I'd like to give a special thanks to BlackAngel8621 who has been helping me with my editing

Thanks for the helpful hints

-The Professor

From the moment I stepped into the library I knew that it was going to be, by far, my favorite room in the house. One of the reasons being it was biggest room in the house and the second was that millions of books that lined the oak shelves that stretched all the way to the cathedral ceiling. Scattered throughout the room were overstuffed chairs. Each accompanied by small oak table, a footstool, and a lamp that hovered over them.

I looked through the enormous windows that let in the glorious rays of sunshine, and I was almost able to see the entire estate since I was so high up being on the third floor.

As I looked out I spotted the others over near the Garden. Peter had just lifted Lucy to see inside a birds nest that Susan probably spotted. She could always seek out the little things, it being a needle on the floor or a rabbit running across the yard. They were probably trying to smooth over the whole wardrobe episode from this morning.

Deciding not to let this morning's argument ruin my fun I turned around and setting my book down I started browsing through the first of many shelves. After I looked through a couple of books on history, I pulled out a green book with a shabby binding. It looked like it had been looked through often. On the front was a lion but no ordinary lion; the lion had wings.

"Now who on earth would put wings on a lion," I commented to myself.

Shrugging I pushed it back into place. The moment the book was back in place, a door in the shelves burst open and a tall man in an old brown suit that was much too small for his gangly arms and legs. Appeared and hurried over to one of the shelves on the other side of the room. His white cottony hair and beard that stuck out in all direction, and I could hear him muttering under his breath.

"Where did I that book go? I was sure that I put it right here next to the other books on theology. I bet it was that blasted house keeper again, she is always cleaning out my study and moving my books."

Not quite sure what to do I cleared my throat. He didn't respond just kept searching the shelves. So I tried again, this time a little louder but he was either deaf or was so caught up in his search that he didn't hear me. After a few more minutes of searching he began muttering again.

"Right in the middle of my most important study, and now I have to go searching through the entire library for…"

I finally got his attention, "Excuse me Sir, if you tell me the title of the book or what it looked like I might be able to help you. I am pretty good at looking for things."

Quite startled he turned and peering over his glasses at me he said, "Good gracious, who are you?"

"My name is Edmund Sir, one of the children staying here."

"Where are the others? Are they hiding somewhere nearby?" He asked looking around as if the others would pop out of the walls.

"No sir, they are outside."

"And why aren't you with them?" he asked looking me right in the eyes.

Avoiding his gaze and answered, "We-we… don't exactly get along."

"I was under the impression that you all were siblings," He said thoughtfully sitting down on a chair and motioning me to do the same.

"Yes Sir," I said sheepishly.

"So why is it you don't get along? When I was young families would try figure out our differences."

"It's a rather long story," I said

"I have all afternoon."

"But…but I thought that you had to get back to your work? Weren't you on the verge of a great discovery or something?"

"I can do that later; besides I can't find the book I need," He said putting his feet up on the footstool.

I took a deep breath. I didn't exactly want to tell my troubles to some crazy old professor, who would probably analyze me and write a book about it later. It would probably be titled 'Dissolving Family Disputes' or 'When Siblings Don't Get Along' then again he might be able to help me.

I looked over at him as he waited expectantly and half thought about making something up. Deciding against it I started at the beginning. Telling him about dad going to war, and all of us missing him, how mum is always worrying now about dad and us, and about how Peter is always being a beast.

The whole time the professor just sat across from me listening and nodding. When I finished he just sat there a minute thinking. Then he got up, walked across the room and pulled out a book from one of the many shelves.

"You're welcome in the library any time just don't let my house keeper hear about it," He said as he walked back toward me. "You might like this book it was always one of my favorites, but don't hold my word to that I do have many." He handed me the book.

"Favorites I mean I do like many different kinds of books so…" When he continued I just stared at him blankly as he rambled on.

"Oh, never mind," He said when he finally saw that he had me confused.

I looked down at the book as the Professor turned and headed back toward his study. The title read 'The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.' Just then I remembered the Professors reason for coming into the study in the first place.

"Didn't you say that you were looking for a book?" I called after him

"Why yes! Yes I was," He popped his head back into the library, "You didn't happen to find it did you?"

"Um…I might be able to tell you if I come across it if you tell me the name of it."

"It is a book on myths and legends and it should be in that area over there but I can't seem to locate it," He said motioning in the direction he had been searching when he entered. "It has a picture of what looks like a lion with wings. It is actually called a griffin. It is a rare specimen that is said…"

As he rambled on about the flying lion thing I walked over to the shelf I was looking through earlier.

"Do you mean this one?" I said as I pulled it out of the shelf.

"Yes! That's the one I have been searching my study all morning for it," He said walking over and examining it, "However did you find it?"

"I was just looking through the shelves and I just kind of came across it," I shrugged and handed it to him.

"Well thank you very much young man," He said, "If you had not come across it I might have search through the entire library before finding it. Would you like me to show you what I am working on?" He asked motioning toward his study

"No that's alright I think that maybe I should be going. I'll let you get back to your um…well whatever it is your working on."

"Very well" He said with a sigh, "I know it probably doesn't sound interesting to you. I do hope you enjoy your book though." He added as I turned to leave

"Thanks" I replied "I'm going to start it right away"

And that's just what I did…