Latest issue of the school yearbook tucked under her arm, Kurumi made her way to the librarian's office to drop it off in the reference section. Kurumi really couldn't be more proud of her yearbook staff and how hard they were working. Her only regret? This was her last term as student editor and she wouldn't be able to work with them in the following years.

Approaching the door now, Kurumi knocked on it twice and then took a small step back to wait.

It was the afternoon after the opening feast, a feast which per Hogwart's usual had contained everything from ghosts, gift giving elves, new staff and esteemed visitors. Leobald had luckily managed to keep himself out of most of commotion without too much trouble. He had seen at least one student take off for the hospital wing and given the general state of many of the student’s in the hall Leo assumed that Cecelia had had a busy night.

Putting the finishing touches on a letter to his uncle he heard a knock on the door. Who could that be? Raising his voice he called out. "Come on in, the door is open!! putting the letter in an envelope Leobald put it in the top drawer of his to be sent off later when he had some time to spare for the walk to the owlery.

Hearing the librarian's voice, Kurumi made sure that her robes were as they should be and fixed her bangs so they were covering her forehead before she slowly opened the door. "Ojamashimasu..." she murmured as she entered out of pure habit.

Slipping inside, Kurumi bowed slightly before approaching him. "Good day, Mr. Kitridge. I just wanted to come by to drop off the latest yearbook for your reference section," she said as she handed him the issue.

Leobald looked up as Kurumi Hollingberry walked into his office murmuring something in a foreign language possibly Japanese which he didn’t understand. BLINK!!! Hopefully it was just a greeting phrase or something?

Mr Kitridge put on broad smile as Kurumi approached his desk with a brand new issue of the yearbook in her hands, completely forgetting the Japanese. "Good day Miss Hollingberry." Accepting the yearbook issue he gave the first page a once over. "Thank you very much I’ll see to it that the yearbook issue gets to the reference section for everyone to read. I think the yearbook is a good paper with many interesting articles." Kurumi was head editor of it if his memory served him right.

"Is there a way that I can subscribe to the yearbook or will you come and deliver all the new issues to me?"

Kurumi was rather proud of the issue she had just handed over. She had been on yearbooks staff since her third year, but only as a photographer. Starting her sixth year, however, she had followed in the footsteps of her Lion Mama Lexi and taken over as the student editor...and THAT issue right was the first one published under her leadership. So it really had a lot of sentimental value.

"You're welcome sir," she said with her smile only widening just a bit more. Only...it wasn't a paper. Not in the sense like the Daily Prophet was. It was a proper book. Hard cover and everything actually. "Oh, well, um....I don't think yearbook has ever really taken subscriptions...per say." Seeing as it really was just an annual publication. "Hogwarts staff automatically are given one and it has always been the job of the student editor to give an issue to the library."

Kurumi ran her fingers through her hair for a moment, more out of nervous habit than anything really. Not that she was nervous about anything either. "I was actually wondering, sir, if you needed help keeping up the reference section? I wouldn't mind allotting some of my time to help."

Still holding the yearbook in his hand Leobald weighed the book absently as he focused his attention on the Gryffindor Prefect. "I see, well is it all right if duplicate the book at least since there is a possibility that more than one student at a time would like to read the latest from the yearbook?" It was a pity he couldn’t subscribe to it but he understood the reasons for it. "The yearbooks only come out once a year, yes?" It wasn’t like that gossip fest Aparecium which turned up when you least expected it.

Would it be weird if he danced on the spot? Getting assistance with the reference section felt like someone above was hearing his thoughts. Beaming brightly he quipped excitedly "The reference section I must warn you, Kurumi is giant mess at the moment. I got a big shipment of new reference material at the start of term but I haven’t had the time to work through all of the books and that includs labeling and categorizing the whole lot and putting them on the shelves. Still sure you'd like to help with it?”

Leobald had put it on his list of projects but so far hadn’t had the time to devote to it. If Kurumi really wanted to devote some of her time to it he’d be most grateful.

Kurumi nodded. "Professor Romanos usually duplicates yearbooks after we have made one or two," Kurumi explained. Not many really knew the process since, well, all that was limited to the yearbook office that only staff knew its location and how to get in. "We might still have a few more already duplicated copies in the office if you want me to check." Of course, he could always do it himself if he wanted to. Kurumi had just been raised to use what resources you had instead.

Giant mess? Somehow that wasn't too surprising considering how much research people had been doing last term to try and figure out just what was going on with the orb and the time thief. Poor Mr. Kitridge was probably beside himself with how unorganized things had gotten. Kurumi was pretty sure that she had spotted the Daily Prophets being entirely out of chronological order. Ew. "I don't mind, sir," she said with a firm nod of the head. It was about time she gave back to her second, er, third, er....fourth home. First home being her home in Japan, second being Hogwarts in general, third being the kitche, and fourth being the library specifically. Besides...maybe her efforts could be rewarded and that could only help Gryffindor house in the end, right? "I can get started right away if you'd like."

Professor Romanos seemed to be a sensible woman even though he hadn't had the privelidge to get to know her very well. "I'd be grateful if you could ask Professor Romanos about those yearbook duplicates. If nobody uses them I'd love for them to have a place in the library. Many student's seem interested in reading them i've heard." Leobald said. In a quiet library it was easy to pick up conversations and looming trouble.

Had he frightened her? Kurumi didn't strike him as easily frightened in the face of a challenge. "It's settled then." Mr Kitridge grinned. "Yes, you can start right away if you want. Let me know if you need any help. Also be wary of the magic on those book shelves, its still a bit unpredictable." Leobald had stabled the magic in the library but he needed Professor Bellaire's expertise to make sure it wouldn't become unstable in the future.

"I'll be sure to ask her," Kurumi nodded. Right away most likely since Kurumi needed to head to the yearbook office soon anyway to develop some photographs and work on a layout for an upcoming issue. "I'm glad to hear people are wanting to read them. My staff puts a lot of effort into their creation and it is nice to hear that they are getting appreciated."

Kurumi sort of blinked a few times in surprise. "Unpredictable...bookshelves?" Why did that not sound like a good thing. Were the shelves themselves going to jump out and bite her or something? Or had their sorting spells been made haywire? Only one way to find out it seemed...and that was for her to go in there and test things out for herself. "I'll start right now," she nodded again. She had time and anything that provided her with a distraction seemed like a good idea.

Giving him one last bow, Kurumi took her leave and headed out of the office and towards the reference section.

"Good, good.” Mr Kitrdige mumbled. It would be nice if Professor Romanos could agree to let the library get the extra yearbooks. If not at least give him permission to duplicate the edition which Miss Hollingberry had already given him.

"Yes, so do be wary dear. I’m working on fixing the magic on the bookshelves but until I work out the last adjustments its best if you keep from using magic there." He cautioned. The last thing he wanted was to see the Gryffindor prefect get hurt due to his own lack of warnings.
"Bye Kurumi!" Leobald called after the dark haired girl as she left his office.


FIN.

Finally having a quiet moment in the hospital wing Cece decided to visit the library. She had some research she needed to do. With only a little over a month before the time came, there was no way she was going to let anything happen and it seemed as if no one else was trying hard enough to find a cure.

After finding the books she needed she decided to see if the librarian was in his office. Might as well visit him since she was there anyway.

Standing outside his door she knocked then stood back. She didn't need the door hitting her when it opened. That is if Leo was even there.

With the peaceful quiet spreading out of over the library as the student's buried their heads in their studies Leobald retreated back to his office. If the student's needed his assistance he had left a giant, hard to miss note on the front desk stating where they could find him.

Unlocking the door to his office Leo headed inside. He briefly eyed the paper piles on his desk before going over to the fireplace. Pouring in a big batch of cocoa into a cauldron he hung it to warm over the simmering fire.

Knock, Knock!

Turning towards the door Leo called out "Come in." Had a crisis brewed already?

Hearing Leo call out Cece shifted the books in her arms so she could open the door. Stepping inside she closed the door behind her. "Hello Leo, I hope you don't mind me stopping by." And if he did that was just too bad because she was already there. "I came to get some research books," she said as she shifted the books again so she was now holding them in both arms. "so I thought I'd stop by and say hi."

Leo had just poured himself a cup of hot cocoa when his visitor arrived. He was suspecting a student but instead it was Cecelia; an even lovelier visitor. "Hello Cecelia. No, not all, I was just taking a little break to get myself some hot cocoa."Leo greeted. Gesturing towards the cauldron he asked "Would you care for a cup or are you in a hurry?"

Research books...

Sipping quietly on his mug he eyed the books in Cece's hands. "What kind of research books are you borrowing?" He asked curiously.

Hair fraying out in various directions, uniform slightly disheveled, and definitely out of breath, Kurumi made her way from the reference section back towards Mr. Kitridge's office just to let him know that all the books had been recharmed and things were all tidied up. She was glad that Beezus had happened to stop by, and then Kat a little later, because Kurumi would not have been able to get through everything on her own. Or, well, she could have but it would have taken probably until the next year.

Kurumi knocked on the door twice and then waited.

Leobald was catching up on some paperwork which he had put off to focus on his other duties like hosting a few Gobstones matches with Professor Elwood. The mop-haired librarian was thinking of brewing himself a warm cup of tea when heard a distinctive knock on the door. Rising to his feet he walked the few feet to the door and opened.

Looking out his eyes widened at the state of the Gryffindor prefect outside his office door. What on earth could have happened to her hair and clothes. "Hello.....Are you all right? Kurumi what has happened to your clothes, have you been in a fight?" Leo asked worriedly. Ushering the prefect inside he motioned for her to take a seat in front of the roaring fireplace.

Seating himself down opposite her he waited for an explanation.

"Um...I am now," Kurumi said with a small nod. It was the truth after all and she hadn't been attacked by anymore books since the initial one had gone rogue. "I just wanted to tell you that I finished reorganizing and charming the reference section. I also applied Impervius to all the books," Kurumi said in a slightly exhausted tone. "Beezus and Kat helped as well." And were still in the reference section actually. "I'm...not sure if you are wanting to go take a look now or..."

"I'm glad you are okay now." Mr Kitridge cut in as Kurumi explained where she had come from. The Gryffindor prefect had finished re-organizing and charming the reference section just like she had promised him she would assist him with. And she hadn't done it alone it seemed either, which in hindsight should have been something he should have insisted on. "Was it the books that attacked you? Are Beezus and Kat all right too?"

Standing up he eyed Kurumi's exhausted features. "I'd love it if you could show me what you've done with the section now if you are up to it? If you are too tired then we can do it some other time." Leo replied.

A long tendril, snakes under the doorway of the librarians office. Wrapping around an expensive looking fishing pole the tendril attempts to pull the pole back underneath the door with it. A small "crack" can be heard from the pole as the reel is broken off just before the rest of the pole disappears under the door.

Coming back from eating breakfast Leobald unlocked the door to his office. Changing hand on his coffee mug, the mop haired librarian steps into the office feeling something crack under his feet. Don’t PANIC!!

Looking down perplexed his eyes widened at the sight of a reel which should be sitting on a fishing pole. Only problem was that there was no fishing pole in sight. Carefully putting down the coffee mug on his desk Leo pulled out his wand and lit up the room so he could inspect more closely. Breath!!

Crouching down he picked up the broken reel and looked it over. It was his. He immediately recognized it as a part of his most expensive fishing pole which had been a gift from his grandfather a few years back. Leo spent the next several minutes searching his office inch by inch for the rest of his fishing pole but it was GONE!

The only conclusion was that he had been ROBBED!

Breath!

Breath!

Forgetting his coffee mug Leo left his office unlocked as he hurried out of the library with the broken reel in hand in the search for the caretaker and the headmistress. Who would rob him and for what reason?