#5 Bookwyrm

Grace was glad that she had got to go to history of magic, but this was the really exciting topic. She smiled at the librarian as she entered, showing how nice and well-mannered she was. Adults seemed to like that stuff, so maybe she would be able to ask a question later and not get too snooty an answer.

"Hey Gerald." Grace whispered at Gerald, "Find anything good yet?" she eyed the bookshelves herself, then rummaged around in her bag to grab the paper, holding it up near the spines of some books to try to make some comparisons.

Madam Pince didn't smile back at Grace, but from what the girl could determine it seemed as if the well-mannered gesture was appreciated. The fact both of the first years kept their voices low was in their favor too.

It was a clever idea to try comparing their enchanted scrolls to the book spines, though unfortunately it didn't result in any clues or answers. Nothing reacted, nothing was comparable to the language written on the scroll, and so far there were no indications of what may prove helpful. 

There were books on languages, translations, and historic symbols - but they were all rather generalised in subject or only the basics. Gerald and Grace continued to search for a while, but it became clear that nothing was advanced or old enough to assist in their task. The Hogwarts library was huge; if their plan was to just keep looking around for something to match, then they could be there all day.

Gerald ended up with a stack of books, which he'd need to sit down somewhere to start browsing through. There was even a copy of Hogwarts: A History there.

He flipped through and searched anything useful, but the results were much the same. Nothing resembled the language on his scroll, and nothing really fit with what they were searching for. After realising the books he'd gathered weren't helpful, Gerald would notice a lot of the books on the shelves were rather normal-looking. Only a few looked really old or mysterious.

If the scroll was something relating to the Founders themselves, then the answers they sought about it would surely be from a book that really stood out. Or perhaps something special and rare? The task seemed to be growing by the minute, the longer the two first years searched among the perhaps thousands of books in the huge library. They needed a better way to search or narrow down those that could potentially be what they need.

Thinking about it. She was probably correct. It would be a good idea for them to ask the Librarian. They were just First years. Sneaking into Common Rooms and being good at Duelling doesn't make them experts at everything, after all.

"Do you want to ask her, or should I?" He said softly, not wanting to be too loud.

Madam Pince eyed the pair of first years carefully, then considered Grace's question. 'That depends on precisely what you're seeking to find out. There are many books regarding the Founders of Hogwarts, but most are speculation and studies. Very few are from the Founders themselves or relating to first-hand accounts of factual information.'

She wanted to say they weren't being specific enough, but the Founders lived over a thousand years ago and there weren't a lot of books about them that contained new information or a closer view of the subject.

'Perhaps if you explain what you're hoping to uncover,' Pince said. 'If you want to learn about the school's founding, then I'd say there's few better finer books than Hogwarts: A History. If you want to know about the founders themselves, their studies of interest, or time prior to Hogwarts - I can't help you without more to go on.'

Considering their hesitation, it would surely be a surprise to the first years whenthe librarian barely reacted to the question. Where they not the first to approach her with such curiosities? Or did she know more than she let on in regards to their particular search for answers?

It was entirely possible that a Professor would not have a similar response, as uncovering the secrets of Hogwarts was rarely done so while being on their best behaviour.

'Hogwarts has many secrets,' Madam Pince said, her expression stern and mildly exasperated by still being unable to narrow down books for an otherwise broad subject matter or focus. 'There are a few books that theorise them, but are terribly outdated. Is there anything specific that you're trying to study or udnerstand?'

Madam Pince leaned closer to carefully examine it. She recognised it, though her reaction was one of an exasperated sigh.

'The book you need is An Advanced Translation of Ancient Languages by Rowena Ravenclaw,' she said. 'And there's only one place to find that.' Pince glanced towards the other end of the library, where a section was locked away, inaccessible by any student below NEWT level. 

The restricted section. 

With an almost haughty look, Madam Pince walked away. The restricted section of the library wasn't something Gerald or Grace would have had much reason to think about until now, but thankfully they knew just enough about it to determine how to proceed. Any ideas about trying to get in there without permission would be foolish and likely end badly. And besides, Madam Pince knew they were looking for it so they couldn't get away with it regardless.

To read, or even borrow, a restricted section book - they had to get permission to from a Professor. That's what they'd heard, that a Professor must sign a note allowing them to retrieve a specified book. If Gerald and Grace wanted to translate their scrolls, they'd have to figure out who'd be willing to grant a first year such privliage. There was a reason those books were restricted, right? And the permission was per person, so they'd have to get one each.