Chapter Forty-Two
Just a Standoff
Lunette and Jennifer Apparated into what most people thought was a service closet and stepped into Ford Field, Jennifer staring at all of the people wandering about.
"It's okay, come on. We're going to a private suite," Lunette explained. "One of the wizard lawyer associations I belong to sponsors it. I'm afraid we are going to have to put up with a few schmoozers and panderers, but it'll mostly be polite," she said with amusement. "And since a lot of the lawyers bring their favorite client... which translates into whoever gives them the most money... there's a big danger of someone from Whitebridge being here today. So, I arranged for us to sit with a friend," she explained. Jennifer glanced at her curiously, but she had turned and walked over to a door where an attendant of some kind greeted them and showed them in. Inside was a small bar and a food selection geared towards the holiday, while beyond it was a large glass viewing area and a door leading out to a row of chairs overlooking the field.
As they came in everyone look over with interest, and one wizard made his way over to greet them.
"Ah, Lunette! Happy Thanksgiving!" the man in fine wizard robes said. He had brown hair, a short trimmed beard, and green eyes.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Jim," Lunette said with a warm smile. "Jennifer, this is one of my partners, James Buchard."
"I recognize the name, actually," Jennifer said with a smile, remembering at once that he had some Masons as clients. He had also spoken up for her, she recalled, when they had tried to remove her.
"How nice! I can't tell you what an honor it is to meet you after everything you and your husband has done over the years. Lunette has told me a lot of stories," he added with amusement.
"Mostly good ones, I hope," Jennifer chuckled.
"Perhaps with one or two rants thrown in when you exasperate her, but yes," Jim teased. "Also, you should be interested to know that I have taken you on as a client... for today at least," he added in a lowered voice. "But also, I've been hearing about your desire to help Dean Elk and Assistant Dean Johnson to reform that school, and Lunette has come to me for advice on your behalf. After the game, I would be more than happy to impart some of that advice, as well as provide you a possible solution that will give the three of you a lot more control over school's direction."
"I am definitely open to any advise you can give me as far as that's concerned," Jennifer agreed enthusiastically. "But um... wouldn't that be a conflict of interest in a way? I mean, I know who some of your clients are," she admitted.
"No, not really. What I have in mind has absolutely nothing to do with them in the slightest," Jim assured her. "You'll see what I mean when I hand you my full proposal later." Jennifer smiled at that.
"It sounds intriguing," Jennifer said enthusiastically.
"Good! Then you can be my guest for the day," he winked. "And my old partner can come too!" he added for good measure.
"Thank you," Lunette said with a chuckle. "Anyone for drinks?"
"Oh, just water or iced tea, I'm still stuffed," Jennifer protested. "And I have to do it again at dinner!"
"Me too, so I sympathize," Jim agreed with a grin. "Pumpkin Rum for me, Lunette!"
"I think I'll have the same," Lunette decided, and the three of them stepped over to the glass to look out at the field. Currently there was a cheerleader squad performing a routine to music while quite a number of workers were busy checking over other parts of the field.
"Do you know much about the game, Jennifer?" Jim asked curiously.
"Just the basics. I know a field goal is worth three and a touchdown is worth six plus an extra point can make it seven, but I get confused sometimes when they're moving up and down the field and also during some of the penalty calls," Jennifer admitted. "Especially since the Wizard version of this game have penalties that are very different, from what I understand."
"Oh, yes, they are, because the equipment is different," Jim agreed. "But no matter, I'll do my best to demystify you as we go along!" Just then, he heard his name and turned around. "Ah, another Pennsylvanian! Come, dear guest," Jim said companionably. Jennifer followed him over to a grey-haired wizard in a fine Muggle suit and tie, who stood by a somewhat heavyset wizard with styled blonde hair, steely eyes, and wearing a gentleman's robes. The blonde man tilted his head speculatively, debating if she was who he thought she was. But Jennifer was able to read clearly who he was and smiled.
"Glen Starr, Mr. Alva Powers, this is Jennifer Craw Snape, a new client of mine. Perhaps you've met before?" Jim inquired. Mr. Powers frowned at him, wondering how she was Jim's client.
"No, we haven't met, but am I right in thinking that you might be Angela's father?" she inquired.
"Yes, I am indeed," he acknowledged with a thin smile.
"I thought so, she rather looks like you," Jennifer improvised. "And she does very well in my class, too. She really has a knack for making items."
"Yes, she gets it from me, of course!" Alva said.
"I'm sorry, but am I right in thinking you're related to Professor Snape of Hogwarts in some way?" Glen interrupted, a bit impatient with them exchanging school trivialities at a time like this.
"He's my husband," Jennifer said with a knowing smile.
"Ah, how wonderful! It is an honor to meet you! Buchard, well done getting a Snape as a client. Moving up in the world, I see," Glen teased him.
"Who cares if she's a Snape or not? She's just a teacher!" Alva said with exasperation.
Lunette had been poised to come to her defense, convinced that Jennifer would stand there and silently take the insult as she had so many times in the past. Because of that, Lunette was entirely unprepared when Jennifer snapped, stepping over and smacking him across the face so hard that it immediately left a red mark. Glen and Jim reached for one of Alva's arms, a little afraid that he'd try pulling his wand on her.
"If you have so low of an opinion of my profession as to make such a statement, you can take your children out of Whitebridge at once! Educate them yourself!" Jennifer told him furiously. "How dare you minimalize my profession, when you're just another stuffed shirted idiot who thinks that the only thing that matters is money! Who taught you how to count it? Who taught you how to read the charts you use every day, and who in the hell taught you to read? How dare you or anyone else stick your over-privileged noses in the air as if you were self taught your entire life, when every teacher you've had... from parents to school teachers to mentors... have sacrificed their time, energy, and yes, even financial status to get you to the point you are at right now! You are nothing but an ungrateful bloated pig, and I feel sorry for all of the teachers whose backs you stood on to get on that high horse of yours. Apparently, one of them forgot to teach your sorry ass how to respect those people who got you to where you are today. Well, guess what? I am not going to become one of those stepping stones! When I arrive at Whitebridge on Monday, I want your children enrolled in some other school, along with any other children in the Powers family who also hold the opinion that they're more important than teachers. If you have that poor of an opinion of me, then why in the hell would you want me to educate your children?"
"In that, at least, you have a point," Al said crisply. "I'll certainly be removing Angela from your class, but you don't have the power to remove me from the school."
"That is a very dangerous assumption," Jennifer said with such a dark expression, that Lunette walked over.
"Jennifer," Lunette said quietly.
"No, I am not backing down this time," Jennifer said firmly. "Remove your children from Whitebridge or face the consequences. And I guarantee you, you will not like the consequences."
"Is that some sort of a threat?" Alva said, squinting.
"Craws don't threaten, and they only give one warning," Jennifer said evenly.
"Je - you know," Lunette began, but then gave him an almost apologetic look of resignation, "maybe you should just do what she says and save all three of us lawyers a bit of paperwork... and whatever cleanup would be necessary for whatever Dark Witch nastiness she has in mind," she suggested. At that reminder, Alva growled softly.
"I hear Northwestern Wizards Academy is really good," Glen suggested helpfully.
"They never should have let one of your sort in the school!" Alva snapped. "I'll have you removed!"
"I'll have you removed from your own company's board first," Jennifer said coolly. Alva blinked.
"Impossible!" he laughed at that. "You don't have the resources!"
"Oh, I have a lot more resources than you think I do. Shall I prove it to you?" Jennifer inquired with an icy smile.
Lunette thought it over carefully, and then nodded to herself, realizing that she did easily have the resources to do just that. In fact, her expressions were so open about her internal debate and nod of confirmation, that the three wizards in front of them had noticed it.
"Of course, the regional school close to Cleveland isn't all that bad either," Glen suggested. Alva turned and glared at him before storming out of the room.
All of the sudden, Jennifer was aware of several other groups of witches and wizards had gathered in the room, because they had all begun chatting to each other as if they had been listening to the altercation.
"Well! The game's going to start soon! Time for a new drink and to find our seats!" Lunette suggested.
"Fine," Jennifer said irritably. "You know, that would have been so much easier if I could have simply challenged him to a Wizard's Duel! Why does it seem like everything I want to do is illegal over in the U.S.?" she asked with frustration, going over to the bar to get another glass of iced tea.
"Well, that was tense," Jim admitted softly. "Remind me to never ever use the term 'just' in front of teacher in her presence."
"Or anything else negative about the profession for that matter," Glen added for good measure.
"I really don't think any of us are going to forget," Lunette decided, then went over to get herself a tea as well.