Curiosity Killed the Cat
We begin our story in none other than the restricted section of Hogwarts' library. It was the same as any other day, layers among layers of dust covering the antique books, the occasional rattle of chains as some pieces tried to escape, and the whimper of first year students as a chill rose up their backs towards the crook of their necks. Everything was as it should be.
Madam Pince loved this section, not because the books are hers, but because she lusted for knowledge, to go beyond what most of the Magical world knows. These books held secrets that not even Dumbledore dared expose. The pages lived in her mind, bringing shades of colour to her life.
It was an escape from the pitiful students she dealt with every day. They never know anything, always asking stupid questions. With their loud voices and messy clothes, running around her library, bending the pages of books, putting everything in the wrong place, laughing. She despised them all, well she says all, but there is one student, she took a particular shine to. Hermione Granger. She was a librarian's dream, an unchallenged love for books, knowledge, and quiet. But Madam Pince would never let it show, wouldn't want the student body thinking she'd gone soft eh?
But our story isn't about Madam Pince. Let me take you to the real start of events.
A ranting ball of tears and anger bursts through the main entrance to the library. Madam Pince looks up from her book "The unmentionable beauties of Evil" only to see Hermione rush through the halls of shelves upon shelves and hide in the back. Momentarily she wonders what would cause Hermione Granger of all people to disrupt a place of learning in such a manner. But without a second thought, she returned to her book and luke warm cup of tea.
Slowly students began to drift away, going to their common rooms, or the Great Hall, it was no matter to Madam Pince. The sun filtered out of the room and the candles started to hiss, this was when she could relax, her library was her own again, until the morning. She knew Hermione would still be buried in books, and thought it best leave her be. And so Madam Pince delved back into: "The unmentionable Beauties of evil". But alas, only two minutes of picking up the book she heard a small cough, clearly meant to announce one's presence. And not to her surprise, Hermione was stood there.
"What Can I help you with my dear? A cup of tea maybe?" Madam Pince thought it rude not to ask.
"Erm, umm, I… I was just umm, wondering, if um I could, erm maybe… read a book? It's umm called… Veritas Malignum…"