Thank you people for the reviews so far.

DISCLAIMER: Anything Septimus Heapish belongs to Angie Sage, not me. I should have put that at the start really, shouldn't I?

Summary: Septimus and Jenna are readying themselves for adventure. Oh, and Marcia is in a bad mood.

"Septimus!" called Marcia, marching up and down her room, peering around corners.

"Septimus!"she yelled again, in the corridor.

"Septimus!" she poked her head crossly around the door to his room.

"Septimus!" she shrieked as an enormous purple spider abseiled from the ceiling and dangled in front of her nose. She backed away, until she stumbled over her cloak and toppled ungracefully into an open chest where Septimus kept his robes.

"You won't find him in there." said Alther Meller helpfully, appearing at her side. He floated there and watched her clamber up and brush herself down.

"Well where on earth is he?" demanded Marcia angrily. "Probably getting up to mischief somewhere, I suppose."

"As a matter of fact," said Alther, "He's with the Princess."

"So I was right about the mischief then." Marcia said grimly. "I wanted to ask him if he's revised for his Quicke Spelle test tomorrow."

"I'm sure he has." replied Alther calmly. He knew that Marcia hated heat, and had wasted most the morning sorting out a terrible dispute between her teapot and one of the china cups, but, mellow as he was in Ghosthood, he saw no reason for her to be so worked up.

"Who's bitten you then?" he queried, as Marcia marched back up the corridor to her own room, and he floated tranquilly behind.

"It is less of a case of whom, Alther, but what. Since this time yesterday morning I must have encountered five of these awful great spiders. I just can't seem to get rid of them. There must be a nest of them somewhere."

"Have you put an antidote on the bites?" asked Alther.

"What bites?" snapped Marcia distractedly. "Oh, the spiders. They haven't actually bitten me, they've just been a bit alarming- and very annoying."

"They're more of Septimus' pets." explained Alther patiently. "He's very fond of rescuing insects, you know."

"Well why didn't you say so?" Marcia fumed. The heat really must be getting to her, Alther mused, as he watched her march swiftly away, purple robes swinging and pointy python shoe-clad footfalls echoing fiercely.

***

Jenna pushed the door experimentally. Nothing happened.

"It's locked." Septimus pointed out.

"Genius." muttered Jenna. She took a metal pin from her pocket.

"What was that doing in there?" asked Septimus.

"No idea." Jenna set about picking the lock. "It's something Sam taught me to do, years ago." she explained. "If I can just- gotcha!"

With a triumphant click the door swung open.

"Well what are you waiting for?" Jenna grabbed Septimus' arm and pulled him through the door.

Their immediate impression was of darkness. The door was shut firmly behind them, and there was no light coming from whatever chamber, passage or room they were now in.

Septimus held up his hand. The Dragon ring on his index finger illuminated the walls, bathing everything in faint golden light.

"Wow." He breathed.

They were standing at the top of a staircase made entirely of silver. The walls were made of the stuff too, and, as far as they could tell, the ceiling. Jenna reached out and touched one of the walls. It was smooth and cold; when she took her hand away, there was a slight imprint upon the surface.

"Sep, it's real silver!"

Paying no attention, Septimus examined the small passage. "Marcia never told me about a Silver room anywhere in the Tower." he frowned. "I wonder what it's doing here?"

"Who cares?" shrugged Jenna. "I think it's beautiful."

"We should probably go back now." said Septimus. His eyes met Jenna's. They grinned at each other in the half-darkness, then ran down the narrow, steep silver steps, further into the heart of the Mystery.

That's a bit of a mean place to end it actually, but tough. Thanks people xx