Genevieve and Dante García-Gamp both ate their shared biscuit, mother still kneeling by her son.

The headmaster made a comment and Dante glanced across at him. The biscuit felt dry in his mouth, as if it were turning to cement.
“Not yet, Professor. It’s not like he was a monster when he was my age.” He looked across at his mum, frowning sadly. “Or you are as stupid as people say, Ma.”

Genevieve frowned but chose not to comment. She knew Dante meant nothing by it. Even know, years after the entire ordeal, people still felt they had a right to comment. They still made judgements about her and her choice of man whom she married. It had always been hard to ignore the comments and continue to live her life, but if she tackled every one, she’d spend her life wading through shit, barely surviving rather than thriving.

“I probably am as stupid as people say, Mijo.” How else could she have missed the fact that her husband was a murderer? “But you’re most certainly not.” Gen squeezed his knee with a sad smile. She leaned forward and started to speak in Spanish, her voice low. “Anything you hear from someone called Enid Jingleberry or anyone or anything about Gamp, you owl me, Dante. You get no one else involved. We deal with this in our family.”

The 12-year-old nodded and then looked to his Headmaster. “Can I go now?”

The Headmaster's role in this meeting had always been meant to be periphery, and that was where he remained in the intervening moments. Dante was sharp as a blade - as sharp as his mother. A fine quality in a boy. It was always preferable to Knox when the students didn't treat him with default deference. Certainly, a mutual respect and common value of the collective good was always welcome, to say the least. But if a little fellow couldn't plainly disagree, well that would be a shame.

Knox's Spanish was passable and knew a private exchange when he saw one. One suspicion of the content could concern the topics he and Mrs. Garcia-Gamp had disagreed on, namely the details of the the handling of Dante's post. He couldn't help but hear 'Jingleberry' and 'Gamp'. Owl. Family. He made no other effort to trespass. [nb]Knox's ex-wife has family in Argentina, and he spent some years studying in Spain.[/i]

When they were finished, Dante requested dismissal. Knox's eyebrows lifted in surprise and looked at Mrs. Garcia-Gamp.

"Why, certainly, sir."

The Headmaster was but a host to the meeting, but he acknowledged the etiquette all the same.

"Do take some of these with you," Knox gestured at the treats. "My compliments to Ravenclaw house."