Draco took a moment or two to at least try and harness his rampaging thoughts. It had been a long time, over a decade, since he'd last been at the other end of someone's wand, and that had been someone much more advanced than a fifth-year student, but it never got easier. The uncertainty never got easier.

"Jackson. Listen. I need you to hear what I'm telling you," he said, trying not to let his eyes move from that terrified face, trying to ignore the prickle of sweat between his shoulder blades, at his temples. "You've drawn your wand. On a teacher. But no one needs to know about this. If you put it down now."