If he were to be true to himself, he would admit that it was Erikson which traversed the gardens this day, and not Carracio. Some would say the difference was only in the name, but he couldn't believe that. Changing a name seemed so simple. But what he was really doing was trying to move on from the hardships of his past, and start anew. His heart, however, was not letting him. He approached his most masterful piece in his gardens and gazed upon it, letting his barriers down for this brief moment. Hesitantly he reached out to the silver rose, caressing it lightly. He took another step forward and cupped it in his hands, allowing the silent tears which came to him to fall.

Jasmine approached the entrance to her father's garden without even realizing it. She didn't even recall making her way from the lake for that matter. Stopping to take in the beautiful blooms, her thoughtful hazel eyes soon fell upon her father at its center. His back was to her so he did not notice her as she quickly ducked behind a nearby tree.

Biting her lip, she wavered on whether to approach him as yet. Even without seeing his face she could tell he was hurting from painful memories. As she waited in indecision, Fallon, swooped over her head and towards where her father stood. Reaching out she mouthed a silent "wait no!" at the hawk, but it was too late. Fallon gracefully landed not 5 feet from him and let out a soft, comforting squawk. Ducking further behind the tree, Jasmine closed her eyes a moment and groaned inwardly. She knew her father would instantly recognize the familiar bird, and she quickly tried to gather her thoughts so she wouldn't say something to upset him further than he already seemed to be.

The soft whoosh of wings got his attention, and the soft squawk made him turn towards the bird. He stared at the thing quietly a moment before offering his arm as a perch. "Fallon... Then Jasmine..." He wiped the tears from his face and turned to look about, his arm still offered to the hawk. His eyes scanned the area for his daughter, though missed the hem of her robes at the base of a tree. "Jasmine, are you here then?"

Fallon did not hesitate before giving short flight to his arm, being careful not to scratch with his talons. He then let out a short loud squawk to his mistress.

Taking a deep breath, Jasmine slowly emerged from her hiding place behind the tree and approached her father with careful, deliberate steps. Glancing up as she got closer, she could see the fresh marks of tears upon his face.
Feeling her heart constrict as she felt his pain, she made short work of the last few steps and immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Fallon left Armand's arm and roosted nearby keeping a watchful yellow eye on his family.

Feeling tears well up in her own eyes, Jasmine blinked them back and still clinging to him, whispered softly, "Yes Papa, I'm here. I'm sorry. I should have owled that I was coming. But, ot was sort of a last minute decision on my part."

He held her close, smoothing her hair slightly as he did. "It's alright, my dear. I'm glad you decided to join me for your last year. When I didn't see you at the feast, I was sure that you had chosen to stay with your tutor." He breathed a small sigh of relief. At least what little family he had left was here.

Reluctantly he pulled away, though kept his hands on her shoulders in an effort to still keep her close. "I've a little news for you, but first... how have you been? Did you have a safe trip?"

As her father pulled back slightly, Jasmine let her arms slide from around his neck but kept her hands flat on the front of his robes. Giving him a wobbly smile, she said softly,"I have been alright, and my trip here was uneventful, which with my past was a blessing." Jasmine paused a moment and cast her eyes downward in thought. Then she continued in an even softer voice," To tell the truth I hated being separated from you during the school term. But, I was loath to come back here after....Ah, well I suppose I was just being a coward. I was afraid to face the memories this place holds for me, both pleasant and unpleasant. Then I came to realize that you were here doing just that. Alone. And it made me feel like I had been quite selfish." This last statement caused Jasmine to frown, unhappy with herself.

ooc: meh off to work hun be back in about 5 hours or so

His fingertips grazed her face lightly and he offered a small sad smile. "Do not worry, my dear. You are young, and shouldn't have had to face what you did. I stopped work as an Unspeakable after Slade died. The rest I choose to continue to face, because it is to my advantage in the end. No matter the choice, whether mine to face things or yours not to, they are both selfish." With that, he kissed the top of her head. "But, I am glad that you came. Already it has been... trying here."

Jasmine turned her cheek into his touch and gave him a comforting smile. "Well, I am here now so you no longer need to face things on your own." Wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, she tucked her head under his chin and sighed contentedly. Then, with her voice slightly muffled as she spoke into his robes, "Papa, do you think I could stay with you in your chambers instead of the girl's dorm?"

"I do not think that is very fair to the other students, dear one," he said softly. "After all, despite that they aren't likely to go through what we have, they are all separated from their parents and loved ones, only able to owl them. At least we are able to see each other during school hours. However, if you wish, we can share meals together rather than in the Great Hall. I will have a house elf bring us our meals."

Jasmine nodded her understanding, though feeling a little disappointed. Frowning to herself once more she thought, why is it that just by being back at Hogwart's she suddenly felt like the lost little girl of so many years ago instead of the capable young woman she had grown into?

Sighing again, she raised her head and pulled back slightly to look up into her dear father's face. "Yes,I understand Papa. I just wanted to avoid any uncomfortable questions or awkward situations. They all like to gossip so in there..." As her voice trailed off, Jasmine unconsciously lifted a hand to her throat. Though the collar of her shirt covered most of them,one, if they cared to look, could see the faint but,noticable pink scars encircling her neck. So dark was the magic that created them, that not even the best healers at St. Mungo's could completely dispell them.

Shaking away any bad thoughts, Jasmine dropped her hand and gave her father a warm smile, "I would love to share meals with you. It would feel more like home."

He nodded quietly and held up his left hand, which still bore the scars from his ordeal with the necklace, and a few fairly fresh ones from his second encounter. "I know, dearest. Remember that if they ask, you don't have to say a thing. If it gets to be too much then I will speak to the headmistress about sharing my quarters or getting private ones for you, alright?"

Gently Jasmine cradled her father's hand, tracing a scar with a finger before softly kissing his palm. "I'm sorry Papa." Jasmine still felt immensely guilty over all the pain her weakness with the locket had caused. Then pressing his palm to her cheek, she smiled and said," Thank you. I will do my best to get through it. But, it's nice to know I have you to take care of me."

Jasmine savored the pleasure of being close with her father for a few more moments before tilting her head curiously and asking,"Papa, you said you had a little news....?"

"Oh, yes." He gave her a small smile. "So, I transferred to the Magical Creatures department of the Ministry, and would you believe? There was a sphinx in the break room! After some discussion and some effort, she claimed herself as an ally. She said that her and hers would protect me and mine. So our family is now under protection from the sphinx." He paused a moment, slightly hesitant. "And, we are currently trying to work out a deal to help her and her child... there is a possibility, if she is insistent... that we may be caring for a newborn sphinx..."

Jasmine's eyes widened as her father mentioned that he had met a sphinx. Her hazel eyes soon became alight with both interest and excitement. "Oh Papa! A sphinx really?! How wonderful! I take it that it is zoomorphic and not anthropomorphic? I mean since you are able to speak to it, although in rare instances I have heard stories of communications with anthromorphics. Anyways, how exciting! Does the sphinx have a name? What is it's lineage? Is it of Egyptian decent? Because that would make sense by its vow to protect, as most Egyptian sphinxes are said to be the children of the solar deity Sekhmet, who was also a fierce war deity sworn to protect the pharahos. Will I be able to see it? A newborn sphinx!" Jasmine had to stop to breathe,but she was practically jumping up and down in her father's embrace as she awaited his response.

Drago blinked, waiting for his daughter to calm down and take a breath. "Actually... if you haven't noticed, I nearly failed Care of Magical Creatures. I had no idea what to do when I was confronted with it. I swore it was going to eat me. I honestly have no idea anything about sphinxes. Except that they are supposedly only dangerous when guarding something. This one was particularly dangerous at the time... it's pregnant, and in concern for its young."

Giving her father a smile of understanding, she all but patted him on the shoulder and said "There,there." After all she did have a slight advantage where magical creatures were involved. "It's ok Papa, I wont hold your lack of knowledge of magical creatures against you.." She gave him a wink. "Sphinxes can be very dangerous Papa, you were quite lucky. But on the other hand you are quite charming when you chose to be as well."

Then in a more serious tone she said,"But Papa, you should find out more about this sphinx before making allegiances. What if the sphinx is of Greek decent?" Jasmine's brow furrowed in worry at the thought.

"I wasn't trying to make allegiances. I only fed the darn thing once it decided not to eat me," he muttered. "Well, that and I offered to help it and its young any way that I could. It said I was the only one to show any real care for it. You know it had been there for days without being fed? A pregnant sphinx! You'd think while they were dealing with the red tape they would at least feed her."

Jasmine gasped in horror as her father told her of the sphinx's plight. "How awful! Thank Merlin you were there Papa. Poor thing. Still, please beware, as some things are not always what they seem. If the sphinx is of Greek decent it will be most cunning. Greek sphinxes are known to be a unique demon of destruction and bad luck. But then again, if it is of Egyptian or even Indian decent it could be a great ally..." Jasmine's voice trailed off and she tilted her head to one side as she became lost in thought. Finally she seemed to come to a decision and gave her father a beaming smile. "Thats it then! You need me, so I shall help and be your partner!" She followed this announcement with hug so tight it practically cut off his breathing.

Drago coughed and laughed a little at the same time and nudged her. "Thank you, dear. You can let go now." Once she was loosened enough to breathe, he continued. "It said that we could consider it an ally, and that it would protect us. That's all I know. I can't tell the difference between the kinds, however. If I can find time to pull you away from your schooling, I may see if I can bring you by work. Oh!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pin. It was made of some sort of bluish-silver metal, and shone as though it were crystal. "This is a symbol of your connection to me for future allies. I want you to wear it always. Tell no one what it represents, please."

Jasmine beamed again as her father said he would try and take her by work to see the sphinx."Oh papa I would love to go with you!" Then as he took a beautiful pin from his pocket she looked at it curiously. Running her fingers along the unique piece she noddrd her agreement to his words.

"I promise to wear it always Papa." As she spoke the words, she securely pinned it to the front of her robes. "There. But Papa, why do I have to wear it at Hogwart's? Am I not safe here?"

"Habit, my dear. If you wear it always, no matter where you are, then you will not forget when you leave a safe place. Not to mention, many things have happened here at Hogwarts, so really, you never know. I do not expect anything to happen here currently, however, so I really am just asking so that you get into the habit." He smiled softly. "I'm afraid I must go. You know how these things are. I shall see you some other time, my dear." He kissed the top of her head and embraced her gently.

Jasmine smiled fondly and returned her father's embrace. "Alright Papa. I will see you soon. I'm glad I came back." With that she kissed his cheek softly and with a parting smile and wave, took off towards the castle, Fallon flying close by as always.

He smiled softly then turned back to the rose bush, looking over all three roses. "I wish you could have seen how our daughter has grown," he said softly. "I shall be back soon." He gave light touches to each of the roses, and as he walked out of the garden he took up his previous demeanor once more.

It was still quite early in the morning as Freya made her way down to the gardens, the dew on the ground was making her shoes wet, her breath making small clouds of warm air as she exhaled through her nose. It was a lovely morning, nice and cold. She still looked pretty ragged, having not slept for days and her eyes still bloodshot from strain with dark circles underneath.

Entering the garden, Freya peered around, it was so quiet, not a soul in sight, thankfully. 'I must be losing my mind.' She told herself, 'Actually showing up was probably the biggest mistake I've made all year here....Well, almost.' She thought as she grinned to herself, making her way to a rosebush at one side of the garden. 'How strange.' She wondered, looking at the different colored flowers, careful not to get too close and taking a seat on one of the marble benches that was nearby.
Freya took out her small red workbook, only to find that there were eight new entries since the night before. 'She must be fairly busy to make so many notes.' Freya thought as she took a quill from her small side-bag and made a few additions. She eyed the plants curiously again as she gave a large sigh. It was so nice not having any noise around her for once, since half of the school was probably still asleep. 'Lazy things.' She thought once more with a smirk, and continued to write in her book.