Rescuing Dragons

Ancient Melodies

 As soon as Raven described her conversation with the Bloody Baron, Professor McGonagall sent one Patronus to Harry and another to the Aurors stationed in the castle, asking them to meet at the library. By the time they had walked up the stairs, most of the Aurors were already outside the door to the library. Madam Pince rushed over as soon as they walked in, her sunken cheeks quivering with indignation. "What is going on?"

"We have a lead on the music box, Irma," Professor McGonagall said. "We need to find Melodies of Misfortune in the restricted section."

The Headmistress was almost as familiar with the library as Madam Pince but she stepped back and let her lead the way. The crowd of witches and wizards followed the librarian with a lot of jostling and murmuring as they queued up before going down the aisles. When Madam Pince abruptly stopped, there were a few curses as a few of the Aurors walked into each other. Chit pecked at one that accidentally hit her tail.

Madam Pince was enjoying being the authority in her precious domain of books. She spoke clearly above the crowd, "Here it is, right next to Moste Potente Potions." She was reaching out her hand to retrieve the book when a voice rang out from the back of the crowd.

"Don't touch that book!" Harry had arrived.

The Aurors flattened themselves against the bookshelves to let Harry through. A book fell with a dusty thud. "Be careful!" Madam Pince hissed.

Harry appeared at the front of the line. "Whoever tries to retrieve that book could be cursed."

"They've desecrated it?" Madam Pince hissed. "What kind of heathen would do that!"

Harry had already directed his wand at the book, murmuring several protective charms. Then flicked his wand and the book rose into the air. "We need to take this outside in case it's a danger to the surroundings," Harry said. Professor McGonagall nodded in agreement. Harry turned to Raven. "What exactly did the Bloody Baron say about this book?"

"He said someone ripped the cover off and wrapped it around the music box."

Madam Pince turned white at Raven's words. Everyone looked closely at the book hovering in the air. You could clearly see the edges looked like dark wood instead of the pages of a book. Raven was worried Madam Pince might have a seizure of some sort. Evidently, Professor McGonagall was concerned as well. She reached out to put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.

"They have despoiled a priceless book!" Madam Pince shrieked. "Befouled it with dark magic! Stolen it from its rightful place!"

"Irma, the Aurors will catch this person and they'll be punished," Professor McGonagall said. Hopefully, they'll find the inside of the book as well. Let's go get some tea." The Headmistress guided Madam Pince the rest of the way down the aisle to find a place for her to calm down. Everyone else turned back the way they came and made their way outdoors.

Raven was wondering what the Aurors would do to remove the cursed book cover without hurting the music box. From snatches of their conversation, they seemed to have the same concern. Harry had left the book cover encasing the music box on a stone bench and asked Raven and Charlie to guard it while they discussed a plan.

What were the possibilities? Raven thought, staring at the book cover. The curse would be designed to curse anyone who tried to open the cover but not harm the music box. There would also be a way for the person who cast the curse to remove it if they wanted to. Could it be... yes, that's probably what they did. Raven whispered in Charlie's ear, "I need your earmuffs." Charlie was so intent on listening to the Aurors' huddled conversation, he barely realized what he was doing as he handed her the earmuffs.