The great hall was badly lit with Family banners draped across the halls. There were no house banners, no music, no fine foods and only one, round table. On each space there was a knife and fork with some hard bread on the plate. There was some fatty turkey inside spread wet with beef dripping. It was Christmas day, a religious festival. The Family was wiping it out.

Harshing had ate his sandwich and was left wanting more.

He looked at the students who also were sharing his feelings.

Flame stared at the sandwich and around the hall feeling rather useless. How else was she supposed to feel? She'd been raped, lost all the respect she'd had within the family, and found ahe actually cared about Harshing, all in 48 hours. Then this. How wonderful this week was turning out.

She pushed the plate away from her withpout touching the food and stared around sulkily. She looked at Harshing. "Nice christmas?" she asked mockingly.

"Silence!" He roared, in character. "We must eat in silence and pray to the Sentinus and thank him for providing us food and a school to learn. We are privileged."

He paced the hall ensuring everyone was eating and then praying silently. He stopped to beat several people who were talking.

She stared at him, seemed to recoil, but it was all an act. She knew he had to keep his cover. She rolled her eyes and then stared at the food, pushing it further into the table. She rubbed her arms and sighed, wishing to get up, but knowing it would be a stupid thing to do. Flame did not prey, she sat there smirking coldly, and rolling her eyes at all the loyal members of the family.

Finn tried to stifle himself from laughing... This was ridiculous. School wasn't supposed to be prison. Eating that food wasn't a privilege, but rather an awful responsibility. Finn bowed his head, feigning prayer. The last thing he needed was Harshing or worse on his case. He picked up his knife and attempted to saw through the sandwich... It was slow going and didn't work very well. A crust of bread and turkey... Hardly a Christmas Feast. Maybe prisoners were fed better...

Fawne sat silently picking at the bread, the turkey left aside since it looked the least edible. She was neither praying nor feigning too, she just sat there indifferently eating away. Though one thing was clear, she missed Christmas; a slight depressed look glazed normally dreamy eyes. This sucked; she had not only had the worst Christmas yet, she still had plans to make and on top of everything she now had proper food to find...

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Craven had yet to become disillusioned with the family, he still followed his orders to a 'T' and because of so he had disowned both Fawne and more recently Flame. Though both girls were still members of the family. His head was hanging towards the table in silent prayer as he lazily nibbled at the turkey, even his unyielding obedience could not force him to willing gulp down the food, though he dared not to leave it.

Mei had attempted to distance herself from the political issues as much as possible, but she had taken the job as Professor knowing that the Family owned the school. This was the first time it had outrightly bothered her. The students looked either depressed, annoyed and sub servant. This was not hogwarts she knew. This was not Christmas. Mei herself looked outwardly sour her eyes open and mouth firmly pressed into a line, only her silence could be classed as part of the prayer. As for her food it lay barely touched; though it was clear some had been eaten if just to escape punishment from the people higher than her.

Flame was sat near to Fawne, and was not afraid of Harshing and his cane. In fact, she was more bothered about other things. She pulled a cold glare at Craven, before turning to Fawne who sat near by.

"This is stupid. Tell me, Fawne. do you believe in the cause anymore or have you lost faith in it?"

When Flames words reached her ears she felt a prickle of unfamiliar anger rise within her. It wasn't the words but the speaker. the two of them and her brother had been friends but times had changed and the three were personally against one and other. She paused and blinked languidly as if washing the anger from within, when she finally did speak her voice was more detached than normal and her eyes were fixated on Craven's form.

"I have lost him and i am losing others." She turned to face Flame. "Perhpas dinner is not accustomed to this type of talk?" It was a casual hint that maybe they should continue this else where; somewhere were they are less likely to be punished for it.