"Why thank you, Miss Skeeter, you do seem to have an eye for fashion..."

"Oh," Rita smiled as though someone had just told her she was the most beautiful creature on earth. "Why thank you, Miss Snark. I am truly touched." She ran her hand over her skirt, smoothing it out subconsciously as they began to walk through the gates, up the path towards the grande house.

It certainly was a good few steps above Rita's little apartment, and she felt almost overwhelmed by its grandeur as they approached the main door. Of course Niobe asked incessant questions as they walked. Could the woman not wait until they had coffee in their hands? Or at least were sitting down, so Rita could get her trusty quill and parchment together in unison, after the annoying 'I only seek the truth' reporter decided to steal it. Rita would need to sooth her baby to make him write her fabulous stories once more.

Rita couldn't get a word in edgeways, and had to almost run in her ridiculously high heeled shoes to keep up with Snark who had long, graceful but purposeful strides, and Thursby who seemed to be able to keep up with seemingly little effort. "And will your sense of fashion be hindered by the lack of colours at Hogwarts?" Rita asked with wide eyes, determined to make her piece more accessible to the public than Niobe's - who needed politics when one could discuss faux fur and satin?

Analiza hated reporters, she really did, they were the vultures that fed on the reputations of good witches and wizards (such as herself). You couldn't bite back or they would slander you over the front page, making you a despised tyrant or a pitiful laughingstock. Or worse, both. It was for this reason only that Analiza didn't sneer at Skeeters undeserved ego or Thursbys lack of grace. She was treading on thin ice and she knew it, which was bad because if there was one thing Analiza knew, it was that she had a heavy step.

"It's been only a week since the Board of School Governors announced that Knox Greyfriar had resigned; when did you find out you'd been selected? Did you meet with the Board?"

Ana paused for a moment, letting the questions soak in before she replied in as measured and calm tones as she could manage (Though you could still hear a hint of irritation in there despite her attempts) "I have been working with the board for months trying to convince them that there was a suitable replacement for Greyfriar... In private of course, since I didn't want to humiliate the man or blow the issue out of proportion... It was a surprise to me that they would pick me as his replacement, but I was very honored. I suppose my interest and hard work gave them the idea... The whole "splintery broom gets the wax" situation I am sure..."

"Do you feel qualified to take on the position?"

Analiza had prepared for this question since she knew it would be on most parents and several other higher members of the boards tongues, but she was nevertheless irritated when it was asked. "I believe I am... and so do many of the board members... After all, I have worked with the most violatile and dangerous magic our world has seen... and some it has not... and I have had scores of witches and wizards, old and young alike, learning and being lead by me. Can you honestly say that a bunch of..." Ana almost threw out 'Snot-nosed little brats' but decided against it at the last moment as she finished quickly "...fledgling wizards can pose as much of a risk? I dare say that their education with be much more then just adequate at my hands..."

Turning to Rita, she smiled and said in what she considered a confident tone (more so Haughty but when was it not?) "And Miss Skeeter... The colors of my surroundings don't effect me, I affect them..." With that, they were at the door to the Snark Manor, of which Ana threw open with a flourish before turning to the two reporters "Ladies... welcome to my home..."

The Verbatis quill whizzed away over the miniature pad of parchment, which was scrolling itself rapidly, soaking in everything Snark said.  Niobe's mind was working quickly as well, trying to connect the dots and organize events on a mental timeline.  Months ago she was working to replace Greyfriar? She's somehow preempted his surprise resignation?  Perhaps the Department of Mysteries provided her with some otherwise unavailable access to Seers and she'd been able to anticipate his resignation?

She glanced at Rita who looked completely in her element in all the swank of Snark Manor. Niobe was accustomed to much less lush surroundings and her rather plain robes made her feel she had to work harder to belong.   She plowed forward with a follow-up question.

"What do you say to those who might suggest your attempts to replace Greyfriar before his unexpected resignation had something to do with some sort of prophecy? Or should we believe its just coincidence?"

Naturally, Niobe always tried to be polite, but the hard questions didn't make her many friends.  But she knew in her heart they were good and fair questions and the same questions that would be on the minds of the wizarding community once details became available.

Niobe carried on with her boring questions even as they stepped into Snark manor. Could that woman never shut up for just a moment and let the rest of them take a breath? Or at least regain some of their sanity after enduring her drivel for what seemed like hour after painful hour of impertinent questions.

Rita's right eyebrow twitched as the door to the manor was opened and she took in all of the splendor and finery in one fell swoop. It even smelled deliciously rich. Her nostrils flared as she took in the scent of everything the Snark name stood for. Well, Analiza had certainly made a bed of roses to lie in here.

"Ms Snark. How do you feel about having to leave your fine home behind you, and reside in the castle with the...children?" Rita couldn't hide the distaste in her voice as she said the final word. Why anyone would be possessed to have a little brat was completely beyond her.

Analiza had to fight to keep the smirk off her face when she saw the expressions on the reporters faces. Was that... envy? She wasn't sure, but she hoped so. Maybe then they would learn their place when they were in her presence. Ushering them to the right, into a peaceful blue of the living room, Analiza held her head high with pride, as though she was a queen presenting her castle. It was unfortunate that, unlike Miss Skeeter, Miss Thursby didn't share in the simple pleasure of luxury and plowed on ahead like an determined bull.

"What do you say to those who might suggest your attempts to replace Greyfriar before his unexpected resignation had something to do with some sort of prophecy? Or should we believe its just coincidence?"

Ana didn't answer this right away, preferring to leave the woman hanging, as she summoned her houseelf. "Gob! Gob please come and get us some drinks!" She called. A puff of smoke appeared by the piano and a wizened old house elf stepped out. Analiza was pleased to see he wore his best hat this morning. Nothing looked better on her then the fact that her houseelf was freed and chose to work for her. "Please get us some fresh tea and scones..." Gob bowed slightly and disappeared once again, presumably to the kitchen where the sounds of clinking pots could be heard. It was now that Analiza turned back to Niobe.

"If it were a prophecy, it would not be something I could speak of, I'm afraid. I took the secrecy of my previous position very seriously..." Analiza paused for effect, her golden eyes boring into Niobe, as though she was daring her to press further, before she leaned back into the armchair she was perched on and continued with a laugh "But it was hardly as mysterious as that. Zephyr is a family friend who knew of my interest in the position and considered me a prime candidate... When Greyfriar indicated he may be resigning, I was notified immediately."

Gob chose this moment to reappear with the tea and Analiza gracefully accepted a cup, taking a deep breath of the gentle fumes wafting from the top before drinking deeply. A sigh escaped her lips before she continued, a disarming smile on her face "Now if you are suggesting that I had something to do with his resignation... well... I must say I am quite honored that you would think I had that kind of time and power. No, I was far too busy with my own work to pressure him to quit, as pleased as I am at his choice to do so. I was simply a conscientious parent who wished the best for her children and who kept in contact with the Governors in order to assure it. It was quite the surprise and honor that Zephyr considered me as a candidate. Sometimes hard work and persistence pays off..." She didn't clarify that in her case, hard work and persistence indicated hundreds of galleons and blackmail.

"Ms Snark. How do you feel about having to leave your fine home behind you, and reside in the castle with the...children?"

Ana had to be careful with this one. If she was honest about the fact that she most certainly did NOT want to leave her wonderful home to play nursemaid to a bunch of snot nosed little brats, then she would have her door beaten down by angry parents. But if she laid it on too thick... well they would realize it was all a ruse. So she shrugged.

"Any woman who takes pride in her home would be sad to leave it for any reason, which I am, but furniture is easy enough to move to a new home and I don't think that my comfort is more important then assuring Hogwarts students receive the best education possible." There, that should be vague enough. She smiled bahind the rim of her cup as she took another sip of the relaxing tea before closing her eyes briefly in enjoyment. She really needed to ask Gob what he put in it to make it so delicious.

A renewed wash of annoyance and hatred washed over Niobe's face when Rita Skeeter submitted yet another inane query, so domestic and syruppy that it would have been rejected outright from even Witches' Weekly!  A journalist!  But Niobe's quill had scribbled down the answers anyway, regardless of who was asking the questions.  The Verbatis quill was made that way.

She waved away the tea but took a second glance at the house elf.  Her brows furrowed; why, he was wearing a hat.  A real hat, not a sugar bowl lid, not little lampshade, but an inky green bowler hat.  Niobe, as puzzled as she was by a dressed house elf in Snark Manor, could not help but find a resemblance to 1990s former Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge who was famous for such a hat.  She yearned for a photographer.

Her attention for that moment divided, she snapped back to and tried to smile.  Snark had been answering her question.  Of course, with a lack of detail becoming her political stature and umbrious reputation, but details were beginning to slip out, little by little.  No doubt, the Verbatis quill was scratching out each and every one and Niobe would be able to piece it all together into a much clearer picture than Snark was hoping to paint.

"Thank you, that's very helpful," she offered, and then moved to another question.  "Do you plan to make any changes at Headmistress? It's no secret you opposed many of Greyfriar's practices - what will a Snark Hogwarts look like?"

Rita had to stop her mouth from curling into even more of a grin as Thursby watched her quill copy down her own questions. The aggravated look on her face told Rita that her questions were less than appropriate. This made Rita happy. She almost wanted to sigh with joy. If there was one person who took their job way too seriously, it was Niobe Thursby. The fact that the Verbatis quill would be quoting every word that came from her rival's mouth clearly ruffled her feathers.

Rita nodded as Analiza answered her question. Something about moving furniture. Rita gave a mental shrug; it didn't matter much what was being said. Her quill was doing the hard work, and Rita was able to enjoy annoying her 'fellow' reporter. She took a sip of her tea. "And what of men?" She asked, a sly smile on her lips and a wink aimed at Analiza. She hoped against all hope that Analiza would see that she wasn't simply prying, and that it was all in good humour - it was exactly this kind of question that riled reporters like Thursby.

Niobe appeared a bit distracted by Gob and his vibrant little hat, which Ana had hoped she would notice, when Analiza noted that she was apparently not really listening at all. That damn scritchy-scratchy quill was scrawling furiously on her paper, perfectly in time with everything Analiza was saying. It dawned on her that Niobe would simply read what she said and draw from it later, an idea that did not sit well with Ana. She could bamboozle and bedazzle someone during an interview, preying on their weaknesses and greed with her opulent surroundings, but she couldn't fool an inanimate object. She would have to be careful.

"Do you plan to make any changes at Headmistress? It's no secret you opposed many of Greyfriar's practices - what will a Snark Hogwarts look like?"

"Oh I can hardly say... I haven't been privy to all that his administration has been up to." Ana said with a cool smile, sipping her tea. She would have liked to say more, about how she was going to ditch a good amount of that old fools rules for her own, but she suspected that would backfire on her when Thursby got down to reading between the lines scribbled by her quill. Shrugging, she said off-handedly "I am sure there will be a few things I will change, as it is with any new administration, but I can't be sure what that is as of yet. I can, however, assure you that any changes I make are in the children's best interest. I wish to make Hogwarts rise to it's former glory once more."

"And what of men?"

Catching the look of disgust on Thursby's face at Skeeter's inane and unprofessional questions, Ana couldn't help but smirk herself. Hiding her smug smile behind her mug for a moment, she took a sip of tea before turning to Rita, hoping to mess with Thursby as well. "Oh my, that's a hard one. Certainly puts a hold on your romantic life becoming a headmistress.... But I will manage. Afterall, I will be closer to Signature then I am now..." Leaning towards Rita as though they were close friends, Analiza almost tittered "... Have you been there Rita dear? It is a fabulous place. I know the owner of the club, Finn, personally. A fine specimen of a young man... His family are big supporters of mine." She winked at Skeeter when saying this. There, that ought to get Thursby's blood boiling.