Miss DiAnna Diaz
November 09, 2011 9:48 AM
First years' library orientation by Miss DiAnna Diaz
Last year's pilot attempt at offering first year students a tour of the library had gone well, and so the library orientation was being repeated this year. First years had barely even started their classes, and so many of them had not yet had chance to visit the library. Instead of attending class following breakfast one morning, the first year students were required to meet in the library, at DiAnna's desk near the entrance from the main school (the entrance to the Aladren commons was also concealed within the library, but that would be one landmark she would keep quiet from the rest of the students).DiAnna herself was waiting to meet the students. Some of them - most notably the Aladrens - had probably seen her around already. Those who hadn't might not be prepared to discover their school librarian was a young woman of twenty-five years, who was perhaps the Muggle fairytale pictoral representation of a witch (minus the warts, of cause). DiAnna's long hair was dyed black, she always wore dark eye make-up, and further whitened her already pale skin. Her wardrobe was composed almost entirely of black, with occasional flashes of purple and red, and was largely made of velvet and lace. Her feet were encased in high-heeled boots, that helped to put her above the height of the younger students (though several of the older kids were still taller).
"Okay, everyone," DiAnna called attention to herself. She'd gotten a lot more confident with addressing large groups of people since she'd accidentally become divinations professor for the past couple of terms. She was, however, pleased to be returning to her original duties this year. "For those of you who don't know me, I'm Miss Diaz, the librarian. This morning we're just going to have a look round the library, because it can be quite daunting when you don't know what you're doing." her words were undoubtedly more or less identical to those she'd spoken to last year's group of first year students.
"Before we start, you should know that you can take out as many books as you like from the library, as long as you're being sensible. They need renewing after a week or they've been charmed to find their way back to the library." How they did this had never been very clear to DiAnna, but they somehow all ended up on her desk without the students' involvement. "Obviously, if you keep having overdue books, you'll be allowed to borrow fewer at one time than someone who returns books promptly, which could get you into trouble at the end of the year when you need to study for exams." It hadn't been a problem before, but it seemed fair to draw their attention to the potential scenario.
"That said, you can stay and study in the librry until ten minutes before curfew, and use any of the books without borrowing them. When you want to check a book out, just find me or one of the library monitors." That was something else she needed to explain. "The library monitors are student volunteers - the sign-up sheet will be going up next week," she pointed to the noticeboard, "and first years are welcome to sign up, too, as monitors or assistants." That was the basics covered; now for the books. "Okay, so if you could all stay together for the tour, that would be great."
Walking round with the first years, DiAnna showed them where they could find all their subject-relevant textbooks and some age-appropriate fiction. She also pointed out the restricted section, and made it very clear that students were not allowed to enter without staff permission. At the end of the tour, she addressed the group once more. "Okay, now you're free to have a look round properly, and if you want to come and check some books out, or if you have any questions, I'll be at my desk."
(OOC: Remember to stick to site rules when you post. You will earn House points for posting here, just as you would in a class.)
Subthreads: Music to my ears. by Ephanie Lucore with Elijah Errant, Ephanie
... by Angel Shield - Teppenpaw with Jade Owen, Angel, Angel
What a waste of time by Gareth Whitebriar - Crotalus with Meggie Brownbriar, Gareth
Getting oriented and acquainted. by Alicia Bauer with Thaddeus Pierce II, Aladren, Thad Pierce
Smiling and Nodding. by Cepheus Princeton with Waverly Canterbury, Waverly
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Miss DiAnna Diaz
First years' library orientation
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Miss DiAnna Diaz
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Cepheus Princeton
November 15, 2011 11:33 AM
Smiling and Nodding. by Cepheus Princeton
Cepheus hadn't gone to the library yet, but he wasn't dying to go there. The library at the Princeton Manor was expansive and impressive in his opinion. He'd spent most of his time there being tutored with his cousins. So to say he'd received more than his share of the library was true. When he heard about the orientation, he had thoughts about not going, but he knew his father would want him to go. Tell him what American libraries looked like. Cepheus thought it silly that his father was always comparing England with America.He walked into the library and he noticed it had a warm appeal. It would be nice to work in here, he said, appraising his surroundings like he always did. He put his hands into his pockets and followed the librarian around. She wasn't old like other librarians he'd known, which he didn't think twice about. She dressed strangely, and Cepheus didn't like it. But she was the librarian and he probably wouldn't talk to her much anyway except to check out books.
Cepheus wondered what was in the restricted section that could be so bad. He knew there were horrible magical books; his library held a few from the Princeton's past. His father had warned him against a few titles, saying that they could kill a person if one looked at it or turned to a certain page. He wasn't sure why people would make such horrid books, but they were there. Would a school library carry such books as those? He'd have to get a professor to write him a pass one day.
Once they were dismissed, he sighed. Having nothing to do yet, he decided to peruse the shelves and see what he could find. Perhaps something on DADA. As he wandered, he thought about becoming a library monitor. That would mean he'd have to spend more time here in the library than necessary, but it would give him something more to do. That is, if he didn't make the Quidditch team. He supposed he'd think more on that later on.
Once he regained his bearings, he realised he was no longer in the textbook side, but was walking through shelves full of magical fiction. Not exactly his cup of tea, but he began to look at the titles, bored.
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Smiling and Nodding.
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Waverly Canterbury
November 15, 2011 2:20 PM
Hello again! by Waverly Canterbury
Waverly woke up fairly early, tired and a little groggy. She had dressed half-hazardly, eyes half-open, but when she remembered that there was going to be a library orientation, her energy came to her. She had gone to the Sonora library once before, and it had marveled her. Now she was actually going to know where things were and hopefully what they meant! She had bounded down to breakfast, ate quickly, and then came early to the library orientation. She wanted to learn everything she could about this wonderful place.When the tour started, she listened to the librarian's every word. She was probably going to get to know this lady real soon. Waverly couldn't imagine a better place to do homework at night. Except for maybe her lovely common room. That was pretty too. And so, so magical! Waverly still couldn't get over the fact that she was at a magical school. She'd have to get used to calling herself a witch from now on.
Miss Diaz said that there was going to be sign-ups to be a library monitor! Waverly suddenly wanted to be one badly. She could spend all day reading books and looking at the marvelous pictures and everything. Well, she'd probably have to do some monitoring too, but still. It would be worth it. Waverly smiled.
When they were told to look around for themselves, she made a beeline for the fiction section. She wanted to look all around again. She looked at the titles, trying to find a good book. "Ooh!" she exclaimed, and then reminded herself to lower her voice. She pulled out a book called, The Little Witch and her Dragon and Other Stories and began to flip through it. It wasn't a picture book, but it was a compilation of several short stories about a little girl and a dragon and other animals. She was so engrossed that she accidentally bumped into someone. Her head whipped up, brown hair blinding her for a moment before she brushed her hair out of her face.
"Oh, sorry!" Her green eyes took in the boy and then lit up in recognition. "Oh, hi Cepheus! You're here too! How are you liking the library?"
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Waverly Canterbury
Hello again!
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Cepheus Princeton
November 16, 2011 2:23 PM
Someone's quite chipper. by Cepheus Princeton
Cepheus recognised the muggle-born girl he'd met in the gardens, and couldn't understand how she could be so perky even in the morning. He nodded. "Yes, I heard it was mandatory for first-years." He shrugged. She was probably entranced by the library since she was a muggle-born and all wizarding libraries were magical. "It's just a normal library," he said, not knowing what else to say. "You're enchanted by this, are you not?" he asked, smirking a little. He didn't want to make fun of her for it, though he was sorely tempted to. He thought himself above petty things like that. And besides, she seemed nice."What book have you got there?" he asked. "The Little Witch and her Dragon?" He smiled, remembering his childhood, his mum reading it to him before he went to bed. "That's a children's book, fascinating as it may be." He looked up at the shelves, searching for a book. "Hm. Ah, here." He handed Waverly The Seventh Wizard. "It's about an Auror who goes abroad to war and sees how magic is corrupting society. I think he tries to live like a muggle, but he's found out and something happens to him." He shrugged. "It's my favourite book, as of right now."
Cepheus wasn't usually one who delved into fictional works, but this one he had really enjoyed. When Father had read it, he thought it a ridiculous subject, that magic could corrupt a world, but he liked that magic always triumphed in the end. "He gets into trouble with dragons and centaurs too, if you're interested in dragons and other magical creatures. Also, if you want to learn more about magic, you can read some historical books." Why was he helping her? Well, she was a girl, and she was a muggle-born, and he was being nice and trying to make a friend like Father had told him to. Though, he had said with purebloods, not muggle-borns. He looked back into the shelves, seeing if he knew any titles again, and pretending that he hadn't just helped out a muggle-born.
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Cepheus Princeton
Someone's quite chipper.
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Waverly
November 16, 2011 10:05 PM
Chipper? That's me! by Waverly
Waverly nodded. "Yeah, the library's super cool." She looked around again, still smiling. It was a normal library with magical properties. Ooh! She liked the sound of that! She looked down at her book when he mentioned it, and nodded when he read off the title. The book certainly looked like a children's book, but she didn't like the way he'd said that. She closed the book, not wanting to look like a child, and was pleasantly surprised when he handed her a book himself."Oh," she said, surprised that he was sharing his favorite book with her. "Thanks! I'll start reading it. Sounds interesting." She still wanted to read the book of fairy tales, or whatever they were called here. Children's stories?
He was looking at the titles, and she touched his shoulder lightly. "Cepheus? Do you want to go explore the other parts of the library? You could show me which history book to read!" She smiled brightly, hoping he'd agree. He seemed nicer now, and she wanted to get to know him. After all, he was all magical and she had no idea where anything was. If she wanted to be a library monitor, she had to know where things were!
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Waverly
Chipper? That's me!
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Cepheus Princeton
November 17, 2011 9:50 PM
It's...nice...that one of us is. by Cepheus Princeton
Cepheus involuntarily tensed when she touched his shoulder. Her hand didn't feel strange because of her muggle blood. Maybe it was because he was wearing his robes. He looked into her eyes and hesitated. Should he pursue this "friendship" that she seemed to want? Why should he bow to any muggle-born's wishes? His face contorted slightly, but he remembered that she wasn't demanding him to go like his father had demanded him to go to America. And she wasn't ugly, so he wouldn't be horrified to be seen with her, as long as no one knew of her blood. And unless she somehow bounced out of her own body and went around the entire library. He didn't doubt something like that happening to her. She just seemed so full of energy all the time.Cepheus nodded curtly. "Fine." He couldn't believe what he had just agreed to, but turned on the heel of his polished black shoe and went to the history section the librarian had showed them earlier. He perused the shelves once more and found the book he was looking for. "Here," he said as he handed her the thick text. "The History of Magic. I think you'll find a lot of useful information in here." It would also bore her to death...but she wasn't a real magical being like he was, so maybe not.
"What..." ...was he doing? Was he actually trying to continue this conversation with her? "...kind of books do you like to read?" he finished. He thought of his father suddenly and his terribly stern, disappointed face.
Cepheus felt guilty, and he could almost hear his father's words: "Muggles and muggle-borns alike are not a part of us, Cepheus. Do your best not to interact with them, professor or peer. They are below us, understand?" Cepheus suddenly felt very cold. He glanced over at Waverly. He had to get out of this situation before they became friends or something of the sort.
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Cepheus Princeton
It's...nice...that one of us is.
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Waverly
November 18, 2011 1:28 PM
So anyway, books! by Waverly
Waverly was delighted that he'd agreed to show her. She followed him as he went past rows of shelves full of books. She was getting distracted, lingering and falling behind a little in curiosity, and then quickly catching up. Oh, she could spend hours in here! Waverly smiled to herself and almost missed her guide when he disappeared between shelves. She quickly followed him again and then he handed her a book. She looked down at it. The book looked old and was falling apart a little, but she eagerly opened it and began flipping pages."Wow. Thanks!" She was beginning to immerse herself into it, forgetting that she was with someone else, when Cepheus suddenly said something to her. "What? Sorry. My favorite books?" She smiled brightly. "I like to read a lot of fairy tales. Things with magic and dragons and unicorns; stuff like that. Um, I like reading a lot of books. I'll probably like this one too," she said, holding up Cepheus's favorite book. "I'll get back to you on how good it is." She smiled at him, her green eyes twinkling. "What kind of books do you like? Action ones?" she guessed.
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Waverly
So anyway, books!
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Cepheus Princeton
November 25, 2011 2:20 AM
Quite right. by Cepheus Princeton
Cepheus didn't know if he wanted to share his love of books with her, but his mouth opened anyway. "Mysteries, mostly. Father loathes them, especially the fiction ones. Says they're ghastly things, but I enjoy them. They're entertaining, anyway. I know things like that don't often happen in reality. I've always wondered what it would be like to live as a writer." He smirked at the bookshelves. "Live poor but passionate." He shook his head, unable to comprehend such a life. Rich and passionate he understood.Cepheus cleared his throat and looked at his watch. "Well, Waverly, it's been nice chatting with you. Enjoy the books. I'm off." He would have tipped his hat to her if he'd brought it, but he hadn't. He turned on his heel again and strode away. What would his father say if he'd known he was fraternising with a muggle-born? Disown him? Keep him from coming home? Even worse, keep him in America all year long?
Cepheus swallowed and put his hands into his pockets. Best keep away from the likes of her or something of the sort.
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Cepheus Princeton
Quite right.
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Waverly
November 27, 2011 4:03 AM
Okay...bye! by Waverly
Waverly smiled. There was a similarity between them! She liked mysteries too, like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and Sherlock Holmes; she wondered if magical folks knew about those books. Oh, she hoped they did. Otherwise they'd be missing out! Though she seemed to have been missing out a little by being, well, a muggle. She'd introduce her sister to all of this new stuff. Waverly had never thought of living as a writer.Mom was an artist, but she also had a bakery, and she wasn't a writer. Or famous or anything. Mom was more of a musical person. She liked to write songs, but was too shy to show her stuff to the public. Her dad had told her that, and Waverly had wanted him to show the whole world, because it was good. But he wouldn't. One day, Waverly had told herself, she would get her mom's stuff published, or whatever they did with compositions.
She'd lost her train of thought, and Cepheus was getting ready to leave. "Oh, already?" she said, but he had already turned around. She looked at the books she had now, and looked at his retreating figure. Hm. He was a mystery in himself. Waverly shrugged. It kind of looked like they were becoming friends, so whatever. She smiled at the books she had, excited to read some magical books.
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Waverly
Okay...bye!
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Waverly
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