The Heir of Slytherin

[choki]

The boys were dozing off at a small corner in the library with the thick stack of books in front. With them as the only ones in the History section, the corner was dead still and silent. Shaking his head in exasperation, Artus continued his essay. He was already into the 4th foot of his essay, writing the introduction to the famous Salazar Slytherin when he heard a series of weird thumping sounds.

He looked around, scanning the corner for the source. The boys remained deep in sleep. Straining his ears, Artus then realised the sounds were coming from deep within the walls. As sudden as it came, the thumping ceased. The only source came from John's subtle snoring.

"Maybe someone ate the wrong thing today," Artus thought as he went back to continue his reading.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

"Sir," Arsenio said, "why can't we open the back of the book?"

"Pass that here, Mr Parkinson," the professor asked for it and walked around to his desk. He took the book from him. "Hmm," he said and frowned. "The Librarian I'm afraid is the only one with the power to charm-lock school books, along with the Headmaster."

Arsenio frowned.

"Doubtless there's a very good reason," the professor ended and strolled back to the front of the class.

[Scarlet Lioness]

The bell rang.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was over.

Mervanai sighed.

He didn't realise how much he enjoyed the company of Joke and Kay until now. Trust those two to get into the Hospital Wing...I might go see them after I've done my Potions essay

He walked towards the library.

[choki]

Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts......
a parseltongue...
left Hogwarts after the mounting dispute with Godric Gryffindor...

Artus was reading through the pages in the book when he heard footsteps approaching. He ignored it initially, thinking that was just some student. However, he sensed someone was looking at him and he turned.

Mervani was standing there with a smirk on his face.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Mervanai noticed that boy...Artus in the library reading a book on the FOunders of Hogwarts...

Maybe he's trying to find information like me?

He stood over his table smirking at him...but not letting too much emotion out in the smirk, more of mysterious grin.

"Hello. What are you doing there?" he asked. He grabbed the book out of his hand and looked at it. "Hmm...Slazar Slytherin aye? Hmm...interesting information is it?"

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Charms ended. Arsenio decided to go and ask the Librarian if she knew anything about locking the backs of books.

[choki]

Rather taken aback by the sudden rude behaviour, Artus stood up.
"Homework," he said as he proceeded to take the book back, "there's more in the library shelf... go find yourself something else to read..."

[Scarlet Lioness]

"If you say so. But usually teachers don't give out homework which involves searching through information regarding Salazar Slytherin. Though you never know what Binns will give you these days. Good day." he smirked and gave a flick of his hand as a wave and headed towards the section Artus had pointed at.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Arsenio made the shortest way down to the library. As he walked in, he noticed that the attention of two boys, Artus and Mervanai, both turned toward him suddenly. He hesitated for a moment, then headed for the tiny office of Madam Thistle, the Librarian.

[Q.Araignee]

Tom's last lesson had been incredibly dreary, and he decided to put it out of his mind as he replaced most of his books in his dorm. Checking that he had plenty of parchment, he headed up to the Library.

As he walked in, Tom saw the three people he had most wanted to avoid- holding back a hiss of exasperation, he walked casually over to one of the shelves and began scanning it for the only copy of 'Curses and Counter-Curses'.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Just as Arsenio was about to knock on the door to Madam Thistle's office, he saw Tom Riddle enter and throw a glance his way. He turned away and knocked.

"Come in," the Librarian said breezily. Arsenio thought that Madam Thistle was generally quite a nice person. She wouldn't stand for deliberate harm against her books or too much noise in the library, but that was expected of a librarian. She was one of the better ones Arsenio had met over the course of his life.

"Madam Thistle," started Arsenio, "I'm Ar -"

"- senio Parkinson, yes - I know," evidently she was good with names. "I'm quite good with names, and I remember yours from when you issued your last book. Now... let me think - was it: "On the Third Revolution of 1634, A Tale of Corruption," by Mrs Agnes Colòn?"

"Er... yeah as a matter of fact it was."

"I also remember that you. haven't. returned. it."

Arsenio remembered the old bent book lying in the bottom of his bag.

"Er..."

"What are you here for, Mr Parkinson?" Madam Thistle said brightly as though she had forgotten that the world wasn't perfect, and that a library book was srunched up in the nether regions of his bag.

[choki]

Artus resumed his writings. Soon, he completed his last sentence regarding the famous Slytherin. Feeling rather tired, he decided to leave the parts on Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff till next round.

The boys continued napping while their books were laid scattered on the table. Slowly he returned the books to their respective places.
"10 Most Helpful Counter Curses? I thought we're supposed to be writing an essay on History," Artus said mentally, with the last book to be returned.

He walked towards the shelf when he spotted Tom.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

"Well I was wondering," said Arsenio. "Why this book that we were asked to read to Charms is sort of... locked. Well, the back part of it is anyway."

"Well..." started Madam Thistle. "Sections of books are generally locked when they are unsuitable for the age group that is supposed to be reading them."

"Then why are we reading it at all?"

"Well obviously the front section is perfectly alright for your young minds."

"So... what you're saying," said Arsenio, "is that there is something in the back section of the book that we aren't supposed to see?"

"Most definitely the case," Madam Thistle said pointedly.

The professor told me that you might have put the charm on it."

"Alas, no," she said. "I could of course, but it is my belief that books are meant to be read, and words are meant to be seen."

"I see..." Arsenio frowned. "Do you know who could have put the charm on it?"

"Because the book is the property of Hogwarts and has that reasonable level of protection on it, it would take a reasonable amount of force to put the spell on it. A decent, mature wizard would probably be able to do it.

"But," she continued. "As it's the property of Hogwarts, I would think it likely that if it wasn't your professor that put the charm on it, it would be the Headmaster. I don't see anyone else really being very bothered about locking a book outside their own subject."

"Mmm," Arsenio nodded. "I see your point - thank you."

Madam Thistle nodded at him, "Good day Mr Parkinson," and he turned to open the door.

"Oh, and may I ask dear," the Librarian asked. "What was the title of the book in question?"

"Er... 'Rare Spells and Enchantments', author unknown," he said.

"Ah... very well. Good day, dear."

He nodded and stepped out into the library, still wondering about the contents of the book. There was obviously some rare spell or enchantment someone didn't want him knowing about. Well... locking the book certainly wouldn't work. It had just made him more curious.

Back in the Librarian's office, Madam Thistle frowned.

Horace, my dear Horace ... My dear, sweet fool. What have you done...?

[Scarlet Lioness]

Mervanai walked away, glancing back at Artus he caught sight of another student.

Arsenio..he looked the other way. AND Riddle...this is not good.

His jaw had dropped slightly, he closed his mouth and began to look natural as he scanned the shelves, casually glancing around the library for any sort of trouble.

Arsenio had just come out of the Librarian's office, Artus was packing up his books adn walking towards him and Riddle was in the Counter Curses aisle of the library directly in front of his aisle.

This could get nasty if one of us looses our temper

[Q.Araignee]

Haing found the book in question, Tom sat himself at a desk- making sure he had everyone in sight. He was well aware that Artus, Mervanai and Arsenio had all seen him- the tension between the four of them was almost visible.

Putting on an air of indifference, he flipped the book open and began making notes from Chapter 12- listening intently for any disturbance, and for their approaching or retreating footsteps.