Dismayed that the new headmistress had apparently changed the usual setup, Valerie half-skipped down the hall to make it back to the courtyard in time. She didn't run, that would require breaking the most ancient and venerable of school rules, but there was no way she was going to start a new year out by being late, especially when she had made a deliberate effort to be early.

Concern for her punctuality aside, this made her cautiously optimistic. Already, the year had started out different. That could only be good, right? Such thoughts were going through her head as she skidded to a stop at the door exiting to the courtyard. Valerie adjusted her glasses as she found a good space to settle in and wait for orientation to begin.