Closed Serendipity in the Stacks PV Zachary Reid

◦ P O S T ◦ #1◦

Running her fingers across the old spines of the well-loved books, Odette strolls down the aisle with a discerning eye, looking for the right title to add to her ever-growing pile. Shelves tower over her short frame on either side, forcing the blue-eyed witch to lean her head back just to squint at the tomes on the highest ledge.

The library in Hogwarts is drool-worthy to the young Ravenclaw. Odette has never seen such a vast collection of books and grimoires that covers every topic imaginable– the care of pygmy puffs to advanced transfiguration theory. Stepping out of her current aisle, she pauses before the ropes guarding the entrance to the Restricted Section, its forbidden and unknown knowledge practically crying out for Odette to explore its depths. It takes a herculean effort to suppress the urge to investigate just how far the school’s academia goes. She’s always been a sucker for exploring places she shouldn’t, especially if it has items that she wants to study or sell. Placing the Restricted Section in the middle of the library is like waving a bone in front of a dog and expecting it not to bite.

With one last longing gaze at temptation, Odette turns away and ambles down another aisle. The first-year is on a mission, and any other distraction– no matter how enticing– will have to wait another day. Her mother Madeline’s birthday is just over a week away—barely leaving Odette enough time to create the most beautiful bracelet as a gift.

Armed with a divination book on totems and a codex of beginner sigils, the determined first-year only needs to find a tome on beginner-level alchemy before she can begin crafting her present. A subject that she is quickly realizing in her fruitless search– is not very popular.

Her father, Silas, always tells her that his success with complex charms comes from understanding the magical properties of metal. As a skilled charmwright, he applies alchemical theory by carefully matching each metal to the magical energy of the enchantment. He also believes that the symbolic meaning of the metal should align with the charm’s purpose—adding depth and power to every amulet, talisman, or lucky charm he crafts.

Odette may be too inexperienced to enchant her mother’s bracelet with actual spells, but she still believes that choosing metals and symbols with spiritual meaning will make it magical in its own way. If only the witch could find the book she needs! Odette throws her head back in frustration, nearly letting out a groan, before quickly silencing herself when she finally spots a book on alchemy resting on the second-highest shelf.

Mood instantly lightening, the girl giddily moves closer to reach up on her tippy-toes but hardly even comes close to halfway up the shelf. Grumbling over her short legs under her breath, the witch’s piercing blue eyes glance around to see who she can ask for help.

A spattering of students occupy the tables and couches, noses shoved deep into their books and quills moving furiously. Odette has only been a Ravenclaw for a few weeks, but she learned pretty quickly to never ever disturb someone’s studies when they’re that focused. Not fancying a trip to the hospital wing, her eyes scope out the librarian’s desk before sighing disappointedly at how busy he seems– Odette is much too impatient to wait.

She briefly considers asking one of the library’s House Elves to retrieve her book, but growing up with a muggle mother who used chores to teach– Odette likens it more to torture– her children about responsibility, there wasn’t a need to hire one. Leaving the young witch clueless about how to approach a House Elf. They seem quite skittish—like they might vanish if she so much as waves.

Setting her sights back on the book above her, Odette arrives at the only solution available. Pointing her wand at the alchemy tome, she racks her brain for the incantation she heard an older student mutter in passing, “Er- abbio…no…uh…akiko book?”

With bated breath, Odette waits for something to happen. A wiggle of the book on the shelf or a twinkle at the end of her wand– nothing.

“Buggering billywigs!” She hisses softly, placing her pile of books on the ground and stepping onto the lowest shelf before raising herself up. “I’ll just do it the muggle way.”

Climbing the bookshelf isn’t her best idea, but as her fingers skim just a few inches shy of her goal, Odette can’t help thinking it’s brilliant. She strains her arm up just a bit further—victory nearly in her grasp—when her other hand loses its grip. The witch prays to Merlin that if she falls, she’ll fall with the book tight in her grasp.

At least then, the pain and detentions will be worth it.