The next morning, I decide to spend all day in the library due to the fact that excessive Quidditch practices have me falling behind in most of my classes. I'm up by 9 am and considering it's a Sunday, that's a new record for me. I eat a quick breakfast and head off to the library before most people have gotten out of bed. The good thing about being up so early is that the library is almost completely deserted and silent.
I smile at Agnes Crosswire, the librarian, on my way in. I've spent enough time in here over the years that she and I are on pretty good terms, even though she has a tendency to dislike any student who's not a studious Ravenclaw. I choose a sunny table by the window and set down to work.
Three hours later, all I've finished is a Defense Against the Dark Arts essay and half the Charms essay. I sigh and decide to go on a walk to the fiction section to stretch my cramping legs. I look around at the towering bookshelves surrounding me; this is without doubt my favorite part of the library. Running my hand over the spines of the timeless collection, I try to imagine that I'm anywhere but here, somewhere in one of these stories. I have to drag myself away from them; when I return to my table I notice Aaron is now sitting at a table close by. He looks up as I approach my table and I can immediately tell that he seems very tired, especially with the large bags under his eyes. Probably stayed up partying all night, I think. I sit down and begin on the transfiguration essay. I'm only just starting when I hear someone huff and growl, obviously annoyed. I look up to see that it is none other than Aaron. How typical. He continues to make similar noises for a good ten minutes before I decide to say something.
"Oi, Everard!" I whisper loudly, making sure Crossiwire can't hear me, "shut up, some of us are actually trying to get some work done!" He gives me a look, then gets up and starts to pack his books into his knapsack. At first I'm surprised but extremely pleased that he's listened to me and has decided to leave, but then he starts walking and I realize, to my dismay, that he's not leaving but coming over to my table. He sets down his bag on the chair opposite me.
With both hands on the table, he leans in toward me and whispers "You're not the only one in this library Boscawen. Nobody else has complained about the noise" He looks even more exhausted up close.
"That's because there's hardly anyone else here, and no one close enough to hear you" I say flatly.
"Well then maybe you should move," he snaps.
"I was here first! You move!" I reply.
He doesn't budge and after staring at me with an annoyed look on his face, he sits down in the seat previously occupied by his knapsack.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" I exclaim, albeit quietly.
"Ok," he says, "I'll leave, if you help me with this bloody transfiguration." I'm just about to tell him to bugger off when he sighs and speaks again, "the quicker you help me, the quicker I'll leave, Boscawen."
Well that certainly did the trick. "What do you need help with?" I ask coldly.
"I don't get it," he says, his frustration evident in his voice, "what's-his-face's Law of Elemental Transfiguration"
I arch an eyebrow. "Gamp's Law?"
"Yeah, him" he nods " and don't look at me like that, I've got more important things on my mind than some old bloke and his stupid law".
I didn't bother dignifying that last comment with an answer. "What don't you understand? It's a law of physics stating what powers magic has to create or destroy matter. There's not much to get."
"Yeah, but the five principal exceptions, they don't make any sense. I've seen food conjured all the time, like at dinner when the food appears on the tables. And the Philosopher's Stone can create gold, and can the Gemino Curse," he replied, his voice clearly frustrated.
I shake my head, "no, food can't be conjured. Dinner is prepared by the house elves and laid out in the kitchen, then it's transported to the tables in the Great Hall. The Philosopher's Stone doesn't conjure gold, it changes other substances into gold. And the Gemino curse merely multiplies any object cast upon it, and multiplied gold or money has no value. The duplicates are worthless." I explain.
"Hmmm. Alright," he ponders a bit. "Ok, that's food, and gold. What else is there?"
"You can't bring back someone from the dead, you can't repair the effects of dark magic, and the last one's –"
"Love" he interrupted. I looked up, and probably for the millionth time I wish I could read the emotion in his eyes. Whatever it is, it's intense.
"Ya" I finished lamely. We stared at each other for a few more seconds, and then he got up abruptly and slammed his textbook shut, startling me in the process.
"Well, thanks for the help" he said in an overly cheery voice, as he shouldered his knapsack and left.
"Right. Ok, whatever." I mutter to myself, as I get restarted on my essay. I forget all about Everard for the rest of the day.