[Hogsmeade] Hogsmeade Hothouse (Jac)

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

It was a warm, bright a sunny day. Too warm, even for him to be inside on a day like today. His eyes going from his mass paper work, to the outside world and back again, he felt like throwing a mini temper tantrum. He loved being a Professor, but he hated it when he had to be stuck inside marking papers or working on the next lesson. Poor Jack, he loved it when it was sunny, and it was definatly sunny outside. Letting his head fall onto the table, he mumbled something about it not being fair. He missed the days where he only had to think of homework, now he was thinking about other people's homework when he could be thinking about something a whole lot better. But no. As rules state, work first, fun later. He was still young, and with the attention span of a two year old unless he was actually teaching his lesson. "Right." He mumbled into his desk, pulling his head up at such speed his neck cracked and he went dizzy. "Im having a break. A big break. A fun break... As soon as the room has stopped spinning."

A few moments after the room stopped spinning, Jack went into his office and abandoned his robes, replacing them with three quater length shorts and a vest top. It was a Saturday and so Robes werent a necessary thing. Giving off a stretch, and a rather loud yawn which caused some of the paintings to grumble about him being too loud, Jack just laughed. "Hey, it is ten in the morning you know, you should all be up and awake now you lazy portraits!" Jack said to them, to which one replied, 'If I wasnt a portrait I would teach you some respect!' Jack just shrugged and laughed, "I have respect for you, keep your wig on." Before walking out of his door. One of his favourite things to do right now was annoy the portraits in his office, which actually usually turned out to be a bad idea, especially when he was actually trying to concentrate on work, rather than on something else.

He decided to take the long route to Hogsmeade, rather then the direct one. Walking down a narrow lane, lined with bushes which had different flowers in them. He hadnt counted on the bees which seemed not to like his presense much, nor had he counted on the flowers itching his nose. "Bzzt!" Came a noise down his ear, which made him jump as he wasnt expecting it, turning to the rose bush he half yelled, "Dont buzz down peoples ears unexpectidly, its not nice!" Why he had decided to talk to bees he wouldnt know, but they seemed to leave him alone after that. "Blimey, its warm out here." He grumbled and fanned his vest top a couple of times in an attempt to keep himself cool. Once he got into Hogsmeade, the first place he went was the ice cream stand and bought himself an ice lolly. Though, instead of opening the wrapping and eating it, he sat on a bench and tilted his head back, putting the lolly on his forehead in an attempt to keep at least one part of him cool, considering there didnt seem to be much of a breeze in the air. Seriously, Jack suspected a drought.

[Jac Shaw]

It was an unfamiliar yet gloriously hot Saturday and Jac had been enjoying it all morning. She had woken early because of the humidity that seemed to hang like choking smoke in her dorm room. Ginny sat up at the same time as Jac but neither of them spoke. It was too warm for that. Jac flung the covers off and rolled onto her stomach, hanging half off the bed to search for something under the bed. She pulled out a number of things, none of which was what she wanted: parchment and old quills, discarded sweet wrappers, a book or three; but none of it was what she waned. Finally, she laid her hands on her bikini.

She was dressed and out of the common room before Ginny was even awake enough to say good morning. It was to the lake with her and she ran the whole way. As she ran closer to the water, she pulled off the skirt and the t-shirt she had on and before any time had passed Jac dove into the water and was swimming out. The metamorphmagus had become very adept at entertaining herself so she quite happily swam for an hour at the least.

She had no concept of what the time was but when more and more students began to pour out of the castle and into the lake, Jac began to feel she needed a change ... and perhaps some food as well. It had not occurred to her until that point that she hadn't even had breakfast. Jac got out of the water, her polka dot bikini dripping as much as her hair, and she pulled her skirt and t-shirt back on, her bikini leaving water marks on her pale yellow skirt and her white top. She didn't mind because she knew that it would keep her cool a little longer that way.

Slowly, Jac began to make her way up the shore towards the castle, simply looking around, her wet dark red hair flopping lazily in her face. It was a simply glorious day. Where was Jackson? she wondered, looking up to the castle. Surely he was busy, he always seemed to be, especially when she bothered him for a visit (or maybe it was because she bothered him, fate was weird that way). Her stomach grumbled at her loudly and her sights became firmly set on Hogsmeade, where else would she find a sister who would buy her breakfast?

Jac joined her sister, Grace and Sigh at the Majestic Bird and managed to get her sister to buy her breakfast. This was the best thing about having her sister so near by. They visited a while afterwards, Grace and Jac. They had not really seen each other much lately as it was becoming harder and harder for Grace to get away over the weekends. Customers came and so Sigh had to help them and Trish said she had a date ... whatever that meant. So it was nice to just get to talk with her old friend again. The visit was interrupted though when a rowdy customer began verbally abusing the poor Sigh. Grace jumped in and Jac thought it only right to take her leave then.

Jac was still slightly damp when she left The Bird and when the warm air greeted her she was very happy for it. Jac began to wonder up the main street of Hogsmeade, browsing the windows and smiling merrily at the people who passed. She got the strangest looks but she didn't care. It was a sunny day, how often did that happen in Scotland? The dark green eyes of the metamorphmagus travelled across the street to the window opposite but instead of finding the rather interesting looking cakes they found the young man sitting on the bench with a ice lolly on his forehead.

Jac walked slowly, giving him a wide birth as she wondered behind the bench, smiling down at the face she adored so. A sudden and playful urge came over the girl as she carefully, yet quickly, stole the lolly from his forehead with a giggle and ran around the bench before he could stop her. She wondered back towards him and took a seat on his leg, slowly pealing the wrapping off the ice lolly. "This is how you're supposed to eat these, Jack," Jac said playfully, wrinkling her nose at him. "Osmosis doesn't work like that."

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Now Jack on the other hand had never even thought of going down to the lake and jumping into the water, maybe if he had he wouldn’t be sat here looking like a fool with an ice lolly on his head. He could feel the drops of cold water which had built up on the wrapper dripping down the side of his face. Jack’s arms were sprawled lazily beside him, and some people even stopped to poke him to see if he was actually alive or not. Some students addressed him as Professor Shaw, which made him shudder and say in a tone that stated he really could not be bothered to talk, “My. Name. Is. Jack.” Though he was smiling, he didn’t feel much like being his over-eccentric self. The heat was too much even for him, he was sure if a werewolf came by right about now, he would stick his arm out and give it full permission to bite him because he just wouldn’t be able to fight back.

What Jack really wanted above all right now, was a drink. Sticking his tongue out, he felt like panting. He often heard dogs pant to keep themselves cool, and Jack always wondered whether it would work that way with humans. So what did Jack do? Of course he tried it, though began to choke shortly after and decided that it wasn’t such a good idea, and nor did it made him any cooler at all. Instead, it made him sweat more when he jumped forward clutching his throat, choking. The air had gotten stuck inside his throat, but thankfully someone came behind him and whacked him on the back and he managed to squeeze out a rather whispy thank you.

Laying back down on the bench, he put the lolly back on his head and began to feel a bit more cooler. Though the wrapping was purple he couldn’t help but think he would have ink lines on his head or something once it came off again. Letting off a sigh, he felt the suns rays beating down on him, he just hoped he wouldn’t tan anymore, it wasn’t as though he needed to. It looked like he went on a sunbed everyday, but in all honesty, he just tanned way to easily. Someone else poked him, taking the lolly off his head he saw a little girl, who gave a startled jump when he looked at her and ran behind her mum.

Once more, the lolly went back on his head. Though it seemed like it wouldn’t be there for long. He knew he looked utterly ridiculous with a lolly on his head but honestly, it was cooling him down so he didn’t really care all that much. He kept his eyes shut, and the lolly was covering them so he couldn’t see a thing anyway. How was he supposed to know a crazy metamorphmagi was creeping up on him with an evil plot of taking his lolly for her own? He didn’t. So it was a bit of a shock.

The lolly was jerked off his head, jumping up, though still sat down, talent? Yes. He looked around for the lollypop thief. Though as he was looking left, Jac came from the right and sat down on him, “Hey!” He half jumped, though as he saw Jac, unwrapping his lolly, he couldn’t help but stare blankly. “You stole my lollypop!” He stated in a very schoolyard childish voice. “You actually stole my lollypop!” He stuck out his bottom lip and made it quiver as though he was going to cry, “You’re a lollypop thief! Im going to tell my mummy off you!” Though, after that line, he couldn’t keep the childishness up, he burst out laughing for a moment.

Though as she was talking, Jack put his arms around her, picked her up, spun her around so the tables were reversed and he was now kneeling over her, he had somehow managed to grip a hold of her arms in one of his hands which made him laugh, “And you should make sure your opponents are rendered defenceless when you steal something of theirs.” Rolling his eyes rather childishly, and getting some odd looks from passers by he added, “God, Don’t I teach you children anything?” He said this in a rather disbelieving, but joking voice, knowing Jac doesn’t even come to his lessons but he didn’t mind. “Don’t you pull that face at me missy, your not too old yet for me to deduct points you know!” Sticking his tongue out though, to show he was only playing with the Gryffindor lass. “So, now whats your plan?”

[Jac Shaw]

When she had been sitting with Grace after her sister had left, the two had spoke of their current fancies. Jac had told Grace about Jack and how she couldn't believe it had taken her all this time to see him for what he truly was and Grace shared her story of a lovely young man named Jonas that she had met when she had first started playing. It was good to see Grace blush so much when she spoke of him and Grace said that Jac had extra colouring to her hair when she spoke of Jackson. It was that obvious.

It was only when she was outside, in the heat of the day, sitting on Jack's lap and smiling at him that she realised what she had meant by it. Even as he put on the child-routine, pouting at her and speaking in that silly voice he did, Jac couldn't think of anything better. The fact that these two young people contrasted so much was always an amusing fact to Jac. She was a slight, pale girl, who didn't stand taller then 5'3 at the best of times and was always smiling where as Jackson was well tanned, through no trying of course, immensely tall and he was often so unsure of himself that he would be frowning too much.

Jac had become lost in thought. Suddenly Jack was picking her up and moving her. Jac shrieked with laughter and all of a sudden she was the one on the bench and he was standing over her, his hand on her arm. He reprimanded her playfully for not rendering him defenceless. Even though Jac knew he was just having a bit of fun, Jac pouted at him, giving him a look of deepest regret and shame.

Then Jack took it too far. He threatened to take points! Jac gasped, all ignominy gone from her face and replaced with indignation and a little scorn. She gasped at him, and said with narrowed eyes, "you wouldn't dare!" If there was one thing Jac didn't like it was losing points but not three seconds later her face changed like a flash. She smiled broadly at him as he stuck his tongue out at her and she did the same.

The plan ... hmm. Jac couldn't think of anything particular she wanted to do today other then spend it with Jack. She sat up, craning her neck and quickly planted a kiss on his lips. Her dark green eyes met his dark brown ones and she shrugged. "I don't mind what we do," Jac said. He still had hold of her arm and she still had his lollypop in hand. "Are you wanting this back?" she asked sweetly, giving her arm a small wiggle in his strong hand.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

The change in Jack since he had gotten together with Jac had been noticeable. He was a lot more clutzy than usual due to his over excitedness and lets face it, his rather gorgeous catch. He was also more smiles than usual ,which wasnt that hard as he was usually frowning, waiting for his next accident to happen, it was rare to see him without a smile now and the smile only got bigger whenever he saw the autumn colours of Jac's hair bobbing through the crowd. Not many people knew of their involvement yet, but he was sure a few would, mainly Jac's closest friends. Jack was the kind of person, despite his rather ditzy nature, to play things carefully, he didnt want to openly announce their involvement until he was sure she was sure this was what she wanted. He didnt need to question himself, he had always had a soft spot for Jac, but until recently, put it down to friendship. Now he realised he had liked her, inevitable really, if you think about it.

Yes, the two did make quite a strange looking pair, Jac was pale and because of Jacksons tanned skin, it made him look darker, and her look paler when the two were in such close proximity. He had his arms wrapped around her as the two sat there quite comfortably in silence. Something they had often done, but not like this. Not with her sitting on him, she usually sat beside him and Jack would usually fall asleep in the heat, fall over, and his head ended up resting in her lap as he snoozed the afternoon away, waking up to find Jac looking at him laughing and him being paranoid to whether he drooled or not. She always said no, but sometimes, because of her laughter, he couldnt help feel that she was only sparing his embarrasment.

A shriek filled the street when Jack flipped the tables, and many people looked startled as though Jack was trying to murder the female. "I obviously didnt teach you anything, did I miss Biggerstall?" He flashed a rather cheesy and toothy grin at her, it was fun to be able to act like a complete idiot, instead of having to be shut in his office for days on end trying to get through endless amounts of paperwork. Wincing, as he thought of the stack which lay abandoned on his desk. He hoped he locked the door, he didnt want anybody to see him neglecting it.

Oh dear, he knew that look. He had put his foot way over the mark when he threatened points, he simply shook his head and said in a way to redeem himself, "I'll just give you detention," then seeing her unchanging look he hastened to add, "You get to spend more time with me and I promise not to make you go through papers?" He stuck his tongue out, and thankfully she did the same. "Am I forgiven?"

He released her arms and sat back down on the bench. Obviously, his earlier question answered when she gave him a kiss, but Jack flung his arms out, caught her, and planted her firmly on his lap, bringing his lips back to hers he said cheekily, "Did I tell you to stop?" He nuzzled her neck for a moment before she spoke again, bringing his head back upto look at her, he shook his head at the lollypop, "No, you keep it. I dont really have a love of those things." He smiled up at her, "Well I've a suggestion, it involves shade and coolness, the sun's starting to burn me now, heaven knows what its doing to you, Mrs Pale." He stuck his tongue out at her, he just wanted to be in a cool place, he couldnt remember the last time the sun had been this strong, Jack wasnt usually affected by its heat but this was ridiculous. "Know any good swimming pools?"

[Jac Shaw]

It didn't take a clever Ravenclaw to see the attachment that Jac and Jack had formed on each other. Jac had liked Leon very much and now and then she thought of him fondly but that always lead to thoughts of Jack and her mind raced with possibilities and happy memories and good times they had shared - heck, even the bad ones, simply because Jackson was in them. It was true that Jac wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen when she graduated but that was not for some time and she - not wanting to talk about it - kept putting it off to talk about.

But in the here and now, the future didn't matter. They were together, sharing laughs together and that's all that mattered. Jac was a very physical being as in she liked to touch rather then simply see or hear so Jac felt perfectly alright with sitting on Jack's lap and she was completely unaware of his discomfort from her sitting on his lap. It didn't matter really because she was off so fast she hardly realised what was happening until it was all over and she was on the bench.

Jac rolled her dark green eyes as she smiled, cheekily. "No, you didn't," Jac replied drawly but then stuck out her tongue to show she was only playing. Jac could feel her skirt wasn't sitting perfectly as it should beneath her as she could feel the bench on the skin of her thigh. She shifted slightly where she was sitting and ran her free hand up her leg while lifting it over the other leg. She pinned her skirt between two fingers and pulled it straight, still keeping her eyes on Jackson's.

At the threat of detention Jac smirked wickedly, kicking her crossed leg listlessly. "Detention?" she repeated, raising an eye brow. "I've always thought that there are easier ways to spend time with you ... but if detention is the only way I'll just have to bear it, won't I?"

The kiss she gave so quickly, in such a carefree way, seemed to satisfy Jack and it made Jac happy to know. In fact, by his next action it was clear that he wanted more. He pulled her onto his lap, Jac giggling the whole way, her hair streaking with blond with the oranges and reds. When he nuzzled her neck, Jac laughed again, a shiver running down the entire length of her spine. She did enjoy it when he did that.

Jack agreed to let the girl have the lollypop and Jac grinned broadly. "You mightn't like 'em but I adore them," she said, holding the lolly in front of her and looking at it. Right at the moment a large drop dripped onto Jac's hand. Frowning as she felt the stickiness run down the back of her hand, Jac brought her hand up to her mouth and licked it off, then licked the length of the lolly to make sure it didn't drip again. "Thank you," she added, giving Jackson a playful grin.

"Swim?" Jac asked most hysterically. "Jackson Shaw, are you serious?" Jac studied the man's face closely - it helped being close to it too - and smiled. He had obviously not noticed that her bottom was still wet and it had wet her skirt. He had not noticed the water marks on her yellow t-shirt from her bikini top. He had not noticed the dampness of her hair. Jac rolled her eyes and thought, he really is so unobservant! "Of course I do and you do too, silly. The lake!" She stressed the word, dragging it out like it was something he ought to remember, which it was.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Obviously when Jac left school, it would limit the time the two of them had together. So Jack had already decided to make the best of the time he had with her now, his career was set and hers was just about to begin. But he knew Jac well enough not to push her to talk about her future choices, yes, he worried about her. He constantly did, there wasnt a time that passed where he didnt worry about her, whether it be a small thing like worrying if she was bored or not, to major things like worrying about her future and hoping she got the best out of her life. Whether he ended up part of her future or not, he would still be there for her. Despite their attatchment right now, pushing that aside, its what a best friend did.

The thing about Jac, she didnt worry about the future like Jack did. In many ways they were complete opposites, in others they were the same. He often got the feeling Jac didnt like to talk about serious things, things that mattered whereas Jack, he liked to discuss things. Right now their relationship was still in new waters, it was just as new to him as it was for her right now and he was happy about the way things were, but often he looked into the future, not in a literal sense, and wondered if he would be part of it. Just one more thing he didnt voice.

Jack feined being hurt and shook his head dramtically away from her "Yeowch Miss Biggerstall." He said in a shocked tone, but couldnt keep it up as his mouth twitched into a smile and he suddenly began laughing again. Something, not only he couldnt help, but anyone in her company couldnt help doing. Laughing seemed to be essential when you were with her, you just couldnt help it.

"There are other ways," He smiled, "But when I'm busy with work and your busy with your essays, sometimes detention is the only way and besides, even though I'm still young, im technically a professor and you my student." He grinned widely and clapped his hands together, amusement filling his face, also a hint of excitement somehow lightened his dark eyes, "I have to say its... interesting to know I'm breaking just about the biggest rule in the school." He stuck his tongue out at her, surprisingly nobody seemed to find it weird that Jack and Jac had something going on. Afterall, the way people saw it was just like anyone else most likely, they had been best friends for a while during their school days together, it wasnt all that strange seeing them act the same as usual.

He felt the shiver run down her back and grinned to himself. It was new to him the fact he could actually have some kind of effect on her. In all honesty, he did wonder if he ever would when they were younger, and know he was doing he found it simply amazing. As he was raising his head, he kissed her collarbone gently before looking up at her, a wide grin on his face. His arms were locked around his back and as he leant back, his back resting against the wooden bench, he wa surpsingly comfy.

"I'll keep that in mind." he spoke as he unlocked one of his arms and pushed a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face back behind her ear. "I have sensitive teeth, they make me shiver and not in a nice way when I try to eat them. Then they tingle and its not very plesant." He explained, with no clue as to why since she hadnt asked. For some reason, Jack just felt as though he had to give her a reason why he didnt like ice lollys. He raised an eyebrow when he saw her lick her hand, and then the lollypop, by which point his other eyebrow had raised and he thought about making some kind of sarcastic innuendo, but quickly thought better of it, he managed to choke out "You're welcome." Though.

"Hell yes I'm serious," Jack said as though it was a dumb question, "Im too warm and having a hot girl, no pun intended, sat on my lap isnt helping cool me down I need to jump in some cold water. Be it fully clothed or half clothed" Only when she spoke of the Lake, and seemed to look at him as though he was daft, did he take in her appearance. Her damp hair, the watermarks on her top and the dampness of her skirt on his jeans. "You've been... swimming havnt you?" He stated as though he was completley dense. "So I had a real blonde moment then, so how about it?" He asked, "Up for a little swim?"

[Jac Shaw]

Jack began to laugh and Jac couldn’t help but laugh with him. It was the sort of thing that happened often: people would begin to laugh and Jac simply couldn’t help herself and had to laugh with. Jac did so love to laugh and she tried to do it every opportunity she got – that it was appropriate of course … and sometimes when it wasn’t as well. Laughing felt good and no matter what Lex, Jac’s younger brother said, what felt good couldn’t be wrong.

It was just like her and Jack’s relationship. Though they had been friends for what felt like ever and though they were so close in age, it was against school rules, what they were doing and sometimes Jac worried about it. Not the act of breaking a rule, that never bothered her, she worried about how Jack would take it. She knew that Jac worried about things like that, though she didn’t like talking about those sorts of things. She did, however, trust that if anything was bothering him he would talk to her about it – no matter her feelings on the matter.

Shrugging this worry off, Jac smiled at Jack when he brought up the very subject she had been thinking about. Their synchronicity was sometimes unbelievable but it always made her smile. And it made the ginger-haired girl grin even wider when he spoke on her worries about the rules. “Well,” Jac said pointedly, sitting up straight and blinking gray eyes at Jackson, “I’ve never had a problem about breaking rules so I’m perfectly happy to be influencing you like that.” Jac gave Jack a playful wink and giggled as he stuck his tongue out at her – another habit he’d picked up from her, she was sure.

Jack’s show of affection was always something that surprised Jac. It was because she’d never thought of someone who could the way he did. It was too weird to think that they’d practically grown up together and now! At times Jac wondered if she was doing the right thing. But always with the ‘right thing’! she moaned in her head. It was all relative anyway and since when did she worry about what’s right? Jac was a professed trouble-maker and a permanent rule-breaker, she never used to worry about it so why do it now?

As Jack explained why he didn’t fancy ice lollies much, Jac watched his face closely with a smirk on her soft face. It was always great, listening to Jack speak, and his face did the most adorable things, Jac thought, her smile widening still. He had no idea how charming he actually was and without trying too. Jac waited for the innuendo about her licking the ice lolly but none came. Frowning slightly and wondering why he’d given up such a perfect opportunity to tease her, Jac put the lolly to her mouth and began to consume it.

It was astounding how silly Jack could be sometimes, and how slow, and how cute he could be while being confused about something she’d said. She knew he’d catch on eventually and when he did Jac guffawed till her cheeks became sore. “You catch on …” Jac paused and giggled as she continued, “well, I can’t say quickly but you caught on well enough. Yes, Jack, I’ve been swimming. The lake’s lovely today though I do think it might be a little full of students now.”

Jac cocked her head to the side and grinned at Jack. “I’m always up for a swim,” she told him, and he should have known that too, he’d asked often enough. “You know how much I love swimming.” Jac planted another quick kiss on the tip of Jack’s nose and giggled as she stood up, licking the ice lolly again. “Shall we then?” she asked, inclining her head in the general direction of the lake and the school.