I step through the floo in Niclos's office, taking care of the soot the moment I do.

I just hope I can get to Ivan before he's nearly drowned in his sorrows.
( Sadness )

I am in a funk.

I know why too. I have been in it since yesterday.. well it has been building for a few days now.
( Funk )

"This was very thoughtful of you, Eli," I tell Nicolas's cousin, as I pull my hair out from the knee length jacket I put on.. When Nicolas found out I had an arranged business meeting in London, and that I had not done a lot of exploring of Muggle London, he arranged for Eli to pick me up. I had the directions to Mr Finch-Fletchley's office, but since I'm not completely familiar with London, (The most I know is where my agency is, and a few business surrounding it) I gladly took up the offer. "Thank you very much," I add as we step out of my house and we start to walk down my walkway.

"No need to thank me," He says seriously as we pass my gate. I pause, and activate the wards and turn back to Nikolai's cousin, who opens a door from his car. "I offered. Besides, any chance I get to drive my car, I do." He grins.

I step closer, and then carefully get into the offered seat. "My first car ride," I muse. "This shall be interesting."

Eli chuckles, then shows me a contraption that apparently protects people in these things.. a seatbelt. He shows me how to strap it on, and once it is, he shuts the door and goes the opposite side, getting in.

"Care to tell this ignorant Pureblood how a car works?" I ask in a teasing tone.

"Are you sure it won't bore you?"

"I am sure."

"Well then, as I drive, I'll explain."

I nod, and then hand him the slip of parchment which had Mr Finch Fletchley's directions to his office on it. He glances at it, then at his watch. "Ah, we'll get there in time." He flashes me a quick smile, and I watch fascinted as he puts some sort of object, into a small slot, and then turns it, and I hear a rumbling.

"I put the key, which is what the silver thing you saw, into the ignition," he points to where the small slot was, "which, due to the wonderful mechanics of Muggle ingeunity, starts the engine, which is what you hear. The fact that it's a low rumbling is good. If it was loud, then I would have to get this car checked out."

I nod, understanding so far. I watch what he does next then, and a few minutes later, we are out on the road, among the other drivers. Unfortunately the beginning movement made me tense a little, sinking my nails into the seat, but after a couple minutes I was able to relax.

While Eli drives me, he continues to educate me on how these cars operate, and some of the history of how they came about. I do not find myself bored whatsoever, fascinated by some of the information I learn. I don't completely understand all of it, but Eli's talking makes it easier to enjoy the ride and makes me less uneasy being in such an odd contraption with so many others out there. Especially when a few of these drivers make Eli's hands tighten on the wheel and glare at how they manuever.

I find our other ways of travelling less stressful, but Eli makes this form easy to take.

"So how many interests are you seeing this man about?"

"About five companies here based in the UK. I don't imagine Mr Finch-Fletchley does work with the international ones I have as well. Thankfully, two of my receptionists and my personal assistant were able to help me find those who would be able to help me with the others."

Eli nods, then I look up as he takes a turn. "Are you going to keep your shares in these companies?"

"I am not sure yet. I want to know what I can about them. I was given very little information about them, and I have a feeling Mikhail ordered his lawyer to make sure of that. Basically doing the only thing he can do with him where he is. This gentleman is, of course, Muggle and works in finance, I am sure he will be able to help me with this. I mentioned his name to Carly, one of the receptionists that works for me. She's a Muggleborn, and she decided to look up information on the family to make sure. Not saying that I didn't trust Justin Finch Fletchley's word," I add, "but I wanted to be cautious."

"Always good to be cautious. I take it whatever you found out was good."

I nod. "Good name, good work, well received in his field, good reputation. Apparently people friendly, and has ethics... which from I gather in the world of finance, is not something that's well known for. Then again there's a dark side in every profession," I say dryly, knowing the dark side in the profession I love. "So, all in all, everything I heard was good."

"Ah, and it looks like we are here," Eli says as he drives his car to a side of the road. "A little bit early from the time designated."

"It's better being early than late." I had that properly drilled into me.

"Want to me come up with you?" Eli asks, turning to face me. "I don't mind."

I shake my head. "I'll be fine."
( Finances )

"So what type of companies are those?" Nina asks as we gather up our things. We had a small ice cream break at Fortescue's, after I had gotten out of a meeting with my lawyer.
( Muggle finances )

"Can I go outside?" I hear Kiros ask in a low whisper, as Mr Ollivander is occupied with Aleksey.

The booklists for the boys just came to them, and although we had not done the shopping for that, both Aleksey and Kiros were very keen on getting their wands. Niclos was unable to take Kiros shopping for his the past couple days, and when I had some time free up, I decided to take both the boys.
( Wands )

"The Green Dragon."

Nicolas didn't even look up from the broom he was carving as he answered my question.

"Pardon?"
( Business )

"What are you doing?"

I glance up from the stack of parchment on my desk, to see my elder brother, Niclos, frowning at me.

"Catching up," I say plainly. "Isn't that obvious?"

"I believe you were told--"
( School Decisions )

I stare at the wall in front of me, waiting. Waiting for permission to go in and put the proverbial knife into the wizard who was being held.

I waited far too long to do this. I glance at the two dragon hide folders in the chair next to me and I smile.

This is going to be a treat...

I don't normally relish the idea of humiliating someone... It's not something I do. But in this case.
( Delivering My Own Stabbing )

I wearily open my eyes and then shut them at the harsh light.

"Ms Poliakoff?" I hear a soft voice speak up just as everything starts to sort of come back into order...
( Healing )

Niclos POV

I accept the cup of hot coffee from the orderly, and then make my way down the hall and open the door to Ivanka's room.

Ivan looks up from where he's standing by her bed, and I raise an eyebrow. "I didn't expect you to come by until tonight. I know you were busy with the plant in Surgut..."

"It's Vanka," he says simply. "I came as soon as I heard."

I nod, and close the door, and come further into the room, setting my cup on the stand and then place a hand against her cheek, noticing her colour is better. "Skin colour looks better than when I saw her yesterday."

"All anyone is telling me is that she was stabbed," Ivan says quietly, but when I look up to meet his eyes, I can see his anger in them, banked. I know the feeling. I've been fighting my anger since I found out.

"Stabbed, and the dagger had some sort of poison on it...a rare one, that requires an antidote that takes some Ministry red tape to get," I say annoyed at that. This whole situation is uneasy. Seeing my sister lay here... hurt and me unable to do anything is eerily similar to the day I first saw Nina, two years ago, in her coma...

As a father, I boiled with rage at being unable to help my daughter.

And now as a brother, I'm raging that I cannot help my sister.

"She has some lucid moments, but not many. The poison is making it difficult to heal the wounds, so the Healers are doing what they can, until they can get the antidote for the poison."

Two Hours After Ivanka's Stabbing- The 26th

I look up as my office door opens and surprise is what I feel when I see Headmaster Leeder come into my office.

"Headmaster?" I ask curiously, and stand up. "Is there something the matter?" The Headmaster nearly never comes to any Professor's office. In all my years here, the only time a Headmaster comes to see a professor is if it's a family matter regarding the Professor.

Family. Nicolas. Nina. Maybe even Kiros..

"Niclos, I just got word from the Ministry. Your sister was hurt. She's in St Mungo's."

"How badly?" I ask. I'll go either way to see her, just need to know much I have to prepare myself for.

He looks somber. "She was stabbed three times in the stomach. They won't tell me much else. I cancelled your classes for today. Go see to your sister."

"Thank you Headmaster."