va Stu

my suitcase with a finger tipped in brig

thin. I met her gaze without flinching. "

or duty? This isn't a sanctuary for geniuses. You

me like I wa

tter of your a

an apologetic tone. "Oh, Yvette-such bad luck! The very

a gasp. "Was it

isn't that I don't want to help. Perhaps... you could make do in the supply close

dog kennel-a place they used to punish disobedient workers. They were waiting for me to

cry. And I di

nocent look. "All the beds are full? Oh d

ing that made the

Then I lay down on the cold flags

there's no bed, I'll sleep

ll into a d

a crying first-year. They could punish a defiant one. But what were they supposed

ssor-or a student from any other house-saw a first-year sleeping on the cold stone floor of t

ment could run from losing her positi

hissed, afraid of

en let out a soft, theatrical

d at each other,

ishing the scales-Rhoda. She summoned all her courage to whisper, "Prefect Yv

venomous glare, an

g the whole "no beds" excuse had been a petty game. If s

l her magic

I had walked through courts of vipers far more dan

This little drama wasn't over. I was waiti

to explode, footsteps echoed from the

ns! What is g