A Kiss in the Dark
They were saying good-bye to Pauline. Tess wished her a Joyeux Noel! before backing out of the circle to let others have a turn to speak. She felt her mood suddenly sinking. It was so romantic to be in the Town Square of this little village with holiday displays in every shop window. This was a night for walking hand in hand with someone, to gaze into someone’s eyes and wait for that magical kiss.
There was just one man who could have shaken her out of her blues, just one who could chase Reid Mageford out of her mind. Her first crush, a young man who, with his voice and touch, could still make her shiver and glow. As if in a dream, there he was, in a dark heavy coat, a bag of presents in his left hand. They locked eyes, and he called to her.
“Is that Tess Covenshire?”
“Robert!” She ran to his side and he pulled her into an embrace.
“God, you get more beautiful every time I see you. I’ve been listening to you kids sing for the last half-hour. You really are a lovely ensemble.”
“Come meet the gang!” she said. “There’s plenty here you’ll know.”
Aylie and Rainey came right over. “Who is this?” asked Aylie.
“This is Robert Kaufmann. He’s a friend of Devon’s. Robert, this my sister Aylie and our cousin, Rainey.”
“Hello there.” Robert bent down and gazed into Aylie’s eyes. “It’s been many years since I’ve been to the Covenshire estate, but I did meet you once. Are you girls at Hogwarts, now?”
“Yes!” said Aylie.
“We’re Hufflepuffs,” said Rainey, anticipating his next question.
“It’s nice to meet you,” said Robert.
The call had ended, and the group’s attention shifted to the newcomer. “Kaufmann!” called Morwena. “What a pleasant surprise!”
“It was no surprise to hear you’ve been elected prefect, Felwich,” said Robert. “And, you’re a lock for head girl too, I’m sure.”
“It’s not up to me, but thank you,” answered Morwena. “You remember Cyrus Kane, don’t you?”
Cyrus strode forward and stuck out his hand. The two exchanged a vigorous shake. “I go to Durmstrang, now.”
“Ah! What faction?”
“Sea Dragons.”
“Well done!”
Morwena reached back her hand and beckoned Philip forward. “This is my good friend, Philip Harkenborough. He brought Tess and the others up from Godric’s Hollow this evening.”
“A Harkenborough! Destined for a career in Ministry, no doubt. I have recently found work in the Diplomatic Corps.”
“Have you been given a posting?” asked Philip.
“No, not yet. Still earning my stripes.” The two boys, shook.
Robert’s eye fell upon Rhiannon. “The star of the Silver Serpents,” said Robert. “Your flying is remarkable.” Rhiannon said nothing, but she smiled demurely.
Morwena continued to make introductions. “Shona here is Rhiannon’s sister. She went to Gryffindor. This is Stacy Hind of Hufflpuff, and my fellow prefects, Lara Guishar of Hufflepuff and Sadie Thompson of Ravenclaw.”
Robert gazed keenly at Lara. “Guishar of Hufflepuff, your reputation is expanding. Nice to make your acquaintance.” He turned to Sadie. “I remember you as a precocious First Year. A belated congratulations on being elected prefect.”
“Thank you!”
“And finally,” said Morwena, grandly, “my sister Freya and her peer, Aiden Thompson, Sadie’s brother.”
Freya held back, wary of the stranger, but Aiden strode up to Robert in perfect mimicry of Cyrus and said, “Aiden Thompson, Slytherin, Class of 2014.”
The two shook hands. “Robert Kaufmann, Slytherin, Class of ’06. Well met!” Robert turned to Morwena. “Would you sing another song? I’d love to join you. I can carry a tune, and I sing bass.”
“We are happy to have you,” said Morwena.
The group walked down the block to the entrance of the theater and began to serenade the people waiting in line to buy tickets. They sang “Silver Bells,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “Auld Lang Syne.” The crowd clapped appreciatively.
Tess was hanging on Robert’s arm. “I’m so glad we ran into you. How did you land with the Diplomatic Corps?”
“Turns out, they were looking for someone with a degree in History. If your friends can spare you,” said Robert, “we can grab a cup of coffee and catch up.”
Tess turned to Philip and asked, “You can watch over Aylie for a few minutes, can’t you?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” said Philip.
“Does anyone have a curfew we need to worry about?” asked Morwena.
“We’re good for a while yet,” said Sadie.
“Yes, we’re good, too,” said Lara.
“Then, let’s not rush back,” said Morwena. “We can do a little window shopping for a half-hour or so and then head for home.”
Morwena and Cyrus went on ahead, while Rhiannon, Sadie and Philip watched over Shona, Aylie and Rainey. Philip asked Aylie, “How does Tess know that fellow, Kaufmann? He said he was Class of ’06, so he was a Seventh Year when we were First Years.”
“He was a friend of our older brother, Devon.”
“I thought Tess was dating Pierce Mageford,” said Sadie.
“That was yesterday,” said Aylie. “This is today.”
Aiden and Freya lingered by the theater, letting the rest of the group disperse. “Where would you like to go?” asked Aiden.
“As far away from my sister as I can get,” answered Freya.
“If you had asked me, I might have said the same thing. Come on, let’s go this way.”
They stepped into the street, intending to cross through the park to the far end of the square. Freya let out a shriek as she began to slip on a patch of black ice. She would have fallen straight down on her bottom but for quick action from Aiden. With one hand on her arm and another around her waist, he steadied her.
“You should put anti-slip charms on your shoes,” he said.
“Yes, I forgot.”
He drew his wand and cast the charm for her. “Or, most likely, your sister nagged you to do it and you skipped it to spite her.”
Freya let out a nervous laugh, for this is exactly what had happened. “Why would I do something like that?” she asked.
“No idea,” said Aiden. He pocketed his wand and then, with a casual sweep of his arm, took up her hand again. He gazed at her steadily to see if this gesture would be challenged. She bit down on her lip but did not pull her hand away. “Took’s had you long enough, I think,” said Aiden.
“Maybe,” said Freya. They walked past the park to the shops on the far end of the square.
“At any rate, he’s not here and I am.”
Freya found that she was perfectly happy having Aiden Thompson hold her hand. She wasn’t ready to kiss him or snuggle with him quite yet, but his hand was firm and strong.
“I hope I don’t cause you too much trouble,” said Aiden.
Freya let out another nervous laugh. “That was the first thing I thought of. ‘Is there anyone here who would rat me out to Alyssa?’”
“The young Hufflepuffs won’t tell Alyssa,” said Aiden, “but they might tell Took.”
“I can handle Bennie,” said Freya. “He’s very sweet and gentle. He’s just not in love with me.”
“As opposed to me?”
“You are a Slytherin boy,” said Freya. “Calculating, scheming, plotting. And horny,” she added, with a laugh.
“Guilty as charged,” said Aiden.
There were elaborate displays in each store window – a toy military band playing “March of the Toys;” a pair of mannequins that passed the same gift back and forth to one another, making gestures of surprise each time; and a train set model of the Town Square, lit up with the lights of real faeries. Aiden and Freya walked hand in hand until they met up with Philip and the others, coming from the opposite direction. The younger Hufflepuff girls, as expected, looked crossly at Freya, who stared crossly back at them.
“So that’s where you ran off to,” said Sadie. “Freya, can you please check in with your sister? She was looking for you.”
Freya let out an irritated huff of steam. “We would be happy to,” said Aiden, pleasantly.
They found Morwena and Cyrus a few doors down. “Stay close by,” said Morwena. “Father’s coming to pick us up.”
In the coffee shop, Tess and Robert were finishing up mugs of hot chocolate. “It’s wonderful to see you again,” said Robert. “You become more charming and beautiful every time I see you.”
“Thank you! You have always been tall and handsome. You must come by to visit my brother sometime. He’ll be home for Christmas.”
“Dev and I have fallen out of touch,” said Robert, “but perhaps I could come up with an excuse to contact him. Now, I really should be going.”
They stepped outside. Tess looked around for her friends and saw Morwena and Cyrus not too far away. “Please take care of yourself,” she said.
“I shall. You as well.” He pulled her into a firm hug, and she pressed a kiss into his cheek. “Give my regards to your family,” he said. With a wave, he disappeared into the shadows.
Mr. Felwich arrived, and there was another round of good-byes among the carolers. Morwena and Freya, Sadie and Aiden got in his car. Cyrus had his own car, while Tess and the others went home with Philip.
In the magically enlarged backseat of the Felwich’s car, Morwena sat with Sadie and Freya with Aiden. The two prefects chatted away about Christmas plans while Freya brooded. Aiden was tense and alert. She gazed at him, wondering what he was thinking but not wanting to ask and be overheard by the older sisters.
Away from the town square, the lights fell away. The night was inky black. Aiden gaze at Freya and, with a sudden motion, leaned in and gave her a brief kiss on the mouth. She flinched, but did not make a sound. He took off his glove and ran his bare finger across her cheek. “If you have time over the break,” he said in an off-hand way, “I’d like to see you again.”
“I can’t promise you anything,” she said.
They were pulling up the Thompsons driveway. When the car eased to a stop, Aiden gave Freya’s hand a squeeze and then got out.
Later that night, Freya lay in her bed, gazing up at the ceiling. She wondered if Morwena or Sadie had seen Aiden kiss her. She decided it didn’t matter either way. The kiss is the easiest part of this to explain away, reasoned Freya. I didn’t ask for it. He surprised me with it.
I didn’t pull my hand away. I let him hold it.
The little girls will tell Benedict, but that’s okay because he’ll forgive me. It’s Alyssa who won’t forgive or forget. She’ll consider this an act of infidelity against the menage a quatre and against our coven.
Why did I let him hold my hand? Why risk the wrath of Alyssa for a night away from this crazy relationship?
Because I wanted to. Just like Tess flirting with that guy, Kaufmann. I wanted someone to pay attention to me, and Aiden was the guy.
What is he up to? If this is part of some plan, what’s the plan?
She sighed heavily. He had better call me. We have a lot to talk about now.
Aiden did not disappoint her. As soon as she had finished breakfast, her Witchter ball began to buzz. She and Morwena were sharing a room, but Morwena was downstairs. Freya pushed the door closed and said, “Hello.”
“Hi, it’s Aiden.”
“I wasn’t sure you would really call.”
“I told you I would call you. What’s your schedule like this week?”
“Well, assuming grandmother doesn’t die, there’s not much on the docket until this weekend,” said Freya. Christmas was on Saturday that year.
“That’s what I was thinking. Are you up for a morning walk?”
“Sure.”
“Remember to cast the no-slip charm on your shoes,” said Aiden.
Freya bundled up with her coat, hat and scarf. At the downstairs foyer, she called out, “I’m going on a walk!”
Her mother, from another room, called out, “Remember your coat!”
Freya called back. “Already on my body!”
Morwena appeared from another direction. “Where are you going?” she asked.
“I’m going on a walk.”
“Is anyone joining you?” When Freya did not answer, Morwena’s glare became fierce. “Aiden Thompson, perhaps?”
“Does it matter? I’m going out. I’ll be back later.” Freya opened the door and left her sister behind in the foyer.
She walked alone down the path towards a low hill. Beside her, the trees, heavy with snow, glistened in the morning light. She climbed the hill and waited, gazing towards Faerydale. Soon, she could hear the crunching of feet on the snowy path. Aiden Thompson was approaching.
“Good morning,” he said, when he was finally beside her.
Dispensing of any pleasantries, she glared at him and said, “Why are you doing this?”
“Why am I doing what?” he asked, a sly grin on his face.
“Toying with me.”
“Alyssa is playing a game,” said Aiden. “I am not.”
“Are you serious . . . about me?”
“Yes. You’re pretty, Freya, but it’s more than that. We work well together. I have a feeling I’m going to need you.”
“Need me for what?”
“I have a plan to strike back against the Dennisons. Well, it’s not really a plan. More of a notion. I don’t want to tell you about it right now. Everything is too vague.”
“How can I help you if you don’t tell me what you’re up to?”
“When I have a clearer sense of what direction to take, I’ll loop you in. In the meantime, I want you open to the idea of working with me.”
“What about the hand-holding and the kiss? Is that part of your plan, too?”
“I was enjoying a pleasant evening with you. Perhaps we can do that more often.”
“I’m not going to be your girlfriend,” she said. “Not while you’re with Dennison. I’d have to leave my coven to be with you. If I did that, I would be vulnerable to whatever creepy spell he’s learning from that damned book. Bennie, too, would lose his protections if the Little Coven disbanded. I can’t do it.”
“Dennison won’t be around forever,” said Aiden. “He’s headed for a fall. He’s going to die young.”
“You keep saying that. I’m afraid of what he will do before then.”
“That’s what we’re all afraid of. What does Took know about all this?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s close to Guishar. She’s the one who dropped the Doom on dear Reggie. She may have told him something.”
“If I find something out, how do I tell you? It can’t be during Arithmancy, with Dennison right there eavesdropping.”
Aiden nodded. “Give a message to Q. She’ll find a way to get it to me.”
“Okay.” Her hostile tone had slowly faded away as they spoke. Now, she gazed up at him with pleading eyes.
He picked up the hint. “Here’s a Christmas kiss,” he said, “as a promise of our future partnership.” She preened for him. He leaned in, and they shared a long, slow kiss.
They spent the morning, walking along the narrow lanes, holding hands and gazing at the snow. Just before lunch, they parted with another kiss.