A knock at the door at Ellsworth setting aside the grading he had been slogging through after courses and opening it to admit one of his students. “Ah, Mister Higgs. Excellent to see you. Come in, come in.” Ellsworth greeted the student as if he hadn’t summoned him to his office. Ellsworth ushered him inside and indicated a seat across from his desk before taking a seat himself. “Please do have a seat.”

If Ellsworth noticed the boy’s discomfort he did nothing to indicate it (and notice he did, after all he had been teaching teenagers for decades now). “I do hope my note did not worry you, but I had hoped to discuss your future with you.” Ellsworth slid a spare piece of parchment over to the boy and one of the quills that littered his desk, hoping this would help the mute to actually have a conversation with him. “Have you considered taking my NEWT charms course?” Ellsworth asked, steepling his hands under his chin and setting his focus solely on Mr. Higgs.