Vaight Manor - Entry by invitation only...(lol)

Well, that actually slightly worked.
Wow. Ana was in shock. Until Harry lunged forwards and tried to push her aside.
"Move Ana. I have a feud to finish."
"This won't finish anything!" Ana insisted.
"Maybe not, but it'll make me feel better." Harry persisted.
"What is your problem with Diana anyway? Why do you hate her so much?" Darien asked his uncle, trying to make sure no other relatives overheard him.
Harry snarled. "You clearly don't listen to anything."
Ana rolled her eyes. "Harry was attacked by Diana's grandfather and a few of his friends when he was ten. He's never forgiven them...well, you." She explained to Diana.
Harry looked at Ana appraisingly. "At least one of you has fully functional ears. Now I am going to exact my revenge."
Darien glared at Harry. "No you are not."
Ana grew angry. She tries to separate them and they just try and push her out the way! It was like she was a child...
"Enough! Harry, Darien, step away now!" Her eyes blazed with anger. Where was her father?
Father! She cried out with her mind, hoping he would hear.
But Harry and Darien were fighting Rose and Diana. What could she do?
FATHER!

I knew this was a bad idea. Diana thought furiously.

Darien pointed his wand between Harry's eyes, as the uncle did the same.
Ana swore over and over again in her head. Where was her father?

At the gate, Reginald had a strange feeling, as though someone was calling his name. "I'll be back in a moment dear..." he muttered to his wife, and began to stride through the tents. He noticed the fight about to break out and quickened his pace.
"Harry and Darien stop this immediatly. Now." His voice was filled with command. Ana was so relieved to see her father.
Harry immediatly back away, scowling, and Rose led him away into the crowds.
"I suggest you five start moving." Reginald turned on his heel and left. Why did Darien always make everything so difficult?
"Darien put your wand away."Ana hissed. Darien reluctantly did so.
"Let's go...quickly."

"To where?" Diana said wildly.

"Anywhere." Ana replied, cutting her way through the crowds and towards the furthest stands, hoping noone would notice them.
Pushing through the crowd, Darien kept his head down and tried not to be noticed.
When they finally reached the stands, the area was deserted and Ana relaxed. Darien flopped down on the top bench. "I could've taken him."
Ana rolled her eyes and sat on the middle bench. "Of course you could've..."

"Charming family you have there." Diana said sarcastically.

Darien sighed. "Sorry about that."
"Okay, new rule. Unless they ask specifically, don't tell them your surname. I'd ask you to lie but it's probably against your 'conscience' or something like that." Ana said to Diana.

"Well, the way I look isn't exactly inconspicous you know," Diana matched Ana's tone. "The Casillas had black hair and blue eyes, just as how the Malfoys have blond hair and grey eyes. They'd find out eventually."

"Yes, but most conversations only last about three minutes. They won't have time to work it out." Ana replied.
Darien glanced at his watch. "Still half and hour to go?!"

"Of course, by the time they find out, they'd be throwing spells at my general direction anyway." Diana said.

"Exactly."
Darien leaned towards Diana and kissed her.
Ana rolled her eyes.
"So, how are you two non-face-devouring people over there?" She asked the twins.

The twins smirked,

"Oh we are good, looking forward to when the teams start though" said Amy.

Viper approached Vaight manor with a rather amused look. She knew the Vaights, being the prominent clan they are, were sure to have an elite quest list so Viper had every reason to have high expectations for this evening in regards to amusement.

Smoothing out her robes she knocked on the door, waiting to be admitted.

"Yes..." A pang of fear shook Ana.
"I am kind of looking forward to surveying and generally hosting it..."

------

Reginald opened the door.
"Amaranth! So glad you could make it! Please, do come through."
Bob came forwards to take Viper's cloak.
"Doubtless you shall be able to defeat many of the candidates for the single duels...I trust you are competing?"

Viper smiled as she shook her head. "No, not today Reginald. Today, I'm far more interested in the winners of this duel and any gems that may stand out." in a much softer voice she added. "I'm in the market." and met his eyes, looking for any recognition.

Reginald smiled. "Well, there are many people with promise here today... I believe you may know some of them already..." In a lower voice he added.
"Court two in particular should be interesting."
He hadn't rigged the duels exactly...he didn't believe in using such crude terms. He had merely planned it strategically.

Viper nodded. "Yes, I am proud of my serpents, your children particularly." It was true. Viper was quite fond of Ana and Darien. Although her affection for the latter would increase five-fold if she did not constantly walk in on him with his Gryffindor inamorata. "However, you know as well as I do that to be successful, I need just as many witches and wizards overage." she winked. "I can't have the Ministry breathing down my neck whenever a serpent of mine casts a spell over the summer, now can I?"

"Of course not...of course not... Well, I know several who may be interested...myself included of course." He smiled. It was a change to hear Darien mentioned along with Ana in a positive way.
"I shall see whose form has improved since last tournament...it wasn't a very good year last time. However, I would watch out for the inebriated one...he's quite a liability."

Viper raised an eyebrow. "Parkinson? You invited that idiot?" she laughed as she eyed the drunken man engulf a jug of firewhiskey in one sitting. "Good luck with your lawsuit, Reginald."

"Unfortunantly, it was a political decision...and one I deeply regret." Reginald winced.
"I've had to assign a house-elf to him just so that, should he fall over, he won't cause someone to trip and break a leg...or a neck."
He laughed quietly. "Despite his...drunken state, he is, I understand, competing in the singles duels. That, I think, will be rather amusing...particularly considering his first opponant will be under-age."
He glanced around the room full of important people, or key figures in society.
"Hm...My youngest sister's husband may be interested, that's him in the corner. Used to be surprisingly good at spying and information. Now works as a journalist for the Daily Prophet. I believe he is the favourite to become editer in July...but you didn't hear that from me." Reginald winked. "And then the rich banker talking to him would be a valuable asset. Goblin of course, but very good at his job."

Viper nodded, intrigued. "Ana?" she asked curiously. She didn't particularly like Parkinson, knowing him from her employment at the Ministry so the thought of someone humiliating him in a duel was exciting. Especially if that someone was one of her serpents.

Reginald smiled. "Well, it would have been Darien, but let's face it...he's not as...civilised sometimes."
He sighed. "I don't know what I am going to do with the boy. He is constantly in detention, I hear he has just earnt himself a month's worth for some strange reason, and he never does anything. It's as though he goes out of his way to annoy me! Sometimes I wish I could just hand over the business to Ana, but the elder generations would have a fit. All male line is what they want. They're judging today...all five of them."

Amy and Aiden were listening from a far.

"Oh you hear that , the elders are judging Perfect" Amy smirked.

"Perfect?" Ana inquired.

_________

"Well now you are here Amaranth, we can begin the solo competition. Would you like to accompany me to the 'top box' as we like to call it, or would you prefer to watch the action from the stands?" Reginald smiled.

Viper's interest peaked even further at the mention of elders judging. "The Vaight patriarchs are here? How lovely. Perhaps if Ana proves herself, they shall reconsider."

She smirked at Reginald's last inquiry. "As lovely as the top box sounds, I'm quite sure your wife would be rather...upset" she bit back a laugh "at me accompanying you anywhere. Her gaze wandered the room looking for Mrs.Vaight, knowing she wouldn't be too happy with Viper's presence. "Are you willing to risk your wife's outrage? If I recall correctly she gets rather disoriented in the heat of emotions."

(( cat female serpent fight! lol, jk))