Hey guys…I am SO sorry for not updating all this time- I have no excuse except I've been a little lazy. I've been working on some new fics and stuff…
Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter.
CHAPTER 3
'Madam Pince?'
The vulture-like librarian looked up to see Hermione standing timidly in front of her. She adjusted her pince-nez and pursed her lips.
'Yes, Ms. Granger?'
'I was wondering whether you could help me find a book.'
'Of course. For reference, I assume?'
'Oh, yes.' Hermione said, 'You see, we- er- brushed upon Partial Memory charms the other day, in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, with Professor Lupin, but he did not tell us much about it. I was hoping…' her voice trailed off hopefully.
The librarian looked suspicious and thoughtful.
'Partial memory charms? That's very, very advanced. Hm…I'm not so sure if we have any books on that.'
'We must.' Hermione insisted.
Madam Pince raised her eyebrow.
'Let me check.' she said. 'Follow me.'
She lead Hermione to one of the back-most shelves, and rummaged about. Hermione tapped her foot nervously, looking around. Her friend's were still downstairs, thinking her sick. The library was almost empty. She saw Ernie and Hannah sitting in one corner, huddled over a book with a yellow cover. In another part of the library, Draco Malfoy was sitting, huddled over a book. A pale ray of winter sunshine fell on his bright hair and illuminated it.
She turned back to Madam Pince, who was just pulling a large book, with a blood-red cover from the shelf. It's front cover was embossed with the words, 'Memories through the ages'.
'Here,' she said, carefully handing the book to Hermione. She gasped at it's heaviness. The cover was smooth and cold, and sent little shivers up her palm.
'It's got a large portion on Partial Memory Charms.' Madam Pince told her. 'About four chapters, I think. I wouldn't have remembered, except a student borrowed it just last week to refer the same charms.'
Hermione looked up quickly. Her grip on the heavy book lessened, and it fell with a crash and flurry of yellow pages to the floor.
'What do you think you are doing?' madam Pince screamed, clutching her bony cheeks with her clawed fingers.
'I-I Just-.' Blushing, she knelt down to pick up the book. One page had been crumpled. 'I'm sorry. Did you- did you say someone else issued this book?'
'Of course I did. It isn't damaged is it?'
'No,' Hermione said. 'Uh- Why was it?' Not that I mean to sound interfering but-.'
'The page isn't crumpled, is it?'
'No, no, of course not.' Hermione said, hastily shutting the book. 'Madam Pince, who issued the book before me.'
'I couldn't possibly remember, Ms. Granger, it was a week back. You're sure the book is all right? Fine then- fill in the log book, if you please.'
She nodded, and meekly followed the librarian to the front desk, where she was handed an elaborate owl-plume quill.
'You know the drill,' Madam Pince said, pointing to a large leather bound black book on her desk. 'Fill it and leave. Be careful with the book. I must make sure Draco Malfoy is treating the books with care- his sudden new interest for reading is quite alarming.'
She hurried away, clutching at the folds of her moldy green silk dress. Hermione sighed, and turned to the log book. She was about to fill it in when her quill froze over the page.
'The log book…' she whispered. 'I completely forgot…'
She looked down to the page before her. In neat columns, all the children who issued books from the library ad filled in their names, date of issue and the name of the book. The list ran on for thousands and thousands of pages. In fact, in some of the earlier pages, Hermione had found entries of James Potter, Sirius Black, and- her heart had jumped- Tom Riddle.
She checked around her shoulder to make sure the librarian was busy annoying Malfoy, and then slowly turned a few pages, scanning the list of names. Three pages behind, the name popped out to her- 'Memories through the ages.'
Inhaling deeply, she placed her fingertip on the name, and traced it along to the name's column. A name stared back at her.
Who could it beeeeee….to find out, REVIEW and I'll update…