I slumped back, feeling the pleasant jar of impact against my tense back.

“You know that abrupt exit won’t be sufficient to hold off the questions - the elders will send someone for you, and when that happens”

“I know!” I feel the Chamber room constricting around my throbbing head. Please, no more words. “Just…” My thumbs dig into my temples as I search for a way out. Some time. All I need is time. “If you could just buy me some time.”

I shiver as his disapproving look glances off my hunched spine. “That won’t erase what you said, Hendrick.”

“I know.” He wants me to explain, I know. How can I? I worked so hard to get into this academy (a feat only 1 in 500 boys make a year) I can’t get sent back to that place.

“Explain to them it was a simple anecdote. They’ll understand”

I know what Hendrick means: ‘A pure blood like yourself would never have experienced a situation like you used in the classroom’. What he doesn’t know is that I’m not of pure descent. soon everyone will know
I don’t belong here.