Oh Argyle was for it now! Letting the castle fall into such a state for so long! Hopefully this 'sharpies' was easily removed from the portraitses, and could be done without further damage/bothering the paintings inhabitant.

The elf held her ears and sobbed as she rocked back and forth on her feet, tears streaming down her face. If Algamus saw the paintings before she could clean them, what then?!

But then the studentsies were talking to Argyle, and she found herself staring between them, hiccoughing.

"Misses doesn't have to help old Argyle," she squeaked. "Studentsies is here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn, house elves is here to clean!" Argyle's tears slowed and she suddenly shook her head so hard her ears flapped. "No, no. Both misses is very kind but Argyle shall clean while the studentsies learn!"

Argyle sniffed a huge sniff and looked up at the portraites. "Misses should not be drawing on portraits. Argyle is not wanting the nice misses to get in trouble."