Browsing the Shelves PV Khris Bailey Closed

Before Edric had the chance to ask where exactly Khris was leading him, the other Slytherin had already started to lead him through the labyrinth that was the rows upon rows of books in the Hogwarts Library. He got lost then, as this part of the library was completely unfamiliar to him, but to be honest he wasn't afraid at all. Khris obviously knew his way around here, and Edric trusted his new friend - or at least he hoped that that was what they would become - to know exactly where he was going.

They abruptly came to a stop in front of a particular shelf with more authors who Edric was wholly unfamiliar with. Khris let go of him and browsed the books instead, carefully studying each one before he selected one specific book and passed it along to him.

"The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott," Edric repeated slowly when his eyes wandered over the title printed on the front of the tome. He let Khris' pleasant voice easy his nerves and listened as the blonde talked about muggle books. His fascination with what he had handed Edric was obvious, and it made him hug the book close to his chest, aware that he was holding something very valuable. The book belonged to the school obviously, but to him it felt like a present from a kindred soul. It was precious.

It took a few moments of Khris talking again before the realized that the other boy was apologizing for talking about books, which was silly of course. "No no, it's fine, really!" he hurried to reassure Khris. "You know so many amazing books, I love that. You're a way better talker than me, so I just… forgot that I wanted to tell you about Momo, I guess."

He carefully leaned back against the she shelf, The Inheritance still held tightly to his chest. Edric wasn't used to have people to tell about his favorite reading material, so he didn't exactly know where to start explaining why he liked Momo so much. The beginning would be best, he decided.

"Momo is a little girl," he began, his voice automatically taking on a more serious tone. "There is this amphitheater at the outskirts of the city and she suddenly lives there. She has no parents, no other home, no family, no age, well she just doesn't know it I think, and she named herself. She's just a normal muggle child… but she listens, that's her talent. She listens to all people who come to her, really listens, and everyone becomes happier when they talk to her. Having Momo there fills the lives of the residents with happiness… until the Grey Gentlemen appear. They are bald and all on them is grey: their clothes, their shoes and the smoke clouds form their cigarettes. They say that everyone can make their lives better by saving time, because they work for the…" he suddenly faltered in his monologue. The word was on his tongue, but he had no idea about the English equivalent of the German phrase. "Zeitsparkasse," he finally stammered. "It's like a… time saving bank? Ah, I'm sorry, I only ever read Momo in German."

Khris listened with a rapt attention he saved only for those who truly loved books.

Perhaps it was the way their voice would take on an element of depth as they spoke or the way their eyes would light up as they told someone about the tales held dear to their heart. Perhaps it was the way the words weren't really about the book but rather the story and how it touched them. Whatever it was, Edric had it and it made Khris' eyes widen in awe as his fellow Slytherin spoke. It had been so long since he'd found a quiet spirit who loved reading as much as he and the discovery had his heart thudding cheerfully in his chest. A silent request for friendship.

"I've never heard of a story like that before..." He murmured, eyes bright as he leaned carefully against the edge of a shelf. "Time being used like- like currency? It's painfully real that bit. And this Momo, she seems like a character you could really look up to, you know? The way she listens? I think," Khris paused here. "I think that's something the world needs." His eyes took on a slightly pensive look at that, his brow furrowing while slender fingers twist in the curls at the nape of his neck out of habit.

Edric had said this girl, this Momo, had listened. Truly listened and brought happiness to the world. Even as a child of 11 Khris had seen the truth of these words. He'd watched the joy brought when a person freely listened and experienced the pain of not being able to speak with safety. Felt the love of being able to whisper words to his mother and seen the hurt that comes from a lack of that. It made him want to do this, to read this book and to maybe try a little harder next time.

He held the thought close to his heart. A little something to ponder as he roamed the school grounds some day.

This was the reason for books though. The purpose of their beauty. To learn.

After a moment he shook his head and pushed off the shelf, blond curls dancing with the jostle as he caught Edric's hazel eyes with a cheerful grin once more.

"Sorry about that." A quick flick of his hand was given; a abstract dismissal of his previously pensive mood. "Did you- did you mention you spoke German?" Khris gave what can only be described as a cheekily curious grin at that, his eyes lighting and head tipping as he whisked himself around the corner only to pop his head back around to ensure Edric was following. "Here, there's more books around the corner if you like. I mean... obviously there are but-" He gave a quiet chuckle, eyes closing in brief embarrassment. "I meant there's more books you might like. Adventure ones rather than romance. We might as well get you one of each before we try to approach The Librarian to check out."

"She's..." Edric began and then closed his mouth, searching for words. Momo wasn't a hero, not in the traditional, Gryffindor sense of the word, but still reading her story gave him strength. The girl cared about others and listened like he did, but when she'd had to she'd stood up and acted, something he would never be brave enough to do. "Momo is really strong, you know? She's strong. She knows that the Grey Gentlemen are wrong and dirty, and so she stands up and tells the others that they shouldn't listen to them... and when she has to defends everyone on her own, because it's the right thing to. It's a little bit like a Gryffindor's bravery, but more from the heart. I wish was half as confident as she is."

He knew that he was a coward. If a powerful, scary person told him to do something he did it, because he didn't have the strength to fight back. He wished to be more like his brother Harry, or even Adair.

Khris' questions pulled him out of his musings and he cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to keep up with the conversation. "Yeah, we need people like her."

Luckily Khris seemed to have spaced out for a bit there, too, and Edric smiled back when the other boy grinned at him, truly happy that he had found another boy who liked stories as much as him, so had listened to him talk about Momo. It made him feel warm, like when his nanny ruffled his hair and handed him a mug of hot chocolate.

"My mother is German," he explained to answer Khris' question. "We go visit her family in the holidays whenever we can, at least her and me, so I speak German, Welsh and English. My Dad can't pronounce German at all, so Mam mostly talks English at home, though." This time he paid attention to what the blonde was doing however, and hurried after Khris when he rounded the corner.

"I'd like that." He motioned with his right hand for Khris to lead the way, still a little bit confused about where exactly they were in the vast library. "I like that you show me books, I mean. It's very nice of you. Please, go on. Adventure stories sound super good, I like heroes."

Khris grinned as Edric spoke; the shared love for a good hero yet another common thread found between the two of them. He strongly agreed with this fellow Slytherin's opinion. Adventure stories were indeed "super good". Great tales that could transport you to worlds just as magical or even more so than the one he'd been cast into this past autumn. Legends and old lore, dragons and swordfights, hidden heroes found in the least expected of places.

Perhaps that's why he loved them so much.

Oh, of course there were those adventure stories where you're cheering for the protagonist right from the beginning but Khris had always been fond of the books in which the champion seemed to need the entire story to gain the courage to be called what they truly were. A hero.

Courage rarely happened over night in those kind of books and often times the character didn't even know they had it until suddenly they did. It gave him hope, he supposed. Hope that even though he was a timid and shy sort, if the need arose he would be able to stand up and follow through with confidence. Or at least... not pass out entirely.

It would be a start.

"I like heroes too. Unique ones. The kind that most people don't expect or... Or the kind that need to learn how to be one." A few stray beams of sun filtered through the cut glass windows to land on book titles like a spot light and Khris paused. "Like Momo I think. Or at least, from what you've told me anyway." He grinned. "An unconventional hero." Slender fingers plucked a story off the shelf before he turned and followed the seemingly endless row of books a bit further inwards, his voice taking on a slight air of confidence due to a well used word. Yet another benefit of reading many many books. Big words, small lad. Potential reason for teasing but thankfully not in this present company.

"Anyway, I really think you'll love these books. I just saw them yesterday and had planned on going to retrieve them this afternoon but now that you're here it'll make it that much more fun. We could read them together maybe?"

The great wooden shelves curved as the two of them continued further into the library, Khris' chattering soon the only sound to be heard amongst the rows of parchment and ink. It was a calming feeling. The quiet proof that they were truly safe from those who'd potentially wish to cause harm. He knew the place well enough to feel confident they couldn't be lost after all and besides, it was just a library and magical or not one couldn't really get lost amongst the books.

Khris paused, wrinkled his brow, gave a solid nod and then grinned.

"Right. They should be just over there."

"The kind that need to learn how to be one," Edric repeated Khris' words, frowning. He'd never thought about it like this before. Heroes for him were mostly Gryffindors and if not then at least people like Momo, strong people, people who knew who they were, knew their strengths and weaknesses and everything. Could you really learn how to be a hero? It seemed so far-fetched, a bit like anyone could become a hero through will and circumstances alone.

"Do you think that's what Harry Potter was?" he suddenly asked, voicing a thought that had just come to him. "I mean he was in Gryffindor. He fought Voldemort from when he was as old as we are. I... I just assumed that he'd always been a hero kinda, from before he killed The Dark Lord."

The thought was unsettling. Edric knew that he was just a boy. He was good with Quidditch and his grades were a above average for some reason, but other than that there was nothing special about him. He didn't know how to face dark wizards and witches or dragons. He could motivate people, maybe, but he hated the thought even of leading anyone into a war or dueling. How would he ever be a hero? Never, he thought.

"Sorry, I'm rambling," he told Khris, rubbing the back of his head self-consciously. He looked into the other boy's shining blue eyes, but averted his gaze after a few seconds and tried to focus back on the books the other Slytherin was pulling from the shelves.

"I'd like that." He smiled at the prospect of discussion a book with Khris, chapter by chapter. The other boy seemed so smart, Edric bet that he would be able to tell him all the things he'd missed when reading. "Like we both read a chapter and then talk about it? Or should we read to each other? ...I haven't really read to anyone before. The Hippogriffs sometimes, but they don't really count."

Edric honestly felt better when Khris was talking. Then he didn't have to worry about saying the wrong thing and maybe losing his new-found friend. He liked spending time with Khris already.

He stopped when the other boy did, turning his head from one side to the other to enjoy the view of the afternoon light filtering in through the windows. The library continued to fascinate him with its fast corridors of knowledge. Looking around to not get completely lost he followed the blonde towards another row of shelves.

"I..." Khris' brow furrowed at Edric's question concerning the history of Harry Potter, hero of hero's and legendary student of Hogwarts. It was something he'd never considered really. The fact that The Harry Potter was still just a student no older than they while in the midst of all his acts of heroism. That he was just a first year when everything concerning The Dark Lord started brewing once more. It was an unusual feeling, knowing this information. One that had Khris chewing on his lower lip in contemplation, his eye's narrowing and fingers fiddling with the pages of the book held tight in his grasp.

"I think so." He breathed, his answer quiet amongst the shelves. It was a big statement to make concerning someone so affluent in their history. "It's true he was in Gryffindor and they are known for their bravery but I don't really think he knew he had it. The courage. It was like..." He let his words drift off, feet shuffling a bit in the aisle they'd paused in. It was like what he was trying to say earlier. That sometimes hero's don't even realize they're the hero until suddenly they are.

"It was like he never tried to save anyone or be a hero. He just was one, you know?" The kind of person who didn't think they could be or didn't even want to be the hero of the story. A shy grin was offered towards his newly found friend as he turned to continue down the rows. Harry Potter was the kind of person that gave kids like him, the shy ones and the ones who really weren't that heroic hope that they might have that same courage hidden in them, waiting just ready to emerge on the day it was needed. A comforting thought.

A few nuisance curls where pushed from his face and Khris took a steadying breath before grinning once more.

"And you never need to apologize for rambling." Khris' offered a cheerful smile over his shoulder, the last few steps taken towards the finally found shelf. The dust had been disturbed. He could see it, long stripes smoothing across the silver titles from where his fingers had trailed a few days prior. "I ramble all the time. My mum says it's a good thing and that it means you're excited about what you're saying but I'm not so sure." A bright -albeit still slightly awkward- giggle was offered, the books and the shelves supporting them seeming to hold their breath as the cheerful noise echoed in the silence. He flushed as his laughter bounced back but continued anyway, a short nod given in invitation for Edric to join him as he knelt, bony knees popping and long fingers reaching for the book they'd been searching for. "I think there's a difference between babbling and rambling. One's because of excitement and the other is because of nerves. Sometimes they combine into both though... That's mostly what I do."

The book slid from the shelf with a slight puff of dust motes and Khris wrinkled his nose at the sight. Really though... Why no one was reading these treasures was beyond him. The book wasn't too old, a small thing that was published about 50 years ago or so, a baby in the scheme of novels but with the layer of dust covering the title it looked far older and far more neglected than the more famous of the old wizarding books found nearer the front.

Khris slid his hand over the title carefully, the chalky letters turning bright as the dust was pushed away. "I'd like to read it together, if that's okay." He turned to meet Edric's eyes with a happy sort of grin and a nervous shrug of shoulders. It would be like having a friend. A good one. One that he could talk to regularly and about things that were just... good. Books, heroes, real ones and not, the hopes of perhaps being one someday. "Maybe once a week? We could read it separate or together or..." An embarrassed chuckle, another attempted push at his rebellious curls. "If you want we could read it aloud? I don't mind reading if you'd rather not, though I'm sure it would be lovely."

Khris managed to put Edric's thoughts into words better than he could ever have. Harry Potter hadn't tried to be a hero, at least from what they knew. He'd just become one. He wondered if that was how all true heroes were made, from life and hardship. Maybe that was why Grffindors made such good heroes, because fighting for what they believed in was something they just did because it was the right thing to do - at least to them. That would explain somewhat why a Slytherins or Ravenclaws were never the heroes of stories: they argued and discussed. Did a Gryffindor just feel what justice was, then? The thought confused him too much and so he dropped it.

"Being a hero seems to be really hard, though," he added, rambling again more or less, but Khris didn't mind at all and started to talk about his own ramblings. It made Edric feel warm inside to know that the other boy was doing it as well. "I don't talk when I'm nervous," he admitted. "I'm not making much sense then, so that's babbling then? Rambling is when... I don't really know what to say. Or more how to say it. Saying what you feel can be hard."

His attention drifted towards the book Khris had pulled out of the shelf in front of them and he hurried to kneel down on the floor beside him, not wanting to stand there awkwardly and watch. "What is that book? Another fantasy story?" Amber eyes followed Khris' hands as they carefully cleaned the cover of the small book from dust.

"We can read it together, of course," he hurried to reassure the blonde Slytherin, returning his grin with a bright, sincere smile. Khris liked him! He wanted to read books with him! They could be friends! The idea created a bubble of happiness in his mind. "I'd really like that... but I don't know if I have a good reading voice, to be honest. But we can try! You could teach me!"

Edric's voice became a bit high in the end, his accent thick. He was excited at the prospect of going through a book with his new friend, of sharing the story between them. He didn't want Khris to get the impression that he wouldn't like it, even when he got a queasy feeling in his gut thinking about reading aloud to another person. It would be just him and Khris, anyway. He could do that!

"Hmm? Oh!" Khris held out the book with a grin and a chuckle, his eyes meeting Edric's with a shy bob of his head. Silly of him that was. Here he'd been going on about heroes and their makings, the definition of babbling versus rambling, rambling on in his own right all while withholding the most important thing from his newly found friend.

The title and facts of this book.

It was on the smaller side, not overly weighty or daunting but with the air of a classic nonetheless. It's dustjacket, though obviously dusty and in need of attention was beautiful and proudly declared it's first addition status with it's artwork. Of course Hogwarts would have the first addition. His mum had raved about the old covers and the art printed upon them, upset at the newer and newer still released pictures they used for further printings. Looking down at the quilt like design and elegant simplicity of the book offered to Edric, Khris could see her fondness for this style.

But here he was getting distracted again.

"Sorry! Yes! You're right! It is a fantasy novel or adventure novel or whatever they actually are called. It has a hero and a bunch of make believe creatures and the muggle's version of magic and folk lore and everything! You know what I mean." He gave a knowing glance at his wizarding friend, slender shoulders popping up and down in a shrug as he chuckled. "Their idea of what magic is. Not magic magic but like... magic. I've not read this one but my mum has and we've actually a copy at home." Silver blue eyes scrunched as Khris' forehead furrowed in thought. "Well, not one that looks like this." He gave a tap to the books cover. "This is the one my mum wanted but we ended up buying a new copy cuz one of these would be much more difficult to find. But anyway!"

Khris giggled and shrugged again, his actions becoming more loose and carefree the longer he spoke with this lad. More cheerful and easy in the way all boys his age should be. "It's called The Book of Three. It's the first book in a series actually. A classic almost my mum used to call it."

They were planning on reading it this coming summer actually. The two of them discussing it a bit and teasing about their indecision. It was either this or The Hobbit and though Khris always looked forward to the chance to read with his mum...

A longing glance was cast towards the book trading hands.

This was a first addition after all. His mum would probably want him to read it, right? Would want him to take this opportunity to make a new friend and discuss the book that she loved so much? A hesitant smile was offered. Yeah... That was just like her actually. Always after him to find a friend, setting her own things aside if there was the possibility he could gain a bit of happiness. Mums were good like that. Or at least, he was lucky enough that his was.

"We can read it together, of course, I'd really like that... but I don't know if I have a good reading voice, to be honest. But we can try! You could teach me!"

A bright smile spread across Khris' face, his head lowering in mild embarrassment as he fiddled with runaway curls.

"I could, I suppose." His words were soft and almost fond as he met Edric's excited look. "There's not really anything to teach. You just kinda..." He gestured between them randomly, thin fingers flapping about. "Read. It just comes naturally I suppose. I dunno. My mum always read to me so I kind of picked it up from her. Oh! You have to do the voices though!" That was a very important part of reading and the words came out sounding as such, a finger outstretched so it was nearly touching Edric's chest. Not strict or harsh but... important. Voices were vital to a good reading. The twisted and crackly voice of an old woman versus the bold and smooth speech of a hero being made. It's what lent the book life as far as Khris was concerned and he felt his new friend should know as much.

Blond curls fell over his eyes as he leaned forward as if imparting a great secret.

"It's very important you do the voices." He whispered, his eyes darting to the book between them. "I can show you how to do them if you want, once we get to know the characters a bit. They all have them, their own voices. We just need to discover them is all."