Vivienne crept into the History of Magic classroom, as silent as ever, absorbing the calm of early morning. She didn’t dwell on the tests that were coming up, at least for now, but in March she noticed a heaviness behind her ribs. She politely greeted the professor, took a seat, and meticulously organized her notes. A silver mirror lying face down on her desk caught her eye, prompting her to lift it carefully for examination.

Vivienne stared at the cloudy, smudged mirror, trying to get a glimpse of her reflection. She sighed softly and pulled from her satchel a cloth intended for cleaning tools and lenses and began to polish the glass. The dirt was stubborn, but she polished it, finding a comfort in the steady motion of the cloth over the surface. Knowing the professor’s plans involved mirrors, she was determined to make it spotless. As she worked, the calm sounds of the classroom wrapped around her, helping her center herself and set aside her worries about March and the NEWTs.