[Corridors] Disposing of paintings

[Esther van Haestregt]

Esther looked around the corridors it was the middle of the day and there should be students in the corridors, but everywhere seemed to be silent. She walked past the classrooms and she could hear the mummer of students talking in class or the sound of the professors shouting to get their attention.

Walking further down the corridor on the fourth floor Esther turned her heated glare to the paintings; she never understood why the school had so many and why they were allowed such freedom. They were able to talk to anyone, wonder from painting to painting if Esther was in charge that would have to change. A de cluttering of the walls and a few spells to stop them from paintings being able to show individuality.

There was one particular painting that Esther wanted to dispose of, it was of a fat old witch who would merely sit in an armchair laughing and shouting compliments out as anybody who passed by. Luckily at this very moment she was asleep after drinking far too much sherry. Esther merely did not like the fact that a painting could be so happy and wish to enforce this happiness on everyone. No this painting was going to have to be moved now.

Reaching out Esther’s long thin hands gripped the frame and with one swift tug the painting came off the wall revealing a clean, un-faded stone work underneath. That was much better however the witch in the painting had not woken up and was kicking up a fuss about no longer being on the wall.

“Oh do be quite.”

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Stiletto shoes ringing upon the cold floor Chloe marched along the corridor, in search of her superior. She'd been reliably informed by a guard at the entrance to the school, that Esther van Haestregt could be found stalking the corridors striking fear into all the pupils, now Chloe would like to see that happen. She knew van Haestregt was a formidable woman, only the pupils were so naive they wouldn't believe it, only think her cruel. Chloe knew better, she'd seen the woman's handiwork, what was left of the man anyway. Chloe had believed it had been van Haestrgt but of course she'd been unable to find any proof. She'd covered her tracks far too well, and her boss had told her to drop the case as soon as an interesting trail had appeared. That had been when the seeds of doubt had crept into Chloe's mind, they hadn't disappeared yet.

Van Haestregt demanded constant reports and updates about all ministry goings on at Hogwarts in particular, let alone the rest of the country. Chloe had got the short straw, when the members of the Magical Law Enforcement squad had decided upon the one who had to keep in daily contact with her. They'd supposedly been taking it in turns, now it fell to her. With pursed lips Chloe strode deeper into the school, she'd been about to give up and use a spell to locate van Haestregt when she'd heard a startingly happy request to be placed back upon the wall if she pleased. Turning the corner and walking up to van Haestregt she tilted her head in acknowledgment, resisting the urge to curtsy, she'd been told others had been forced to before now.

"Are we removing troublesome portraits as well as students now m'arm?"She asked politely, her tone of voice carefully neutral, she'd never be sarcastic before her, it was more than her job, no even her life, was worth.

[Esther van Haestregt]

The fat witch in the portrait carried on demanding to be placed back on the wall but her argument was not helped by the fact she carried on laughing. Her giggles were getting to such a point that Esther more then willing to set it on fire just for it to be done with. Although it was on drawing her wand that the sound of high heeled shoes rang out and Esther’s attention changed from the portrait to the new arrival. Chloe Greenwich appeared around the corridor, her face carrying little emotion and the respect she showed had to be admired. Bowing her head in response to her fellow Ministry official Esther listened to what the young witch had to say. It was true that the portraits were indeed troublesome and this one in particular was causing far too much bother, the witch’s laughter now on the verge of hysterics. It did not take long however to solve this problem, with just a flick of her wand silence fell across the corridor, and it did not matter how much the portrait laughed or shouted nothing be heard.

“Bad influences must be removed from the school Greenwich. Portraits such as this one cause no end of disruption, we must try and create a suitable atmosphere for the children to study in.”

Turning the portrait around in her hands Esther placed it flat on the floor so the back of the frame was showing instead of the witches rosy cheeks. Brushing the dust of her hands Esther gaze moved back to Chloe and blinked slowly before her cold voice sounded out over the corridor.

“What is that you need Greenwich? I am a very busy lady.”

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Walking with a natural grace Chloe came to a halt before her superior, a hand resting casually upon her hip as she watched Haestregt deal with the portrait in her usual cold, but ultimately efficient, manner. She listened carefully to what little Haestregt said, she was known for a woman of few words. So the few words she said had to be remembered.
"Yes you're right m'arm," she agreed, knowing it wasn't her place to argue. But she didn't want to appear weak before her either, she might have to look to those in higher places to help her rise, given time. "Some portraits offer helpful advice, perhaps those should be kept, but remove those that prove...useless." She had to chose her words carefully in front of Haestregt. Speaking carefully she added, "there are even those portraits that openly oppose the Ministry, they've already been removed, but others are more underhand, perhaps an investigation should be led into it?" She asked realising she might have overstepped herself she hastily added, "m'arm."

Knowing Haestregt would prefer her to be quick she quickly gave her report, "the Rogues have been attacking the boundary of the forest again, seemingly trying to enter the school. We found a long since abondened camp of theirs," gulping she gave the bad news, "we nearly caught a Rogue on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, but he eluded our grasp. Someone must have told him we'd gotten wind of his whereabouts." She offered their excuse knowing it wasn't likely to nearly good enough for her. About to continue with what was taking place within the school she was forstalled by a glance from Haestregt, Chloe let her arms hang limply as she patiently waited for the cold words that were likely to be spoken.

[Sarie Thimble]

((is this open to every one just tell me if its not))

Sarie walked down the corridors. She smiled at the paintings. She loved to see them talking to each other they where part of Hogwarts just like the students. They where always helpful if you didn't know where you where going. They had helped her on the many nights she had slept walked to far and couldn't find her way back. One woman had brought her right up to the fat lady and told her what had happened. She was walking to deep in thought to notice two people at the end of the hall way.

She was still looking at the paintings when she walked into one of them. She looked to her surprise she didn't know who either of them where. "I'm so sorry. Who are you two?" She didn't like the feel of them.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac had found it ineffective going to Potions as the Professor clearly despised her and thought her ineffectual and a general waste of space. That this was how the professor felt was all too clear and Jac had taken to the forth floor corridor to study up her Potions on her own. Even though she wasn't attending classes she still had finals at the end of the year and she wanted to be prepared for that. So she sat with her back against the back of a dais with a small statue on it and was shielded for all view as her spot was concealed. Here she could study in piece.

From down the corridor Jac heard talking and it distracted her from her book. She looked up, listening carefully to what was being said. She could tell from the sound of the two voices that they were female and from what was being said about Hogwarts and Rogues that they must be from the Ministry. The one voice sounded familiar, as though she had heard it before but she couldn't be sure without giving herself away.

Suddenly a third voice joined the chatter and Jac gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. She recognised that sweet, innocent voice straight away and the inquisitive words only affirmed it was her. Putting her book back in her paint-splattered ruck sack, Jac pushed herself to her feet and slid out of her hiding place. She looked down the corridor and saw Sarie standing with two women. Merlin's beard, this can't be good, Jac thought worriedly, her red hair curling and turning purple.

She moved quickly to them and put her hands on Sarie's shoulders, smiling apologetically to the two ladies. It was then that Jac recognised the woman she had met in the Owlry all that while ago. Greenwich was her name, Jac remembered. "I'm sorry for the interruption Ms Greenwich, Ma'am," Jac said, addressing the two with her now blue eyes in turn. "My friend here doesn't recognise Ministry officials when she's stared right in the face." Jac said this last looking straight at Sarie to inform her who she was getting tangled with.

[Esther van Haestregt]

Esther looked over at Chloe, her face as solemn as the grey statues that lined the corridors. This was grave news indeed there was already rumours of a student rebellion and this already has Esther slightly concerned but the Rouges in the forest was something she feared. However she would never let these emotions show and these slight weaknesses be exposed, she would need to continue with her cold attitude. Bending down Esther picked up the portrait and looked directly at Chloe and clicked her figures.
“Walk with me.”

Slowly the sound of their shoes hitting them flagstone floor rang out around the empty corridor. This was a sound that Esther wanted all the students in the school to recognise the sound that meant danger was coming, a sound that would strike fear into the hearts of many. However it did not seem that this sound had reached such affect as before Esther could even continue talking to Chloe about her plans of removing the infestation of the rouge wizards a small girl skipped over towards them and openly asked who they were.

Without even asking Esther pushed the portrait into Chloe’s arms and reached into her robe pocket and pulled out her blacked notebook and a pure white feathered quill. The notebook had only just been flicked open and quill placed to paper when another student appeared. It seemed that this older student knew her place and when address Chloe she showed the correct amount of manors, the mere fact the girl did not seem to know who she was did not bother Esther but he dark gaze landed back on the small girl, quill poised in position.

“What is your name child?”

[Jac Shaw]

Jac's breathing was heavy. Not since she had been attacked that night in the forest had she been worried like this. The woman with the dark hair, the one who seemed to be in charge and certainly demanded respect by her mere deminer, reminded her terribly of her attacker. Jac's upper leg gave an involuntary twitch as the muscles clentch as though to remind her of that evening. The pain shot up her back and into her shoulders, down her leg right to the tips of her toes. Her hair turned a pale brown as she leg go of Sarie's shoulders, her hand going to her wounded thigh.

Coming back to herself, Jac leaned her weight on the other leg and looked up at the woman. "She is supposed to be in class, Ma'am," Jac said and looked down at Sarie. "I'll just take her back to her class and let you two ladies get on with ... whatever it was you were doing." For all the pain Jac was experiencing she just wanted to get Sarie out. She didn't want her to have to deal with Ministry woman, espesially not the one in charge.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie looked at Jac who was leading her away from the women. They where talking about taking the painting they can't take then a half of the first years that would still be lost. She looked at the paintings that she knew to well. "Jac, did you hear they want to take the painting they can't them Jac." She whispered she felt like crying. It was like taking away Hogwarts itself. "Jac they can't take the paintings they can't why are they doing this?" Her shoulders shook she wished she had seen what they where up too.

[Esther van Haestregt]

The older Gryffindor seemed to have the situation under control, however that was the same about her hair. She was clearly a Metamorphmagus and no matter how much respect she showed the Ministry Esther would always have her number. Esther did not like Metamorphmagus the simple idea that your body changed to suit the emotion you were feeling at that single moment in time would be so restricting. It would be impossible to hide emotion, to stand tough and push petite feelings away to the dark depths of your mind. It was then Esther decided she would not dislike the girl she would pity her, but then sometimes pity was just as bad as hate.

During this slight lapse of thought the older Gryffindor was leading the younger away mentioning how she would take her back to her lesson. This older Gryffindor was a smart one but not smart enough the idea of trying to drag the small child away left them exposed to an attack.
The sound of her heel grinding on the stone floor rang out as Esther elegantly spun around letting her dress flutter around her before reaching out and with the end of her quill tap the Gryffindor on her head to get her attention.

“Why are you not in lesson as well Miss…I am sorry but neither of you have you have told me your names. I am not a mind reader.”

Esther’s cold gaze passed from on the other waiting for one of them to speak, she had yet to decided on a punishment for both of them and she guessed she should wait and see what they do or say next before she made her decision.

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie heard her thoughts it made her angry. Why did it care if Jac was a Metamorphmagus. Who cared if people where different she wished the Ministry looked beyond special powers. It was rather a good thing if you couldn't tell who was a mind reader. She had heard the official say that but she knew they didn't know about her did they. She wasn't sure if they did or not.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac was certain that neither of them were out in the clear just yet. Though she had recognised one of the woman Jac knew that she would not be able to help them here and more and more she was beginning to understand that who you knew meant a lot. Jac looked down at Sarie nervously and coughed softly in the back of her throat. "Sarie," Jac said softly, "I'll think of something. I don't know what we can do but, you're right, we can't let them do that. We'll think of something but right now we just need to get away. These woman aren't teachers, we can't ..." She trailed off.

High heals clapping on the floor caught her ear and she closed her mouth. Jac's curly purple hair bounced as she came to a halte when she felt the woman's quill on her head. Taking a deep breath, Jac let her arms drop to her side and turned around. Alright, Jac, she told herself, just keep cool.

She tried her best at a smile and said in her strongest voice possible, "Jac Biggerstall, m'arm and I've got a free now." Jac could feel her cheeks getting hot but tried her best to not let her hair change again. Though purple wasn't exactly the least obvious colour for your hair to be that was what it was and it would have to stay that colour. "I'd like to make sure that Sarie, here, gets to her class. We both know she shouldn't be here." Jac looked down at Sarie with earnest worry in her eyes and a sad smile.

[Sarie Thimble]

"Jac I wasn't skipping Vance let us out early. I didn't mean to stumble on them I just wanted to take a walk before the next class." She was staring at the floor she didn't want to read this woman's mind it wasn't the type she liked. She want to know why the Ministry was taking the painting and all but best for another time.

Sarie looked back down the hall to see where some of the paintings had been taken down. The hall looked so blank it made her sad. She like Hogwarts as it was. It didn't have to change. She knew spells that most 2nd years didn't because of the library and reading her course books but just being there made her want to learn. She wanted to tell them to leave the paintings but she wasn't sure if that was allowed.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac could not help herself. She burst into laughter at Sarie's words. It was belly aching laughter that went straight through to her toes. It was wonderful to laugh so hard but the timing was inappropriate. She caught herself quickly. She couldn't believe she had let herself do that and on top of that her hair had shot bright, joyful red. Cursing inside, Jac turned to Sarie and smiled widely, her previous worries lessened but not gone. "I'm sorry, Sarie," Jac said, still smiling, "but Vance doing anything that doesn't gain him something is something worth laughing about."

Jac knew instantly that her outburst would be a costly thing. The woman seemed short on temper and patients didn't seem to be high on her list of priorities. Jac kept her eyes on Sarie, her smile faltering. She didn't want to look back to the woman. Jac wished Ms Greenwich would help. She had seemed to be a well grounded, smart woman who could see the difference between right and absurd. Surely she did. But Jac didn't turn, didn't look at anyone but down at Sarie.

[Sarie Thimble]

"but he gained some thing quiet. My class was crazy no one was listening and a Hufflepuff was sleeping. Every thing was really crazy. I was the only really paying attention." She laughed thinking of Vance.