WELCOME

[olive neva hornby]

The cozy little house sat just off Diagon Alley, it's slopping roof and whimsical green and white paint job would look a little pastoral if it weren't for the paint chipping off. It had the look of a middle-class home that only recently had it's up-keep slip. However the death of a son would let any family forget about painting the house from time to time. It had been about 7 months now, since Taylor was killed and while the Hornby's were moving on with their lives, somehow they could simply not bring themselves to look on trivial matters like house-painting with importance.

Olive stepped from the green fire of the fireplace with a cough and a hand gripped to the hearth's frame. Dusting ashes from her smooth dark hair as she moved to the kitchen. Pouring herself a tall cool glass of water and gulping it down. She hated travel by means like apparition and Floo network, but thankfully a cool drink of water was usually quick to settle her stomach. She had spent the day at St. Mungo's, training for her new position as a medi-witch in the children's unit of the hospital. Essentially the first step to her dream job. Although not normally a hardy worker, Olive was treating her training with the utmost importance. Her dark hair pulled back, save for her bangs, and tied in a tight ponytail conveyed this as easily as her words could have.

Unclasping her thin summer cloak as she stood in the family kitchen she swept it off her shoulders and brushed clinging ash from the gray fabric. by the open kitchen window the family owl sat, cooing contently and ruffling her dull brown feathers. Beside her sat the family's letter drop-box. Olive slipped into the hall to hang her cloak only to return to check the mail box. On the top sat a small 'checking up' postcard from her absent family. Their parents and her sister Daisy had all run off to see America over the summer. Olive sensed they simply wanted out of the family home for a while. A chance to relieve themselves of the weight of who was missing. Olive read over the postcard with mild interest before shuffling through the other letters. One from an aunt addressed to her mother and a bill. At the bottom of the basket however, there sat one addressed to Olive herself. Curious she picked it up and placed the handwriting. It was Tango's, her ever elusive betrothed. As she raised a hand to open the letter a knock on the door sounded. Mildly annoyed by the interruption Olive headed for the door, letter still clutched in her hand.

[david tango longbottom]

Despite its more rustic embellishment and aged scenery, Diagon Alley was always a place Tango enjoyed. Perhaps it was the pleasant witches and wizards that strolled down the streets, offering smiles at the student. Or the fact that there was nearly a store for every interest. Or perhaps it was because of the residency he could find by just wandering the back alleys, and the residency was one he always hoped to enter. Finally working up enough courage to actually schedule a meeting and enter the Hornby household, it was done in writing, and by the usage of owl post. However, as feet carried him around the street corner and eyes settled over the home, instantly, Longbottom paused. Tango could be back home, in his upper-class environment that sheltered so many accidents, family traditions, and memories that were both good and bad. He could be getting into trouble with his twin or making his way to see Grant. Instead, he was here, staring at a pale and green house that meant almost nothing to him.

Right foot took the first step down the block, as Tango made his way towards the Hornby home. Olive had to have received the letter, which meant she had to have been expecting him. Backing out now would be… stupid. Stopping before the wooden door, fist balled up to create a knock that would echo throughout the whole house in hopes that Olive would answer. He had advance notice on the rest of the Hornby family’s vacation, but there was no guarantee of Olive’s presence. Once door open however, revealing the short brunette, small grin started to form.

“ ’Ello, Olive,” The Longbottom greeted and leaned in. Pausing however, his first intention was to go in for a kiss before seeing her surprised reaction. Nervousness set, causing a small feeling of anxiety before finally making a decision. Lips pecked her pale cheek before pulling away, still nervous. It wasn’t until brown eyes settled upon the familiar envelop tightly gripped by Olive’s digits that he was distracted. Head tilted as he tried to remember where he had seen it, and finally labeled it as his own. “Is that… Is that the letter I sent you? You just got it now?” Stomach tightened once more when realizing his self invitation seemed to have arrived late and would have growled if not human. Instead, apprehension rose up to the surface, almost apparent as he wondered if he would be welcomed inside or not.

[olive neva hornby]

"Tango Hello," Olive's well groomed eyebrows disappeared beneath her bangs for a moment before quickly falling back into place. Unexpected but obviously had she seen the letter before now it wouldn't be. Olive felt her heart jump up into her throat. What was this about than? An announced visit seemed to suggest something serious, but she still wasn't sure what to expect. She'd always been quite clear about her feelings towards the young man in front of her. But he was perpetually elusive about how he thought of their parents' agreement. Her parents wanted them to be married for all the usual parent-type reasons. Olive came from a respectable, if only middle-class family and their father's were friendly from back in their Hogwarts days. It was especially a good match in the eyes of the Hornby family because while they were unusually popular among the upper class wizarding families, they had already been refused by the Malfoy family when they started looking to find a match for their eldest. They had a fear at first that the declining of having Abraxas marry Olive might taint their reputation. So when the Longbottoms accepted Olive for David Tango it was a considerable relief. The Longbottoms were just as well-off a family and were considerably more relaxed then the tightly controlled Malfoys.

Olive felt a feeling of hope rise up in her chest as Tango steps forward and seemed to awkwardly decide at the last minute to simply plant a kiss on her cheek. It had to be good sign, she thought. Tango didn't seem the type to start warmly if he simply intended to break off the betrothal. Still she reminded herself not to get too excited. The whole situation could turn around a bite her just as easily. He asked about the letter and she looked down to her hand, remember she held it.

"Oh right, Yes I only just saw it. I've been out of the house lately. Last night especially, Rolanda and I were at the Three Broomsticks pretty late. But, it hardly matters now. Come in, come in." She waved him in with a smile. Shutting the door with a click behind him and placing the letter, unopened on the stand in the entrance. Surely whatever he had to say to her he could say in person. Leading him into the kitchen she asked, "Do you want anything to drink? I was just about to put on some tea, but I can grab you something else if you'd like." The room had a warm, homey feel. All old, worn wood but the sort of wood that is old and worn in all the best ways. Polished enough to make it look more classy than run down. There was a glass vase of wildflowers on the table and the family owl still sitting on the windowsill, ruffling it's feathers and watching them with a passing interest.