Alexa had struggled with the dilemma for a whole minute or two. On the one hand, she DID have permission, it was in her pocket along with a list of subjects for which she'd want to get some extra reading done but on the other hand, she might have been meant to find Mr. Kitridge and WAIT for him to take an eternity to read the Professor's writing? Naturally you could see how the first option won out so the Gryffindor let herself into the Restricted Section. If Mr. Kitridge never found her, she'd save the permission slip for another day and come back.

"Stay close to me and DON'T touch anything." She whispered loudly to the kneazle she'd doubled back to her Common Room for. He'd been interested in this place too from what she could tell of the limited times he followed her into the library. Seemed only fair.

As she walked she felt his fur brush against her leg, he was sticking close like she asked him to. With one less problem to worry about she began browsing the shelves. Once or twice a book snarled at her but they weren't the kind she was looking for so she kept going, further and further in the dull light--you think this place would be as lit as the main library. These books got lonely in the dark too you know.

Or not. These were dark and dangerous. They probably loved it. Feeling a bit more daring, she ran a finger along the books, reading what she could of their titles as she went on. Eventually, she'd need the ladder to get to the higher shelves because no, you didn't levitate dangerous books towards yourself until you knew what they contained and more importantly what they could DO.

Leo sat in chair at the front desk counter with view out over the library and its visitors that came and went as he struggled with the handling of some new creature books. One of the books about snakes was hissing and wriggling around in his grasp. Who knew it’d be so difficult to put on the right protective charms against fire, pranks, damage and water? Feeling the sweat drops start to form on his forehead Leo saw no other choice but to freeze the book. If he didn’t he’d spend the whole day wrestling the book until it gave up or he got bitten. Neither option gave him satisfaction.

When the silent alarm to the restricted section started buzzing vigorously Leo dropped the snake book with a small thud as he got up from his seat in the same motion. Pulling out his wand he hastily put up a note of where he was going unless someone needed assistance and darted towards the restricted section. Who had entered this time? Someone’s pet? An intruder? That auror from last term? The possibilities were endless as Leo headed inside the restricted section, putting off the alarm as he passed over the threshold. Hearing a voice in the distance talking Leo followed the sound with his wand at the ready.

Getting further and further inside the section Leo ignored the whispers and suggestions coming from the books. It was about that time that he happened upon the intruder and their kneazle. "Alexa Cambridge, what exactly do you think you are doing in here? This section is off limits."

Felix hissed suddenly and it had her eyes darting to him as he bolted between her legs, fur bristled, teeth bared and eyes intent on a book that looked like it might have gotten closer since she'd walked by it. Promise to Airey or no Promise, if one book in here tried making off with her kneazle, it'd be up in smokes in seconds. To avoid that, she took him out of his misery, scooping him up and giving him a scratch behind the ear to calm down. "You are bigger than that book, don't make it know you're scared of it."....Even if it WAS heavier and could possibly crush the little guy.

It never occurred to her there was an alarm, not at all, it just seemed like...well like noise that ended sometime after. How was she to know how Mr. Kitridge ran his library? Wasn't like she spent a tremendous amount of time here.

And then he found her. Sigh. No reusing the permission slip she supposed. Who else would she get to write her one? Collarbin maybe.....In any case she turned to face the librarian, not dampened at all by his presence. "Browsing for books. Looking for darker than you'll allow on your regular shelves and more dangerous than you'll let Firsties look at." Essentially. "I'm actually glad I ran into you, see I dunno how you categorize these and didn't wanna spend the whole day searching." Lex looked to the shelves again, noting a book that tried offering her a page from it's contents. Cool.

"Like this one. What's this one about? And where can I find one about removing a ghost from a castle?" He never asked for the permission slip, maybe he'd let her stay without it and she could keep this one for later.

Strapping his wand back into its holster, but kept his hand close incase a book attacked Leo eyed the head girl intently. "You can't just waltz in here and browse how you please Alexa. The books in here are dangerous and behind lock and key for a very good reason. Do you have a permission slip from a professor to allow you be in here in the first place?" If she hadn't then Leo would escort her out of the library and straight to her head of house's office. Airey could decide whether she decided to get detention or not. Leo would strongly advise it though. The restricted section was not a place you browsed around in for fun. No matter how inviting it might look. The books the section contained were dark and in some cases very evil.

"I categorize the books after genre or subject." Leo supplied distractedly. "Why do you want to find a book on how to remove a ghost from a castle anyway? Most ghosts want to be in the place they haunt or rather live in, especially if you're thinking about the Hogwarts ghosts." Leo doubted highly that the ghosts in this castle wanted to be removed as Alexa put it. Hogwarts was their home.

Ummmm...."I'm well aware of how dangerous these books are, Sir, otherwise I wouldn't go looking for them in the first place." When she meant to cause damage she wanted it to be of remarkable scale. Not the frivolous things they were taught in DADA, no, half that stuff was watered down so the First Years didn't hurt themselves and others. She wanted the real stuff, the stuff of nightmares that would make DADA a requirement. "But to answer your question, I do have a permission slip. One signed by Professor Airey." Shifting Felix to her left hand, she used the right to fish around in her pocket and pull out the slip.

Were they over the mundane part of this meeting now? Could they get back to the main focus here? Lex opted to leave the ghost conversation where it was. When she'd mentioned it to Professor Airey, he thought it was a good idea, there was no discouragement. She'd be damned if she let Mr. Kitridge talk her out of it now.

Securing Felix, she continued down the aisle again. "So...if this stuff is by subject...I'll guess alphabetical as well so DADA would be back up that way....? and Divination would be somewhere around here...yeah?"

"That's a huge relief." Leo couldn’t help but mouth out through suddenly dry lips. That Alexa understood the dangers involved in browsing around in the restricted section somehow put the book lover in him at ease. "If you didn't get I would have escorted you out right away with or without a permission slip." He commented. And that was the honest truth.

She was a seventh year too which Leo considered gave her just a teeny tiny up with him. If Alexa had been a first year she would have been escorted out the door regardless if she had acquired a permission slip from a professor or not. Accepting the permission slip littered with Airey’s usual cursive and neat hand writing Leo gave it a quick scan. Satisfied he nodded to Alexa. "Yes the books are also placed in alphabetical order," pointing behind him to the shelves in the next aisle he said "Yes, Dada books are up that way and Divination is on the shelf right behind you."

Shoving the permission slip into one of his many robe pockets Leo said. "I'll leave you to browsing then Alexa. Just remember to keep vigilant and wary while you're in here. Some of these books are pretty dark for lack of better word." He didn't wan't to frighten her by saying evil.

Turning on his heel the librarian left the res section with a wave to head back to the front desk to resume his battle to put spells on the book about snake species in the wizarding world.

She might have had a snippy comment were it not for a few factors; age and maturity level, the badge on her chest and the fact he had a point. If someone who didn't understand how dangerous these books could be just waltzed in here all willy nilly, she might have hexed them back out before a book could do them any worse so she simply nodded and reassured the Librarian they were the books she was intending to find.

Oh brilliant! Technically Lex was exactly where she was meant to be. Just a quit search for a book or two on ghost removal then she could double back for the DADA books. "Thank you, Sir." She said at his departing--quite relieved he wouldn't be treating her like a baby that needed babysitting--"I'll be careful. Brought my wand with me just in case." And yes, books, she would use it if any of you came at her or her kneazle.

Alexa whirled around so she was facing the top of the aisle again. All the Dark Arts books, some trying to rattle off their shelves and so little time, but first, Sir Nicholas. Her eyes traced the shelves til they found an eerily pale one that gave off a faint glow. Well......ghosts glowed......and this looked promising so she nicked it from the shelf then moved back to the Dark Arts section. SO MANY to choose from. Couldn't she just live here?

This time she was forced to put Felix down as she spotted a massive book that screamed at her, literally. It wanted to be read and with a title like "Secrets of the Darkest Art" it would be...if only she could get it off the shelf. Lex tugged at it for what might have been a solid five minutes before it suddenly loosened, sending her and the book stumbling into the shelf opposite them with a thud. The things she did to learn. Merlin. Lex flopped to the floor and threw the book open before her then pulled Felix closer. Couldn't watch him when she was focused on curses so he'd need to stay close.

Sitting on its shelf in the damp and dusty Restricted Section of the library, a leather bound book with golden filigree and lettering begins glowing as it senses a curious spirit approaching. Finally free after all those years of being trapped on the back of the shelf behind spellbooks on hexes and dark arts, the Fairy Tale Book of Fairy Tales wiggled itself free from its chains with an airy giggle and fell to the floor at the girl’s feet. Its inviting glow and beautiful cover are so irresistible that the book truly seems to be calling to her to pick it up.

Yes, come on now, pick me up! Pick me up and see what fantastic things await!

What started out as lightly skimming the words for anything of value turned into the Gryffindor leaning in as close as possible, trying to digest word after word quick enough to get all the information at once. This was brilliant and terrifying all at the same time. Most of it could take a bit of practice but it wasn't something she wasn't prepared for. Luckily, she'd brought along some parchment and a quill to take notes of the more important things she would need for later when she was back up in her Dorm.

The sudden screeching of the feline caused her to stop scribbling mid-sentence, wondering if something else was after him. Following the gaze, she spotted a book wiggling from the space she'd just removed the one she was currently reading. How...curious......

Her brows rose at the giggling book as it descended and made a new home for itself by her feet, that was when Felix got cross. His fur bristled dramatically and the sounds he made were nothing if not violent. "Relax." Lex told him, eyeing the strange book. "It's just a bunch of fairytales." Nothing to be scared of there and there was real reading to be done so she turned to her own book again. Felix wasn't nearly as convinced and continued his hissing til she was forced to look at the book again. It...had a weird glow to it, didn't it?

Lex tilted her head curiously and regarded the odd piece of literature. It was almost...like it....was calling her...--but that was ridiculous. She wasn't here long enough for the books to know her name. Still....Lex reached a hand toward the book which Felix swatted at with extracted claws. The Gryffindor drew her wand. "So help me, I will use this." It calmed him enough for her to pull the book to her and flop it on her lap. "There, see? Just a book on princesses and knights in shining armour. Ridiculous but hardly dangerous." She pried it open, idly wondering if there were pictures. Pictures made everything better.

Feeling its bindings caressed by an human's touch after so long made the book let out an airy sigh of content. It felt so nice to be appreciated again. A golden light engulfed the girl, one that caused tinglings to pass over the girl's skin, and intensified with each page the girl turned...

Her eyes widened as the glow got brighter but she soon found it hard to look through the sudden bright light that made everything around her seem to disappear. Evidently it was all still there though because she could hear Felix hissing louder than he'd done in the longest time. Lex never knew him to be afraid of light and it got her thinking she should just...put it back. It obviously wouldn't help her reading.

Hard as she tried though, she couldn't let the book go. A tingling held her arms fixed on the book and soon she felt she wasn't the one turning the pages anymore. Shouts came from inside the book, loud, anxious voices that increased her doubt but even then she couldn't get her hands off the book.

She tried calling for Mr. Kitridge but a face appeared in the book and it was like it took her voices. A cunning smile, dark eyes and then nothing. The lights were gone, the book slammed shut and the Gryffindor felt herself rising....but she didn't remember moving? One step after the other took her back toward the exit but it was like a dream. Lex was moving but she didn't know how.

Another hissing got her to turn but even then that wasn't her. Somehow she managed to reach her own hand toward him but he simply growled then bolted. What in Merlin's beard was going on????

Reappearing back in familiar haunts, the book landed on the floor just inside the roped off section with its locks shut tight. As the book touched the ground, it opened its leather bindings and flipped its pages until it stopped on a particular fairytale story. Sensing curious humans spirits chattering nearby, it began to glow brightly as the strong smell of freshly baked buns started to float out of it.

The smell was so strong that it easily found its way to where the many humans were congregating...

Following the smell like a dog looking for a bone, Leo kept a hand near his wand holster and his senses alert as he moved into the restricted section. The smell of baked goods grew more and more prominent the more steps he took inside. Disengaging the silent and invisible alarm he had in place to alert him of movement in the section, he waited for the others to arrive. He could make out something glowing brightly further down, but Leo was not going to investigate it alone. He had learned his lesson last term. He could wait for Airey and the rest to arrive.

Zoe headed in the direction of where the smells were increasingly getting stronger. She was basically following everyone else, after Leo eyed her and James. Her eyes fell on a book that was laying on the floor with it's pages open to.... She moved closer, even despite Mr. Kitridge staying back a little and squatted down making out the words "Hansel and Gretel?" she asked curiously. The fairy tale sounded familiar but she couldn't exactly place it "Headmistress?" she asked looking around. She wasn't super close to the book and was just barely able to read the words, but she was sure it said 'Hansel and Gretel'. She wasn't trying to be overly brave, just was curious what the book had chosen to fall open to!

So Leobald had chosen to look in the restricted section with his group of staff members. This made sense, since students weren't allowed back here much. Actually, she had never ventured back here as a student, and now not even as a staff member. The closer she got, the more she could make out a glowing spot. Plus the smell become almost unbearably delectable. "Leobald, I think it's here. The book." She pointed towards the bright spot. "You can just make out a darker spot..." Tillstorm of course thought she could read it from this far away. "Miss Tillstorm, stop! We don't want you getting possessed. We don't know exactly how it operates, remember." She held her arm up in front of the girl, restraining her in case she got any ideas. "Headmistress, Professor Botros, I think you'd better finish quickly."

Humming the theme from the muggle cereal commercial, Airey followed the crowd in and his face immediately dropped. "Heeeeeey, there are precisely zero baked delights in here!" he manly huffed while looking at the others. Who were all looking at something else? What?

Following gazes, and his nose a bit more, his forget-me-not blue eyes fell on the book and he suddenly felt a pull. Despite what he had heard over the past month or so about what had happened with him as Hook, he was overtaken by a giddy feeling when he saw the book. Open. Just waiting RIGHT there. He had felt this on the seventh floor as well, but the book had been spooked and vanished before he could get his eager hands on it.

His head snapped around when Tiara spoke and shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuushed her, index finger to his lips and all. "Don't scare it," he whimpered.

Slowly, the Astronomy professor began taking steps towards the book while his fingers twitched in eager anticipation.

Having gotten the Restricted Section right after Airey, the news of there being no food reached her through his dismayed complaint. What did he mean there was no food??? SHE FORCED DOWN A SANDWICH IN PREPARATION FOR THIS. "Aw man, what a rip off. Let's go check somewhere else." It had to be around her somewhere, nevermind that the smell was coming from the one place there seemed to be no food.

It didn't really strike her as important that Professor Tanner was calling the Headmistress...until Professor Airey shushed her the way he did...What? That's when she finally peered into the aisle of the Restricted Section that they were all looking down. The glow....

That glow...

Wait a minute....where was that really happy feeling coming from? Lex already knew how she felt about the book but this was different...enchanting almost. She had no intention of being the Mistress of All Evil again, but the feeling the book brought on was such a nice one that her steps followed her Head of House's closer and closer.

"Just one more read wouldn't hurt...while it's here and all." The dazed tone of the Gryffindor said enough. They were no longer her priority, the book was.

She looked at the professor a little stunned. She wasn't going to touch it! Nor get any closer she was just curious what the page was open to. Ohhhhkay, her eyes now focused on Professor Airey and the head girl. Right, something was definitely not right here. Someone was going to stop them right? She was obeying the arithmancy professor and staying where she was, but those two looked like they were going to go right on over and take a look themselves! "Professor?" she asked wide eyed staring at the other two.

It must definitely have something to do with the story that it was open to....right? Or was that just to lure them there?

Yep, Professor Airey was right. No baked goods. What a let down. But there was a weird glowing.......

"The book!" Right there, laying open. Attracting Professor Airey and the Head Girl. Should she do something? Tap them on the shoulders? Definitely something that wouldn't scare the book away, because that would suck after all this searching. Grr. Stupid fairy tale book.... ..attracting people with the promise of goodies when there are none." Oops, had she said that out loud?

Zander was following along right by Flamsteed, Headgirl Lex, and the Ravenclaw prefect. As he approached the yummmy smell, he could feel his mouth starting to water and his stomach doing the grumbling thing again. Mhhhhmmm if he could just have one. Just one of those yummy--

Wait. Professor Flamsteed say what??? No baked goods???

Slowly, he stepped closer to the two he had walked over with, inching his way towards whatever was suddenly mesmerizing them. Was it just him or did this place have a familiar glow about--

Oooooh.

Zander quickly found himself putting his own book back in his bag. He tilted his head to the side as he began taking steps forward just like Professor Flamsteed and the Headgirl. He was having an internal conflict of sorts at the moment. His head was telling him to resist the temptation of the smell and the enticing book, but he couldn't help but gravitate.

Jasmine entered the Restricted Section with her group. Her curiosity was piqued and she wanted to look around at all the forbidden area contained. However, there were more pressing matters to attend to right now. Catching up with the first group, Jasmine saw that they were all focused on something. Then she saw it.......the glowing. Was that the elusive fairy tale book? Jasmine just stared, unsure what to do .

Wait, what was up with Professor Flamsteed and Lex? They were both heading toward the book. "What are you doing? Don't go near that book." They had to be stopped or this was not going to end well. Were the formerly possessed still somehow connected to the book? Jasmine didn't know whether to grab them or not, but they had to do something quickly.

Penelope could smell freshly baked buns. She had no idea why anyone would be baking in the library, as Mr. Kitridge seemed to think, but it smelled really good, so she followed the rest of the crowd searching for the source of the smell.

Arriving at the restricted section, she found that the smell did not seem to lead to real baked goods, but that was okay. She enjoyed the smell more than eating anyway. "Mmm, smels good." It seemed that the smell was coming from the book. Books were good. A book that smelled like freshly baked goods! Could this get any better?

Somewhere in the back of her mind she was aware that the book was dangerous and it was trying to lure her in with the smell, but the logical part of her mind was overpowered by the alluring smell of the book. Sniffing the air, she stepped closer to the book.

So THAT'S where the smell was coming from… Zhenya glanced at the book. It was lovely, but she wasn't going to touch it. In fact, she put her hands in her pockets to stop her from reaching out towards it. Oh, but it smelled good! She couldn't even go up and get a good look of the book to see if it was open to a page or something. Maybe it was a recipe for delicious goodies? She could only hope…

Just so everyone was aware....this was all very reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel. Luring kids in with candy and sweets...or baked cinnamon treats, in this case. And adults seemed to be just as susceptible...

The smell was rather enticing but.....fortunately for Gabe, it didn't smell even remotely pumpkin flavored. And as a rule, Gabe only enjoyed pumpkin treats. So...the FAIRY TALE BOOK hunt continued. No need to stop and have a snack...and...waste time.

This was a good opportunity.....TRUTHFULLY, IN THE RESTRICTED SECTION...he'd been wanting to get his hands on these books for months now...but never had good enough cause to ask for permission. The wealth of protected knowledge in this area of the library, though...Gabriel would've loved to have been able to just sit, absorb as much as possible....

BUT......wait........was that THE book?....In it's defense, it did look very antique and very interesting. Gabe, who loved his languages, had to wonder if it was solely in old English....but why were people creeping towards it as they were?! Hadn't there been a plan? just in case?

"................." Gabriel wasn't ensnared by its delicious-but-NOT!PUMPKIN smell....but nor was he brave enough to get any closer. In fact...he inched towards Professor Tanner. She was familiar, though a girl...and she looked just as serious as the Headmistress woman. They'd protect him. Wait...were they doing a runic charm...

IT'S ABOUT TO GET THE GRYFFINDORS....