Chapter 6:
Meanwhile, Kristin was starting to regret not going to dinner. She had decided on a light lunch while cleaning the cottage. She briefly wondered if her father had made it home in time to eat and if he was well enough to cook something. She didn't think the villagers would help him out, and she knew Sirius wouldn't—she wasn't around to impress.
But she did know for certain that if she didn't eat soon, her stomach would roar louder than the beast that had locked her up. So she decided to go get something to eat. Kristin went to tell Madame Femme Gras, but it seemed the wardrobe was sleeping, judging by the half singing/half snoring coming from that corner of the room.
Kristin stood up and walked out of the room into the abandoned hallway, wondering where the kitchen was. There were no pictures willing to share the information—they were all torn. None of the serving staff were loitering in the halls, but Kristin didn't blame them. So, she was left to find the kitchen by herself.
She found a room that must've belonged to the cleaning staff of the castle—before they were driven away by there master, Kristin figured. She walked around and wondered aloud if the janitors had a map of the place. She peered on a desk to find a peculiar piece of parchment. "You need to find a map? Look no further—this is the map of the Ancients!" she read off the parchment. "Great, but where's the map?" she asked, feeling stupid talking to a map.
Easy. You need to say the password.
"I don't know any password, though."
Of course, you are not of the royal line. Only the kings and their heirs know the secret password.
"So, you're not going to help me?"
Not outright, but I can give you clues. I believe you must be doing something sneaky…
"You mean I have to be up to no good?"
Precisely. And I do believe you have to swear it.
"I swear I'm up to no good?"
Solemnly.
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good?" Kristin repeated. She watched in amazement as a map of the castle appeared. She could see everyone in the castle—though she couldn't figure out who the dots were. Either way, she could now find her way to the kitchen and get some food! "Thank you, who—what—ever you are!"
Upon their master's command, Remus had appointed James to watch over the "prisoner." The candelabra was able to hold his position for about fifteen minutes. After that, he began to drift in and out of reality and was bored out of his mind.
Luckily—but unfortunately—Lily happened to be sweeping through the corridor at that very moment. Now James' one weakness was woman, and when it came to Lily, she was his ultimate weakness. "Wait, where are you going my little one?" he asked, grabbing the featherduster.
Lily began to squirm. "Let me go," she protested, "so I can finish this hallway. Besides, Remus told you to watch the door in case Kristin moves!"
James laughed. "I don't think she's coming out anytime soon and I'm bored." He gave his girl a seductive look. "Do you know anyway to cure my boredom?" Lily melted and the two left the door unattended. Soon a chorus of "Oh James" and "Oh Lily" was heard down the hall in a fading manner.
It was little while later that James returned to the room. "The door wasn't open when I left and now it's open a crack," he mused. A five minute thought process and James came up with the only answer. "She's left! I have to tell Remus before he finds her and kills me!"
Meanwhile, Kristin had finally found the kitchen. "Thank you!" she cried, kissing the map. She pushed into the room to come upon a surprised Mrs. Weasley. "Sorry to be a bother, but I had lunch so long ago and it wasn't a big one," Kristin said.
"You're hungry? She's hungry!" Mrs. Weasley called out. "Cook, heat up some of the leftovers up and let's give this girl a good feast!"
"No, no, no, no, no, and no!" Remus said, running into the kitchen. He stopped short of the woman standing in the middle of the room. "Forgive me for being so rude, miss. I am Remus, head of the household," the clock said, introducing himself before turning back to his fellow objects. "You all heard what the master said!"
"But I am not going to all this poor girl to go starving while she is living in this castle!" Mrs. Weasley said, before being interrupted by a screaming James. "What in Merlin's name are you screaming about James?"
"And that is James," Remus said, "head of household flirting. I thought I told you to watch the door!"
"I got distracted."
"And I'm sure you had to twist Lily's arm to go along. She's very dependable when given orders."
"You know, we all need a little fun in our lives. As do you, my friend," James said. "Now, what's all the commotion?"
Mrs. Weasley shot Remus a piercing glare. "I want to feed Kristin here, but some clock won't let me!" she said.
Since Remus was starting to feel the pressure from his two colleagues, he decided to retreat—a little. "Fine! Feed her—a crust of bread and a glass of water, that's it!" he said, eliciting complaints from Mrs. Weasley and James.
"She isn't our prisoner, she's our guest, Remus," James said. "Kristin, go inside and sit down, get comfortable. Mrs. Weasley, when the leftovers are ready, bring them out. Remus, stay here and I'll go and provide the entertainment." Two of the three addressed complied with their orders.
"I am not going to be silent about this!" the Household head cried, stomping a foot. "There will be no entertainment—at all!" But it was too late—James was already in the dining room putting on an extravagant show for Kristin.
Dinner was over and Remus could breath a sigh of relief. "Well, well, that was wonderful!" he said. "But I believe it's time for bed. Come on."
"Oh no, I can't sleep now!" Kristin cried. "It's my first night in an enchanted castle," she said dreamily, causing James and Remus to jump.
"En-enchanted?" Remus asked. "Who said anything about this castle being enchanted?" He turned on James. "It was you, wasn't it? When will you learn to keep your big mouth shut?"
Kristin giggled. "No one told me. I kinda figured it out on my own." She decided to sweeten up her voice. "I was wondering if I could get a tour of the castle? Maybe, Remus, you could take me? I bet you know everything about the castle."
Remus smiled proudly and said, "Well, I don't know about everything—but I know enough. I'll be honored to show you around the castle." He hopped off the table, soon to be followed by James and Kristin. "We'll start with the suits of armor—there the only things that appear to be left."
The tour ended up by the entrance to the dungeons. Remus and James gasped and quickly turned her away. "Wait, what's down there?" she asked. "Why can't we go there? Is THAT the door to the forbidden dungeons?" She curiously walked over to the door.
"Why don't we go visit some place else? The library, perhaps?" Remus offered, trying to regain his audience's attention.
Kristin twirled around. "Did you say library?" she asked, her eyes starting to light up. "How many books do you have? About what?"
Remus and James breathed a sigh of relief. "We have tons of books," Remus said. "On any topic you wish to read about, lovely one," James added. The two objects walked off, with Kristin in tow—for a little while.
She began to slow down, but not because she was tired. As much as she wanted to see the library and the stacks of books the two said it held, her curiosity was piqued. She now had to prove it was the dungeons. She opened the map and saw she was right. She walked back to where she had come from. "He said to never, ever go in here. Well, that's just basically inviting me in," she mused and turned the doorknob.
She slowly opened the door and walked down the dark and damp stairs. She noticed there were no mirrors, and like the other paintings, the ones lining these hallways were torn. She wondered why the Beast would forbid her from coming down here, there wasn't anything that would be considered scandalous. She reached one door that was locked—charmed. "Great, I need a password. What could he possibly be hiding behind that door?" she asked aloud, waving her hands absentmindedly.
The parchment in her hand caught her attention immediately. It showed her standing outside the door and it had a word written near the door. "Potions?" she asked, wondering why the word was on the paper. To her surprise, the door sprung open. "It was the password," she said. She then addressed the map, saying, "You have saved my rear end so many times tonight."
She entered into the room to find it as dark as the other room. "Why is there so much secret about this room?" she asked. "I understand the—whatever—wants his privacy, but there isn't too much to keep private here." She continued walking around, until she came upon a rarity in the castle—a complete painting. "Hello. Who are you?" she asked the painting, praying the picture would talk back. It didn't.
It was obviously a wedding portrait of a beautiful black haired woman, with warm brown eyes. Her smile showed she was a welcoming one, and even as a painting, she had a motherly glow around her. Just like her own mother, Kristin remembered, fingering her locket, the one her father gave her mother when Kristin was born. How she wished the epidemic hadn't counted her mother as one of its victims!
A glow soon caught her eye, distracting her from the painting. "Oh, Merlin," she breathed, staring at a beautiful rose that seemed suspended in air. It was encased in glass and crystal, increasing its illumination. She went to take off the case, but decided to just gaze at its beauty again, pulling back her hand.
