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

The twins smirked, "Oh can we please? we would love to" they said always happy to annoy Mr an Mrs Vaight."

"oh yeah and professor Viper is up there to right?'

"Yeah, but I doubt my mother will be. She's always too busy with her sisters and the latest gossip." Ana said scornfully.
Darien said he'd prefer to stay where he was with Diana and save the seats.
"Fine, we'll go then." Ana stood up. "Tell us if they get near to our duels."
She walked down the steps and back into the crowd, now more concentrated around the arena.
Once they got away from the arena, there was noone around. Ana gazed up at the 'top box' and began to climb the stairs.
"Come on, let's go see Dad and Viper."

The twins winked to eachother.

"Showtime.....again"

Ana fought down a laugh as she climbed the stairs.
"Hi Father, hello Professor Viper."
"Ana!...Amy, Aiden. I understand you all won your first round matches. Well done. Impressive displays; particularly the transfiguration of the lion, and the humilation of Jochem...That boy always annoyed me."
Ana rolled her eyes. "He annoys everyone. It's his job."
Reginald smiled. "And nice destruction of Parkinson Ana. Maybe if you get far enough, the elders will reconsider you as heir."
Ana smiled nervously. "Great."

"We thank you sir" the twins said as one,

"We have been practicing our single dueling" said Amy.

"It is good to see that there is some hope left for the Avalon line." Reginald remarked. "I shall watch the second round with great interest."
Watch out, he might be starting to like you... Ana thought to the other two. You shall never have peace again...

"Oh I don't he will like us..."
.........After the teams duel"
"We plan to win"

The twins thought over to Ana.

"We plan to win sir" they said.

Ana hid a grin.
Reginald expression was a smile of interest, but it still did not etend to his eyes, which were calculating as he observed the twins.
Ana wondered if he ever did anything uncalculated. She doubted it.
"Ah, but you can't both win." He smiled jokingly.

((g2g now - sleep needed lol))

Diana was grateful that Darien decided to stay and not face Reginald and any other Vaight that might cause a comotion.

"So... what do you want to do now?"

Darien surveyed the crowd and winced.
"Okay, could we more about half a metre to the left so we're hidden by the woman with the huge hat? One of the elders is looking in this direction..."
He edged along the bench, and sighed. "Uh, I hate having to keep hiding from people..." He he an idea.
"This may sound really childish but hey, wanna see my room?" He laguhed. "Yup, that sounded like I was about five."
___________
Reginald's brow furrowed in thought.
"Would you two be able to duel each other? Because if it impossible I may be able to ensure that outcome is less likely."
Yup, he is actually starting to like you...be afraid, be very afraid! Although, on the bright side, mother will probably still hate you so we can annoy her...Ana thought to the twins.

"Actually Darien, it sounds like your hitting on me." Diana said.

The twins hid there grins.

"Oh we can duel eachother,

".... won't be very exciting though"

"Our wands share the same magic core, brother wands...."

"So a simple proiori incantium and a light show later one of us will "win""

Viper watched the duels with a pleased look. She was rather impressed with the tactics used and proud of her serpents. Turning to Reginald, she gently stole his attention.

She smiled at him before approaching him to whisper in his ear. "Reginald, dear, do you think I may have a provate word with you?"

Reginald smiled back. "Of course. Excuse us for a moment children..."

"Yes father." Ana walked to the other side of the box, facing court two. "Hey look," she called to the twins. "See that woman there? The one who's just conjured a wall of fire? She's a favourite to win."

____

Darien laughed. "Okay a disturbing sentance either way..."

"Alright, so where's this room of yours?" Diana demanded half-heartedly.

Amy blinked, "Oh? why is that?" she asked.

"In the 'manor of ultimate evil'..." Darien grinned. "But at least there won't be as many relatives of ultimate evil...Unless they've broken in and started camping out in my room...which would be very, very disturbing."

______

Ana shrugged. "The elders seem to think she has the potential to beat Dad...the way I heard it. However, she's not a Vaight. She's some Unspeakable or something from the ministry. She entered last time as well, and came third. But the one who came second isn't here this time...she died in some potions accident I think."

Viper smiled as she entered the empty room and walked over to the window sil, keeping her hands to her back.

"I wanted to thank you for inviting me today, Reginald. It was quite thoughtful of you. In fact, all your actions are thoughtful. Not many people have stayed my ally after I lost my department." she said, smiling shyly.

"Then that was their folly, my dear." Reginald beamed. "And a mistake that they shall regret..."
He laughed quietly.
"I am hardly a Gryffindor, but I do have a concept of loyalty...It is a shame so many seem to misunderstand it."

Viper nodded. "Indeed. And now, I need my allies more than ever." She snapped her fingers, conjuring a small box wrapped with a Slytherin ribbon.

"This is for you." she said as she handed the box to him.

"My dear, you shouldn't have."
Reginald took the box, undid the ribbon and opened it...

It was a box of chocolates. White, Black, and Milk Chocolate, all in the shape of Slytherin's mark.

"I made them myself." she said softly. "Won't you try one, Reginald?"

((SUCESS! Congrats Viper!))

Diana smiled. "Alright, let's go!"

Reginald smiled and selected a chocolate. "Delightful."
He smiled broadly.

((Anything in the chocolates?))

_________

A booming voice echoed over the duelling arenas.
"Now, can I please request that everyone go to their respective courts and remain there until the first half of the competition is over. Thank you."
Darien sat back down again. "Or not."
The next duel was beginning, a Nathaniel Cross against a young Vaight, only fourteen years old, and looking rather nervous.

_____

Ana rolled her eyes as she heard the announcement.
"We'd better go back to the court."

((Yup, yup))

Viper smirked. In the chocolates, she had placed a loyalty potion to determine whether or not Reginald would stray from her list of allies. If he should ever betray her, he would break out into hives at any minute now.