I didn't sign up for this!

[Violet MacFusty]

Ever since she had heard the news that the three muggleborn students had gone missing, she had been incredibly worried. The loon - for she believed it to be they who was guilty - had reached Hogwarts. Not only had they reached it, but they had violated it by the worst means possible. Kidnapping students threatened the entire school. Parents would no doubt want to take their kids away from the dangers immediately. She hadn't heard anything yet, but she suspected that parents of muggleborns would want to do so immediately. Then again, muggles may not have been aware of what was happening exactly? She believed the Headmaster would have to tell them if their children were in danger.



Phineas had called a meeting for all of the staff members to attend - including Violet. He had scheduled a time when a group of staff were to patrol the outside of the castle. They were to make sure no one entered but most importantly, that there weren't any students who tried to sneak out. Violet was one of the first people on the schedule. She was quite frightened about it, since she wasn't sure what she might do if she ran into the loon. Would the right spells come to her mind? She didn't voice her concerns however, as she did not want to appear weak in the eyes of her colleagues.



At least the day was nice. The sunshine spoke of spring. It was a nice relief from what had seemed like the endless amount of rain they had just received. It did little to calm her nerves however, and her wand was clutched to her chest so tightly that her freckled knuckles had turned white. Just as she passed by a group of tall bushes near the end of the castle, she heard them rustle around - as if someone were behind them. Her stomach flew into her throat. Trembling, she inched over, clutching her wand even more tightly. "Who.. who-who's th..there?" She asked in what was supposed to have been a demand, but was much more of a squeak.

  

[Vincent Valentine]

Things were not well at Hogwarts right now. The news of three missing students had caused fear in the hearts of many concerned parents. Vincent was expecting parents to start pulling their children out of the school immediately. After all, what parent would want their children in such danger and so far away from them? Most parents would rather face the root of an evil together then with their children so far away from them. It was just sort of a human instinct thing, one would naturally feel more capable of protecting their child then someone else that they may not even know. The whole situation had caused the staff to be one the defense, ready to defend the school as much as possible. And as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Vincent felt personally obligated to protect these students against what ever foul soul, that seemed sick enough to try and steal these kids from the school.

There had been a meeting that was called, which in itself wasn't all that surprising. After all what were they going to do? Just stand there and watch it all happen? Not likely. At the meeting they had all been scheduled to patrol the grounds and make sure that all the children were safe, keeping anyone from getting into the school and making sure that non of the students tried to sneak off. After all some of the youngsters had a habit of doing so, and that could get them very well killed at this point. Vincent had vouched for night shift. Late night shift to be exact, because he knew that most people wouldn't want to patrol the grounds so late.

But he had become rather bored in his study this day, having no classes to deal with and feeling lonely. His wife was at home with her parents this week, instead of staying in Hogsmead like she so often did and he felt that it couldn't hurt to patrol the grounds a bit. The professor took off down the lawns and off to the side he made his way through the dense shrubbery and stopped as he heard some noise. He figured that it was probably just a student, so he proceeded, slower, but not unwary and he moved his hand to the wand hanging from his belt. He heard a voice ask who's there and though it didn't sound malicious or particularly devious he still kept his wand raised evenly in front of him, brushing back the shrubbery with one arm.
"Oh! Mrs.Ollivander.",he said, his flushing with surprise as he saw the other staff member there. He lowered his want and frowned slightly, feeling embarrassed for having been ready to hex her.

  

[Francesca Beechworth]

Of all things, Francesca had not expected the safe haven of Hgowarts to turn dangerous.

The loony running rampant and the disappearances of the muggleborns had served to raise the hackles of Miss Beechworth's neck, and raised her own personal alarm. As nurse, Francesca was not expected to patrol the outdoor grounds, but she still felt the implications of the patrols. Hogwarts was no longer as safe as it was supposed to be.

Chess had finally found a lull in the influx of patients, a lull enough to be able to go to the greenhouses and restock some of her rudimentary herbs for her cures and salves and balms and tonics. She had an armful of the herbs and even more in a messenger bag made for the purpose of carrying the herbs and roots back and forth between the castle and the greenhouses.

As typical of her fashion, at least when she was preoccupied, Chess was hardly paying attention to where she was going. Her mind was a million miles away, toying with an idea for a new tonic to help quicken healing processes. And in her typical fashion, she didn't realize her collision course intended until it was far too late. Chess felt herself collide with a person, though she rather clipped the solid shoulder and felt herself tripping.

Before Chess could notice who she'd ran into, she began cursing and fumbling to saves the herbs that had been in her hands. "It will take months for more of these to mature! Do you think you could watch where you're going? she remarked in an irritated fashion, brushing the dirt off herself as carefully as possible. And then she notices who she had tripped into and rolled her eyes laughing. Leave it to Chess to find amusement in such a dark time.

"Well, hello there Vi. Mr. Valentine," Chess spoke respectfully, amusement to her features. What brings you two out on the grounds?"

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet nearly squeaked again when the person responded - she recognized him immediately and felt relief begin to surg through her. If there was anyone at all that she wanted to see it was Professor Valentine, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He wasn't meant to patrol until evening, but she wasn't about to complain. The hold on her wand loosened and her knuckles regained their color as she lowered it from under her chin to chest level. She was still rather on edge from the entire ordeal. Just as she was about to speak to him, and apologize for rudely directing her wand toward him, she was bumped firmly into. It made her squeal like a young girl and spin around, grasping her wand tightly once more towards her own chin.



Herbs were scattered on the ground as well as Miss Beechworth. Again, she felt relief. Neither of the two were dangerous, which was nice. Violet's heart thrashed in her chest. It was quite noisy and she wondered whether the other staff members could hear it.



"Oh Chess, I'm terribly sorry," She said as she bent to help her friend collect the herbs, "I didn't realize you were there. I've been placed on the first watch and I really ought to pay more attention to things..." It was then that she remembered she had not yet greeted the Professor, and she straightened, with herbs in her hands, in order to properly greet him. "Good morning, Mr. Valentine," She said, her cheeks a bright red, "I apologize for pointing my want at you... I had thought that it might have been..." She paused, suddenly feeling anxious again as she thought of it, unaware that she had begun to twist the herbs that were in her hands.