The eleven year old dragged his heels from the dorm, hands drawn up into the sleeves of the top that was far too big for him, and flopped into a chair near one of the Common Room windows. Outside he could see no creatures, just plants and seaweed and a murky green sheen, and so he turned away and slumped backwards in the chair.

Dalton had homework he should have been doing, but staring at the bag by his feet was as close as he was getting to starting it.