Chapter 29: In Front of Everyone

On Saturday the great hall was so full that people stood three deep along the walls.

Georgina's carts had brought half the village up the hill.

The first year sat on the floor in front, and the second, third and fourth years sat behind them.

The Board sat on the dais in a row, waiting for a verdict.

Draconia stood in the aisle with Harry beside her.

She had put on her grey dress, and she had pinned up her hair as she did for the Friday readings.

She was not afraid.

She had decided, somewhere in the small hours, that she had used up her fear, and that whatever was left would have to do.

Her father rose from the Malfia seat at the side of the dais.

He walked to the front of the hall, slowly, with his hands behind his back, and the hall hushed.

"I am here," he said, "on behalf of the house of Malfia."

His voice was dry, and carried well.

"I want it said before this college that the Malfia do not agree to the removal of the watch from its ancient form."

"We hold that the Accord was made for a cause, and that the cause is not dead," he said.

"We hold that a daughter of our house has no right to alter it on a whim."

He stopped.

Nobody breathed.

"We do not agree," he said again, "to the choice of Draconia Malfia."

The east window, behind him, went blue.

It did not flicker.

It went the clean, hard, narrow blue of the cold.

The lamps along the walls took it up, one by one, until the whole hall stood in a cold blue light.

There was a sound like one great breath from the benches.

The old man looked up at the window.

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