Chapter 17

Of Quidditch and Libraries

Harry soon learned that these five teens were more awkward than just their appearance because that was just were it started, next came their names, if you could call them that. Harry already knew Raven, but sadly that was the most regular name collectively. The tall, African American, robot, was called Cyborg. The green boy referred to himself as Beast Boy. The red-head girl, who before seemed the most normal, was named Starfire. Now last was Robin, which would be a pretty normal name, but Harry could just not get over the mask. The scary thing was that this group seemed just as fascinated with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as they were with them.

The introductions went over pretty smoothly and now the Hogwarts student were leading the Teen Titans down various hallways and showing them the sights. Hermione was leading quite confidently, talking nonstop like a tour guide, spouting out more knowledge and history about every painting, statue, suit of armor, room, or corridor than Harry would ever care to know or know existed.

Four of them, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Robin, seemed very interested in what they were seeing. They were the perfect captive audience for Hermione, even though they did not catch or understand half of what she said. They would ooh and ah over the moving portraits, crazy statues, or pretty architecture that Hermione would stop to point out.

Ron seemed rather bored at the proceedings. Obviously, if he had his way, his kind of tour would be Great Hall, dormitory, Quidditch Pitch. Ginny was amusing herself in a different way. As Ron had tuned out everything Hermione was saying, Ginny jumped on the opportunity and was insulting him in strange, creative, and weird ways to his face without him realizing that she had even spoke.

Harry was having half an enjoyable time. He was quite amused at the America teens' reactions to everything, reminding him slightly of his first year at the castle he now called home. The half he did not enjoy mostly contained one thing, Raven. Threw this whole trip so far, he kept Raven in the corner of his eye. He found it easy to trust the other four, but, though he tried to hold his judgment, he just did not trust Raven. In fact he did not even like her.

She walked several feet behind the rest of the group. Harry slowed his pace so he could get a closer look at her. She walked slowly, but maintained just close enough to her friends to not be questioned by her separation. He mouth was a straight line, almost a frown, as though she were upset, angry, or in deep thought. Most of the time she looked straight forward, only sparing half a glance at the things Hermione was talking about, before returned her gaze to the place before. For some reason this made Harry angry. It looked like she was too pompous to care what Hermione was saying or to arrogant to care.

Raven must have sensed Harry's gaze on her, because as they group stopped as a Hermione was showing another historical spot, Raven turned to look at him. Their eyes were locked for an intense second, before the both of them looked away. Harry speed up as the group started moving again as Ginny was telling Ron, who was not listening, that he looked like a diseased duck that got in the way of a poorly preformed Bat Bogey Hex.

What Harry had seen in that mere second had been uncanny. Raven's eyes had not been angry, arrogant, upset, or pompous. They had been more sullen, empty, and blank. Not as if she was under some sort of spell or mind control, but they were just closed off like an internal, self-built wall was behind them, keeping others out.

Harry was not sure what disturbed him more. That she was hiding something or that she had the power to. Yet one thing was sure, he would be keeping close eye on Raven from now on.

Soon Harry found himself and the group traveling at down a more familiar corridor before Hermione stopped at the door of which Harry decided must be her favorite room in the whole castle, the library.

"The Hogwarts Library dates back to the creation of the school over some thousand years ago, and at the time only contained a little over one hundred books, but now is the single most largest wizarding library for historical and resourceful archives in Great Britain," Hermione said in one breath. "Shall we take a closer look," but before Hermione could lead them all to their doom in the library, Ron intervened.

"Hermione, maybe we should show them the grounds," said Ron in hopes of getting out of their.

Hermione looked crestfallen but agreed at the looks of hope on their guests' faces, "Okay, but I was hoping of getting some homework done while we were here."

"Hermione, it's still Saturday morning. We have all weekend to do homework!" exclaimed Ron

Hermione huffed, "You always say that and you know what happens, you spend at Sunday inside working."

"We need to show them outside, 'Mione," complained Ron.

"Yeah, and we can show them Quidditch too!" added Ginny. There was a murmur of agreement from Harry and Ron, while the titans, or at least four of them, were wondering in anticipation what Quidditch was.

"Okay, take them outside," said Hermione in resignation, "But I'm going to stay here and do homework so when you are stuck inside all tomorrow doing work, don't say I didn't tell you."

Ron just rolled his eyes before taking charge of the group and preparing to lead them away, toward the dormitory, so himself, Ginny, and Harry could get their brooms.

"I'm going to stay here too," said Raven out of the sudden before the others could get very far. Harry was taken back for several reasons. He had realized just then, that was the first time he had heard Raven speak. Her voice was just as disconcerting as her eyes. Her voice was practically monotone. It was emotionless, empty as her eyes.

Harry became hesitant, he was already breaking his vow to keep an eye on the mysterious girl if he left her here, but it would be really suspicious if he stayed. Yet, the library was a public place and Hermione and Madam Pince and some other students (doubtfully) would be their, so Raven would not do anything incriminating and if she did Hermione would tell him. Plus, Harry did not want to stay cooped up in the library with Hermione on a day like this. It was prime Quidditch conditions.

Harry watched as Robin asked if she was sure, and she simply nodded in return. He dropped it, but Harry noticed Beast Boy rolling his eyes. Harry filed it away to ask him about later if he had the chance.

Before he knew, they were on their way and Starfire squealed in glee and anticipation before exclaiming, "I can not wait to see the Ditch of Quid!"

It was going to be a long day.

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Raven followed Hermione in the library. The Hogwarts girl pulled a piece of parchment out of her bag that Raven had not noticed earlier, consulted it, and then went in pursuit of a book. Raven was slower. First she stopped and observed her surroundings. It was old, yet charming like the rest of the castle. The room contained tall, wooden book cases that were filled up to the high ceiling. The only thing in the room other than these lined up cases were an assortment of tables, chairs, and desks in the center for ones to read and work at.

As was true with most old libraries, and Raven knew it, the best things wear usually in the back, tucked away in a corner. She walked steadily to the back until she reached a rope tried a few feet above the floor across the library \, splitting apart a section of cases in the back. She looked at it quizzically.

"That is the Restricted Section," commented Hermione, seeing Raven's questioning look after coming out of an aisle with an armload of books. "You need permission to get something from there," she added after putting the books down on a table.

Raven nodded in understanding before turning down the last row to her left, in front of the rope, and taking down her hood. The books here seemed worn and old, yet less used judging by the dust laying on them. Raven let her fingers trace the spines on the books of a low shelf as she walked. As she reached the wall, she began scanning titles. Most were unrecognizable, some jogged her memory as though she had heard of it before, but could not place it, and a few were familiar, but none had she ever read before. She eyes lingered on a tired, leather bound book. She pulled it off the shelf. The cover was unmarked and unlabeled. She opened it curiously to the first page and gasped.

"Find anything interesting?" asked Hermione who entered the aisle as she was done searching for books."

Raven held the book up so she could see it, and added, "It's the Journal of Merlin. I thought it was just myth. I had been searching everywhere since I finished the Apacien Scrolls."

It was Hermione's turn to gasp. "You've read the Apacien Scrolls?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"More than read them. I own them," answered Raven with a slight smile, glad to find someone to relate to, "Their back home…" Raven trailed off, the smile slide off her face. She suddenly felt sad. Her hand instinctively went to her hood, but before she could pull it up Hermione said something.

"Do you miss it?" she asked, "Your home?"

"Raven nodded, looking at the floor, wondering why she was unexpectedly emotional, and in front of a stranger too. "Yeah, I miss it a lot. Even though it has been barely a week since I have been gone. I have only lived there for a few years, but it the only place I have ever lived that I actually called home." She looked up to see Hermione looking at her knowingly. "I don't why I'm telling you this," Raven added as she hid the emotion that had somehow slipped into her voice.

"It's okay. I know what it is like. I only started coming here to school since I was eleven, almost twelve and I consider this as big or bigger home than with my parents. My friends are as much family to me as my real relations. Do you know what I mean?"

Raven measured Hermione up and instantly realized she liked her. Sure she was a little obsessive, but everyone has their like quirks. She was honest, nice, open, caring and liked to help others and knew just what to say. Raven almost wished she was like her because she hid everything, hurt the people she loved, and practically never knew what to say.

My friends are as much family to me as my real relations. Hermione ad said. Raven thought of Titan Tower and of Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy and wanted to smile. Then she thought of her horrible father and her gone mother.

Finally Raven added, "I know exactly what you mean."