You wouldn’t normally see Arielle crawling around on the floor, and you would never expect to find Arielle beneath her bed searching for something. Anyone would ask what the heck she was looking for, and what could be so important she had to crawl under her bed to get it. Well Arielle wasn’t looking for anything but she was putting something away and getting something else. She was putting back Wally the Warlock No. 1 first edition. She had been basking in its perfect condition earlier. She was also getting Witch Watch the new collection she got while on holidays, she wanted to read the next story. Arielle kept her comic book collection hidden around her room and completed alphabetically. She had places in the walls underneath her bed, under her dresser and in her closet. She had to hide it; she didn’t want anyone learning about her guilty pleasure. She loved comic books; it had all started when she found some in Gavin and Alexander’s room years ago. Arielle wasn’t even sure if they had grown out of it yet, but she sure hadn’t.

Arielle was a fifth year fashioniesta and she made fun of those nerdy kids who had their noses stuck in comics. It wasn’t the comics she mocked, it was their attire, but she didn’t want people to think they could find a common ground with her. Plus she was sure Kitty would think her love of comics to be down right childish and she would lose her best friend. There were many reasons that made her feel it was best to keep her love of comics hidden.

“Success!” She said with a cheer as she moved out from underneath her bed. She had her comic in her hand and she placed it on her bed before getting up and dusting herself off. The one thing she hated about hiding her comics was the fact that she spent time in dusty places that could potentially ruin her clothing. She may love comic books a lot but she definitely loved her clothing more.

She made sure her grey shirt was as perfect as it had been before she made it suffer the time on the floor underneath her bed. She also took a second to check her hair in the mirror. No, she wasn’t looking good for anyone but herself. Arielle smiled before putting on a bit of lip-gloss and curling some of her curls behind her ears. Arielle had gone the lazy route today and had not straightened her hair. What was the point when you were just hanging out at home? She plopped down on her bed, opened up the No 2, of Witch Watch and started in on the epic tail of four witches who were spies. It was a cheesy concept but the drawings were fantastic, the dialogue brilliant, and the characters were addicting.

The only thing that would cause a problem if someone other than family came over, she would have to do a quick job of hiding the comic without harming it.

Outfit

Allie knew it was Tuesday and that Kevin ought to have been at the Ministry, but alas, he was no where to be found.  She had searched all of Diagon Alley for him, as well as a few pubs that were off the beaten path (all Kevin's favorites, of course.)  She sat with a milk shake at a small muggle burger joint, pondering where else he could be.  He was usually very keen on letting Allie know where he would be whilst she stayed with him for the holidays.  As she got down to the final dregs of her milk shake, she figured that the last place she knew to check--and also the most awkward place--would be Headmistress Snark's manor.  Kevin had been seeing an awful lot of her over the holidays.

She threw her cup away and left the place to find a muggle bus stop.  She knew that the Headmistress lived in muggle London, and since Allie currently had no means of magical transportation, the muggle bus was the only way to go.  Finally, she found a shoddy covered bench. She sat on the end, far away from the less-than-clean man drinking a sour-smelling liquid from a paper bag.  The bus came minutes later and she boarded, careful to sit in a seat nearest the door. 

The ride was fairly short and she was fortunate to find that the nearest bus stop was in view of the Snark Manor.  Allie had only seen the manor once before, when Kevin pointed it out, but she was positive that this was the one; it was quite unmistakable.  Silently suppressing the awkward feeling of seeing the Headmistress out of school (even though it happened often when she was young, but that was long before Ms. Snark became the Headmistress) Allie made her way through the small muggle town and up towards the Manor.

Finally reaching the door, Allie took a deep, nerve-settling breath and took a hold of the large door knocker.  She knocked three times and waited, hoping to dear Merlin that Kevin was here or no one was here.  She couldn't imagine what she would do if it was just her and the Headmistress twiddling their thumbs in silent awkwardness; they really hadn't had any time to chat since she became the school's most controversial Headmistress...she wasn't sure where they stood. 

"Damn you and your lack of a note..." She muttered under her breath, hoping that wherever Kevin was, he heard those words in his head.

Of course the doorbell would ring just as she had settled into the newest adventures. Damn whoever it was on the other side of that door. Arielle had no plans, so it had to be for her mother or maybe Alexander. Gavin was out with Nicola as he often was during the holidays, they did have a flat together in any event. Arielle wasn’t so keen on Nicola she had terrible fashion sense after all. Why she couldn’t dress as she did for work all the time, Arielle would never know. For some reason that girl would slip back into her baggy tomboy wear, why Arielle would never know. Arielle much preferred Nicola’s work wear as it was much more tasteful, thanks to Analiza. Oh perhaps the door was for Analiza?

Truthfully Arielle was hoping the door was for Alexander, as that would mean either one of his cute friends, or a girl she could judge harshly. Both options proved to be fun enough that at the very prospect she hoped off her bed, opened one of her dresser drawers and carefully slipped the offending, but glorious comic book inside to hide till her little mission was over. Slipping her feet into a pair of her comfortable warm boots she headed out into the hall. One’s outfit was not complete unless shoes were attached, and since she hoped it was some cute boy she hoped she looked good.

Fluffing her hair and making sure the curls looked good she made her way to the front door. She opened it in a fluid movement taking in who was the bothersome person on the other side. She was not expecting to find Allie Hargrove. Arielle knew her well enough, they both supported her aunt’s actions at Hogwarts, and she shared enough classes together. Arielle leaned against the door while holding it open. “Yes?” She smiled but it was sort of forced and her eyes kind of read that she was annoyed. “What brings you to the Snark doorstep?” Arielle didn’t even think she might be looking for Kevin, her father. He had seemed to be around a lot lately, well except for now.

A smooth wave of relief washed over Allie as the door opened to reveal someone other than Headmistress Snark.  Simultaneously, a wave of warm air flew out the door, momentarily providing a barrier between her and the frigid air.  Arielle Snark leaned against the door, not looking particularly inviting despite the two of them having a good rapport at Hogwarts.

"I'm sorry to... uh... bother you, I was just looking for my brother, Kevin.  I know he's been spending a lot of time with Head...An...your aunt," Allie felt her face getting red, though it was probably indiscernible from the redness the wintry mix of cold wind and snow had given her. 

Allie was beginning to feel somewhat silly about coming all the way here to find Kevin.  She could hardly remember why she had even wanted to find him in the first place.  Oh yeah, their mother was requesting that they both be present for a family dinner.  A family dinner where she and Kevin would be repeatedly asked when the last time they went to shabbat services and whether or not they had yet found suitable Jewish mates (more and issue with Kevin than Allie, but nonetheless.)

"He usually lets me know where he'll be when I'm staying with him, but not today..."  Allie shrugged her shoulders and gave her...friend?...a sheepish smile. 

Okay, so Allie being on the other side of the door wasn’t so bad. She liked the girl, and in fact was rather friendly with her but she wasn’t a cute boy. Plus to boot she had interrupted her secret nerd fest, and now Arielle was obligated to invite the girl in and therefore she would have to leave her comic for later. Disappoint turn of the day, but it was best to put on that social butterfly smile. Indeed the smile appeared after a moment and she made way for Allie to enter. “Come in out of the cold.”

Brother, right, Arielle always forgot that. For some reason she just always assumed the relation between Allie and Kevin was father and daughter. In truth it was kind of silly since she was no stranger to age differences, given her uncle Gavin and aunt Analiza. Still, she mentally scolded herself for making the mistake, but at least it was always mental and not a slip of the mouth. “Oh yeah, well Kevin isn’t here that I have seen.” Arielle had to admit she was curious if Allie and Kevin were half-siblings, or what the entire story was. Arielle didn’t feel like prying today, but perhaps later.

“Well what did you need from him?” Arielle was now growing far more curious as to why Allie needed to find her brother. She never went strolling around town, or to someone’s house to find Alex or Gavin, and she looked at them like they were brothers since she grew up with them. So why was Allie so concerned about her brother’s whereabouts. “As I feel he is old enough to decide where he wants to be.” Arielle said in that normal cold tone that sounded a lot like Analiza.

“Anyway, if he was supposed to be here he is bound to show up right?” Arielle shrugged her shoulders. “Why don’t you come in and wait? Have a snack, we can find something to do I am sure.” Arielle knew that comic was calling her name, but she would have to ignore its lure for now. “Want anything to drink?”