DEFEND YOUR HOUSE'S HONOR with charm

You wait in the plaza for the other students to arrive. You can see that Leontes brute from a mile off, still mishandling the blonde young lady from House Beavertail. You fade to the side and listen as he fills her ears with puffery and fraud.

"I think you'll find that the Hasdrubal family has been prominent in the annals of Boarbristle for over a century," he says, concluding a long draft of hot air.

Your ears prick up at the name. "Right," you speak up, emboldened by outrage, and step forward. "Prominent since Harris Hasdrubal burnt down half of House Draconis," you hiss. "It was twenty years and a steep indemnity before Boarbristle would let the next Hasdrubal in."

"Why it's the pipsqueak who tried to sneak out of his dunking," the Leontes fellow snarls. "We'll have to fix that," he says.

You take a deep breath and visualize a calming sigil. "I don't think a Hasdrubal has much to say to an Aberdean," you say.

The young woman raises her eyebrows. "Aberdean? Godwyne Aberdean? You took a high first in Broom Polo at St. Rasput's! But where's your Nightingale?"

You beam at the young lady. "Pleased, Miss," you say. "I am that very person. And my sister Anastasia has care of my broom."

The Leontes bloke hisses in irritation. "He's just an underclassman, what do you care?" he says, looking out of sorts.

She frowns at him.

Does your line of charm carry the day?