CHAPTER TEN

A QUESTION OF 'RENDEZVUS'

After a severely long and raucous discussion with my editors I have been given to understand that, apparently, I devote entirely too much description narrative to myself and not enough to the famous Albus Severus Potter.

(It was also suggested that I "get over myself", whatever that's supposed to mean. (There were quite a few more suggestions given to me, none of which I am inclined to go into right now. Suffice it to say, they were physical impossibilities.))

And so I will acquiesce. Let it never be said that I do not possess enough class and integrity so as to withhold from the public that which they are demanding.

And in any event, it's not as though I require the spotlight or begrudge Albus in any way. You may recall, I am a very humble, private individual who detests publicity in all forms. Why, my own healer practically has to pull teeth just to get me to divulge my own vital statistics, I am so reluctant to talk about myself.

(In one instance, it was simply because I had a cavity.)

Even when the receptionist would ask me for my name- Silvanus Zed- which in itself is a very interesting story how I came by that name. You see, I was named after my great-

Oh, very well! Very well! Albus. Let us talk about Albus. Lets see...

Albus...

What can we say about Albus?

Well I can say one thing about Albus: Acting as his friend is a most taxing and exasperating experience. He is simply impossible. It is excruciatingly frustrating to share a friendship with someone who will not use common sense or basic prudence. He is headstrong, stubborn, impulsive and will often act against his own interests.

He is the type of person who would dive into a whirlpool without hesitation in order to save someone from drowning. (I know! It defies reason and sanity, but there you go...)

A prime example of this defect of his was displayed the night he recieved a little folded piece of parchment. For a few moments he simply stared at the words in a bemused sort of way; not speaking or reacting.

I peered curiously over his shoulder. "Do you recognize the handwritting?" I asked. He shook his head silently. "Oh well," I said in a resigned sort of voice. "I guess it will remain a mystery. Wow, what a long first day, huh? Lot of stuff happened. I'll tell you, I'm right tuckered out, I am. I can hear my pillow calling all the way from up here. Suppose I'll turn in in a bit. You should think about doing the same, by the way. I don't think you got a whole lot of sleep last night. It'll do you a whole lot of good. You'll be refreshed and have a completely new outlook on-"

"I'm not going to bed yet."

"...Yes sirree- say what?"

"I said, I'm not going to bed just yet."

My forehead creased in confusion. "Why ever not?"

In answer, he looked at me as though he expected me to figure it out myself. (It only took me a couple of minutes.) "You're not actually considering making this late-night rendezvus, are you?"

It was his turn to look confused. "'Rendezvus?"

I gave him a patient, yet patronizing smile. "Yes, rendezvus. It means a meeting point." (Poor boy was moderately bright but had a lousy vocabulary.)

"I think the word 'renezvous' is pronounced 'rondayvoo'."

(Apparently he also had trouble with basic spelling. I decided to humor him.)"Fine then! You're not going to make this...'rondayvoo', are you?"

He set his jaw and squared his shoulders. "I am."

"Albus, don't! You'll only get into trouble and you'll lose all the points that I- I mean we- won today. You don't even know this girl. You don't owe her anything. There is no reason to take such a risk."

Albus stood up and made to collect his things, indicating he didn't want to hear any more of my pearls. "Come on, Silv," he said, sounding a little annoyed. "Why are you so skittish? Brave up a bit! Show some backbone!"

"I always show backbone! Generally, when I'm running away. This is something you should be doing. This is basic fight or flight mechanics. Little bugs understand this concept, why don't you? Are you even listening?"

He was not. He had settled back into his chair and had started looking up the charm for wand illumination. (As I said, it was very frustrating being his friend.) I didn't give up, though. I continued to make my case calling upon arguments of such logical ferocity it would have set the greatest phisophers quaking with fright.

Albus licked his finger, turned the page and yawned.

Steadily and surely the common room began to empty and I quieted down, not wishing to advertise Albus' intentions in the realative quiet to those few remaining. (That was indeed the reason; it wasn't as though I had run out of brilliance to spout.)

At around half past eleven there were only three besides ourselves still in the common room. They were Flavious Flannel who was bent low over his homework assignment and scrawling furiously (apparently unaware that most of his scribbling was going onto the table as apposed to his crammed parchment), and Damon Devon with Allison Smyth deep in the enchanting world of idle gossip. They were gigling quite alot and they glanced surreptitiously in our direction many times. (I checked to make sure no one had jinxed my nose upside down. (A very popular prank at the time.) It was fine, if a little runny.)

They carried on a bit longer and finally made their way downstairs, still bursting from unrelinquished laughter at their hidden joke.

It took a little longer but at five to twelve Flavious also went down. I mean he slumped over and fell asleep on his his homework spreading the ink all over the parchment and his freckled face in a ruddy mess. (What I can't fathom is why to this day people still insist he is smart.)

The moment the bespectacled Flannel started drooling Albus leaped to his feet, throwing off all signs of lethargy and presented himself as the picture of readiness. "It's almost time," he said. "Come on. We've only got a few minutes."

He ran for the door, stopped and turned about with raised eyebrows. "Aren't you comming?" he asked.

I looked around. He must have been talking to me. Everyone else was gone and Flannel was sleeping. (Though he wasn't worth talking to even when awake. (That isn't part of the narrative, it's just good advice.)) "Why would I make this renezvus?" I asked. "The note was to you, and anyway I've already said that going is a bad idea."

"Come on, Silv. Aren't you even a little curious about this?" He held up the small flapping note.

I shrugged. "Sure I am. I also had a great big itch square on my rear end today in public."

"What has that to do with-"

"I held myself back then and I'll do it now. You should do the same."

Albus looked at me with not a little dissapointment. "I guess I'll see you in the morning, then."

"Guess so."

"G'night," And the wall slid twice and he was gone.

I made my way down to the dormitory. It was so far underground that the air felt moist and thick and even slight shadows took on a firmer substance. The only sounds that came to my ears as I made my way to my bed were the graceful footfalls of my light footsteps and the gentle breaths of sleeping roommates. (Actually, that's not entirely true; there were also some rather ominous sounds eminating from Windy's direction.)

And then something else caught my ear. I stiffened and pricked my accute hearing to the utmost.

Silence.

But there it was again! Something foreign Something that did not belong in this dormitory. It was subtle but it raised the hackles on the back of my neck. An incessant sound that was definetely coming from Albus' empty bed. But then I came to the realization: It was not empty.

I approached the four poster cautiously and slowly, ever so slowly, I peered over the railing.

At first I was not sure what I was seeing. It looked like the sheets were writhing chaotically with a horrible life of its own. And then I noticed tiny legs. Hundreds of spinely tiny legs racing frantically over the white sheets while chittering and clicking their distgusting pincers. They moved so fast I could not be sure, but each hairy creature looked to be around the size of my fist.

I gasped and stepped back in revulsion. Now I understood the fascinating joke that Damon and Allison were sharing and I wondered vaguely if they even had enough brains between the two of them to come up with this on their own. My second thought was that I must inform Albus. It only stood to reason. After all, if I had unexpected company crashing in my bed I would certainly want someone to let me know.

It was settled then. I would tell Albus. Now, where was he? Oh yes, he had gone. Well then, I would simply have to go after him. (Any time a friend of mine has a weird creature crawling about his personal possesions, you can be sure, I shall be there! That's the kind of man I am!)

I grabbed my wand, fumbled with my slippers and the next moment I was beyond the sliding door and carreening down a dark stone passageway. (Inadvisable, this. Could lead to accidental run-ins with hard walls. Hurts something awful.) Holding my throbbing nose and uttering painful oaths I made my way in persuit of my foolish friend.

Sorry for the long wait. Next chapter's almost done. Two or three days. Thanks for reading.