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An Encounter Among Books Closed

A gasp of awe escaped Joseph's lips as he gazed at the shelves that towered over him like mountains lined with dusty books of every size and colour. This had to be the umpteenth time he had been to the library this month, but every trip never failed to take his breath away. Basking in the dim light provided by the grand chandeliers overhead, a smile spread across Joseph's face. The first genuine one that day. The library had been home to a lot of his fond (and not so fond) memories here in hogwarts, giving it a special spot in Joseph's heart.

As he reclined against a regal-looking wooden chair, Joseph propped his book on the table with a gentle thump, running his fingers down it's leathery spine like he always did. He gingerly held it up, enchanted by the way the soft light danced across the book's shiny cover, it's reflection casting a gentle glimmer, just like the beautiful stars at twilight. To his left and right, groups of students huddled together, whispering furiously about only God knows what. Joseph realised with a start that he hadn't really interacted much with the other readers, though he swore he knew some of their faces better than the back of his hand.

Maybe he could strike up a conversation with one or two of them someday. Maybe.

Casually flipping his book open, Joseph turned his attention to the story that unfolded before him. As usual, it didn't take long for him be entirely absorbed into the fantasy world of his book, completely oblivious of anything that was happening around him...
@Jade Taylor
Life is like a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans; you never know what you are going to get.
An Encounter Among Books Closed
Jade is a young girl who has chosen her friends from the most worthy of her house. But since her arrival in Gryffindor, she is tired of being always cold to the others; and then she starts talking to everyone. Despite her always cold mask, she is a great adventuress, as soon as her friends turn their backs, she rushes to the library and dives into a book. Today, she tells them that she will seek information for the metamorphosis task. Once there, she rushed to the shelves of fantasy history. After choosing her book, she looked for a table with few people. They were almost all busy. Eventually she found one, and there was only one young boy reading. He must be his age and he was at Hufflepuff. After a moment of hesitation, she put her bag in front of him, laid the book gently on the table and before sitting down asked if she was not disturbing him.

"Hello, excuse me. May I sit at the table?"

Jade’s voice is so sweet. It’s hard to imagine that a girl as cold as she could have such a sweet voice.
Her face is just a mask. Under that mask, there’s a sweet, kind and very sentimental girl. Despite her arrogance, her habit of mocking Jade is very faithful.

Reducio
@Joseph Sims
An Encounter Among Books Closed
"Hello, excuse me. May I sit at the table?" a sweet, gentle voice wafted over to Joseph, forcefully dragging him out of the imaginary world he had been completely immersed in. It was funny how such a tender voice could have such an effect on him.

Blinking, Joseph raised his head just high enough for his gaze to lie on the source of the voice - it was a Gryffindor girl, slightly shorter than him but no less intimidating. The girl's raven-black hair swathed her face like a silky shawl, her twin eyes a pair of sparkling green orbs that seemed to be threatening to fire laser beams at him any moment now.

Joseph tried to read her expression. Bored? Tired? A hint of mischief? Who was she? After so many trips to the library, he was certain he had never seen her before. Or maybe he simply hadn't been observant enough, all this while.

"What- sure!" Joseph managed, forcing a grin as he nodded his head slowly, beckoning the girl into the seat opposite him. Joseph sincerely hoped the girl didn't mean trouble - he wasn't in the mood for interaction that day after all. Maybe the girl just needed a quiet spot to settle down to finish her readings and had the decency to ask for permission to share a table with him.

Yes, that had to be it.

Returning his gaze the book spread out on the table before him, Joseph couldn't help but recall the last time someone had asked to share a table with him at a library, briefly hoping he wouldn't need to interact with this girl as much as he had with another that fateful day a few months ago.
@Jade Taylor
Life is like a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans; you never know what you are going to get.
An Encounter Among Books Closed
Jade thanked him, smiled at him and sat down. The young boy didn't seem to want to argue, which suited Jade, because she just wanted to read quietly. She started reading when her gaze was caught by a simple movement of the young boy. She took the opportunity to observe him. He seemed to enjoy reading because the speed at which his eyes moved from one word to the next was astonishing. He has blond hair, dark brown eyes and a relatively round face. His skin is a darker beige shade and he has a small nose.
Rather cute.
Jade was surprised to think this. Even if she had a tendency to fall in love, it was rare that she found a boy cute. She chased this thought away. She had noticed that when she entered the library all her arrogance dissipated.
She remembered having seen this boy several times before. Each time it was in the library. She caught a brief glimpse of him between the shelves.
After about thirty pages, Jade began to feel lonely. She had always dreamed of telling her friends about her readings, but they only thought about the boy. After a while, she decided and started reading.

"I... you..."

Then she changed her mind, watching the boy's reaction. Who knows, he might, maybe, get angry.

Reducio
@Joseph Sims
An Encounter Among Books Closed
Joseph didn't take his eyes of his book although he could sense the girl's gaze lingering on him. Maybe she was still unconvinced that Joseph wasn't a hostile person. Maybe she was watching him attentively for any sign of aggression. Anyway, it didn't matter. Or at least, it didn't have to matter. She was just another fellow student sharing a table with Joseph. There was absolutely no need worrying about what she thought of him.

"I... you..." a hushed, incomprehensible stutter escaped the girl's lips. Joseph raised his head a fraction, holding the Gryffindor girl's gaze cautiously yet curiously, waiting for her to finish her sentence.

But she never did. Instead, she looked away pointedly, turning towards her own book, perhaps deciding against striking up a conversation with him. Joseph let his fingers glide over the smooth, polished surface of the wooden table, deep in thought. The bubble of curiosity within him had not yet popped. In fact, if anything, the girl's reaction had made it double in size.

"Um yes?" Joseph managed, his eyes still fixated unmovingly on the Gryffindor girl. A wistful look spread across Joseph's face as he wished they had left each other to read their own books peacefully but no, it was foo late for that now. Far too late.

Reducio
Sorry for the very late reply...
@Jade Taylor
Life is like a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans; you never know what you are going to get.
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