10; On a 10+, they'll go along with what you want, take +1 Forward on your next roll.

⚅⚂ + 1 = 10. Franziska decides to press her luck and will ask for a favor instead of inviting Albert back to her room straight away.

You have a strange feeling of both pride and worry as you stroll back to the dining hall with the Cordwhistle boy, the two of you occasionally observing to one another some little detail ("You hear that slow shuffling under the floorboards? Old Legless Peter is at it again - oh don't worry, he's quite harmless as far as ghosts go." "Oh, there's another first-year being wheeled into the infirmary with a big smile on his face - Dorothy at work again you think?") Even so, you can't get the intoxicating exotic beauty of that Minerval student body - not just Chen but especially her - out of your mind. You can't tell if you're feeling nagging jealousy, insecurity, or lust - maybe a little of all of them? Albert, just like Tucker a few days ago (you blush at the thought) is a nice, clean-shaven, handsome enough young man - but if there's an equal in sheer eye-catching breathtaking-ness to witches like her among the wizards you've yet to see it.

A cackling voice from your subconscious prods you and seems to say maybe you should've been placed with Draconis instead. Is this going to be your lot in life in Boarbristle? Constantly teetering on the edge of falling into pure hedonism? Are you setting yourself up for an operatic tragedy?

The smell of a hearty stew with lots of potatoes rescues you from those uncomfortable thoughts a moment. Albert starts casually drifting towards a table of other 2nd years, waving at them from a distance, but you squeeze his hand a little tighter and guide him back over to where Winnie and Gilbert, a couple of the students you met on the feastday, are sitting. The dark-complexioned boy is blushing and avoiding Winnie's gaze; it seems like she's giggling at him for something and teasing him. You can surmise that his 'study session' with that Draconis girl wasn't an unalloyed success.

"Oi, Franzi! Good to see you again! Sorry, I was too knackered after the last two days to do anything with," the freckled girl said with a cheery wave. "Had to have my grub brought up to me. Oh, but hullo there! Don't think we've been introduced." she said, cocking her head and giving her cutest pose to Albert.

He reached out to take her hand. "A pleasure, Miss. Name's Brillian T. Dogsbollocks. I've been skipped ahead four grades, I'm a sixth year, and... OW!"

Pinching his earlobe, you roll your eyes. "Please - forgive Albert. He apparently sees first impressions as an opportunity to clown."

Suddenly, Gilbert sits up straighter, adjusts his glasses and gives Albert a surprised glance. "Hey there mate - you look a touch familiar. You wouldn't happen to know Samuel Cordwhistle, would you?" He laughs. "What, y'kidding? E's my own flesh and blood - you know m'old brother Sam?" Gil nodded enthusiastically. "Just took over the enchanted carpenter's shop in the village my family moved to when I was a sprat! How's that for a coincidence - I bet you get a discount on broomsticks you lucky duffer!"

"Well that's a lovely coincidence!" Winnie says. "I was just about to ask about..."

A good hour of conversation and two-course repast for all of you follows. Eventually Winnie and Gilbert depart, both fairly impressed with your new acquaintance. It's a bit of a 'best of both worlds' situation for you, since you didn't have to carry the conversation yourself but came off looking impressive, while Albert feels a bit guilty about monopolizing the conversation. The two of you scootch in closer to one of the fireplaces. The other houses may have their strengths, but Leontes knew how to relax and share the simple pleasures (and romance in this academy was many things, but seldom simple).

"It's funny," Albert says. You wrinkle your nose at him and take hold of his arm as the two of you sit side by side. "You think a lot of things are funny, yeah?" He nods and kept looking at the fire, grinning wistfully. "Well, it's just... y'know, a pretty girl like you... Ah bloody- I should've decided what I was going to say before I started gawping. Just can't believe me own luck and hoping I'm not making too much of a dog's dinner of things. Well, when in doubt - I'll be heading out to Turnbuckle this week's end, maybe I could invite you along, let you squeeze a few gifts and sundries out of me with those clever little hands of yours, Fran?"

You consider. Well. To the victor go the spoils, right?