ALEX EVCANS : THE GREAT DETECTIVE

FOURTEEN : FLAW

After asking a few other students of the direction to the library, Alex finally arrives. Pushing the heavy door lightly, he put his head first, to look around, searching for a person whose name was on the list of his supposedly trusted people.

He wonder how this person will turns out to be. But hopefully they won't ended up as hard as-- who was his name again? Ah, Finch... Was it? 

Alex took the name list out from his pocket and rolled his eyes at his terrible memory; It's Filch, you idiot. Sighing, he look at the list again. Mdm Pince.

Her name sounds serious. Like, talk-to-me-only-if-it-means-business kind of seriousness. Alex pursed his lips outward and thought for a moment and shoves the paper back into his pocket. He decided that he'll hold his guess about her name for the time being and see how she is in person. He could be wrong about it though, he was sure that 45.6%, he'll be right about it.

A person names actually tells a lot about the person character to be honest. It's no wonder some criminal prefer to use alias or nickname while doing the deeds. But like faces, names also can be deceiving. So, it's not a very reliable information.

Taking his first stepped into the library, Alex notices a few head turns to his direction. Probably because the creaking sound from the door caught their attention. Alex gave them a polite nods before heading towards the reception counter, where he notices a witch with a tall hat was sitting, with her eyes cast downward. She was probably taking notes or reading. 

Standing near the counter, Alex cleared his throat to get her attention. The witch cooly looked up at him, with a stoic expression. 

The serious type. Checked.

"I'm lookin--" 

The witch cut him off by putting one finger over her lips, a gesture of shushing him. Alex instantly shut his lips tight at that and grinned awkwardly at the witch. Still with no changes in her expression, she then gesture Alex to follow her to the back, probably her office.

Alex felt slightly discomfort by the silence between them, as if the witch is putting distance between them or, maybe she's just doing her job as the librarian too seriously. But either way, she's giving off a difficult vibes.

Sighs.

***

Arriving inside her office, Alex couldn't help but to let his eyes wandered around. Every inches of the room is packed with books of many titles, from magical to muggles. But one book particularly caught the wizard eyes. 

Romeo & Juliet by Shakespears.

That's quite out of the characteristic of her. But from the short glimpse that Alex get from her, she must've been an avid reader for sure. So, it's not surprising? he thinks.

"Alexander Charles Evcans, is it?" 

Her voice brought Alex back to the presence. "Er.. yes, ma'am. You can just call me Alex, Ma'am." 

Mdm Pince watched him for a moment before sitting down on her seat. Gesturing her lanky fingers to the empty chair opposite to hers, Alex took it as invitation to sit, so he did. Alex notices that her eyes linger around his face before she closed them and took a deep breath. "I've heard about you from the Headmistress and I was told that you're good with this skills called deduction, are you not?" she asked.

Alex thought for a moment before answering. He doesn't want to sound overtly confident with his skills but he also doesn't want his answer to make the witch to doubt his skills. "I believe that I am good, but I still have a lot to learn," 

Mdm Pince nodded, "Then, young Evcans... Tell me, what is it that you can find out about me." she said, leaning on her chair without breaking eye contact with the young wizard. Alex arched his brows amused and a small smirks briefly curved over his lips. He loves challenges for sure.

"Well,.." Alex relaxed, "You loves books, which is very-- obvious, of course, unmarried, --And I have feelings that you know my uncle and that, you went to school with my mother." said he.

Mdm Pince furrowed her brows at that, "How do you know I went to school with your mother?"

Alex grinned, "So I guessed right?"

Mdm Pince scowled at him.

"I was just making a speculation that you might knew my mother, Ma'am. But your question just gave me the confirmation." he smiles.

"Mind to tell?"

"Hmm, well... You've called me young Evcans, so I take that you knew either my uncle or my father.. And two, I noticed that you've been looking at my face but," he paused and grabbed the pendant over his neck to show it to Mdm Pince, "I think you were looking at this..."

Mdm Pince closed her eyes and slightly smile at that. "Isla Auclair, one of the brightest witch of our year-- one of the kindest I've ever met."

Alex have never meet his mother. Dorian told him that his mother dies due to the complication of giving birth to him. But he assures Alex that it was her decision to let Alex lives and that it was not his fault. 

It saddened the young veela to have never met her, but from the pictures he has seen, he could tell that his mother is truly a kind soul and Mdm Pince just put a confirmation at that. Isla Auclair kindness even manage to touch the heart of a stoic and expressionless witch like Isma Pince. 

He need no more prove than this.

"So I take that you knew my father as well, ma'am?" Alex decided to ask. 

"Your father,-- Declan, he's a promising young wizard but his brother, he's truly nefarious that one."

Alex couldn't help but to chuckles at that which gotten him a sharp glances from the older witch. He just muttered sorry at that. Mdm Pince breathe through her nose, "I'm just glad that our Isla ended up with Declan instead of the other one," she said, now back with her expressionless face.

Alex wonder what had happened between his uncle and Mdm Pince, that she doesn't even bother to say his name out loud. Maybe there's some juicy secret between all of these. He make a mental note to find out more about this later, after he solve this case. 

"But enough about the past," Mdm Pince said, "We are here because the Headmistress told me to aid you with your case." 

Alex nodded.

"And thus," she open one of the drawer and took out an ordinary looking key. "I entrust this key to you," said she, while handling the key to the wizard. Alex stood up and took the key from her. 

"The key will give you the access to all part of the library, including the forbidden section."

Alex nodded once more, while staring at the key before putting it into his pocket, "Thank you," said he

"Do not lose it," said the witch. Alex salute her and excused himself. He was about to leave the office when Mdm Pince called him.

       "Yea?"

"I have you know that I do not doubt your investigation skills at all-- but, you have this one, very obvious flaw,"

Alex shifted his weight to his other feet, with a little scowl over his face at the mention of his flaws.

"You-- trusted people to easily," she points out.

 Alex was slightly taken aback by her words, "What, what do you mean?"

The witch smirks, "Just so you know, young Evcans. I don't read just books, I read people too,"

Alex looked away for second and nodded, "I'll be extra careful then,"

A slight curved appears over the witch lips, "If you need anything, you know where to find me," and with that Alex left the office with questions in his head. 

Was he really that easy to be read? If he was, this might be a huge disadvantage for him. 

******

A/N : I'm ALIVE