The Rose Bushes

Kiara barely managed to keep her self from bursting in to laughter.

"Ethan Addams? are you serious? Don't get me wrong he is a nice guy but he talks way to much for me to get a word in edgewise most of the time. No I don't think you have met Ciaran yet have you? He is Horatio's nephew"

She laughed again "Ethan? really?" she asked looked at Sevastyan in amusement.

"He does talk a bit too much..." Sevastyan agreed. However, in response to the new name his brows creased in an attempt to remember if he'd met anyone with a name he hadn't retained yet. "I don't think I have. Vot is this Ciaran's purpose here?" he asked somewhat warily. After Daniel Lestrange's visit and how that had turned out, it was really no wonder that Sevastyan was a little unsure of this.

At her laugh, Sevastyan waved off the name of the other wizard with a laugh of his own. "I'm a rather poor guesser. Forget I mentioned it," he chortled.

Kiara caught the warilyness in Sevastyan voice and her smile soffened.

"There is no need to worry about this one Sevastyan, he is kind, careing and gentle. plus I have a feeling Eglantine and Horatio have something to do him being here" she said reasurringly as someone how knowing what he was talking about.

"I was rather depressed last night after the whole goblet incident, and the selection of a extra champion. He came to cheer me up, and he was rather sucessful wouldn't you say?" Kiara said. The smile still presant on her face.

"I think you will like him"

Sevastyan quirked a brow at the adjectives used, to show he was listening even if his eyes seemed rather far away. The Russian blinked at the familiar names, and nodded slightly. "But vot is Professor McKevin's nephew doing here?" he asked again, still curious.

"You did vot you could - short of selecting the champions voneself, even I vould have done nothing different. Ve just have to vork around the hand that fate deals us," Sevastyan offered, even though she seemed rather successfully cheered. "And yes, it does seem like he vos successful..." That's part of what worried Sevastyan: he didn't want her to be cheered up only to have her brought right back down to square one again.

A small smile graced Sevastyan's countenance. "Yes, I should like to meet this vizard... vill he be becoming a part of the staff?" he agreed, still trying to figure out the reason for Ciaran's arrival. Perhaps Sevastyan was just overly concerned for no reason, but he couldn't help it. Had this been Svetlana he was talking to, he'd be reacting in the same manner.

Kiara blushed when he asked what Ciaran was doing here, but answered "He is visiting Horatio, so he will be staying here for a bit,,, but truth be told I think the reason he is here is because....well Eglantine and Horatio set us up I guess you could say.... It comes down to he is here because of me" She looked at Sevastyan unsure of his reaction to this information.

She smiled at his reassurence, it is was why she liked him so.

"And he will not becomeing a member of staff. he is a auror by profession, and well my date to the yule ball" she said the last par finding her feet interesting.

At the words 'set up' Sevastyan clearly looked worried, though relaxed visibly as she continued. He supposed that if Ciaran was, is, an auror then he couldn't be that bad. About a decade previous, though, the Russian would have had a very different idea.

Both raven eyebrows rose when Kiara had mentioned the Yule Ball. "I am glad to hear that you vill not be going alone," Sevastyan offered truthfully. He cast about for a moment for something else to say, but his mind was drawing a blank.

Kiara smiled when Servastyan seem more relaxed about it, she couldn't very well have him interrogating Ciaran to badly and scaring him away, she didn't think that would happen though.

"Thank you" she said.

Since they were on the subject of love and in the Rose garden no less Kiara decided to ask.

"How are things with you and Viper going?" she asked with a smile on her face.

Sevastyan nodded in response to her thanks. There didn't really seem to be much more that could be said.

At her question Sevastyan felt blood and pulse rush to his ears, the complexion of said body part darkening a few shades. A very faint coloration splashed across his cheeks, but not much. The events of the evening after the duel sprung to mind.

"Vell," he replied quietly, then cleared his throat. The two utterances were clearly night and day in terms of volume. "They are going vell," he added simply, smiling in kind.

"... Is it really that obvious?" Sevastyan wondered aloud, asking Kiara. For a few moments he thought about that: his seat was always either to the right or left of the potions mistress, with preference to the right - which made things rather interesting during mealtimes, for Sevastyan was dominantly left-handed even though he could technically use either. The Russian never hesitated to smile upon passing Viper in the corridors... not to mention the fact that he'd told Kiara about asking Amaranth to the Ball. Then there was the hand-holding... and the whispering atop the Tower...

No, it's not that obvious, Sevastyan decided after evaluating all of this. The sarcasm of his mind-voice was unmistakable. Perhaps that explains the grin that appeared on his face shortly thereafter

Kiara laughed lightly "Ah welll it is now" she said in reaspnse to his question, her eyes twinkling madly.

"Perhaps I am not the only one has found them selves a special someone hmm?" she asked her voice full of mirth. Trully happy for him and Viper.

"I am glad for the both of you, I don't think I have seen Viper in that good a mood in... well since I have known her anyway.You seem a bit happier to if I may say so." she added.

"So yes I am going to say it is that obvious.. Oh and you will love the dress she got for the ball. Not tellin ya what it looks like though, I was to see your jaw drop" she she said grinning from ear to ear.

Sevastyan chose to slightly avert his gaze at the question with a playfully inflected, "Perhaps..." When his eyes returned to hers, they were of a brighter gray as opposed to the usual storm-cloud grayish black of usual. Then again, either instance could have merely been a trick of the light. Either way, there was a distinct change in the way his eyes appeared from the moment he stepped foot on Hogwarts grounds to now. And it was a good change.

"Vot, vos I grumpy before?" he asked, again using that light-heartedly playful tone. However, Sevastyan did nod in response to her happiness for his own fortune in finding someone special. "I am likevise glad for you and... Ciaran, even though I have yet to meet him," he offered, deciding not to state his reservations about a man they barely knew having amorous feelings for someone he practically just met. But I still vorry... Sevastyan mused, eyes reluctantly darkening just a little as he thought this.

Sevastyan grinned at her opinion of the obviousness of his and Viper's relationship. "It vould probably drop even if you did tell me," he muttered lightly under his breath. In a much more audible tone of voice he said, "I vould rather be surprised anyvay. Vere ve right in assuming the color, at least?" Just one little hint wouldn't hurt, would it?

"Since ve are on the topic of Amaranth... I actually need a... how do I put this? A small favor? But she isn't to know about it until the last minute," Sevastyan hedged, waiting to see the Headmistress's response before continuing.

Kiara laughed "No you were not grumpy before, not at all, you are just smiling a lot more. It is nice to see"

At the mention of Ciaran, she sighed "Tell you what until you meet him you can hold what your real opinon is alright?" she offered. "Maybe then you won't worry so much"
Then she chuckled "I know, look who is talking huh?, I always worry"

Kiara laugh slightly in amusment to his coment about the dress, at the question to the colour.

Kiara thought for a moment. "We were partly" she said in hushed tone.

As to his request to a small favor about Viper she looked at him curiously . "Of course, what is it?"

Sevastyan nodded, but laughed as well. "Yes, vell... I suppose that does happen, doesn't it?" he suggested in regards to the increased smiling rate. "Your smile is nice to see as vell. It is almost as if you are glowving a different color than blue this time." The lighthearted tone of his voice indicated he was referring to the first time he'd learned Kiara was bonded to a blue phoenix.

At discussing Ciaran, the Russian laughed. Kiara indeed wasn't one to lecture on worrying, and it was because of this that the mirth had been created. "I, unlike that old goat Kazimir, vill keep my opinions to myself... but if you are happy vith your feelings for this man I vill honor that and be glad for it," he stated with a combination of gravity and lightness.

One raven eyebrow quirked with interested curiosity. Partly? Now the suspense his mind generated was clearly tangible. What could the other color - or whatever else made this dress different - could it be? "A red rose vould still vork, though, yes?" Another reasonable question, to him. Unless it wasn't a good choice of flower, this would likely be the last question he'd have regarding the dress.

"Vell, it all started vith the other day - ven I happened to catch Mr. Vaight and Miss Casillas, erm, involved. I dealt vith them and sent them on their vay, ven at the same moment Amaranth appeared," Sevastyan started. Unlike Ethan Addams his words were moderately paced and thought out as opposed to hyperactive chatter.

((I had to reference him, lol, because Sevastyan is going to be talking quite a bit. For him. xD))

"Ve spoke, at length, and during the course of our conversation the topic of birthdays vos brought up. Hers is on the seventeenth of December... and she said that she doesn't do anything special.

"I vould like to change that around entirely, but I have never really planned a party before..." Sevastyan explained, finishing on a hopeful note. "Is there any vay you could help me vith this?"

Kiara smiled and nodded in agreement about the smiling more thing.

"Well unlike what I think of Kazimir's opinion, I care about yours "

Kiara smirked at his curiousity about the dress again. "Don't worry, A red rose will still go fabualuly with it" she nodded.

When she heard of his plan to have a party for Viper her smiled widen if possible.

"Viper is very lucky to have you Sevastyan, it is a great idea, and I will do what I can to help, in anyway I can."

If it was possible, Sevastyan's smile widened. "I'll keep that in mind," he replied though made no further mention about his worries. For the moment, anyway.

He nodded at her confirmation. "I von't ask any more about it then," Sevastyan remarked with a grin. He was curious, in his own way, but he could endure the suspense.

A darker flush crossed his entire face, though within moments it was checked; reduced to a redness in and around his ears and a very light splash across his cheeks. "I'm afraid I don't even know vhere to begin... most of the birthday parties of my own - or vones I helped a little bit vith - vere rather vild..." Sevastyan confessed, ending the final note with a laugh. "I suppose ve should decide vhere to have it..." That indeed was the question: Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, or another special location?

"Room of Reqvirement?" he suggested, deciding that since the person of honor and likely most of the participants were going to be teachers that it should probably stay on Hogwarts grounds. But, if Kiara had another suggestion Sevastyan was by all means open to it.

Kiara nodded "Oh the Room of Requierment is perfect, I know the perfect cake, since I am not entierly sure what flaver she likes, never seen her eat sweets".

Then she thought for a moment "Is it alright if I ask Eglantine if she would like to help? Truthfully I haven't planned many parties either, not even my own." she said with a laugh.

"So you to want it to be a surprise party right? we need a way to distract her so we won't be her when we set up" Kiara mused.

Sevastyan couldn't help but smile as the plot for Viper's birthday began. He looked thoughtful for a moment at the thought of cake. "I've not seen her vith sveets either," he admitted.

He laughed at the confession. "Of course! The more the merrier, they say. And yes, a surprise party vos vot I had in mind," Sevastyan answered jovially.

The part about getting Viper distracted was going to be tricky. A brief remark along the lines of saying he could distract her quite well floated to the front of his mind. However, that sounded rather too suggestive, so he didn't say it. "Vot could ve do for that..." Sevastyan wondered aloud.

"How difficult vould it be, do you imagine, to send her on a ... a vild goose chase, I believe is the expression?" he suggested with a wry smile.

Kiara nodded "Oh I know the perfect spell, and a charmed cake to became the favorite flavor of who ever itesting it. That way we don't have to ask her all those suspious quiestions. She is quick eoungh she will find us out for sure."

"Good I will ask she soon then, Horatio might be a big help to" Kiara said.

"Now as for what to do to distract her I know the perfect way." Truning to Sevastyan she said "You, can take her out for the day and when you get back to hogwarts we will be ready... Oh that is another thing should we have it on her actual party? or a different day?" she asked.

Sevastyan smiled in agreement. "She is qvick... I've no idea how I vould go about asking such a thing vithout making it too obvious. The spell vould be perfect."

"If you vould like, I could ask McKevin vhile you ask Professor DeLanquar?" he suggested. "Or vice versa..."

If it was possible for a smile to transmute into a grin and get any wider in the process, it had happened to Sevastyan's countenance without a shadow of a doubt. "Now that I am certain of: she vill not have a problem vith that..." he stated as seriously as the occasion would allow, though couldn't help but laugh afterward. "Perhaps I could persuade her to visit my hometown: Saratov does have a heavy potioneering background, in addition to other things," Sevastyan suggested as an idea.

When thoughts turned to when to have the party, Sevastyan had an automatic reply. "Either the actual day - vhich is my personal preference - or sometime after vould be good. Russian... superstition, I suppose you could call it, suggests a bad omen if any sort of party for a momentous occasion is given beforehand. It's not even a good idea to vish someone a happy birthday in advance," he explained, not at all embarrassed by practically admitting that he was a little superstitious. Not much: just a little.

Kiara nodded "Sounds good to me, those two make a srprisingly good team" she said with a laugh "They balance eachother out"

Kiara nodded to his idea with amusment in her eyes , "Yes she I think she would love that, Care though with temoting her with heavy duty potion places. You never be able to get her to leave" she said laughing. Although there was a chance it could happen, it was no secret that Viper didn't choose Hogwarts and teaching as she first choice as a career even now.

"It is her actual birthday it is, so we have almost a month to get it planed and happening. I wonder who should be invited.... I know she is friends with Mr. Vaight from the ministry, but that is it. Unless the hogwarts staff is enough" she said.

"I vos thinking only the apothecaries, at any rate. They sometimes have rare ingredients for sale, and a couple even have owl order services. I vouldn't vant her to give up teaching, either," he replied rather happily, laughing along. "Then again, it vill be vinter. She might not like the idea of being in the cold... ve shall have to see vot fate decides to throw our vay." There was a distinct brightness in his eyes at the thought of keeping Viper sufficiently busy. Plans and counter-plans were starting to form in his mind. There was one idea he had in mind for after the festivities...

Sevastyan nodded in agreement on the date for the party. As far as people to invite went, the Russian was completely clueless. "Again I have no idea... I'm not really sure vot she vould prefer. Vot about the people in her department before she started vorking here?

"On the other hand, a small staff-vide party vould be good... I think that vould be better in the long run. Vot do you think?" he asked, clearly not sure what move to make. Perhaps, Sevastyan mused after the fact, they should poll Professors DeLanquar and McKevin before making an arbitrary decision.

Kiara nodded "Oh she would estatic with that Sevastyan, it is a great Idea she won't expect a thing when she gets back to Hogwarts...perfect"

"And I think a staff Party would be best to, I don't know for sure the people she was friends with before Hogwarts. All my luck I will invite her worst enemies and there goes the party..." Kiara said with a shake of her head.

"We can ask Horatio and Eglantine about all that later though, we still need to think what to get her for presents as well." she said with a wink.

Kiara already knew what she would get Viper, she couldn't tell anyone what is was as she was under oath not to tell anyone about Viper's snake charming ability. But she had some that would go very well with her brand new Potion indrediants.

"I don't know them either," Sevastyan laughed. Staff party it would be, and it was fine by him.

Just for a variation in reaction, the Russian mimicked the wink. "Vell, I intend to at least pay for half of the bill for the potion ingredients. All of it, if she vill let me. And my grandfather has a hand in the vodka business, so I thought I vould give her a bottle of the premium grade, though I still vant to give her something a bit more meaningful," Sevastyan explained his own plans, turning thoughtful in an attempt to decide on the more thoughtful gift. Not that his other gifts had opposite intent.

"I've been out of the... boyfriend game... for lack of a better vay to vord it, for eight years. Vould jewelry be too much?" he asked Kiara with a slight laugh at his being a little rusty, seeking a female's opinion.

Kiara chuckled at the mention of Viper presents, "It is hard to tell if if she will let you help pay or not, Viper gets rather crazy about potion ignrediants" she said remembering the mer-people incident, and Viper nearly killing her self trying to get the Mer-kings heart.

"The vodka she would of course love as well" she said with a nod.

Kiara thought for a moment on the idea of getting Viper jewelry. "It is a wonderful Idea, very sweet, I think it would be perfect to go with either a necklace or a pair of earings. might be to much for rings if you know what I mean."

"However that is just my opinion, I have been in the single world for quite a few years to so... I maybe totaly wrong as well" Kiara laughed sheepishly.

"I vos thinking either a necklace or earrings, actually. Ve are... vell... it's difficult to explain precisely vhere ve stand but... I agree in thinking rings vould be too much. It vould probably send the wrong signal," he replied.

"And I value your opinion; othervise I vouldn't be asking," Sevastyan reassured her with a smile.

Kiara nodded "Yes my though exactly, Viper stricks me as the earing type of girl, so I would go with a set if earings if you are going to get her Jewelry, just a feeling" she said with a smile.

Her smile widened at his coment of valueing her opinion "Feelings mutual Sevastyan, in fact I need your honest opinion on my dress for the Yule ball" she said as she waved her hand making a image of she dress appear in front of her.

"What do you think, I need a guy opinion" she asked with a smile.

((The dress is in Yule ball thread))