The hallways were empty, too late for even the usual late-night stragglers grabbing midnight snacks or heading to the showers. No one was there to watch as Hope took slow and shaky breaths in her war to keep her tears at bay. She stopped outside Emma’s door, the “Counselor” sign sticking out just above her head. 
She could knock. Her hands were already balled up in fists. Emma’s light was on, her sign that she was still up and open to talk. But instead Hope pressed her lips into a tight line, turned on her heel, and marched down the hallway towards the headmaster’s office instead. 
She knocked there and pushed the door open. “Are you too mad at me to talk about today?” she asked Alaric’s back as he was reorganizing his bookshelves. 
He turned. “I’m not … mad.” He set the stack of books in his arm down on his desk and sat next to them. “You just scared me today.”
Hope arched an eyebrow, trying not to laugh. “I scared you? Because I did a little black magic spell?” 
“Because you almost seriously hurt yourself.” Alaric gave her a pointed glare, one he could stand to give his students more often.
Hope dropped her gaze. “Oh.”
“We have a very extensive counseling system here.” Alaric crossed his arms, holding his ground. “You should pay it a visit sometime.”
“Emma already has me seeing two therapists,” Hope protested. Another pointed look and she seceded. “But I guess I’ll bring it up tomorrow morning.”
“Good. Now, it is very much past curfew.”
“Got it.” Hope nodded and got ready to leave. “Dragon talk in the morning.”