Theme # 51: Act


"Thees library eez no good," Rhetero Greengrass proclaimed loudly, as she stepped into it. "Back at home, we have a much beeger one -"

"Miss Greengrass." This was the librarian, and she sighed at the thirteen-year old. "We have been through this conversation, before." Were, in fact, every time the girl barged in. "What do you need?"

"Our library," Rhetero said, quite thickly. "Eez much better zan zis -"

"Out."

Rhetero's eyes widened. "How dare zo," she began, very angrily.

"I've had enough of your rich act, Miss Greengrass," the librarian snapped. "Now take what you want, and leave."

Theme # 52: Bore


There are people who find a good read, a big bore; and a good book, a bad companion. The kid who stepped into the library, now, was one such person, and that was exactly why it was a surprise that he was here, when the weather outside was the type of windy he loved to enjoy.

But the terror of Professor Snape was such that even the best of pranksters could forget what a dungbomb is, and that they could come up with one hundred reasons why practical jokes are good.

How could a little kid, then, be an exception?

Theme # 53: Chase


Eek!

The little bug was not in a good mood. It had been on its own happy way, when the cat had pounced. Luck had helped, and the bug had been able to escape. But then the cat had pounced once more, and the chase was on.

The bug scuttled into the library now and, on her way to a bookshelf, Madame Pince screamed. "Out! Out! Out!" she yelped, hitching up her robes, before realizing that the bug would not understand this. She whipped out her wand, and looked all menacing. No bugs in the library, under her reign!

Ever!

Theme # 54: Dare


Draco Malfoy could not believe this. His real strength was seeking, he knew, but that was not the point. The point was that he had thought he would win that chaser-chaser match he had dared her to; and, what rotten luck! She had beaten him.

Scoreboard?

Five to four.

"Get a start on my homework, Malfoy," Ginny said cheekily, as she stepped up to him, and sat down opposite him, rather gracefully. "You're wasting precious time."

He glared at his girlfriend, glared at the library and, fuming inwardly, crossed his arms.

She stuck her tongue out at him.

Theme # 55: Egg on


Two hours of quidditch had exhausted him, but he had homework to complete. He shovelled down his dinner, and made a dash for the library. His legs felt like jelly, when he screeched to a halt in front of it, and there was a bit of egg on his chin.

"Closed," Madame Pince said loftily, as she stepped out of the library at that very moment, and flicked her wand to lock it, for the night. "Come back tomorrow. Sir."

He blinked at her, then placed his head on the wall, and closed his eyes.

Too sleepy to even argue.

Theme # 56: Fight


The new book was not too sure, why it was here. It knew the transfer had a purpose, because its shopkeeper-owner had muttered something like that, when he had packed it up, and sent it off.

It had arrived, by mail, at the Hogwarts library, and a young woman had stuck a little card in the inside of its back flap, and placed it all neatly in a shiny shelf. It sat there now, rather lonely, the words The Fight: What Goblins Want, by Amelia Cernogratz gleaming on its cover.

It could only wonder, at this change of home.

Theme # 57: Gape


It was her first day at Hogwarts. The little firstie had not been too sure what to do with it, when she had woken up, this morning. So she had lain in bed, stared at the ceiling, then hopped out, worn mismatching socks, and skipped out of the dorm.

Then what?

Then she had lost her way, of course.

She had ended up in the library, where she had breakfast on top of a pretty picture book, the characters in which gaped at her. With excellent reason, too.

Then what?

Then Madame Pince had spotted her, of course.

... anddd, "OUT!"

Theme # 58: Hoot


It was six in the morning, and Madame Pince smoothed out the day's newspaper, as she stepped into the library, with a cup of coffee.

Ah! Coffee. What kept her alive, despite the fact that she had to see ickle students, each day. Students who were up to no good, most of the time.

She was about to take another sip, when her ears caught a little hoot. An owl! She laid down her newspaper, and heaved a cold sigh. This meant some sort of work. Maybe a new order.

Could not a librarian start her morning, in peace?

Theme # 59: Ignore


She was seated at a table by a window, and sunlight streamed it, a token of the afternoon, something that caught her fiery red hair, made it sparkle like little flames.

Yes, she looked stunning.

But then again, she always did. Or perhaps it was a case of beauty, in the eye of the beholder?

Could be.

"Will you at least listen to me?" Draco asked, exhausted. He was tired of a lot of things. Of having to fight with her, too.

She ignored him, and continued to copy out out of the book at her side.

"Ginny!"

"Go away."

Theme # 60: Joke


"Mr. and Mr. Weasley!" Madame Pince's face was so red, it looked rather like a big, happy balloon. Except that she was not happy.

LIVID!

"Ma'am?" Fred asked cheerfully, rubbing the spot of black soot on his cheek.

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am?" George joined in. There was no spot of soot on his cheek. -- Because his whole face was covered in it.

"Do you two think," Madame Pince's eyes narrowed dangerously. "That you can get away with this?"

"It was just a joke!" Fred said, rolling his eyes.

Madame Pince stormed off, to get the Headmaster.

Theme # 61: Kiss


It was Valentine's Day, and no surprise that candy-and-flowers had taken the castle by storm. There were those who were exasperated by this, and Professor McGonagall was one of them.

Which was exactly why she had a date, today.

It was to keep her mind off what students could be up to. Such as - oh, Merlin! - kissing. Because she remembered how worked up she had gotten, last year. Enough to dock two hundred points from each house.

She stepped into the library, and placed a big book on Transfiguration on a table.

Yes.

This was her date.

Theme # 62: Lope


Ughh.

Cho Chang had been in such a pretty mood, this morning. She had, in fact, been pretty sure that she had woken up on the right side of the bed, today. But things were to change.

Breakfast was good enough, even with the looming tension and excitement of the Quidditch match scheduled for the evening. Classes had gone pretty well, too. But then the match had kicked in, and she had somehow managed to let the snitch escape her fingers.

....

Her team had lost.


She muttered darkly under her breath now, sort of loping into the library. Some day!

Theme # 63: Mooch


The midget wore big glasses, and barely came to the librarian's waist, as she stepped up to her desk, arms full of books.

"How may I help you?" The rather surprised librarian asked, putting on a politer intonation than usual, because the little girl looked like a first year. A very tiny first year, to be more precise.

"My friend CANDYY called me a USELESS MOOCHERRR!" The midget announced. "I'mma STUDYY now, yep! That'll prove I'm no USELESS thing, that will."

"Uhhh ... certainly, miss."

Even Madame Pince could not find it in her, to scold her.

Theme # 64: Nap


Hermione Granger loved the library -- and there were certainly some reasons behind this fondness, that you would be surprised to know.

Of course, all the usual reasons were there. Such as how the place was an awesome reference point, one that contained a collection of the most trustworthy books on the subjects she loved best. On subjects she loved less, too.

But there was also one other, more surprising reason that she loved the library. What, you ask?

Because she could enjoy a peaceful nap in some darkish corner of the place, and everyone would think she was busy working!

Theme # 65: Ooze


The new librarian might be young, the cheerful type always up for a laugh, but that did not mean she could not get angry.

-- and it looked like she was ready to give ample proof of that last statement, right now.

Her eyed had widened in surprise, when a boy known to be a troublemaker had carried a big, wooden box into the library. But they narrowed now. Because the boy had just dropped the box on the floor, and it had exploded like a potion-gone-wrong, thick green goop oozing out of it.

"You."

Her voice was deadly.

Theme # 66: Pace


Such difficult times, these.

Dumbledore was gone and, though she may not have always shown it, Madame Pince had been fond of the old Headmaster.

That Umbridge woman had taken over the castle now, and she stuttered round the place like she was some sort of Queen. That upset Madame Pince more than words can tell, because the librarian was not used to anyone - anyone - trying to wrestle the right to the Hogwarts library, from her.

"Stupid woman," she muttered, pacing up and down the place, her mind on Umbridge. "How I wish I could -- could --"

Words failed her anger.

Theme # 67: Quell


Oh my GOSH!

It was her second day at Hogwarts, and this was part of her tour of the castle. The first year had bright, blue eyes, and an unusually curious mind -- and it was, therefore, no surprise that she literally squealed out loud when she spotted the Hogwarts library.

So many brilliant books! How she wished she could pick up each, run her hands over it, drink up the contents. But you know what? Even that wouldn't quell her thirst for knowledge.

Which was, her mother would tell you with a rather knowing smile, a very good thing.

Theme # 68: Roar


RAWRRRR.

Madame Pince's eyes widened, for that roar was more realistic than she could tell in words. She quickly put down the newspaper she had been leafing through, to look to her right, from where the sudden, very loud noise had come.

She nearly fell out of her seat, when she saw that it was actually a duck. A duck with fluffy, yellow feathers, and a really green beak. A duck that looked back at her through big eyes, then opened its beak and said,

"RAWRRRR."

"What in the name of Merlin?!" The librarian exclaimed.

"RAWRRR," came the response.

Theme # 69: Slap


Quidditch. Food. Food. Quidditch. Was that all boys cared about? Hermione Granger was in a rage, as she stormed into the library, her brown hair actually crackling with the force of her anger.

She pulled up a chair rather roughly, and then slapped her books, on to the table. She would feel bad about how she had treated those, later on; but, for now, she was too furious to really care about her behaviour.

Too furious because Ronald Weasley was the world's most insensitive prat, and Cormac McLaggen was completely unbearable as a potential will-make-Ron-jealous boyfriend.

Theme # 70: Team


Which of his cousins had said that OWL year was not that tough? The boy had forgotten, but he wished he had not, so that he could send that cousin a howler.

Because there could be nothing - nothing! - worse than this much homework, and this much stress.

Then there was Quidditch. Something he loved, but something that now took away from the time he could give to his studies. He half-wished he had not made the team.

He sighed, and opened up a new book. Around him, the library was quiet, and yet he did not feel at peace.

Theme # 71: Untie


Pansy Parkinson stuffed chocolate in her mouth, as she stepped into the library. Easter was here, and that cute boy she had met last summer, had sent her a present.

She did not want to open it in front of everyone, though. Because she knew people would be inquisitive and -- and bottom line?

She had decided the library would be the best place, to open such a present.

She found herself a seat in a far-off corner, and very happily began to untie the wrapping. Which was when there was a loud exclamation,

"Parkinson's kissing a gift-box!"

Theme # 72: Vex


What was that noise?!

Caretaker Filch sat up, at once. He knew the castle well; and that was exactly why he was well-versed in its little sounds, the crunch that was the wind, the rustle that was the leaves -- and the sneaky footsteps that was a student out of bed.

It vexed him to know that he could not get up fast enough to catch the mischief-maker, right away. But no worries! The caretaker quickly grabbed a lit lantern, and was soon headed towards the library.

He was sure that was where those feet had sped off to.

Theme # 73: Warn


"Mr. Potter, Mr. Black -"

The Gryffindor Head of House wore a scowl as she surveyed the two over the top of her spectacles, causing both to look away.

"I am highly disappointed in the two of you. This is your last warning -"

BANG!

The door flew open, and the fat librarian swept in. "Ma'am, Deputy Head, ma'am! Somebody hid a box of dungbombs under my desk! It blew up, and -"

The Head of House raised a hand for silence, then raised a brow at James and Sirius.

"Do we have a new, last warning, then?" James asked cheerfully.

Theme # 74: X-tinguish


Such lovely weather, this eve.

Madame Pince looked up from her desk, and gave one of her rare smiles. "How lovely," she said, as she signed at the bottom of some sort of form.

Ahh, but it was time to pack up, now.

"Clear out, clear out," the librarian muttered, as she waved a careless hand at the few students who were still in the library, and they packed up their things and scurried off before they could set her off.

Then she extinguished the lamps, and returned to her desk, listening to the sound of rain in peaceful darkness.

Theme # 75: Yodel


It had been a peaceful afternoon.

Why do I say 'had,' you ask? Because it had been, until the new librarian had stepped into the library, pushed her glasses up her forehead, clapped twice to get everyone's attention -- and then opened her mouth.

Opened her mouth to let out a sound that made everyone in the vicinity drop their books in shock, and clap their hands over their ears.

"What in the name of Merlin is that?!" a fourth year Hufflepuff asked, eyes wide.

"That," the librarian replied, pausing whatever she was doing for a moment. "Is how I yodel."