On a 10+, Miss Sterling is very helpful.

⚅⚄ + 3 = 14.

On a 10+, they'll go along with what you want and get their help to remove a CONSEQUENCE.

"Mister Mothwing-Marshall," Aurelia Sterling tells you. "I want to have some words with you before you return to your House."

"Yes, Professor Sterling," you say, feeling abashed that again your wild magic has put you in a state.

"I do encourage ambition in my students," she says. "But I shall have to ask you to avoid competing with students who have, if lesser magical talent, greater diligence and control."

"Yes, Professor Sterling," you say, hanging your head.

"Look up, Mothwing," she says. "That's better."

She is very nice to look at, in her rich blue robes, her glasses with their circular blue frames setting off her eyes perfectly. Her straight blonde hair falls just so to either side of her thin face. You see beauty and power and authority there.

You think of what Miss Hemstitch, Beavertail's Tutor, told you about Aurelia Sterling. Warned you, almost. That she was a witch of prodigious magical talents, using them to teach novices. Each first term, Ms. Sterling seems to find a cause to adopt some specially talented or troubled young pupil for extra tuition at her hand, Miss Hemstitch had said. You feel a twitch under your robes. It doesn't feel bad at all to be added to her collection, if that's what's behind her special interest. But perhaps you and Miss Hemstitch are imagining any improper motive.

Professor Sterling continues, "Now, before you try pushing your skill on a spell at the edge of your abilities, we will be working together on the basics. Banish, ward, dismiss. Banish, ward, dismiss. It's clear that by end of term, you will be able to work the Shimmering Cloak, by Nadia's account, and that you are basically a responsible character, as witness your actions after your mishap. But there is a proctor at the practice cells. That's why there is a proctor, to help you sort things out before you knock yourselves out with a banishing and are found sprawled naked and half-conscious on the stone floor." She coughs. "Not your House's way. If you wanted to transfer to Minerval or Leontes, perhaps? But that's neither here nor there, and that sort of carelessness would serve you ill in any House."

"Yes, Professor Sterling," you say.

"Very good," she says. "Now let's sort you out. Still some wreckage of the Shimmering Cloak there. Hold still, breathe deeply. Good." She raises her wand and combs out the flaws in your magical aura. "There. I had the Nurse prepare you a tonic which should help. Drink up."

It tastes rather like weak tea, but soon the remaining exhaustion and confusion lift. The twitch under your House Beavertail robe turns into a veritable bulge, but it's loose-fitting enough that it hasn't risen to a point where it can't be politely ignored.

"I can see you're better already," she says. "Stay after Enchantments class and we'll get straight to work."

When you get back to House Beavertail, you meet Nadia in the common room.

"How are you feeling, Nadia?" you ask.

"Oh, I'm fine," she said. "Nurse sent me straight back to House this morning, but she said that Sterling wanted to give you a talking-to."

You feel your face grow warm. "Yes," you say, feeling your shoulders tighten. "She's going to have me practice banishing, warding, and dismissing. And she told me absolutely not to try and compete with someone who had better control. Like you."

Nadia laughs. "I knew you were showing off," she said. "But Sterling sent a note by way of the Tutor." She shrugs. "I'm to be practicing along with you."

"But you didn't do anything wrong," you say. "You were perfect with the Shimmering Cloak. Why should she pull you into this?"

"Maybe you remember I put myself in the Infirmary, too?" Nadia says. "That's why she's called me along with you for extra lesson. Not for skill or for control, but because I can't risk calling up things that I can't banish. And I'd be a pretty useless witch if I knock myself out banishing other people's spells."

"Oh," you say. "I suppose so."

"So you're to work on skill, and I'm to work on strength," Nadia says. "How are you feeling after all that?"

"Better," you say. "Chastened, I suppose?"

"Buck up, Mothwing," Nadia says. "She likes you. You can't see that?"

"Um," you say.

"Well, see you later, Eric," Nadia says. "I have some reading to catch up on."

"Goodbye Nadia," you say. "See you later."

Remove your CONSEQUENCE.

You have 3 XP.

You have Ambition -1, Bravery 0, Cunning +2, Diligence +2.
You have a FAVOR from Miss Wormwood, and a FRIEND, Aurelia Sterling, your Enchantments teacher.

What's your next Move?

• Find out more from Miss Hemstitch. Roll +DILIGENCE(+2) to ENCOUNTER House Beavertail's Tutor. On a success, learn something interesting or important about Aurelia Sterling's history.
• Go along after Enchantments class for practice. Roll a Custom Move as below.

Roll +DILIGENCE (+2) as a Custom Move to practice banishing, warding, and dismissing alongside Nadia, under Ms. Sterling's supervision.

• On a 10+, gain +1 XP and +1 Forward.

• On a 7-9, gain +1 XP and and choose one:

• You fumble a banishing and banish everyone's clothes. GET OUT OF TROUBLE.

• A bystander enters and you banish their clothes. Gain an ENEMY.

On a Miss, your attention wanders. Take -1 Forward and a scolding from Ms. Sterling.