The Leaning Tower of Books PV Bailey Shea Closed

There was a smile that surfaced on Bailey's face, a smile that seemed to be brighter than she had seen in their short time encounters. Although, she didn't focus on it. She listened as Bailey said he heard of the Brothers Grimm but not about Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault. "You don't know the stories that Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault wrote?!" Astoria said acting shocked and exaggerating but laughing it quietly off "Hans Christian Andersen was popular for his works of The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen and many others. Charles Perrault was famous for his version of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood."

Bailey did mention that he enjoyed the collection called Tales of Beedle the Bard. Astoria nodded, "Oh yes! My Grandmama read those to me when I was little." Astoria said, thinking of her fond memories with her Grandmother, sitting on the floor by the fireplace listening to her reading with much enthusiasm and bringing so much life to the characters. She read the stories often even today but started to really get into the Muggle world fairytales.

Astoria stood from her seat and looked all around the library with Bailey. Even though she enjoyed the library, it was sometimes overwhelming too. Where were they suppose to start. Bailey had suggested that they could ask the Librarian. "Good idea, I will be right back..." Astoria strode off down the main area of the library and found the Librarian sitting in the middle of a large circular table.

"Excuse me, could you point me to the Muggle Studies section?" Astoria asked quietly and politely.
"Go back the way you came and turn left. The section is just an aisle down from your table." The Librarian said in a monotoned voice.
"Thank you!" Astoria said and she left.

Returning to Bailey, she said "The Librarian said the Muggle Studies section is just another aisle down from our table..." Looking down the second aisle, there was a sign that said Muggle Studies. "Ah! Here we are!" she said.

At first, Bailey thought Astoria was mocking him but then realized it was only a bit of teasing. His cheeks bronzed a deep red, more so now than before. He had never been teased before and smiled shyly as she began to tell him more about Hans Christian Andersen and Charles Perrault. Mermaids and Queens sounded right up his alley and his interest peaked. He couldn't wait to get his hands on the books and read the stories himself.

"My family... They're not really pro-muggle" he exclaimed, a little embarrassed by the fact that his family was against people who did absolutely nothing wrong. His heart jumped and a tickle formed in his tummy as Astoria mentioned how her grandmother used to read her his favorite book. He could feel the hair on his arms raise, goosebumps as they chatted so pleasantly and got to know each other.

It was good Astoria had gone to ask the Librarian where to find the muggles section, however, he would be lying if he didn't admit that even thinking of reading them made him nervous. His family would certainly disapprove and he felt as though he was, in a way, betraying them by doing this. They were just books though right? Just words on paper. "I don't know about this Astoria... If my nana were to find out..." he began and looked rather concerned by the whole ordeal.

Astoria cocked her head as she started to head over to the Muggle Studies section. Apparently, Bailey had admitted that his family were not 'pro-muggle'. "'Pro-Muggle?' she asked curiously. "You mean, they don't like muggles?" Astoria was not raised in the slightest sense to believe that Muggles and Wizards were good or bad. She was brought up in a family that believed everyone was equal, no matter what. If they had a heart, a brain and bled red blood, they were equals to them.

Bailey then expressed that there may be some troubles if his Nana found out what they were doing. She was going to punish Bailey by just reading books? "Bailey, come on! We are at Hogwarts after all. There is nothing wrong with going into the Muggle Studies section and reading books about them." She then thought. Since Bailey expressed a bit of his upcoming to her and the concerns he voiced. "How about we do this, let's just take one step at a time. Let's stand in front of the section. That's not so bad right?" Astoria said, in a calm and inviting voice. She had a way of helping people.

It was nerve wrecking for Bailey just to think about doing anything against his family rules. He dawdled and stepped uncomfortably from one foot to the next. The anxiety settling in his stomach, feeling like a rock at the bottom of a shallow pool. Biting his lower lip, embarrassed about confessing something he knew wouldn't make his family sound too good and they would most likely berate him for it.

Astoria was understanding and calming in a way. A sense of comfort washed over him like rain drops on a summer day sky. He stuck close as they moved into the Muggle section aisle and stood in front of the books. His eyes locked to hers as he nodded in response to her question. 'Not so bad?' he thought. No, it wasn't too bad just standing there. His paranoia about his grandmother seeming to know everything. What if she found out? What if she was psychic? What if someone told her?

Taking a deep breath, he let it out and glanced at the books in front of him. There was some very interesting titles. Histories and life biographies in some. Items and knowledge of the stars in others. Then there was Bailey's fravoite fantasy books. Ones about princesses, knights, kingdoms, aliens, far off lands, treasure and adventure. His fingers reaching out slowly and lightly brushing upon the books spines. "Neverland?" he lightly whispered as he pondered what kind of world this book would take him to.