You Now? ((Jack))

[Mary Evans]

At a table in the corner of the library sat two girls; one with raven black hair and the other flaming red. They sat and chatted lazily while attempting to revise; Mary, the red head, for her end of the year exams, Dana, the black haired one, for her OWLs. The girls were obviously comfortable with each other, feeling like sisters. Dana was in fact Mary’s best friend, after Kris of course. One of the select few outside her house Mary considered worthy of her attention. Kamron, a fifth year Ravenclaw, Charlie, a third year Hufflepuff, and Dana, the fifth year Ravenclaw Prefect; everyone outside Slytherin Mary liked could be counted on one hand by even the slowest of muggleborns. They discussed this and that for an hour or two happily until Dana had to go fulfill her Prefect duties and suggested Mary get to her common room so as not to miss curfew. “Oh come on you will give me a free pass won't you?” Mary asked giving her friend puppy dog eyes before giggling and saying goodbye.

She walked softly down the hall with every intention of following her friend’s advice… but suddenly decided against it. Out the front doors she went for a walk while watching the sun dip lower and lower in the sky. She relaxed on a bench in the courtyard and allowed her thoughts to engulf her entire being. As the haze lifted though she realised she was at least an hour after curfew.

Rushing through the doors Mary forced herself to slow down because the telltale click of her heels would no doubt get her caught at this rate. Down into the dungeons she went until she heard muffled talking. ‘Uh oh. What floors did Dana say she was on tonight? Doesn’t matter ‘cause whoever it is does not seem to be alone’ Mary thought panicking. As the voices drew nearer Mary rushed into a nearby classroom hoping to hide out until they passed. To her surprise though she wasn’t alone. “Jack. What a lovely surprise. However did you get your Gryffindork girlfriend to give you a night alone? Why the evil Slytherins could corrupt you. And she can’t have that now can she? You realise we are better than her and break it off? What a shame that would be.” She said with a smirk, after placing a silencing charm Kris had shown her on the room, not caring what he was doing at her entrance.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack was in the library trying to find an interesting book. He grabbed any one he could reach and pulled it off the shelf. He coughed as some dust rose in the air, but put the books in his bag all the same. He didn't even care what they were about, he just needed something to do tonight. He walked out of the empty library and into the dungeons.

In the Slytherin common room, he pulled out one of the books and attempted to read it. He was almost asleep in a few minutes; he kept reading the same line over and over. He gave up and pulled out a different book that was on the same subject as the last. Jack felt his eyes drooping. He slammed the heavy book shut and stood up. He wanted to go do something that he didn't usually do. Maybe a stroll in the dungeons would be fitting.

He walked out of the common room and into the dungeons. Jack decided to go into an empty room and just have a rest. He entered silently and closed the door. Jack jumped when he heard a voice behind him. It was a portrait talking to him, saying something about being out after curfew. "Shut up!" Jack snarled at the portrait. He took out his wand and chose a random spell that would silence the portrait's talking even though his mouth was moving. Jack smirked at him, and then sat down in a chair. He was just about to get up and write something on the wall when the door opened. It was a girl with red hair. Mary. The insulter. Jack smiled a bit at the thought but gave Mary a look when she said something about his Gryffindor girlfriend. He didn't even have a Gryff girlfriend. Maybe she means Bee.

Jack laughed at the thought and turned to face Mary. "Gryffindor girlfriend, eh? I hope you don't mean the blond girl. She's a friend and nothing more, even if she wants more." Jack paused, considering the thought. Did Bee want more. He hoped not, the thought of it made him sick. "Of course we're better than mudbloods! The others could try to get to me, but I'm afraid I won't listen to them. I make my own decisions. Like I said, she's just a friend."

[Mary Evans]

Mary smirked as she heard Jack laugh; at least he would likely put up a fight. She liked it when those she decided to toy with played back; always gave her most inspiration, more fuel. She feigned shock as he insulted muggleborns worse than she ever had and then allowed her face to fall into a smirk. “You certainly don't allow her to hear you speak like that do you? You know what they say about those who change their way of speaking depending on the recipient… Too weak to be themselves so they just conform to what they think others expect them to be. Denial isn’t a show of strength either you know. As disgusting a sin it is to date outside Slytherin you should at least own up to what you are doing. A Slytherin should be better than to take actions and not back them up. Just a friend I am sure; a little bird has informed me otherwise. Or that though it isn’t official there is certainly potential for more than friendship. And said third party has no reason to fib.” At those words Mary gave an overdramatic shudder of revulsion. “A Slytherin consorting with a Gryffindor muggle born; and they thought this house could sink no lower.”

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack rolled his eyes. "Fine. Me and her might be close friends, after all, she knows me better than anyone else. I wouldn't change to please you, Mary. I've called her mudblood once in a while when I get angry. She knows." Jack let out another laugh. "A bird? I'm just taking a guess here....Mack?" He smirked.

"Have you forgotten about her? She's kissed a Raven before! Even if she feels differently now, there's no way to change the past." He turned and looked out the window. It was completely dark out, no moon, no stars in sight. He turned back to Mary and smirked again.

"I'm guessing you're perfect? A great Slytherin? No friends in other Houses, I suppose?" He asked with a malicious smile.

[Mary Evans]

“Close friends mmm hmm.” Mary said with a I'm not buying it but don't care enough to fight it anymore style of smirk. She almost laughed when he asked if it was Mack; of course it was Mack did he even have to pretend to ask? Why she was the only person Mary knew who talked to Jack except perhaps Pyro considering they shared a room. But she hadn’t spoke with Pyro in much too long for him to count. She made a quick mental note to rectify that before turning her attention back to Jack.

“Yes you are right that Ravenclaw moron did kiss her but that has nothing to do with how reliable she is for information. Don’t you worry I bawled her out for how despicable that is. Especially after his little folly with that Desiray girl in Hogsmead. At least a Raven is better than a Gryff though everyone knows that. At least Ravenclaws have the potential of being worthy unlike Gryffindors; you have to be stupid, fool hardy, attention starved to get in there.”

“But yes for your information I am perfect. I'm sure your friend Bridget informed you of that after our lovely little chat. I chose my friends wisely and though some may have their faults, like not seeing the uselessness in standing up for those not worthy to be here, they are all good smart people; pure the lot of them and not a single one in Gryffindor.” Mary said choosing her words purposefully. She neither confirmed nor denied what he said; just told the truth. Except that she was perfect, she knew she wasn’t, but it was her right to claim she was. Especially after her little talk with his precious Gryffindor where it was established Mary was perfection incarnate. Plus if he put up with that conceited little Raven, Brooke, like Mack said then he obviously didn’t mind people saying they are better than possible.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack laughed at the part about Mary being perfect. Bee had informed him of their little chat and what Mary had done. "I'm sure you are Mary. I'm sure you are." Jack said with a smirk. "Bridget did in fact inform me of the conversation you two had. Very interesting it was indeed. Mostly the part about you running away from her." He laughed again. "Did an unworthy Gryff scare you? I hope not, since perfect people aren't scared of anything. I've never heard of a Slytherin running away from a Gryff before. Hysterical, actually. Talk about bringing Slytherin down lower!"

[Mary Evans]

"Interesting? How so?" Mary inquired eyebrow raised. "I ran off out of revulsion. I suddenly realised I had spend a good half hour in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent. I couldn't stand being in that stairwell any longer it made me sick. I needed to go find some intelligent conversation." She lied carelessly to him as well as herself. Fact was that was then end of the time period Mary now referred to as her "phase"; the time between where she felt her parents were right and where she knew her parents were right. It was the time Mary felt muggleborns were worth something and deserved to be there as much as anyone else, the time Mary underestimated the power of somebody's heritage. She was in fact still fighting that battle with herself as much as she hated to admit it. Old ties were hard to break - some she wasn't even willing to break and so she made exceptions.

"How you can stand conversation with her is beyond me. What small glimpse I got of her intellect, or lack thereof, certainly showed why she was placed in Gryffindor." Mary said with a look of disgust on her face.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack gave Mary a glare but listened to what she had to say. Someone intelligent...blah, blah, blah. He wasn't actually listening. She seemed to be saying the same thing over and over again. He struggled to make his face blank, but he felt laughing. She was right about Bee, she had much lack of intellect. He gave Mary a smile that was pasted on his face.

"I try to give people I don't know a chance. That may not be your philosophy, but I'm not interested in yours. To me, my own decisions are what I follow. Not someone else's." He was starting to have second thoughts about Bee. Mary really did have a way of getting to people when she wanted to. Jack knew he had made a huge mistake befriending a mudblood, but he had thought he could live through it. Mary seemed to not think so, and with her sharp tongue she was bringing Jack's mind to a close. No more mudblood relations.... Jack moved around in his seat to become more comfortable.

"So...what are you trying to say? That I should go up to her and tell her she isn't worthy of my friendship?" Jack asked with some amusement. "Or are you just trying to get me angry?"

[Mary Evans]

Mary took a seat as Jack spoke. She crossed her leg and allowed the top one to bob up and down up and down. She watched her thin black heel for a time until she heard him ask what exactly it was she was after. A malicious smile came to her lips as the answer presented itself. "Actually both those answers are wrong. I was merely trying to amuse myself until the prefects were well out of the area. And look it worked so well I have decided to stay." She said in a very smug tone of voice. "Although if you want to tell her that she's not worthy go right on ahead. If you want to get angry that as well is your right." She continued nonchalantly.

((Sorry so short was hit by major writers block in the middle but didn't want to lose what I had by waiting ))

[Jack Rendel S5]

((Don't worry about it! ))

Jack looked around the small room, listening to Mary's words. So, she's going to stay? This should be amusing. Jack thought, smiling inwardly. He wasn't sure where the conversation was going. Mary seemed highly interested in her heel. Jack tried to think of a subject to say, so the silence would not continue.

"I think I will get her off of my friendship list." Jack said with a smirk. "She isn't really worth my time..." He glanced around for a new subject. His thoughts landed on prefects. "Sp, do you have any friends that are prefects? Sometimes I wish I did, perhaps I could roam the part of the castle they patrol." Jack said as an after thought. He knew most prefects would not allow it; they were law abider's.

[Mary Evans]

Mary dipped her head as Jack said he would no longer consider Bee a friend. She found it rather odd that one minute they seemed to be "involved" and the next they are no longer friends but it wasn't any of her concern so she let it go. As he brought up the question about Prefects Mary couldn't resist but smirk. "Oh yes that would be very cool I'm so big and bad wandering the halls after curfew. But only in the area I am protected by my friend." She said in a mimicking tone of voice followed by a malicious sort of giggle.

"But yes actually I do know a few Prefects. Dawn in the Quidditch captain so I of course know her. We have conversed a few times and I rather like her though I wouldn't really consider her a friend. Don't know her well enough for that. The Ravenclaw, fifth year, female prefect though I know rather well. Kris' cousin, you know Kris Graas do you not? Of course you must everyone knows Krissy Bear, by reputation at least. Dana is my best friend after Kris despite that she doesn't see the uselessness in dealing with those unworthy to even hold a wand. The only reason she wasn't put in Slytherin though, I believe, is because at the time of the sorting it was still believed she was only a half-blood; which has been proven wrong for your information." She said throwing in the last bit before he could get uppity about her having a friend with only half-blood.

"It's not a law though; it's a rule. They are different you know. And you would be surprised. They are human like us you know; being a Prefect doesn't make you perfect. Just because they wear a badge and enforce the rules does no mean they follow them all constantly." She chided. Mary really couldn't wait to wear the badge though; she knew come fifth year she would. She wasn't sure exactly why or how she knew she would be Prefect when she reached fifth year but there was no doubt in her mind that she would. Perhaps it was her mother and how she had always wanted Mary to be a Prefect and a Queen like she had been during her reign. Mary seriously doubted the Queen bit considering she really didn't think she could be so strong and intimidating; plus she was likely not one of the favourite people of the current Queens. Especially now Samantha was a member and Mary doubted she would much approve of her friendship with her brother Charlie if she knew.

"Have you ever considered becoming a Prefect? Think about it, they will have to pick one of you boys when we reach fifth year no matter how much they don't want to." She said in a light tone with a small laugh. Suddenly she felt much more friendly for no apparent reason, but then she knew one opportunity for a biting remark and she would likely take it.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack smirked at her but didn't say anything to her comment about roaming the castle where friends are. That wasn't his exact plan, but he couldn't say that that wasn't one of his plans..if he knew a prefect. Which, he didn't. That could change though. Maybe, he could meet this Dana that Mary was talking about, or even talk to Dawn, whom he had seen but never had a real conversation with.

"Yes, I know Kris. Well, I haven't actually talked to him and gotten to know him, but I have seen him and heard about him. He seems to be one of the better Slytherins here. I never knew he had a cousin in Ravenclaw, though." Jack paused trying to keep a straight face. "Krissy-bear? I've never heard that before. Maybe once or twice, but I would never have guessed that people were indicating him. I thought it was some other Kris. He just doesn't seem the type to...er...enjoy having a name like that." He let out a small laugh.

"I know that Prefects aren't perfect." Jack loudly told her. "They're just more important than other people. Some think that the badge goes to their head and they strut around the castle." Jack said, his eyes glowing maliciously. "I'm sure that can be true." He shuffled his feet and thought about what Mary had said. Prefect? Me? I don't think so. Even so..it would be fun to put kids in detention once and a while.

"I never really thought about it. It would be fun, I guess you could say, in some ways and then annoying in others." Jack paused, thinking about the control one could have while being a Prefect. Prefects are respected but they don't have as much regard as others... "Queens tower above Prefects, though. Dawn is a Prefect and a Queen, am I right? She can be quite intimidating at times." Jack laughed. "Mostly to younger students, like first and second years." He didn't add that some third years are afraid of her, but those were third years of different houses.

[Mary Evans]

Mary laughed as Jack said he doubted Kris would enjoy such a name. "Well of course you wouldn't have heard it; I am the only one allowed to use it. I made it up and so its mine. Nobody else besides Dana is close enough to call him that anyways and for her to use it would just be beyond awkward considering they are cousins. Besides, it doesn't matter if he enjoys it or no; I enjoy it and thats all that matters. I hate being called "Lil' Sis" but you think he cares?" Mary replied amused. She definitely did need to reconnect with Kris, it had been much too long since she had seen him either. She was going to spend two weeks in Rome staying with him this summer though so they would get plenty of bonding time there.

She smirked as Jack mentioned the Queens and implied it was that Dawn was both that she was feared. "Queens are Queens because there is reason to respect and fear them, not the other way around. But yes Dawn is both. And believe me there is good reason to fear should you get on her bad side. I have personally felt the weight of her wand and it is not something to trifle with I can tell you that for sure." Mary spoke calmly as if conversing about the weather. She knew the power of the Queens and he was far from wrong in assuming they were more powerful than the Prefects. But they were still only humans and Mary had no reason to fear them; it wasn't unless you did something to them they would spare their energy on you.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack smiled a bit. "'Lil' Sis'? That's what he calls you? Does he have a name for Dana too?" Jack asked, rather amused. "Or is it just Dana?" He flicked his wrist and stood up. Noises were coming from outside the door. Jack halted and listened intently, not positively sure what to do. It was footsteps; someone was walking around! Jack caught his breath but stayed calm and collected. It seemed like they would go away sometime soon... The footsteps retreated away. He looked at Mary and then at the ground.

"I get what you mean. People say that the Queens are a big group of bullies, which I find isn't true. They just won't bother you unless you bother them, like you said. I heard about the Parkinson Project too. What do you think about that?" Jack asked. He guessed that Mary had already pledged her support to the cause. Jack, himself, was thinking about it, but he wasn't sure if he was going to after all.

[Mary Evans]

Mary smirked as Jack questioned if Dana had a nickname as well. "Why? Running out of terms of endearment for your "friends" from other houses? Well I am sorry to disappoint but as I said before; they are cousins. He calls her Dana." As Mary heard footsteps out in the hall she walked over to the doorway and stood there listening. She had no fear that they had been discovered already because of the silencing charm she had placed on the room. Regardless she wanted to know where they were in case they were doing one of those crazy check where they opened every classroom door to frighten anyone who may be hiding out into the hall like mice in a maze. They seemed to move past and when Mary was certain they were not turning back she began pacing the room slowly.

"The Parkinson Project? I have no real opinion on it to be honest. If it happens then I would benefit and if it doesn't I wont be upset. I really don't see their problem with muggles though. I mean I know many are still sore about the witch hunts but that was so long ago it's time to move on. I just don't get whats so bad about them. Not like those filthy muggleborns trying to pass themselves as wizards. At least the muggles stay in their place and don't bother us any. It's just those that don't know their place that bother me. They should have stayed in the muggle world where they belong. They didn't grow up here, no matter how hard they try they will never fully understand our practices. They will never practice our customs with a whole heart. They can not understand our historical plight." Mary did a miniature version of a rant before sitting down again; this time in the teachers chair with her feet propped up on the desk.

[Jack Rendel S5]

Jack smiled but said nothing about the friends from other houses thing. "I just thought that he would want to call Dana something too, since he is calling you a name. Cousins are cousins, I suppose." He had never met any of his cousins before. They were all living in the Americas. His family was a good pureblood family, through and through, but he never knew any of them. His father had always kept him away from family for some reason that Jack never quite understood.

He had to agree with Mary's ideas about the Parkinson Project. "I agree with the muggle part. I have a muggle servant myself at the manor, but he's paid for his labor. They never do anything to bother us, but that's just because we're hiding away our magic. If they somehow found out, everyone would want to be a wizard or witch, and then they would be just like the muggle borns. Muggles are usually keen to stay away from anything...er...magical, but some are different. Who knows what will happen in the near future. As for muggle borns being lower than Squibs, that surprises me. I would have thought Squibs were lower than that, since they have magic but cannot master it." He sighed and sat down. The Parkinson Project seemed harsh on those who purebloods didn't prefer. It was all what people think, and Jack wasn't sure if it was the greatest idea ever.

[Mary Evans]

Mary was aghast when Jack mentioned having a muggle servant. It was quite evident too by the way her jaw dropped for a moment before she recovered herself but a puzzled look remained on her face. “You have a muggle servant? Why in the nine hells would you hire a muggle? Everyone knows house elves are more efficient. Does it not drive you insane having to hide what you are in your own home? What about when Owls arrive or someone comes by floo don't they notice? Please tell me you allow these common things into your home…” Mary threw out without even thinking after he finished speaking though all she heard was muggle servant and hiding magic. ‘What kind of pureblood family hides what they are? It is something to be proud of not something to be ashamed of. What on Earth is wrong with them?’ she though but had sense enough not to share that little bit of though with him.