The day had passed in a fog, if a fog could be considered painful. Sisse had tried to cover up her red rimmed eyes with a smile all day. The faculty had offered to excuse her from classes, but Sisse didn't want to miss anything - besides they provided a good distraction. She didn't know if Henry were attending classes, the faculty had taken them aside seperately. She had recieved another note from Matthew saying that the funeral would be on Saturday and that father (she supposed it would actually be Matthew from what she inferred by him writing to her and not her father) would send the carriage up to the school Friday evening to collect Henry and herself so as not to interupt their studies. So Sisse had tried to smile, tried to act like her world hadn't be shaken up like an upside down snow globe. But people were beginning to know and no matter how much she tried to act like everything was alight they were sending her pitying looks. Of course her friends knew, but the note from Mr. Sewlyn had been just the beginning of it.

If it hadn't been for those looks Sisse wasn't sure she would have taken Mr. Selwyn up on his offer, but one pitying friendly face was better than those in the common room - or even the ones that had followed her to the library. So she climbed the steps to the owlery and found Mr. Selwyn there waiting for her.

"Good evening." Sisse tried to say bravely, but even she could hear the shy tone in the midst of the sadness.