Read up on Next Week's Classes of Course!

You start your night off in the Ravenclaw Common Room, looking at your arm in its sling. Madame Pomfrey said that the arm could come out of the sling on Monday, as long as you took it easy. You intended to go to the Library, but it would be hard to navigate through the stacks in the waning light of dusk. Instead you find yourself with little to do; letting out a sigh you reach for your satchel, might as well review your potions materials... again.

"Whats with the long face?" you hear from next to you. Jumping you spin around and see Jennifer smiling at you, she seemed to enjoy the Flying lesson. In fact Madam Hooch had said that she hadn't seen a muggle-born take to flying with such ease before. "Oh, hullo Jennifer," you say collecting yourself.

"I was thinking about going to the library, do you want to tag along?" She asks. Excited to get out of the common room, you agree. "Let me grab the Moonlamp, we're supposed to learn illumination charms this week in Professor Flitwick's class, but until then I will need some kind of light." She hurries off to talk to the prefect.

Gathering some materials you stroll around the common room waiting for Jennifer to come back, she seems to be caught up in something, and you have a few minutes to kill. Strolling around the room you find the same Wizard Chessboard from your opening night. Looking at it you realize that black has somehow managed to mate white.

Blinking you double check the game, it must be a different game, but no! It seems that you fell for the same ploy that black was attempting to use on white.

Interesting.

"Hey there you are!" you hear Jennifer call. "are you ready?" Her gaze sweeps over to the board. "Oh, let me guess you like chess too?" Her tone is dismissive. "I hear that the game was a fourth year, Rupert Headsworth, challenging someone by Owl. He seemed pretty upset about it, did he lose or something?"

Nodding, you join her, "Before he even began it looks like." you say. As you step out through the doorway you see another first year scramble in before the door can close on them. "These riddles are inconvenient," Jennifer says. "Oh?" You say. "I screwed up last week and had to wait for twenty minutes before anyone else came by, I don't think I have ever had to use the loo that bad!" she laughs. You chuckle, unsure of how else to respond.

Your conversation continues awkwardly all the way to the Library. Jennifer sets her stuff down at a small study table and takes off towards the stacks. Realizing that you haven't actually been to the library yet, you take a look around.

The Setting Sun paints the bookshelves in red and orange light and causes the shadows to stretch and mingle. The calm atmosphere and subtle smell of aged parchment calls to mind the brilliance of wizards past. The hanging candles shed flickering light through the shadows keeping a gentle steady level of light through the room.

The library is comprised of several levels, and diligently arranged by subject and author, by some strict but abstract filing system. More than any area your attention is drawn to a poorly lit corner of the first level. Tucked away from the rest of the stacks are a series of shelves made from black ash. Along each shelf is a draped black cloth and a small plaque that indicates that the books are in the "Restricted Section- Professor Permission Required."

You wonder what the purpose is of creating such a section, besides maybe to tempt the more foolhardy students. You remember a few stories, from your father's more lucid moments, of how he and the other late year Slytherins would create charms and jinxes to prevent the security system from operating in order to help themselves to the forbidden lore of the library.

As you think of this you find yourself strolling through the stacks, finding titles that capture the imagination, and you are surprised to find yourself reaching for a book titled "Poisons and Paralytics: an All-in-One Primer for ****." Stopping yourself short you turn and duck out of the Restricted section before anyone sees you.

Jennifer is coming around the corner, her arms weighed down with books. She nods, places down her books and says "Marvolo did you need help grabbing books?" She looks at your arm, and gives a sympathetic smile.

Your stomach turns, the pitying look triggers something deep inside. Pity was the only thing you'd get, apart from fear, from the ministry folks. You detest it. "No, I'll be fine." you say hoarsely. Grabbing three light books from a returns-cart you join Jennifer at the table and flip through the books aimlessly.