November bled into December. The Saturday sessions were soon filled with virtually the whole fifth year Hufflepuff class. Tamblin felt that some of them were perhaps taking unfair advantage of his help, but the girls genuinely cared about their classmates so Tamblin said nothing.
After one of the sessions he held Cascata back. Susan and Hannah noticed and herded the other Hufflepuffs out of the classroom.
"I'm going to need a favor from you," he said to Cascata once the others were out.
She smiled. "I bet I know what it is," and she stepped up close to him.
He put out a hand to stop her gently. "No, not that. I mean, I'd like that, but that's not what I have to talk to you about. I'm going to have to go away for a while-"
"Away? Where? When?"
"I can't say, after I get back I'll tell you all about it, I promise. Dumbledore needs a little help. Simple job, nothing to worry about, but it has to be done quietly. That's why he asked me."
"Okay. What do you need me to do? I could come with you, you've hidden me before."
"No. I need to withdraw very very far. I'm going to ask something very difficult. For the next two weeks I want you to see me as little as possible, think about me as little as possible. Try to forget me."
Cascata looked shocked.
"You're lying to me, Tamblin. If this was such a simple job you wouldn't need to go to this length. What does he want you to do? Steal You-Know-Who's wand?"
"Cas-"
"No. I won't do it. I'm your anchor. I'm not going to push you away. You need me, Tamblin-"
He kissed her, only partly to head off her argument. "More than you know. But this is something I have to do, and I can't succeed unless you do as I ask."
She looked closely at him, measuring his will and the likelihood that she could persuade him away from this course of action. Eventually she swallowed and nodded.
"Try to forget I ever existed for now."
"I suppose a couple weeks away could be good for our relationship," she said mechanically. Her voice was strained. Then she hugged him close before walking out the door without a backwards glance.