Grey Matthews and Simon Peveril work at the same school. Grey is a teacher and the much younger Simon (or Si as most call him) is a teaching assistant. There is something different not only about their school and how guarded it is, but also about it's inhabitants. Teachers, staff and kids are not exactly what they seem. To outsiders for sure but also to one another. It's actually unclear how many of them have the gift of magic when Headmaster Greene - a High Elf - keeps all these details to himself.
Si is a Fairy, or part Fairy at least. He has magical abilities but his aura and power is pretty messed up. Basically it NEVER does what he wants or expects it to do but it's not like he has many opportunities to actually use his power.. Grey on the other hand is considered "Nomic", meaning a non-magical entity. He can channel A LOT of power from the earth around him but he himself has no magic of his own, putting him lower on the "magical food chain". Not that it matters to him.. He would rather not use his power for a different reason.. The one time he abused it he found himself in jail - he got his lesson for sure.