Confident. Though Bellona Zabini had not always felt it, Confidence was something she had long resolved to exude—an armor of sorts, against the whispers of society. When the whispers became deafening, however, as was the case today, even her feigned confidence wavered, she thought. If Mr. Prewett saw it still, though, that was a good sign indeed.

"There are some," Bella pointed out, "who would call my confidence misplaced."