Chapter 10 Library Pass

Seraphina POV

Three months later.

"You guys go ahead, I will catch up later." I dismissed my friends as we packed up after Defence class.

They nodded, and left without a word of protest. My duel with Albus achieved the effect I desired. Although I almost passed out right after the duel, it was so worth it trying out elemental magic! Yes, I conjured the water using the basic aguamenti, but that does not let anyone manipulate the shape of water! I found a misplaced book that an older student obviously took out of the restricted section and forgot to put back, and managed to find and use the simplest elemental spell: water manipulation. It was the easiest but still very difficult. I had to first understand what water is, not just chemically, but elementally. The way water behaves, and how it would feel to be like that. It took a lot of meditating, in fact, I found the book on my first day, and I only got to the simplest spell by the second week after working on it everyday. But it was effective. The entire Slytherin house gained a newfound respect for me. Why? While the younger years only saw an awesome duel, the older years recognised the basic elemental magic as soon as the gossip reached their ears. Hence their new respect.

I exchanged a glance with Albus, who promptly got his friends to leave him alone in the classroom…with Merrythought and I. We slowly approached the desk.

"Professor?" I asked, purposely injecting hesitance in my stance.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Well, we want to ask a favour… But you don't have to if you don't want to, I understand…" I continued, shovelling my feet, then thinking of every embarrassing thing I have ever done, tinging my cheeks pink. Beside me, Albus almost gaped.

"Nonsense my dear, tell me, how can I help you two?" She smiled, her heart seemingly melted at my display. She has conveniently mistaken Albus' incredulity at my display as incredulity at my boldness in asking for a favour.

"Well, you see, Albus and I came across a term called Alchemy in our research, since there was only a small amount of information on it in the books we found, I was wondering if you could tell us?" I asked, sweetly. This was a plot. Of course we knew what Alchemy is, we just needed to ask enough questions so that she would give in and send us to the restricted section.

"Alchemy is an advanced branch of magic, dear…" Merrythought began.

So it begins.

Half an hour later.

"Wow! That's really interesting! So can alchemy be defined as a species of advanced permanent transfiguration?" Albus gushed, truly excited.

Merrythought smiled, she wet her lips with her tongue, her eyes briefly glanced up at the darkness outside. I had purposely chosen the day when we had the class just before sunset. It makes the passage of time so much more apparent to the victim…er…teacher.

"Well, it's never been classified as such, I believe. But if you want to learn more, you can read about it in the restricted section." Merrythought supplied.

Jackpot.

"But Professor, isn't the restricted section unavailable to us? We would really like to know now." Albus whined.

I quickly schooled my expression to hide my laughter. I have never thought that I would see the day Albus Dumbledore whined like a little kid, or act this well. The little hypocrite. He is almost as good at acting as I am!

Merrythought hesitated for a few seconds before tearing off a piece of blank parchment, quickly scribbling a note.

"Here, usually the restricted section is only opened to third years with teacher's permission. But seeing it is you two, and I know you will be dragged all over the library by your research, I am granting you two special access to the restricted section, effective until the end of the year. Now you can research to your hearts' content."

I beamed, while Albus' eyes went as wide as saucers.

"Thank you professor, we promise we will not misuse this!" We chorused. We are so going to misuse this.

"You are welcome, now go! The library awaits. " She shooed.

We skipped out the door. As soon as Merrythought's door closed, we exchanged smirks.

Mission accomplished.

Albus hummed, "That was really thoughtful of you, Seraphina."

I raised an eyebrow, "For planning on getting us the pass?"

Albus laughed. "No, I was talking about the woollen socks you've gotten me for Christmas!"

I shrugged. To tell the truth, I literally could not afford anything else, I got the pair of socks from opening a Christmas Cracker.

"So this is for you. Merry late Christmas!" Albus shoved a crinkly wrapped item towards me.

"Gloves?" I questioned.

Albus smiled smugly. "Woollen gloves, and you can be in charge of the library pass."

Restricted Section, here we come!

"Seraphina! Seraphina!"

…As soon as I dodge the group of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor muggleborns who have taken to try their best to 'befriend' me, lead by the way too enthusiastic muggleborn I helped last year.

"Run." I turned to Albus, before grabbing the note and diving into a secret passage. Behind me, I heard Albus laugh.

Two months later.

"What are you doing?" Arcturus asked, as I furiously scribbled on a piece of parchment, working out the arithmetics for combining simultaneous combustion and elemental fire. I jumped, almost spilling over the pot of ink. While Albus across the table snickered.

Sparing a glare at Albus, I turned to face Arcturus.

"Thank you for startling me." I replied sarcastically.

He looked over my shoulder to the stack of books on the table.

"Elemental magic, Scientific Spell Crafting with Numerology, Healthy Healing, Introduction to Necromantic Healing!" His eyebrows rose further into his hairline with each title he read.

"These are from the restricted section! Banned books! In the open, no less! Aren't you afraid of getting expelled?!" He hissed.

"Actually, we got a pass." Albus replied, putting down his book, From Transfiguration to Alchemy.

"How." Arcturus asked in a dead monotone. "My brother tried to get a pass since his first year, even with the headmaster as our father, he failed to do so until third year."

"Has he tried asking nicely?" Albus asked cockily.

Fuming, Arcturus gave Albus a hard and long glare, before turning and storming out of the library, his cloak fluttering behind him that reminds me of an overgrown dungeon bat that won't be born for almost another century.