A/N: New chapter! It took a while to get up because basketball season started for me. I've been lowkey dying the last week and sleeping every spare moment. Not much time for updates. :) Anyways, read and enjoy!
It was later in the evening and also time for my detention with Professor Nice. I sighed, closing the Herbology book I had been reading and tossing it onto my bed. Alex turned her attention from her magazine to me, a confused look on her face.
"Where are you going?" She asked.
"Detention," I replied, shrugging on a sweater.
"Ay, that sucks. I didn't get detention."
"Yeah, I know."
I couldn't help thinking it was unfair, considering it was her fault that I had thrown up on Professor Nice in the first place. I tried not to be too bitter, however, considering that she got herself in enough trouble by her own merit.
Almost as if she had noticed my bitterness, Alex spoke again. A mischievous look spread across her face.
"You know, at least you've never had detention with Professor Glary. Or detention the entire year with him. Once a week."
I couldn't help smiling at her. I remembered last year very well, and her detentions were the highlight of many of our misadventures.
"True," I replied, hefting a few things into a bag that Professor Nice had requested. Boots that were waterproof, warm clothes, and an assortment of other odd things. Alex hardly seemed to care that I was hauling along equipment fit for a jog through a tundra. She seemed more focused on something else, something that must have been the root of the mischievous grin I'd seen earlier.
"I was wondering," she said, giving me an imploring glance. "If you would want to do something tonight."
I looked over at her and sighed.
"What would you want to do?"
"It's a surprise!" She smiled, looking innocent enough to sprout a pair of horns from her head.
"That last time I went with you on a surprise trip, I almost got in some serious trouble. Tell me or I'm not going."
I leaned against the door frame, ready to leave but anticipating her answer. Alex blinked at me for a few moments, as if willing me to change my mind. I groaned and checked the time. I would be late if I waited any longer.
"Time to go already?" Alex asked.
I shot her a look, knowing she had waited until this moment to ask me. I suppose she was a Slytherin for a reason.
"Fine, I'll go. I swear if you get me in troub-"
"I won't," She cut me off, flourishing her magazine and readying herself into a reading position. "Go to detention or you might get extra!"
Unamused, I shot her one last glance before I ducked into the hallway. I walked with a brisk pace down the hall, through the common room, and into the cold air of the dungeon.
Walking through the dungeon at late hours always gave me the willies. While a majority of the castle had been rebuilt after the war, the dungeon hadn't suffered much damage that was irreparable, making it one of the oldest parts of the school. Being the oldest made it the creepiest, and I always felt like I was being watched.
So naturally, I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally left the dungeon and headed up a set of stairs to Professor Nice's classroom. Professor Nice was the charms teacher, so her room was in one of the many towers of the school. It was a cozy place, always warm and smelling like baked goods.
Ascending the stairs was tedious, and reminded me of just how out of shape I was. If I really was going to try out for quidditch this year, I really needed to start running or something. Or, you, know, quit eating Mac n cheese like my life depended on it.
Finally I reached Professor Nice's room, much more out of breath than I was ready to admit, and I knocked on the door. Even my knocking sounded weak.
"Come in, Lily."
I opened the door quickly, getting myself out of the dark hallway. I was feeling all sorts of strange tonight, and the dark hall seemed to be feeding my imagination. The door closed just as quickly, which caught Professor Nice's attention.
"In a hurry, are you Lily?"
"Oh, no!" I exclaimed, clasping my hands together in a nervous fit. I'd had detention a few times, for little things. Never with Mrs. Nice, and never this late. It was almost midnight, which I found strange.
"Well, that's good. Did you bring what I told you to bring?"
My eyebrows rose. I had, despite the strange request. Clothes warm enough for the outdoors, my wand, some night lock powder borrowed from Professor Glary. She had also requested that I wear waterproof boots.
"You aren't really in trouble, my dear. We just needed some help. And you seemed a perfect candidate."
"Help? With what?" My curiosity was hungry now. I felt wide awake, and my heart had started to beat.
"Oh, you know. Some little things that need to be fixed in the library."
I stopped, giving her a cautious glance.
"Which library?" I asked.
"The Ravenclaw Library," She replied, turning to her desk to shove a few things in her satchel.
The Ravenclaw Library had been found after the Great War, in the dungeons. At some point, it had been Rowena Ravenclaw's very own private collection. Not much was known about it, and it was off limits to most of the school because it had been heavily guarded by old enchantments and spells, things that had lasted the ages and been forgotten. The only reason it had been found was part of the dungeon where it had been hidden had been blown to smithereens by very dark, powerful magic.
Magic had kept the books that were accessible in very good shape, but little was known about the rest of the library, which was sealed off with special wards. These were powerful, and a failed attempt to removed them had lead to the unfortunate death of the previous headmaster.
Since then, it had been barricaded off to everyone else. Sealed behind new stonework, the few books that hadn't been cursed had been brought to the main library to be studied and the rest were laid to rest in their tomb.
How did I know all of this? Rose Weasley, who had told me every possible detail. Her mother had worked with the brightest and most skilled witches and wizards from around the world to solve the problem. They had failed, to Hermione's chagrin.
"What exactly needs to be done?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me. I didn't know the precise place of the library since it had been covered up years ago.
"Just renewing some spells that keep students out. I had to give you some punishment for, well, vomiting on me." She laughed, and I realized that she seemed much younger than I had always thought she was. "Had to save some face, and I thought you would find this interesting anyway."
Professor Nice gestured with her ring-adorned hands towards the door.
"To the dungeons, then?" She asked with a smile.
"Of course!" I exclaimed, standing up to join her.
XXX
The walk to the dungeons had been cheery, almost enough to have me forget my dislike for the place in the dark. Almost. Professor Nice seemed to put on an entirely new persona, one that could almost have been considered chatty.
"Have you ever looked inside the Library, just a bit?"
"No," I replied, tugging on the strings of my sweater that had come loose. "I don't even know where it is, to be honest."
"Part of that is because it likes to move." Professor Nice explained, stopping at a section of wall. "It happened after it had been released by dark magic. No longer contained to one spot, it wanders. It's difficult to find while it's covered, but some people can hear it talk to them. It talks to me, sometimes, so I can find it. That's why I'm stuck renewing the concealing charms every month. Also, coincidentally, I'm the charms teacher. It works out perfectly."
Professor Nice stopped talking to press her ear against the wall as if checking to make sure that the library was inside. I waited in impatience next to her, eager to see the inside of the famous library.
Hello, Lily.
I jumped, shocked. Professor Nice looked at me.
"Are you okay?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
My mouth gaped open, then shut. I struggled to respond initially but soon found footing.
"I think- I thought- I heard- Well, I thought I heard my name."
Professor Nice cocked her head like an inquisitive animal, then crinkled her face with thought.
"Well, I suppose the does make a bit of sense."
"Why is that?" I asked, straining my ears. Could I almost hear...water?
"Because last year, when it was stationed by the potions rooms, it would heckle your brother. He thought he was going batty."
I laughed, remembering it now. It had lead to all sorts of nasty tricks being played on him. Poor Albus hadn't taken it very well, however, and quite a few people got detention over the ordeal.
"I thought it was Peeves?"
"Well, we didn't really want to tell the whole school that it was the library, you know, there are always those kids who go meddling where they shouldn't, and then you get into legal trouble. Lawsuits are so easy to get caught up in nowadays."
I nodded, pretending to understand how easy it was to be sued. Professor Nice motioned for me to put the warmer clothes on, and I obeyed.
"Now, cover your ears or something. You aren't supposed to know these spells, not that you would remember them."
I put a mittened hand over my ears.
Really? Not going to listen? The voice mocked me. I couldn't tell if it was in a friendly or a cruel way.
I didn't react this time, but almost agreed with the voice. Professor Nice began her incantations, and I loosened up my grip just enough to hear what she was saying.
"Hunc dimittis, Haec infringenda, Frigus liquescimus, Ne occidas, Ne me. Hunc dimittis, Haec infringenda, Frigus liquescimus, Ne occidas, Ne me. Hunc dimittis, Haec infringenda, Frigus liquescimus, Ne occidas, Ne me. Hunc dimittis, Haec infringenda, Frigus liquescimus, Ne occidas, Ne me. Hunc dimittis, Haec infringenda, Frigus liquescimus, Ne occidas, Ne me."
Over and over again, the words repeated themselves. Professor Nice's voice took on a mesmerizing drone and the repetition seemed to last forever. Finally, there was a loud crack! like the sound of shattering ice, and the whole wall seemed to fall. As it hit the ground, it melted, turning to water.
The water rushed up to me in a wave and crashed down on my toes. I was thankful for the waterproof boots I had put on.
A few seconds later, I was equally grateful for the warm clothes. A freezing gust of cold air rushed up from the open door in front of me and instantly chilled me to the bone. I should have brought warmer clothes, I realized.
Next time just charm your clothes for warmth. The library suggested.
I don't think there will be a next time. I thought back, wondering how the library knew what I was thinking.
"Well," Professor Nice said, indicating towards the open door. "Here it is, the infamous Ravenclaw Library. Some people would just die to do what you are about to do."
A strange feeling fluttered in my chest. A breath of excitement. I took one last look at the engraved wooden door that had just appeared and followed her inside.
A/N: There we are. Chapter 3! I haven't thought about giving the chapters names so I've been thinking of leaving chapter names open to my readers? Feel free to suggest a chapter name in the reviews, and if I really like one I'll name the chapter! (Unless of course, a name has already been chosen.) Most importantly, tell me how you like the story! Feedback is much appreciated! :3