What on earth was this young man doing here? Kazimeriz looked at him, absolutely baffled. He vaguely recognized the man, and stood there for a few minutes, scanning his memory, trying to remember.... Tate. One of the Tate boys, but drat it all, he couldn't remember the first name. Maybe he was a ministry worker? That would make sense... checking in on how Max had been running the school in his absence. Yes, that had to be it.

"Of course, Mr... Tate, isn't it? I do believe I had you in my classes; that was many a year ago, of course." he said pleasantly, beginning to slooooooowly ascend the stairs at a turtle's pace.