After spending the afternoon with Fife and Cogsworth, it was time for dinner. Fife came along to hang out with Hermione as she ate dinner. Lumiere didn't seem to happy about this development at first, but as they all spent time together, he started to open up.
As Hermione finished her soup, she asked, "The master won't be joining us tonight?"
Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Lumiere looked downcast.
"No," Mrs. Potts said sadly. "He's still keeping his distance from you, dearie, I am sorry to say."
Hermione frowned. "I wish I knew how I could get him to understand that I only want to help all of you," she said sadly.
"Maestro Forte doesn't want you to help!" Fife exclaimed. Then he covered his mouth. "I shouldn't say anything."
"Oh, really?" Hermione asked, feigning surprise. "Why is that?"
Fife looked uncomfortable under all of the stares. "I'm not supposed to say…" he muttered.
"Out with it, man!" Lumiere exclaimed.
"Please do tell us," Cogsworth said. "It would be a great help."
"But then he won't give me my solo!" Fife whined.
"Is a solo more important than all of our lives?" Cogsworth reasoned. "We can find you a solo from our repository."
"Well, when you put it that way…" Fife said. "I suppose I can tell you." Fife took a deep breath. "Maestro Forte doesn't want to become human again. He likes how the master confides in him now and will do anything to keep it that way!"
Fife gasped at his own audacity and jumped backwards, covering his mouth. Unfortunately, he fell off the edge of the table.
"Fife!" Hermione cried, running over to check on him. "Are you all right?"
Fife looked a little stunned but waved his hand. "Yes, I'm fine," he said, taking Hermione's outstretched hand. She gingerly lifted him to his base so he was once again upright.
"Fife, I really appreciate you telling us this," Hermione said. "I know it must be scary, but if you'd like to be human again please help us."
Fife shook where he stood, seeming torn.
"Remember, Fife," Mrs. Potts said. "It's not only you that was turned into an object. All of us were also human. My boy, Chip —" her voice broke. "Is growing up as a teacup and hasn't been able to have a normal childhood." Mrs. Potts burst into tears, water leaking from the top of her head — the top of the pot.
"There, there, Mrs. Potts," Cogsworth said. "We'll figure it out."
Mrs. Potts took a deep breath and smiled at them. "Yes, I know," she said. "We mustn't lose hope."
"I'll help you," Fife said, moved by their arguments. "I want for all of us to be human again."
"Thank you, Fife," Hermione said.
"That's a good man," Cogsworth said.
"Oui," Lumiere agreed. "That is very good of you."
"I can't wait to see my boy running outside," Mrs. Potts sighed. "So what do we need to do?"
"Well," Hermione said. "How big of an influence does Maestro Forte have over your master?"
"He's been able to use the music to influence the master's emotions!" Fife said. "He combines the music with persuasive arguments and he tends to be able to sway the master's opinion."
"My goodness!" Cogsworth said. "I had no idea. This is not good."
"Indeed," Mrs. Potts agreed.
"We have to do something!" Lumiere cried.
"But what?" Hermione mused. "What could we do to disable Maestro Forte's ability to use music to influence your master?"
"You're not going to hurt him, are you?" Forte asked, worriedly.
"I don't want to hurt him," Hermione said. "Is there a way to disconnect his ability to make music or at least the volume of the music? Perhaps if we make it quieter, it wouldn't be so powerful."
They all fell quiet, thinking. As the silence stretched on, Hermione suggested, "Why don't we all think about it and reconvene again later?"
"Yes!" Mrs. Potts agreed. "It's getting late. Best to go off to bed with you"
They all said good night to each other and went their separate ways.
As Hermione returned to her room, she was eager to speak with Madame de Garderobe about what she knew about Forte and this Maestro Cadenza.
Once she got into her room though, Hermione wasn't quite sure where to start. The wardrobe was awake and happy to chat with Hermione about her day. The wardrobe seemed to get bored staying in the room all the time and often slept. She loved hearing news about the rest of the castle. Hermione supposed she might be able to relate to Maestro Forte, who couldn't leave his room.
"I heard today that you are an opera singer," Hermione said. "You never told me that."
"Oh, yes!" Madame de Garderobe said. "I do love to sing. But it makes me sad because I always think about my dear husband when I sing and I miss him so much."
"What happened to him?" Hermione asked.
"Well," Madame de Garderobe said in a huff. "The former master expelled him for absolutely no reason at all! And replaced him with that horrid man Forte."
"Why?" Hermione asked, intrigued.
"No idea!" the wardrobe said. "The only reason I can think of is that the former master had some kind of relationship with Forte. They spent a lot of time together."
"Interesting," Hermione said. "And you stayed here?"
"Yes," Madame de Garderobe said with a huge sigh. "I didn't want to. I wanted to leave in protest of those awful men. But my sweet husband convinced me to stay. He said that I was safe and well-cared for here. That I was able to earn money and live comfortably. He promised to send for me as soon as he could obtain a position that could support us both. So I stayed and waited."
"That must have been really difficult," Hermione said sympathetically.
"It was!" the Madame said. "It still is. Not too long after he left, the former master died, leaving the young master in charge. I tried to convince the young master to call my husband back and I think I almost had him convinced, but then the enchantress came and changed us all. I haven't heard from my husband since."
"That's terrible," Hermione said. "You must be so lonely."
"I am, my dear," Madame de Garderobe said. "I really am. I'm glad that you're here though."