Exploring the Library Closed

Simon had missed Hogwarts over the Summer. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the month of July back home in London with his Aunt Maggie - he adored it! He also had enjoyed the month of August at the campground of the school grounds. Still, there was nothing quite like being in that unique castle that really immersed him into this whole wizarding world experience that he had grown to adore and love.

One of his favorite locations within the Castle had always been the library. It was filled with more information on the wizarding world than surely he could take in during his years at Hogwarts but he would do his best! History of magic, plants, animals, human-like creatures, spells, potions - it went on and on.

During his first year he spent most of his time just taking in anything he could and much would be the same this year, although he did have some main topics in mind. One was learning as much as he could about vampires and the other was to learn about the the ways in which magic could be used to help people - like making things such as creams to heal a bad sunburn.

That particular day he had grabbed a single book on vampires and made his way over toward a table. Usually Simon had a whole stack of books to look through on any given day but one, he knew some of the first years would also like some space to explore their new library, and two, he didn't want to bring too much attention to himself. He had just sat down at a middle table and begun reading when a girl ran up to the same table, slammed her book down, and started to look through the book that she had.

"Finding everything alright?" he asked, offering his help if she should need it, or just opening up the door for conversation if that might be the case.

"Yeah, I'm doing alright." she said looking at him. "Oh, um I'm Katie." She said, reading, paying half-attention to the 2nd year that was near her. She looked at him. "What's you're name?" she said, paying full attention to him now. She flipped the book upside down, so she would not lose her page. She shuffled around in her seat. She glanced around, then looking back to him. "I love libraries like this one. This one is the best." she said. "My mom just let me read the books in the donation box when she took me to work." She sighed, Flipping pages once she had picked the book up once more.

She sighed, reading and reading. She was not even a quarter done with the book. I ought' to check this out. she thought to herself. Oh i think im talking to this kid too much. she said, keeping her face as expressionless as possible. At least I can maybe make one friend..? she thought to herself once again. Maybe she could make a friend. She never really had one, well she had one friend. that was it. She blinked and set the book down. She looked to him again.

Now that she said she was fine and didn't seem to need any further assistance, Simon decided it was probably best to leave her be to her reading. She seemed very involved in it and he would only get to the point where he was being rude and bothering her and he certainly didn't want that. She introduced herself but kept her eyes on the book and so he smiled, appreciating the introduction but knew that she was probably busy.

Just as he was about to step back from her to turn to leave, she glanced back up to him and asked his name. "I'm Simon. Simon Kincaid. Second Year Hufflepuff." Back to that, were they? He remembered during the first year when everyone would state what year they were in at Hogwarts and which house they were sorted into. Now with so many new faces, it was back to it. He listened then as she complimented the library and he glanced around at it, taking it all in. It was busier right now than it would be later on - with so many new students coming to check it out. Eventually there wouldn't be as many students there, at least not until closer to assignments being due, essays to be completed, and final examinations to cram for.

"It's an incredible place. I think it's my favorite place in the entire castle, and that's saying something because there's some really amazing places here." She then picked up the book once more and began to look through it again, before setting it back down. It seemed she wasn't sure if she should read or not. ...Was he bothering her? "I didn't mean to intrude. I can let you get back to your reading." He gave her a kind smile, letting her know that he was totally fine with it if that's what she wanted to do. If she wanted to stay and talk more, that was fine too. Want to tour the school or something? Fine as well.

She looked at him. "Wow!" she said. "Mine to.. I also like the quidditch grounds. But, this is my favorite aswell!" She said, smiling. "I can just check this out.. I'm sort of... lost in the castle." she said. She barley knew where her classes were. "Maybe we can go outside.. like.." She looked up at the ceiling. "hm.. there must be so much to do here!" she smiled, looking back to him. I'm to.. talkitive. heh. She thought. She felt strangely happy, she could talk all day.. but she did not want to make a bad impression. She blinked, waiting for his response

While she waited, she thought about home. She wished she could talk away. About her life.. and what her dad did and all of that.. but once again.. she did not want to make a bad impression. She looked away for a moment. She looked down an aisle of books, then she looked back to him. She promised herself she would listen very closly to what he said.. and she would take 'no' for an answer and not give any backtalk.. She was nervous about making friends. It might be good he was in a diffrent year.. she might screw up in class and make everyone laugh.. and maybe make him laugh aswell. So, on the bright side this was good.

"Well then, let me be Simon Kincaid, Hogwarts' Official Tour Guide," he said as he took the book slowly from her, making sure that it was okay that he did so. "Gather up your belongings! Our first stop will be the circulation desk where one can check out books and ask for help from the librarian or one of the assistants. Located here in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ground Floor, the Library, just inside the entrance. If you'll follow me, Miss ...," he paused, hating that he had to let go of his 'professional nature' just now, but he didn't know her last name, "Miss Katie," he recovered. It was the best he could do with the information he had.

He would wait until she had all her things and then straighten his own bag on his shoulder and motion for her to follow me. The two first went to the desk, where there wasn't a line. Most of the older students were still out and about, chatting away to catch up over the Summer and the new students had yet to attempt to check out any of the books. He explained the procedure to her and walked her through it although...it wasn't any different than any primary school or public library that she would have found previous to this. Still, he went through the detail, trying to be the thorough tour guide that he was claiming to be.

"There's a lot of rules for the Library," he pointed to a sign that was nearby, "some are flexible while others are not and er..." Simon paused as it seemed the school elf, one of the assistants, was giving him a side eye for calling some of the rules flexible. She finished checking out Katie's book and handed it over to the girl. "Thanks, Tolly. Thank you so much! Pleasure as always," he flashed her a smile and reached out for Katie's hand. "...Follow me. Quickly." He didn't need Tolly to go get the librarian on him. I mean, the boy didn't break THAT many rules but he might have dodged bringing a library book back on time a few times and he might have had a few snogging sessions in the back corner. No one was perfect!

She quickly gathered up her things. She followed him to the circular desk. She smiled. "Cool!" she looked at him with kind eyes. She wondered why he had not called her by her last name, like most of the proffessors. "For future reference, My last name is Wynd, with a Y" she said. Oh dear. Was that rude? She asked herself, looking to him.

She walked over to the rules board, and read them off. "Yup.. uh-huh.." she said, reading down the list of.. what seemed to be more than a lot, as simon had explained. She walked over to him, as he lead her somewhere else. She saw the library elf, and she smiled at the elf. She watched them check out her book. She gave a warming smile as they stamped it. "Yeah." she said, after simon had said 'a pleasure as always.' she looked to him then. "So, what else is in the library?" she elbowed his arm lightly. Oh god. I hope im doing everything alright.. Logan would just accept me for who i am.. but this boy is not logan.. She thought in her head, as she let out a long wheeze. She hoped this boy would accept her for who she was.. But she reminded herself one more time. This boy Was not logan..

Simon smiled when she elbowed him like that because it showed she was comfortable with him and he liked that. It was a good foundation for a friendship. "What else is in the Library? Dear girl, what else ISN'T in this Library?" and his smile widened because yes, he knew exactly how lame he was being.

"This Library, this very Library that you stand in right now, was founded when Hogwarts began, around 990A.D. Ad being Anno Domini, Latin for 'in the year of the Lord." He felt like that would be a nice fancy addition to his tour and something he could slip in there since he was the good church-going boy that he was.

"Here in this vast room you'll find tens of thousands of books, thousands of shelves, hundreds of narrow rows. You want a book about any subject at all? I bet they have it!"

He took her over to where there were some wooden tables. "This is my favorite study spot when I have to lay out a bunch of books or have a lot of materials. You can usually find an empty table." He was now being less formal and more of regular Simon than tour-guide Simon.

"And over there is where I like to do my more casual studying or reading," he pointed to some chairs and a sofa near the corner. "It's still pretty straight in view of the circulation desk, so be mindful if you're to try and take a sip of water or pop a lemon drop into your mouth. You must might get caught."

And the two kept on walking. Simon took a step to the side to avoid some sunlight that filtered in through one of the windows. He showed her were the books on Magical Creatures were, Plants, History of Magic, Potions, Spells, and so forth. "That's the Restricted Section and it's - well, restricted. I believe we'll have access to it in later years. And that sofa right there is my favorite snogging spot," he glanced over to her and then glanced down, slightly embarrassed for having said that out loud or admitted it.

She looked at him. "Your right! What isn't in the library!" She smiled. She followed him, as he walked up to the Restricted Section. I wonder what's back there.. She thought with curiosity, She then followed him to the sofa. "A nice couch, If I do say so myself." She said. She took her book, and set it down. "Rather comfy." She took a pillow, and examined it. She put it back. "Sorry if im snooping around to much.. Im rather curious about the new place.." She smiled. "What's your favorite class?" She asked, looking at him.

To bad logan can't make it here until tomorrow.. She thought. She tried to get the thought of logan out of her head!! It was getting rather annoying.. But logan was the only friend she had had for her first ten years of her life.. She felt emptiness. She wanted logan to be with her.. He was a good friend.. SOmeone she could trust.. But Simon she could trust.. aswell? She thought. She wanted to spray the thought of logan out of her head when he was not here.. She could think about him in the common room all she wanted.. She worred and worried.. She wanted to shout out, but.. from what she had heard, no yelling in the library, so she just whispered. "He'll be here tommorrow.. no thinking about him till' then.."

"Hmm, my favorite class,"he said, pausing. Simon was now in his Second Year at Hogwarts so he had an entire year of experience but this was the first time he actually stopped to ponder which of his classes was his favorite. "My favorite?" Just one?! No. Never. "Honestly, it's probably a toss up. I enjoy flying because I do broom racing. I enjoy potions and herbology because you sometimes learn about how to make something that can heal someone or lead to some other positive outcome. Charms and Transfiguration are pretty cool because you get to use your wand. And History of Magic, I find that absolutely fascinating."

Yes, his entire experience at Hogwarts had been a great one. He loved it.

Simon glanced over to Katie and saw her sort of daze out. Maybe he was rambling on a little too much but then she mentioned something about someone being there tomorrow and he tilted his head slightly, curious as to her reference. "...Who will be here tomorrow, if you don't mind me asking. Don't be thinking about stealing my snogging spot!" but he smiled, letter her know that he truly wasn't worried about such things. Although, it sort of WOULD become a little bothersome if someone actually did...