Aileen generally avoided the Headmistress as if her life depended on it. She did her job, made small talk with her colleagues, and was more than happy to meet with students outside of class (save, perhaps, Figaro). Interacting with Analiza Snark, however, was very low on her list of priorities. She timed it so that she'd arrive at the castle in the morning while Snark was having breakfast, and if she ever ate in the Great Hall, she timed it so that they'd just miss each other. Paranoid? Yes. But it was appropriate to her bad experiences that she avoided Snark even more than she avoided Bombay. Bombay was a mere nuisance. Snark was pure evil.

So when she walked into her office after the seventh-year lecture had ended, she was not at all happy to find a memo hovering over her desk. It brought up unpleasant memories of working as an Unspeakable under Analiza Snark about a year ago, and she suspected that had been precisely Analiza's intention. Aileen opened it warily, recognizing Snark's spiky handwriting before she even read it. Snark wanted to meet her at 1:00 sharp.

Feeling an impending sense of doom, Aileen threw the memo in the rubbish bin and sighed. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. She'd already taught class today, so people knew she was here, and she had to teach the fifth-years later, so it wasn't as if she could pretend she hadn't seen it and go home. No, unfortunately, she had to face this.

When 12:55 had rolled around, she'd finished a light lunch and was sitting at her desk, watching the minutes tick by on the clock. At 12:58, Aileen slowly stood up, exited her office, and made the very short walk to the Headmistress' office on the same floor.

"Happy dagger," she told the gargoyle, and the wall split to show the spiral staircase. Aileen climbed up it and knocked on the heavy door, waiting for a response (and hoping she wouldn't get one) before coming in.

Once inside, Aileen remained standing and regarded the woman behind the desk with a chilly air. She didn't smile, sit down, or ask how she was.

"You wanted to see me," she stated flatly, much like a reluctant student would when called in for making trouble.

Outfit

If Aileen was under the impression that she was the only one dreading their meeting, she was sorely mistaken. Sure, there was a part of Ana that was chortling inwardly with glee over the idea of making Aileen miserable and uncomfortable, a good part in fact, but there was also a part of her that felt a bit insecure in her presence. Even as her boss, both in Hogwarts and the Department of Mysteries, Analiza always got the impression that Aileen thought she was supposed to be held in higher regard then her colleagues, even those who were obviously more intelligent and better at their jobs, and that she would do anything to bring those above her down to her level. Ana was certain, at least in her own mind, that Aileen was the one who spread the rumors about her sleeping her way up the promotion ladder back at the MoM.

Don't mind that now, Ana, You were her boss there and you are her boss here. She reminded herself as she powdered her nose and picked at invisible lint on her dress. Aileen was always impeccably dressed and Analiza wasn't about to be seen as sloppy and undignified next to a subordinate. Though the thought that she was still Aileen's superior did give her some relief, Analiza couldn't help but be reminded that the only reason that Reid was still employed at the school was because of a pesky little group called 'the School Governors' who just couldn't see any reason to allow Ana to fire her. Aileen had an excellent track record and an impeccable name, as well as years of experience. At least, for now. Don't forget, you have something she doesn't have: dirt. On her. That dagger is more then just your ticket away from this damn curse, it is also the only thing that will knock that bitch down a peg. The thought brought the smile back to Analiza's lips and she nodded to herself, satisfied.

As if on cue, a curt knock sounded Aileen's arrival and Analiza hurriedly got into her position. Spreading some paperwork out on her desk, she made like she was working on far, far more pressing matters then her meeting with Reid. Once in place, she waved open the door without a word and went back to signing some important looking documents.

"You wanted to see me,"

At first, Aileen's answer was only the skritching of Analiza's quill as she dragged it sharply across the paper, the ebony ink forming the tell-tale spikes of her signature. After finishing 'Snark' with a flourish, she finally spoke, though her eyes did not leave the page in front of her. "Yes. Take a seat..." She lifted her hand in a half-hearted gesture at one of the seats in front of her large oak desk. Picking up a sheet of pale green paper, Analiza quickly scribbled out a note to Joao before waving her wand over it. The paper folded itself into a small airplane, akin to the ones the Ministry used, and whisked off towards Joao's office.  Still refusing to look at Professor Reid, a tactic that she had used quite often with the woman back at the ministry for the sole purpose of pissing her off, Analiza took some time to carefully role up and seal the papers on her desk. After they were stowed safely away, Ana summoned a tea tray from the corner and poured herself and Aileen a cup of tea.

Placing it in front of the stone faced woman, Analiza finally made eye contact. Her lips curled back into a twisted smirk and she quickly hid it by bringing the cup to her lips. Sitting back, she took a sip and then gave Aileen an insincere smile "So how was your holiday? Do anything... interesting? Maybe spent some time with that squib brother of yours?" She knew full well that if there were two things in the world that Aileen hated, it was small talk and the mention of her families 'shame'. The fact that Analiza chose to call the youngest Reid a boy rather then the girl... well that was purely for entertainment.

Aileen reluctantly took a seat in front of Snark's desk, watching the woman send off memos and roll up parchment as if she wasn't even there. Her eyes narrowed. Snark had used this tactic - calling her in, and then acting busy - many times at the Ministry, and it never failed to annoy her.

But she knew the waiting game well. So she sat in stony silence, waiting for Snark to make her first move.

That move apparently involved a cup of tea (possibly poisoned) and small talk. Aileen risked taking a sip, and glanced at her warily over the rim of the teacup, sensing that this was not just any old meeting. Snark looked far too smug. She also asked about the holidays, which was clearly a sore point with Aileen.

Oh, of course. Of course she had to bring up the squib sibling, and confuse the gender, too. Shoulders tensing, Aileen set her teacup down and stared at her for a moment. Despite the barb about Abby's little problem (which had admittedly hit the mark), Aileen grew even more suspicious because of Snark's sudden interest in her family.

"She's fine," Aileen informed her curtly. That was all she was going to say about it. The less Snark knew, the better.

"However, I do have a class to teach this afternoon, and I'm sure you have more... paper airplanes to send," she raised her eyebrows at her, letting her know with a look what she thought of her competency as a Headmistress. And a point to Aileen for remembering what those muggle things were called!

"What is this about?"

The stress of the past few weeks had lowered her tolerance for games. Maybe Snark had finally found an excuse to fire her. Maybe... Merlin forbid, she knew more about the holidays and the museum trip than Aileen had thought. Whatever it was, Aileen wanted it out in the open.

"She's fine,"

"Oh yes... my apologies... the boy one is the werewolf right?" Ana murmured flippantly, bringing up the other Reid family shame as easily as if she were commenting on the weather. Studying her glass of tea, she stirred in some sugar with more interest then she regarded Aileen, inwardly, however, she was thoroughly enjoying the bile that was surely rising up in the woman. If there was one thing that Analiza would always be good at, it was antagonizing others. Aileen was, of course, pretending not to care, but Analiza could hear her irritation in every word she hissed through those clenched, perfectly white, teeth.

"However, I do have a class to teach this afternoon, and I'm sure you have more... paper airplanes to send,"

"Oooh pish-posh... What harm will come of them missing one Ancient Runes class..." Ana scoffed, emphasizing 'Ancient Runes' just enough to make it clear of how highly she thought of Aileen's class. Almost as highly as she thought of Aileen, which wasn't saying much to be honest. Anyways, this was fun and since Joao hadn't appeared yet, Analiza figured she would stretch out the torture a bit longer until he arrived. Aileen seemed less then willing to partake in the festivities however.

"What is this about?"

"What?" Analiza said innocently, even a little hurt, "Can't I call you in just to have a chat? I mean... We have a lot in common, you and I... I mean, we were in Slytherin together... we were unspeakables together... We even came from similar families..." She paused and let out a little laugh, waving offhandedly at Reid and saying in an insincerely pleasant voice "... I mean, all my siblings are successful and yours are a squib and a werewolf, but that's just splitting hairs..." Putting her elbows on the desk, she leaned forward and rested her chin on her intertwined fingers. Her golden eyes rested upon Aileen in a fierce and unblinking stare, turning what was supposed to be a friendly smile into more of the grimace a shark makes before attacking. "... I have been your boss twice now and I just feel like I don't know you at all... So regal me! How was your holiday? Did you go somewhere nice? Maybe India... or Australia... or Egypt."

Aileen sat very still in her seat, not at all happy that Snark kept bringing up her siblings. There was no reason for it. Her mouth thinned at the mention of Simon. Now that was a low blow.

She caught her dismissive attitude towards Ancient Runes, and then stared at her when she blatantly compared their siblings' successes (and failures), claiming that they 'had a lot in common except for family shame'. Aileen hated this woman! She didn't want to even think about their similarities. Snark had managed to make her miserable in not one, but two professions, and Aileen only got through it by avoiding admitting that to herself.

"... I have been your boss twice now and I just feel like I don't know you at all... So regal me! How was your holiday? Did you go somewhere nice? Maybe India... or Australia... or Egypt."

Her face paled. She went silent for a moment, processing this. Snark had something on her. That had to be it. But Aileen couldn't give in so easily.

"That isn't exactly news," Aileen murmured snidely, narrowing her eyes. The other professors had known her plans. Bombay especially loved to groan whenever she dared to talk about herself.

"Yes, I went to Egypt. With the squib sister. We left the werewolf brother at home," she said flatly, using Snark's titles for them.

"Would you care to see our itinerary?" She went on with an abundance of fake cheer. Trevelyan must be rubbing off on her. "Perhaps you'd like to know what we ate, and where we shopped, and how the room service was at the hotel. It was fantastic, by the way. Really lovely. I bet I'll even head back this summer," she widened her eyes as if this was an astonishing idea. A scholar! Traveling and studying in foreign countries! Unheard of.

She would not be intimidated, Aileen decided, gaze steely. Whatever Snark knew, she'd have to show her cards first.

"That isn't exactly news, Yes, I went to Egypt. With the squib sister. We left the werewolf brother at home, Would you care to see our itinerary? Perhaps you'd like to know what we ate, and where we shopped, and how the room service was at the hotel. It was fantastic, by the way. Really lovely. I bet I'll even head back this summer,"

Aileen's irritation was palpable to the point that Analiza could taste it in the air. It was like a heavy cream of tension with a hint of... what was that?... ah yes, panic. Such a delicious tasting emotion that Analiza had to sit back and savor it while Aileen tried her hardest to hide it with sarcasm. She managed, in the end, to put up a steely facade but it was too late, Analiza had already tasted the honey of her fear and she longed for more. Leaning forward again, she gave Aileen a crafty smile, saying "Oh you should, it's a beautiful time of year for it. Perhaps we could even go together..."

She paused only briefly, since she really had no intention of going anywhere with Reid, aside from Hell perhaps, before she continued "But to answer your question, no itinerary needed. I am not interested in anything as paltry as that. I am more curious about the tomb you discovered while you were there..." Sitting back in her chair, she added with a disconcerting stare "... or more importantly, what you found in it..."

Suddenly she pushed away from the desk and stood up. She started to walk around the desk towards the other woman, her fingers trailing absentmindedly against the edge of the desk as her eyes focused somewhere on the wall behind Aileen. Her tone was distant, as though she were recalling a long lost memory, as she went on "You see, my grandfather was an egyptologist himself and did quite a bit of research about the ancient Egyptian wizards and their burial tombs. When I was a kid he would tell me such wondrous stories of what he found there... It intrigues me still to this day. After all, so many powerful artifacts in one place is, well, an unspeakables dream."

Sitting on the edge of the desk, Analiza crossed her legs and met Aileens steely gaze with her own unreadable one. "... I mean... if I discovered an untouched ancient wizards tomb filled to the brim with such powerful things... I don't think I could help myself from perhaps taking just... one tiny... little... trinket." Her tone was cruelly playful, the tone you use when you know something the other person doesn't, but desperately wants to know.

Standing again, she took a few slow steps towards Aileen, her tone taking a turn towards wistful "Something small they probably wouldn't even miss amongst all those other riches... Maybe a powerfully enchanted amulet... or some ancient pottery filled with exotic potion ingredients...Or..." She was behind Aileen now and placed a manicured hand on each side of the back of the chair, leaning down so the weight of her words could be fully realized. Her breath ruffled a few strands of the blondes hair as she added, "...Perhaps a jewel encrusted dagger..."

Aileen kept her gaze forward and her back straight as Snark let her know she knew. She forced herself to keep eye contact with her as the woman stalked around her office. She was in her domain, her kingdom, and this was only the beginning.

Flickers of unease and other emotions began to crack through the cool mask she'd put up, and internally her nerves went haywire, pounding against her head and wanting to break free. Aileen resisted the urge to rub at her temples. She knew. She knew! It was all over now. Snark could fire her, or she could keep her here and use her for whatever nefarious schemes she had up her sleeve. Aileen almost preferred getting fired. She'd lost her power. She was trapped again. All her efforts to live her own life, to live by her own rules, had been thwarted.

Aileen hated Snark even more now. She represented the goals she had yet to attain and how skillfully she pulled strings and caused people to do what she wanted. Aileen had lost that, somehow. She'd lost the ability to snap her fingers and cause someone's world to crumble at her feet.

Now she was paying for it.

Snark moved behind her, and Aileen shifted slightly, dread building as she listed off the various trinkets one might find in a tomb.

"...Or, perhaps a jewel encrusted dagger..."

Shock and fear settled on her face for a few seconds before she thought to stamp them out. The one thing she was thankful for was that Analiza wasn't in a position to see her lose her composure.

Aileen had known that Snark was interested in ancient Egyptian artifacts, but she didn't know why, beyond the general thirst for power. She could try to get out of this and show her the papers that 'proved' she had permission to keep the artifacts in her possession. However, a little bit of digging would uncover the bribes and all sorts of unpleasantness that Aileen had gone through to get her way. Plus there was the small matter of the dagger's curse. If Analiza knew about that as well (and there was no other reason for her to mention it specifically), then Aileen had no hope.

The only option she had left was bluffing. Threatening Snark wouldn't do her any good. Giving in too soon would be even worse. Even if bluffing and brushing this off only made the Headmistress angry, at least Aileen might get some clue as to why Snark was after the dagger.

With everything in her, she smiled very slightly and feigned surprise.

"I had no idea you were so interested in ancient Egyptian artifacts," Aileen commented lightly, shaking her head as if this were a shame.

"We do take on volunteers over the summer, if you're finding that you don't have enough to do as a Headmistress," she kept her tone light and teasing. "How good are you with a shovel?"

There were times that Ana wished she had managed to sneak off with one of the time turners before she left her post in the Department of Mysteries. Times where she wanted to go back in time and relive the same moment over and over and over, just to enjoy the rush of victory that each one held. Times like right now in fact, as a look of terror flit across Aileen's face despite her attempts to remain stoic. It was only there for a second but Analiza saw it clearly enough and that vision would forever be burned into her mind. It was so tangible that she could taste it and nearly moaned at the sweet taste of victory.

"I had no idea you were so interested in ancient Egyptian artifacts. We do take on volunteers over the summer, if you're finding that you don't have enough to do as a Headmistress. How good are you with a shovel?"

Ana was so busy enjoying her small victory that she almost missed Aileen's attempt to throw her off. Oh no, we aren't having any of that... She thought to herself as she licked her lips and smirked, as though she was enjoying a private joke at Reid's expense. "Oh... I am very good with a shovel..." She said lightly "... I always manage to dig something up... You would be amazed by what I have learned about Egyptian artifacts recently, though..."  her tone turned fretful, though there was still a hint of underlying malice, as she added in a loud murmur "... I hope we don't bring something back that would bring harm to the students... I mean something like that in Hogwarts..."

She turned and looked straight at Aileen, a light smile gracing her scarlet lips but avoiding her eyes entirely as she said is a sweet, even tone that would have given Umbridge a run for her money, "... Well I can just imagine what would happen if something were to curse the students and the parents found out about it... "

It soon became clear that Snark was not the type to get unruffled easily or to lose face, especially when she knew she had the upper hand. Bluffing and pretending ignorance was getting Aileen nowhere. And the more Snark talked, slipping in little threats and surprises, the more visibly perturbed Aileen was getting. Despair settled on her shoulders. She couldn't win this. Not this time.

Bringing the students into this only confirmed her fears. While she didn't wish anyone to come to harm because of the artifacts, least of all teenagers and children, she understood very well that no matter what precautions she took, Snark had the ability to make something foul happen and then pin the catastrophe on her. After the mummy incident, that sense of powerlessness was difficult enough to come to terms with. Snark deliberately causing another incident would be even worse!

Aileen had no doubts that she'd do it, too. In Aileen's opinion, Snark was the morally corrupt one, the one that would cross any line and hurt any person to reach her goals.

She met Snark's eyes for a long moment, hating her saccharine tone, the knowledge and gloating in her eyes.

Finally, she took a deep breath, and shook her head very slightly. "What exactly do you want from me?"

The look on Aileen's face was not unfamiliar to Analiza. That hatred barely concealed by a look of distaste, her eyes clearly judging the smirking red-head harshly, probably considering her to be soulless and cruel. Ana remained unfazed however, since she had become used to such stares from an early age. Back then they had been unwarranted, the result of her sisters passive aggressive manipulation of their parents, and she had gotten the unfair reputation as a troublemaker. After a while, she found that she couldn't escape the reputation, as it preceded her wherever she went, so she simply decided to join it and become the demon that everyone thought she was. Sometimes it hurt her, many times in fact, but sometimes it would prove useful. Such as now.

Analiza had no intention of purposely harming the students to get Aileens support, but Aileen didn't seem to know that and Ana wasn't going to try to dissuade her. The threat of framing Aileen for grievous injury against a minor seemed to strike a chord within Aileen's conscience. Her face did an impressive dance routine between looks of disgust, horror and finally despair. As the despair weighed on her slender shoulders, Aileen finally spoke, her soft tone of reluctant acquiescence tinted with disgust with both Analiza and herself.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

Analiza's smile grew and she patted Aileen roughly on the shoulder "See that wasn't so hard! All you had to do was learn to share and no one gets hurt. You might even get to be part of a breakthrough in magic!" She chuckled and moved back to her chair, settling into the warm, worn leather with a satisfied air. "All I need you to do is to share the artifacts and all the research you have already done on them with us. You might even get to work with us as well, won't that be a treat..." Glancing at her watch, she tapped her manicured nails on the polished wood of her desk impatiently "... Speaking of us, my partner should be here any moment. I trust you will treat him with the same respect you treat me, despite his current staff position."

((Sparky, you are free to have Joao enter now if you wish))

Whatever his opinion of Hogwarts had been before he had started work there, it had dropped considerably in the past few days.  The castle was a disgrace: squeaky suits of armor that needed to be oiled, dusty floors that needed to be waxed, and heavily-encrusted windows that were about as translucent as a door on a good day.  The mysterious caretaker before him had left several scrolls full of notes that Joao had tried to decipher for five full minutes before throwing his hands up in the air.  Whoever the man had been, his penmanship couldn't have been any less legible; the Brazilian wizard had seen chicken scratches in an Egyptian tomb that were easier to read.

When the note from Analiza had come, he had been in the middle of trying to wrestle with the drawers of his desk, which judging by the looks of them had suffered their most recent cleaning during the last Goblin Revolt.  Any sort of relief was desirable at this point, so he'd left his supplies where they were and made his way to her office.

The current Headmistress of Hogwarts loved nothing if not irony.  Joao spoke the password to the gargoyle, unable to stop himself from smirking as he did so and made his way up the stairs to enter right on cue.

He knocked twice on the door, waiting for a response before strolling inside.  Joao had only seen Aileen Reid from a distance so far; she didn't live at Hogwarts like many of the other professors and she taught an elective, which limited her time at the castle.  So far, he'd noted that she was blonde, reserved, and entirely unimpressive; he was not surprised that her most recent excavation had failed so spectacularly.

The Caretaker spared the professor one withering glance as he stepped into the room, his attention focused instead on the woman behind the desk.  "Analiza," he said politely, nodding to the Headmistress as he drew up a chair without being asked.  After all the time he had been forced to spend on his feet the past few days cleaning the wretched castle, he was not going to stay standing one instant longer than he had to.  "You have business that you wish to discuss, yes?"

As soon as the Caretaker walked in, Aileen's expression turned incredulous and her disgust became more pronounced. She met his brief glare with narrowed eyes and then ignored him, focusing back on Snark as her internal rage climbed. The caretaker was her business partner? Encanto, or something? She hadn't bothered to remember his name, and viewed him on the same level as the house elves that cleaned the dormitories and prepared meals.

Her mistake. Snark had done this on purpose. She must have brought him in, knowing he'd be overlooked, knowing no one would look twice at him skulking about.

It still made Aileen angry, to be forced to share her research and the artifacts not only with the Headmistress, but with this caretaker, too. She had no choice, but that didn't meant she had to make it easy. Sabotaging their plans from within might make this arrangement somehow bearable. Aileen held onto that thought, because as far-fetched as it was at the moment, it allowed her to keep some semblance of calm as she arched an eyebrow at Snark, waiting for her to dictate her plans.

Mere moments after she spoke, two curt knocks sounded from the door and Analiza tried not to grin like a fool. There was something about torturing Aileen that made Ana truly happy inside. Maybe because of the fact that the statuesque blond reminded her of her sister Aurelia and there was nothing that made Analiza happier then getting the best of her sister. She nearly tittered when she responded with "Enter!" and Joao walked in, causing the previously icy expression on Aileen's face to melt into one of pure horror.

"Analiza, You have business that you wish to discuss, yes?"

Ana was sure the familiarity Joao addressed her with and how he took a seat without prompting only made Aileen's irritation worse. At this point, the fumes of anger radiating off of her were so thick and sweet that Ana could have spread it on a cake. A wicked smile threatened to curve at the corners of her mouth but she managed to keep her lips pursed and serious. Waiting patiently for Reid to compose herself, Analiza shuffled some papers on her desk and straightened her pens before settling her golden gaze on the two sitting before her, looking like naughty children awaiting their punishments. Interlacing her fingers, she gave him a tight lipped smile that belied her true feelings.

"Joao, I appreciate you taking a break from your busy schedule to see me..." Analiza smiled, her tone far more friendly then the one she had greeted Aileen with "... I wanted to discuss the artifact matter we spoke about earlier..." Motioning to Aileen, she finally acknowledged her presence "By the way, in case you haven't met, this is our Ancient Runes professor Aileen Reid. I believe she has something of interest for you?"