The headmaster and prefects line up along the head table way up at the other end of the dining hall. From his place in the center of the table the headmaster adjusts his gold-rimmed glasses and speaks to us in a slow drawl.

“Good morning, everyone, and welcome to your first day at Bramppath. Most of you are familiar faces, but I also see many new ones. To students who have been here before, welcome home. To students just starting with us … welcome home. For those of you who haven’t met me yet, my name is Alistair Unley, and I look forward to making your acquaintance shortly.”

He pauses for the room to clap before he goes on.

“Before we begin our meal, I would like to introduce you to our prefects and head girl. You will hopefully get to know them all on a personal level by the end of the year. They are to be both respected and trusted. If you have any issues or questions, please feel free to approach them if you see them around the grounds. They will undoubtedly be able to assist you to the highest standard.”

Rose glances sideways at Eleanor while the headmaster rattles off the names of the prefects, and I’m pretty sure they hold some sort of silent conversation. And quietly, so quiet that, if I weren’t right next to her I wouldn’t have heard it at all, Molly scoffs.

“Finally, I invite you all to join me in the morning prayer. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.”

I guess it’s Latin, even though I don’t know for sure, because I can’t speak it. In my defense, I’m pretty sure this is the first time in my life I’ve heard a real live human speak Latin. It’s usually reserved for movie villains in my experience. I guess it’s a Catholic thing? Henland is super Catholic. Like, when I told Rachel I was moving here, when she was done freaking out at me for abandoning her, she got really serious and said, “Maybe don’t tell people you’re bi there. It might not be legal.” I’ve checked, by the way, and it is legal, but that doesn’t mean it’s chill. I don’t know if I’d trust any country where people speak Latin all over the place to be casual about bisexuality. It’s just a bad sign.

“Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum.”