"Depending on what we expect to get out of it and whether we need a local, we could just… go without you? Some of us?"

"What and leave me out of the fun with magic? No way."

Theo shrugs. "Might be able to disguise you with the Change, depending on how long we're there for?"

"Yeah, I guess," he sighs. "Or I could just not care. It's not like he has any claim over me, he was the one who left."

"That sounds like it might be a better idea! But possibly harder to do."

He shrugs. "I'm not gonna flee, it's magic and we're going."

"I am pretty sure you guys have exams shortly… As in, about a week away."

"– How far away is it? We might be able to go in the next couple of days…"

"We, ah, could, but I think he's right."

"Ugh."

"I'm sure the exams will be fun," says Tyler, not smirking at all, no siree.

"I mean, they usually are, but I usually don't care much about them. Now that I kinda do they're bound to be less fun."

"Year six SATs weren't really that bad – maths, English and science, all very basic." Pause. "Did Theo tell you he got ninety-eight in the maths?"

"He never!" Sadde's not going to comment on how hot that is, not with Theo's dad around.

"It– it wasn't that bad," says Theo. "And it was year six anyway."

"Why would it be bad?"

"The paper! It wasn't that bad a paper, it's not like I did that well on a really hard one or anything."

"Standardised testing… Probably slotted on a curve somewhere…"

"Mmhm," he says, simply.

"Should I just leave you all to revising and maybe small amounts of magic? Seeing as you do in fact have exams coming up."

"Except me," says Tyler.

"Yes," says William. "Except you."

"You don't need to rub it in our faces, you know."

"It's not really meant that way," says Tyler. Pause. "Well it was like once or twice, but not just now."

"Uh huh."