[Library] A Little Hocus Pocus (Open to all)

[norabraye]

The library had become home to Nora over the past couple of weeks and was by far her favorite place to be. Of course, for a librarian, you would hope that the girl had a passion for books and Nora did. Everyday she was picking up a new book to read while the students came in to study. She had hoped to pass on her love of books to a few students, but so far, all she had done was find a book here or there that a student couldn’t find themselves or grab a book from the higher shelves for the younger students. It wasn’t what she had hoped it’d be but none the less, Hogwarts had a grander library than she had seen anywhere else and she was grateful for that. The frustrating part of being a librarian was dealing with the troublesome students. Nora had found herself deducting more points from students than she had ever hoped to and even banned a few from the library for a few days.

The library was becoming a wreck these days. The strange events happening in the Castle weren’t helping any either. Statues coming to life, students getting sucked into portraits and books, it was more than any one person could handle. Just the other day, Nora spent four hours trying to get a first year Hufflepuff out of one of the books from the restricted section. It was a troublesome task but Nora and a few other professors managed to get the boy out unharmed. Physically that is. Nora was sure the boy would be unstable mentally for a few more months to come but it served him right for sneaking into the restricted section in the first place. That was Nora’s way of thinking. Everything happens for a reason. If by any means you came across bad luck, you obviously deserved it and the same went for good luck but what was luck these days especially in these unstable times.

Nora would be closing the library doors in just under an hour and she was starting to get a little impatient about it already. It was her favorite time of day. Closing the doors to the students meant she could have her own time with the books finally. She’d spend hours reading at one of the tables, her nose nearly touching the pages of the books. Sometimes Nora would imagine she was the main character, playing out the events in her head at every turn of the page. Thinking about what book she was going to grab off the shelves tonight put the woman in some sort of daze. This was one of the flaws of being Nora. She cut herself off from her surroundings. Tonight, Nora was checking out a few books for a second year Ravenclaw when she grabbed the students hand by accident and stamped the poor girls hand with the ugly dark ink. The girl’s high pitched scream brought her back and she jumped.

“Oh- Oh my! I’m so sorry,” she said reaching for her wand underneath the desk. “It’s nothing a simple cleaning spell can’t fix,” she explained but before her wand could come out all the way, the young girl had snatched her books and was headed for the door rather hurriedly. Nora gave a short snort of laughter before bringing her hand up to stifle the noise. Sure, the whole incident was her fault but it was quite funny. Twenty-five minutes. That’s how much longer the woman had to wait now. Nora decided to get an early start at cleaning up the library and headed for the desks flooded with books students were too lazy to place back on the shelves. She had just grabbed an armful when she heard the library doors open. She turned her head just slightly so her voice could be heard, “I’m sorry, but I’ll be closing the library soon.” Sure, maybe she didn’t have to say it like she had just started cleaning up after the bull-headed students and sometimes she spent hours putting the books away in the correct place and she didn’t want tonight to be a repeat of so many nights before.

[Joshua Rowle]

The game was over and he had stopped at the pub for a quick drink with his chums. Mary was there staring at him from across the bar the way she normally did. Josh gave her his usual wink a friendly gesture on his part, the one thing she seemed to live for whenever her came in. He'd been flirting with her for months, she was desperate for him he could tell all he would need to do was say the word and the two would be upstairs in one of the empty rooms. Of course Josh had given this a lot of thought, Mary was attractive, willing, breathing, but she was too easy. From time to time he wanted someone who didn't give in to him just like that. Now he was trying to find someone who wanted to make him work for it.

Finishing his drink, the guys asked him to stay and celebrate but the pub was boring him, too many fans hanging all over them and a boatload of groupies trying to whisper dirty things in his ear. Saying he needed to get back to work at the castle he threw some money down on the table, wished everyone a good day, gave Mary another wink that got her all hot and bothered and walked out into the day light. So many women everyone of them he wouldn't mind having a roll in the sack with but he wanted something else.

Pushing through the doors he strolled to his office. No notes on his desk, and the hospital wing seemed to be quiet. Given the state of things in the castle he thought it odd, but he didn't question it. Lately, the accidents around here were getting out of hand he spent hours trying treat injuries, cuts, burns, broken bones. The school was more danger zone then place of learning.

Since he wasn't needed at the moment he went to change from his after game clothes. Sweat pants were cool when simply hanging around with the guys but he didn't like to look too shabby while walking the halls of Hogwarts. Showered, changed, spiky hair a little wet Josh took off. The halls were filled students everywhere chit chat breaking out all around him. A group of seventh year Slytherin girls passed him. most teachers got sneers from this particular group he expected nothing less but when they passed he got two winks, a sigh, and what could have been construed a cat call. He probably shouldn't have been flattered but he was. A few of those girls were really pretty. Not that he would do such a thing, students were off limits no matter what year they were.

Josh passed by the library and in a rush a girl came out carrying a stack of books. Obviously a Ravenclaw, seeing her upholding their good name he gave a smile and despite the annoyed look she wore when coming out of the room her face split into a huge smile. "Lot's of reading I see" he said politely. The words seemed to have left her as she squeaked at him, became embarrassed and ran off. Oh well, he wasn't trying to turn on the charm this time but there it was.

Looking at the doors Josh supposed going in wouldn't kill him. The library used to be his home away from home when he was a student. Josh wasn't on the Quidditch Pitch he was in the back corner of the library reading a book on various subjects. Feeling that twinge of nostalgia he opened the door and just like he remembered the voice of the librarian rang out announcing when they would be closing.

Josh wondered what old biddy they had running this place now. Once he spotted her he just about ate his words. Well well well no old biddy here. Like she was a magnet Josh was drawn to her and his feet with their own mind walked over to the pretty brunette. "Is that just a natural response when someone opens the doors or is it simply for my benefit?" The man was only joking but she didn't have to know that right then.

[Blakely Wilson]

It had been a long morning. Blakely was ready to go out and face the world. The incident with the drunken lady and her spilling her death drink all over his pants wasn't the best start. She had seen sides of people she never knew existed and wished she could have kept it that way. Blake had left the bar with no more than a murmur of "good by" and "hope you have a good 'rest' of the day" to Bren. He wasn't the chit-chat all day long kind of guy, so she decided to let him be. Where to go was the question. Blake wasn't much of a quidditch girl... too scary and risky, but most of her friends were probably off flirting with a group of boys down by the lake, but with how her day had been going so far, that wasn't of the sort she wanted to get involved in.

Going back to the castle seemed to be a grand idea. No drunken bastards or cursing old men there. Retreating to the Common Room just seemed to boring. It was a beautiful day, but Blakely wasn't in the social mood. Maybe grabbing a good book, cuddling in a corner of the humungous library would do. Blakely headed down the stairs to her dorm by the kitchen, switched into some softer shoes on her feet and headed to the library. On her way she debated whether she was in the mood for romance, science fiction, history, sports, health... or just entertainment. By the time she arrived only romance and health had been crossed off her list.

She noticed the Hogwarts Healer leave his office and headed straight the path she was about to take. He must have wanted to find a good read too. Blake had never met the man, so being a bit shy, engaging him with "hello" was just a bit too awkward. She followed him down three hallways and down a few flights of stairs to the Library. Arriving just in time Blake watched as a Ravenclaw girl came aggrivated out of the doors on the verge of tears. Blakely stiffled out a giggle, 'cause she was a sight to see. The new librarian which most students hadn't been too fond of was tidying up the place. Blake stopped mid-step to let the healer go first. He was of higher power than her. As soon as he stepped in the door, she heard Madame Braye's voice saying they were closing.

Being polite and letting the man have his space was simply out of the question. She had to get a book, any book, before closing. The door had shut quickly behind him and Blake's face looked worried. Was she out of time? Had he not noticed her following him? Or did he have no intelligence of manners? Which ever it was Blake forgave him, but gave a slight knock on the door. "Excuse me... am I too late or can I grab a few books really quickly?" Blake whispered as she stuck her head in a few inches. She could help herself grasp the image of the way the school's healer had been gazing at the school's new librarian. It was her secret until someone else mentions it.

[norabraye]

Someone had indeed come in and she hadn’t heard the door shut again so they had obviously ignored her warning. Nora was just about to turn around and say it again when a voice sounded nearly right behind her causing the poor woman to jump with surprise. She turned rather quickly grabbing the chair behind her with one of her hands; the other was on her heart. She gave a small laugh of embarrassment as she lowered her hands and answered the speaker. “Well seeing as you’re the one that opened the door, then consider it both,” she said as her heart started to slow down.

The man she recognized as Joshua Rowle, the school’s healer. He seemed to have a way with the ladies in Hogsmeade not to mention all the Hogwarts girls were in fits whenever he walked by but she wasn’t going to let his nice looks and charm get to her. Nora brushed passed him, her shoulder bumping his arm before she grabbed another armful of books and headed to a nearby bookshelf to scan the titles. “Mr. Rowle, is it? Tell me, what is a Quidditch guy like you doing in the library at this hour?” Before she could get an answer right away there was another knock at the door and she turned to see who it was.

A head appeared through the doors and Nora put on a smile. “Ah, Miss Wilson,” she said before glancing around the library. There were very few students left and technically the library wasn’t supposed to close for another forty-five minutes so she turned back to the Hufflepuff with a smile. “Not at all. Feel free to grab what you need,” she answered before placing a few books on the shelf.

Nora turned her attention back to Josh, before double glancing at Blakely; Nora wasn’t too keen on having people listen in to conversations but in this school, you couldn’t escape it. You had to deal with it. She tilted her head just the slightest and wore an amused expression on her face, “Well?” she asked, raising her eyebrows the slightest hoping to get an answer from the man.

[[Sorry Love, I knew she was a Hufflepuff when I wrote it but when it came down to it, I just went on the color of her font. Fixed it though]]

[Blakely Wilson]

[[By the way Blakely is a Hufflepuff, but I forgive you!]]

With her neck still straining through the door, her question had just left her lips, there Blakely stood half of her inside the library and half of her out and believe it or not... this was no spell. Blake began to think that Miss. Braye had not heard her, but repeating herself would be quite rude. Miss. Braye and herself had a history. Being one of the few Hufflepuff's that spent the majority of her time in the library Blake and Miss. Braye got too know each other, especially over the summer when the heat is just dreadful. Whenever Blake had a question over a novel, wanted to know what was new in stock, or just needed a good read the new librarian was the one she went too! Most students hadn't been talking very fondly of her, but Blakely found her most interesting and very helpful, so whatever to those kids.

Mr. Rowle, the new Hogwarts healer, was now just barley out of hair-swatting range behind Miss. Braye. This was quite the sight, but whenever the librarian turned around to yell again that the library would be closing soon the healer gave her quite the scare. They looked cute together, but young, helpful, but one was an outdoors sports fanatic that helped injured kids as a living and the other a mousy, mostly found indoors type, that kept kids away from one another by keeping them occupyed by study or reading, but who knew God did do miracles. Blakely had just heard rumors that the all-known Daily Prophet writer Tyson White had gotten engaged with Shayla Kane the tough auror. Now that was a miracle!

Blakely watched the two adults skiddle over their words, but finally Miss. Braye turned to her and said she could come in. Blake was well aware that Miss. Braye didn't believe in eavesdropping, so she went along to find a book, even though it was so tempting not to just take a seat and listen and analyze every word and feeling that was exchanged. Wandering around bookshelf after bookshelf Blake grew bored. She still never came to a conclusion on what type of book to read. Maybe she should have stayed outside. Normally this was where Blake went whining over to Miss. Braye to come to her aid with what to read, but right now she was way to occupied with the handsome healer, so Blake just stood to the side of the couple waiting for one to storm out, so she could ask her simple question, that would take such little thought.

[Joshua Rowle]

It had been sometime since he had scared anyone. The poor librarian nearly jumped out of her skin when he spoke. Is that what happened to people when they worked in such places as libraries. Who in the world did she think was going to sneak up on her in here? Maybe she thought he was a walking painting come to get her. The thought made him chuckle to himself he enjoyed his own jokes most of the ones he told would get him slapped by a proper lady so he got used to dodging and laughing at himself. Miss Braye he could see was a proper lady.

So much so that she didn't seem to fall victim to his charms as easily as most women did. Even walking away brushing past him like it was nothing. Interesting. What was even more interesting was her questioning why he was in the library in the first place. Since he was a quidditch player that surely meant he wasn't into the books unless they had flying men in brooms on the cover, and large pictures on every page. The insinuation was insulting not something he hadn't heard before, but coming from her it bothered him.

The second he opened his mouth to answer someone else walked in. The young Hufflepuff needed a book and worried she was late. Miss Braye's attitude changed when it came to the student something Josh took note of. He watched the dealings with a smirk. So it was him that got that reaction from her. Wonder why, he thought.

When she was done with the girl her attention was back on Josh, waiting for him to tell her why he was in there. Josh's smirk turned to her "Me big dumb jock, me get lost in big school" he said to combat her comment. He was often stereotyped and he hated it. "Actually I thought I might find something worth reading here despite the service." he threw that in for good measure. Usually he didn't sweat little things like that but it was her something about her.