A new friend?

Joseph whistled, his fingers skating over the bumpy book spines as though on a mini roller-coaster ride. The library. One of his favourite places in Hogwarts, cluttered to the brim with books, more books and even more books. Absolutely overwhelming - but in a somehow comforting way. He liked knowing there was much more out there than his sand-grain brain could hold. 

Yeah, what a nerdy thing to say. Toss him a pair of glasses and a quill and he’d probably pass off as a Ravenclaw. And hey, twenty extra brain cells wouldn’t hurt either.

He shuffled forward, fingers wrapped around the leather-bound book on Mooncalves he’d slid off the shelves moments ago. His pet rock, Astra rested in his lime-green slingbag - a comfy makeshift home he’d specially stitched for her. It hurt Joseph to deprive Astra of her usual morning exercise, but some risks he simply couldn’t take. Astra’s noisy clattering would cause too much of a ruckus in the library, earning them a whole month’s ban.

Joseph glanced down at Astra with a sheepish grin. He didn’t get how anyone could blame an innocent little rock. Though he wasn’t planning on taking his chances with librarians. They could be unbelievably cranky at times. Especially if their pet kitten had just knocked over their morning coffee, staining their journal in what looks like… something unholy. Oh, you never know.

His library morning routine had never changed: creep in, stalk around scanning for books, then settle by his favourite table to devour his prey. Though it’d be different today. Step two wasn’t necessary when he still had juicy leftovers from yesterday.

The table was tucked away in a sunlit corner, as far from the Restricted Section as possible. A safety precaution. Being the rash, reckless boy he was, getting anywhere near the area guarded by the silver plaque would result in guaranteed disaster. After all, curiosity killed the cat. He wasn’t keen on testing if it could kill a human and a rock too.

Joseph glanced up, beaming with delight. Then he noticed her. His lips creased into a frown.

His favourite table was occupied.

It was a blonde girl, her head rested on the table’s surface in a quiet morning snooze. Like one of those sleepy pet cats napping in the middle of nowhere in the common room: tripping hazards for clumsy boys like Joseph. Which may or may not lead to a well-deserved scratch.

Sighing, Joseph sank into the seat opposite the girl, hoping she wouldn’t mind. He’d be so quiet she wouldn’t notice. Stealth mode on, he thought, surreptitiously sneaking behind the cover of his open book like a silent ninja.

Today wasn’t a day for drama.

His thoughts trailed off as he lost himself in the large eyes of the mooncalf peering back at him.

@Rea Kont