In other years, Damian slept relatively well after the Imperial Ball. On his return from completing his Imperial Scholar duties (laden with the regret of not asking Anya to the Ball, again), Emile and Ewen would welcome him back to the dorms with open arms, board games at the ready, and there they would play until they would pass out on the floor. Every year, they woke to the sounds of Matron getting them into trouble, shouting at them for missing breakfast, or for not looking after themselves, or for having an unauthorised sleepover.

It wasn 't a bad way to be woken. He 'd had worse.

Because this was, in Damian 's opinion, by

far

the worst way to be woken by a country mile.

His stomach already filled in dread before he had even reached the common room, somehow knowing what he was about to see.

In front of everyone.