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"So it's 'Ms. Darnell' and not 'Aunt Beatrix'?" she said repressively, but he saw the slight smile at the corner of her mouth. "You must be in trouble. Come in."

Her office was as neat as it always was: rigorously organised, unfrilly, fairly Spartan. Her desk was gracious and clean and shone with polish, and there were some unobtrusive family photos (just two; one of her and Jack, a much younger and surprisingly pretty Bea with pale blue eyes and apparently her sight; and one of herself, Wisp, Jace and Irelia). She laid down the book she had been marking and smiled at him, gesturing to close the door behind his passage, leaning back a little in her chair as she shut her laptop as well.

"Would you like a drink?" she said. "Come sit down -- how are you, Antony? Congratulations on your science marks, by the way."

Beatrix immediately sat up a little straighter, obviously interested; when she tapped one finger on the desktop, it was also obviously more than a little approving. "I see," she said again. And, carefully: "I think that you understand that, although the Liberty faculty is refining its tertiary program, it might really well be in your best interests to go to a good college."

Which was easy text: Antony was too good for the Liberty School.

"I think you might also want to start thinking about what you'd like to do with your future at this point," she said, and reached for a clean sheet of paper -- a pen as well, with Thwomp hovering over her shoulder. "Let's see. Your marks are all of top quality, especially your Maths., science and history; your English is also creditable, your Art marks are adequate, I see you're 'passing' in Health -- none of that signifies." (Bea obviously had the same opinion he did on Health.) "The curriculum only requires a pass there anyway, though we might have to work on your marks if you were considering going into medical school. So. Your future, Antony, and I have high hopes for it."

She tapped the paper with a pen. "Pure mathematics? Engineering? The classics? What are your interests?"

"Lawyers do make a good living," she agreed, "and there are many different types of law to think about -- law is difficult, and if your heart is really turned that way, you might like to think about what type of lawyer you would be. It'll be impossible to say until you do the courses, but keep in mind that there are many ways to practice law."

However, Beatrix seemed pleased. "You're a practical person, Antony," she said, "and really, I'm glad that you're thinking ahead further than 'exorcisms'. I've seen firsthand how the magical society lives -- it's hand to mouth, most of the time, living off luck and goodwill, ekeing out a meager existence and marginalised terribly. My own career went -- well, let's just say I myself made some poor life choices with Jack."

She did not seem too miserable or regret-filled about them, but she said: "So. Law school."

"Antony," his teacher said gently, "You take too much responsibility on your shoulders for other people. Growing up, moving out and going to a university is considered a rite of passage where I come from; even if you end up going far away and only coming home from the holidays -- it's your life, your experience. Of course we'll miss you," she added briskly, hiding the fact that she herself would inevitably miss him quite a bit, "but that's how life goes. The world will revolve without your presence."

All Aunt Beatrix did was make a small curt noise that meant she was pleased in the back of her throat; and then she got out a whole heap of glossy brochures that revealed themselves to be for universities. She spread open the first one, and said: "Bryson University; now, let's have a look..."

Obviously the college search had begun.