Not mine.

Thanks for the comments. I know my posts are short, but this is how I prevent getting locked up on a certain point.

Grief, Deceptions, and Hope for Freedom

Part 8: Postponed

In the library the ghosts of Hogwarts were on duty. The Bloody Baron who Harry had rarely seen except at sorting seemed to be helping a group of Slytherin first years. The Friar was hovering near the checkout counter, other ghosts were drifting from table to table, and Sir Nicholas was standing near the Restricted Section. If Hermione had mentioned the lack of Madam Pince before he doubted he would have needed to be dragged out of bed, except when he was in the hospital wing. As the library was mostly full of Slytherins and Ravenclaws, both houses Madam Pince was known to keep an extra eye on, Harry thought the ghosts must be an attraction.

"Good morning, Sir Nicholas."

"Good morrow to you, Mister Potter. What brings you to the library?"

"I was wondering if you could help me find books I need?"

"Splendid!" Sir Nicholas began heading into the Restricted Section before Harry could pull his book list out of his pocket. Pausing for a moment, Harry followed.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. I'm sure Professor Binns," Sir Nicholas winked, "was quite happy to give you the permission you need to access the books you require, especially as they weren't added to this section until the summer before you enrolled in Hogwarts." Sir Nicholas quickly moved in front of a far bottom shelf that appeared empty until the knight put reached in and put his hand on the first book. "Now Harry the sword you used your second year to great effect whose heir could use it?"

"Gryffindor's Heir?"

"Say that again as you point your wand at the shelf."

Harry complied and repeated assertively, "Gryffindor's Heir!"

The obscuring charms on all the shelves suddenly fell and there were three times as many books as were visible before. But the shelf of interest was clearly what Sir Nicholas wanted him to take. Sir Nicholas smiled, and gestured to a middle book Heirs of Hogwarts.

"Now young Mr. Potter, I believe you want page 137."

Harry gingerly removed the book from the shelf, still wary of the alarm spells. Hopping down to sit on the floor he opened the book to the page in question and read the page. "The headmaster controls all the ghosts?"

"That I cannot yet confirm or deny."

Harry smiled at the ghost, and read the lines at the bottom of the page. "Hear me, oh Spirits of Hogwarts. Hear me, a humble heir come to learn. Aide me Hogwarts. Guide me true. I am a heir of pure heart seeking aide left me."

"One more line I might suggest, 'Hide my secrets oh Hogwarts, and tell me the dangers I face.'"

Harry quickly repeated that line, adding, "Thank you Hogwarts."

"Close the book."

Harry did, and a gust of wind seemed to shoot from the book, and as it hit Sir Nicholas briefly turned him golden. The ghost grinned widely and stretched. "Thank you, young Heir. It's so nice to be freed from those binds."

Harry smiled, and looked over the titles remaining on the shelf, half the shelf seemed to be the entire set of Families of Wizarding Britain : Self Updating guide to your Heritage. "Guess just hiding the P and E books would be too telling." Sir Nicholas nodded in response and Harry pulled down the P volume. Opening the book to the middle, Harry found the page blank. Flipping forward and then backward, Harry found only more blank pages. "Okay, what am I missing here?"

Sir Nicholas chuckled, "You need only start at the beginning."

Harry closed the book then opened the front cover. Attached to a ribbon to the spine and laying in a pocket was a stylus. Harry moved the stylus out above the book, and turned to the first page.

First Name: Last Name:
Date of Birth:

Father's First:
Father's Last:
Date of Birth:

Mother's First:
Mother's Maiden:
Date of Birth:

Place one drop of blood into the circle below.

Harry took the stylus and filled out what he could, then used after using three cleaning charms on the sharp point on the opposite end of the stylus poked the his finger. He let the drop fall to the page, and was disappointed when nothing happened immediately. Harry looked up at Sir Nicholas.

The ghost shrugged, "It's an old book, give it a moment."

Harry turned his eyes back to the page. Still nothing. Harry cast tempus. 7:20 He looked at the page, still nothing. Harry set the book on the floor in front of him, and looked at the remaining books on the shelf. There were autobiographies for each of the four founders, a book on wandless magic by Gryffindor, a book on potions by Slytherin, a book on prophecy by Ravenclaw, and what looked to be several diaries. The page still had not changed, Harry peeked at the next page in the book, but it was still blank.
"Are these books the ones you think I need most?"

"Harry, these are part of your inheritance. These books excepting the Families of Wizarding Britain came from a house in Godric's Hollow."

Harry pulled Wandless Magic, and sure enough inside the front cover was a bookplate declaring the book property of the Potter Family. "How many books here are supposed to be mine?"

"There is an easy way to answer that question, Mr. Potter, but I'm afraid you must wait to find out."

"Why?"

"Magical Bookplates are not just the pretty pictures that their muggles counterparts are. They can contain many charms, but most important is the Homing charm. Have you never wondered how there can be only one librarian for a library of this size?"

Harry shrugged, one of the few times he had been to a library before Hogwarts was on a schooltrip. While he could vaguely recall that the small Little Whinging library had at least 5 librarians that day, and a bunch of people behind the desk, he never was in the library longer than to drop off a book of Dudley's after that. "House elves?"

"Only to clean. The back cover of each Hogwarts book has a plate." Harry flipped the book open to the back cover, and found a Hogwarts plate. "This plate need only be tapped by the librarian or owner of the library, and this book will return to the shelf it was set on by that person. A limited portkey of sorts."

Harry nodded.

"And that Mr. Potter is why you must wait." Sir Nicholas stabbed at the Hogwarts plate. "A week after classes end, Madam Pince will use a more advanced Homing charm and recall all Hogwarts books to the library. Luckily Professor Binns has granted you the override charm for these books."

"Can this one be removed?"

"Removing the Hogwarts plate will change the library inventory. The charm will work for these books, and as Professor Binns is working on a book on the Chamber of Secrets…"

Harry smiled.

Harry left the library with a full pocket of shrunk books, and a more general book on blood wards. The Families book still hadn't written itself by the time he left the library. Although the set, unlike the rest of the books on the hidden shelf wasn't a Potter book, Sir Nicolas had him perform the charms on the P volume as well to take with him to a meeting with the Bloody Baron that night. Harry had no idea why Nick had come to him today, rather than second year, but he thought he'd find out tonight. In the mean time he had to jump some hurdles with his head of house. Nick had also helped him find the books on Hermione's list and one on estate maintenance that the ghost assured Harry had all the information he needed on book plates. Harry ran to make it to his 8:00 meeting.

When Harry arrived at McGonagall's office, the door was open and a cup of steaming tea was on her desk but the professor was not there. Harry went in moved the chair facing her desk, so it was at an angle that would allow him to see the door behind him in the mirror on the side way and sat down. He began reading the blood wards book Sir Nicholas had found for him, starting on the cancellation chapter. When he finished it, he began at the beginning of the book. Harry kept reading until an owl dropped a letter on his lap. Another tempus revealed it was 8:51. Harry closed his eyes and sighed.

The owl whooted from his perch on the desk. Harry took the prompt and opened the letter.

Mr. Potter,

Your order poses interesting challenges. The lack of active spells you request, as noted in our catalog, will still require taps of your wand in order to comply with Muggle Protection statutes. The additional charms will require an additional fee of 50 galleons. We will endeavor to complete your custom order as soon as possible upon receiving the authorization.

Campbell McGoen McGoen's: Keeping the Charm in Daily Life

Harry borrowed a quill from the Professor's desk, scrawled his authorization for the additional charge, and attached the letter to the owl's leg. "If you need a treat or water you'll need to visit the Owlery, as I have nothing with me." The owl bobbed its head and took off,leaving Harry to stew in his thoughts.

Why would McGonagall stand him up without a note? There were no papers on her desk, nor the floor. Harry began to question not bringing his bookbag with him, or at least his notebook and pen, he kept needing to write. Harry decided to leave. When Harry stood and turned, he noticed for the first time, that a portrait hung on the wall in the shadow from the open door. Phineas Nigellus smirked at him. Harry felt like he was punched in the gut, but endeavored to keep his face blank. "Headmaster, do you know when Professor McGonagall might return?"

"Finally sick of waiting, boy?"

"It is unlike the Professor to be tardy or absent." Harry wondered if not being able to trust anyone was supposed to help him occlude his thoughts. Or if Dumbledore was trying to drive him to suicide by removing all potential sources of help.

"Professor Dumbledore required her presence."

"Please inform Professor McGonagall that I waited for an hour, and would like her to owl me if she can meet this afternoon."

Phineas nodded, "Finally found your manners. I will pass on your message."

Harry suppressed a sigh, and headed to the hospital wing.