered how much about his home life students knew about him. ’And my children who are still at home, Morgan, Odette, Odile, Nicholas and Merlin’ he listed and touched each on the shoulder, before tousling Merlins hair fondly, the boy was standing very seriously, and the action caused him to try and shrug off his fathers teasing. ’The grumpy fellow who just left is my son, Rasputin.’ he explained, ’There are others who will pop by now and then – I’m afraid if you were hoping for a quiet household you might be sorely disappointed’ he laughed. His home was a revolving door for the long list of children and grandchildren.

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Bee is amazing

Clue felt a little like an animal in a zoo, watching the people watching him... blinking from one person to the next without understanding them. An old man that was perhaps in fact the ancient man's son, a graceful lady with a rich accent, and a sundry assortment of children, each as young as the next.

In most ways, Clue was not like other schoolboys — but one thing he certainly had in common with his classmates was that he'd never expect his teachers to be so... prolific outside of school. He knew Professor Valenduris as the Potions Master and his Head of House, and now suddenly found himself confronted with this other side to him. Bountiful patriarch and grandiose host. It was surreal.

"Alright", he heard himself voice his understanding monotonously, and then, realising he had to find some semblance of manners: "thank you, sir. Erm — and madam", he added to Mrs Valenduris. Madam? Was that right? Or should it be Miss, or Ma'am, or even m'Lady? He had no idea. Clue wished Narcissus was here to take the lead.

  

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The girls were clearly eyeing up the young man with the sort of youthful interest that young girls took in young men, especially one as arguably ‘pretty’ as Mister Leverett. Their distinct lack of subtlety caused his eyes to roll, he would need to ask Katerina to have a word with them about staring and to keep their overt interest to themselves in future. 'alright you layabouts, to your posts please' he motioned to the house and tearing themselves away from staring at him, they hurried back up the marble steps and disappeared into the house to wherever they had been before they had been summoned to greet their guest. Odile gave one backwards glance as she reached the head of the steps and then tore after Odile and Morgan up the staircase, all 3 giggling. 'they’ve all the subtlety as a pack of geese' he acknowledged jovially to Clue. 'Hogwarts students are like mythical creatures to them, so you’ll have to forgive their interest.'

'Would you care to join me in my study Mister Leverett, before you get settled, it might be easier to get a few matters settled before I release you to enjoy something of your summer holidays before the work begins' he asked, indicating the large oaken door to the right of the hall that led to the entrance to his private study. Maestro Pavesio will not be here for a few days, but we might as well get the housekeeping out of the way before he gets here.''

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Bee is amazing

Clue stared back at those who stared first, his big grey eyes as cold as snow; but then Valenduris scattered his flock and off they went. It was quite rare for him to be giggled at, he found, because people tended to be more disturbed by him than anything else. But he knew from observation that it was quite normal to be giggled at by girls. How odd it was... to feel... briefly... quite normal.

The entrance rooms of the house were quite as magnificent as the exterior; nowhere near as ancient and quirky as Hogwarts, but certainly as palatial. Indeed, Clue had only been in the house for three minutes and he already found it more intimidating than any area of Hogwarts castle.

At the plan to talk "housekeeping" in Valenduris's office, Clue simply nodded obediently. But he was a little concerned. He didn't even know whether to call a lady of the house "madam" or "m'lady"... could he really be expected to know how to behave in a household like this one?

  

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Meserimus seated himself at one of the two gentleman’s chairs by the fire in his study and motioned for Clue to take the other. A short table sat between them, a book and magnifying glass lay abandoned from the previous evening. A wooden elephant lay next to the hearth stone, a sign that Merlin had snuck in and played in his fathers’ study while he had been away. 'Have you a vault Mister Leverett?' he asked, 'The bookkeeper will need to know where to pay your wages?' honestly he didn’t really expect the answer to be yes, the muggles certainly wouldn’t have gotten an account for him, and he doubted Clue had ever had enough money to really require one, but the amount for the internship wouldn’t be long accruing to be too much to keep tucked under a mattress.

'I do hope it’s not too bold, but I’ve arranged for next years school books and your new uniform to be sent here next month' he informed the pupil, it was a bit early but Katerina had insisted and Meserimus had acknowledged the appropriateness of the gesture, they had paid his fees for the past few years and the last thing they wanted was for the boy to take his first pay and spend it on ‘essentials’ like his school things, not when a handful of books and some new school robes was such a nominal amount for them. The Twins spent more on their dolls clothing each month (did dolls need ermine muffs? He didn’t think so but then he wans’t an 11 year old girl.) There was some debate over whether new clothing generally would be ‘too much like charity’ or if simply granting him access to his nephews wardrobe would be sufficient, it was hard to know which would offer the least offense.

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Bee is amazing

"A vault", he repeated blankly as he sat in the armchair (which dwarfed him), having no idea what was meant by this. But then he made the connection as Valenduris spoke of wages. "Oh, a vault. No, I don't have one. I have a coin purse..." And it was a very small purse at that, with room to spare. He'd lived off three-penny bits in the muggle world, and in the wizarding world had managed one or two odd jobs in Hogsmeade to count a few Sickles to his name. Those Sickles had bought the very robes on his back. But he'd never had so much as a Galleon, let alone a vault to keep them in.

But speaking of wealth, or lack thereof, the gracious professor proceeded to extend even more kindness. Clue glanced from the toy elephant on the hearth up to Valenduris's bright blue eyes, surprised by the news. "Ah... thank you, sir. You... didn't need to do that..."

  

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'I know,' he demurred, brushing it off, 'but I would rather not lose your assistance for the few days it would take you to go to town and get your things, and if taking care of the books secures your time for the work then all the better.’ it was as good a cover as any for the outlay, this way they could cover the expenses and pass it off as self serving rather than charitable condescension. He had already explained to both Mister Leverett and Miss Fraser how much of their time would be needed on the projects and both would have their evenings and weekends to do with as they liked, 'and you may need some of the potions texts for reference while here'

'But I do think you shall need a vault' Meserimus gave a small smile behind his beard, 'By the end of the summer you might have rather a bit more gold than a coin purse is good for, and it wouldn’t be a good idea to go back to Hogwarts with so much money to hand'. he said gently, 'I can’t trust that I’ll bring all of my socks home never mind the money in my purse.' he jested, while there was no need for money within Hogwarts walls but that didn’t mean that there was no petty stealing, either out of habit or out of spite. 'After all when you are a world renowned potioneer you will need a vault to hold all of your royalties and I should rather like to say I assisted in that.' he ran his hand down his beard.

'If it suits we could take care of that tomorrow'

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Bee is amazing

It was difficult to lead an organised life when it was defined by chaos alone. But the heavily organised structure of Professor Valenduris' life was evidently so prevalent that it could influence other people in an instant. Clue, for example, was already beginning to understand that yes, he really did need a vault, and yes, it would be practical to acquire his NEWT textbooks early to aid in his Summer work, and yes, he could not treat gold like — well, socks.

It was strange that this new season of freedom also came with so many more guidelines. Clue would likely muse over them all later, but for now he simply accepted them as they came, and nodded obediently. But there was an evident sparkle to Clue's eyes when Valenduris mentioned his becoming a world-renowned potioneer. Clue didn't know if he wanted to be renowned in any way, shape or form... but the concept of being powerful was certainly one of great interest.

  

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'I presume' he mused, in close observation of the boy, guarded as he was, 'that a career either in potions, or some related discipline is your aim after school?' he pressed, trying to make his tone seem cavalier and conversational. His interest in Mister Leverett was of long standing, he was not the first such student that Meserimus had helped over the years, but one of the few that did not seem so keenly aware of their own merits – a more beaten dog the old potions master had seldom seem. Some of that had become clear to Meserimus only this past year after the incident with the woodbox.

Meserimus had been the one to inform Mister Leverett of his heritage, and of the existence of Hogwarts, it was Meserimus who paid the boys fees and ordinarily provided his books and uniform anyway. His children knew that the story of the little boy with lots of magic, living with nasty muggles that their father did nice things for, but they didn’t know it was Clue, but they enjoyed the Romance of the story, but there were details that even they did not know.

'I should think a young man with your talents would have all sorts of high amitions?'

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Bee is amazing

Clue was quietly relieved to find that another list of adult requirements was not forthcoming, for he was already having difficulties with the prospect of acquiring himself a vault at Gringotts. Instead, the venerable professor spoke of potions, and Clue sat up a little straighter. "I hadn't thought about it much before this year", he confessed, "but yes, I think I would like a career in potions. Especially alchemy. It's such an ancient field, imbued with so much power and promise."

  

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'You should' he probed gently, and while quietly affronted that he thought alchemy somehow more worthy than potions.  But his professional pride not with standing, he knew from experience that students like this needed a little more guidance than those with more stable family backgrounds.  'It is a different world from my youth Mister Leverett, in my day one was rather bound to the social sphere that you were born to, but these are different times, approaching another century' the second the old potions professor would be privy to, 'There are many more things possible now than ever before, the circumstances of ones birth need not dictate the circumstances of ones life.'

He unfolded the paper that was stuffed down the arm of the chair, 'Attitudes are changing, for the better I might add'.  He tapped the headline article  - the rebuttal of the information on werewolves, even the rebuttal for all of its assurance that werewolves remained a danger, was a softer attitude than the attitudes that had prevailed in his youth which advocated for roving groups of werewolf hunters.  Bastardy was not werewolfism – but it was no less innocently acquired and arguably more stigmatised, it was easier to hide werewolfism than it was being baseborn.

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Article

  

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Bee is amazing

Clue listened acutely, and even gave a slight nod at Valenduris's words. For he agreed, as much as he was in a position to do so, and appreciated the changing of the times. But he also knew his problems went beyond illegitimacy and poverty. His childhood traumas ran so deep that they were part of his identity, and Clue knew that there was a profound strangeness to him evident in almost every way. He was like a delicate spider; easy to crush, but possibly dangerous, fascinating to some, but repellent to most.

He took the copy of the Prophet and turned it the right way up to read the headline and some of the blurb beneath. He'd make a note to read this properly later, but for now he got the gist... and it made him think less of himself and more of Narcissus. For Narcissus was a "half-breed", more akin to a werewolf than Clue was. But as he thought of Narcissus in the context of possibly changing times and expectations, he quickly reeled back in his musings. For he would not put it past Valenduris to be a practitioner of legilimency.

"That's good", he agreed, blinking back up at the professor. "It's silly, anyway, being judged on your birth. For all I know, my father was some high lord", he added with a shrug of his shoulder.

  

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Meserimus nodded in a sort of silent agreement. He thought perhaps however, that it was unlikely that Mister Leverett was the son of anyone of note - he was the natural child of nobody knows who. It was the sort of childish fancy that someone without a family might consider when hoping that somewhere in the wide blue yonder there might be family who could, under the right circumstances, love and care for them. It perhaps explained rather a deal about Mister Leverett, his Slytherin ambition, if he could prove he was worthy, be smart enough, or powerful enough, perhaps this special family might come out of the woodwork and claim him. It was a guess of course, despite the interest he had taken in the boy, what he knew or could discern, Clue was still something of a mystery.

'And on that mysterious note' Meserimus said with a smile, 'You should go and change for dinner' he explained, it was nothing something that was enforced at the castle, the wealthier students usually did so out of habit, but the lower orders seldom did. 'Some things have been left in the room for you' he explained, getting ahead of the next natural query about what he would be wearing. 'Some might be a bit big' he noted, his grandson had been used as the model, but seeing him now Meserimus was sure the items would be too large for the waifish OWL student. 'A tailor will be here tomorrow to fit them a little better' playing if off as something that was anticipated rather than an error, so as to save the boys blushes and anxiety .

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Bee is amazing

Clue recalled the briefest of phases, when he was a lot smaller, of wishing his True Family would reveal themselves and be some romantical ideal. But a harsh childhood had kicked that kind of fanciful hope out of him promptly; he had long discovered that he was nothing of worth. A nobody. And that gave him the kind of freedom that certain well-connected people lacked. There were no great expectations weighing him down, and he could live alone, in the great cold ocean. An island.

"Okay..." he replied a little standoffishly, not enjoying the concept of a tailor coming here to lavish attention on him. Clue had already had enough attention, what with Valenduris's whole family out to greet him. Then, remembering his manners, he said "thank you, professor", getting to his feet and finally allowing himself to wonder about the astonishing Summer that lay ahead.

OOC: Fade? :)

  

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