They decided mutually to take Sunday off to give themselves a break. Tamblin's back was still quite sore and Cascata looked pretty tender at breakfast. Next weekend they agreed they'd tackle the Finis-dram.
Tamblin even refrained from wandering Sunday and Monday night in favor of some luxurious rest in bed. But by Tuesday evening his back felt much better and he couldn't resist the lure of the benighted hallways any longer. After his typical four hours of sleep he got up and made ready. As he was just about to make his way out of the dormitory he heard a slapping sound at the window. Outside, in some desperation, was an owl. Tamblin opened the window as little as he could to let the owl in. The wind outside moaned through the opening until he got it shut, bringing a dreadful chill with it.
The owl itself seemed cold but not cold enough to have traveled far. It had a small envelope with it. To Tamblin's surprise it was addressed to him. Upon opening it he read
Tamblin,
I apologize for the late hour of this note but I suspect you may well be up and about. If this note finds you well rested enough, please stop by my office. The password you used previously will still be good.
As Ever,
Albus Dumbledore
Tamblin stroked the owl. He'd walk him out to the owlery rather than force him to fly outside again, even if it was a short trip from the Ravenclaw tower. After returning the messenger, he made his way toward the headmaster's office, past the gargoyle and moving stairs and up to the bronze griffin door knocker. As with last time, Dumbledore bade him to enter before he announced himself.
Dumbledore looked as he always seemed to: tall, benign, smiling at some inner joke, with glittering eyes visible over the half moon spectacles. There was no hint of the paintings Tamblin had dropped off on his last visit to this office and he supposed they had been hung up somewhere in the castle.
"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?"
"Yes. I hope my message didn't wake you, but instead came during one of your evening constitutionals."
"I was awake, Headmaster."
"Good. Good. In fact the reason I wanted to talk to you is connected to these walks of yours."
"Yes, professor?" Tamblin was sweating slightly now.
"I need to ask something rather more of you than I would of most students your age. But we should all be challenged up to our capabilities and I believe you to be rather more mature than most first year students."
"Thank you, sir."
Dumbledore stood and extended his hand toward Tamblin. Cupped in his palm was a small piece of white stone or ivory. Tamblin gingerly leaned forward and took it from his hand. It was ivory; a small rectangular strip of it and on one side was a carved image of a willow tree.
"What is this, sir?"
"Right now is an unusual time for Hogwarts, Tamblin. A somewhat dangerous time, in fact. At a time like this I might very well be obliged if someone who takes quiet evening constitutionals would warn me of any strange events."
"Certainly. But, sir, there are a great many strange things in this castle, how should I know which would concern you?"
"I will have to leave that to your judgment. However there is a door on the third floor that I would be particularly aware of."
"The door with the dog," he said before he thought better of it.
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Yes, just so. I would strongly encourage you not to take a constitutional through that door, but if you go by it on occasion I think you may find your walks very pleasant."
Tamblin held up the piece of ivory, "And this?"
"If on any of your walks you feel the immediate need of company just break that token and I'll make haste to join you."
"I think I understand, sir."
"Good. That's all; feel free to enjoy the rest of your evening and thank you for humoring an old man. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Headmaster."
Tamblin slipped the willow tree token into the same inner pocket of his robe as his wand.