All the day had been a dreary one at best.  He had never liked England much; in all his travels, there had never truly been much of anywhere that he liked, but some places were more tolerable than others.  The wet, cold seasons of the United Kingdom might as well have been winter in Siberia, which he had only suffered through once, for all that he took to them.  For what he had in mind, though, there was not much choice beyond accepting the upcoming seasonal agony.  Some were born to suffer, others achieved it, but most had suffering thrust upon them.

Dim was settling to its close as he approached the house.  He had visited the Snark home two or three times before, but it had been in the distant past before he'd really known the ways of the world.  That was one of the curses he'd realized that came as a result of being so widely traveled as a child.  No real place could ever compare today to how he had seen it in his mind's eye.  Mountains shrank; monuments were less monumental.  What had towered before was simply mediocre now.

Snark Manor did not look to have lost any of its charm, but where he might have once found it impressive, it was now simply quaint.  Joćo considered it for a moment, taking it in as if its outer facade could convey the inner secrets of its inhabitants, and then made his way to its front door.  He was expected; he could not imagine that he would be kept waiting long.

It had been over ten years since he'd last seen Analiza Snark, but he doubted that either could have forgotten the other.  There were some moments that stuck out vividly in his mind.  The aftermath of one horrible, terrifying night in Egypt remained quite clearly in his, burned into the memory of the boy that he had been.  He wondered if she had changed much; she was the Headmistress of Hogwarts now, which was surely an enviable position.  Joćo normally didn't consider it worth his while to keep up with the lives of those he had known.  He had known so many, after all, and if they were really important and had done well by themselves, the keeping up came naturally with word of their exploits.  But Analiza Snark seemed to have done well for one who was really only some-odd years older than he, and he couldn't help but wonder if he should have written sooner.

As he had expected, once he had arrived, admittance did not take long. 

"Analiza," Joćo said warmly, moving to kiss her on both cheeks.  He had never known her well, certainly not well enough to greet her as a friend, but that was part of the planned attack: insert himself as his father would have done, and then take what he needed.

"It has been too long.  It is good of you to see me after all this time."  Still smiling, he stepped back to look her over.  Flattery was an important part of this as well.  A man could both a borrower and lender be, but if his tongue was smooth enough, doors would still open.  "And to think that you are at Hogwarts now?  Teaching suits you, obviously," he said mischievously.  "How do you like your new profession?"

Outfit

Analiza hated Christmas. It was such a needless holiday. In her mind, it's only existence was to give businesses more money, housewives a chance to gloat and parents a reason to force their greedy little spawns to be good. Even the best part of the holiday, the gifts, seemed redundant to her. If Alex wanted something, she got it for him. Why did she have to wait for one time of the year to get it and spend the needless money and time wrapping it? It was silly. But then, Christmas in the Snark household had never been particularly enjoyable for Analiza. Her father had always been working overtime and her mother, when she wasn't doped up on potions, spent most of her time yelling at the house elves for hanging the ornaments wrong, despite having never done it herself.

Christmas had been about getting new stuff, days off of school and the parties. That was the only thing Ana enjoyed about it, both then and now, which was why it was December 23rd and her house was left undecorated and nearly empty of life. Everyone was off in their separate directions, at parties and the more 'merry' houses of friends. It was clear that they intended to stay as far away from the dreary Snark home until Christmas day when they would awake to a few minutes of tearing off giftwrap before heading out to enjoy Christmas breakfast at someone else's house, whose mothers, Analiza was sure, could magically boil water into a delicious four course meal. But it was all right, Analiza preferred it this way. It gave her time to curl up in front of the fire with a good book and a goblet of wine.

Which was exactly what she was doing when her elf appeared with a quiet pop and announced in a wispy, reedy voice that there was a man at the door. Having forgotten that she and Joćo were to meet that day, Analiza assumed that it was Kevin showing up hours early for their date that evening. Cursing under her breath, Analiza rushed from her personal library to the entry way, stopping only once to study herself in a hallway mirror and adjust her clothing and hair. Though she was irritated that he was so early and would see her in simple 'day' clothes, Analiza couldn't help the soft smile that touched her rouged lips at the thought of spending more of the day with her old friend. That smile grew as she threw open the door and only faded for a second when she saw that it was not Kevin on the other side.

It had been years, a decade or more, since she had laid eyes on Joćo, and the years had done him well it seemed. Her golden eyes flickered over him, taking in his form with a gaze that spoke of both critique and admiration, before she smiled. "Joćo..." She said softly, stiffening only slightly as his lips brushed her cheeks. Not that she was opposed to that sort of greeting, it was just that she and Joćo had never been close enough to warrant such intimacy. Miguel had been somewhat of a mentor of hers, an old associate of her grandfathers and a friend to Noirtu, but his son was no more then a foolish, overconfident teen aged boy when Ana met him. It wasn't until a couple years later, when he matured, that Analiza and he really begin a friendship. And then they went their separate ways shortly after.

These memories, however, didn't depreciate the kindling of joy that Analiza felt when she laid eyes on him. Friends, especially nowadays, were so rare and precious that she felt the urge to well up in tears of happiness. Naturally, she didn't (she was a Snark after all) but the thought was there and the thought was what counted. Her thin lips split into a rare, toothy grin, as he looked her over, pleased at his praise.

"It has been too long.  It is good of you to see me after all this time. And to think that you are at Hogwarts now?  Teaching suits you, obviously, How do you like your new profession?"

"Come in, Come in... It is much warmer inside..." Analiza insisted, ushering him into the hall. Shutting the door behind him, she called for Gob "Gob!! Tea to the private library please..." before turning back to Joćo, "Please follow me, we have so much to catch up on..." As she showed him the way to her private library and office, Analiza went on "As for your question about Hogwarts, I must say that I am loathing it. But then, I never imagined that I would be in charge of a gaggle of pox faced little bastards whose only goal in life seems to be making me miserable... Oh and there is a bunch of students as well..."

There was a certain art to introductions.  Making one's greeting seem sincere, asking after the other, politely wishing the best even when intentions might be otherwise.  In this case, Joćo truly did want nothing but the best for Analiza Snark.  Keeping her happy made it far more likely that he would get what he wanted, and with any woman, he had no doubt that flattery and a sense of purpose would go a long way.

Her response surprised him.  Honesty was not something that had much of a place in the world, and her blatant criticisms of her current position - to say that she loathed it - was not what he had expected at all.  Teaching was, of  course, far from a noble profession.  He would have enjoyed it quite a bit more if he hadn't had to deal with students, but after all, for the most part, they were only children and could be successfully shuffled aside while one got to the real work.  At least he wasn't like that idiot mage from Laevenstrome who had managed to get his research assistant killed and then mysteriously disappeared from the faculty.

But Headmistress...that was a different manner of beast entirely.  When one was in charge, dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday professor-dom suddenly faded away.  Joćo knew that he would have enjoyed his time teaching far more if he could have been rid of both students and colleagues.  It was disappointing to hear that one who had exceeded even his successes still dealt with the same frustrations.

He blinked, and then followed her inside, his polite smile becoming slightly strained.  Joćo wasn't quite sure what to make of the diatribe - pox faced, bastards, misery, it all sounded wretched - but he felt certain that agreeing with her would go far better towards achieving his overall purpose. 

She ended with what was obviously a joke, but it took him a moment to catch on.  He gave a polite laugh, and then flashed her a quick, mannered smile.

"That does sound unfortunate," he replied courteously.  "It is too bad that the professors often never rise above the students.  At Laevenstrome, there were some that could...well, I will not bore you with stories," he said, shaking his head.  "But I am truly sorry to hear it, Analiza.  One as gifted as you deserves better than such disrespect."

After years of dealing with her sister, who never said anything she meant, and the unspeakables, who had more skeletons hidden in their pinkies then all of Hogwarts, Analiza could tell that Joao's laughs, his smiles and his manners were all part of a larger and more shadowy picture. It was very slytherinesque of him, flattering her into submission like that, a trait that she had honed herself and knew well. It hurt her, though, to know that he was trying to get her help in such a way. After all they had been through, she had hoped he could confide in her without worry.

"That does sound unfortunate, It is too bad that the professors often never rise above the students.  At Laevenstrome, there were some that could...well, I will not bore you with stories, But I am truly sorry to hear it, Analiza.  One as gifted as you deserves better than such disrespect."

Sipping her tea, her golden eyes bore into him over the rim of the cup, a single well-plucked brow arching incredulously. After a moment, she put her tea down, crossed her legs and smiled coolly at him. "While I wholeheartedly agree with you, Joao, I fail to see why my new hobby is such an interest to you. You and I both know that people like us do not travel thousands of miles to make small talk with people we haven't seen, spoken or written to in a decade..." There was, surprisingly, not a trace of malice in her tone when she spoke of their time apart. She, herself, rarely wrote letters or traveled to meet with friends that didn't live in her near vicinity (Sometimes not even if they did), she was simply too busy. She just assumed that Joao was the same.

"So stop with the needless formalities and let's get down to business..." Analiza's mouth curved at the corners in a friendlier way. "What, exactly, is the esteemed and respected son of Miguel Encantado up to and..." Steepling her slender fingers, Analiza leaned forward and eyed him with a conspiratorial smile "... how can I help?"

Whatever memories he might have of Analiza Snark, he had not expected a woman so upfront and direct.  So much of academia - so much of life with his father, even - had involved dancing around the subject matter, constantly turning wheels within wheels, that he wasn't quite sure how to react to a forward question.  A reasonable explanation had never been part of his plan.  Joćo had come expecting machinations and manipulation, and being asked so directly and offered help without condition left him gaping at her for a moment.

Joćo swallowed, obviously uncertain, and then dark eyes flickered to her golden ones.  "My father..."  He paused.  He had not expected to speak so openly about this.  "Before he died, he was following some work being done in the Near East," he said at last.  "Egypt. It involved different excavations centered around an ancient group, something called the Cult of the Phoenix.  Perhaps you have heard of it?" he asked, his gaze shifting to meet hers again.

This was...difficult ground.  Tricky to navigate.  But she had already commented on how much she disliked the other professors who were working with her, and perhaps that might work in his favor.  Besides, she had already shown that she preferred to be direct.  Even if this was unfamiliar territory, he might win the day by steering through it.

"After he passed away," he continued, his gaze flicking away and to the left as he pressed his fingers together, "some of his papers came into my possession.  It seems that he was getting very close to solving the mystery surrounding the Cult.  I have -" He paused, as if searching for the best words. "- done what I can to continue his work, but when I tried to put the records from one of the recent excavations together, I discovered that some of the artifacts appeared to have gone missing when they were brought into England.  Crucial ones."

Joćo gave her a slight smile.  "I do not suppose you can guess who might have been in charge of that excavation?"

"My father...Before he died, he was following some work being done in the Near East, Egypt. It involved different excavations centered around an ancient group, something called the Cult of the Phoenix.  Perhaps you have heard of it?"

The feeling of regret that filled her at the mention of Miguel's death was quickly replaced by a shudder of fear that traveled down her spine at the moment he uttered the first syllable of that acursed country. He then coupled that shudder of fear with a wave of terror by mentioning the Cult of the Phoenix. Instinctively, Analiza's hand clenched around the burn scar on her arm, which radiated a tingling pain like the pricks of a thousand tiny needles. Her previously open and relaxed expression solidified into an unreadable mask and she tilted her head ever so slightly, uttering nonchalantly "... A bit.. yes..." She didn't know how much he knew about that night some 13 years ago, but didn't want to reveal exactly how much she knew about the cult, or what it had to do with her. "... My cousin Fidelia is a cursebreaker working in the area, she told me a bit about it..."

"After he passed away, some of his papers came into my possession.  It seems that he was getting very close to solving the mystery surrounding the Cult.  I have - done what I can to continue his work, but when I tried to put the records from one of the recent excavations together, I discovered that some of the artifacts appeared to have gone missing when they were brought into England.  Crucial ones."

Something in the pit of Analiza's stomach growled and she took a taste of the tea in hopes to quell it, her golden eyes locked on Joćo. It didn't escape her that, perhaps, what his father was studying involved a cure to the curse they shared. He had, after all, gotten the brunt of it. Before she had simply been being nice, offering to assist him in what she had assumed at the time was a silly endeavor or a simple request, but now she was filled with a different emotion. A need, if you will, to help him if for nothing but to help herself. If there was a cure for this curse, Miguel Encantado would be the one man she would trust to find it. She had to help him now, her life depended on it.

"I do not suppose you can guess who might have been in charge of that excavation?"

"Not a clue, I'm afraid..." She said off-handedly, though the fierce hawkish gaze affixed on him said she was more then interested in knowing. "... May I ask who? Do I know them?"

He had clearly caught her attention now.  Her eyes were fixed on him.  Good.  Joćo allowed himself a small smile.  Everything was back to the way that he had planned it, not that he'd ever had any doubts that it would.  Confidently, he cleared his throat, meeting her gaze directly as he gave her a slight smile.

"I believe so," he replied.  "The dig was led by a British witch, who took another position shortly after its conclusion."  The entire excavation had gone down as a complete failure, marred by mysterious deaths and whispers of a curse.  It was yet more evidence of why he should have been there, rather than some witch who didn't know what she was getting herself into.  His eyes glinted.  "The position was, coincidentally enough, at Hogwarts.  Teaching Ancient Runes." 

Joćo didn't know very much about Aileen Reid.  He had never met the witch, but he had come across her name once or twice.  Either way, she had managed to worm her way onto an important excavation, and the artifacts that had gone missing had at least at some point been in her possession.  The clearly ambitious woman must have had some reason to hold on to them.

"I cannot say for certain, but my best guess is that these artifacts are still in the possession of Aileen Reid," he continued smoothly, trying to watch the Headmistress to judge her reaction.  If Reid were one of the staff members that she had so bluntly admitted were causing her problems, that might make this even easier than he had hoped.  "I would like to get them back.  If she took them, she did so illegally, and there is no other way to finish my father's work without comparing them to some of his notes."

"I believe so, The dig was led by a British witch, who took another position shortly after its conclusion. The position was, coincidentally enough, at Hogwarts.  Teaching Ancient Runes."

Aileen Reid. It had to be Aileen Reid. He didn't have to even say her name for Ana's stomach to clench painfully at the mere idea that, of all people, Reid was the one she would have to cooperate with to save her own life. Why couldn't it be Austerlitz or Storm, or one of the other professors who she had some semblance of trust and understanding with? Stirring her tea, she took a sip through thin reddened lips and said quietly "I see..."

"I cannot say for certain, but my best guess is that these artifacts are still in the possession of Aileen Reid, I would like to get them back.  If she took them, she did so illegally, and there is no other way to finish my father's work without comparing them to some of his notes."

The mention of illegal actions brightened Ana up a bit, considering they were actions done by Reid and not herself. This sounded promising. Instead of trying to befriend the witch, she could simply blackmail her. A small smirk crept across her face as she put her cup down slowly and laced her long fingers together. "Well, you are in luck there... I would be more then pleased... in fact, I would be honored, to help you bring her grievous crimes to justice...." Sitting back, she pulled out her wand and rolled it slowly between her fingers in thought. What reason would she have for bringing in someone like Joao Encantado, that wouldn't raise suspicions. She already had people whispering about her choices to bring in and promote people like the young Landis Morgan for positions that they were overqualified for.

"... My concern is how I can bring you into the school without raising any red flags, especially considering the thin ice I am already treading on. About half of my current teachers were brought in because they support me, aside from their qualifications of course, and I would loathe to lose a good ally... As for the other half of them, I would have no qualms about ditching and replacing the whole lot of them, but the aftermath would just add to the stress and bad press I am dealing with now..."

Standing, she walked over to a nearby window and stood there, staring out at the wide expanse of her yard without really seeing it. Her wand listlessly drew runes in the dust on the sideboard next to her as she considered her options. She then recalled that there was one position that had yet to be filled since she took over, but it was hardly one that she could picture the fastidious Joao enjoying. However it would get him a position at the school and, in times like this, one needed to count their blessings. Without turning back towards him, she asked lightly "Tell me, Joao, what do you know about Gameskeeping?"

The reaction was even better than Joćo had hoped for.  No convincing, no persuading, no carefully crafted words to lead the woman into believing that what he wanted was what she desired as well.  Aileen Reid, whatever she was like, had clearly not made an ally of Analiza Snark, and it made his current quest all the more simple.  If Analiza was willing to aide him, to give him access to Hogwarts, then his task could be easily completed.

It seemed that the Headmistress had been thinking along the same lines as Joćo, because her next words nearly mirrored his thoughts.  "... My concern is how I can bring you into the school without raising any red flags, especially considering the thin ice I am already treading on."

Joćo nodded along to her words, his own line of reasoning already racing ahead.  With the number of accomplishments in his short life, he had no doubt that he was fully qualified to join the Hogwarts staff as a professor.  None of the subjects at Hogwarts were nearly subtle enough for his liking, not compared to the curriculum at Laevenstrome, but in a storm, ships sought what ports they could.  Ancient Runes was out of the question, since that was the position that Reid held, but Defense Against the Dark Arts...perhaps Potions, which he didn't know much about but imagined he could learn in a short time.  Even History of Magic, which seemed dull and simple, was something he could suffer through if necessary for the ruse.

But none of that seemed to match Analiza's thinking.

"Tell me, Joćo, what do you know about Gameskeeping?"

Joćo visibly blanched.  Gameskeeping?

"I...do not think that would be keeping in line with my talents."  His lips were pressed tightly together, his shoulders tense, as he gave the Headmistress a disbelieving look.  Gameskeeping?  Really?  Wasn't that what they hired Muggles for? 

"I have spent three years teaching at a fundunct for sorcery in the Americas," he informed her, unable to keep the defensive note out of his voice.  "I am certain that I am fully qualified for any position at Hogwarts.  I have opened tombs, braved ancient defenses, seen wonders that most wizards dare not breach..."  That sounded a bit over the top, even to him, so he cut himself off, searching for another line of attack.  He wouldn't be a gameskeeper.

"Besides," he said, a note of dark finality to his voice.  "If Reid does have the artifacts, I must be able to move freely through the school in order to locate them.  The gameskeeper would be restricted to the castle grounds, no?"

"I...do not think that would be keeping in line with my talents." 

As much as Ana like Joćo, she couldn't help but enjoy irritating the prim and proper Brazilian. She remembered clearly how much of a little shit he was back when she first met his father and a tiny sadistic part of her enjoyed seeing him appalled at her idea. She resisted the urge to remark about how 'everyone had to start somewhere' just to piss him off more. He was so adorable when he was agitated!

"I have spent three years teaching at a fundunct for sorcery in the Americas, I am certain that I am fully qualified for any position at Hogwarts.  I have opened tombs, braved ancient defenses, seen wonders that most wizards dare not breach..."

Inwardly she sighed and grumbled something about how she hadn't asked for a freaking resume. Why couldn't he be grateful? She was giving him practically a free pass to one of the most heavily guarded places on earth with the purpose of finding potentially deadly and most definitely dark artifacts. Why was she helping him again? Oh yeah, to save her own life. That certainly put a different spin on it. She rubbed the bridge of her nose as he continued.

"Besides, If Reid does have the artifacts, I must be able to move freely through the school in order to locate them.  The gameskeeper would be restricted to the castle grounds, no?"

Her brow furrowed, thin wrinkles marring the smooth surface of her forehead as she stared at him blankly. "Wait... what? Why would you be constrained to the grounds only?" She said, feeling puzzled. She had no idea why he thought he would be stuck on the grounds, and not knowing something bothered her greatly. Licking her lips, she said slowly "... Isn't the gameskeeper the guy who goes around fixing stuff in the castle? Like... leaky faucets and malfunctioning stairs?" She felt the fluster of embarrassment tinting her cheeks. Dammit, she hated feeling stupid!

((sorry it kinda sucks hard :S))

The sometimes-scholar stared at her in puzzlement, creases forming in his forehead as he considered her words.  The gameskeeper took care of repairs inside the castle?  It certainly wasn't any more distinguished, but that job description clearly didn't match his definition of the word.  Could he be misremembering?

"Perhaps...it is a difference in vocabulary," he said at last, forcing out each word like it was a red-hot bullet.  The possibility that his English might not be good enough was not something he would ever admit to; if there was a fault, it was obviously because he had spent too long overseas.  "At Laevenstrome, the gameskeeper took care of the fundunct's grounds.  But the Americans, there are plenty of words that they use incorrectly."

That was closer to an acceptable excuse, although he still didn't like the idea of it.  Leaky faucets, malfunctioning stairs - they were trials far beneath him.  He might despise teaching, but even dealing with students was far preferable to this.

"I could...try it out."  The distaste was obvious in his voice; Joćo barely suppressed a shudder as he looked back unhappily to Analiza.  "For a time.  But only until this matter with Reid is settled," he said, very firmly.  It was bad enough that he suffer this humiliation; it was not going on any longer than necessary.  "Or until a...more suitable position opens up, yes?"