A Long Day's End.

[Deleted]

His bag slung over his shoulder, James left the library in a worse mood than when he had entered it. It had been a simple thing he had wanted to research, vanishing potions, but either all books had been hit with a vanishing potion of their own or the library simply didn't stock any books about the subject.

His homework now, was going to suffer, not that he was too bothered, but it was a slight annoyance that could easily be dealt with with points reduction or Detention. Maybe he simply wasn't looking hard enough?

Either way, he was too tired to look again. He thought longingly of the Hufflepuff Common room, with it's cozy armchairs and warm fire, perhaps, he thought to himself, there would be someone there willing to play a game of chess or simply chat about Quidditch. At the moment anything seemed to be better than hanging around in the library.

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Open for all

[Zoe Willows]

Amy was coming in from a long day of "relaxing", as in a few games of quidditch against her friends to practice for the upcoming match, as well as a dip in the lake (warming bubbling charms, since it was pretty chilly still even with the sunshine out). She thought of heading to the library to grab a book or two for an essay that was due in a few days for Potions, but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to put it off. How to write a complete one page essay on one potion and its uses, she was unsure, but she knew she would get it done eventually, else face Detentions.

The Great Hall called her name, and she was tempted to stop there for a snack first, but then changed her mind last moment to head towards the library first to get the books, then it would be dinner time. As Amy hustled down the corridors, she glanced down to check if she had another book in her bag that she had been meaning to return, and of course at that moment she bumped into another figure exiting the Library.

"Oh, sor- oh hey James!" A grin lit Amys face and she pulled her hand from digging through her bag with the found book in hand, then leaned in to give her friend a nearly tackle hug, managing to avoid hitting him with the book of course. "Didnt see you outside. Should have known you were hiding in the Library." She teased. "How about that Potions essay due Wednesday?" She shuddered for effect. "I need to grab a book or two to write mine...eventually." Amy explained. "Then to the Great Hall for dinner. Are you heading somewhere else at the moment, or want to keep me company while I browse?"

[Deleted]

'I wouldn't bother.' he grunted opening his bag to show a complete lack of books, 'There's nothing there that'll help you. They've been cleaned out.'

He closed his bag with a tired clump and sighed. Leaning against the stone wall.

'Anyway what do you mean 'Should have known you were hiding in the Library?' I'm not Gawain.'

James' cousin was often found in the library, being in Ravenclaw James assumed there was some sort of code that they had to be seen in the library at least once a week, or else they were thrown out. He still managed to be able to cause havoc with James when the time came for it.

He grinned 'You can browse if you like I'll keep you company... just... don't expect to find anything there. I wonder if it's in the restricted section?'

[Zoe Willows]

Amy sighed as well. She had been to late, of course. She should have known better than to wait until the last few days before the assignment was due to get a book or two to write the essay, now she was either out of luck and getting detention, or..."Hey! Speaking of Gawain, maybe he has already written his essay and can lend us a book or two. Im sure he has a few of them from the Library!" It was worth a shot to ask him. She knew better than to think he would let her see his essay, not that she was really into cheating anyways. "And if anything, Jamesy boy, at least Im not the only one getting detention for not doing it!" Amy threw her arm around James shoulder with a grin, teasing him of course. "And I just meant that I checked the common room, the great hall, and even outside and didnt see you anywhere. You missed a nasty game of Quidditch outside." Amy pulled the sleeve of her robe up to reveal a few bruises scattered across her arms. "Battle marks!" She said proudly. They hadnt meant to get rough, but sometimes crashes and such happen, especially since more people have been involved in the game then usual, and it got pretty hectic.

"I dont think we can even check the Restricted section..." Amy mused. "Probably better to ask someone else to lend us a book or something if Gawain cant." Amy sighed as well then slumped against the wall next to James. "I could use some dinner, though, if you want to join me there instead. Otherwise, I will see you in the common room afterwards."

[Deleted]

James shrugged. 'If you want to go and bother him that's up to you. He get's... antsy when he's studying. I try and stay as far away from him as possible.'

He laughed lightly to himself. He wasn't sure whether what he was saying about Gawain was true, in one way it was, he was quite high minded, liked getting his work done on time and with all the bells on. Not that James didn't though. He tended to like a slow pace of work. When he had the books and could take time and mull them over. Not when he was out of time and had no books to read from. That infuriated him.

As Amy showed him her "Battle Marks" he had to suppress a chuckle. About once a month he made sure he got a lot of work done, sent letters off and sorted out those small things that needed to be sorted. That day had been today. He wouldn't have missed Quidditch if he could've helped it. But they had plenty of time to play. The first match of the season wasn't until November, when they were due to play Ravenclaw. Hopefully he'd get enough practice in by then.

'Reckon' if I was there the snitch would have been caught in two minutes and you wouldn't have had to worry about your little battle scars.'

James eyed Amy up and down, then quickly poked his head into the Library. It didn't look too busy and the librarian was too busy moving books on the far side of room to notice. An idea had sprung to mind.

'Why don't we... sneak in?' he asked Amy with a clear wink in his eye.

[Zoe Willows]

Amy shrugged. "Better to deal with a potential cranky Gawain than to serve a detention." She mused. "But then again, maybe he wouldnt mind seeing us in detention since he knows that his house is losing the first match of the year!" Amy was joking, well, slightly. She had no doubt that their Hufflepuff team could pull off the tournament this year, but then again, all team players thought that of their house. "Wonder what new blood we will get this year for try-outs. Shame that Bullock graduated last year, he was an awesome Beater. And Ill miss Jenkin as well, but at least I get to help decide who will take her place as Chaser!" The Captain had final decision, but at least Amy, being a Chaser herself even if only for the year before, got to have an input.

Amy giggled at James remark. "Yea yea the mighty James Esthral, Hufflepuff Seeker Superstar." She flexed her arms at him, then reached out and ruffled his hair. "Not that I mind the bruises anyways." She added.

Then James suggested they sneak into the restriced section, and Amys eyes widened slightly. The idea was tempting, she certainly wasnt one to turn away from a "rule break" or to cause a little mischief. "But Ive heard of students trying that before and its near impossible..." She said. There were some books that screamed, she had heard, and others that "told on you" to the librarian after you were gone even. "How do you reckon we do that?" Although the library looked to be nearly empty at the moment, the corridors clear, and the librarian busy reordering books, Amy had lowered her voice to a whisper.