A Time And Place To Grow

Chapter 3: Getting Warmer

  Harry reached as far as he could on the ladder. The red-bound leather book was just beyond his fingertips. He tried to scoot the ladder a little farther, but it was already to the edge. Harry strained a little more.

The red book was at the very edge of the highest shelf of library; the floor seemed miles below, but after years playing Quidditch on broomstick, Harry had a good head for heights.

Where was his broom for that matter? Had Snape left it at the Dursleys? And what about his cape and his wand? Snape must have hidden them.

Snape the kleptomaniac. Harry sniggered. He could just see Snape sitting in a circle discussion group at some rehab - "Hello, I'm Severus Snape, and I steal my students' things and hide them just to annoy them."

Snickering at the image of Snape being forced

to share his feelings, Harry stretched his arm

out as far as it would go. He had been all over

the library looking for books on timeturners.

Most books he found opened easily for him.

Three had not, but their covers looked dark and

dangerous, and one book had tried to bite at his

hand.

Holding on the top rung of the ladder, Harry reached out a little father and suddenly felt his footing slip from the ladder. He scrambled to catch a foothold or grip on the ladder, but he was falling backwards, falling...

An invisible force caught him mid-air and pushed back up to stand on the balcony. He stood as soon as he felt solid floor beneath his feet, and he whirled around and look over the balcony.

"This is a library, Mr. Potter," Snape said from below, arms crossed with his wand tucked in one hand, "not a Quidditch field. And you cannot fly in here without a broom."

"I was reaching for a book," Harry tried not to scowl.

"What did I tell you about the books on the highest shelves?" Snape's voice grew stern.

"You said most of the books I should read are on the highest shelves," Harry replied. "You didn't say only books I shouldn't read are only on the highest shelves. Besides, I didn't try to open anything that wouldn't open right away."

His tone was not the most respectful, but Snape only frowned at him and motioned for him to come down. "Lunch is ready, so come along." He stopped when he saw the jumble of books on the table that Harry had been searching through. "Mr. Potter, what is this?"

"I was researching," Harry tripped lightly down the circular stairs, hoping Snape wouldn't catch him in a lie. "A transfiguration essay - for school this fall." 1

"Obviously," Snape retorted. "I expect you to put these books back by the end of the day. The house elves are not here to clean up after you. And if you so much as crease one page.

"You'll what?" Harry challenged, feeling foolishly brave. "Torture me with hot coals?"

"Oh, Potter, I would never use something so mundane and ordinary, not while I have a whole dungeon full of instruments that could have you screaming for weeks," Snape swept out of the library. Harry blinked, not sure if the man was serious of not. Blast that blank expression.

"Move, Potter!" Snape flung over his shoulder as he strode down the hall, and Harry hurried to keep up.

He had not found much useful information about the Necklace of Timord or any other powerful timeturners. Many of the books made references to timeturners in general, but nothing about where those timeturners were except the few that belonged to the Ministry of Magic. Harry was sure that the red book, Bringing Back the Past: The History of Timetravel, might have had something to help him. He would try to get at that book later.