What Do You Mean, Restricted? (Philip)

Zane searched high and low for a book at the library. He needed answers for his Occlumency homework, but was having a hard time even finding the section on it. For such an old school it certainly didn't seem very thorough, he mused. Dark brown eyebrows furrowed as he inspected shelf after shelf of titles. None of the books he came across sounded even remotely ominous or intriguing as per the current situation and subject matter. He needed a reference book like the ones he'd briefly gotten acquainted with at Wolfclaw. For the moment, Hogwarts didn't seem to have anything like that.

Reaching the very end of the library, Zane tilted his head at the roped-off Restricted Section. "Really?" the teenager huffed. Surely all of the good books for his homework were in there. Green eyes narrowed in envy at the sign preventing his progress. Zane read the notation on requiring a professor's permission and muttered under his breath as he walked away. He would have to revise his strategy... perhaps see if Professor Malfoy's permission would be enough to get him in, even though this wasn't their school.

Zane scoured the shelves directly at the border between the library proper and the restricted section. It was his hope that maybe - just maybe - there would be a book someone forgot to overlook or hoped no student would ever find. If this didn't work, then the wizard would seek out a professor. "Come on... why wouldn't this be standard curriculum?" Zane muttered, getting more frustrated by the minute.

And then, he saw it. Zane almost ripped the book off the shelf and flipped to the index. His feet absently led him to a reading area complete with chairs and a table. One foot nudged out a chair, and Zane plopped himself into it. Yes: this book would do until he managed to track down a professor. Or, unlikely as it was, if a professor found him...

Philip finished scolding the gryffindors, sending them on their way. They seemed confused as to why they were being shouted at in the first place. Well, talking to mudbloods. Yet another reason as to why Philip loved Wolfclaw. No idiotic gryffindors. He never even caught one of them at the library. He didn't go there often anyway, but still. He didn't need to. Students however, did. And somehow, they actually gained a bit of Philip's respect whenever they did study. Specially when it had to do with his subject.

And while contemplating the library matter, Philip found himself at the library. Some Wolfclaw students were there. That Morderus kid. The Parkinson boy. Hold it... The Parnkinson boy was reading something that was in Philip's line of thoughts. He could read the title from afar. He didn't know much about Zane Parkinson, being a rather new student after all, but from what he was already seeing, taking a liking to him wouldn't be hard.

Philip slowly made his way past Zane, and picked up a book. Not even looking at the cover. He sat down, opposite to Zane, in a calm fashion, and with a smirk, flipped the pages. Surprising, t was a potions book. Philip never actually cared about Potions. But why not. "Mister Parkinson, here all alone?" Philip asked. He knew most of the new students. Aerilyn was able to hide her last name, and Philip had no idea how. Guess she really was his daughter.

Zane heard someone walk by, but paid it no mind. Perhaps it was foolish to be unconcerned. The way Zane saw it was he wasn’t a muggleborn, so there was little reason for worry. Who went to a library to cause trouble, anyway? That seemed counterproductive. The teenager continued to read, lost in his quest for a suitable amount of information he could assemble into an essay.

He jumped when his name was spoken, and looked up to see who was talking. “Yes, sir,” Zane replied, recognizing the professor. It occurred to him to ask the professor about the restricted section. However, asking too soon might give the wrong impression. “Was trying to get some extra reading done for classes when we get back to Wolfclaw, since all my other homework’s done. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to even talk about occlumency here... surprised they even had this book out on the shelf,” he explained, tapping the book with his fingers.

Philip chuckled, quickly going through the pages of his own book. "Excited about going back to Wolfclaw huh?" He asked, smirking. Truth the matter was, Philip also wanted to go back home. He had nothing bonding him to Hogwarts anyway. Lucius would soon leave Hogwarts, and his brother could visit him whenever he wanted. Alchemy would go back to the Czech Republic as well, and Aerilyn would go live with him. Plus, Gwen was back home.

Philip narrowed his eyes and glared towards the book Zane had in his hand. “They don't,” he asked, already livid. He had had enough of Hogwarts already. How could they not have a dwelled approach in such an important subject? He was glad that there was at least one book that was able to grab the attention of the young student. “Outrageous. We must find something for you to read. Other than that,” he expressed his disgust, as it hit him. Hogwarts's library was not the same as Wolfclaw's. It had a...restricted, section. Idiocy. If there was something the children couldn't read, Dumbledore should just take it away. Not make a whole section about those books. Of course that would spark curiosity. "Have you tried the restricted section?"

A small smile stretched Zane’s lips. ”Yes, sir. Wasn’t there for very long before we all came here for the tournament... but already I miss the place.” The boy wanted to be anywhere but at this school. It didn’t matter if it was back at Wolfclaw, or at home with his family for the holidays – something he planned to arrange the first chance he had.

The teen shook his head at the livid question from Philip. Zane felt that occlumency was an important skill to have, and obviously the professor felt the same way or he wouldn’t be teaching it, right? Green eyes glanced down at the book. Something else to read certainly sounded like a better idea. Zane certainly wasn’t finding much in the book at hand that he could use beyond that of a basic definition. ”Sounds great, assuming something better even exists here...” he said.

Zane pulled a face of annoyance in response to the question. ”I tried...” he muttered lowly, setting his current book aside with a quiet thud. The boy crossed his arms over his chest. ”But the librarian said students aren’t allowed in without permission from a professor. If this book wasn’t good enough – and it isn’t, by the way... it’s rubbish, just like this whole ‘restricted’ nonsense – I had planned to come talk to you about it, sir...”

Philip nodded, enjoying the way Wolfclaw had already made another student fond of the school. ”Good to know. When we get back, make sure to get acquainted to everything once again! Make sure to find every single book you can't find here.” And there would be a lot of books for Zane to find, that Philip was sure off. Disgusting, he thought yet again.

How could they not have information about Occlumency? Or at least to a certain degree. Philip didn't expect it to be like Woflclaw, but at least have a little bit more of information about such important matter. Yet, the restricted section probably had something. "Librarian doesn't allow you in? Good thinking of you to have though to come get me. Follow me," Philip said, abruptly getting up.

Making his way to one of the lines of the restricted area, violently pulling it off. "Sir, please, be more careful." The librarian who had suddenly jogged to Philip said. Seeing the library empty, leaving only one student, Zane, left, Philip pulled the librarian closer. "Nag me again, and your grave will also be made in that damn restricted area. We clear?" He asked, pushing him back. "Y-...Yes..." The librarian said, stepping away. Philip took a step fowards, motioning for Zane to follow him.

Zane smirked at the encouragement from Professor Malfoy. ”I intend to make it one of my first priorities, sir.” Knowing the teenager’s luck, he’d probably find enough reading material to keep him occupied well until he was old enough to become a professor himself.

The boy stood and followed. He was starting to like the professor: he seemed to be about as candid about certain things as Zane was, and more than ready to get to the matter at hand once all options appeared to be exhausted. Zane imagined that the Wolfclaw professors were both relieved and bored with this vacation of sorts due to the tournament. Students didn’t have such luck in that area...

Green eyes blinked in mild surprise at the force with which Professor Malfoy pulled on one of the cords blocking off the restricted section. Zane supposed the professor was just as disgusted as he was with the lack of selections on the subject in question. Though it hadn’t crossed his mind, Zane made a mental note to never get the professor annoyed or angry with him. Relatively unfazed and without a second glance at the librarian Zane followed Philip into the restricted section.

If the library proper didn’t already smell of old parchment and dusty book spines, the scents of the restricted section seemed twice as strong to Zane. There was a measure of power in these books – the boy could feel it! He had expected the restricted section to be larger, though. ’Definitely not Wolfclaw...’ the teen mused.

Zane quickly found an entire section on Occlumency. He tilted his head and squinted at the lettering on the books. ”Which ones would you recommend, professor?” he asked. Zane would never call himself a bookworm, but all of the titles were intriguing enough to grab his attention.

”You make me glad then.” Philip responded to the child's prior comment. If anyone took a look around Hogwarts's library, they'd find it mostly empty compared to Wolfclaw's. Here, students were more interested in gossiping about whomever was high in popularity then actually studying. But at Wolfclaw, the children knew how to act.

As Philip stepped into the restricted section, he smelled the nostalgia. The satisfaction half the students had when they could actually go there. Regulus and Lucius passed days in the restricted section because Philip kept giving them permission. And why the heck should he not do it?

Upon hearing Zane's question, after he too stepped inside, Philip smirked. Grabbing one of the small ladders, he quickly browsed shelf after shelf in the Mixed Arts area. Letting book after book fall to the floor, Philip sighed. He knew there was at least one he himself would like.

Upon seeing it, the ladder nearly fell as Philip jumped to grab the book of one of the top of the shelf. Hitting the floor with a clap, he smiled. "Guide to Advanced Occlumency. Writen by Maxwell Barnett. Have at it kid." He said, blowing the dust from the top of the book, and handing it to Zane. It was in fact, not too bad of a book, and it was worth a read.

Zane watched the professor, smirking as the older wizard let book after book crash to the floor. The only thing that would make the situation even more amusing was if the stuck-up librarian was in here, making a fuss over how the books were being treated. The librarian probably wouldn’t live long afterwards if that were to happen. Zane smirked at the images his mind came up with, regardless.

He stepped back from the shelves when Philip jumped, causing the ladder to wobble. The boy couldn’t help but grin: it looked like fun. Zane took the offered book, and nodded. “Thanks, Professor,” he said. Now this looked like a proper book. The teenager took it to an empty desk and leafed through it to see what sort of information was inside: about the author, the organization of the index... whatever happened to catch his interest at the moment.

“How long have you been teaching Occlumency, sir?” Zane asked curiously. Apparently the man was qualified, or else the Headmistress wouldn’t have hired him. Zane wasn’t sure what he planned on doing after school. Maybe a Ministry official, or a healer... or maybe even a professor; the teen was still weighing his options.