Tybalt had very nearly forgotten that he wasn’t a student at school anymore, the way this felt. And funny as an odd confrontation with the passing pair might be, there was a great deal of fun in trying to be stealthy. (There had used to be a touch of excitement in sneaking around with Elsie, too, before they had gotten caught.)

The greatest test - at least in Tyb’s case - was that of quietness, and one he had failed before. If he had been more cautious, or more worried, he would have scampered further down the darkened passageway into the depths of the castle. Instead, he grinned at Mr. Holm, who was watching through the edge of the tapestry, leaning back at first as well, and then crooking his head to the side to try and get a look too, his fingertips brushing idly against the back of the tapestry. And he had been quiet,

but the situation was too funny not to laugh. So laugh he did, a chuckle that came out of nowhere and escaped him before he could help himself, and as it echoed around them he was quite certain he had heard the footsteps stop.

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