(Owlery) Receiving further orders...

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Sunlight illuminated the countless nestling owls, they were settling down to sleep for the day as Chloe flicked the door ajar, slipping through and closing it quietly so as not to waken the bleary eyed owls. Some ruffled their feathers in distaste unused to people entering at the crack of dawn. Looking around cautiously performing her mandatory sweeping gaze of the room, she found nobody; just how she liked it.

Marching along to the main arched window she stood with hands upon hips gazing outside, marvelling at the gorgeous view. As the rays of the rising sun splintered over the scenery, a slight smile graced her lips, it seemed so peaceful, but she believed such appearances were deceiving; she wouldn't underestimate anybody within the school; if she could help it. A stiffening cool breeze blew a few straggling wisps of jet black hair across her eyes, sweeping them back behind her ears she spied the approaching Ministry owl, containing fresh orders for the Magical Law Enforcement Squad stationed at Hogwarts. With a screech of greeting the owl flitted down; the tiny tawny owl landing lightly upon her outstretched arm, clamping it's small talons into Chloe's sweeping black robes to maintain it's precarious balance. With her free hand Chloe tugged the tiny clasp containing the scroll with minutely written instructions upon it.

Releasing a button upon the metal clasp allowed the furled up parchment to spring out, and a voice whispered hushed orders, to her alone. Nodding her head Chloe smirked at what she had to do.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac had been up for a long while, unable to fall asleep again. The news that her sister was engaged was stirring and invigorating, exciting. She had only an hour ago decided to write to Trish and say all the wonderful things that were pouring through her mind. Having written 10 inches she thought she ought to stop. She folded it and wrote her sisters name on it. She raced out of the common room, unphased by the early morning gloom that clung to the castle, and ran to the Owlrey.

When she got to the Owlrey the sun was winking over the horizon, sending warm rays to the tower. She ran the many stars to the Owlrey two at a time and burst into the room unceremoniously, panting heavily. Many owls hooted in indignant protest. "Sorry, everyone," she said, closing the door quietly behind her, "sorry." She turned around and looked up at the raftered looking for Haywald. He twittered next to a beautiful barn owl and fluttered down to her.

"Good morning, Haywald," she said, stroking his head and, with her other hand, gave him an owl treat out of her pocket. She suddenly realised she wasn't alone. She didn't turned but continued doing what she was doing. She gave Haywald the letter and said, "Trish will be very pleased to see you and she'll give you more but you need to wait for a reply, ok?" He twittered happily, his small dark eyes unblinking. "Great, now off you go," she said giving him a last stroke.

Haywald spread his wide wings and with one powerful flap lifted off the perch. Jac watched him in awe and amazement and stared as he flew out to the tower. She walked to a wide window and watched him small figure become a dark dot on the rising sun. "Beautiful things," she said to the lady who was also there, "owl. Always admired them." She crossed her arms, changed her dark hair to her favourite autumn streaks, and smiled out the window after Haywald.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

The light smile upon her face didn't dampen as a student entered the owlery, she seemed full of high spirits and looked an amiable sort of girl, though why she had arisen so early remained a mystery to Chloe; whose curiousity was instantly perked. Smiling as the girl chattered good naturedly to the owls, even apologising after her noisy entrance that sent a few owls hooting in indignation and ruffling their feathers, as they were just settling down to sleep after a long night's service of delivery; especially to and from the Ministry. Most of the owls had become accustomed to travelling in the daylight so simply stared in their owlish fashion at the girl, dozens of beady eyes following the bright girl as she went about her business; their necks craning around 360 degrees in a fashion that often made Chloe laugh.

Busying herself by tenderly stroking the head of a small tawny owl she feigned disinterest at the girl's murmurings, though she wondered quite who 'Trish' was, perhaps Chloe even knew her? As the girl addressed Chloe warmly she smiled happily knowing that passing a few moments in simple conversation woudl please her, and help her through the day.
"Quite amazing," she agreed going to stand next to her, and peering out at the spectactular view that always gladdened her heart. Sharp eyes noticing the change of hair colour she exclaimed, "a metamorphagus eh? You'd get along like a house on fire with Tonks. I'm Chloe by the way." Chloe held up her hand ready for a shake, a light smile defining her features.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac laughed heartily and happily shook her hand, making the shake as tight a grip as she was accustomed to. "Pleasure," she said, "and yes, I have met Ms Tonks. Gave me detention for it too." She smiled happily, "oh, I'm Jac Biggerstall. Sorry." She grinned at the lady named Chloe. Lovely name, she thought and took back her hand.

She looked out the window again. Her mind working quickly. She doesn't look like a teacher, Jac thought, no teacher I've ever seen. So she must be from the Ministry. But what is she doing here? and at this early hour? Jac turned to face the lady. "So, what are you doing here?" she asked, "if I may be so bold." Her eyes twinkled dark under her fringe of blond and orange.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Clasping the girl's hand in a light grip, Chloe shook gracefully, not with a such a fierce gusto as some people seemed inclined to. "Really?" Queried Chloe with a raised eyebrow, Tonks is making friends fast, she thought amusedly. Though she could easily ask Jac, as she had just found her name to be, why she had received a detention she deemed it dangerous ground, and besides she could easily ask Tonks to get the full truthful story; firing many questions at the girl would only arouse her suspicions, and Chloe prefered to keep a relatively low profile within school, unlike others she cared little for reputation and general strengthening of self esteem. "Jac Biggerstall, the surname rings I bell, would i know anybody in your family?" She asked quizzically already remembering Trish, however vaguely.

"I may have to give you a detention for such a prying question," she jested, though the sparkle in her eyes suggested she could easily make it happen if needed. "I was simply receiving an owl," she explained conveniently neglecting to mention whom the owl was from or what it had contained; as such information was on a need to know basis, the fewer knew of her mission the better. "From a friend," she added so as to deter her suspicions.

"You know I'm sure the name rings a bell, Biggerstall," she mused curling a length of hair in deep thought, she really couldn't quite place the name to the face, perhaps she was a metamorphagus too, but then that would be even more telling, she would have easily remembered someone who changed their appearance on a whim; wouldn't she?

[Jac Shaw]

Jac nodded and smiled. "Really really," she said, "though just between you and me, I couldn't be more excited fro the detention. You see, it's late at night and I've been instructed to meet Tonks in the Entrance Hall of the castle so I can only imagine a million things we might do. I've never had detention with an Auror before." She smiled broadly at the witch and swung her shoulders from side to side.

"You know a Biggerstall?" Jac asked, both bemused and curious. "Well, my dad does work for the Ministry, Department of International Magical Cooperation, maybe you know him? Thomas Biggerstall? Then there's Ed but he's studying phoenixes and sphinxes there. It's always great getting owls from him, truly fascinating. Trish worked for The Daily Prophet for a time and Allona is a beater for Ballycastle Bats which is great too. Suppose you wouldn't know mum coz she works in a muggle hospital most of the time." Jac had kept stoke still as she had gone through her list of relatives this witch could know.

Jac stifled a laugh but poorly as she was threatened with another detention. What they didn't seem to understand was that is wasn't so much a punishment as a chance to learn. She wouldn't have minded having another detention with this witch either. Her answer to Jac's question was suspicious and Jac crossed her arms and frowned. "Riiiiiight," she drew out the word, doubtful but she didn't push the issue. "D'you work for the Ministry by any chance?" Jac asked, inquisitively.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Grinning as Jac confided she couldn't wait for the detention with Tonks Chloe fixed her with a bemused look.
"Knowing Tonks like I do, I'm sure she'll think of something, how can I put it? Unique, doubtlessly exciting and dangerous, she loves a bit of tension; but don't we all?" She queried with a smirk. "Though honestly, when I was at school, only a few years ago," she hastened to add, "I wouldn't look forward to a detention, maybe they've gone soft?" She teased, knowing Jac would take it with a pinch of salt.

"I've definitely heard of Mr Biggerstall yes, I remember he averted that near disaster in Holland the other year. I admire him for managing that, the talks were on the brink of collapsing, yet he held them together admirably." She stated confidently, "that's what I'm told anyway." She added hastily tapping her nose in a conspiratorial fashion.

"It sounds like Ed has an interesting job, out in Egypt of all places, and studying such amazing creatures. I bet you're envious?"

"Allona eugh, her," She grated then broke into a bewitching smile, "she knocked our seeker clean of his broom, lovely swing she's got. Puddlemere United lost because of your sister." She grumbled in a jesting way. As Jac continued to be reasonably forceful about finding out where she worked Chloe admired her resolve and decided to reward it by answering truthfully.
"Magical Law Enforcement Squad, though if you tell anyone I'll be forced to wipe your memory." Chloe threatened a twinkle in her eye that showed she sincerly meant it. "Anymore prying questions?" She asked with a grin.

[Jac Shaw]

"Soft?" Jac repeated, clearly doubtful of that. "I tend to stay away from detentions to the best of my abilities but this would be the first interesting and vaguely exciting detention Hogwarts has ever seen or heard of." She couldn't imagine the witch at school. She had tried many times with older people she met to imagine them gangly and confused in uniforms but mostly failed. She smiled back at Chloe, ignoring the pictures in her head.

"Dad really enjoyed Holland," Jac said with a giggle, "but I think he enjoyed the negotiations for that Prisoner Transfer from Romania a few years back the most. Still goes on about how great Romania was when he was there." Jac laughed as she remembered her father hiding foods in his bag to show to his family. "And Ed is a writer, course I'm envious. He get's paid to travel and write, what a great job, don't you think?" Jac stared out the window again, thinking of the game Chloe was referring to. "Lon is rather great on a broom with a bat, isn't she?" She laughed at the obviousness of her rhetorical question.

"Neat," Jac said. She had always found Magical Law Enforcement to be the most exciting section of the ministry and if she worked for them, that's where she would go. This was as much thought as she had put into her future, but Jac was certain things would fall into their place soon enough. "Do you like your job?" Jac asked. She wanted to find out as much as possible about the median things before see decided to purse that course.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

"Well have you been hung upside down for hours on end?" She asked with a smirk, "or taken deep into the Forbidden Forest of all places because of one little slip up? Ok dozens of major slip ups but still, what can you expect given my age and confidence back then?" Grinning Chloe began to idly inspect her pristeen nails; just the right length, as she explained further "I'd only hexed to oblivion for turning my hair bright pink, I got touchy about my hair back then," and still do. She thought absentmindedly curling it between a finger.

"Don't look at me like that," she scolded with a genuine look of hurt, "I'm not that old, I can tell you're trying, and failing to picture me in school, but is wasn't long ago really." She stated her lips squirming between a smile and a scowl. Settling upon a smile with a hidden threat Chloe commented, "yeah your family is pretty ace, unique and strange too," she grinned, "just the way you like it I guess?"

Stepping from the window which threatened to engulf her attention completely Chloe began affectionately stroking the nearest owl, deftly dodging it's first striking bites until it got used to her touch. "Like my job?" She asked incredulously, "I love it, wouldn't swap it for anything, the thrill and tension is awesome, plus it's incredibly satisfying putting a real criminal behind bars, difficult and taxing but brilliant. Why are you looking for a job?" Chloe asked with an amused smirk.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac grinned proudly at the Ministry officer. "Six times in the Forest," she beamed, and crossed her arms, pushing out her chest. Of course she didn't mention that she often went into the forest for a bit of fun because that was sure to get her landed in detention. "They stopped hanging people years ago. Said it was a little barbaric. Though if you ask me, sending students into the Forest to look for unicorns or collect animal droppings for scientific study is a waste of a good night's sleep. I'd rather shine trophies." She chuckled the last as she remembered she'd already done that.

She sighed, content, as she watched Chloe play with her hair. And speaking of which, Jac thought at the mention of hexing hair. Jac shook her head, her loose hair turning bright pink. "Lucky for me," she beamed, "I don't need to be hexed. Or de-hexed for that matter." She chuckled and looked up at the pretty pink her fringe had turned. "Lovely colour," she said and smoothed a lock to see the colour better in the light of the rising sun.

Jac laughed and held her hands up in defence. "Sorry," she said, chuckling, her smile skew. "Habit," she explained and stole a last look at Chloe. She grinned out the window and in her minds eye managed to get an odd picture of Chloe in robes. Jac looked up thoughtfully and asked randomly, "what house were you in? I bet you were in Gryffindor, weren't you?" She puffed up her chest to show off the lion printed on her chest.

Back to family, she thought and chuckled. "Yeah, it's great but it's a lot to live up to," she said, "I've always admired Trish for not taking the high paying jobs she's been offered. She does what she likes and isn't to fussed by the money." Jac wondered if Chloe would know who Trish was but it didn't really matter. Jac noticed Chloe step back and begin petting an owl. Jac stayed where she was, staring out the large window. She loved the fresh breeze that blew through and let it blow her hair a cool, deep sky blue.

Jac's moment of relaxation was abruptly shaken but the sound of the Ministry officer's voice echoing through the lofty room. Jac spun on her heal and stared at the witch with a supercilious smile on her face. She was all too happy to hear something of the job. Thrilling, tension, awesome, job satisfaction, Jac ran through her head, what more could you ask for? Her green eyes sparkled with excitement that she could not hid. "I'm seventh year," Jac explained with a little sigh, "so I've got to 'keep my eyes open for any opportunities', like Dad always says." She wasn't sure what the witch would do with the information but smiled at her nevertheless.