21 - One more Stop

It was Professor Rivera who answered. No longer preoccupied elsewhere, as she'd been for the whole day previous, she was once again defaulted to her apparently side-job of answering the Staff Room door because her colleagues took too damn long to do so.

'Hello.' She smiled at Reena, stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind her. 'Do you wish to speak with someone in particular, or is it a matter I can assist with?'

There was a protective hint in her gaze; if Gryffindors were giving Reena trouble again, Rivera was prepared to take action and put a stop to it.

'He most certainly is.' Rivera nodded, gesturing for Reena to wait there a moment.

She headed back into the staff room. There was the sound of toppling books, a scraped chair, then several hushed voices. A moment later, Professor Archerose appeared -- putting his glasses on after having cleaned them.

'Good afternoon,' he said. 'Are you okay? How can I help?'

Professor Archerose was intrigued by the subject, especially when she adjusted her tone as if it was something exclusive or secret. He supposed it was.

'Hmm. A potion... that's a bit outside my expertise. Professor Snape would know better than I,' he said, considering it while also not sure what he should say. 'The book, however. There's a difference between a book of enchantment, and the Book of Enchantment. I'm afraid I can't offer much help with this. If this truly is regarding the Founder's Treasure... no, I best not.'

'It's one of the seven original Book of Spells,' Professor Archerose said. 'And believed to be the foundation for the first ever Hogwarts curriculum.'

He glanced over his shoulder, as if expecting Professor Rivera to appear at the mere mention of such a book. Archerose didn't teach spells of any kind in his classroom, but even to him those books held immense value. Immeasurable, really.

'The Founder's Treasure...' He shook his head. 'It's one of those things we know of -- the legends, I mean, but don't really talk about. Only those who are worthy of it should really know what they are or how to get them. I'm afraid I can't assist you there. Is there anything else?'

It was clear he wasn't going to discuss this further. It was up to Reena to find out the details on her own.