Chapter Four
In the staff room, all the teachers had gathered for a staff meeting.
"So, we will be preparing the all the classrooms over the next week, because the inspection will be the following week," Charlotte explained. "Make sure to have your classrooms all ready, and please remember the textbooks from last year as the inspectors will be needing the records and files."
"Files?" Henry asked, frowning.
"Yes, darling, the student's files. Everyone make sure that you have them ready for the inspection."
"Do we need to hand in any homework of the students from the past year?" Tessa inquired.
"Yes we will be needing that as well." replied Charlotte. "Also, for Science teachers, I want you to run the Required Practicals while to inspectors are there."
"Is that really necessary..." Henry muttered quietly, looking nervous.
However, Sage Darnel and Severus Snape seemed unperturbed.
The meeting carried on for another half hour. Preparations were underway.
...
"Well this is unexpected." Mr. Bane said.
"Huh?" Thorne looked up, confused.
"For once, Carswell, you are actually on time."
"Well," Mr. Bane announced, addressing the classroom, "our class has been put in charge of making the backdrops for the play. That means lots of glitter, everywhere." He paused, looking each student in the eye as he said his next words slowly, "I want this play... to sparkle."
The students set to work, painting scenes of crowded cities, rolling hills and a tavern.
"We need more glitter. This looks bare." Mr. Bane said, looking over Peeta's shoulder.
"Sir, we've run out of glitter," he replied.
"Well, we shall have to get more," Mr. Bane took in the scenery once again, "a lot more." He headed out of the room on a mission.
…
Peony and Prim set off to their P.E. lesson.
"Miss Herondale and Mr. Lightwood are the teachers," Peony explained.
"Do you know what sport we are doing today?" Prim asked.
"Hmm, I think it's archery."
"Oh, cool. Katniss is really good at that." Her comment landed on deaf ears as Peony's attention was fixed on one of the older students.
"Oh my god," she whispered.
"What?"
"Hot guy three o'clock,"
Prim turned around. "Who? Oh, you mean Gale."
"How do you know his name?" Peony wondered.
"Him and Katniss are best friends."
"Ugh, he's taken."
"What do you mean?"
"Best friends that are a guy and a girl never last. One always falls for the other and they fall in love. It's just what happens." Peony said sadly.
"Ew, Peony, he's like my brother."
"Oh well."
"Today we will be doing archery." Miss Herondale announced.
"Are going to be using arrows?" Iko asked stupidly.
"No, we are going to be using the bow on it's own." Mr. Lightwood deadpanned. "First we need to go through safety protocol," he said, turning to the rest of the class. "You must never, ever, face another student with a your arrow drawn, the arrow should only ever be pointing at the floor or the target. Is that understood?"
A chorus of 'yes' and a few nods came from the class.
"When you are aiming, put three fingers on the string and use your dominant hand to grip the bow. Lift your elbow high, that's to put the proper back muscles in line, and look down the arrow at the target," he gestured with an unloaded bow. "Is anyone here left-handed? We have a few left-handed bows here on this side." He nodded to the bows lying on the ground.
The students lined up, all excited to get their hands on a bow. The lesson carried on with Prim certainly not living up to the Everdeen name - both teachers seemed disappointed, they also both had a very disconcerting habit of ranking each student's attempts under their breath, only to make Prim's glaring lack of skill more obvious. No one scored above a five, except for a girl named Ginny had a very promising talent for the sport, even scoring a bullseye from 40 metres.
