*meanwhile Jei's swiped with his wand at the base of the Whomping Willow, which freezes in place, refraining from striking at him as he moves in close to its trunk; turning, then, he almost seems to look right at Paul and Yamino across the distance between them*

*and if they have sharp eyes, they may be able to see him trembling, his teeth tightly gritted and muscles tightened against some inner turmoil as he pauses, one hand on the frozen tree*