The next morning, no one bothered to listen to class.

In Abjuration with Professor Hope, Beatrice and her classmates sat in tense, fidgety silence, and tried hard to keep their excitement from catching Hope's attention. In Botany, Meowstaff only told the students to turn in their essay homework and spent the rest of the time lounging by the plants listening to the class's excited banter. In Illusion, Laurence didn't even bother with the pretense. He spoke freely about the Inter-School Games, and of the activities of yesteryears. The professor even conjured a few illusion targets to playfully test the skeet shooters' skills. In Destruction, Arcturus gave up trying to control his class within the first five minutes of the period. His was Beatrice and Nova's last class of the day, and Ravensburl was expecting guests to arrive once all classes have finished.

The Hawkswood students were arriving.

"What do you think they're going to be like?" Hanan mused out loud, bouncing on her heels as she and The Witches Three walked to the main hall with Beatrice and Nova for dinner. "Would they be wearing robes and pointed hats?"

"Hanan darling, you've asked that at least once every class!" Adeline chuckled. "I do know Hawkswood has a particularly strict dress code, so do expect wizard robes. I don't know about the hats, though."

"Hey Bee, didn't your brother go to Hawkswood?"

"Yes, my whole family did. They did indeed wear the pointed hats, but only when traveling or out on official school business. They had to remove the hat when indoors."

The five friends walked through the west hallway, talking animatedly about the guests and the upcoming games. Once they arrived at the main hall, they found a crowd clogging the way to the dining area. At the front of the crowd, looking rather frustrated, was Hope. The professor was waving her arms, trying to enforce a semblance of order among the excited students.

"What's going on? Is Hawkswood here yet?"

"They're here! They're here aren't they?"

"Hey, I'm hungry so can we move it along please?"

The cacophony of students' all talking over each other got to Hope, who backed off with a defeated sigh. In her place, Grace stepped up. Or at least, it sounded like professor Grace to Beatrice. The professor was much too short for the earth witch to see over the heads of the other students.

"Attention!" Grace's voice suddenly boomed out at the crowd, startling students into silence and causing a small shockwave. She held her wand aloft, magically amplifying her voice. "Attention, Ravensburl students. I know you are all excited for our esteemed guests to arrive, but please form orderly queues. We will be meeting them inside the main hall, and we will be dining with them. As students of Ravensburl, be on your best behavior! Leave the rowdiness and competitiveness for the Games. For now, we feast with friends!"

An affirmative murmur spread through the crowd, and Beatrice spotted the upperclassmen Leo, Ashford, and Catherine making their way through the crowd towards the front with professor Grace. Together, and with a few more amplified instructions, they were able to organize the excited students into four lines and allow them entry into the dining hall. With the dining hall having been expanded by the Headmistress, it was now truly massive, with so much more seating.

"It's huge!" Nova's eyes were wide in surprise. "It's even bigger than last time we were here, and that was already expanded!"

"I think we can fit a whole other Ravensburl's worth of students here." Beatrice mused, leading Nova and The Witches Three to an empty table. "Do we have enough food for everyone?"

"I don't think that's going to be an issue, Bee. Headmistress thinks of everything."

"Of course I do." Came the reply from a familiar voice, causing Nova to start in surprise. Behind them, entering along with the students, stood the Headmistress. She winked at the friends before proceeding through the crowd to the grand table where the staff would be sitting.

"How does she do that?" Nova whispered, one hand on her hammering heart, and in reply, Beatrice laughed.

It took a short amount of time for the students to settle down within the dining hall once they were all inside, and the doors were closed. No food was to be served yet, and the usual cafeteria-style line had been removed. The main hall and its dining area were decorated with tapestries bearing the emblem of Ravensburl on one side, and a series of tapestries bearing the emblem of Hawkswood on the other. Where Ravensburl had a raven standing at attention with its wings folded closed and its head and looking upwards, Hawkswood's hawk was in flight, talons flashing as if diving towards prey. Beatrice had seen the hawk emblem many times before, on her father's trunk and brother's robes, for one. But looking at both schools' emblems side by side truly brought their differences into focus for the earth witch.

Ravensburl's raven was quiet, attentive, a symbol of the search for knowledge. Hawkswood's hawk was aggressive, ambitious, a sign of power and superiority.

Beatrice swallowed dryly, suddenly more nervous at meeting the new guests than excited. At the table, only Nova noticed her roommate's sudden change in mood. The tech witch offered an encouraging smile and placed her hand on Beatrice's. She smiled back and gave Nova's hand a soft squeeze.

At the front of the hall, Headmistress Cassandra took to the podium. She raised her hands for silence, and the entire hall complied, much to Hope's frustration and chagrin. The Headmistress was all smiles when she began to speak.

"Welcome, welcome, students of Ravensburl." The Headmistress's voice was amplified as well, but it was not as jarring and loud as Grace's earlier. Even Beatrice and Nova, seated well towards the middle of the room and quite a distance away from the head table and the podium, were able to hear her as if she was standing next to them.

"Apologies, but dinner will be delayed for just a few more minutes. I thank you for your patience and attention. Now, I understand you all must be positively buzzing with excitement for the Inter-School Games. It has only been the talk of the school these past days, but today may all your curiosities and anxieties ease. The Headmistress smiled. "On behalf of the staff and faculty of Ravensburl, it is my honor to introduce to you the students and Headmaster of Hawkswood School of Magic!"

The heavy double doors of the dining hall opened by themselves, revealing students in dark robes standing quietly in four rows. At least a hundred students stood there, disciplined and at attention. An older wizard dressed in a sharp dark suit with his ebony hair slicked back strode forward, leading his students. Directly behind him followed a single young witch, flanked by two other witches of the same age. Then after them, the rest of the line followed two paces behind at a respectable distance. As the first witch crossed the threshold into the dining hall, whispers spread through the Ravensburl students.

She was tall, with olive skin and light brown hair that caught the soft candlelight within the Ravensburl dining hall, making her hair shine like burnished bronze. She walked with a confident gait, head held high, a self-assured smirk on her face. To either side of her, the witches looked mousy and plain in comparison. One with pale skin and blonde hair, the other tanned with dark hair. The two glanced at each other briefly but followed at the first witch's heels like loyal hounds.

"That has to be Circe Hawkswood." Beatrice whispered, not taking her eyes off the young witch. As the witch passed their table, she passed her piercing gray eyes over Beatrice and her friends. A look of recognition passed over her face and she sneered, before facing front and continuing her march.

"What was that about?" Nova sniffed. "Such a snob. Should have expected it."

"I don't know... Was she looking at me?" Beatrice replied, her brow furrowed in concern. Between Hanan and Adeline, Sascha dropped their gaze and stared at the table while the rest of the Hawkswood students passed them by.

The Headmaster moved to greet Headmistress Cassandra, and he gestured to the empty tables on the other half of the dining hall. The Hawkswood students found their places with little fuss, while several professors in dark robes and at least one wearing a pointed hat joined the Ravensburl faculty at the head table.

"It is a great honor to be welcomed so warmly to Ravensburl Academy of Witchcraft." The Hawkswood Headmaster said with a smile as he looked out over those assembled at the dining hall. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Godwin Dominic Hawkswood, Headmaster of the Hawkswood School of Magic. It is my pleasure to likewise introduce my daughter, Circe Amelia Hawkswood, and the cream of the crop students of Hawkswood." He gestured to the young witch, who turned to the crowd and curtsied politely in answer to a smattering of applause from both stunned and awestruck Ravensburl students. It was clear on her face the gesture meant nothing to her.

"On behalf of the Hawkswood faculty and staff, I look forward to the camaraderie, friendly competition, honing of skills, and relationships that will be fostered during this year's Inter-School Games." Headmaster Godwin concluded and was met with applause.

"Thank you, Headmaster Godwin. We welcome you and your students with open arms and warmth, you will always have a home here in Ravensburl. However, the Inter-School Games and the heated competition it brings shall wait for tomorrow. But for now, a feast!" Headmistress Cassandra smiled and threw out her arms. Platters of roast meat, cauldrons of stew, plates heaped with steaming white rice, and more appeared at each table within the dining hall. Plates, cutlery, and cups likewise appeared wherever there was a student seated.

The dining hall came alive again with the sound of students digging in. Food was scooped onto plates and forks and spoons clanked against plates. The excited chatter of students quickly filled the expanded hall, making an outlet for the excited energy that everyone was feeling with the arrival of Ravensburl.

After spooning some stew into a small bowl, Beatrice glanced over at the Hawkswood tables. The students were animated, though a lot less so than their Ravensburl counterparts.

"Maybe they're just shy." Nova offered, tracing Beatrice's line of thought and sight. "We would be just as quiet if we went over to their school and saw how different their school is from ours."

"You're right." Beatrice sighed. "I guess I just hope they're having fun."

"How could they not have fun? The food is great as always!" Hanan giggled, scooping on her second serving of rice, much to Adeline's surprise.

Beatrice smiled, it was always a treat to see her friends having so much fun. Except, Sascha was staring at their empty plate. "Sascha? Are you alright?"

Sascha sighed, and the pixie in their hair did nothing to improve their mood. "No, but don't worry about me. I'm just not in as high spirits as everyone else right now."

"Oh?" Beatrice got out of her seat and moved to sit beside Sascha. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Sascha sighed again and looked to the tables of the Hawkswood students. Beatrice noticed, surprised she had not seen it before, that Sascha's eyelashes were long and their eyes had a faint golden color behind the dark brown. "I'm just not looking forward to the Games. Oh, but don't let me get in the way! You all should have fun." They smiled, but Beatrice noticed no mirth reach their eyes.

Sascha, feeling awkward, filled their glass full of juice and took microscopic sips from it while the others ate.

Beatrice said nothing and moved back to her chair beside Nova, letting her friend have their privacy.

Dinner went on as usual, and as the night began to wrap up, Headmistress Cassandra took to the podium again. With a few gestures, the dining hall quieted down with the students looking towards the front of the room with rapt attention.

"I do hope you've enjoyed dinner and had your fill," Headmistress said with a smile. "Now, you are all free to mingle and explore. Speak with each other, make friends! However, Hawkswood students, on Headmaster Godwin's instructions, please do be in the dormitory located at the north field by eight in the evening. He will meet with you all then." She clapped her hands twice, and the heavy double doors of the main hall swung open. "Enjoy your evening, everyone! Enjoy your youth!"

The energy within the dining hall turned up a notch, as now students on either side of the hall were getting up from chairs and crossing over to meet with students from the other school. A group of shy first-years talked in hushed whispers and stolen glances, each daring the other to approach the cute Hawkswood student with the handsome face and nice hair. Others were bolder in their approach, offering to spot a Hawkswood hottie a coffee if they could have a chat. All in all, the meeting was as chaotic and jovial as Beatrice had hoped it would be, so organic in their approach.

And while Beatrice stayed seated at her table watching other students mingle, Nova suddenly elbowed her in the side. Startled, she looked over to Nova, and the tech witch nodded her head towards the head of the room.

Approaching them were Circe Amalia Hawkswood and her two hangers-on.

On reflex, Beatrice stood.

"Miss Gaia, I presume?" Circe said once she had gotten close to them, a sly smirk on her face.

"Um, yes, that's me." Beatrice adjusted her glasses. "How did you know?"

"I know what the Gaias look like. Tanned skin, bad hair, bad eyes." Circe looked her up and down, before turning her attention to the rest of the friends at the table. "And who on earth are the rest of you?"

Hanan opened her mouth to answer, but Circe continued before she could. "No one of note from no-name families, I bet," she said with a scoff. "Maybe except you. High cheekbones and a Parisian style, LeStrade, am I right?"

Adeline was too taken aback at the slight to her friends that her mouth gaped as she struggled to find an insult.

"And you." Circe's look of disgust as her eyes landed on Sascha was enough to curl wallpaper. "I'm surprised to see you."

"Do you two know each other?" Nova said dryly.

"I wasn't talking to you." Circe snapped back at the tech witch. "This—" she gestured at Sascha, "This just confirms all the rumors I've heard about Ravensburl. That this school harbors all sorts of abominations, even shares meals with them!"

The two witches behind her snickered cruelly. Adeline recognized one of them and stood abruptly. "Lana! Lana O'Hare!"

"Oh, it's you." The pale Irish witch said with a soft drawl. "I hardly recognized you. Former roommate, right?"

Circe rolled her eyes and gestured for the two to be quiet. "Lana, Misha, shut up when I'm talking."

The two witches shyly nodded in reply.

"Now where was I... Oh yes, the abominations that run around the school." Circe trailed off, a cruel smirk on her lips.

Sascha met her gaze with a neutral expression, though the pixie in their hair looked like it was about to launch itself at Circe and claw her face off.

"I'm surprised they let you into this school at all. If it was Hawkswood, they'd run you right out of town."

"Don't talk to my friend that way!" Hanan stood as well, eyes blazing with a fury Beatrice had never seen. The earth witch was standing now as well, but the other two of The Witches Three were jumping into such a fierce defense of Sascha that she could hardly get a word in.

"You're friends, with this?" Circe threw her head back and laughed. "I shouldn't be surprised that garbage keeps like company."

"You take that back." Adeline had such steel in her voice.

Circe hemmed and hawed with mock concern. "I would, but you can't make me."

"A duel then!" Hanan slammed her hand onto the table. "We challenge you to a duel at the Inter-School Games!"

"What?" There was a spark of anger in Circe's voice.

"Three on three team duel," Adeline added. "The three of us versus the three of you. We're all first-years, aren't we? It's well within the rules. Unless you're too much of a coward to accept such a challenge from "garbage?"

Circe sneered. "Oh, you will eat your words, LeStrade. My girls and I will show you, and your whole school, that you abominations have no place in magical society. Come, girls!" Circe scoffed at the three and turned on her heels, her loyal hangers-on scurrying after her in a flurry of robes. "We have a duel to sign up for."

Hanan and Adeline glared after Circe as the three left, fuming in anger and insult. "How dare she say that!"

"Sascha, come on darling, we need to sign up for that duel," Adeline said, channeling her anger into productivity.

Sascha made no move to stand and join them, they only dropped their gaze back to the table. "You really didn't have to do that."

"What? Of course, we did!" Hanan said, still fuming. "She insulted all of us, and you most of all! You're our friend and we won't let that stand!"

"It's just going to be a lot of trouble from here."

"We don't care, darling! Those were fighting words, and by the gods are we going to fight." Adeline said with a huff. She turned to Beatrice. "Don't you agree, Beatrice?"

Beatrice was still stunned, it had happened so fast! But she nodded, a hard and determined look on her face. "Yes, she insulted you guys, my friends. I won't let that stand either."

"But you'll leave it to us, yes?" Adeline patted Beatrice on the shoulder. "We'll thrash those three in a duel, no need to get your skirts dirty. Now come on, the sign-ups should still be open!"

Beatrice and Nova watched their friends go, stomping out of the dining hall in a fury as they did. The earth witch sat heavily beside her roommate, who had stayed seated and watched the entire interaction.

Nova leaned towards Beatrice and sipped some juice. "You see? I thought you'd be like that. I'm glad you proved me wrong."

Beatrice's anger fizzled off slightly at the small peck on the cheek she received from Nova.