Twisted Roots

The History of Vanishing Records, Part 1

Stacks of books were strewn about the Hermione In haphazard piles. ‘How can this library have information on everything from....’ she glanced at a random open volume, ‘.....forbidden magic like how to reanimate a corpse or,’ she picked up a glass volume, ‘....how to eliminate chronic kazamalac’ (which she learned only today was a big problem in the 14th century) ‘and yet there is nothing useful on how to somehow get back home?  This is so completely....disappointing.’

Half of Christmas holiday was now passed and she was nowhere closer to discovering anything to solve her problem.

She massages her throbbing temples,and stared at the ceiling, forlorn.  Perhaps this was to be her fate, and she would have to eventually go into hiding once she was born in order to avoid seeing herself.  Either that or maybe she was destined to die before hat even happened, solving that problem.  ‘I know it’s dangerous, but surely there would have to be some kind of clue.’

she lowered her head to rest on the cool,wood of the desk in front of her.  It was late, and her eyelids were heavy.  Just a catnap...

She found herself staring at someone who seemed both far away and very near.  For the life of her she could not make out if they were male or female, or what they looked liked.  All she knew was that they were cloaked in black.

Is this real...?

As if compelled to move forward, she walked towards the figure but her legs weighed a ton; it was all she could do to move the smallest inch.  She could not look down to see why, and she could not even raise her hands to touch her face....

And then a voice like icy daggers assaulted her ears causing her to cringe from the chill, ‘Are you very afraid?’

Morning

Hermiome awoke with a sharp scream knocking books to the floor and nearly sending the librarian into a bookcase.  She blinked rapidly for s moment, one hand on her heart and tried to remember where she was.

’You, be careful you—‘ she sputtered, one hand pointing her index finger at her, ‘What’s the meaning of this’s?  Are you trying to kill me and destroy my library?’

Hermione glanced around, did I sleep here?

As if in answer she felt a sharp pain in her back.  The librarian shook her head, ‘Mucking up my library trying to kill me and for what? I have been cleaning up after you for days and you can’t find what it is you are looking for so out with it so I can tell you if there’s anything in here on it so you can get out and leave me be.’

Hermione held her head, it was gone, whatever she dreamed but she hadn’t liked it.  And while she felt the librarian was over exaggerating since she put most of the books back herself she was desperate and tired enough to accept any kind of help, ‘I’m curious about time travel’ she was simply,too tired to care, ‘ I know it’s carefully studied by the Department of Mysteries but I was wanting to know....’ how did she ask how to time travel without being direct.....

”The history of vanishing records” grunted the librarian.  ‘You can find it overt there by the magazines it’s Only got the one volume but Darren Dill interviewed a great deal of old portraits to collect information on events and happenings.  Best I can say.’

Hermione frowned, because the name was familiar, ‘ isn’t that a gossip rag?’

’why don’t you read it and see what you can make of it first.  Maybe it’s a little too sophisticated for you.”

Hermione opened and shut her mouth before rubbing her eyes.  Fine.  It couldn’t hurt and she could read it over breakfast. She checked it out, tucked it under her arm and headed for the great hall for breakfast.