[Corridors] Disposing of paintings

[Jac Shaw]

Jac smiled at Sarie. "Yeah," she chuckled, putting a hand on her shoulder and squeezing it gently, "course you were." Jac was observant and in the few classes they were together in, Jac had noticed that Sarie was usually the one trying to concentrate on the work where as most of the other students just wanted out. Jac was one of them, skipping classes when she felt like it. Seven years of schooling was as much as she could take and nearing the end, the work seemed tedious and laborious.

[Esther van Haestregt]

Esther could not quite believe what she was seeing in as a matter of fact what she was hearing. It seemed that these two were determined to make a mockery of the hierarchy in the school. A second year wanting to protest about the paintings being taken away and a seventh year doing a job that a teacher should be doing, and then on top of that they thought that merely talking in hushed voices would make everything better.

“Are two trying to insult my intelligence or just my hearing? In a crowded room whispering works but in an empty corridor it is quite frankly pointless.”

Esther’s dark eyes passed over the Gryffindors once again lingering ever so slightly longer on the older of them. Flipping open the note book her quill began to scratch on the surface of the parchment and wrote down their names, Jac had given her full name and the younger of the two was called Sarie, an unusual name which as a result will make it easier to find in the school records. Punishments for both of these students would be needed however Esther would have to do her research first.

“Miss Biggerstall I make a habit of never trusting the words of a student, I will double check you timetable to make sure you are not lying to me.” Her cold glare moved back to Sarie. “I will also make sure you are not lying to me as if I find you are your punishment will be even greater. Notification will be sent to both of you in two days time about your punishments.”

With a snap the notebook had been snapped shut and the white rose imprinted on the black leather gleamed in the light before it was quickly placed into her robe pocket along with the quill. With one finally look at the students Esther turned back to Chloe pulling the portrait out of her grasp and she placed it firmly under her arm.

“Shall we continue Miss Greenwich?”

[Sarie Thimble]

Sarie didn't care about punishments who would when a place they called home was changing. She love the painting they where part of Hogwarts. If you took the painting might as well take the teachers as well. She didn't care if house points where taken or if she got detention that was the last of her worries. She had so much going how could they change it now. How was she to know what floor she was on if there where not paintings to tell her so. If she went missing because of her sleep walking and she wasn't in the castle on of the paintings could tell some one which way she had been heading. She felt like some one had come into her house and took some thing a large value.

Who could she take to about this? Who did she trust? She needed to tell some one about the sleep walking in case some thing does go wrong. She didn't know who to really tell. Most teachers still had lessons. Also how dare she think Sarie would skip potions her best class. She wouldn't miss it for the world. Who cared if Jac was a Metamorphmagus, what if she could read minds why did powers ever made a difference. She ran from the corridor. She felt tears of angry come into her eyes. She wished Vance hadn't let them out. She wanted some one to talk to. She felt like she was nothing just like her family had said all of life. She just wanted fade into the cold stone floor. She went up three floors and fell to the flag stones and put her head down on her knees.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac was smiling at Sarie when she heard the Ministry offical's voice. Jac slowly turned, her smile still plastered to her face, but upon hearing the woman's words her smile faded. She stared up at the woman, defiance burning in her emerald eyes. "M'arm," she said in a low voice as though she were in the library, "neither your intelligence nor your hearing should be offended by the level of our voices. There are classes still being taught and we, as luck people not being stuck in classes, should respect them and keep quiet."

Jac was no longer afraid of this woman who thought sun shone out of her toes. Defiance and scorn shone through her fiery red hair. She stared up at the tall woman and listening to her words. "I am sorry that you feel you need to check up on us," Jac said, adjusting her stance. "Neither of us have anything to gain or lose by telling you false information but you must do what you feel is right." Jac felt sure that the woman thought the notebook would be intimidating but Jac didn't let down.

"And since neither of us is lying," Jac persisted, knowing full well that Sarie wouldn't lie, "there will be no need for punishment, ma'am." Jac was no stranger to detentions and punishments, having shined her fair share of trophies and cleaned a number of cauldrons in her time at Hogwarts, and did not finch at the mention. "Now if you do not mind, Sarie and I will be heading to lunch as it is that time for us."

[Chloe Hargreaves]

In certain circumstances it was necessary to keep quiet, this was such a one, though Chloe believed the girls meant them no harm her superior was persisting, and being a Greenwich she had to agree with those above her. Keeping carefully mute Chloe felt Jac's enquiring eyes upon her, near asking why she didn't step in to help them.

Having been thrust the portrait Chloe had silently accepted her burden deciding to just listen and not interject, she'd hoped Jac would have the common sense to scarper quickly and lick her injured wounds and pride later, for Haestregt had the far greater pride and would never back down from a fight, no matter how small and insignificant to others. Chloe was avidly interested in how Jac would handle the situation too, whether she would meekly but sensibly accept her elders words, or whether she would stand firm in defiance. On meeting in the owlery that once Chloe had taken an interest in the young Gryffindor, checking her record and even talking to teachers about her performance in school and out. The other student could prove interesting too, but as yet was too young to be nurtured towards the Magical Law Enforcement, for that was what Chloe could envisage Jac becoming, a member of the illustrious squad, but the younger would have to wait, teaching her would seem too much like indoctrination, and Chloe was against such actions.

A hint of a smile played across Chloe's features when Jac rounded upon Haestregt, her courage was admirable, but she chose to have spirit against the wrong woman. Stepping lightly forwards Chloe caught Jac's eye, giving a wink that could easily be thought of as her imagination judging by the words she was about to utter.
"Jac," Chloe spoke quietly but her voice had an edge that cut through the conversation, "apologise for your manner, you too Sarie," she'd caught the girl's name from Jac's lips earlier, "then you can be on your way."
Casting a glance to Haestregt her eyes fell upon Jac once again, "they've only spirit coupled with hint of stupidity. They know not how to act in front of elders, can we blame them? I don't remember being a cherub to teachers when I was here, but I've learnt my place since, as will they."

Eyes narrowing Chloe added, "we give punishment when we deem it necessary, not when you do. If you've a wish to join the Ministry you'd best learn that Jac." Chloe was offering Jac a choice, she was showing her how they had to act, that they had to follow orders, and Jac could only join them if she could deal with that. Yet there were differing ways of dealing with it, acting meek yet pursuing your own agenda and keeping to your own morals too. There would come a time when Chloe was tested in such a way; when her morals would clash with orders. It had happened before and would happen again.

[Jac Shaw]

As Jac was turning she caught sight of Chloe winking at her. Jac sneered a small smirk at the woman, contempt and scorn written all over her face. The expression was quickly gone and replaced with a stony look in the woman's general direction. Favour once lost with Jac was not easily regained and not standing up with her against what was clearly wrong. The line was fine with Jac, the line between good and wrong. Black and white. But Chloe began to speak and that defined line became blurred in Jac's mind.

First a wink then demands? What was this woman on about?

Her name was said and Jac took her hands off Sarie's shoulders, turning to face to two women again. Her expression could only have been described as blank. Jac took Chloe's words in but waited for her to stop talking before she processed the information. Apologies? Jac thought, and for what? Jac didn't take orders for people without proper reason. Unwarranted submission was not Jac's cup of tea. But, however much Jac hated to admit it, she was right. If she was to get into the Ministry as she hoped to she would have to learn sometime.

Now was not that time.

"Begging your pardon, Ma'am," Jac said, looking at Chloe with narrowed eyes, "I will apologise for any misconduct when I feel I have conducted myself incorrectly. As it is I feel no such thing has occurred. As for stupidity, I can admit that though I am in the top of my class I am proned to making unwise decisions and I still have to scar to prove that. I am wise enough to admit to my stupidities and if standing up for what I believe in is stupidity, then, with all due respect, Ma'am, I am stupid." She knew she wasn't stupid but just then she wondered if she had crossed that line as well.

Seeing the danger, Jac began to laugh, threw her head back and held her belly. "Punish us then," Jac chuckled, a smile wide across her face, "if you deem it necessary though I know how busy you can be and that would just add to that work load. I don't suppose you need more paper work, do you?" Jac tilted her head to the side and smiled angelically. She believed she wasn't being flippant so she spoke with as little flippancy as she could manage, under the circumstances. She knew that this may blow her chances at the Ministry but what choice were they giving her?

[Esther van Haestregt]

Esther gently placed the painting against the wall being seemingly at the wrong angle and within a second it was slipping and fell on the floor, with that came a crunch followed by the cracking, a sound that filled the tiniest part of her cold heart with warmth for a nanosecond. But this was not expressed in her voice when she decided she best end this ridiculous conversation here and now and in her own opinion save Jac from doing any more damage by making her an example for the rest of the school.

“Thank for the invitation to punish you Miss Biggerstall but it was not needed. Your little speech had proven you lack any form of respect to authority, I wonder if your house mates will be as sympathetic when they next walk past the hourglasses?”

Esther reached into her pocket once again pulling out her notebook and quill, with a quick flip the black leather cover flipped open and the pure white quill started to dance across the page once again to the sound of its own scratching.

“27 points off Gryffindor...” She glanced up with a stare of pure venom expecting a protest “…which still means your precious house is leading but only by a single point. However I fear this may not be enough for you.” The sound of the girls laugh was still ringing in her eyes “Detention for a week and privileges such as Quidditch and Hogsmeade trips are strictly forbidden.”

Snapping the notebook shut once more Esther did not say anything else other then look at the two Gryffindors almost tempting them to be stupid and say something else, not matter how long it took or by what method Esther van Haestregt would teach every student in this school the meaning of respect.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac breathed in slowly and rubbed the side of her nose and her raised brow, eyes closed. She just wasn’t getting through to the witch and anything she said or did would make the situation worse. This was evident. Letting out her breath, Jac let her arm fall to her side. She wasn’t in the mood for any of this and though she had tried to leave these Ministry people seemed determined to keep them from their lunch. Where was the concern for the student body as they were clearly showing when it came to them eating? Jac wondered but couldn’t see any logic.

“Lack of respect,” Jac mumbled under her breath, eyes still closed. She cleared her throat and frowned, “yes, of course.” She opened her eyes, stared at the floor, and rubbed her heavily creased brow. Why in Merlin’s name did this have to happen today? Jac wondered before looking up at the lady with her fancy black notebook. The woman looked very smug and was glaring at Jac as though daring her to say more so she could punish her more. Jac wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. She had lost house points, privileges and had detention for a week. Jac couldn’t find anything else that could be taken away from her but she was sure they could thing of more to do to her.

Sighing again, Jac nodded her head. “Very well, Ma’am,” she said slowly, “if you think it’s best for me, you and the school.” The official didn’t skimp on her punishments and really gone the extra mile with Jac. She wondered if anyone else had been punished as she was just then. Looking past the woman, Jac looked at Chloe coldly. She bit her tongue and left Jac to the wolves, to be ravaged and torn. She would know how much Jac’s pride was taking a beating and what self control it was taking to keep her mouth as shut as it was.

Jac put her hands in her pockets and shifted her eyes back to the other woman. “Who will I be serving my detention with?” Jac enquired. This was Jac’s way of accepting defeat though her gaze remained defiant even though her pride was slightly wounded. Jac would not let this lie, she would tell all she could what she had seen and heard and Jac supposed it was lucky for Sarie that she was taking the brunt of the Ministry lady’s aggression.