"Will the sirs come in? Misses will be down a moment, sirs. I is to show you in the living room." The elf took their coats and guided them to where Simone had directed. Jared and Paolo each took a seat while looking around the spacious room. After Paolo sat down with his supplies in hand, he sat forward, putting them on the table before him. Then he got up and fidgeted around the room, wand drawn testing the wards that were in place by the windows.

Simone walked down the stairs and made her way through rooms until she was in the living room.  "Sorry I am late, I was completing a file at work and forgot the time." She smiled and walked towards the center table with the supplies on top.  "So, what sort of wards were you thinking? I'm not so knowledgeable on the area myself, but I'm sure I have a book or two on the subject in the library. It'll be next on the list, I assure you."

Jared stood up from his chair and said, "Oh, it's been no problem at all. We've hardly been waiting. As I've no expertise in these matters, I will let Paolo answer your questions." He waited for Simone to sit and then returned to his seat himself. Paolo fidgeted around the room, every so often stopping and waving his wand around. When Simone looked to Jared, he shrugged, used to this behavior from Paolo.

"Well, it really is quite simple. I mix some ordinary ingredients that you might find in any old store, say a few incantations, add in some different ingredients from my travels and add in a password. Actually, it is a bit more complicated than that, and I can't really explain it to you. If an amateur tried my way of doing things, he could either poison himself or blow himself up. Or he might actually create a vortex and kill himself in another completely horrible way." Paolo looked at Jared and cleared his throat. "Sorry, it happens sometimes, and we lose people in this business. Hazard in the business, but I really must warn you to refrain from trying anything yourself. I myself, apprenticed for years before I became a full wardsman. Difficult work."

Simone raised her eyebrows and nodded. "Actually, I meant it as a bit of light reading, I wasn't implying that I would try anything myself, but thanks for the warning nonetheless." What an odd little man, she thought.

"Right," Paolo said. "Well if you don't mind, I am going to look around the place and get started." He grabbed a couple things and wandered out of the room. Simone and Jared turned to each other, Jared an apologetic grin on his face, and Simone an amused smile on hers.

"Where on earth did you find him? He is rather eccentric, you know. I suppose he grows on you, yeah," Simone asked as she turned fully in her seat to look at Jared.

Jared nodded, "Argentina he is from, but my father found him in Knockturn at a bar. Good old dad, he always find the most interesting sorts in bars. Especially the seedy ones." Jared smiled as he fingered the ring around his finger. It hadn't burned since the meeting with LeGrot, and he wasn't sure it would at all. From the sound of things they were a group that didn't get a lot of attention, and he wondered if it was because they didn't do much. "And yes, Paolo's strange antics do grow on you. You should see how it is to work with him in a small office room. He barely has any room to pace."

Jared looked around the room for the second time since he had arrived, "I must say, I do like the decor of what I've seen of your place. Very stylish."

Simone nodded, wondering what kind of person she had let in, that used to frequent Knockturn pubs. She mentally shrugged and thought, well, if he does a good job on my wards, I guess it won't matter. Plus, the elves can clean whatever mess he ends up making. She came out of her thoughts and heard Jared's compliments, although they confused her.

"What do you mean? You've been here before. It wasn't that long ago."

Jared rose an eyebrow, "Yes, I've been here before, but I seem to recall not having enough time to take a tour. Can't recall... what is it we were preoccupied with," he asked mockingly.

"Very funny. Nice. Amusing." Simone's cheeks turned slightly pink as she thought about the last time he had been here. Merlin, I walked right into that, didn't I? She shrugged and stood up, smoothing her sweater as she did so. "Well, how about I give you a tour now? We can even see what progress Paolo is making." 

"Sounds good," Jared said as he stood up from his chair, looking at Simone appreciatively. He wondered if he was doing the right thing here. He knew the only way to get over whatever it was that was happening to him was to be with her again. Unfortunately, the only way to do that would be to befriend her, become closer to her. It was a slow process, and one that he would most likely get a  string of hexes for completing. It might also her her. But what do I care about that? Why do I care at all? I don't care.  He put a smile on his face and followed her out the room.

"This," Simone said gesturing to the room they just entered, "is the dining room. I think I've only used it a couple of times, actually." They moved into the kitchen, "This is the elves favorite room, the kitchen. They make all sorts of different foods, and they really love the island. I guess in the manor they came from they had a relic of a kitchen." She shrugged, "I don't really know, but they fuss over it all the time." She looked over at Jared who was smiling at her as if she were crazy. "What?"

Jared shrugged, "It's just that I've never heard of anyone talk of house elves that way. It's as if you carry on full conversations with them. I don't think I've said more than 'get me this' or 'go help father' to ours."

Simone nodded, "Well, I guess that comes from growing up with them in a household like that. Tracey Davis had the same ideas. She says she mounts their heads on the walls to show the others to keep in line. Me? I'm here alone with them. Who else am I going to talk to? They're very nice creatures. They get a bad rep, I say."  She leaned against the island, watching Jared.

Jared smirked. "I suppose next you'll be telling me you have 'lovely conversations' with the Goblins at Gringott's too when you go to your vault."

Simone made a face, "Ugh, gross. No, those creatures are nasty and vile. Never would I try talking to one of them. Who knows what they would have to say?" They made their way to the lounge, where Jared looked around admiringly.

"I do like this room. It is very nice." Jared slumped down in a black chair and admired the paintings along the wall.

"Of course you do," Simone said, "It's the only room in the place with black tones. Very different from the other rooms. I don't know. I rarely spend time in here," She said as she looked around. "This room does have one perk though, look." She made her way over to one of the walls and pushed a hidden button in the wall. She turned to Jared as the wall opened and revealed a staircase, "A hidden staircase. If you look up, it heads to my bedroom. If you look down it goes down to the library."

Jared watched in mild amusement as she showed him her secret passageway. Of course they had a few in his father's manor, and they were fun to explore as a child, but they had long gotten old. Still, it was fun to watch her as she showed him with a pleased expression on her face what she had found. As she began to head down the stairs he said with a dissapointed tone, "what? We're not heading upstairs? I don't think I've seen enough of your bedroom."

Simone smirked as she made her way down the spiral staircase, "No, and I don't think you've seen my bedroom at all. You only think you have. That room isn't on the tour today." She pushed another button and the wall slid out, revealing the library. When they both came out, the wall slid closed and revealed that it was a bookcase.

Jared looked around in awe, "Is the entire basement a library?" Each wall contained shelves, all of which were rounded at the top. It was a pretty impressive view.

Simone nodded, proudly touching the books that she had collected over the years. "Well, what did you expect from a Ravenclaw? And, well, it's not all a library. Over here is a wine cellar."

Jared wandered over to the wine cellar. It was impressive, but his families collection was larger. The library, though, that had to be a near record. "Well, it's almost the entire floor. Impressive, nonetheless." He smiled as her cheeks tinged pink. They stood there, staring at one another for a minute before Jared said, "Well, we might want to see where Paolo is. He might need to ask you some questions."

They wandered to the main staircase and found there way back to the foyer right as Paolo was coming in the front door. "Yes, Miss Capper, everything is ready for you. No one should be able to get past these wards without the password, or without you keying them in. If you want to key them in, say the lines on this parchment, with their names." He handed her an ink spotted paper. "This parchment contains your password. I suggest you memorize it and burn the parchment, or lock it in a safe of some kind."

"There is no need to open the wards or close them, these wards stay in place at all hours, without you needing to do a thing," Paolo continued. He looked to Jared and said, "I am done here. I will go back to the shop and finish the paperwork."

Simone objected, "Don't I need to sign anything? Something for you to charge my account?"

Jared stepped forward before Paolo could answer, "No, there is no need for payment, I have taken care of it." He turned to Paolo and said, "Thank you Paolo for your time."

Simone sighed and said, "That  was unnecessary, Jared, but thank you and thank you too, Paolo. I am very grateful you took time today to repair my wards." Paolo nodded and left, apparating as soon as he got to the end of the stairs. Simone turned to Jared, "Would you like to stay for dinner? I am sure the elves can whip something up quick."

Jared grimaced as he realized what day it was. "I'm sorry Simone, but I have to go and check out the shop. Another time, perhaps?"

Simone nodded, "Sure. Another time."

Jared smiled as he took his coat from the elf, "I'll hold you to it."

Summary: Jared has his best man in the business fix Simone's wards.