David and Ara Venice's Residience (fixed 2043)

((After headmistress Office 2043))


David stepped through the fire place with Sevie at his side, he hadn't seen the kid so scared before... not like this. Scared of his own parents from the look of it. The very thought then chills down his spine, he had to talk to Ara about this, something was very wrong.

"Ara Darlin.. are you home we have a visitor" he said trying to keep the worry out of his voice for Sevie's sake.

Sevie kept a firm hold on David's hand, not exactly sure why, but wanting the human contact anyway.

--

Ara wrapped a towel around her wet daughter.
"I'm cold!" the six year old whimpered as she was bundled up. The bath had gone well, but now it seemed the warm water and the leaving of it was not something Zaphira wanted to happen.
"Then get out of the water, precious." she muttered, lifting her daughter out. "Don't be so silly." she chuckled, kissing a red cheek.

She heard David's call from down stairs and carried her daughter to the stairway.
"I'll be right down. Giving Phira a bath." she called.

Zeki poked his head out of his bedroom.
"Hi Sevie." he muttered, smiling at his friend/uncle. The idea had always been a strange one, but he didn't really care as long as they were friends.
Sevie waved back.
"Wanna play?"

David smiled slightly, "Alright Darlin, little angel squeaky clean, I hope" Then he looked down at Sevie when Zeki came out.

He gave Sevie a small squeeze, "It is okay Sevie, if you want to go play you can" he said quietly, figuring he could use a firend right now.

Then Emma came out of her room, "Dad! your home early, how is it? How is hogwarts?" she asked with a big smile as she hugged her dad, curious because she would be starting there soon.

Sevie nodded, heading into Zeki's room. Only moments later he was lost in a child's world of make believe and wonder.

Taking Zaphira into the bedroom, she helped her dry and get dressed. Curious about the visitor, Ara took her daughter's hand and they went downstairs.
"You are home early." She commented, chuckling when Zaphira ran to hug her father along wit Emma.

"Daddy, Daddy!" she laughed, jumping up and down. "Do I get a kiss, Daddy?"

David chuckled and knelt down to hug his to little girls. "Of course Angel, need to ask me; One for you" he said as he placed a kiss on her nose.

Then he truned to Emma, "One for you Munckin" he kissed her forehead.

Then standing up he went to Ara and gave her a kiss on the lips, "a rated G kiss" of course, as there was kids in the room, before putting his arm around her.

"Yes I came early, actually there is something I wanted to talk to you about, I found Sevie in Kiara's office all by himself, he is playing with Zeki for the moment but.." he sent her a silent look to show he was worried.

Zaphira giggled when her daddy kissed her nose and sat down on his foot, wanting him to drag her.
"Go, daddy! Go!" she commanded, pulling on his leg and laughing.

Enjoying the brief kiss, Ara smiled at David.
"Oh? Did Ava show up?" she asked, her smile fading. She didn't like to think of her twin, or the fight she and her parents might be having. Poor Sevie, he deserved better than hearing his sister and parents quarrel. Probably scared stiff... she mused, lost in thought.

"Grandmama!" Zaphira exclaimed, jumping up from her daddy's foot as her grandmother appeared in the living room in a silent cloud of ashy smoke. She leapt into the woman's arms, always pleased to see those she loved. However instead of hugging her and kissing her forehead, her grandmama gently pushed her back, leaning heavily back against the wall. She looked sick. "You okay?" Zaphira asked, remembering when her daddy had been sick and she had brought him soup and crackers in bed and they had watched movies together.

"Where is Sevastyan?" Eglantine asked, ignoring the child and looking to David and Ara. She could sense her son, but didn't have the strength to go to him after the apparation.

Ara's mouth fell open.
"Mama!?" she gasped, running toward the shorter woman. "David, what's wrong with her?!" she asked, thinking maybe Ava had hurt her.... and where was her father? Had Horatio been injured or worse... her heart began to beat rapidly.

David looked in shook for a moment at his Mother in laws condition, and to add to the fact Sevie said his parents had a fight... this had to be very serious indeed.

"Emma, Take Zaphira upstaires to play eh?" he said thinking this wasn't a conversation wasn't for young childrens ears.

Emma nodded taking her younger sisters hand, noting the serious tone her normally layed back father.

"Kay Dad, Come on Phira, Auntie Rossa gave me a whole pack of candy, I share it with you" she said with a smile.

"I am not sure at the moment what happened Ara..." he mutter to his wife as he offered his arm to his Mother in law to help her to the couch, as she seemed to be very weak.

"Sevie is playing with Zeki in his room" David answered. " He is fine for the most part, though I have to say scared." he said, he wasn't sure how to go about this...it wasn't a easy subject to apraoch. He wasn't about to just out of the blue ask if his father in law had indeed done this to her, Ara would likely slap him.. He needed more information before saying anything of that nature.

"Sevie, Your mother is here" he called out to Zeki's room, figuring the boy should know.

Zaphira allowed her aunt to lure her away with the promise of candy. She forgot her grandmother and the situation quickly as her blue eyes lit with joy.

Allowing David to help her, Eglantine sunk down onto the couch. Her breathing was shallow but slowly steadying. Tears welled in her eyes as she imagined young Sevie scared and running to Kiara and then David... trying to escape his parents; trying to feel safe. Pain welled up deep in her heart; an emotional tear that no potion could assist.
"I'm fine, love." she assured Ara, not wanting her daughter to continue worrying about her. "Just tired is all."

Ara was not willing to accept what she'd been told, but nodded nonetheless, thinking that arguing was not the best way to help the situation. Her eyes sought her husband's. She doubted that he knew much more than she did, but he did know a bit more and she found that comforting.

Usually when told his parents were there, Sevie would run to them, happy to see them and then start begging to be able to play longer, a request they usually granted immediately. But now, he ignored David, continuing to build the box castle he and Zeki were constructing for their soldiers.
"I don't wanna see her." he muttered. Zeki looked confused, but continued to form the castle top.

David sighed and looked increasing worried, whatever had happened it wasn't anything to do with Ava...

His mind dweald on what Sevie had told him and now the fact Sevie refused to even see his mother... Something was very wrong indeed he didn't like what all this was telling him not one bit. His mother in law was more then tired, she was exshasted and ill looking.

He caught Ara's look, he looked back at her more then worried at the conclusion he had found thus far.

"Ma'am, what happened? If there anything I can get you to help?.... Sevie said he saw you and Horatio fighting...." he said softly as he wrapped his arm around Ara. Obviously he didn't fully know the true meaning of what young Stevie saw..

Fighting? Her parents? Ara looked in shock at her mother, but remained silent. Later she could rant... not know, it would only hurt her mother.

Eglantine sighed softly, pulling a delicate lace handkerchief from her pocket. Instead of helping to keep her tears at bay however, the reminder that Horatio had given it to her broke the dam and she began to silently sob, her shoulders shaking.
"We were..." she whispered. "I... I was so infuriated with him." she sniffed softly, giving up on dabbing at the tears. "We resorted to...to...spells." And not tickling ones either; neither she nor Horatio were slouches when it came to dueling.

Ara's mouth made a perfect O. Fighting was one thing... dueling was quite another. She had witnessed her father duel before and shuddered at the idea of walking in on him and her mother intently trading darker spells. No wonder Sevie was scared... She was at the thought of it.
"Is Papa alright?" Ara asked, not wanting that to be the first thing out of her mouth but it was regardless her wants.

When Eglantine didn't answer, Ara's anger rose from a fearful level to a more tangible level. Leaving David's comforting embrace, she gently took her mother by the arms, forcing her to look up at her.
"Is Papa alright?" she asked again. The lack of response was worse than any response and Ara was close to hexing her mother herself. Why did she have to be so infuriating?

Worried Ara might do something rash along the currant path, he sat beside Ara and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Ma'am? Is anyone with Horatio right now?" he asked out of concern, going on the assumtion his father in law was on no better terms then herself.

Ignoring her husband at the moment, Ara shook her mother.
"Mama?" she queried. Finally Eglantine sighed.
"Kiara..." she whispered. "He's fine." Ara let out a breath she hadn't even known she was holding. Her tight hold on her mother's shoulders loosened and she gasped.

"I'm so sorry..." Ara murmured, embracing her mother, surprised by the fact she might have hurt her.
Eglantine patted her back, stiff in the embrace.
"No harm done, lieb." she returned, wiping a tear from her face. "Horatio is fine... we both are. Just shaken." she added.

Sevie looked toward the living room, finally deciding to see if his mother was alright. He left Zeki to build alone and tiptoed into the other room.
"Mama?" he asked, approaching his sister's back.

David was relieved also to hear Horatio was alright, he wasn't sure even he could have calmed his wife down if it were otherwise, not to mention he would have been quite upset had that been the case as well.

He turned and was relieved to see Sevie had come out, "Sevie, you can go to her it is alright" he said make a hand motion for boy to come forward.

Releasing her mother, Ara stepped back toward David, feeling relieved and yet strangely unsettled. What could her parents have possibly fought about? Her mother had said she had been infuriated with him... but that didn't really give any reasons. Besides, Horatio often "infuriated" Eglantine without them ending up in a bloody duel. There was more to the situation than apparently met the eye.

Sevie came forward, happy to see that his mother didn't look angry or dying. Her arms stretched out and he climbed into their warm embrace and snuggled against her chest.
"Bist du in Ordnung?" (are you all right?) she asked kissing his soft blond hair. He nodded.

Kiara then entered the floo and sighed in relief to see Sevie on Eglantines arms, glad he was okay. Upon arrival Kiara looked like she had better days, with her red eyes from crying and he spots of blood still on her clothing she had missed.

David, noticed Kiara's arrival first, patting Ara's shoulder, "Kiara? Are you alright, where is Horatio?" he asked going to the older womans side as she looked about ready to collapse as well.

Sighing Kiara fiddled with the pipe in her hand.. "He stepped out for a bit, to clear his head... he will be back in a few days... Davie will you be able to take over his classed till he comes back to work?" she asked quietly.

David nodded, "Of course.." he said as he guided Kiara to the couch as well.

Ara turned her attention to her favourite sister swiftly, hurrying to her side. She noted the red eyes, the blood spots and exhaustion grimly.
"Where'd he go?" she asked, since David had already asked how she was. "Was he okay?" Helping her sister, along with David, to the couch, she patted her hand and noticed the pipe. Why did Kiara have their father's pipe? It didn't make sense that he would leave without it... He cherished it as a dear possession.

"A...few day..." Eglantine murmured, still holding Sevie as if he were a lifeline back from a sinking ship to land. She buried her tear stained face against her son. "Was habe ich getan..."(What have I done...)
"It's okay, Mama." Sevie tried to soothe.

Kiara sighed "I will be fine, been a hard hard day... Horatio went to Hogmeade but I doubt that is where he is staying. But he will be back, that is why he left the pipe.. as a tokin that he will be back" she said with a sigh.

"As for if he is alright... that is a complicated question Ara, He his no longer physicaly injured.... but...." she trailed off it was hard to say if Horatio would be "Alright" or not.

She cast a tired gaze to Eglantine...

"He will be back.. y.. you and Sevie are welcome to stay with us.. if you with Eglantine.." she offered. Wanting to help her mother out, for the moment as Horatio seemed beyond her help at the moment.

The sudden urge to ask her mother what she had said to her father filled Ara, but she remained silent. It wouldn't help to yell or get angry now... she had already nearly snapped once.
"Of course he'll be back..." She murmured, assuring herself and Kiara. It worried her that Kiara had seemed hesitant about whether Horatio was all right or not... mainly filling her with dread as she imagined the things her mother must have said to him; breaking his heart and bruising his spirit.

Eglantine wanted to say yes to Kiara, but slowly shook her head.
"No...I have my students." she murmured. She and Sevie would go back to Hogwarts instead of to the McKevin house. She did not want to clean up the mess; or go with Kiara to be surrounded by her grandchildren... all of whom worshipped their grandfather and would possibly blame her, no it was better to go to Hogwarts. There she could hide behind her professor's mask.

Kiara nearly blew it at Eglantines mutter about her students, she nearly died... nearly killed by Horatio of all people and she wants to go back teaching so soon after all that as happened.

She was so close to yelling at her and tell how rediculas she was being, the anger and fustration were clear on her face. Under that was worry, fear, pain and at the core of it all.. Love.. but she looked at Sevie. She decided this night was not the time to do that. But she would let Eglantine brush this all away by hiding behind her professors desk.

She took a deep breath once again pushing down her fustration. "Fine.. I will see you at Hogwarts.. Professor" she said clearly not approving.

She looked at David and Ara and stood up having a bit more energy then she had earlier.

"David.. could you stay with her please?" she asked.

David of course nodded..."Of course" knowing Kiara likely wanted to tell Ara what happened and what was going on.

"Ara" she said quietly looking her sister in the eye and motioning to go somewhere private.

Eglantine inwardly cringed at Kiara's response to her statement. No doubt they'd be forced to have a heart to heart some time fairly soon... the only trouble about hiding as a professor was that Kiara was Headmistress, and thus her superior. One should really never work for family...she mused... or friends. There wasn't a member on the hogwarts staff who didn't know her... or Horatio. The situation might prove more difficult than she had first hoped.
"Thank you..." she murmured, ignoring the disapproval in Kiara's tone. She could feel the anger and frustration from both her daughters... the last thing she needed was to make them any more angrier.

Stay with her... like she was a mental patient or a elderly relative close to falling over at any moment. The thought cut her deeply, but she locked it away. She deserved every stab... every centimeter the dagger of truth dug in further.

Ara followed after Kiara until they were safely out of ear shot of Eglantine.
"What happened?" she asked, immediately.

David found it very awkward with the fact he had to "stay with her" so he tried to make it less awkward and he started marking papers. Since there was nothing he could say without making things worse.

__

Kiara sighed heavily and took a deep breath... "They both just snapped Ara... from what I gather they had the mother of all fights... every problem they ever had was thrown out and eventally they through spells at eachother. I am not sure what spells but when I got there both of them were in bad shape. Eglantine was out cold and Horatio close to it..... " she breathed out hold back tears.

"She nearly died Ara... we nearly lost her.. Horatio came this close" she said putting her fingers together. "To having killed her... Horatio wasn't in good shape either if he hadn't gotten help he wouldn't have made it either... I just know it was Eglantine that healed Horatios injuries thats the only explaination, I brought her a potion that seemed to have healed her."

Holding her head in her hands, "Merlin Ara.. Neither of them have never scared me some much before. I can't believe after everything.. they nearly killed eachother"

"Where is Papa?" Sevie asked, looking up at his mother's face. He pressed his hand against her pale cheek, wiping away the drying tears. He hated it when people were distressed.
"Hush..." Eglantine whispered, smiling gently. "He's just not here right now." she kissed his forehead. "Do not worry, pumpkin."
Her eyes flickered from her son to David and then back to her son. She wondered what David would do if she did indeed do something, such as rise and leave. But for now she remained seated.

--
Ara listened, taken aback by everything Kiara was telling her. It didn't sound at all like her parents. Well... actually it did. Maybe their complete lack of fights had finally caught up with them. She had always thought their marriage had been a bit too perfect... or that they simply ignored their problems. It seemed she had been right and she found no joy in the realization.

And oh how she been wrong. It hadn't been just her mother. And it sounded as if her father had been far more violent than her mother. A tear ran down her cheek.
"He wouldn't do that..." she whispered. "Kiara, he wouldn't." she repeated, wanting Kiara to nod and agree with her. But Kiara wouldn't lie to her and obviously Horatio would do what no one had ever thought he would...

She wrapped her arms around her sister and held her. "I know." she murmured. "It doesn't seem real. God they must have had some problems..."

David sighed and looked up from his papers, "If you wish to leave I won't stop you Ma'am..However I have the feeling my Wife or Kiara would be to happy with me if or your self if you did" and neither are a bright mood from the look of it. So if you would stay I would be grateful." David said.

__

Kiara sighed, "It is not that they had major problems.. it is just neither worked them out.. they ignored everything and let it build up... That s why I don't agree with Eglantine going back to school so soon, and ignore it like nothing happened" she sighed.

"I am hopeing they will learn from this" she said as she petted her Sisters hand.

Eglantine said nothing, although she appreciated David's statement. At the very least he was sincere and kind.
"How was school today?" she asked her son, anxious to make everything seem normal. The boy's eyes lit up.
"We learned about evaporation!" he exclaimed. "And made watermelon jell-o."

--
Ara couldn't imagine never talking to David about any of their problems. Her marriage was good, but it would have been on the rocks had she and her husband ignored every issue.
"She's not a child, Kiara." Ara reminded, sighing. "Merlin, why couldn't we have normal parents." it was meant to be funny, but once her own ears heard it... it wasn't as humorous as she had first thought. "They aren't going to learn from this... Mama is 73 years old... Papa is nearly 200... They aren't about to just learn and begin changing."

David smiled slightly and went back to marking papers, for Sevie's sake if may had been best to act like it was normal.

_

Kiara sighed, "Yeah I guess your right, I don't know what to do.. think we should do anything, for that matter?" she said her mind trying to figure out a solution.

"Ara from my experience.. there are no normal parents" she said with a sigh