To Hades with restraint!: A bitter victory

Crude... you feel your temper start to boil over the arrogant lout's spit lands right on your shoes. Uncertainty flickers in his eyes: clearly not having aimed to actually hit, but in your current state that thought quickly flies out of focus. "Have you no decency?" You ask softly, your anger clearly bubbling just below the vernier of decency: an isolated shout of "Fight!" coming from a man outside your vision. The group around you is starting to resemble a small crowd, forming a circle that's keeping the Beavertail lady from backing away as the two of you now stand only inches apart: Hasdrubal at least having the honor to hold his ground and meet your gaze.

"Heh... I'm not the one disrespecting my elders," He chuckles with a strange mix of awkwardness and arrogance, gripping tightly to the hilt of his wand as he tries to smirk. "But if you still feel insulted, I'm more than prepared for a challenge..." You stop leaning forward, the crowd going silent as the gaze of the other students goes to you: the Leontes having backed you into a corner. After all, a proper magical duel wasn't something demanded lightly. Your fingers quiver, his fiery gaze baiting you on as you feel the attention of the crowd surrounding you.

"I expect you'd know better 'Hasdrubal' : the son of a whore can not provide satisfaction," in the heat of the moment the words slip out before you can fully think them through, a few of the other Leontesi giving him looks of shocked disgust as your opponent finally stumbles back: teeth grinding and face flushing red.

"Slander!" He points accusingly, straightening up to look as threatening as possible. "Tho... those rumors were never confirmed. My father was a faithful man," The Beavertail, clearly put off by his intensity, starts inching towards your side of the circle: the sudden outburst having silenced the crowd so only the scratching of a quill interrupt your thoughts.

"Perhaps he was faithful... to his mistress. A painter, wasn't she? What a queer choice for a party companion," You roll your hand dismissively, impersonally dispensing some old pieces of upper-crust gossip with each one twisting the knife even harder. "Still, I suppose the fact she suddenly vanished on sabbatical after she began putting on weight could be a mere coincidence." Hasdrubal smutters for a moment as you casually cross your arms: clearly trying to form a counter but failing. "No need to fit. I just think your lady friend deserves honest answers to your questions. She DID ask before you gave her such a thorough speech yes?" The blonde looks down and away, shaking her head as Hasdrubal firmly stomps his foot: flicking out his wand and aiming it at your chest.

"I'll make you answer for that," he threatened. "Aberdean, I challenge you..."

"And just WHAT is going on here?" A sharp voice demands from overhead: Housemaster Firetail bobbing up and down in the air under a Levitation spell, sternly observing the gathering with a particular focus on Hasdrubal's wand. "Fredrick!" The boy blinks, his fury dissipating as he looks up at his Housemaster, quickly pulling his wand back and raising his hands defensively.

"Housemaster Firetail, sir. It's not what it looks like. This first-year tried to cheat his way out of the Chilly Tarn. It's his fault,"

Fergus seemed to shoot to the ground, leaving a faint glow in the air as he landed behind Fredrick Hasdrubal and seized the back of his robes. "Don't try to deflect blame, boy. The Tarn is just a tradition, but starting an unsanctioned magic duel is a major infraction of school rules." He forcefully lets go, leaving Fredrick to stumble forward. "I expect to see you in my quarters DIRECTLY after the opening ceremonies to discuss your punishment. As for the rest of you," he waved the delayed students up towards the castle. "Look lively! I can't guarantee you there will still be pudding if you lollygag," he joked, trying to lighten the mood before flicking his wand over his head with a shout of "Elevatiar"; holding out his arms as if offering a hug once he was far enough in the air. "A warm welcome to Boarbristle to you all!" he declared as he flew back up into one of the high windows. You try to follow confidently, only to have Fredrick seize you by the sleeve. In the moment you look over, you see hatred fill his eyes, as he whispers through his teeth. "This isn't over," quickly melting into the crowd of students rushing towards the doorway.

For a moment, you feel your pride starting to return before getting rudely jabbed by a shoulder from the right... then the left, the main doorway crowded as students try to push their way through into the main hall. In the confusion, you lose sight of the Beavertail girl without so much as a thank you: grabbing at your chest as you finally manage to push your way back in... still flustered, a bit embarrassed with your own crass comments, and dazzled by the grandeur of the old school's Great Hall.

• Mingle with the other students, to make sure you've made a good first impression and placate your worries. Roll to MAKE AMENDS (+Bravery, -1 for Consequence, 2d6-1)
• Make a strategic retreat to Draconis Tower: a warm cup of tea in familiar company might be just what you need. Roll to an ENCOUNTER with another member of House Draconis (+Ambition, -1 for Consequence, 2d6+1 or 2d6+3 if you want to meet Anastasia). Perhaps to followed up by restoring your confidence in *ehem* OTHER ways
• Attend the opening ceremonies. Its pretty hard to mess things up while eating and listening to speeches, so only narration is required.
• Try to find the Beavertail girl you just assisted. Sure, you have no idea where she is and don't know your way around the school, but what could possibly go wrong? Roll to ENCOUNTER (+Diligence, Beavertail House Trait, -1 for Consequence, 2d6-2)

You have 1 XP, Your sister Anastasia is your FRIEND who owes you a FAVOR

You have a CONSEQUENCE from being embarrassed (-1 to all rolls to resolve a Move).

You have an ENEMY, Fredrick Hasdrubal.