Chapter Ten
The sound of heeled shoes running across stone flooring accounted for most of the noise in a quickly emptying corridor as a blonde dressed in emerald greens all but ran her heart out trying to make it to her first ever class at Hogwarts.
Running after a barely there gold dust trail, Aspen eventually found herself facing the threshold of her charms lesson and felt her heart race in her chest and not from the running she did to make it on time.
Leaned up against the hall, Aspen’s breathing stuttered as she grew nervous of what to expect. Would the teacher be nice like all her other professors thus far here in this magic castle? Will her classmates grow to like her or would they find her weird and foreign for having joined their year so late and or for having a far different upbringing than a majority of them. Will she struggle in the class due to the lack of the typical Hogwarts four years of learning or will she excel as Fig thinks she will.
All these thoughts caused the roaring of the blood pumping through her veins to crescendo even louder in her ears before a hand landing on her shoulder caused her to inhale harshly and choke on herself, coughs wracking her body as she jumped from the sudden touch.
“Bloody hell Aspen, I thought you heard me call out for you. I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you alright?” the voice belonging to the hand that gave her a brief fright said as she caught her breath and cleared her throat. Looking up into dark russet colored eyes, Aspen found herself face to face with Sebastian and waved her hands trying to reassure her new friend that she was fine, cheeks taking on a light tinge of pink as she found herself closer than she's ever been to someone.
“No, no, it's quite alright Sebastian, I just startle easily when my anxiety spikes like that. I was just getting into my head a bit too much if I’m being honest. Have you and Ominis waited long? Am I late?” Aspen questioned as she tried looking around for a clock of some sort to tell what time it was as she tried rubbing the heat in her cheeks away when the hand on her shoulder appeared again, softer this time before giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Hey, calm down and take a breath. You made it with a few minutes to spare and no, Ominis and I got a bit sidetracked by his cousin, Morofran. You’ll meet him later once we have herbology. He’s one of the few good family members the poor sod has. Either way you’re gonna love Charms I’m sure. Professor Ronen is a bit…eccentric at times but he really is a great professor. He also happens to be head of the Slytherin house so you’ll be seeing him in our common room from time to time.”
Aspen listened to Sebastian with rapt attention as she calmed her nerves, not even noticing that Sebastian used all of his talking as a distraction and guided her through the door and towards the empty seat Ominis and Sebastian had managed to save for her. With a hand barely there on her back, Aspen found herself sitting at the table and next to Ominis and blinked dumbfounded when she looked around the classroom.
Sebastian found her realization and shock hysterical and burst out into boisterous laughter that he attempted to smother down behind his hand as Aspen deadpanned at him. Unfortunately for the brunette this meant he was well distracted with his mirth to avoid the hand that walloped him on the head from his blond companion.
Aspen, who had felt Ominis move on her right hand side knew well enough at this point what was coming and leaned forward allowing the boy enough room to hit the intended target with ease and burst out in her own laughter as Sebastian just groaned. “This must be a new record. I usually hit you by lunch time again, not in class.” Ominis said amused as he readied his textbooks, silently pushing it slightly towards their new seatmate letting her glance at it as he plainly ignored the complaints being lobbed his way by Sebastian.
Aspen, who rubbed the beginnings of tears away, was getting herself invested in the textbook when a new voice chimed in and she was met with a girl in red robes and warm dark skin walking up to them amused. “I was planning on snagging the new student once she walked in but it seems like you snakes already stole her away before I even had a chance.” The girl spoke with a lifted tone and accent that caused Aspen to flush once she realized she was speaking about her and went to apologize before Sebastian gave a smug look and replied, chest almost puffed out. “Better luck next time Natty. Though to be fair we are trying to keep our newest little garden snake pure before wild cats go and put silly ideas up in her head.”
Natty was about to come up with her own witty retort when Ominis chimed in effectively putting a stop to the banter. “Oh come off it Sebastian, you’re just upset that Natty wiped the floor with you in Summoner’s court and had to complete her three foot essay for her instead.”
At that, Aspen burst into laughter and hid her face behind her hands as she tried to keep it down, to which Sebastian pouted a bit, the back of his neck beginning to burn red with embarrassment before he huffed and looked away silently whilst crossing his arms in front of his chest petulantly.
“I’m sorry I don’t even know what Summoner’s court is but my lord a three foot essay? I loathe the day I get assigned my first essay if it’s by length.”
Chuckling the girl, whom Aspen just learned was called Natty, just held her hand out for a handshake as she introduced herself. “As much as I love coming to bother this fool here I actually was going to try and see if you wanted to sit together but it seems you found your place with these two quicker then I could even try. Still I do hope we have more classes together or get to work together often.”
Aspen smiled at the sincerity and shook the other’s hand firmly. “I would love that Natty. The first chance we get I’ll definitely look for you as a partner! Oh and I’m Aspen Rosewood. I’m sure you're well aware but I’m the new fifth year.”
Aspen felt the other grip her hand just as tight and shook it with vigor. “Likewise. I’m Natsai Onai but please just call me Natty. I’m one of the few Gryffindor friends these two snakes have as a friend. My mother is also a teacher here at the castle. Have you met Professor Ronen yet?”
Aspen was about to respond when Sebastian jumped in for her. “She hasn’t met any of the professors yet Onai, you best get in your seat as well before Professor Ronen comes in and decides to put you in front of the class again.” he said, looking down at his text book fiddling with the pages and brows furrowed.
Natty looked over at Sebastian and his actions and just snickered before relenting and bidding the three of them goodbye and took her own seat across the room on the higher platform. Aspen settled in some more into her seat as she waited for class to start when she heard the sounds of muffled laughing coming from her right and when she looked over she could see a smug grin wavering on her fellow blond. Wondering what had set the boy off she gently tapped the table in front of him while calling his name. “Ominis? What's so funny?”
The question had Sebastian sitting straight up in his seat whilst giving the other boy a glare that would bury the other in the ground where he stood if he was able to see it. “Ominis don’t you dare-”
“Oh nothing dear Aspen, just seeing Sebastian acting childish at this age still sends me into laughter every time because-”
“Ominis!”
“-Because” Ominis shoved Sebastian’s hand away from his face that was trying to muffle his next words “Sebastian is jealous of Natty and only wants your attention on him.”
“Oh my-” Sebastian just groaned and felt his cheeks grow warm and thunked his head down on his arms that were folded on the table as he continued to grumble under his breath trying to deny his current reality..
Aspen, at the news of this revelation, just blinked before feeling her heart warm and grinned before her own giggles began. The young girl hid her own share of giggles and warmed cheeks behind her hands before calming down and nudging the boy with her elbow.
“Awww I’m honored you want all my attention Sebastian. I will promise to hang out with you as much as I can but I can’t throw all my time away to just you. What about Ominis and the girls?” she teased. Aspen had never felt such happiness aside from the months she’s spent with Professor Fig and of course leaving the Home. To have actual friends her age, like her for her and not think of her as a freak or an outcast and want to spend time with her left her feeling so light she could’ve sworn she was living in a never ending daydream.
Sebastian just peeked out of his arms and gave Aspen the most dead panned glare she has seen from him thus far to which she busted out into even more laughter and ended up leaning against Ominis for support whom seemed to catch the gist of what transpired and laughed at his friend’s misery. He was about to chime in when said support heard a distinct voice and let out the last of his laughs before gently forcing the girl to sit up by the shoulders and pulled open his book. “Straighten up you buffoons. The professor is about to walk in and I don’t think we fancy having him on us this early in the day quite yet.”
Sebastian just let out a small protest, his words along the lines of “I’m the victim here!” as he too grabbed his beat down book and set it down in front of him. Aspen wiped the beginnings of tears from her eyes when she sat up. At the same time from the doorway above the main entrance creaked open and a voice cut through all the noise of the students.
“Ahem. Shall we begin?”
Aspen found herself looking towards the source of the sound and was met with a man who was cloaked in purple with hints of green and gold accents and wearing a matching bowtie and vest underneath.
With hands on his hip, the white bearded man continued down the stairs and Aspen was surprised at how jovial the man was for being a professor.
‘I guess not every educator seems to hate their professions…’ Aspen thought as the man walked down the steps as he began his class.
“Welcome to Year Five of Charms. Now, this will be a crucial year in your education on the art of Charmwork, but I am confident that we will take hold with the passion and rigor requisite of such a challenge.”
All the students in the class began to quiet down to mere whispers and Aspen sat forward in her chair as she grew more intrigued at what her first class experience would entail.
Looking over the room of this year’s students, Professor Ronen hopped down the last few steps from his personal office and made his way down the room to where his other desk was as he instructed his class to pull out their books.
Aspen felt a nudge from Ominis and grinned as she nudged him back with her shoulder softly murmuring a quiet thanks under her breath as she took a glance down at the page she flipped for them.
‘Introduction to Growth and Shrinking Charms. While the two are helpful in obvious aspects of life in where any witch or wizard may need to grow or shrink something there should be a warning that not everything benefits from a forcible growth…~’
Aspen was pulled from her skimming of the page when Professor Ronen spoke again.
“Before we begin, can anyone here tell me the difference between the incantations of the Color Changing and Growth Charms?”
The professor’s head scanned the class, trying to make eye contact with his students to see who would be brave enough to answer his simple question when he noted everyone was avoiding eye contact with him.
While the head of Slytherin was trying to get someone to answer, Aspen felt the book slide even more towards her side of the desk and grinned as she began reading trying to see if she could find the answer whilst the class went on but was startled as the book flung itself off the table. A sharp gasp was pulled from her and she could hear her two seatmates snicker at her and narrowed her eyes at the boys when she heard the professor called her out.
“Ah-ah-ah, I’m afraid it is too late to study now.” He lightly teased, wagging a finger in the air.
Aspen pouted at the book being taken and grumbled under her breath a bit childishly making Sebastian and Ominis laugh under their breaths before quieting down as their professor continued.
“Hmm…the summer months must have really taken a toll on you all. By the looks of it, you all spent your holidays practicing Obliviate on one another.” he laughed to himself at his own joke before turning back to the students, hands clasped together at his stomach holding the book Ominis and Aspen were using. Now raising an eyebrow silently judging his class to see if they retained any knowledge he decided to ask a different question that was covered the year prior and was one of the more basic charms they should have under their belt.
“Do you even remember how to perform a basic Summoning Charm? Hmm? Anybody?”
The head of Slytherin twirled and rocked back and forth in his spot trying to catch any of his students by the eye and realized no one wanted to step forward. Not even his Summoning Prodigy Natty Onai and let a soft breath in mock disapproval out as he decided on a new course of action to get the class going.
“Hmm- well, it seems that we are in dire need of review. Everyone! Get into pairs and take positions on opposite sides of the classroom. Also miss Samantha, while I admire your enthusiasm only one book is needed per pair.”
Aspen got up as she was goaded out of her seat and was looking over at the boys to see them slowly slither out of the bench. Aspen snickered at their obvious laziness of having to get up when she caught eyes with Natty who eagerly made their way to stand across from her. Grinning back, she took her own position with the Gryffindor, leaving the boys sputtering behind her as she waved eagerly at the other girl, not giving either one a chance to react to her sudden departure. She eventually heard Sebastian grumble off to stand by Natty giving her a joking but semi nasty side eye sending both girls into near laughter at this childishness. Ominis, using his context clues, just sighed and shook his head, already done with Sebastian’s petulance as he made way to stand by Aspen.
Soon all the students in class were standing across from one another and were all looking over at their professor to see what was the next step.
Professor Ronan just chuckled seeing all the wide eyed looks sent his way before continuing what he had planned for their review. “Now let’s put those textbooks to use as the blunt objects you all so wholeheartedly believe they are and take turns summoning them out of one another’s hands.”
Aspen watched intently the entire time excited to finally learn a new spell, her eye’s practically sparkling in the moment. Watching the arc the man did with his wand, she was careful to mimic and listen to the word needed for the charm to work. Seeing everyone else begin their review, Aspen looked across to Natty who just smiled encouragingly back at her as her eyes flicked down to the book she held.
Growing determined, Aspen felt her brows furrow slightly as she gripped her borrowed wand and pointed it at the book. Focusing perhaps a bit too intently ,Aspen began to replicate Professor Ronan’s movements, arching her wand from right to left before she let out a small yelp as her spell worked almost too perfectly as it shot out of Natty’s hand and came barreling towards her.
Aspen let out a soft grunt as the thick textbook hit her chest with a solid enough thud to make her feel the need to brace herself. After scrambling to grip the book to avoid it falling to the ground, the new Slytherin let it dawn on her that she managed the charm and grew ecstatic as she let out a few soft cheers to herself before giving her partner a grin.
Ominis, having stood next to her, could hear her excitement and felt himself feel the corner of his lips lift before continuing the exercise with Sebastian. Natty, much like Ominis, felt herself grow amused at her new friend and just waited patiently for the girl to calm down from her joy before repeating the charm back, well practiced in it that when time came for her turn the book gracefully flew back towards her before speaking up. “That is not bad.”
Ronan, silently observing the newest of his class perform the charm, grinned before jovially walking towards her as he called the class to a pause after a few minutes. Hands on his hips, he began to compliment her before turning his attention to the rest of his class. “You are a swift learner! I see a lot of potential - but remember; potential is nothing without practice! Keep at it and you might just rival Miss Onai here!”
The aforementioned girl just snorted at the teacher's antics before giving a mock sneer to the blonde and nearly sent Aspen into a choked fit of laughter before forcing herself to calm down as the professor continued. “Very good everyone, that’s enough of that.”
Beginning to walk down the classroom towards the other side of the room before pausing in his spot as if having a grand idea. “Well, as you all seem to have the basics down, and it is an exceptionally lovely day, I was thinking we might have ourselves a little excursion - outside for a spot of fresh air.” Swiftly turning on the balls of his feet, the man began to walk out the door calling for his class to follow after him, walking out the door leading the students through the halls of the school and outside.
Scrambling behind him (after everyone in the class gave each other looks of amusement or happiness at going outside), Aspen found herself with her two housemates and Natty sitting on a warmed patch of grass as they waited for the rest of their class to settle in their spots.
Professor Ronan, wasting no time to resume his train of thought, began to speak as he let the class relax for a few minutes in the sunbeams of the sun. After he himself warmed up and enjoyed the breeze that the ends of summer provided. “I’ve always found that fun goes hand in hand with mastery, as I’m sure the Quidditch players amongst us would agree.”
At that, some cheers of agreement rang out throughout the students including Sebastian and Imelda. Aspen recalled earlier in the day the two bickering back and forth about booting the other off of the house team which made the snowy blonde even more curious as to what this sport seemed to be about before the head of her house pulled her attention once more as he continued speaking.
“So, what better than a bit of sport to put our prowess with the Summoning Charm to the test? Right?” With a bit of waving from his wand, the Charms professor hummed joyfully under his breath as he used magic to put together a platform of sorts, sections of it blocked out in different colors and numbers on them before balls of red and blue also appeared of thin air.
Aspen, watching from the side, just grinned once more at the show of magic feeling like she could never grow bored of it. It wasn’t long where the others pulled her out of her stupor to drag them towards the rest of the students rearing to give a go at the game Professor Ronan was almost down assembling. The boys and Natty were quick to give the girl a quick explanation of the name of the game as well of its rules before she found her name being called out, summoning her to the front of the class. “So, with everything all set up now, why don’t we have our news student start us off? Miss Rosewood, if you would please come up.”
Aspen gave an excitable albeit nervous grin as she walked up to the second platform that sat in front of the colorful one. The wood creaked slightly under her weight as she stepped up but once the professor explained the rules once more. Giving the man a small smile, she aimed at one of the balls that was sitting on the far left and began the game.
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“That was a very close game, my new friend. If your first ball didn’t fall short of the 50 zone you would have had me beat.” Natsai said as she shook Aspen’s hand. Despite her loss, the young Slytherin had fun in her first lesson and took the loss in stride, beginning to learn more about her friend and her prior learning as the two walked back and reclaimed their spots in the grass next to Sebastian and Ominis.
“Great showing you two. That game was neck and neck. You should practice more Natty, or our newest viper will snatch your crown.” Sebastian teased as the other rolled her eyes giving the boy a light shove. “Nonsense. You speak utter nonsense at times Sebastian.” the wild cat chuckled.
“I concur with Ms. Natsai.”
“Ominis will you ever side with me. Just once?”
“I’ll side with you once you stop behaving like a beast during dinner.”
The girls busted out into laughter as Sebastian grumbled and gave his supposed best friend a shove.
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After class the four students began walking to their next class chatting with Natty telling the other about her schooling in Uagadou and wandless magic, impressing Aspen at how talented the girl was when eventually the Gryffindor had to split for their History of Magic class as the group of snakes continued on their way to Defense class. As the trio was about to walk in a snobbish voice cut through.
“Sallow, took you long enough to show up. I believe you owe me a proper duel after that sham at Crossed Wands last year.” the redhead exclaimed. The boy stood fairly tall (a clear head taller than herself Aspen was quick to note)with a face that was more rectangular and currently flushed with anger and freckles. Aspen was quick to recognize the boy as a Gryffindor as he donned the same red trimmed robes as her new friend Natsai and was about to ask her housemates what was happening when Sebastian stepped forward as Ominis was quick to pull her back by her wrist, silently shaking his head with a bit of an exasperated look on his face.
Sebastian just huffed out a laugh as he watched the boy before him complain and flippantly placed a hand on his hip. “Oh shove off Leander, won’t you. I won that duel fair and square and we all know you’re only sore about it this time ‘round because Adelaide Oakes was there this time to witness you flail around like a flopping flobberworm.”
While Aspen herself was confused at the conversation that was progressing in front of her, she faintly heard Ominis sigh before subtly shaking his head side to side, letting her know to not interfere. Pouting, the snowy blonde just sighed and stepped back allowing the two’s conversation to heat up more and more as they threw barbed insults at each other before the agitated Gryffindor finally had enough and launched an unknown cast towards the cocky snake. The brunette dodged the spell, having ducked with a tasteful expletive exploding past his lips. Aspen, who had been standing a little behind Sebastian, let out a small yelp as Ominis was quick to pull her by the collar of her robe and yank her back to have the cast hit the stone wall.
“OH-My sincerest apologies but I panicked and just grabbed whatever I could to pull you back. I never intended to grab you by the scruff of your robes. Is your neck okay?” Ominis fretted over the girl and she let out a few small coughs as she tried to wave the boy’s worries away. As the two blondes talked, they failed to notice the cold glare Sebastian gave Leander and finally agreed to a duel, dragging the other into the D.A.D.A classroom.
“Ominis, I swear I’m fine. It was more just the shock of being pulled back. If anything you probably did more good so don’t worry your head off about it.” the girl said as she finally was able to grab his hands and force them to stop checking. She watched Ominis tense slightly at her hands grabbing his and realized how touchy he got trying to check her over. The tips of his ears began turning red as he stilled his movements and brought his hands back to his sides. “A-ah. Apologies, I suppose in the midst of my worrying I forgot myself and invaded your personal space. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable. I suppose the Sallows' need for physical touch for just about everything has rubbed off on me during the summers I stay with them. They are an affectionate pair.”
At that Aspen gave a soft smile before giving Ominis’s shoulder a hesitant squeeze. “It’s okay Ominis, truly. Like I said, if you had not pulled me back I would’ve been hit square in the face most likely. Anyways, don’t worry about all the mother henning you were doing. It’s…nice. It’s nice knowing someone cares. At the Home we were often left to fend for ourselves unless you manage to make nice with one of the workers and become a favorite you would find yourself hard pressed to find if anyone would wake you up before all the food at morning meals were gone.”
Though Aspen had said this as a way of alleviating her new friend of his worries, she caught herself near the end and trailed off as she watched the other’s brows furrow slightly at her explanation. Biting her lip, worrying it softly looking around them, she finally noted that their third had disappeared with the ginger and turned back to Ominis. “I know you were in the middle of making sure I was okay after you pulled me away but I don’t suppose you know where Sebastian has gone off too. I’m almost positive class is about to start with how empty the halls are and he’s just gone now along with that other boy.”
At her question, Ominis just rolled his eyes at the mention of the cocky brunette and just gave the girl a small smile, lifting only the corner of his lips up briefly. One would have missed it if they had blinked. Ominis let out a sigh that sounded like he would much rather deal with anything else than said boys in question before nodding his head over towards the door of their next class as he spoke. “Well, I’m sure you caught on to what the two were talking about before and if what I know about Sebastian hasn’t changed the five minutes we all were out here for, I wouldn’t put it past him to have let his anger get to his head and accepted the duel from Leander. We’ll probably catch some of it when we head in. Speaking of, we should go in now and grab a decent table lest you want to sit all the way in the back of your first Defense Against the Dark Arts class?”
At that Aspen violently shook her head, momentarily forgetting that the other couldn’t see her before breathlessly exclaiming her disagreement, as it was one of the few classes she was most intrigued in. Even more now than ever with all the events that had happened to her the day prior.
Ominis allowed Aspen to go in first as he was in no rush for seats knowing he would be sitting with Sebastian who would’ve already secured a table for the three of them and took his usual place at the end of one table and began unpacking his book from his bag already looking bored as he ignored the duel taking place near the center of the class.
Aspen on the other hand, much like in the Charms classroom, took her time walking in and looking at everything. From the orbs of enlarged eyes that were stationed just outside, to a few skeletons of creatures displayed and a bunch of other devices strewn all around. Once she had her fill of looking around the room, she then noticed the two males in the center of the class, other students staggered around them cheering for either side. Some students were sitting and some were off to the side clapping and encouraging either boy.
Intrigued, she walked slowly up closer to the duel and noticed Sebastian casting a spell towards the other, watching a red spark burst out the tip of his wand and towards the Gryffindor who used Protego to deflect the spell from making contact. It still baffled Aspen in the way her unique magic allowed her to actually see the magic around them whilst others saw glimpses or flashes or even nothing at all. The new Slytherin just watched in rapture as the two went back and forth before it seemed like Sebastian had finally had enough and cast a few spells in succession hoping one would hit. She could hear the audible hiss of displeasure as the other deflected and sent off his own barrage of spells attempting to take Sebastian out.
Sebastian let out a small huff of annoyance before he began to taunt the other “Is that all you’ve got? I would’ve figured that you would have shown some sort of slight improvement over the summer if you had the gall to challenge me to a duel and now? Well now I’m a little disappointed."
Leander just glowered at the boy and saw red as once more he let his anger overtake him. “You say that but you haven’t changed either. If anything I’d say we're on equal playing fields now that you don’t have your sister to coach you.”
It was at this where Aspen could almost feel the tension of the room thicken to the point one could almost cut right through it with a knife. The few students who were cheering and calling out for their pick to win the duel suddenly quieted, some even looking forlorn themselves. Aspen could also hear to her right the way Ominis’s book had slammed closed as he seemed to stare at the two boys, his own wand flashing red rapidly.
The taunt itself worked the way Leander had wanted it too but it wasn’t until he saw the glare on Sebastian’s face, looking almost murderous, did he then realize what he said was out of line. However much Leander wanted to take back the retort, he was never given a chance as Sebastian immediately went on the attack.
“Bombarda!”
Aspen could hear the anger in her friend’s voice that almost shook her as she had never heard his voice even reach near those levels of anger he was currently demonstrating before letting a gasp slip past her lips as she watched his powerful cast almost cannon out of his wand and towards the redhead. Leander was quick to deflect and protect himself but with how hasty the spell was, the spell ricocheted up towards the skull of a large skeleton (of what appeared to be a large flying creature of some sort, Aspen noted vaguely) and rattled the bones. Everyone almost stood still as they heard the bones clack and clatter against one another before a large creak could be heard.
Almost like everything in the room had slowed down, the entire class witnessed the large skull detach itself and begin to fall towards the terrified student, no one knowing what to do in the five seconds that seemed to stretch themselves into five minutes when yet another voice yelled out.
“LEVIOSO!”
Aspen felt her chest, that unknowingly tightened and tensed up, relax as the skull stopped mid air as she watched an older witch come out from the door on the small balcony in the classroom. Dressed in varying shades of blue and a short bob of silver hair, the older women began to speak which prompted several students to quickly gain their seats, Aspen included as she found her spot next to Ominis.
“Perhaps you’d be good enough to blast each other to pieces on your own time. I get new students every year but I only have one Hebridean Black skull. It was a token from the Great Poacher Raid of 1878. No doubt you’ve heard of it. Now you may be asking yourself how an old woman like me single-handedly took out the largest poacher ring in eastern Wales and lived to boast about it and I’ll tell you in response that it was all thanks to one thing. Knowledge. Now if you two boys would kindly take a seat, I can get started on today’s lesson.”
The witch was quick to lift the head back to its proper place as she waited for the two to take their seats before looking over the class with a stern but small smile.
“Now to the wise, age matters very little.”