(left for him in the common room: A set of paints and several canvases, a clear crystal on a chain on top is the above parchment. ) 

Dear Mateo,

I have enjoyed getting to know you, it has been wonderful to have a friend that understands me. I hope you make more beautiful things with these gifts, and to keep you healthy I have charmed this quartz to glow when you need to take your medicine. I wish you the best this year! 

Lucinda. 

(Delivered by another classmate. A set of runes in a velvet bag embroidered with a silver viper spelling out his name. A small purple stone in the shape of a disk. A small book of spells. On top is placed the above strip of parchment) Dear James, I hope you enjoy these gifts. The runes may be useful, I have tested them and they seem quite reliable. The stone is amethyst and I have charmed it so that when you hold it you feel peaceful and hear my voice saying good things about you. And the book has empty spaces at the back for you to take notes if you wish to. I hope you enjoy your christmas!Lucinda

(placed on her desk before class: An ornate quill, a small lyre, and a little book with the instructions on learning to play it. Placed on top is the above parchment) 

Dear Leila, 

I know you’ve had some difficulties. I thought it might help to learn something new. At worst it could be a distraction, but at best it might help you to gain confidence in a real way. You could learn to play and maybe perform for your friends, what do you think? If you absolutely hate the gift then hopefully you’ll find use for the quill, it is charmed never to run out of ink. 

Lucinda. 

It had been easy enough to find out Gussy was in Slytherin. He wasn’t surprised, really. What did surprise him were the comments he got while asking about her. What was his sister doing as ‘entertainment’? Roland had very firmly demanded that the man talking about his sister like that shut his mouth. It had been very clear that there was a threat behind it. 

Staring at the door, he hadn’t thought past finding out where she might be. Actually getting into the common room was a different matter. When it opened, he took a step forward, only to freeze. 

It was like seeing a ghost. “Ma-” But she wasn’t the mama he remembered from those days that were more like a dream. She was dead. “My apologies.” He couldn’t stop staring at her though. “You bear an remarkable resemblance to someone I once knew.” 

The common room wasn’t exactly the best place for Mateo set up a canvas, but he had always insisted on carving out his own space wherever he pleased. Trying to change his mind once made up was a futile endeavour. He paid attention to nothing as he started to paint along the lines of the castle that he’d sketched earlier in the week. 

The most obnoxious cackle was enough to distract him from his work, when no other noise had broken his attention. Dropping his paintbrush, he grabbed his wand and set up a protection charm over his painting, eyes wide. 

Nothing, no poltergeist or the dozen frantic birds that had just been released in the common room, was allowed to ruin his works. As it was, the ensuing chaos ended with someone stepping on his palette of paint, spreading footprints in a kaleidoscope of colours around the room. 

“No!” 

She likes to think motherhood has taught her some things about how to talk to young people.

Helena is a singular girl among dozens, of course, and things have always been easier with her - not least because for much of her life she has had a doting Aunt and Uncles to help raise and educate her - but Rowena is comfortable in stating she knows better than Salazar, at the very least, how to handle difficult conversations with young people.

She knows, at least, better than to invite Lucinda West to her office for this discussion.

Rowena tracks her down in the library, already more at ease herself in the room she spent so much of the run up to opening putting together, and sits in the chair opposite her at the reading table she finds Lucinda at, her smile patient and open.

“Miss West. I was hoping we might have a discussion.”

Class was easily Leila’s favourite part of Hogwarts. She had studied so long on her own, but now she had others to talk to. When she actually talked to them. She tried, but she still often retreated into her books. Today was a good day though, paired up with a new student to practice an elaborate charm. Of course, she let the other go first. That was only polite. Genuinely pleased the other got it right on the first go, Leila smiled one of her warmer smiles. “That was perfect. You must understand this area well.” Mostly, Leila preferred theory, but she was still a better than decent witch.