The second-years reached Beacon Hall in uneven streams, some arriving quickly from nearby classrooms and others entering with the irritated pace of students who had clearly been dragged away from something they preferred.
The hall itself had been prepared before the announcement ever rang through the academy. Rows of seats were arranged before the main stage, leaving wide aisles between sections so the students could move in without turning the entire gathering into a crowded mess. Tall banners bearing the academy crest hung from the high walls, their dark fabric still beneath the glow of the overhead lamps. The engraved pillars lining the hall caught the light in thin silver lines, and the great arched ceiling above made every murmur stretch farther than it should.
The atmosphere was familiar, but not comfortable.
