On the one hand, Melvin didn't really handle the cold well. At all.

One the other hand, shivering was a lot less embarrassing than showing up to learn the Dark Arts all bundled up, or so Melvin had eventually decided before he snuck down into the dungeons in just his usual school robes.

He couldn't help but think of what Roxanne and even Billy would think. Hell, he even thought about what Georgia would think, about how hard Galen had been judged.

Did he really want to make things socially worse for himself?

But then, he wouldn't be turning into a blood purist creep. He wasn't going to hurt anyone. It was just... Power.

"Marek?" he asked abruptly, hearing the clicking of shoes.