Hat-Crossed Lovers
Chapter 6
When Becky first came to Hogwarts, one of the things that took time to get used to was the baths. They were huge – round constructions, nearly three metres in diameter, with numerous taps to deliver various kinds of soap, water, even perfume. Becky didn't know how other Houses handle it, but the Ravenclaws had decided long ago that it was wasteful for one person to use all the water at a shot. So, just as she was starting to get to know her new roommates, she was dismayed to learn that they were expected to take their baths together.
It wasn't as humiliating as it sounded – the girl's prefect for Ravenclaw told them that there was a Charm – Nebulate - that would create a sort of visual fog around each witch to hide embarrassing details. The prefect invoked it the first few times, until the First Years learnt to cast it themselves. And eventually the roommates got so chummy that they simply stopped trying to hide themselves.
By fourth year, bath time actually became nearly the most pleasant task of the day. You were with your best friends, and you didn't have to think about schoolwork (even Ravenclaws liked getting away from schoolwork on occasion), and could chat about other things.
"Becky," said Lizzie, her favourite roommate, "the people in the Chess Club have been asking when you'd be back."
"It's nice of them to miss me," said Becky, "but I'm working on a big project now. A sort of machine." She still didn't want to give out details yet. Ivan had taught her the concept of a computer programme, and she was trying to figure out how to embody it in a spell.
"And that's more important than being with your friends?" asked Kitty, another roommate.
Becky winced; sometimes Kitty asked tactless questions, though certainly not nearly as weird as the new First Year, Luna Lovegood. "I think it IS important to work on this sort of thing."
"Why?" asked Lizzie.
Becky decided it was time to talk about some things that were worrying her (as the Prefect had punned, the bath was good to get things off one's chest). These were her best friends after all. "It's about Muggles. For years we've been talking about how our powers give us an advantage over Muggles, that their technology is a poor substitute. But here's the thing: our powers remain the same, while Muggle technology keeps improving. We need to keep up."
"So you agree with the people who say that Muggles are the enemy?" asked Kitty.
"Not at all. Just a standard of comparison, to show us what we should be doing."
"So what does that boy have to do with it?" asked Kitty.
"What boy?"
Janie, another roommate, snorted. "Becky, don't try to lie while we're in the bath! Body language gives you away, and we can see your whole body. The Hufflepuff boy, Ivan Something."
"Ivan Howe. He's giving me advice about Muggle machines. His family runs a company that deals with Muggles a lot, so they need the machines."
"You're sure that it's not Ivan himself that you're fascinated by?" asked Kitty.
"Of course not."
"Then you wouldn't be upset to learn that he's been seen with another girl?"
"WHAT?"
"Aha, body language again. You ARE upset," observed Janie.
Suddenly conversations in the bath were a lot less pleasant. But it wasn't really the roommates' fault. If their story was true, it was Ivan's.
The next day, at breakfast, Becky positioned herself so that she could see the Hufflepuff table. Yes, there was Ivan, talking to a small blonde-haired girl, and they seemed in earnest about something.
Becky had no classes with Ivan that day, but at the evening meal, she again looked, and he was talking to the blonde again. She had to know more.
As all the students filed out of the eating hall, Becky excused herself from her friends, and followed Ivan's group. Fortunately it was a big enough crowd that nobody noticed her.
The group went down a flight of stairs, even though the eating hall was already on ground level. She remembered that the Hufflepuff House, like Slytherin, was located underground, just as Gryffindor and Ravenclaw were located in towers (two down, two up, a nice symmetry there, but Becky was too upset to admire the aesthetics).
Eventually they stopped at a wall with some barrels piled up near it. One of the boys tapped on the barrels several times, and the wall opened up. Apparently the tapping had been an entry code, like answering a riddle from the Door in Ravenclaw tower. Becky was starting to get rattled. Spying on the password of another House was a very naughty thing to do, like spying on girls in the bath without permission. She tried to dash behind a suit of mail in the hall, but her wand hit it with a loud clang. Ivan, who was one of the last boys in the group, turned around and let the wall close behind him. They were alone.
"Who's there. Becky?!"
She stepped out again. "Yes, it's me. Who's the girl?"
"What girl?"
"Blondie!"
Ivan looked bewildered. "Oh. Her name's Euphemia Deane. A first year in my House."
"Why are you talking together so much?"
"If you must know, her family's in danger of being caught out by Muggles. Since I've dealt with Muggles a lot, she wanted to know some good cover stories that could divert suspicion. She's going to write down my suggestions and send an owl to her family tonight. And I'd think you not to repeat any of that, because she's very upset."
It sounded perfectly aboveboard; it was a quandary that a wizard family often found itself in. "I – I won't - are you being honest with me?"
Ivan looked angry, then seemingly controlled himself. "I suppose I deserve that, having lied to you before. But I assure you that it's the honest truth this time. Why do you care?"
It was typical of Becky that she often didn't straighten out her feelings until she had to verbalize them. To her own astonishment, she stammered:
"Because – because - I LOVE you, Ivan!"
TO BE CONTINUED
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I found it odd that Rowling never discussed baths except in extreme situations - Moaning Myrtle's domicile in CHAMBER OF SECRETS, or the egg scene in GOBLET OF FIRE. In both of those cases, the "tubs" were huge. So I decided to speculate just how the Hogwarts people used them.)