There's a mechanical choking noise from Michelle that could be either a laugh or a gasp. Your aunt fixes you with an extraordinarily stern stare, for long enough that your face begins to feel hot.
"I take it," Madame Cavalcade says after the silence has stretched out several seconds beyond the point of comfort, "that that was an attempt at what someone might charitably call 'humor.' Am I correct?"
You nod. You'd like nothing more than to look away, but there's something in your aunt's eyes that's somehow preventing you from doing so.
"I see," your aunt says. "In that case, I'll ask again, in the hopes of getting a sensible answer. What on earth is going on?"
"Kan had a vision," Michelle puts in, apparently having recovered. "We've not been given many details, but it sounds pretty serious. Matron's asked us to check it out. We were about to get the others together and find out where it originated from."
"I see." Aunt Cavalcade looks from you to Michelle, back and forth for several seconds. You get the distinct impression that she's working something out in her head.
Finally, she blinks, turning to face you once again. "Matron is right," she says. "If there's some sort of incident associated with the occult, then the best we could hope for is that we will get the blame for it. I believe there are several historical accounts in the school library that could detail less-favorable outcomes."
You and Michelle exchange glances. This isn't the sort of thing that you'd expect to be told by a headmistress. Your last one certainly didn't make a habit of dropping bombshells like this.
"Go and find out what's going on," Aunt Cavalcade continues. "Don't take any risks: just see what you can learn and then come back and tell either me or Lady Rastan. Then we'll decide what we can do about it."
You nod. You're not quite sure what to say to this. Aunt Cavalcade starts to turn away, then she looks back at you, as though something has just occurred to her. "If you're taking the other students with you," she says, "then you'll need them to work together. Which, if I remember rightly, I did ask you to work on anyway."
"Yes, Aunt Cavalcade," you say, wondering whether finding the source of a vision or stopping the vampires and werewolves from engaging in some historical reenactment is going to be more difficult.
Your aunt nods. "Very good. Well, the best of luck to you."
Then she's turned around the corridor and has gone.
"Well, you heard her," Michelle says as the pair of you set off again. "Looks like this job just got as official as it gets. We'd best talk to the others." She considers for a moment, then looks up at the ceiling. "Renault," she says. "You about?"
After several moments, the translucent shape of Renault floats through the wall. Michelle, you notice, had already turned to face him before he'd appeared.
"You rang?" the ghost asks mildly.
"What are the others doing?" Michelle asks. "Have they fallen apart already?"
"Not quite," Renault says, "but it's getting close. Either you distract them, or you're looking at a particularly violent version of Dead Side Story."
"Best get in the middle of it, Goodwill Representative," Michelle says, looking at you. "Who do you want to talk to first: furs or fangs?"
You consider for a moment. Whichever group you choose, there's a good chance that you'll offend the other.