The Secret Password
Rhiannon did not speak to Tess for several days. It was one thing for Rhiannon to blame Tess for the angry howler from her grandmother. Worse, it seemed that everyone was taking Rhiannon's side of things.
"Rhi is, of course, correct," declared Morwena. "I've received what I needed from this project. And, now that I know what to expect, I'm sure to do better on our next big History Exam, and on the Final in December. I doubt I'll need more extra credit to keep pace with Calliope."
"But what about Scott?" argued Tess. "Aren't you the least bit curious why he dropped out of school?"
"Yes, I am curious," said Morwena, setting a gentle hand on Tess' arm. "But it's not so important to me that I think we should risk another howler over it. I don't want you or Rhi to get in trouble with your families."
"I'm sure it's nothing," huffed Tess. "My mother flies off the handle over silly things."
"Yes," said Morwena patiently, "and Grandmother Ashfeld blames Rhiannon for everything. Still, there's no point in pursuing this further. It's just not worth it. Besides, we're at a dead end. There’s no one else we can ask to get the answers we need."
Pauline walked a delicate line during this time. She would smile at Tess, and answer any greeting or question, but outside of their Herbology work, she did not speak to Tess, either. Rhiannon had been her first Hogwarts friend, and Pauline remained loyal to her. The two would curl up on the love seat together, after studying, and gossip quietly to each other without acknowledging Tess at all.
Each morning, during their showers, Rhiannon paired every morning with Pauline, leaving Tess with Vanessa. Vanessa asked about it Wednesday morning. "What's going on between you and Rhi?"
On familiar terms, now, are we? thought Tess. She hates you almost as much as she hates me. "It's nothing," said Tess, drearily.
"'Berto thinks it has to do with the picture in the Quidditch library that you showed me that one day, and Kaufmann, and you, but he's not sure how it all fits together."
"Well, it's not really any of his business," said Tess. "But I appreciate his concern." He probably told you to ask me. He probably told you what to say.
There was really no point in being too friendly with Vanessa. That would only lead to further punishments from Morwena and Rhiannon. They won't treat me like a garden gnome forever. If I play along, they'll let me back in.
Wednesday evening, Tess took a walk through the Quidditch library. She was trying to stay awake until her Astronomy Lab. She browsed through all the photos and displays, ending with the picture of Scott Highcross. His smile when he saw her made her heart flutter.
“Esther,” he mouthed to her.
“Tess,” she said gently. “My name is Tess.” He nodded, but continued to smile at her in the same warm, loving way. Maybe he didn’t understand. "You dropped out of school!" she said sadly.
He nodded, as if he had heard her, and shrugged. He looked sad, too, and wistful.
"You were a Prefect, and a fine flyer." Again, he nodded.
She felt a tingling thrill that the handsome boy was, in a way, talking to her. She leaned in close and, conspiratorially, added, "You were Captain of the Esoteric Club."
There was no doubt this time that Scott had understood her. Immediately, there was a change in his expression. His eyes became alert and wary. He brought a finger to his lips. She could almost hear his "Shhh!" He looked left and right. Compulsively, she did, too. There was no one around, but still, Scott looked alarmed. He mouthed the words, "Enemies about."
"There's no one here," she whispered. But, just then, there was the sound of feet on the nearby stairs. Some Fourth Year boys were coming up the steps to the main common room. Scott at once resumed his pose. Tess watched him sadly, but when he did not look back at her, she went away.
The evening dragged on. Morwena was writing in her diary, while Pauline and Rhiannon chatted away on the loveseat. Tess tried to write a letter home, but couldn't think of anything to say. She was still angry at her mother for embarrassing her with the howler. She ended up doodling on her parchment, hearts, flowers, and swirls to which she added leaves so they looked like vines. She drew a pathetic stick figure Scott, on his broomstick, holding his Snitch aloft.
I wish I could draw as well as Rhi does.
Finally, it was time for Lab. Tess bundled up in a long woolen dress, thick tights, her warmest coat and earmuffs. The other girls dressed similarly. Snow was still weeks away, but it would be bitterly cold up on the parapet.
For the lab, Tess paired up with Morwena. Professor Sinistra gave instructions on where in the sky Mars was on that particular night. Morwena carefully adjusted the telescope until the red dot was in the center of the circle. The two girls took turns looking at it.
"I'm sorry about the howlers," said Tess, mournfully.
Morwena shrugged, and peered through the view finder once again at the red dot. "I didn't get one," she said, finally.
"I know, but Rhi did, and now she hates me."
Morwena straightened up and ran her gloved hand across Tess' cheek. "She doesn't hate you. She's angry, yes. She's often scolded by her grandmother, blamed for things that aren't really her fault. You might think she would get calloused to it, but she doesn't."
"I told her I was sorry."
"Tell her again. She'll forgive you."
After the lab, Blake escorted them back to the common room. The girls went to their dormitories and got ready for bed. When she was in her nightgown, and her coat and hat were put away, Tess crept over to Rhiannon's bed. She parted the curtain and slipped inside.
Rhiannon glared at her and immediately rolled over so that she was facing the wall. Tess, unsure of what to do, sat down on the edge of her bed.
"I'm sorry," she said, finally. "I'm sorry about the howlers."
Rhiannon made no sound or movement. Tess sighed. She felt a great welling of guilt and anxiety. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you for so long! I shouldn't have been. You are really fun to be with. I love your sense of humour. I wish I could draw like you." She waited a beat for Rhiannon to say something, or even roll over, but she didn't. "I'm glad you're my friend now," said Tess, weakly.
Finally, under the covers, there was a little movement. Rhiannon's long, thin, freckled hand came out of the covers. It ran along Tess' forearm and clutched her hand. For a moment, the two girls held hands. Then, Rhiannon let go, and her hand retreated back under the covers. "Go to bed, Tess," she murmured.
Tess got up and went to her own bed. She slept fitfully for an hour. When she woke, the room was dark and still.
I was dreaming about Scott, she mused. She reached for the memory of the dream, but it was gone. All that was left was its echo.
Why did he drop out of school? I wish he would tell me.
He was so afraid of enemies. It must have been hard, then, to be a Muggleborn Slytherin.
He was right to be afraid. Somebody killed him.
She sat up in bed and peeked out the curtains. There was no light, no movement, no sound. If I talk to him now, I wonder what he would tell me?
She got out of bed and crept as quietly as she could out of the dormitory. The fire in the fireplace had burned low. The greenish lights, flickering above her head, were dim. She pushed on, through the gloom, to the Quidditch library.
Scott's picture smiled at her again. She whispered to it, "Tell me about the Esoteric Club." He hesitated, worried. "There's no one here!"
He nodded. He put two fingers of his right hand over his heart. He closed his fist, then put out just his index finger. He closed his fist again, then set three fingers over his heart.
"Two, one, three," whispered Tess. "Room 213?"
Scott nodded. She watched him carefully as he mouthed a word. "Password?" she whispered. He nodded. Carefully, emphasizing every syllable, he mouthed the word.
A shiver ran down her spine. It was a forbidden word - an awful word. Eyes wide, trembling, she asked, "That's your password?" He nodded.
There was the clop clop of slippers on the stone floor. Scott took up his position. Tess looked quickly around for a way to escape, but there was nowhere to go. Around the corner came Rebecca. The Prefect let out a heavy, irritated sigh. "I thought I'd find you here!"
Tess said nothing. She let Rebecca take her by the shoulder and lead her back to bed. "Why are you out of bed? You have class tomorrow! This better not be Robert's doing."
"It's not!" Tess protested. "I wanted to talk to him."
"Talk to whom? To Robert?"
"No, to Scott. The boy in the picture."
"You can't talk to photographs," said Rebecca. "Now, get in bed!"
Tess pulled back the covers and slid between the cool sheets. Rebecca ran her hand through Tess' hair. "You gave me quite a fright, young lady."
"I'm sorry."
Rebecca leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Go to sleep!" Tess closed her eyes, and fell asleep immediately.
Tess slept through the night, but awoke troubled by what the picture had told her. She took her shower and brushed her hair and teeth, but all the while, she brooded. Who can I talk to about this? Morwena will know what to do, but how can I talk to her without Rhiannon being right there? Rhi is just starting to not ignore me. I can't bring this up around her, or she'll fly off the handle again.
She got dressed and went out to the great hearth to wait for the others. There, standing with a group of Sixth and Seventh Year boys, was Robert. The tall boy with dark hair and grey eyes had always reminded her of her older brother. His gentle manner comforted and encouraged her. She felt a surge of confidence. Robert can help me! He will know what to do!
She inched closer to the hearth. When she had caught Robert's eye, she whispered, "Robert!"
The boys around him began to laugh. "Oooo!" called one of them. "Robert, is it?" said another.
Tess blushed. She had clearly said the wrong thing. Robert blushed, but he was grinning, too. "Will you shut up!" he said, laughing along with the boys. He leaned down to Tess and said, "Run along with your girlfriends. We'll talk later."
Tess nodded, and hastily retreated back to the dormitory.
Her Thursday routine went by without incident. She was careful at breakfast and lunch not to look Robert's way too often. The boys clearly think I'm in love with him. They'll tease him mercilessly for this.
That evening, after dinner, she was sitting on the loveseat with Rhiannon and Pauline. It was the first time all week Tess felt welcomed to sit with them. Morwena was writing in her diary. As the girls talked, a little paper aeroplane floated out of the air and landed in Tess' lap. She quickly opened it. On school parchment were the words: I'm in the museum. RK
"What is that?" asked Rhiannon.
Tess bit her lip. She could feel the heat on her cheeks. "I'll be right back."
She got up and went right to the Quidditch library. Robert was standing by the picture of Scott Highcross. Tess lingered shyly back. "Hi," she said.
"Good evening," said Robert pleasantly.
Her apology came out in a long gush. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you earlier! I shouldn't have been so, I don't know . . . I didn't mean anything by it. You remind me of my brother."
His keen grey eyes were on her, an amused grin on his lips. "I remind you of Devon Covenshire?" She nodded. "I'll take that as a complement. Now, what can I do for you?"
"The picture!" said Tess, excitedly. "It's talking to me!"
"The photo of Highcross is talking to you?"
"Yes. I have to stand over here. He may not like me talking to you. He's afraid of enemies."
"He had reason to be afraid. That was a very difficult time for Muggleborn Slytherins. I wonder if being a prefect helped or hurt his cause." His eyes, which had been briefly distant and reflective, hardened once more. "What else did he tell you?"
Tess gave a shudder and whispered, "He told me a password." Her voice gained strength as she spoke, until it reached again her tense, excited pitch. "I asked him about the Esoteric club. He gave me a room number, and a secret password!"
"A password? What is it?" asked Robert, eagerly.
Tess blushed and gave another shudder. "It's a bad word! I can't say it!"
Robert pressed his lips together. He looked like he was trying not to laugh. "How about this?" He came up to her and leaned against the wall. He bent his knees and slowly lowered himself until they were the same height. "Why don't you whisper it in my ear?"
"Okay," said Tess, nervously. She didn't want to say it at all. She was afraid of saying it, and afraid of how Robert might react. But she gathered her courage, brought her lips close to his ear and whispered.
Confounding all her fears, Robert began to laugh. "Oh my," he said. "Not a word that would come up in casual conversation, now, would it?"
Tess, eyes wide, shook her head.
Robert straightened up. "This bloke gets better every day. The more we learn, the more mysterious he becomes. Did he tell you anything else? What was the room number?”
"It’s --"
Just then, around the corner came Rebecca. "Kaufmann!" she shouted, "What are you doing to my First Year!"
"We were having a pleasant conversation,” he answered, icily, “before you interrupted us."
"I will not have you corrupting this little girl!"
"Corrupting her? I've done no such thing. She came to me, and I've been nothing but proper towards her." He swept his arm through the air. "Now, run along! You are interfering in a historical inquiry into a forgotten Slytherin hero."
Rebecca would not be dissuaded. She clutched Tess' shoulder and put herself between Tess and Robert. "I don't care what your excuse is! She's too young for this! She's too young for you!"
Tess squirmed, but could not pull free of Rebecca's grip. She felt mortified. She's worse than my mother!
Robert was indignant. "I have taken Baingarden's Oath, Rebecca," he said sternly. "I mean this girl no harm!"
"They'll be no more tonight," said Rebecca stubbornly. "I'm taking her back to her friends, and then I'm putting her to bed!"
Robert let out a heavy sigh. Tess' face peeked out from behind Rebecca. "Tess," he said gently, "we shall continue our conversation later. Good evening." He gave Rebecca a cross look, then turned on his heel and strode away.
Tess finally wriggled free of Rebecca's grip. "We were just talking!"
"You don't know what those older boys are really like."
Tess rubbed her shoulder. "Whatever he's like, he's not like that to me!"
"Go!" snapped Rebecca. "Back to your friends."
Tess went back to the lounge where her friends were sitting. Morwena had finished writing in her diary and had joined Rhiannon and Pauline. "Where were you?" asked Morwena.
Tess slumped down on the loveseat next to Morwena, a dark sulk on her face. "I was talking to Kaufmann."
"You just can't let it go, can you?" said Rhiannon, angrily.
"No, I can't!" said Tess, more harshly than she meant to. "Everyone thinks Robert's hitting on me, but he's not! He's just as curious about Scott as I am."
"He's Robert now, is he?" asked Morwena, amused. "That's a little too familiar, don't you think?"
"He's like my brother Devon!" protested Tess. "We're just trying to solve the mystery. And, Rebecca comes and flies off the handle!"
"I've seen them together," mused Pauline. "Rebecca and Kaufmann - I bet they have some history."
"What were you and Kaufmann talking about?" asked Morwena.
"Scott. He's talking to me."
"Highcross is talking to you?" asked Morwena.
"Is he mouthing new words to you?” asked Pauline. “Does he still call you Esther?”
"Yes, he does." Tess was suddenly weary of questions. Morwena and Pauline were both gazing at her expectantly, but Rhiannon's face was cold and still. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. Rebecca wants me to go to bed, so that's where I'm going." She stood up and stormed off to the dormitory.