Beth had been sitting uncharacteristically quiet for most of the lesson, hands folded neatly on the table as she listened to Professor Menon explain the differences between the levitation spells. It wasn’t that she wasn’t excited, she was, intensely, and every so often her foot bounced under the table despite her best effort to keep still. She couldn't wait to see the diricawls. They were going to see them, right? She tucked a piece of loose hair behind her ear as she scribbled a few notes down, even though she knew she wouldn’t need them; creatures were the one thing she never forgot about.

At the instruction to practice, she bent to reach under the table for the pebbles. Her hand brushed over several before she picked out a smooth grey one, bringing it back up and setting it neatly in front of her. She took a quiet breath, steadying her excitement.

Raising her wand, she copied Menon’s motion.

“Leh-vee-OH-so,” she tried eagerly.

The pebble trembled on the table first, lifting a fraction of an inch, then landing back down on the table with a plop. Beth’s brows drew together, concentration etched across her face. She tried again.