snakes in the garden [Ana]

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

28 April 2029

Cas never rushed to act on information. There were very few things in this world that could force him to act before he was ready, and he’d encountered the majority of them while he was Cursebreaking (because sadly, neither grave robbers nor protective enchantments liked to wait). But ever since, he’d always been overly cautious when it came to handling new information. He preferred to weigh all his options and make a plan first. His methods got complaints (mostly from Damian, who had apparently been born without the little voice in his head that warned him off from doing stupid things), but they also got results. Cas had steered the family through the Purifiers fiasco, hadn’t he? While other pureblood families had crashed and burned, the Karkaroffs had emerged almost unscathed. Stronger, even.

So when he got the letter from Alek, he hadn’t rushed. Cas had read through it a number of times, pacing throughout his office at Borgin and Burke’s while he walked through all the implications in his head. He’d formed some initial conclusions, but that was all. There were too many unknown factors that could still influence the course of the next few months, and Cas couldn’t see farther than the next few steps down the path. It started with telling the rest of his siblings – because he was fairly certain that neither Ana nor Damian had the patience to stay in regular contact with Alek and his never-ending list of complaints. The choice of who to tell first was easy…if only because Ana had always been more reliable and because Damian had a special relationship with their mother that Cas had never understood. Whoever had decided that one should honor, respect and love their parents had never met the Karkaroff matriarch.

“Before you open the champagne, try and look a little sad at what I’m about to tell you,” Cas drawled, eyeing his sister (because he'd known her since the minute she was born and there weren't many things she could do to surprise him anymore). He’d decided to visit Ana at her place instead of waiting for her to stop by his flat or Borgin and Burke’s in her own time. He was seated on the armchair adjacent to Ana’s couch, Alek’s letter neatly folded while he turned it over in his hands. His movements were a little restless, but Cas eventually forced himself to stop and instead began to use the letter to idly tap an uneven rhythm on the arm of the chair. “Alek’s written me that Mother had a stroke some time ago. She refused to be treated in the hospital, so a doctor’s been visiting her at the estate. She seems to be alright, although not completely back to normal…” Whatever that meant for a Karkaroff, at least. Cas was unnerved at the news. Not because he was particularly attached to their mother…but she was the last surviving parent and her death would have consequences for the family. As the eldest, Cas did have some interests in how that should play out. He waited for Ana to process the news and all its implications.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

Nothing seemed to match in the post-Purifier world Ana had helped usher in. Like any good pureblood child, she shoved aside any unwanted memories or regrets into some neat corner of her mind while throwing herself into her work. At least with her career, Ana found not only success but fulfillment. The occasional travel was also nice, as the ministry offices easily grew stale over time. Her oldest brother still ran the family from the shadows, Ana only letting her hand graze the parts that were above board and remaining willfully ignorant of the rest. Still, she wondered when the day would arrive and when the crossroads would appear, forcing her to choose between the law and her family.

Even someone as righteous as Damian no doubt wondered the same fact, although journalism allowed one far more flexibility than international law enforcement. Cas had arrived at Ana’s flat with little warning, which was the first sign of something different. But Ana indulged her eldest brother and invited him inside. At least he did her the favor of avoiding needless small talk, not that he had arrived at the point just yet. ”I’ll do my best.” She responded flatly, eyeing every idle movement of his body—the uncharacteristic hesitation and twitching. Ana knew the interrogation would have ended quickly if this was a suspect in her interrogation room.

Their mother? A woman Ana had not bothered to think about often and purposefully. Her eyes left Cas as she thought about what this might mean. It was all very simple in her mind, but Cas would always tell her it was anything but. ”How long have you known?” This could not have been new information. She paused again before speaking again. ”I don’t understand why you’re bothering to tell me she still isn’t dead.” Ana added less flatly and even a little annoyed. While partly responsible for Ana’s existence, the woman was someone Ana hated wholly. There wasn’t a need for champagne until she was dead and cold.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

Cas wasn’t particularly fazed by the interrogatory tone in Ana’s question. A long time ago, he’d nudged her towards a Ministry career because he’d known that having a Karkaroff there would pay dividends in the long term. But the truth was, she’d already been well-suited for Law Enforcement a long time before that. If Damian had been born with a drive to needle and wheedle all the secrets he wanted to know (along with a dollop of charisma that made working in journalism a perfect fit), then the same was true for Ana and her line of work. It was a byproduct of having three older brothers, he supposed. Or learning to fight back against their mother’s endless demands and the special antagonism she seemed to reserve for her only daughter.

Whatever it was, Cas knew that Law Enforcement had been the right choice for her. So long as it never occurred to Ana to turn it against her family. “You had the same opportunity to learn the news as I did,” Cas responded offhandedly, sidestepping her question and answering what he wanted to answer instead. That was a method he’d learned a long time ago. Cas pretended not to hear the questions he didn’t like and answered with the information he wanted the other side to know. He brandished the letter at her as if to show what he meant, but he had no intention of letting his sister read all of it. Besides, he figured Ana wouldn’t want to. Alek seemed a little pathetic compared to the rest of his siblings, and neither Ana nor Damian had much patience for him. Alek, on his part, didn’t seem to like writing them either. He didn’t seem to like the way Ana gleefully waited for their mother to die (but he’d always been sensitive like that). Cas himself didn’t particularly care.

Her second observation was much better, and Cas nodded slightly to acknowledge it. “She hasn’t written her will yet.” That bombshell had hit him much harder than learning she’d had a stroke. Whether she lived or died – that was just a matter of nature. But where the estate would go…Cas found himself anxious at the thought. Damian had always been their mother’s favorite, and Cas could all too easily imagine the nightmarish scenario of Damian controlling the money and trying to boss him around. Alek might feel he deserved a bigger cut too – being the one who’d stayed at home to manage her, and having the only Karkaroff grandchild (unless Damian had been keeping secrets). Hence Cas nervously fidgeting and tapping the letter against the arm of the chair as he tried to think. “She’s not quite back to normal. That leaves a small window of time to take care of the issue before something happens.” He left that vague because he didn’t know whether something meant another stroke or the drafting of a will that didn’t leave things the way he wanted. He and Ana had worked together before to arrange things neatly in a way that benefited them all. Cas thought it might be time to do so again.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

And here Ana thought her brother was going to drop the equivalent of ‘the Purifiers are in Hogwarts’ in terms of information with how he had approached the entire situation. She felt her body relax a tiny bit, though since they were speaking about their mother Ana found it impossible to completely relax. It didn’t stop her eyes from narrowing at him with his response. He was right, of course, not that Ana would tell him. But she’d always found letters from her brother mundane and needlessly wordy. She wanted him to get to the point, but she had to suffer through paragraphs.

”I see.” Ana responded. Well, that made sense then. Her mind immediately went to Damian, the youngest brother but the closest to their mother. ”I was concerned you were getting sentimental.” Her tone was flat. It was just business, just like it always was. ”Damian doesn’t know, does he?” Chances were he’d find the first portkey home. Merlin forbid he didn’t get a chance to see his beloved mother. But Ana thought through Cas’s words. Something. That could be anything, even the champagne-worthy things. There was a sensible pause, both of their minds processing the puzzle before them. ”Drink?” Ana offered, standing up from her chair.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

At least Ana seemed to be the tiniest bit unnerved now, even if it was likely only because of the reminder that their mother was still alive. It didn’t quite match Cas’s tense demeanor, but then again – he’d always taken an interest in the family’s affairs and he’d been running things for years. He wasn’t one to give up control easily, and his role as the head of the family came with an automatic assumption that his siblings would do as they were told. He scoffed slightly at Ana’s flat observation. In a normal family, it might’ve been taken as a criticism – shouldn’t sons care for, and even love, their mothers? But in their family, with the complicated relationship between the old generation and the new one…no, it was just an observation. Just a reminder not to get sentimental.

“Of course he doesn’t,” Cas responded, shaking his head at the thought. Damian was impulsive, but he wasn’t stupid. He also actually seemed to love their mother, making him the only sibling who felt that way. All those factors added up to the inevitable conclusion that he would go home immediately. Try and convince their mother to do things his way. Cas needed time to put a plan in motion before he let Damian’s maneuverings begin, but he didn’t have a plan yet. It was unusually sloppy work on his part. “Yes,” he said automatically as Ana offered a drink. He narrowed his eyes at her as she walked away, wondering if she’d choose champagne just to spite him. But his mind was quickly pulled back into his thoughts. “We’ll need an independent assessment of her mental condition,” he mused out-loud, “It might be possible to take action even before her death.” Take control, he meant, but he thought Ana might just lose herself in the fantasy of wearing white to their mother’s funeral.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

[googlefont="Roboto"]
[googlefont="Fjalla One"]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

Ana resisted the urge to chill the champagne. Perhaps she would splurge on a better bottle once she felt confident their mother was on death’s door, merely waiting for that slight breeze to encourage her through the veil. Amidst her daydreaming, Ana retrieved two glasses and poured whiskey into both. The matter of an unsettled pureblood estate was nothing to celebrate or scoff at. It was rare to find her oldest brother appearing in such a state. Typically, Casimir held such an overbearing control over his chess board. The pieces were always predictable to a point.

Returning, Ana placed a glass next to her brother’s chair. Seated back on her own, Ana took a sip and let her mind think through the possible legal loopholes. It was a shame another sibling, probably another older brother, didn’t exist to act as an experienced solicitor. Ana was knowledgeable through her work, but even that was limited. ”Her mental incompetence was never a secret; it's now a matter of a legal declaration.” Power of attorney was not uncommon knowledge. Ana wondered if the family held any important contacts at St. Mungo’s or perhaps the magical hospital near home to obtain the independent assessment Cas mentioned. ”Have you spoken to Soukup?” The longtime family lawyer was not someone easily forgotten, as much as Ana detested his presence. But they would either need him or need to get rid of him should he get in their way.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

Cas only barely glanced at the drink to confirm she hadn’t brought them champagne, then nodded and accepted the glass. They both sat in silence for a while, pondering the implications of their mother’s failing health and what it might do to the family. These sorts of events were always an earthquake for purebloods, since any disaster might indicate a change to the dynamics between families. Their mother had been a drain on the family for years, but Cas wouldn’t put it past her to spite her children one last time by dying in a disgraceful way. “I haven’t,” Cas said, rubbing the bridge of his nose to ward off a headache. “The minute I’m seen in his office, or him making a house-call…everybody will know.” He didn’t trust any of their gossipy neighbors, who’d rush to spread the news around the community or contact their favorite Karkaroff.

“I want to handle this quietly and find someone here. If they’re successful, they can have Soukup’s job,” Cas continued irreverently. He still did many things in an old-fashioned way, since he was rather suspicious of new trends and fads. But Cas wasn’t afraid to forge a new path if he thought it was best for them. His time in the Order had been just that – adjusting his sails once it became clear which way the wind was blowing. The family solicitor was loyal to their mother, which meant that at this time – they had conflicting interests. “Purifier trials must still be ongoing,” Cas said with an underlying mocking tone in his voice, “How’re their lawyers? Anybody worth the outrageous price their families must be paying?”

He and Ana had never really discussed this aspect of her job – she’d responded to the Hogwarts fire, but Cas had thought it best to stay away. Order members might make incorrect assumptions, not to mention the Aurors who’d been there. Ever since the fire and the disbanding of the Order, he and Ana had let the topic rest and go unspoken. She had a job to do, and the Purifiers weren’t Cas’s business anymore. But Cas, who’d inherited just about everything in his life, didn’t quite know how to go about finding someone discreet to handle this issue. He had a wide network of contacts in anything related to artifacts – but solicitors? Cas tried to stay away from the law as much as possible. It had always been Ana's area of expertise.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

[googlefont="Roboto"]
[googlefont="Fjalla One"]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

Ana supposed Cas had a point. There wasn’t much reason for the family lawyer to visit unless someone died, was born, or was getting married. And unless Damian had secretly gotten married and was expecting, which was not without total improbability, there wasn’t a reason for the longtime family lawyer to visit. Ana looked at her older brother for a moment, trying to figure out his plan. It wasn’t like him to invite a new face onto his chessboard during such a sensitive time. She sipped from her glass to pass the time while waiting for Cas to reveal what was up his sleeve.

But her gaze returned to him at the question. This was new. He hardly asked about her work. Even regarding his side businesses, there were never direct conversations. This gave her plausible deniability, but they remained out of each other’s lanes. Thinking momentarily, Ana realized Cas was asking for her help and information he didn’t know. It was rare. Did it fill her with a bit of pride? Absolutely. The rarity of the ball being her court had always sat in her mind. ”I suppose, but they’re addicted to the spotlight.” And that was not what the family needed.

She paused to think. ”My suggestion would be the solicitor retained by Burke. I never saw him, nor do I know his name, but he walked out like a free man.” Ana tried not to sound so bitter or annoyed. ”Rivera sealed his files.” She added before her brother could ask. She remained silent momentarily as names and faces went through her mind. She had not attended the trials. Her undercover work let her skip the boring things. ”You will have a list of names tomorrow.” Ana, the department ran background on their defendant’s legal teams, so this would be easy.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

They’d always carefully tiptoed around sensitive subjects, like Ana’s job at the Ministry or the gossip that Damian passed off as political reporting sometimes. Having a Karkaroff in the Ministry to keep an eye on things and ensure that the family flew under the radar – everybody knew it was necessary, but it had the potential to explode in their faces if they weren’t careful. There were a number of principles that Cas had to keep in mind whenever he needed his little sister for something – don’t push too hard, don’t ask for too much, and keep everything grounded in the field of plausible deniability. It kept Cas informed, Ana out of trouble, and she could go tackle other bad guys as much as she wanted without sharing details.

It was a delicate arrangement that Cas hadn’t prodded at for ages, but circumstances dictated the need (and their mother had always enjoyed making things more difficult than needed). He knew what the desired end goal was, but the path forward was still murky. Hence the visit. And a careful examination of how Ana’s vast experience with Law Enforcement could ensure that their side got everything they wanted, as usual. Cas didn’t reply to the observation that most solicitors working on the Purifier cases loved the spotlight, but he made a face as the Karkaroff distaste for attention hung heavily in the air (which only further strengthened Cas’s suspicion that Damian must’ve somehow been adopted, except for the pesky fact that the family resemblance was just too strong).

Instead he focused on Ana’s suggestion, which became the most attractive option the longer he considered it. Everybody knew about the widely-published details of Asher Burke’s arrest and dismissal, even though some critical points were still shrouded in mystery. But that didn’t matter as much to Cas. Asher wasn’t innocent (that much was obvious), but he’d walked away from the charges. Cas snorted slightly at Ana’s petulant observation that his files had been sealed. “And you haven’t broken in yet to look for yourself?” he asked doubtfully. Their mother had tried banning Ana from parts of the house, or joining her brothers whenever they’d gone off without her, but it’d never worked. "There might be something there," he acknowledged, his curiosity piqued. The fact that Rivera had hidden the results of the Burke interrogations in a deep, dark corner of the Ministry only strengthened the assumption that something had gone awry – much more than not having enough evidence to prosecute. He remembered her from Order meetings, although they’d never spoken. She’d never seen fit to hide her belief that every Dark wizard belonged in prison, no matter what. So maybe there was something here for the Karkaroffs to benefit from, after all. Cas continued to thoughtfully tap out a rhythm using Alek's letter, considering what it might take to hire this apparently talented solicitor.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

The conversation had quickly found a path along a fine line carefully laid in the family’s lives. Ana was not so naïve to think her brothers were all law-abiding wizards. But ignorance was bliss, as they say. And those with not a thought in their heads did often appear so happy, Ana wondered now and then how peaceful their existences might be. Then again, she could ask her brother Alek, as he was perhaps the closest, with a strange, dazed look in his eye at times. It never matched Cas's determined concentration or Damian's mischievous glint.

But all their roles were helpful in their way. However, Ana found the power on the correct side of the law far more potent than on the other side. Still, when those such as Asher Burke could walk free, it challenged all she believed in. And Ana was not one to question herself or her beliefs that existed as anchors in her life. Her gaze shifted to Cas at his stupid question, and she continued staring at him as if to let him know that fact telepathically. ”I suspect there is.” She responded sarcastically. The compulsion to dig into files she had no business in had been strong, and the intrusive thoughts had won out not a fortnight after Burke’s release.

But in the end, the search had been futile. Short of torturing Bianca for the keys (metaphorical or literal), Ana had no luck. ”She’s buried this further than anything else I’ve seen. Nothing has rattled her on this, not even the papers.” Which had been curious as well. How often had Ana seen a Department Head or the Minister fold from public pressure? ”Damian is friends with the sister, is he not?” Merlin, she didn’t want to think of her brother with the likes of a Burke but if that were a connection they could benefit from—well, she would suffer through it. Still, it did the opposite of helping the situation at hand. Sighing and mildly annoyed, Ana sipped more from her glass. Considering her experiences with her mother, Ana was not against using a bit of heavy-handed persuasion to force their mother to sign an appropriate will. Still, she knew better than to mention it.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

Cas sipped his drink thoughtfully as he listened to Ana detail all of her frustrations about the Burke case. She’d clearly been holding it in for a long time, although Cas didn’t know of anyone in her life that might act as a confidant or sounding board for these sorts of things. In a strange balance, he sought to know everything of importance about his siblings while also maintaining a careful ignorance of the things he didn’t want to know about. For his own peace of mind, there were parts of Ana’s life where he didn’t ask for details. She had a faraway look in her eyes, like she was remembering every failed attempt to gain access to the files or interrogate Rivera about them.

It almost seemed like a hazy plan being formed, another heist in the making. But Cas had never been the hasty sort, and he considered the most important question first. Would forcing the issue do anything for him? Ana clearly burned to dig into the mystery and uncover all of Asher Burke’s secrets, but Cas didn’t exist to please his sister. He didn’t have many dealings with Burke, outside of an occasional drink, but he didn’t see much value in letting that domino fall. Who knew what sort of chain reaction that might start? “You’ve been cultivating access to Rivera for years,” Cas observed, leaning back in his seat and thinking about his sister’s dealings with the Department Head through the Order. About the shared work they’d done before the Hogwarts fire. “What was the point if you can’t encourage her to bend on something important to you?”

The criticism underlying his question was a little less subtle than usual, but it transmitted his other message clearly enough. Cas had decided not to involve himself in this. He saw no reason to topple Asher Burke, not when the man hadn’t acted against him and might even ultimately prove to be a useful contact to enter previously unexplored circles. This was an obsession Ana had picked up through her Law Enforcement career, not as a Karkaroff. And he had bigger problems right now. “I suppose friends is the closest word to describe it,” Cas said, disapproval lacing every word. They were clearly two peas in a pod, although Cas didn’t know the full extent of what they did together. Hazel Burke seemed to be no different from any other spoiled pureblood trust fund baby, but even airheads could navigate hosting parties and placing large bets at the casino. “Weren’t you two forced together at dinners while we were still in school?” Cas asked, trying to recall the details. Maybe it was only a lingering exasperation for Damian constantly getting into trouble, but Cas would never give his younger brother an assignment if he was capable of carrying it out himself. In that same spirit, he wouldn’t be informing Damian about this will business until Cas had finished arranging the board in a way that suited him. This was too important to risk for the sake of ‘fair play’.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

The tone from her brother’s words didn’t cut but held enough pressure to let their point sink in. ”She’s made her stance on this very clear.” Ana thought of the arguments that had fallen short of a dueling challenge within the Ministry’s corridors. And it only further fueled Ana as Bianca had served as an important contact over the years. It was mainly because of her work with Interpol, but memories of their time in the Order never remained far away. But Ana’s eyes lingered on her eldest brother. Their opinions on the Burkes had never quite synced up. But Cas never forced the issue, either.

”You know something, don’t you?” There again, the fine line between their sides of the law glowed violently gray. There was a reason crossing into another sibling’s territory was infrequent, if only to provide plausible deniability. With footholds within the lawful, the unlawful, and chaotic, there was a delicate balance where the Karkaroffs existed that was easy to be mindful of but at risk when one’s passions became inflamed. Unfortunately, Asher Burke existed comfortably within the unlawful realm that Ana did not operate in.

But even Ana could admit that forcing Burke to his knees was a distraction in the grand scheme of things. Sipping her whiskey, she could already hear her brother’s repetitive lecture on personal vendettas. Not to mention, his expression regarding Damian and Hazel didn’t hide his disapproval of that connection. Ana didn’t need further context. She knew Damian well enough. Ana responded by rolling her eyes in a fashion her mother would have disapproved of. ”Unfortunately.” They were not friends but on polite terms. Which was the best one could hope for in Pureblood society.

Ana continued nursing her drink while forcing herself to think through different options regarding the situation with their mother. ”Is there not ample evidence of her mental incompetence? Then you don’t need her to draft the will.” Well, one could argue mental incompetence existed for quite some time, but that was merely Ana’s opinion.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

Cas didn’t pretend to understand Ministry politics, but he imagined it couldn’t be much different than the pureblood world in the end. People had interests, and weren’t usually generous enough to act against them for the sake of friendship. Whatever had gone on between Ana and Rivera regarding Burke, or for that matter any of the intra-Ministry discussion on Asher Burke – Cas wasn’t aware of any of it. And he was quite satisfied with the status quo as it stood. The last few years had been good for the Karkaroffs, the result of years of patient planning, and he didn’t see an advantage in testing the waters right now.

But Ana’s question felt like an escalation, an improper step taken. Cas had been in a semi-relaxed state, probably as close to casual as he’d ever be, when she asked what he knew about it. His gaze sharpened and his hand tightly gripped Alek’s letter, wrinkling the parchment and ruining the sharp and precise creases his younger brother had meticulously folded. Ana didn’t ask often about Cas’s business. Sometimes she stopped by the club, which was a little cleaner than Borgin and Burke’s, and she’d dropped by the Pensieve Gallery once or twice – which was as close to ‘family friendly’ as Cas would ever get. But she didn’t pry into his dealings, legal or otherwise, and she didn’t ask questions that were liable to get uncomfortably close to incriminating responses. “Could you live with the answer?” Cas finally responded, his tone harsher than even when they’d been discussing their troublesome mother. The underlying question was even more important. How would she respond if she knew what he knew?

It would’ve taken Legilimency to guess at that answer, and maybe Ana herself didn’t even know. It was risky, and risky made Cas nervous. He leaned back in his chair, but it wasn’t as graceful as before. No, now it seemed like he was forcing himself to relax…even if his little sister was likely to notice the difference. Instead of commenting on the issue again (which as far as he was concerned had just become forbidden fruit), Cas returned to his initial dilemma. “I suppose if it can’t be handled quietly, it should at least be done quickly,” he said moodily, a little disappointed in himself for not having discovered a better solution until now. He just didn’t see how it might be possible to settle the inheritance without involving outsiders – asking their mother nicely to rewrite her will was unlikely to work. “You’re probably right. The doctor should be able to quickly determine the state of her mental health in our favor. Then Burke’s solicitor can seal the deal in ink.” And then at least one of his problems could be solved -- Cas could feel the beginning of a headache forming in his temples.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

forgiveness is the ultimate sacrifice

eloquence belongs to the conqueror

April 28, 2029
Casimir Elias Karkaroff

While not entirely out of character, Ana's little outburst was still not like her. She knew better than to question her eldest brother in such a fashion blatantly. Vague questions never lead anywhere, especially when fueled by bitter feelings. Her eyes focused on Casimir, the way every muscle tensed, and his face almost froze in solidarity with his secrets. Ana might as well have been banging on the giant locked door of his realm. Cas’s answer forced her jaw to clench. Part of her desperately wanted answers to the inane logic that British Law Enforcement followed what amounted to an act of domestic terrorism. The other part focused on caution. What good would it do to know these potentially horrible secrets?

This carefully arranged and balanced chessboard would not work or function properly if one of the key players lost their faith and their way. Ana didn’t need to follow a string into this maze only to lose her fire and burn out. A few moments into their staring contest, Ana scoffed and looked away. Drinking the last contents of her glass. Why did Casimir always have to be bloody right? For now, she pushed down her rage; it wouldn’t do anything but expend her mental energy. Remaining anything less than perfectly sharp meant losing what made her the best at what she did.

The siblings moved on from the topic of Burke. For now. Ana tended to keep a firm grip on her grudges, which reminded her of the initial topic at hand—her old and frail mother. Disappointed in her empty glass, Ana only looked at it before speaking again. ”I’m sure some gold would encourage the doctor to make his decision quickly.” These professionals didn’t serve the elderly of the pureblood community out of the goodness of their hearts. How else would they afford their large manors? ”I’ll get you a name.” There were always rumors regarding Burke floating around the Ministry and anything adjacent. Not that Ana knew what to believe anymore.

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[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

The beginning of a plan began to unfold in Cas’s mind, multiple threads going out in different directions – at least until they’d all meet back at the end to reveal the grand design. He would need to promptly reach out to a reliable doctor, so they could settle the question of their mother’s mental health and then quickly bury it. Ana would need to move quickly as well, to snatch up the Burke solicitor and explain the details of the case. Cas mentally dismissed the possibility of interference from Alek – he likely hadn’t written to any of their other siblings in ages, much less their wayward younger brother. No, Alek would play along with the brief and vague instructions Cas would write him in response to his letter. The key was to act before Damian discovered what state their mother was in – because him rushing quickly back to the Karkaroff estate to stake a counterclaim would just make things messy.

But before all that, Cas refocused his gaze on his sister. She’d confirmed that she could find a name, but Cas was still reluctant to call an end to this strategy session. “Can I count on you?” His careful words rang out in the silence of the room. That was a new question, at least one Cas had never asked out-loud before. His tone was as sharp as his gaze, as he studied Ana carefully. He’d never had cause to wonder before, but the thought slowly wriggled its way into the back of his mind. The fall of the Purifiers had been a satisfying conclusion to years of work, at least from Cas’s perspective. But in the eyes of the Ministry, it’d simply opened a whole new world of problems. And in many ways, Ana was one of them as much as she was a Karkaroff. She was frustrated. Unsatisfied with Burke’s last-minute escape from a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Who knew what frustrated ambitions could awaken in an unhappy witch. He expected some level of difficulty from Damian, but he’d never faced it from Ana before.

Reminding her of her obligations to the family wasn’t the next right thing to say. She knew well enough what was expected of her, but reminding Ana of it out-loud would only activate that streak of stubbornness in her. So Cas didn’t say anything else, but didn’t make any effort to move or see to his end of the preparations. In fact, he’d gone almost completely still. Alek’s letter, which had been making soft little tap-tap-taps on the arm of the chair, had gone silent. Cas hadn’t relaxed either, as the moment hadn’t passed yet. Ana had looked away, but that only meant he couldn’t read the emotion in her eyes. Asher Burke was clearly not a closed subject yet, and there might yet be some resistance from her. But later. It had to come later, after the Karkaroffs had finished navigating this internal crisis. Cas couldn’t navigate any external problems until the family had sorted its affairs out (in a way that suited him, of course).

anastasia marie karkaroff