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I sht?"

I nodded

"Me too Well, I was last year I’m not new anymore"

A hush fell over the crowd From the back, a line of people filed onto the lawn

"Those are the professors," Nathaniel said

They walked stiffly and all wore the saold scarf around their necks The frayed ends dangled loosely above their waists as they took their seats in the front row

At the center of the laas an ancient oak tree Its gnarled trunk was so thick that it looked as if three trees had twisted thes They were deep blue, and bore a constellation of a bear and the Gottfried crest of ar A small podiued the tallest woh the trees like the wisp of a ghost

"That’s the headmistress, Calysta Von Laark," said Nathaniel

She stood at least six feet tall, hite hair that was pinned loosely to the back of her head She had blue eyes, large hands, and a slender figure that was slightly masculine in its proportions

She walked to the podiu was still

"Students, faculty, welcome to another illustrious year at Gottfried Academy" Her voice was low and velvety as it echoed off the buildings surrounding the lawn

"I hope that you all had an enlightening holiday and were able to use the time away fro that summer has to offer To our new students, welcome There is a complete list of school policies and procedures in the Gottfried Code of Discipline, which you received with your books and schedules If you have any questions, I trust that our returning students will be able to aid you, as well as the dormitory parents, Mrs Lynch and Professor Bliss"

A man and woman from the front row stood up and waved

"Here at the Acadee the ulations that we hope all of our students will abide by during their stay here While this is slightly out of procedure, I would like to use this time to reiterate a few that are especially critical after the events that occurred last spring"

A ? I wondered, leaning over to ask Nathaniel

"Someone died," he whispered "A first year named Benjamin Gallow"

"What?" I asked "How?"

But ere interrupted by the head voice, as she recounted the rules

"First: boys are never perirls’ dorrounds is strictly prohibited and punishable by expulsion And third" --the headmistress paused to brush a cluster of white hair away from her eyes--"under no exception is anyone allowed to enter into a romantic relationship of any nature at this acadelanced aroundBut no one else see behind the library Al on caht