FIC: Visiting the Library (PG)
Title: Visiting the Library
Type: Fic
Age-Range Category: Two
Characters: Severus Snape, Lily Evans
Author: goddess47
Rating: PG
Click to View [Warning(s)]Older Slytherin student being nasty to Severus; canon unpleasant behavior between James Potter and Severus.
Summary: They finally had time to visit the Hogwarts Library!
Severus all but ran to breakfast. It was finally Saturday! He and Lily could finally explore the Library!
They had arrived at Hogwarts on Wednesday but they had little time outside of class together and were given no time to explore on their own. It was as if the Prefects were worried they would get lost on their first days in the school. The good thing was that the Slytherins and Gryffindors had Potions together on Friday afternoons, so while Lily and Severus somehow were not allowed to work together, they were across the aisle and could talk.
Severus was early enough that breakfast hadn't been served yet. He took a piece of fruit from the bowl on the table and hungrily ate the apple. While he was eating, breakfast started to appear.
"Firstie is eager," an older Slytherin that Severus had not been introduced to teased.
Severus shrugged. He knew enough from his Mam to be polite to the older students and, if needed, to simply ignore any teasing. But to report anything cruel to his Head of House.
He had kept his head down for the four days he had been here. He wanted to learn magic and... everything. He wasn't going to risk being dismissed for anything.
"Going to the Library," Severus replied blandly. Which was the truth.
"Another swot," the older student rolled his eyes. "Guess we need at least a couple of those to keep up the House points in classes."
"Leave the kid alone," an older girl said. "You were a firstie once yourself. And you would benefit from spending some time in the Library, Denny!"
"But it's too easy!" the boy, Denny evidently, protested.
"And I'm telling you to stop," she said firmly.
"I haven't even begun!"
"I'll tell Slughorn," she threatened.
"Oh, all right. Spoil all my fun!" Denny followed the girl to the other end of the long table.
Severus made a note to find out their names. Mostly so he could thank the girl for her intervention. They hadn't been introduced to all of the older students. He should suggest that to the Prefect.
The hot breakfast was always welcome. It was more food than his Mam served and Severus knew enough to eat reasonable portions and not just stuff himself. But it didn't stop him from taking a second glass of pumpkin juice.
He looked around, grateful to see Lily eating at the Gryffindor table. She smiled at him and then turned back to the girl sitting next to her.
Severus took another piece of toast, to keep busy while Lily was still eating. He wasn't going to draw attention to himself by not eating while he sat at the table.
Lily finally finished eating. Severus hastily drank the last of the pumpkin juice and got up.
Severus hung back against the wall as Potter and his friends sat down at the table. Potter had already decided that Severus was an 'enemy' and even more so since Severus had been sorted to Slytherin. His Mam had warned him about House rivalries but to be declared an enemy while still on the train to Hogwarts was ridiculous.
Lily came up and bounced on her toes. "Ready?" she asked. Like Severus, she had not put on robes although Severus' supply of Muggle clothes was limited. He didn't think of that, there was exploring to do!
Severus nodded. "Let's go," he said.
"Hey, Evans," Potter called. "Where you going with him?"
"None of your business, James Potter!" Lily retorted. She turned to Severus and took his hand. "Let's get out of here!"
They hurried out of the Great Hall and stood still for a moment to get their bearings.
"This way!" Lily pointed.
"Lead on!" Severus agreed.
They had a few false starts before they made it to the Library.
"There should be a map!" Lily complained. "How does anyone find anything in this maze?"
Huh. Maybe you could get lost in the school.
"We should get used to it," Severus replied. "Especially now that we know where it is."
"True," Lily agreed.
They stepped into the Library and Severus had to stop and just look.
This wasn't like any Library he had ever seen before. It went up and up, likely to the top of the castle. There were tables and chairs for students to use on one side of the room and then there were the bookshelves. From the door, Severus couldn't begin to count the rows of shelves and he could see that some of them extended further than he could see. There were books flying everywhere overhead.
"It has to be Wizarding space," Lily breathed.
"Well, it is a magic school," Severus replied. But he grinned.
"Let's go inside!" Lily grabbed Severus' hand and dragged him inside.
"How do you find anything?" Severus asked. There didn't seem to be any signage or anything that looked like a card catalog.
"I don't know," Lily replied with a frown.
Severus learned quickly not to run his hands along the spines of the books on the shelves when he was nipped by one of the books.
"Ow!" Severus said.
"What?"
"It bit me!" Severus held out the side of his hand with a red mark on it.
"That's... not right?" But it was more of a question than anything.
"I'm not bleeding and it surprised me more than anything," Severus admitted, sucking on the hurt for a moment. "I'm okay."
"Good to know," Lily said.
They wandered to a section that had a rope across the aisle. A sign hung from the rope.
Restricted
"What makes it Restricted?" Lily asked.
"I'm not going to risk it," Severus said, taking half a step away from the aisle.
"It's probably like the adult section in a Muggle library," Lily guessed. "You have to be older or have permission."
"Sounds about right," Severus agreed.
They eventually found an office with a woman behind an overflowing desk. The walls were lined with shelves that had books crammed into every possible space.
Lily tapped on the door frame. "Excuse me. Are you the Librarian?"
The woman looked up and squinted through thick glasses at them. "I am." She squinted again then took off the glasses. "Sorry, reading some fine print. How may I help you?"
"We're new students and were wondering how to find anything in the library," Lily explained.
"Just ask it," the woman said.
"I'm sorry, but... how?" Lily asked.
The woman sighed. "Muggleborn?"
"Yes," Lily admitted.
She got up from the desk and stood in the open space. "It's a matter of intent more than anything. If you have a general need, hold your wand like this." She held her wand pointing away from her. "Say what you are looking for."
"Like this?" Lily held her want out.
"Good," the Librarian nodded. "Now ask for something general."
Lily thought for a moment and said firmly, "Potions."
"That may be a bit too general but you should be able to follow your wand to the area of the library that has books about potions."
"Finite." Lily said firmly.
"Good. Now ask for something more specific," the Librarian directed.
"Making Bruise Balm," Lily said.
"Much better," the woman nodded. "Anything else?"
"There was a sign on an area that is Restricted?" Severus asked.
"Wards will keep you out until you are sixteen or you have a note from a professor to give you access," she said. "That almost never happens until you are at least fourth year students."
"Anything else we should know?" Severus asked.
"No food or drink in the Libary," she said immediately. "Do not write in any book for any reason. Leave books you are finished with on the carts, they will re-shelve themselves."
"Do many of the books bite?" Severus asked.
"They do," she nodded.
"Oh." Severus wasn't sure what to say to that.
"Thank you for your time," Lily said politely. "We appreciate your help."
"You are welcome," she said, turning to go back into the office without a further glance.
"What do you want to find?" Lily asked, holding her wand up.
"How about something about Transfiguration?" Severus suggested. "We already have homework, let's get it done."
Lily's eyes lit up. "Good idea." She turned and held out her wand. "Introduction to Transfiguration!"
Severus followed as she plunged down an aisle between towering shelves of books.