Keeps You on Your Toes Solo

Illowy might've winces at the terrible sound of her joints popping from disuse as she leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms up over her head. She wasn't even completely sure how long she'd been sitting before she decided to finally tear herself away from the ridiculously difficult, dry tome she'd been trying to understand. Honestly, it was so dull it made History of Magic class seem thrilling.

Looking towards the window, she could see the sun starting to disappear behind the ancient skyline of the city in the distance. Soon she'd be reduced to candlelight. Honestly, candlelight. Not that she wasn't somewhat use to it, but it was a wonderful bit of modern magic to just be able to flip a switch and have the electric light come on. Though in this last year of traveling, if she'd learned anything it was that these more eccentric old witches and wizards (much like her most gracious host) refused to conform to any level of modernity of they could help it. Which is why she was in what she was fairly certain to be a tutor era home, that hadn't seen a broom or scrub rush since Queen Elizabeth I's reign. Much less a lamp. Don't even get her started on the bathroom situation.

Whenever she got home, she was going to take the longest, hottest shower of her life and blast her music while she did it.

But, when one has an intellectual itch to scratch, one was required to make some sacrifices.

While on a stop over in Glasgow, she'd caught wind of some estate sale happening at the home of one of the aforementioned eccentrics. Illowy had never been to an estate sale, but with time to kill and plenty of curiosity to drive her, it seemed like a fun way to spend a morning. However, it was nothing like she was expecting. Perhaps some chincy old knick knacks or ugly old furniture and some dusty books might've made sense; but instead she was allowed into a house packed full of strange magical artifacts from corners of the world she wasn't even sure existed anymore. And most of them, even the hosts of this sale couldn't even name what they were or where they might've come from or done. It was a treasure trove of magical wonder.

And she was being allowed to just wander about it. Touch whatever she wanted, pick it up and examine it... not that she was entirely sure what she was looking at most of the time. It seemed no one around them was quite sure what they were looking at, if she were being honest. But, on the plus side, since no one really knew what they were dealing with, no one knew how to price anything; so it was all dirt cheap. Not that many of the things were moving though. Everyone seemed quite... apprehensive. That was fair. But surely if there were any dark or dangerous artifacts, they would have contacted the Ministry of Magic about it. That would be the responsible thing to do.

Thus, Illowy plotted herself a budget and allowed herself to go to town. After all, she had plenty of time on her hands now to research on it all.

She took for herself a stack of books spanning multiple topics from ancient figures she'd never heard of, to handwritten accounts about various magical creatures, potion books and books in languages she didn't recognize. She selected a small jewelry box with a strange collection of contents that weren't limited to just jewelry. Then a short stage of magical moving paintings (just because they sort of reminded her of her school days). There was an odd golden sphere with odd etchings on its own little stand paired with an ancient looking, but blank, leather bound book, and another assortment of strange little bits and bobs that prickled her fancy. By the end of her selection, she spend a small handful of galleons and most of the day before she walked away with all of her treasures.

At the time she'd thought it a good thing she hadn't done much in the way of shopping and decorating her little flat, so she'd have plenty of places to put things.

While she had been there, she had managed to be chatted up by a handful of other folks coming and going curiously. One such woman she'd talked to had told her about how her grandfather was sorry to have missed the sale, and had sent her in his stead. They'd talked for a short while about all the oddities in the house and the woman explained that the late owner had been a college of her grandfather's when they were young. Somewhere along the way, the woman had offered up her grandfather's contact information so that if she had any questions about her selections or had needed specific research material, that he might be happy to oblige her.

'Happy to oblige' was an understatement. Mr. Calmwood, something of a misnomer, was positively ecstatic to hear from a young person taking interest in such old, dusty trinkets. They exchanged several letters over the following weeks before Illowy decided it would be a fine adventure to visit for a long weekend and bring along some of her treasures for the old man to look at and for her to learn a bit about them. Truely, the old man's collection was even wilder than that at the estate sale. It was a wonder how he'd managed to fit all of it into the house itself; start to tip just slightly into the direction of hoarding. Regardless, it was hard to judge him when he was so terribly enthusiastic.

Most of the first day, Illowy wasn't even able to get any of her own research or questions in. He was too excited over dragging her around from room to room and giving her a thorough lecture on the use and history of every item she looked at for longer than 15 seconds. It was enlightening if not a bit exhausting; even for a nerd like herself. But how could she begrudge him a listening ear. The way he went on, it seemed like a rare treat to get to share his collection and knowledge. It was sort of cute.

Who knows, perhaps one day it'll be she whose the crazy, excitable old witch ready to talk everyone's ear off about her odd little trinkets and fun facts that span over a millenia.

At the very least, he wasn't so engrossed in his enthusiasm that he skimped on being a proper host, pausing his historical tour for lunch and later tea and supper.

That brought her to now. It had taken a bit of redirection and patience, but eventually he had left her alone in his study to peruse his material at her leisure. At the moment, her focus of study was the strange golden and etched bauble and its book. For most of her studying, she'd been fiddling with it in her hand and set it down in the crevasse of her book while she stretched. Though when she looked back from the window to her material, there caught red handed, was the old man's cheeky little niffler, Winnie, inching towards the bauble.

It looked at her with its wide, beady eyes and she couldn't help herself but stare at it with the same expression; both frozen in their places, Winnie still poised, wily little hands at the ready to snatch up his prize, "Winnie," she spoke low and warningly, "Don't. You. Dare."

The fuzzy white and brown creature blinked slowly, looking like a deer in headlights.

"I mean it, Winnie."

His fingers twitched. Like he was contemplating if it would be worth the risk.

"Don't. Do-" he made the grab, quick as a snitch, stuffed it away in his pouch and was off before Illowy could grab either him or the little orb, "Winnie!" she shouted, scrambling from her place to give chance, "You awful little thief! Get back here!"

It honestly was a crime from nature that the little bastard was so quick, rushing this way and that way trying to evade capture as she chased him around the house. Honestly, it was much easier going for the nimble, lithe little niffler compared to a fully grown person to maneuver around that house.

She'd nearly caught the horrid little thing before he slithered is way into a hole in the wall; presumably where he kept the lot of his own little hoard. Not totally unlike his owner, "Mr. Calmwood!" she called, not sounding totally unlike a petulant child, "Mr. Calmwood, he stole it! He took the gold ball."

Perhaps in the calmest manner she'd seen yet from the old man, he rounded in from the hall, "If he's made it into the wall, I'm afraid it'll have to stay there until he's otherwise occupied." he chuckled, "I'm afraid he has the most appalling manners. No matter, Miss Magnard, we will just have to accept it as a sign for a study break. I have supper just now ready, then we'll make an attempt to retrieve your treasure." the old man assured.

Defeated, for the moment at least, Illowy ran a hand through her hair and stood, dusting herself off from the floor and following the old man to the kitchen. Mr. Calmwood already had a pair of little shepherd's pie and pumpkin juice laid out and waiting. Honestly, Illowy hadn't even realized how hungry she was until the smell of food hit her.

"So, what have you discovered about your treasures so far, Miss Magnard?" he inquired, tucking into his food. This might've been the first time he'd passed the talking stick to her with the intention of allowing her to speak for longer then a single sentence.

"Well, there isn't too much to go off of. There's no markings at all in the book. The etchings on the orb look like they're Celtic or maybe Albion, I can tell that much, but I haven't been able to pin it down exactly. And they don't resemble any runes we studied when I was in school." she explained, "The orb appears to be a singular solid piece. When I shake it, it doesn't sound like there's anything inside, but I could be wrong. Its hard to tell if its totally solid or just very thick with a very small, hollow center."

As she went on explaining, the old man nodded along, pecking at his meal and occasionally tapping his fingers on the table in thought, as if trying to remember something long forgotten, "Mr. Cron," that had been the name of Mr. Calmwood's late college, "Had quite an interest in ancient Albion artifacts. It might be worth the trip to see if there might be any of his material still either at Oxford or Cardiff." he mused thoughtfully, "After our rescue mission, I'll see if I can dig up some of our mutual contacts down there. Then we can see if they have some leads for you."

There was a flutter of excitement in her chest. Sure, it seemed like a heck of a wild goose chase for something that was likely of no real importance; but the challenge of it all was quite thrilling, "Thank you, Mr. Calmwood." she grinned.

Once supper had been had. The real work began as Mr. Calmwood carefully lured out his beloved, horrible little pet with the promise of some shiny trifle Illowy didn't care enough to pay attention to. Illowy poised herself to be ready to hurry for the hidy-hole the moment Mr. Calmwood had Winnie in hand. Which thankfully, worked like a charm.

With Winnie secured, Illowy rushed for the hole. Down on her belly to peer inside, she finally caught a glimpse of what as her's amongst an admittedly impressive pile of other shinies. Not that that was any of her business. The witch gave a sharp snap of her fingers, "Accio, golden ball!" she commanded, to which the bauble obayed swifty, coming to her hand, "I've got it, Mr. Calmwood!" the young women grinned.

"Wonderful teamwork, Miss Magnard!" he called back over the lementing whines of Winnie.

Word Count: 2056