Principal Lupin on Playground Duty

Jack shifted impatiently as Robert spoke. She was pretty sure the protests of herself and her friend had only strengthened his resolve. She shifted in her seat, leaning one way with an impatient scoff, and then the other. “Can’t we work double? I’d rather work double then be booted out. I’m the Head of the Department! If I can’t work the department can’t work. The only person that can replace me is Teddy Gilbert and he refuses because power isn’t in style right now.”

Jack paused. “Working double is still a punishment. I don’t want dragons to die when they normally wouldn’t.”

Negotiation would not suffice, Nemo concluded as the Minister pressed on, pondering aloud over the punishment that may lay ahead for the dastardly duo. And with the disappearance of his sacred and stolen alcohol (hell if Nemo knew where the drink had been transported to), he'd come to his wits' end. Thus, with a sense of determination Nemo began to whine. It was a shrill and ear-rattling sound, and he offered those in his presence no pause from the assault as he tapped his feet together, looking anywhere but at the Minister while he squealed.

What had he hoped to achieve? Nemo hadn't thought as far, for the pool of toxins that sloshed within him did not permit him such deep thought. All for which the man presently cared was the mourning of his lost drink and the prevention of the presently - hopefully - merely theoretical job swap.

Jack was at least reasonable. Omara, on the other hand. Hell. Some idiot at Hogwarts had put a wand in the hands of a two year old and now someone else had made him an auror. He made a mental note to hex whoever had hired him. And now the two year old was Robert's problem. On the other hand, Abbey didn't behave that badly. So maybe Omara was an entitled 2 year old. He snatched his wand off the desk and leveled it at Omara in one simple wrist action.

"Shut it," Robert said sternly to Omara. "Or I will shut it for you." He looked back at Jack. "You, I would have been willing to work with. But your other half here honestly does need some time in a cage. So, the deal is done, then. Jobs swap it is, until I say otherwise. Jack, if you prefer I will pair you with an auror so you at least don't get fried your first night out. As for you, Omara, I would suggest that you, first, make sure they aren't hungry when you go in there. And second, do try to not piss them off--if you can manage that. Now--go report to your offices. You will not need to change your offices for this assignment. Refresh yourselves and prepare for the work ahead. There are still several hours of the night shift. You might as well begin now. You are dismissed. Oh, and welcome to the night shift."

He waved them away. He was done with them. Or at least the face to face portion. They had no idea the fun was just about to begin when they reached their respective offices. Robert had sent a wizard to deal with their respective offices.

For Jack, he had had the office animated. Everything in her office had sprung to life, and everything had been given exceptionally foul dispositions. The stapler was exceptionally nippy and was very pleased so shoot staples in a very serpentine like manner. The wastebasket was offended with being relagated to taking all of Jack's garbage. And her desk chair felt it deserved better than to service her posterior. Nothing in her office was happy, and it was ready to tell her about it, without ceasing.

Omara's office would be no picnic either. Every bottle of liquor he had hidden had been withdrawn, drained except for a couple of precious drops, and a note slipped inside. It was very much like an old scavanger hunt to find the one bottle that had one drink left in it. If he was "getting colder", it would say so. Or if it provided no clue at all, it merely said, "Nope." or "Not here" or "Try again." And, now instead of a few bottles, there were hundreds, all with an endless spiraling quest of notes, all hopefully leading to the one with one drink--the one that could not be found until all the others were found first. If he wasn't over the edge now, he soon would be.

Jack sighed a long sigh and prepared even more of a refute, opening her mouth to deliver it. She was interrupted by what could only be called an emergency alarm. She looked over at Poe and stared at him incredously. Ad he continued though, the seriousness from her face twitched away as amusement began to contort and twist her features as she tried to stay under control. Suddenly, Robert put the two's amusement to an end, and she looked back at him.

Oi vey, consequences. Jack shook her head as he offered her a partner. "No, I can manage." The days ahead would be cruel. She would call into Weasley's and tell them they had to take her shifts. She was going to be running a department and doing Poe's job- because hell to everyone if she was not going to contrinue on with her Fluffies work.

They were dismissed, so Jack stood and pulled Poe after her, putting a hand up to Robert as she held back her anger. Yes, screw up the whole Ministry over one (and a first) offense. Perfect. She waited until she heard the door close behind them before she turned to Poe and immediately began swatting relentlessly at him. "You- prat. 'We're Death Eaters' he said. 'Losing is more fun' he said."

Towards the Minister Nemo’s tongue darted defiantly in response to the threat that he had made. And in a similar gesture he threw his arms over his chest and kicked his legs out before himself to lie lethargically in his seat, undoubtedly cursing Robert to oblivion as he grumbled to himself.

“You know – “ Nemo began with a swish of his index fingers towards the ceiling, only to be deterred and pulled to his feet by Jack’s insistant and merciless grip around his arm. “I’m not fin-“ He shouted in complaint, but was once more interrupted before his sentence’s conclusion when he tripped heavily over his boots as Jack dragged him forcefully along.

The assault that had been made against him only escalated with their departure from the Minister’s office. With the snap of the door against its frame, it occurred to Nemo how truly fortunate he was, to not have been born a fly. “What the – fck – Hey! – owe! – fck!” He squired away from Jack’s slaps and leapt atop a near chair to stand above her reach. Eyebrows raised in an expression torn between one of confusion and one of warning, Nemo held the bottle in his fist aloft. “Back!” The warrior cried as he swung the bottle intentionally well above Jack’s head, if only for the sake of reminding the woman that he possessed the weapon. “Back! Foul beast!” He lifted a leg to avoid her, curling it against the other in cowardice, despite his bold words.

Jack didn't allow Poe a chance to speak, nor even a real chance to defend himself. Her slaps did not stay like that for long. Though her slaps, with her broad, rough palms, were anything but tame, she found them to fame, and the heels of her hands began to connect. He let out his own noises in response, causing heads to turn all along the hallway.

Jack was not even close to done though. She said, "We work for the damn Ministry! We can't fight civilians! You're a glorified police office and you attacked civilians over a game of ten fingers!" He hopped away, leaping on to a chair, and she swung out farther, rushing forward to continue her assault, leaning back to swing upwards. He could not escape.

He began to swing his bottle, and the force of his swings were enough to drive her back a few feet, one of her eyes flinching against the violent motions. He screeched his response, looking absolutely terrified. She backed up patiently and put her hands on her hips, looking up at the Auror. She forced a nice smile onto her face, one that betrayed the stirred demon behind her. She motioned with one of her hands. "Come on, Poe." She pointed at the ground before her. "Come down."

Contrary to popular belief, which had been forged by Nemo's often more than questionable actions, an intelligent mind did exist within his mop-covered skull. And though it presently swam with the evening's toxins, Nemo was quick to put it to use when presented with a snare.

"Nu-uh," He refused with a determined shake of his head, for he had detected something hazardous beneath Jack's gentle smile. "Nope. I'm good. I'll just... stay up here," Nemo announced with a proud shuffle of his feat as he planted both of his boots firmly atop his 'Jack shelter'. He nodded a second time in a motion intended to disguise the quick glance that he’d thrown down either side of the hall as he assessed his situation, before adjusting his hold on the bottle, shifting it in his extended hand with a secretive smile.

And with a final and an abrupt shout thrown in Jack’s direction, Nemo leapt from the chair that he had previously occupied to the one before it, and to the floor below.“Not!” He sped with surprising agility in his drunken state down the hall and skidded to a halt as he rounded the corner. Aimlessly, he ran away from the infuriated redhead whom he'd left in his wake, laughing loudly throughout the building all the while.

Jack locked eyes with him, trying to will him down. Often, had Jack sat in classes, intently staring at her professors hair, trying to will their hair to burst into flames at the command of her determined mind. This was something like it. Of course, she had never been able to actually do it, but as this did not wish to accomplish fire, just surrender, she hoped she would have more success.

And suddenly, he ran away, and she backed up a few steps, surprised at his sudden departure. She flailed after him, watching him run away, laughing like a maniac. Her eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. She suddenly realized the hallway he had run down simply wrapped around and met back at reception.

So, with a triumphant smirk, Jack turned and raced down the hallway, preparing herself for the impact Poe had no idea was coming...

Nemo turned, so to peer backward at the progress that he'd made in his hasty escape from Consequence, a role which Jack had been seemingly eager to fill. An action which discredited the auror and his supposed quick wit and field expertise, as well as the claims that he’d made to the Minister during their unpleasant session, when his torn attention resulted in a jarring collision with the woman he had thought himself to have fled.

With a force that left him winded and elicited a surprised grunt, Nemo knocked into Jack and tumbled to the floor upon his hands and knees. He groaned with the discovery that the polished floors of the Ministry building were just as unforgiving as they had been when he had been introduced to them last. “Oh Fu-uha,” He apologized as he pushed himself upward with the heels of his palms to meet Jack’s gaze. “Aha… ha… The hallways lead back to… aha… Who knew?” He mumbled lamely with an uncertain grin.

Jack was prepared for the impact, and yet it still hurt. She smacked right into Poe and rebounded, falling over and skidding across the floor on her butt. She sat up and clambered to her feet as quickly as possibly. She wavered as she stood, placing her palm against the wall as she righted herself. She blinked a few times, waving away the hippogriffs that floated around her cranium.

Finally righting the world that had been thrown askew, she spotted her friend on the ground. She approached menacingly, having the first real opportunity to loom over someone- being short meant never getting the chance to loom. As he smiled however, Jack's anger dissipated back into amusement. She released a genuine smile and held out a hand to help him up. She bent down to help pull him to his feet and suddenly froze, mid-smile, to growl, "You owe me." Then with a comically quick transition, she smiled again to help him up.

Jack really didn't mind if people thought she was nuts.