By the Book
Alaric was getting tired of his mother telling him he couldn't charge any more books to her account, and that he would have to search the library or ask someone to borrow them if he wanted to read anymore "frivolous" texts. Honestly! Just because it wasn't in the curriculum didn't mean it wasn't important for his education. He had rolled his eyes at the letter, but when his mother's owl, Ephedra, gave him a sharp glare, he quickly put quill to parchment and wrote her back saying that he understood.Date: Saturday, start of term
Time: Mid-afternoon
Location: Hogwarts Library
Reducio@Victoria Blythe
So, here he was, walking back into the library yet again, hoping that the books he needed wouldn't be already checked out. Sure, it was just the beginning of the year, and sure many students hadn't even been to the library yet, but he'd seen the older Ravenclaws coming back to the common room with stacks piled high since the first night they'd arrived. He knew how they were about hoarding books. He couldn't risk losing the perfect text to anyone else.
Alaric let the door fall closed gently behind him. It made a subtle creak before closing and instantly muffling the sound from outside. He was greeted by the hush of parchment and dust, warm light from the windows, and the faint smell of ink. His satchel was already overloaded and tugging his robes awkwardly to one side, but he ignored that and began a shuffling speed walk to the section on wandwork. He knew exactly the book he wanted, and he'd run there if the librarian would let up on the rules a little, but since the rules said running was too loud, walking quickly would have to do.
Rounding the corner, Alaric slowed his speed, catching his breath a little and adjusting his satchel. He smoothed down his robes and stepped into the aisle, searching desperately for Precision and Practice: An Intermediate Guide to Wand Technique, by Hector Blagrove. It took a moment, but his eyes lit upon the book, finally, and he reached up to grab it.
Words: 342
“I’d want to know if I were wrong - so why shouldn’t they?”
By the Book
interaction: @Alaric Smith
Victoria was wandering through the library. The soft afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm glow that stung slightly against her face.
Her second year had only just begun, and Victoria had already decided to dedicate it to improving her wandwork and spells. She dreamed of becoming a skilled duellist, and she believed that to succeed, she needed to start working from day one.
She had a pretty good idea of where the book she needed would be—after all, she'd spent most of her first year in the library. As she made her way toward the right section, she noticed a student she hadn’t seen before reaching up toward one of the higher shelves.
The boy had dark, curly hair that fell into his face, and his brown eyes lit up when he spotted the book. He was probably a first year. Victoria had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from smiling—he looked absolutely adorable struggling with the height.
Normally, Victoria would help.
But as she got closer, she realized the book the boy was trying to reach was the very same one she’d come for. She hesitated for a second—then used her height advantage to effortlessly pluck it from the shelf.
He looked so determined—stretching on his toes like that. Victoria’s fingers twitched slightly. She could just hand the book to him. But then again… it was the exact book she needed, and she had took it first, technically. Besides, she wasn’t in the habit of giving up things easily.
She turned to the boy, her cold blue eyes unreadable.
"Sorry," she said, her tone neutral, emotionless. "I’ll give it back when I’m done."