Post by rogueinker on Jan 2, 2005 22:02:22 GMT -5
Chapter Nine
Madam Pince was used to an orderly procession of days during the week. A library if organized and managed properly literally ran itself. Her main preoccupation during the school term was investigating the old books and manuscripts held in trust at Hogwarts. There were many rare collections and editions that were archived in the school gathered from the founders themselves, from various faculty who contributed over the years as well as the occasional donor. Much of all this resided in two massive rooms in the back of the library. There was a smaller side room which served as a workshop of sorts.
Much like Professor Snape minding his private working potions room, Madam Pince regarded her workshop as sacrosanct. Being a librarian entailed more than cataloging and shelving books, at least at Hogwarts. When not needed in the library, Madam Pince could be found in her work room restoring old materials to as close to their original state as possible, or failing that, preserving the works as best she could. The workshop even had a walk-in vault where the most delicate or dangerous materials were stored until they could be dealt with properly. The room was understandably off limits to students and access was limited to the headmaster, deputy headmistress and Madam Pince herself. It was in her workshop that Minerva found Irma a little after dinner.
"Working late, Irma?" Minerva closed the door carefully behind her.
"I'm close to deciphering the locking mechanism on this book here." Irma put her wand away and pulled her attention from a battered first edition of Unnatural Transfigurations. "What is the point of applying locking charms on books if the owner doesn't make a point to remember the unlocking phrase or phrases?"
"An estate donation?"
Irma sat on a tall stool by the work bench. She rolled her shoulders forwards and backwards to work out the stiffness that an hour of concentration left behind. "The Mandeville bequest. Old Dixon's grandson left quite a cache. Unfortunately, the young man did not know how to unlock any of the books so I'm having a go at them. What brings you to my corner of the castle?"
"More research requests I'm afraid and something else, a mystery." Minerva smiled at the other woman. "You think you can leave Mandeville's hoard for a little while?"
"A mystery, eh? Something to do with the genealogy research?" Irma forgot all about her stiff neck.
"I conferred with Albus and he agreed that you were vital to the team."
"This is getting quite interesting."
"You don't know the half of it, Irma. Come on, I need to introduce you to someone. Then, later, I am going to need your help to convince Albus that we need to plan a little trip."
A few hours later, Irma found herself sitting in Minerva's sitting room opposite the headmaster. She had been dumbfounded when she met the newly living Bloody Baron. Irma could not help but feel a thrill of anticipation at hearing Minerva's plans; the same thrill that was normally reserved for finding a valuable first edition or rare document.
Minerva stood by a blackboard hovering in midair. On it were the same things that had been on her classroom blackboard. "According to the antique letter that Irma found, Juliana Pendry was a talented healer, one born with the natural gift of healing hands. Based on that letter, from one of Juliana's convalescing patient to his wife, we have our starting point. That is the town of Kilmartin in Argyle where the letter originated from." With a quick wave of her wand, the word 'Kilmartin' was listed on the blackboard. "That is where Irma and I intend to go."
"We have yet to finish analyzing the artifacts left by Rowena and Salazar. Did you not say that Godric's journal was begging for more attention? I do not see the need for this excursion at this time."
"Albus, given what we know and that we both agree that time is of the essence, I feel very strongly that of all the questions I posed, only one is absolutely paramount. That is the question of what happened to Isabel's line that caused the baron's resurrection. We already have a fairly good idea of what happened in the past from the baron. Now, we need to know the present. One possibility is that the line died out. If it has, then does that mean that the significant figure has already emerged? If not, then why not and will that non-event change our future?"
Albus opened his mouth to speak but Minerva continued on.
"Going on the supposition that a recent death triggered the baron's transformation, Irma and I consulted the obituaries for the last week both in the Prophet and the registrar of wizarding deaths maintained by the Ministry and cross matched the information against the wizarding genealogy listings. No individual deceased in the last week was, on the surface, related to Isabel Parnum. I have a suspicion that Juliana's descendants are muggles now."
Albus' eyebrows rose at this new possibility.
"I did a very cursory review of muggle obituaries in the Argyle area but that doesn't help us at all because we have no way of recognizing a Pendry descendant," Irma clarified.
Minerva nodded gratefully at her cohort. "So, you see, Albus, the only way to continue on is to go to Kilmartin."
"And after that where to?" Albus tapped his fingers on the armchair. "This ... trip has the markings of a quest."
"We have many questions and barely any answers. Where the trail leads, we ought to follow." Minerva looked earnestly at the headmaster. "I admit my reasoning is based on the slimmest of evidence and assumptions, but ... but, at this point, it is all we have."
"I am not questioning your reasoning. My concern remains where it has always been, on the prophecy." Albus looked at Irma. "Irma, this is a portion that we have only a vague understanding of. What is obvious in Rowena's writings is that her vision, her original vision, is tied to a larger prophecy. That prophecy is not written in any material that we have available. Because we do not know it, I am ... worried that we will affect the prophecy unknowingly."
"Albus, we can affect the prophecy by something we do, as much as if we do nothing at all."
"Good point."
"So, you'll teach my classes for a few days?" Minerva probed.
Albus gave in. "You have four days after which I want both of you back here. No matter what you find. And no risk taking, Minerva. Irma, I look to you to be the voice of restraint if Minerva becomes too headstrong. Is that understood, ladies?"
Minerva and Irma nodded agreement in unison.
Albus knocked on Minerva's door very early the next day. Minerva answered the door still in her night attire.
Albus quickly took in her disheveled appearance as well as the rather sensual burgundy nightgown she wore. While the gown draped upon the floor and was certainly not immodest, it did hint at the figure underneath. "Did I wake you, Minerva?"
"Not exactly. I had just got up." Minerva ushered him in. "Irma and I plan on an early start."
"The two of you loose upon an unsuspecting world. My permission may have been granted too easily."
"We need to do this. You know I'm right and -"
"Minerva, please, I did not come here to argue." Albus raised his hands to stop her protests. "I came to give you this." He held up a gold necklace. A small gold heart dangled upon it. "It's a special alarm. Should you ever want me you need only hold it in your hand and say my name and I and Fawkes will attend you."
Minerva could not decide whether to be delighted or puzzled. "Why a ... a heart?"
"Why not?" Albus walked behind her and wound the pendant around her neck. Minerva gathered her long hair to the side to give him better access. "It would seem like the natural thing for a woman to wear."
"Yes, yes, of course, very natural." Minerva fingered the heart pendant as Albus fastened the clasp. She could feel the warm wisps of his breath on the back of her neck. Her own heart strangely enough was beating far too fast for so early in the day.
"If anyone inquires, you may say that it is a gift from one who cares greatly about you. It would not be a lie." Albus managed the clasp and moved to face her again. His gaze followed the gold chain to the pendant nestled just above the hollow between her breasts. He cleared his throat noisily and transferred his eyes to her face. "It suits you."
"Thank you, Albus." She looked up at him. "I'll return it as soon as we come back."
"Save your breath, Minerva. The pendant is yours. Think of it as an early birthday present."
"My birthday was last month."
"A late birthday present then." Albus' eyes fell on her lips before drifting back to her eyes. "I only want one thing from you."
"And that would be?"
"A promise. A promise to be very, very careful. Never forget what you have there and use it when you need to. Do you promise?"
"I promise. I won't forget."
"And you'll come back in four days?"
"Not a day longer."
Albus stepped back and straightened his robes. "Well, very good. I'll see you off at the gates in an hour." He was about to close her door when some imp inside him made him say, "By the by, Minerva, I hope you're packing something more substantial than that gown, fetching though it is. I wouldn't want you to get a cold."
He closed the door shut but not before seeing the first hints of a blush on Minerva's face.
A/N: After much thinking on a possible sidekick for Minerva, I felt that Madam Pince would be a good pick. Besides I've always had a feeling there might be more to her than meets the eye.
Off to Kilmartin, oh, what clues will they find there? Anyone broken the cipher code of Godric's journal?
Madam Pince was used to an orderly procession of days during the week. A library if organized and managed properly literally ran itself. Her main preoccupation during the school term was investigating the old books and manuscripts held in trust at Hogwarts. There were many rare collections and editions that were archived in the school gathered from the founders themselves, from various faculty who contributed over the years as well as the occasional donor. Much of all this resided in two massive rooms in the back of the library. There was a smaller side room which served as a workshop of sorts.
Much like Professor Snape minding his private working potions room, Madam Pince regarded her workshop as sacrosanct. Being a librarian entailed more than cataloging and shelving books, at least at Hogwarts. When not needed in the library, Madam Pince could be found in her work room restoring old materials to as close to their original state as possible, or failing that, preserving the works as best she could. The workshop even had a walk-in vault where the most delicate or dangerous materials were stored until they could be dealt with properly. The room was understandably off limits to students and access was limited to the headmaster, deputy headmistress and Madam Pince herself. It was in her workshop that Minerva found Irma a little after dinner.
"Working late, Irma?" Minerva closed the door carefully behind her.
"I'm close to deciphering the locking mechanism on this book here." Irma put her wand away and pulled her attention from a battered first edition of Unnatural Transfigurations. "What is the point of applying locking charms on books if the owner doesn't make a point to remember the unlocking phrase or phrases?"
"An estate donation?"
Irma sat on a tall stool by the work bench. She rolled her shoulders forwards and backwards to work out the stiffness that an hour of concentration left behind. "The Mandeville bequest. Old Dixon's grandson left quite a cache. Unfortunately, the young man did not know how to unlock any of the books so I'm having a go at them. What brings you to my corner of the castle?"
"More research requests I'm afraid and something else, a mystery." Minerva smiled at the other woman. "You think you can leave Mandeville's hoard for a little while?"
"A mystery, eh? Something to do with the genealogy research?" Irma forgot all about her stiff neck.
"I conferred with Albus and he agreed that you were vital to the team."
"This is getting quite interesting."
"You don't know the half of it, Irma. Come on, I need to introduce you to someone. Then, later, I am going to need your help to convince Albus that we need to plan a little trip."
A few hours later, Irma found herself sitting in Minerva's sitting room opposite the headmaster. She had been dumbfounded when she met the newly living Bloody Baron. Irma could not help but feel a thrill of anticipation at hearing Minerva's plans; the same thrill that was normally reserved for finding a valuable first edition or rare document.
Minerva stood by a blackboard hovering in midair. On it were the same things that had been on her classroom blackboard. "According to the antique letter that Irma found, Juliana Pendry was a talented healer, one born with the natural gift of healing hands. Based on that letter, from one of Juliana's convalescing patient to his wife, we have our starting point. That is the town of Kilmartin in Argyle where the letter originated from." With a quick wave of her wand, the word 'Kilmartin' was listed on the blackboard. "That is where Irma and I intend to go."
"We have yet to finish analyzing the artifacts left by Rowena and Salazar. Did you not say that Godric's journal was begging for more attention? I do not see the need for this excursion at this time."
"Albus, given what we know and that we both agree that time is of the essence, I feel very strongly that of all the questions I posed, only one is absolutely paramount. That is the question of what happened to Isabel's line that caused the baron's resurrection. We already have a fairly good idea of what happened in the past from the baron. Now, we need to know the present. One possibility is that the line died out. If it has, then does that mean that the significant figure has already emerged? If not, then why not and will that non-event change our future?"
Albus opened his mouth to speak but Minerva continued on.
"Going on the supposition that a recent death triggered the baron's transformation, Irma and I consulted the obituaries for the last week both in the Prophet and the registrar of wizarding deaths maintained by the Ministry and cross matched the information against the wizarding genealogy listings. No individual deceased in the last week was, on the surface, related to Isabel Parnum. I have a suspicion that Juliana's descendants are muggles now."
Albus' eyebrows rose at this new possibility.
"I did a very cursory review of muggle obituaries in the Argyle area but that doesn't help us at all because we have no way of recognizing a Pendry descendant," Irma clarified.
Minerva nodded gratefully at her cohort. "So, you see, Albus, the only way to continue on is to go to Kilmartin."
"And after that where to?" Albus tapped his fingers on the armchair. "This ... trip has the markings of a quest."
"We have many questions and barely any answers. Where the trail leads, we ought to follow." Minerva looked earnestly at the headmaster. "I admit my reasoning is based on the slimmest of evidence and assumptions, but ... but, at this point, it is all we have."
"I am not questioning your reasoning. My concern remains where it has always been, on the prophecy." Albus looked at Irma. "Irma, this is a portion that we have only a vague understanding of. What is obvious in Rowena's writings is that her vision, her original vision, is tied to a larger prophecy. That prophecy is not written in any material that we have available. Because we do not know it, I am ... worried that we will affect the prophecy unknowingly."
"Albus, we can affect the prophecy by something we do, as much as if we do nothing at all."
"Good point."
"So, you'll teach my classes for a few days?" Minerva probed.
Albus gave in. "You have four days after which I want both of you back here. No matter what you find. And no risk taking, Minerva. Irma, I look to you to be the voice of restraint if Minerva becomes too headstrong. Is that understood, ladies?"
Minerva and Irma nodded agreement in unison.
Albus knocked on Minerva's door very early the next day. Minerva answered the door still in her night attire.
Albus quickly took in her disheveled appearance as well as the rather sensual burgundy nightgown she wore. While the gown draped upon the floor and was certainly not immodest, it did hint at the figure underneath. "Did I wake you, Minerva?"
"Not exactly. I had just got up." Minerva ushered him in. "Irma and I plan on an early start."
"The two of you loose upon an unsuspecting world. My permission may have been granted too easily."
"We need to do this. You know I'm right and -"
"Minerva, please, I did not come here to argue." Albus raised his hands to stop her protests. "I came to give you this." He held up a gold necklace. A small gold heart dangled upon it. "It's a special alarm. Should you ever want me you need only hold it in your hand and say my name and I and Fawkes will attend you."
Minerva could not decide whether to be delighted or puzzled. "Why a ... a heart?"
"Why not?" Albus walked behind her and wound the pendant around her neck. Minerva gathered her long hair to the side to give him better access. "It would seem like the natural thing for a woman to wear."
"Yes, yes, of course, very natural." Minerva fingered the heart pendant as Albus fastened the clasp. She could feel the warm wisps of his breath on the back of her neck. Her own heart strangely enough was beating far too fast for so early in the day.
"If anyone inquires, you may say that it is a gift from one who cares greatly about you. It would not be a lie." Albus managed the clasp and moved to face her again. His gaze followed the gold chain to the pendant nestled just above the hollow between her breasts. He cleared his throat noisily and transferred his eyes to her face. "It suits you."
"Thank you, Albus." She looked up at him. "I'll return it as soon as we come back."
"Save your breath, Minerva. The pendant is yours. Think of it as an early birthday present."
"My birthday was last month."
"A late birthday present then." Albus' eyes fell on her lips before drifting back to her eyes. "I only want one thing from you."
"And that would be?"
"A promise. A promise to be very, very careful. Never forget what you have there and use it when you need to. Do you promise?"
"I promise. I won't forget."
"And you'll come back in four days?"
"Not a day longer."
Albus stepped back and straightened his robes. "Well, very good. I'll see you off at the gates in an hour." He was about to close her door when some imp inside him made him say, "By the by, Minerva, I hope you're packing something more substantial than that gown, fetching though it is. I wouldn't want you to get a cold."
He closed the door shut but not before seeing the first hints of a blush on Minerva's face.
A/N: After much thinking on a possible sidekick for Minerva, I felt that Madam Pince would be a good pick. Besides I've always had a feeling there might be more to her than meets the eye.
Off to Kilmartin, oh, what clues will they find there? Anyone broken the cipher code of Godric's journal?