12:30 PM
Snark Manor
Outfit

"Analiza you need to drink more water..."

"I'm not thirsty..." Analiza stated, flipping the next page of the prophet and continuing the front page story without looking up at Tulpin. The attack the other night was still plastered on the front page and Ana was reading through the gruesome details. Not so much because she wanted to know what had happened, since she had been there in the thick of things, but because she wanted to make sure those idiots at the Prophet didn't report about her injury or inability to stop the attack. Ever since she went off on the editor for the scathing report they wrote about her last month, she was always reading the paper to make sure there was no mud flung on her good name.

"That's not the point and you know it. Drink." Tulpin's voice went from the soothing healer tone to that of a godmother dealing with a petulant child. Glancing over the top of the paper at the tall slender blond healer, Ana sighed when she saw the severe expression on her former nannies face. Since her name didn't seem to come up in the article, Analiza snapped the paper shut. "Fine."

Accepting the glass of water a little sharply, much like a child who lost the fight, Ana took a long drink and sighed as it cooled her throat. It had been a lie that she wasn't thirsty, but she felt helpless enough with this whole mess, so she hadn't wanted to appear even weaker. It just wouldn't do. She was an Osterdike and a Snark. Neither family let themselves be babied. Hell, she had refused to stay at the hospital and have the healers there care for her for that exact reason. Well... That and the fact that she found her bedroom in much better taste then their private suites.

Knock Knock

A crisp and firm knock sounded from the magically amplified front door and Ana glanced at Tulpin. The older woman didn't need a request or a command to know what was expected of her, since this had been her job for much of her life. Despite being a Head-Healer of the best wizarding hospital in the world, Tulpin Creedish immediately fell into Godmother/Personal Healer/Nanny mode when in Ana's presence. She stood silently and went to the front hall to greet the guest. Ana returned to her paper, sipping the water as she read the most recent sob story in the advice column. Other's misery made her concussion and badly sprained ankle seem so much better.

"Ana you have a guest..."

The memorial service had left his ears ringing in some respects, for one he could still hear his ex-girlfriend telling him he was not going to tell them what to do now, and how dare he attempt to be responsible now. For another he could tell his son had become almost numb to Lukas's requests in leaving for safety. Literally he had to drag them from the ceremony to get them a safe distance from what he figured had been waiting chaos.

Lukas had wanted to go back to the memorial to do his duty and help the best he could but Kayla had decided that that moment to pick the mother of all battles about his lack of interest in his son's life. By being absent for much of the young boys life with work it appeared that Lukas had classified himself as a deadbeat in both their eyes. Despite his best efforts to give Jasper whatever he needed, or could ever want for. The conversation took a turn for the worst when his own mouth opened. Of course by doing this in front of Jasper it only caused his own temper to flare, and the usually cool headed hit-wizard went off on her. To which Jasper had started to tell him off, the entire situation left a sour taste in Lukas's mouth and by the time he returned much of the damage had been done in there ceremony leaving Lukas helpless to solve anything.

In an attempt to push the dark clouds out of his thoughts, Lukas had decided to ask Ana if she was going to be going to the club for the last day of this holiday. However he had been stopped dead in his tracks when he couldn't find her anywhere. Asking around he finally got his answer from someone who had seen all the insanity after he left the ceremony. Ana had somehow ended up taking quite the fall so Lukas decided to take some time out of his busy schedule to visit his injured friend. Grabbing up some flowers he apparated to the home he had visited not too long ago to see if Ana was up for visitors. Being ushered into Snark Manor without much hesitation or explanation, Lukas assumed she was good enough for a visit for a short while.

Peeking into the room Ana was laying in, Lukas gave her a small smirk, "Hey there stranger..." Lukas walked into the room in full view and walked towards her, "How are you feeling?" Figuring she had better days it was only the polite thing to ask in a situation like this.

"A visitor? Send them in..." Ana started, her department head response at her lips before she realized that she was at home in bed, in pajamas with no make up and messy hair, and not at work. "Wait... Wait don't..." She started, sitting upright quickly, too quickly in fact. A wave of dizziness washed over her and she fell listlessly back against the pillow. Rubbing her head, she sighed. Oh well, one can't be beautiful and elegant all the time. Besides, it was probably just Marietta with the status reports.

"Hey there stranger...How are you feeling?"

Definitely not Marietta's voice. Cracking one tired golden eye, Analiza squinted at the man standing at the end of the bed. When she realized who it was an uncharacteristic flush crossed her cheeks and Analiza pulled the blankets up over her head instinctively. Not him. No no, he couldn't see her like this! She stuck a hand out from the blanket and waved at him weakly "I'm fine... I'm fine... No need to worry about me... Goodbye now... Take care." She blurted out, hoping that he would just leave before he got a good look at her makeupless face.

After a moment of silence, she peeked out from the blanket, whispering softly "Are you gone yet?"

Lukas was grinning at her from ear to ear. His warmth flowing off him like waves, her attempts to shoe him would go on unheeded the cries to not worry going in one ear and straight out the other.

"I'm fine... I'm fine... No need to worry about me... Goodbye now... Take care." 

Leaning on the bed frame he had to stifle a chuckle as she looked to almost dive under her blankets. Okay that was a bit of an exaggeration, however he found it cute that she was trying avoid him being there. What was it with women and their vanity? Lukas didn't care what she wore, or how she looked, she looked a-okay to him. In fact he couldn't help but smirk a little as she peeked out of the blanket.

"Are you gone yet?"

Pretending to look at the door and back at her he continued to just smirk, "Not that I have noticed however if I do leave I will be certain to let you know," he moved off the bed frame and walked to the side of her bed. "Hiding from me won't make me go away any faster I am here for a full report on your health and well being. I will not be brushed aside with simple statements of 'I'm fine' what if you are only fibbing?" Nudging her leg to slide her over a bit so he could sit and take a good look at her.

It wasn't too long ago that they slept in the same bed together, there was no secrets for him and her in the way of sleep cycles.

"Not that I have noticed however if I do leave I will be certain to let you know,"

"Hmph." She grunted, clinging the blanket closer. Even though he had spent the night with her and had held her while she cried, she still didn't feel comfortable with the fact that he was seeing her in such an unfortunate state. She had been emotionally compromised during the first time, so her appearance had taken second place to her need to be comforted. Now, however, it was far too apparent. It didn't help that seeing his handsome face made the blood rush to her head in an all too painful way. Despite this fact, she still scooted over and let him settle down next to her.

"Hiding from me won't make me go away any faster I am here for a full report on your health and well being. I will not be brushed aside with simple statements of 'I'm fine' what if you are only fibbing?"

"How dare you come into my home and suggest I am a liar. You sir, are an Abraxans ass." Her voice filtered out from the blanket, sharp and pointed, but there was a hint of warmth to it that suggested that she was struggling not to smile. Despite her aversion to letting him see her current state, Ana found that her breathing made the blanket hot and humid, making it difficult to stay under any longer. She needed to resurface. "... Fine fine, but if you laugh I will give your head a concussion... " She muttered darkly, hoping that he caught her drift and kept his snickers to himself.

Pulling back the blanket, Ana revealed a pathetic sight. It wasn't as much the lack of makeup or sleep that made her look so funny. Rather it was the glaringly white bandage wrapped ungainly around her cloud of fiery locks, the latter sticking out in odd places and leaving alien lumps in the brilliant cloth. She gave him a sullen look, like a child forced to wear an ugly dress their colorblind grandmother had purchased from the bargain bin in the church bazaar, daring him to laugh.

Ana could hide all she wanted, for as long as she wished to. It just meant he would be spending more time there than Ana seemed comfortable with. A little waiting never killed him. Lukas used to stay up all night with Jasper when he a baby and was colicky. Perhaps that was where some of the trouble started, the lack of sleep and his constant desire to work over being home. He couldn't be sure, but patience was something he learned from rocking his baby boy back and forth, back when he was a more suitable father. That man seemed lifetimes away, and moons ago.

"Ms. Snark if you would stop lying to me then I might be more willing to curb my tongue and keep myself from calling you such. Until then you shall be deemed what you appear," he gave her a cheeky little grin as he said it. She would surely be sore at him for that later, another thing he didn't mind terribly. Watching her shift about under the blanket he stopped himself from hiding his laughter and chuckled softly. "However I must say that blanket suits you well, the color is very flattering," an eye roll and he was grinning at her as her head finally popped out.

Maybe he was unfamiliar with female vanity, but other than being a bit worse for wear he didn't see a problem. Ana was still attractive, and her spark plug attitude didn't deter him. "So you threatened me with bodily harm over this? A couple bandages and some misplaced curls. Surely you think of my sense of humor with higher regard than this. Why would I kick you when you're down?" He pulled the flowers from his side and handed them to her, "So since I figured you might need some form of cheering I brought you these," Lukas beamed at her with a look on inner laughter. The way she behaved in the blanket was far more humorous than the way she looked, perhaps she should have thought of that. "You can't tell me you didn't miss me," his brows bounced as he stated a fact. Or at least he thought it was a fact.

"So you threatened me with bodily harm over this? A couple bandages and some misplaced curls. Surely you think of my sense of humor with higher regard than this. Why would I kick you when you're down?"

"Why indeed..." She muttered, her hands instinctively flying to her headdress to tuck away the errant curls. The end result had her looking more like a disgruntled fortune teller whose mark just discovered her Tarot deck was stacked. In other words, she didn't look much better. Her disgust at the results was quickly ignored, however, when a bouquet of flowers was shoved into her hands.

"So since I figured you might need some form of cheering I brought you these,"

Sniffing them lightly, she couldn't help the corner of her mouth turning up at the romantic gesture. It was so rare that she was given gifts like this that she found herself blushing lightly, as though she was a 13 year old school girl again. She was about to summon a vase and water when she paused. She hadn't touched her wand since the attack and wasn't sure she was ready to do so yet.

It remained in her bedside table until she coped with the fact that she had been ready to use it for murderous means not only without reserve, but with glee. She almost hadn't been able to control herself. With a frown, she placed the flowers on the table instead, deciding to have Tulpin enchant them later. Turning back to Lukas, she gave him a surprisingly soft smile, hoping he didn't take her actions as disappointment at the gift.

"You can't tell me you didn't miss me,"

Ana let out a light snort and smirked playfully "Oh I missed you all right..." Yawning nonchalantly, she stretched a little while adding flippantly "... I tried to get a dog to replace you, but it didn't work... " Her golden eyes cracked open and glittered at him as her lips curled into a smirk. She couldn't help herself, he was just too sweet not to be mean to "... It didn't stink, pee or lick my face nearly as much..."

His hand rested on the blanket as he leaned to take a good look at her. "So if you don't mind me asking what have you been doing with yourself since you shut yourself up in the tower there Rapunzel?" A muggle book reference. Kayla read it once or twice to their son, which still astonished him that muggles could come up with anything that interesting. The book wasn't Jasper's favorite growing up, but it did keep him quiet when she read to him.

Lukas wondered what other bits and pieces of his son's life he had been too busy to learn about. Work was quite hectic while Jasper was growing up so he felt like he had some sort of excuse, but apparently not a strong enough of one to make up for years of fatherly neglect and poor judgment. Lukas was certain that Jasper could not claim him completely absent. His son's talent on the piano would say otherwise due to Lukas training him each night, through exhaustion mind you, to play like he himself played. However it seemed to be too little too late and his son no longer wished for his approval the roles were reversed.

How Lukas was being attentive now was a miracle in it's self. Watching the flowers find themselves on her night table he just shook his head. At least she looked like she enjoyed them somewhat. He couldn't be certain. Lukas was not a man of grand gestures, but he did know flowers helped, it got him out of the dog house now and then with Kayla for the little things. Apparently though there was no painted pettle in Merlin's garden to get him out of the hole he dug himself for the past sixteen years so he just gave up.

"Oh you wound me with your sarcasm. Comparing me to a dog, how ever will I recover from the shame of it?" Lukas brought a hand to his salt and peppered forehead as if to say 'woe-is-me' however he took in a deep breath, "Wait, no I'm over it. I do think you are just trying to scare me off quicker with your wicked tongue rather than appreciate the gesture of me coming to see you bandaged like an intoxicated mummy," he snipped back with the smirk crawling across his lips once more. Call him a dog? Maybe he might just pick on her a bit for that. "Hmph and lick your face? Honestly when have I ever done that?" Figured he would pull the least likely out of the group to protest.

"So if you don't mind me asking what have you been doing with yourself since you shut yourself up in the tower there Rapunzel?"

"Last time I checked, broken bones take a while to heal if you don't take bone growing potion... Where were YOU all this time..." She gave him a look before adding with a wicked grin "... Prince Charming..." She didn't know much about muggle fairy tales, but she recognized the name Rapunzel from the Muggle Studies class she took back in 3rd year. Yes, Analiza Snark took Muggle Studies. It was an easy O if she remembered right and her father had insisted.

"Oh you wound me with your sarcasm. Comparing me to a dog, how ever will I recover from the shame of it? Wait, no I'm over it. I do think you are just trying to scare me off quicker with your wicked tongue rather than appreciate the gesture of me coming to see you bandaged like an intoxicated mummy,"

"Cute." She sniffed in disdain, touching her bandages self consciously. Intoxicated mummy? Really? What a vision that brought to mind. His wit may have not been as sharp as hers, but his descriptive ability certainly was creative. He almost.... almost.... got her with that one. But instead of pouting, she just narrowed her eyes slightly and cocked her lips in a cool smirk. Wicked tongue he said... She would show him her wicked tongue.

"Hmph and lick your face? Honestly when have I ever done that?"

"... Oh I'm sorry..." She said with a barely contained smirk tugging hard at her thin lips "... I believe you call that kissing..." She rolled her eyes dramatically before pretending to go back to reading her paper, adding offhandedly "I am sure you have been compared to a lot worse then a dog my dear..." Peeping over the top at him, she smiled behind the parchment and waited for what she hope was a sharp retort. She liked a man who could take her abuse AND hand it back.

Rolling his eyes Lukas laughed off her little petty snip at him, "Any particular reason you don't want to have yourself healed the proper way? Or is this the side of Analiza Snark the world doesn't know the side that enjoys the pain of her injuries," with a fake clearing of his throat he added, "Because if that is the case I will be sure to make a quick retreat out that very door. I don't need any of that," he fixed his collar and just gave her a wicked little smile.

"I am rather charming aren't I? I'm so glad you agree," sure she was just adding to muggle faerie tale metaphor but it didn't matter. Lukas felt that his charm was obvious to those who truly looked at him.

If she had wanted him to he could replace her bandages. Though he seemed gruff and somewhat rugged when he wanted to be his hands can be gentle and soft. That way he would have removed the poorly wrapped pieces of fabric and check on her head himself, but she didn't ask and he figured he would only get shot down if he offered so instead he picked on her.

"You never complained about my kissing before. So if you feel that way I am sure after this visit I can find someone willing to help me practice my skills. I wouldn't want to force you to do something that causes you such obvious discomfort," he yawned a little and stood up. Stretching he leaned forward, "I have been called things you might never believe by people closer to me than you so really being compared to a dog is the least of my worries."

"Any particular reason you don't want to have yourself healed the proper way? Or is this the side of Analiza Snark the world doesn't know the side that enjoys the pain of her injuries, Because if that is the case I will be sure to make a quick retreat out that very door. I don't need any of that,"

"Tulpin said..." Ana started, a note of irritation in her tone. It was her instant response whenever someone criticized her for following the healers directions. As her godmother, Tulpin had been more of a mother to Ana then her own mother, so she had always followed the woman's instructions without pause, no matter how odd they were. Healing her skull with old fashioned muggle practices was certainly one of Tulpin's stranger ideas, but Ana surmised it was to teach her a lessen. Deciding it wasn't important enough to explain, Ana shook her head and muttered "Never mind..."

"You never complained about my kissing before. So if you feel that way I am sure after this visit I can find someone willing to help me practice my skills. I wouldn't want to force you to do something that causes you such obvious discomfort..."

Cocking her head to the side gingerly, Ana gave him 'the look', one slim auburn brow raising sarcastically while her golden eyes fixated on him in a cool stare. The effect was most likely ruined by the turban, but Analiza figured enough of it filtered through to get her point across. Though she might have to retrieve a butcher knife and some rope to really make her point.

"I have been called things you might never believe by people closer to me than you so really being compared to a dog is the least of my worries."

As he leaned forward, Ana thought about turning her head to the side just to spite him, but found herself leaning up towards him in anticipation instead. "... Perfect. We can be dogs together... After all, I have been referred to one on more then one occasion" She said with a small smile, her glare disappearing and a twinkle appearing to take it's place. Reaching up, she cupped his cheek in one hand and pulled his face towards her, intent on his lips. A cough that sounded strangely forced sounded from the doorway.

"... I  hope I am not interrupting... But Miss Ana needs her medicine..."

Ana paused, her lips only inches from their target, and glanced over at the door where Tulpin stood, a cool and undeniably motherly look on her only slightly lined face. Even at 35 years old, Analiza felt like a little girl when Tulpin gave her that look, and she took her hand away from Lukas's cheek as quickly as a child caught with their hand in the bisquit box. She coughed herself and gave him a briefly apologetic look "That's... true..."

Lukas had been willing to press his lips to hers, closing the gap between them would have been easy and natural. His hand moved to touch hers but then there was an interruption. Letting out a deep sigh he looked over to see that they were being watched it was just as well. Pulling back his hand that had searched for hers found his own throat. Scratching a bit at the scruff there he gave her a knowing nod.

"Well Ms. Snark, I am almost certain you'll be up and around soon enough. When you do get back on both feet be certain to come by my office, I have some things to discuss with you," he gave her a cheeky little grin.

Standing up from her bed he straightened the squished up blanket so that she wouldn't have to deal with the imprint he left. "You really should put those flowers in water before they perish," turning he headed towards the door, "I have to say out of all the injured folks I have seen in my day you are by far the prettiest." With a wink he slid past the interrupting figure, "Suppose I can show myself out," giving a bow he vanished out the door and headed towards the foyer.

Once out the door he apparated back to the Quinn family estate and off towards his study to do some reading before heading off for the evening with a couple old school friends.

There were several things on Gavin's mind already. Not only did he just witness a mental breakdown from Nicola with the whole Kyle incident, but now his sister was injured for some unknown reason. Currently he was lost for words. He felt like an awful boyfriend since he wasn't there with Nic from the beginning of the ceremony. If only he wasn't so touchy on the whole "Remembering Day Ceremony" and if he wasn't so negative about it he would've been right next to Nic and nothing bad would've happened to her. Or at least that was what Gavin kept telling himself.
   
Clearly there would be no stopping Kyle, that boy wasn’t worth the drama and even if there was a possibility he wanted to, everything happened so quickly according to Nicola. This was confusing. Kyle was always a showoff who made a big show. The whole case was missing some pieces of the puzzle but there wasn’t time to think about it, Ana needed him. Or at least, he thought she did. Analiza was too stubborn to ever admit to it.

Gavin had to leave Hogwarts where he was needed for a family emergency. Of course Nic understood why he was leaving but was it really worth it? His sister was the strongest person he had ever known and she would understand if Gavin did not wish to see her but he couldn't live with more guilt. His sister was there for him so why was it any different now? Knowing that Tulpin was taking care of Ana only eased the pain. Pain that Gavin would never admit out loud. He was lucky to escape Hogwarts after everything that had happened. He received a letter from Tuplin about Ana's condition without saying what had happened. And if it was in the Daily Prophet Gavin would've known. He never read that garbage anymore, he hated gossip.

Walking to the Snark Manor, of course apparating in a safe location, Gavin walked up to the door hesitating. Should he just walk in? Should he knock? He held his suitcase in one hand, planning on staying over for the night, and knocked three times on the door. He wondered when Arielle was going to get here or maybe she was all ready inside.

Having heard about her Aunt's dreadful fall, she was told she could visit along with her oh so caring Uncle. They of course were intent on checking up on her welfare as much as any other person was when they care for a family member. Arielle however was dragging her feet more than usual. The exhaustion of not sleeping properly a few nights in a row would do that to you. However the small smile that kept her lips company for the past few months only seemed to continue to grow more and more as time went on. The night prior, Arielle spent the evening with a close friend flying till odd hours of the night. Which at the time she didn't mind, but going to see her Aunt looking like a whipped pup wasn't going to go well for her at all. Despite a short nap she still had the earmarks of a girl up to something, which she attempted to hide by wearing a hat and keeping her hair tied back loosely.

Given access to the Floo-Network, Arielle went to the hearth she was told to, and with a little powder and an articulate tongue, Arielle poofed herself home. The stupid soot was everywhere brushing at it with busy hands she silently cussed under her breathe. What a bother this was. Arielle couldn't wait till she was old enough to be like her Uncle and apparate places. Such a convenient form of travel not like this nonsense. Grabbing her wand she pointed it at her clothing and cleaned off the rest of the dirt with a quick spell.

Slipping the wand back into her jeans pocket, she rubbed her eyes again and let out a small gasping yawn. For the love of Merlin, she hoped she could pull it together enough so that she wasn't given the third degree by her prying, but loving, aunt. That and with Gavin there she certainly wouldn't reveal any details of her social life. It was social suicide enough having Gavin and Alex sniffing around any of the males she might have an interest in, let alone anyone who might think about doing harm to her in some fashion. Sure she gave them credit for trying, but she was learning how to be a little quicker, and a little slicker with her rendezvous.

Arielle might have taken a suitcase if she didn't have a ton of clothing already stored in their home. With the two Aunts constantly bombarding her with clothing and fashion tips she was filled to the brim with enough clothing to last her a couple Eons. Hearing a knock she left the hearth she arrived in unlatched the lock and pulled on the familiar door knob, "Oi, Uncle Gavin...." she chuckled knowing full well she just called him Gavin while they were at school, "What brings you here?" Brows bouncing in her usual friendly fashion just a little more tired and in the need of a good hearty nap.

Outfit

When Arielle opened the door, Gavin eyed his little niece. He did not approve of her outfit; anything that looked nice on her was out of the question. But instead of saying anything that would cause an argument that was sure to happen, Gavin walked passed her and dropped his suitcase settling himself in the nearest chair after giving her a quick hug. Everything seemed to be fairly similar after leaving Hogwarts, a few things new here and there but other than that it was home.

He wondered how Analiza would approve of Gavin getting his own place soon with Nicola. He decided that it was the right time to get his own place since Nic was graduating and she would need a place to stay. Besides, Gavin didn't want Nic to live in a rundown place where who knows what lived in there. He put his left hand through his hair and pondered about it for a moment. Maybe it was a better idea to tell her after her healing.

"Oi, Uncle Gavin... What brings you here?"

He chuckled at Arielle's expression, was she hiding something? Gavin wasn't sure. She seemed a little bit too happy. Arielle wasn't a good liar, well not to Gavin. It was probably the fact that she grew up with him that made her bad at it. "Hmmm... I don't know. Wanna explain to me why I'm here? Have you seen Analiza yet?" he said with a frown. It bothered him that Arielle was here before him. He wanted to get a picture of her all covered in ash. He was going to send it to the whole school.

"By the way Arielle, do you want to explain to me why you look so clean after traveling through the fireplace? I don't recall you being of age to do magic.” he winked at her and playfully punched her in the arm. Gavin rarely saw his niece anymore after her being accepted into Gryffindor, weirdo, and he enjoyed the moment. Hopefully he was going to be able to catch up with her.