Browsing

Alex ran het fingers along the spines of the brown leather covered books, her eyes skimming over the titles. Nope, it wasn't there. Shr wasn't sure of what she was looking for exactly. She just wanted something to read to occupy her time. It was eerily quiet in this section of library; and she felt, and tried to resist, the urge to look towards the Restricted section. She had heard many rumours about the boks there and about what happened among the shelves, but she doubted most of them - or any of them, for that matter - were true. But what she had heard, and didn't believe, she reminded herself, was still enough to make her shiver.

Emma entered the library rather slyly, keeping an eye out for the librarian that could be lurking in the shadows. The woman never really took a liking to Emma, considering how uncontrollably loud Emma was, even in the library. Of course, she was quiet now, having learned her lesson, but not to be respectful, rather, to avoid the old witch's evil and watchful eyes. The scary librarian just gave her the worst fit of chills.

But she didn't linger on the thought for long, as she was here on a mission- she was to find that magic book so that she may learn the secrets of the world! Well, really, she was looking for a book on the history of the goblin wars, and really, she would only learn what she needed for an essay, but it just wasn't any fun thinking like that, now was it? She creeped forward, into the first aisle of books, and began examining the book titles, slinking around as though the mission would be lost if anyone happened to discover her. Particularly, if the librarian found her. Emma couldn't help but snicker.

Alex heard a snicker from somewhere nearby. With her overactive imagination, Alexandra's ears heard the snicker happen a million times, almost as if the snickers were coming from every book in the library. And there were a lot of books. Alex finally gave into the urge to look at the restricted section, but it was out of fear that she did this, instead of the normal curiosity tinged with fear. It was just... pure fear. She backed away, dropping the pile of books that she had just picked up.

Upon hearing books fall, Emma froze, before tip-toeing down the aisle to peek around the corner. She was expecting to see the old lady, but instead, a young Ravenclaw who'd dropped her books. She seemed totally shaken by something, which caused Emma to frown.

"You alright?" Emma called to her, but took a quick moment to look around for the evil witch she was hiding from. She approached the girl, head tilted to the side as she followed the girl's gaze, and then smiled, "You know the rumors about a troll guarding the Restricted Section aren't true. If it was, you'd hear him stomping around in there!"

Alex blushed. "I know that", she murmured. She looked down, and the heat across her cheeks seemed to do the exact opposite - she could feel her whole face turning red as the blush crept upwards. She hated being wrong, or looking silly. Her two older sisters always made her feel the same way this girl was making her feel now, although Alex knew that the girl - an older Gryffindor girl - didn't mean to make her feel uncomfortable. Or at least, she hoped the girl didn't mean to.

"It was you laughing, right?" Alex asked, her fear getting the better of her. She was trying to look cool and calm, although she knew it wasn't looking - she was aware of her hands becoming clammy and of the blush that was spreading up even to her ears.

"um, yes... everything is fine," Alex grumbled. Great... more people witnessing this. Alex wad beginning to think that the universe, in some obsene way, had it in for her. She looked at the new arrival. A pretty blonde in her own house. Alex paused.. she was someone important, but who? She wasn't sure. "I jusy dropped my books, " she explained.

"Thanks," Alex smiled at the girl. "Um." She looked at the Gryffindor girl. "I was just startled. I heard someone laugh, and I guess I just got a bit spooked." She could hear how stupid she sounded and she didn't like it. "I wasn't...scared..just, um, startled."

Alex knew she was starting to ramble on so she clamped her lips shut. She didn't doubt that if she continued talking, she would make an even bigger fool of herself than she had done already. She made a show of swiping away at imaginary dust on her always immaculate clothes. Her room might have been a mess, but she made sure to always present herself as best as she could. When no one said anything, she cleared her throat. "Alex," she said. "I'm Alexandra Brazell."

Alex beamed. This girl seemed nice, and was nothing like her own older sisters, who always seemed to look down at her. Alex wondered if the girl might have known them, but she doubted it. Her sisters hadn't attended Hogwarts - her family had lived in France before she was born - and they were probably at least four or five years older than Cassi.

"I know there isn't anything to be afraid of, I..." she paused. How to go on without making herself sound like an idiot? "Um," she hesitated. "I know they're not true, but it doesn't stop you from being scared, I guess. My older sisters told me about the Restricted Section, though they're probably wrong because they've never been here because they grew up in France so they've never actually attended Hogwarts! I -" she stopped for air, and then realized she had, once again, been rambling.

"I know there's nothing to fear," she sighed. She should've kept her mouth shut.

Emma looked between the two, the Ravenclaw girl that she apparently startled, and the other Ravenclaw that Emma knew to be Head girl. It didn't scare her though, she'd done nothing wrong after all. She did feel a little bad though, for the younger Ravenclaw- Alex, she said her name was?

"Sorry about that." Emma grinned, "I didn't mean any harm."

As she mentioned the rumors about the Restricted Section, Emma looked that way. She'd never been curious about it before, but after seeing Alex and how she reacted from a silly snicker, Emma couldn't help but feel the only way to conquer that fear was to face it, buuuuuuut with the Head girl standing right in front of them, that obviously wasn't an option. So, Emma looked up at her elder and smiled.

(Sorry, my internet went out last night unexpectedly O.o)

Alex shrugged. "It's fine...I was just being silly." She noticed the Gryffindor girl looking back at the restricted section behind her, and took a step towards the other two girls - she didn't want to be nearest to it... not that she feared anything, but.. just in case. She watched as the Gryffindor looked up at Cassi, and she slowly started to calm down - obviously Cassi was someone who could be trusted.

Alex smiled. "I'm fine, I have all the books I need here," she said, absent mindedly patting one of the books. "I was just doing some research for the Care of Magical Creatures class tomorrow. I'm really excited about it!" She blushed. There were some people who thought of her as a swot, and maybe she was, but she felt genuinely interested, and her wish to read more about the animals the professor had shown her earlier was now less to do with getting ahead of the class then her just wanting to know more about them.

Emma gave a nod to Cassandra, and shrugged, "I'm alright too. I can find the book I need, no sweat!" She smiled at them both, and headed back down the row of books where she knew she'd find what she was looking for. Now she just had to pick which one she'd use for her essay.