Dust on the Shelves

[Velda Aesalon]

Velda tapped her fingers rhythmically on her desk, having completed all her work for the afternoon early in preparation for the meeting with the head of the club she oversaw. She didn't especially want to take part in student activity but there had been mutterings amongst the students that she was off-putting so for the sake of showing willing to the Headmaster here she sat and here she waited for Miss Fiona Prewett.

Who wasn't really that bad all in all. She was certainly a great deal quieter than others, although not so quiet that Velda assumed she was up to something. The door to the library opened smartly and Velda pursed her lips as she glanced at the clock and realised that Miss Prewett was annoyingly punctual in actual fact.

"You took your time Miss Prewett."

  

[Fiona Prewett]

Fiona was, in fact, perfectly punctual, which came as no surprise to the witch. She prided herself on her time-keeping, among many other qualities—but she knew Mrs. Aesalon. She had come to know the librarian rather well, at least better than most, during the two years the older woman had been at the school and particularly during her tenure as president of the book club. She was rather…well, difficult to get along with at best but she was an excellent librarian and Fiona had always appreciated her presence. Rather her than Miss Ollivander, who had always been rather ineffectual.

It was far easier to simply ignore Mrs Aesalon’s lack of pleasantries and Fiona offered her a smile—a polite smile, but knowing nonetheless, as she joined the librarian at her desk.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Aesalon.” She briefly glanced around the room, and discovered a possible explanation for the older woman’s displeasure. “Goodness—you’ve been rather invaded by first years!”

  

[Velda Aesalon]

Velda pulled a face at the comment, quite aware that it was true and rather pleased that Miss Prewett at least had the astuteness to recognise that first years were the eternal enemy. She didn't like the girl, primarily because Velda couldn't think of a single soul that she actually liked but she would concede that Fiona was one of the least offensive people she knew. She nodded towards the chair next to hers and hoped the girl realised what a departure it was for her not to make students stand in front of her desk.

"“I have," she said through gritted teeth. "“Sit down Miss Prewett. I only hope we'll be able to get through this without being disturbed although it does seem unlikely I'll get my wish."

With the beginning of the Spring term the library was packed with students desperately trying to catch up with work they had neglected over the holidays, or else older students redoing essays they hadn't realised were of a first year's standards when they dashed it off over Christmas. Velda despaired of all of them and couldn't see how they ever expected to amount to anything other than washer-women or coachmen.

"“Oh, I suppose I should ask if you had a pleasant Christmas?"

  

[Fiona Prewett]

Fiona’s Christmas had hardly been pleasant but she had been raised not to admit to that; instead she nodded, smiling convincingly and appearing for all the world as if her holiday had not been plagued by her sister’s incarceration and her encounter with Mr. Goyle. Besides, she was quite sure that the question was merely a formality; Mrs. Aesalon was hardly the sort of woman to confide in even if Fiona did require a confidante. Which she didn’t. Felicity would come home and she and Mr. Riley would be fine and everything would be wonderful again. She was simply here to discuss the book club.

“It was lovely, thank you. And yours?”

  

[Velda Aesalon]

Velda shrugged noncommittally, not especially concerned with making an attempt at a response for the sake of politeness. Her Christmas, as were most her days, had been tedious and lonely, with the majority of her children not even deigning to come to see her. Still, it had been quite nice to enjoy the quiet in the castle during the holidays and she had scarcely moved from the seat by the fire with the wonderful view of the lake that made up the best part of her bedroom.

Hogwarts had been better to her than anyone or anything in her life and she was oddly glad that if nothing else at least she had the castle to rely on.

"Have you had any ideas for a new novel? I suppose we should read something edifying but I thought we might be frivolous this year and try something French too?"

  

[Fiona Prewett]

• Fiona nearly snorted. She prided herself on speaking numerous languages—her governess had been quite adept and she had been an excellent student—but she doubted the less…enlightened members of the club would be able to string two words of French together! Would that they could. Fiona longed to bring a little sophistication to the club she lovingly chaired but hell would freeze over before she would be able to manage that. Better luck to her successor!
  
  “French might be a little too advanced,” Fiona replied diplomatically. “If we could find a translation perhaps—though nothing too risqué,” she hastily added.

  

[Velda Aesalon]

Velda had to concede that Miss Prewett was probably right. Generally speaking the book club was comprised of the brighter members of the school, something that Velda prided herself upon, but not all of them had the background of education that Miss Prewett had enjoyed, or else had the European father she had loved to teach her all the languages he knew.

“Are you under the assumption that the library already stocks such things Miss Prewett?” She asked with a raised eyebrow but not entirely without humour, though seldom few of the students ever seemed to realise whether she was being comical or serious.

“I suppose a novel of any kind would do. There are plenty hidden away in the back shelves over there,” she nodded towards a mildly dusty and mostly unused part of the library. “The Headmaster doesn’t object to their presence but I’m not allowed to encourage their circulation,” she would have rolled her eyes but even Velda’s capacity for annoyance knew when to show respect to the Headmaster.