Kari looked at his timetable. Friday, Ancient runes all morning, then the afternoon free. He had skipped breakfast and found himself pounding along the flagstone floor, the morning sun streaked through the window momentarily blinding him. He came to a door He hoped it was the right room clenching his fists, he pushed the door open.

A figure sat in a high backed chair; he pulled himself up straight and frowned at Kari. "You are not late, but it would be easier if you arrived with your fellow companions. Shut the door please." Kari did so before taking an empty seat next to Erik, across from Corbin. A small thick stub of a candle was in front of him and it flickered when the professor spoke. "Open your books and write your name. You will then write the alphabet and underneath that the Latin alphabet. You will do the same for Gaelic." The professor sat down. "Well? Get on with it!" He barked.

"his name is Professor MacCathal" whispered Erik whilst writing. Kari looked at his book. Speaking and listening was not hard for Kari thanks to his father but reading and writing was another kettle of fish entirely. He had mastered certain words such as his name, Ravenclaw and his lesson names but he found it hard going. It helped to have it read aloud to him, until he discovered in potions that he could turn those funny blots on the paper into his own language.

It had happened accidentally but now he used it to his advantage. He copied down the Latin alphabet not entirely sure what he was writing, he let the letters slowly blur together on the page. They melted and mingled into each other. Kari rubbed his eyes and blinked rapidly. The letters began to separate into the curvaceous and sharp stabbing letters of his own language. Kari had to look again. The language it made sense. He wrote his own alphabet above the English one and slowly he began to decipher the textbook. He grinned triumphantly.

MacCathal had them all shut their text books and memorise certain phrases written on the board. The class began talking hesitantly. Arianwen and her friends began laughing at everyone's attempt and delighted in mocking Laurie and Kari. This was not acceptable. Ignoring them was one option. A hard one. Self discipline. How much did Kari have? He asked himself and found his fathers words reassuringly familiar coming back to him. " You are a Snow-walker son. They are merely 'just' human" He hated taking his fathers advice but if choosing between his father's words and the mockery that irritated him like an itch. There was one answer. His face arranged itself into partial condescension and partial arrogance. He thought of his father as he had said those words, his mother had said afterwards that he had said those things in a "snow-walkers stance. You too Kari adopt that position when it suits you." Kari remembered protesting, his mother laughed. "Kari you're doing it now. The very image of your father." She had added proudly. He clung to that memory and chose to use that characteristic trait to his advantage. He caught his reflection in the window. He looked cold like a statue of an uncompromising dark seraph of old. It amused Kari to see himself like this; his mirth didn't slip his mask. Instead his thin lipped smile made his features look twisted and calculating.

"What are you smiling at blind one?" Arianwen asked. Kari turned to her still smiling. He saw her falter in her leering smile.

"His eyes are like ice!" Jade chipped in. Arianwen and her friends giggled. Kari stopped smiling and turned all the condescension he could muster on Jade. She stopped laughing.

"Ice boy. Why don't you try to smile again? Afraid you will thaw? Or are our little chats doing that to you anyway?" Arianwens sickly sweet voice was punctuated with cruel laughter. Kari took grim pleasure that it didn't seem to be as heartfelt as before now he had enveloped them in a cold, arrogance of his gaze. He hoped he was practicing a look of indifference. Inside the frosty, harsh stab of emotions threatened to break through. Outside the window black thunderheads gathered.

"I'm glad you find the work comes so easily to you to waste my time in this manner." MacCathal's eyes narrowed. "Perhaps" he said slowly "perhaps you don't find this . stimulating enough. Miss Evada in Latin if you please, repeat the third sentence of the order of Merlin's oath." Arianwen stumbled over the first couple of words before he cut her short. "Or perhaps Miss Evada you and your cohorts would spend your time much more valuably in much needed study."

Kari was not let off the hook either as MacCathal turned on him. "Mr Karisson shall we try you? Translate from Gaelic if you please the first rite in the vows of Monaghen."

Kari began in a crisp clear voice. "Loyalty to my brethren above all else." The professor was not impressed.

"Instead of indulging in pubescent tendencies try working on your dialect. You seem to be a quick study Mr Karisson but do not presume that it will all be so simple." Kari waited in an uncomfortable pause. "You show promise in this craft Mr Karisson. However it took a week to translate that Norse on the board. Would you care to give me your translation since you are so advanced." The professor blustering caught Kari off his stride. He looked at the writing on the board and sighed. He felt a tight knot in his stomach. He shifted uncomfortably. Just as the professor was looking like he was about to speak Kari began.

"Even a man who says his prayers by day and night may turn wolf when wolfs bane blooms again when the moon is full." Kari looked at the professor square in the eye. What's done is done he thought.

"Have you been to my desk? Looking at my notes?" The professor demanded.

"No MacCathal. I speak that language."

"That's Professor MacCathal or Sir." The professor snapped. He gave Kari an assessing look " Mr Karisson I will have none of your cheek in this classroom! Well why aren't you all reciting alphabets!" The class quickly started up, over the drone MacCathal glared at Kari and the girls. He raised his voice to be heard. " Ten points will be taken from both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Mr Karisson, Miss Evada and Miss Jade Trelease you will serve detention, Monday night. You will report to me."

"Don't worry Arianwen we've still got this afternoon to practice flying." Kari gave a malicious look at the girls and to his delight snow began to fall outside putting a stop to their plans.