Down With the Sickness l Emerald Castle

Karma before the doors of the emerald castle, the only thing on her person other than the school uniform the second hand knapsack she'd 'found' in hogsmeade. It had been empty, in any case.

She raises a hand to the door and banged the knocker against the door three times. She stood back almost instantly, apprehensive for the first time, and slightly nervous. She didn't let any of it show on her face, however. If anyone else had opened their house to her, short of Arsen, she would of denied in fear of accepting charity, she would much rather stay at hogwarts for the holidays.

However, it was not charity if they had a signed agreement, and that was why she was here. She adjusted the strap of the bag over her shoulder and moved to tap on the door again. Before she could, it swung open, and she stepped backwards again. "Hello." She said, her eyes downcast.

Zephan had been on his way to find Cici when the knocker of the front door resounded through the entrance hall. Since he was right there and no one could get past the wards except those people that Cici allowed the boy decided it was okay for him to answer the door.

Padding up to the door before a house elf could get there he opened the heavy door, straining slightly with the effort. Zephan looked up at the pretty girl that said hello. "Who are you," he asked tilting his head to the side. "Are you one of Cici's friends? Is that why you got past the wards? Momma Lexa is gonna wonder who you are too. Better tell me before she gets here. She's really protective of me and Cici."

Karma cocked her head to the side and smiled at the small boy who answered the door. "You must be Zephan." She decided, remembering the name of Ciar's younger brother. "I'm a friend, yes." She said, the word friend coming out a bit strained. "Cici said I could stay for Christmas." She pouted. "That is, if you'd let me. I wouldn't wanna intrude. You're obviously the man of the house, right?"

"I'm Karma." She said. "Karma Black."

Zephan preened a bit under the obvious ego stroking. It was about time someone treated him older than he actually was. "Course I'm the man of the house," he replied holding himself a little straighter and puffing out his chest a bit. "Momma Lexa ain't got no Papa to go with her so I'm the oldest boy here."

He stepped back from the door way, his sock feet making no noise on the stone floor. "You can come in. I was just on my way to find Cici anyways. I dunno where Momma Lexa is right now." Zephan tugged at his sweater vest over his white dress shirt. "Are you the same Black that Cici and Daddy argued about a long time ago," he asked.

Karma smiled at the boy, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair. She didn't even know him. "Well, I'm glad I met you first, then." She said, stepping past him. "It would be inproper to walk into someones house without the man of the house knowing, wouldn't it?"

She blinked at his words and shrugged. "I suppose I am, since I'm the only Black there is."

Zephan closed the door behind the teenager and walked up beside her, slipping his hand in hers. "Why are you the last one," he asked with an innocent look. He couldn't understand how something or someone could be the last of something. It didn't make sense to his young mind even with his advanced studies.

He began to lead her towards the west wing on the right of the entrance hall, the light from the chandelier throwing dappled green light everywhere. "Come," he said with no arguement in his voice. "We'll find Cici or Momma Lexa. They usually know exactly where the other is no matter if they haven't seen each other all day. It's weird."

Karma glanced down at the boy, allowing him to lead her by the hand. "There's no other Blacks, that's why." She explained. "I'm just the only one."

"That does seem kinda weird." She said, looking around as the light reflected around them. "Maybe they're just psychic."

"Psychic? Who's psychic," Ciar asked coming from the door leading to the west wing, straightening her already immaculate green robes, emerald ring glinting on her right middle finger. She approached the two and ruffled Zephan's hair.

"Karma," she greeted with a nod. "I must say I wasn't expecting you so soon but you are welcome here anytime. Come. We will give you a brief tour and then get you settled somewhere." Ciar looked the girl up and down. "And perhaps find you some new clothes." Pushing Zephan off in front of them she said, "You, young mister, have studies. Off you go."

Karma shrugged. "You are, of course." She said with a smile. "Thanks for opening your home up to me, Ciar." She said. Without further thought, she wrapped her arms around Zephie and hugged him. "See you around, little man." She let go and ran her fingers through his hair.

"A tour would be great, but I'll probably be travelling all through Christmas." She apologied. She fell in step with Ciar almost instantly.

Ciar watched her little brother scamper off to the library where his tutor was waiting to begin his lessons after giving Karma a brief hug. Sometimes she wondered if the boy wasn't too trusting. "Don't worry about it," she replied gesturing to the door she had just come out of. "You are always welcome in my home. I'm going to be moving in with Professor Thorpe for the majority of the time but she allows me a good amount of freedom. I'm sure she'd agree for you to stay with us in her home whenever you need it."

As the pair walked Ciar explained a bit about the rooms they were passing. They really weren't important, mostly offices, storage rooms etc. Stopping by a door she said, "This is where I keep a lot of my extra clothes." Pushing open the door she revealed a room packed to the ceiling with rows upon rows of clothes and a huge shelving unit spanning the back wall. "Anything you need," the Irish teen offered, "you are free to have."

Karma blinked into the large room, looking around at all the clothes there, feeling more than a bit overwhelmed. "What on earth do you need so many clothes for?" She asked, the entire far wall seemed to be dresses, and the left wall was all casual clothes. Her eyes searched for something she was missing, something the room didn't have, but it all was there.

Well. She'd never go shopping for clothes again, if this was the case.

"Thanks, Cici." She said, her voice ringing with sincerity. No one had ever offered her this much without wanting something from her. Not once.