Home with the Cousins (Max, Ash Only) (2104)

[Rieko Daniels]

((This is during the summer holidays of 2104 when Ash was Staying at Maxi's so was Rieko))

Rieko was sat in the field just behind Maxi's home which overlooked the Muggle community below the hill. Rieko lived in the heart of the Muggle citadel but she prefferred to come up to Maxi's during the summer, it was a lot more peaceful and here she didnt get the feeling like she wanted to hex every muggle in sight, just Rieko's more annoying cousin Hannah, Maxi's annoying of a brat little sister.

The six year old came running out yelling at the top of her voice, "Maxwell has brought a boyfriend home! He has he has! Come see!" She began pulling on Rieko's arm, "He is a weird looking one! He wears makeup!" Rieko looked down at her younger cousin and scowled, "If you dont let go of my arm Hannah, im going to bite you"

With that threat, Hannah let go and ran back into the house screaming. Probably straight to tell her dad that Rieko had threatened him once again. Switching to her Animagus form of a white tiger, Rieko lazily walked through thr dining hall and into the living area where Max was sat on the couch with... Some dude. Rieko jumped onto the sofa beside Max and looked at him questioningly. It was a normal occurance for Rieko to walk around in this form, everyone was used to it by now.

((Rieko had not come to hogwarts yet))

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash looked up to see a white tiger walk into the room, he smiled realizing it must've been Reiko. Maxi's cousin. He turned to Maxi and grinned, "What a coincidence, your cousin has the same animagus form I do!"

[Max Hennerdale]

Maxi walked in his house after going to meet Ash, his younger sister Hannah was the first to spot the two, who ran out of the room yelling, clearly Eko was here. His other sister, Mikaela came down the stairs next and smiled at Maxi.

"Dad's upstairs. Says he'll be down soon" She looked at Ashton, "Hey, Im Mikaela, Maxi's sister" She gave him a warm smile even though she wasnt used to seeing Maxi's conquests as she called them. "He's still not used to the idea Max" With that she walked off into the living room.

Maxi took hold of Ashton's hand and lead him into the living where they both sat down on the sofa. Before he had a chance to say anything, Hannah came running back in yelling at Maxi. "Maxwell! Rieko said she would bite me! She threatened me again!" Maxi laughed, "Well bite her back then"

The next moment, something white and fluffy came and sat beside Maxi, he was half tempted to scratch her but he knew Rieko would only bite him. "Actually Ash, yours is a full grown Tiger, Rieko's is a cub" He looked down to his fluffy cousin and smiled, "Hey there Eko, this is Ash"

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash rolled his eyes, "Max, cub or full grown, we both have a white tiger form. So therefore, it is the same!" he playfully stuck his tongue out, then leaned out of the way, lest Max decided to whack him!

[Rieko Daniels]

Rieko looked up at Maxi and changed back to her human form. "I saw that look" She eyed her cousin, "Dont ever think about petting me in that form you know what happens if you do" She smirked at her cousin as Hannah and Mikaela both came back in and took seats beside the window, this was clearly going to be a family gathering of meet-the-boyfriend. How Rieko was glad she didnt have one, she didnt fancy the idea of having to bring him to meet such a disfunctional family.

"Rieko! Maxwell said I should bite you back" Rieko looked at Hannah and raised her eyebrow before answering, "You really think thats wise? I have fangs remember?" Rieko hated but loved her younger cousin Hannah, didnt stop Rieko wanting to knaw off her fingers though.

"Yeah, Well I prefer cubs, I think they are cuter" Rieko smiled at Ashton, "Im Rieko. Probably the normalist one in the whole family"

After she said this, a very deep voice came from the door as Maxi's dad came into view. "You normal? That will never happen! You're the spawn of my brother who isnt normal himself Rieko" He laughed as Rieko stuck her tongue out at Nick. "So your the infamous Ashton ive heard so much about?" His father continued. "Im Nick, Max's father" he smiled at Ash, "Of course I do have to make sure you are good enough for my son, however I do not like the fact none of you will give me grandchildren" This was a long standing joke between the family as Hannah piped up, "I want a baby!"

"You're too young" Finished Nick as he looked at his youngest daughter, who, when Nick sat down, went and sat on his knee. Rieko smirked at Hannah and said slyly. "Daddys girl"

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash laughed at the banter going on around him. He smiled at Maxi's father, "Nice to meet you sir."

[Max Hennerdale]

Maxi smiled at Rieko, "I know only too well what happens, I still have the scar on my arm from your fangs!" He laughed and looked at Rieko, "But you can hardly blame me, Its just so fluffy" He went to scratch Rieko on her head as she lashed to try and stop him. "You're going Hogwarts this year right?" He asked, "It will be quite a change from Beauxbatons wont it? Boys where there were none before?"

He looked as his dad entered the room, "Hey dad, whats with the suit?" He smiled, his dad had tried to look respectful. He watched as his dad sat down and Hannah sat on his knee, nobody sat on that chair, that was his dads chair, god help anyone who did. "I like to look smart sometimes Max, unlike you. When was the last time you had a haircut?"

Max smirked at his dad, "Never! And I never shall!" He put his hands possivly to his head and accidentally knocked Rieko on hers. "Oops, sorry Eko"

Nick looked at Ash, "Sir? Sir?" He questioned, "Last time i was a 'Sir' was never. Im Nick. Not sir. Makes me sound old" Hannah looked up at her dad, "Yoo are old thoo" She chimed, "Shush you." He laughed.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash laughed, "Alright. Nick it is. I guess I'm used to calling my dad sir. Not that I have a choice... but eh, you don't need to be bored with details!"

[Rieko Daniels]

Nick looked at Max who shrugged. "Can I talk to you Ash? Away from these lot?" He stood up, beckoning for Ashton to follow him. He walked outside to the field like garden and sat down on the bench right at the back. It was shaded by two oak trees, they had gotten to the reason Nick had asked Max to ask Ash to come here.

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash frowned, "Uh sure..." standing up he followed Nick outside. "Okay, what did you want to talk about?"

[Rieko Daniels]

Nick sat quietly for a moment, he didnt really know how to broach the subject. "The thing about this family Ash," He looked at the young boy, "Since Maxi's mother died especially, we've become an open type of family" He sighed and looked down, the memory of his wife's death, even though he wasnt there, still pained him. Still pained Maxi and his sisters. "We dont tend to keep secrets"

"The thing is," He looked back out towards the house, a far off look was in Nick's eyes. "Max has told me about what goes on at your house, with your father, when we were discussing you" He looked at the boy once more, "And I am not a person who tolerates such behavior of anyone. If it wasnt for Maxi telling me to leave off, I would have been round teaching that father of yours a good thing or ten" He gave a smile to Ash, he was really no good at this kind of thing, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, You have a home here. For as long as you want a real family"

[Professor Ashton Laurent]

Ash nodded quietly and smiled, "Thank you." he replied in a soft whisper. Ash smiled as he looked around, "You have a beautiful home." he commented, looking up at the sky he watched white puffy clouds float across the endless sea of blue. He also saw what he thought at first was just another cloud, but then he realised it was an owl, a snowy owl. His owl to be exact. He stood up, eyes widening in surprise, "Aph? What is she doing here? I thought I left her at Hogwarts..." The owl swooped down, and landed on his raised arm. Walking back over to Nick, Ash sat down and smiled, "Well, now you've met my owl."