Jack had been skulking around the castle. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong this year. He had entirely too much pressure on his shoulders to be able to accommodate everything that was thrown his way. Going back to the beginning on the year Jack was focusing on all of the negative aspects of what happened within the school year and more. Memories of his father and the horrible treatment he received at home sent visible shivers down his spine. Next, as everyone's spirits had fallen with news of the barrier keeping them locked up in the school Jack internally screamed for joy. This force field around the school helped Jack keep all thoughts of his father away. Demi soon came into the picture and brightened up his life, until he had told her about his home life.

Everything went downhill from here for Jack. Everything just seemed to begin crumbling underneath his feet. He had gotten into several fights with Demi after that and the mysterious thief stole all of his stuff. Well all of the stuff that mattered to him. Not that everyone else’s important items weren't important or anything but Jack just couldn't seem to care about them. It wasn't his problem so why should he care? All of the small little rebellions against his father that he had carefully put together over several summers had been stolen. All of the memories that had been carefully hid in the back of his mind had come back with a vengeance. Especially when he put on his old clothing.

Fortunately, as Jack sunk deeper into the depressive thoughts in his mind he heard mumbling of what Jack could only make out as "Filthy, filthy mudbloods." Now that was strange, barely anyone since halfway through the barrier situation really cared about the hole blood dispute. Jack followed the voice that got increasingly louder as he traveled towards it. To say Jack was surprised was an understatement. Not only was the noise made by a house elf. The house elf seemed to be wearing eyeliner, AND HIS DOG COLLAR! "Need to get back to new master; new master will be pure for Kreacher. Kreacher needs new master!" The house elf paced back and forth in the hallway muttering to itself.

He rubbed his eyes again just to make sure this was really happening. Jack rarely ever saw house elves around the castle let alone pacing in hallways of the school. But now one of those mysterious house elves was wearing a dog collar which Jack absolutely knew was his. His name branded onto the side of it. "Are you alright?" Jack said in an attempt to catch the crazy elf's attention. Jack was sorely mistaken at thinking this elf was just crazy. The look in it’s eye as he spun around and sneered at Jack screamed pure insanity.

Jumping a step back Jack commented under his breath “So much for Gryffindor courage. Can’t even stand up to a house elf.” After that comment Jack of course pulled out his cockiness that came hand in hand with Gryffindor courage and said to the elf, “Hey you! Give me my collar back!” The elf glared at him so hatefully that Jack was sure his blood would soon begin to boil with the heat of it. Jack's pride of not being stared down by an elf got the better of him and of course Jack chased after the elf who scurried away. At the dead end in the corridor Jack finally had cornered the elf who called himself Kreacher. Jack thought it was a highly appropriate name with the behavior it was displaying. "Just give me the bloody collar you FUCKING MANGEY ELF!" Jack screamed.

"Mudblooded student will gets what’s comings to him soon!" Kreacher shouted back at Jack. In retaliation Jack grabbed the house elf by the throat and tore his collar off of his neck. In fear Kreacher did the only thing he knew he could do. He popped away. Jack stumbled back, falling on the ground, in surprise when he saw that the elf had successfully popped out of his grasp.

Jack wasn’t one to deal with the authorities, out of detention that is, but this was definitely an exception to normal circumstances. Picking himself up off of the floor Jack scrambled without any of his regular grace up to McGonagall’s office. He knocked on the door rapidly clearly running out of breath and looking around anxiously. It was only when Jack’s hand was caught by the Transfiguration teacher did he sag in relief at seeing her. “Professor I’ve got a story that you won’t believe!” Jack dragged his teacher back into her office and collapsed back into a chair.