[Corridors] ... looking ...

[Jac Shaw]

Jac had been in a bit of a mood in recent days. Many of her favourite paintings had been stripped from the walls like scabs that had festered and were unclean. She was beginning to feel shut in, done in for that matter, and she needed a good raw with a Slytherin or three, at least this was her assessment of her situation. All she really needed was an outlet for all her pent-up energy. Jac had been unable to sneak out of the castle since the morning the posters about the forest had turned up as security had become increased and she was beginning to feel she was the only one who couldn't get out.

Marching down the sixth floor corridor, the late afternoon's rays slanting through the windows to her left lighting spots on the floor where she was stomping. She wanted to jinx something, someone, anyone. Since her detention with the Ministry official Tonks, Jac had become set on becoming an Auror but after having seen what the Ministry was doing to her beloved castle she was beginning to think that maybe Bog had a good idea, opposing them. She had half a mind to leave that very minute. Just take her broomstick, pack her trunk and fly away.

She turned left around a corner and was blinded by a brilliant light. Her arms flew about her face, her right moving jerkily as the magical fire had left its make from her Charms lesson, and she squinted her eyes, turning her face away. Jac's hair and eyes immediately turned as black at pitch, hair straight and long, eyes hollow. It was not a warm sun light but a cold metallic shimmer off something reflective like a broach or something for she could vaguely see someone's silhouette but Jac couldn't tell as it was being directed straight into her eyes.

"Oy!" she barked with a surly growl. "Ya mind where ya shinin' that, mate." Her patience was wearing thin already and no thought of the consequence came to her mind as she spoke. Only the feeling remained, only the memory of having to force herself to leave instead of jinxing that daft witch's rear into last week where she would bother her, Sarie or her precious school. She didn't care who it was, it was only that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time ... or was it she who was?

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Far below people milled about like ants, though a little large for ants they still acted like them, charging around chattering to each other then running off again, moving in strict order, for those weren't the students that should have been wandering the grounds basking in the late afternoon sunshine, no those were Ministry officials. Scurrying about with military precision it was the arrival of the latest batch of raw "recruits" drawn in by the thestral drawn carriages comandeered by the Ministry the typically burlish males stepped down, thugs, there was vague rumour that even muggles would be conscripted soon to flush out the cursed Rogues. So far prisoners from Azkabhan that remained loyal to the Ministry had been released on temporary bail, to assist the Ministry in catching far more dangerous criminals. Once upon a time that would have started a large hue and a cry from the general public, with the media leading the verbal assualt upon the wizard governing body, now it was too controlled, The Daily Prophet, was only allowed to publish carefully scrutinised and modified papers now. Chloe guessed the public didn't have a clue such extreme measures were being utilised, for these were dangerous times.

That was the excuse, the reasoning behind such methods; she was beginning to doubt them herself. The rot had set in some time ago, but only now was it coming to real fruition; constantly in the back of Chloe's mind. Now she watched from on high, if only the puppetmaster so she could change events, she saw the men and women descend from the carriages, given back their wands and given blunt orders; to hunt down and kill any Rogues within the forest, to shoot first and not even question. This was intolerable, such methods were extreme and in her humble opinion unnecessary, given time rather than manpower they could outwit the Rogues, rather than crushing them with absolute force. When she'd joined the Magical Law Enforcement Squad they had rarely even been given the order to execute, now it was occuring frequently. Though she wasn't proud of such an act, she had to admit she'd been forced to it.

It had been midnight, a pearly white, near full moon shining dim light through the dense canopy of the forest. She'd been leading a five man squad deep into 'enemy territory' as they now classed it, where they suspected the Rogues had hidden encampments. They'd arrived out of nowhere, dropping from the trees like devils, three of her men had fallen in the first wave, two stone dead, a third knocked unconcious. With her two companinions they'd fought back, finding cover, their assailants spells bouncing off the protective shields they'd conjured in a flash. The battle broke off into desperate individual fights for survival, duels to the death. She'd only just mastered her foe, forced in the extreme to kill the man as her two fellows fell rasping in their death throes, blood curdling cries filling the night air. The Rogues had been crestfallen with the fall of their leader and had charged the young witch their eyes alight with unbidden fury and unsatiable hunger for blood. With their concentration lost she'd narrowly dived aside from their hasty death spells.

With the ruthless efficiency of the Magical Law Enforcement she'd finished them.

Bringing her only surviving companion back had been crushing to Chloe, she hadn't known any of the squad well, it hadn't even be hers to lead. Now the fight was beginning to leave Chloe, she wondered what all this damned fighting was for, why couldn't it be resolved peacefully without further bloodshed?

She knew the answer, they were all too far gone, it was too late to turn back now. They should have stopped at the very first death, young Thom Moen, but he had been just the first. They should have stopped then.

It was too late.

Now her eyes cold Chloe watched as the ex-criminals disappeared into the forest, Magical Law Enforcement had probably arrested those and uncovered the necessary evidence them, now they were free again. Needless to say she'd lodged a complaint, it was more than her job was worth to lodge several for the multitude of problems, the Ministry cracked down upon any who stood in their way, even their own.

Not realising she was fiddling with the broach that clasped her cloak about ther neck Chloe turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, casting aside her thoughts and smoothening her features, though the anger, but deeper sorrow in her eyes still shone brightly. Hearing the voice she recognised the face instantly; Jac Biggerstall spirited Jac, usually she'd have smiled but the frosty welcome she suspected she'd receive wasn't something she looked forward to. Dryly she answered, "I'm glad we're still on friendly terms Jac," she stepped out from the window, the dying rays of the setting sun framing her like a portrait.

Chloe knew she had some explaining to do, if her judgement of Jac's personality and character was correct then she'd have many questions she'd want answering, namely why Chloe hadn't intervened to help her out. Chloe had some of the answers, she'd divulge some, hide others but overall she knew not the answer to many.

"Jac, I've been meaning to speak with you, primarily to apologise for my behaviour, you have to know that I had to act so, or else Haestregt would never trust me. It's imperative that she does, for the Magical Law Enforcement Squad still needs her respect if we're to have an influence over certain matters. It grieves me that the portraits were taken down, but that isn't our primary concern, we've the bigger picture to look at, the Ministry has concerted its efforts upon this school for far too long, our department wishes to lodge a complaint and advise that we pull out of the school immediately." Chloe waited patiently for such words to sink in, that there were fractures within the Ministry itself wasn't clearly apparent, but the Magical Law Enforcement squad was begining to have sincere doubts about the Minister Marvello's tyrannical government. If absolutely necessary they would have to take martial law whilst a new government was properly elected.

[Jac Shaw]

The voice that came to Jac’s ears made the hair that hung loose over them shot a hot red. She looked the woman before her up and down through narrowed dark eyes. She might have guessed. Jac took a step back to take in the whole picture of the Ministry official in her school in. Their first meeting had been a favourable one and on that Jac would not has thought that they would have gone down the road that they had. She had thought the woman had more spine then she had shown but Jac was used to being let down by her assessments of people.

“Oh,” she mumbled slowly, “it’s you.” Jac looked away and rubbed her cheek, sneering. This was the last thing she needed when in the mood to have a decent duel: a Ministry official answering to the main attraction at the fun fair called the Ministry of Magic. It was infuriating that out of all the people from the Ministry Jac had met through her whole life (and her father working for them, she had met a fair few) few were as capable and ineffectual as the one before her who she had liked so much. Were things really falling apart so fast? Jac wondered before turning back.

She had begun to explain herself and Jac wondered why. Why did she feel the need to substantiate herself to a silly little school girl? Why was she telling a child such information while knowing full well that Jac actually wasn’t stupid? Surely she didn’t expect Jac to leave it where it was. To let sleeping gnomes lie, as it were. Jac watched her through narrowed eyes for a moment before straightening and fixing her hair to its proper colour of autumn. Haestregt, Jac repeated in her head,[/i] the wench. I’ll remember that name.[/i]

“Wishes?” Jac hissed, “oh sure, pull the other one.” She has guessed that not all was well as the Prophet was assuring people. Jac knew from her sister, Trish, that the Ministry’s involvement at The Daily Prophet was heavy. Who knew who much heavier it had gotten since she left? Jac snorted a mirthless laugh and crossed her arms. “If there is a ‘bigger picture’” Jac indicated the quotations with her fingers and a sarcastic drone “when is it that the paintings seem to be top of Haestregt’s list of things to deprive the school of? In fact, why are they even in the castle to begin with when you’ve already got at least two, that I know of, people working here under the guise of being teachers and the bleeding rouges are out there?”

Jac pulled an arm out of the cross and pointed out the window next to her at the forest below. “I assume that’s the real reason all you …” Jac bit her tongue from saying anything overly disrespectful “Ministry people are here? Sure, they’re so clearly in the forest so why are you still at Hogwarts? There’s nothing but students, teachers and ghosts here. Oh, at the occasional battalion of Ministry people.”

Jac shook her head, clearing away her angry thoughts that were clouding her mind. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly, she looked back at Chloe with dark eyes. “How does Miss Haestregt fit into the picture anyway?” Jac enquired flatly. The way she was speaking of the wretched woman she wasn’t a true part of the Squad. Or was she? Jac tilted her head to one side, her hair hanging loosely on her shoulders, trying to assess Chloe’s answer.

[Chloe Hargreaves]

Chloe had to hope that Jac's good opinion once lost wasn't lost forever, for her sake and Jac's for surviving in the politically geared system of the Ministry was difficult enough without being able to control feelings towards others. A mastery of emotions was crucial and Chloe had high hopes for Jac, but it was, in the end, all down to Jac herself.

Knowing it would take a while to persuade Jac the truth of her words Chloe still stood unshakeably weathering the comments, she didn't quite slander her name though and Chloe could forgive each word, for she had thought some of them herself.

When asked why the Ministry was at Hogwarts Chloe replied simply, "we'd much like to know that ourselves, our leaving here has been delayed overlong but you see I'm only able to defy my superiors a few times, I have to choose my times wisely when it counts the most, as much as I wanted to help I could not, and besides you handled it fine you'll have learnt from the experience I'm sure." Her lips forming a small smile Chloe meant no offence and didn't wish to be patronising in anyway but truly she believed Jac had had to learn from the incident.

"Haestregt believes Hogwarts is in need of reformation, that standards have slipped and certain matters need addressing. The only reason I was there was to relay a report, Magical Law Enforcement has no wish to meddle in the affairs of this school, Haestregt thinks differently and does as she pleases. You must know, she's a very dangerous woman, she can have anyone killed with a click of her fingers, and isn't afraid to do the dirty work herself. We're having to be exceedingly careful around her." She was telling Jac all this because she believed Jac was destined to join their ranks, and she had to start learning now.

Casting a single glance around Chloe said, "take a walk with me Jac," walking alongside the younger witch Chloe began, "Haestregt is a close personal friend of Deitrich herself, who holds considerable power within the government, Deitrich is Minister Marvello's personal advisor. For some reason, unbeknown to us, they have taken a particular interest in this school and the surrounding area with Haestregt here to control all Ministry forces, standing up to Haestregt was admirable Jac, but not advisable. She may never forget it and so joining the Ministry may prove difficult," stopping in her tracks and looking keenly at Jac Chloe smiled, "for I believe you're suitable to join our ranks, I shan't push nor persuade, but if you're willing on graduating I'd like to offer you a place in the Magical Law Enforcement Squad...as my apprentice." It was a great honour being chosen, picked out from the crowd, but somehow Chloe doubted Jac would see it like that. Chloe would accept Jac's decision either way, she only hoped the young witch made the right decision for herself, and listened to her heart.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac's anger was evident but Chloe's reaction was interesting. Usually when someone got angry at you, you stood up for yourself but Chloe took it, standing firm. This cooled Jac's heals considerably and she simply smirked at the woman. She never gave up on the small multi-coloured hair and that was a small mercy in Jac's mind. Though that did not mean Jac liked the lady any more. She still did not like her for not standing by her but that was no secret.

As Chloe spoke, Jac listened. She was much interested but acting as though she had heard it before. A nonchalant expression crossed her face as she put her weight on one foot and crossed her arms across her chest. The thought of what she was doing made her curse herself and she quickly shifted her weight to both feet and dropped her arms to her sides, frowning at the floor. She was being childish, she knew it. Right now she had to concentrate on what Chloe was saying.

Jac could not believe one woman could wreck such havoc and be allowed to by the very group of people who had sworn to protect those who could not protect themselves, namely the students of the school. Jac shook her head before looking up at Chloe again. “She needs to be put in her place,” Jac said defiantly, “and I don’t care how dangerous she is. I can hold my own if needs be. I wouldn’t cower from her just because she’s … she’s powerful or … or whatever.” Jac waved her hand in the air to emphasis the ‘whatever’. It boiled her blood to know that because of the will of one, hundreds were being affected and had to suffer.

When she was asked to walk Jac stayed where she was for a moment before sighing and rolling her eyes. “Fine,” she growled under her breath and jogged to catch up to the Ministry official. Listening, Jac was beginning to realise why van Haestregt had such a big head. Jac knew she was a hot head and she began to understand Chloe’s warming the day van Haestregt punished her so harshly. But just because she understood didn’t mean she liked it. She didn’t and it was no secret.

Joining the Ministry? Jac thought about Chloe’s words about that and the more she thought the more she didn’t like the idea. If van Haestregt was going to be the one ordering her around Jac would rather join the Rogues and fight to get rid of her. His thought remained in her head; she had enough sense to keep such a thought to herself. But an opportunity to be the first Biggerstall to follow Pappa’s footsteps was a dream Jac had always had. Would she let a little tiff with a powerful witch deter her from achieving her dream?

Jac hadn’t realised Chloe had stopped walking but only when she offered Jac an apprenticeship that she stopped dead in her tracks. She turned slowly and looked at the witch, a frown heavy over her brown eyes. She walked back towards the Ministry official and spoke slowly. “You,” Jac said pointing at Chloe, “want me,” pointing at herself, “to be your apprentice?” The concept didn’t compute. “Even after everything you’ve told me above power crazed high ranking officials and … and submissive …. subject? You couldn’t possibly expect me to say yes.” Jac studied the woman’s face and her frown relaxed and the look in her dark eyes turned to one of comprehension. “You didn’t think I would, did you?”