bacchusnovels Chapter 21 Library
Chapter 21 Library
I don't know why.
Once Sean returned to Hogwarts, his biological clock naturally returned to the routine he had when he was a student.
It's already 5:30 in the morning.
Sean looked away from the clock, walked quietly to the window, and opened it.
A cool morning breeze instantly swept into the room.
He looked out and saw the sky gradually awakening from the deep night. A faint blue-gray hue spread across the horizon, and the distant mountains appeared and disappeared in the morning light, like a traditional Chinese ink painting, their outlines gradually becoming clearer in the deepening dawn.
Sean put on the robe, then turned to look at Bella, who was still fast asleep.
Bella curled up in bed, quiet and delicate like a kitten. Her long hair cascaded down the pillow like a waterfall. In the dim morning light, her face appeared somewhat delicate, and her long eyelashes fluttered gently in her sleep, like butterfly wings.
Sean rarely saw her in this girlish manner; perhaps she had returned to her memories of Hogwarts, when she was a young girl studying there.
However, Bella, who was fast asleep, seemed to sense the cool breeze outside the window, and her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was a little uncomfortable.
Although the blanket was thick, Bella's body involuntarily shrank deeper into the blanket, as if seeking more warmth. Her hands gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, her fingertips slightly pale and revealing a hint of coldness.
Sean carefully lifted a corner of the blanket and saw Bella wearing the fishnet outfit she had worn the night before to please him, her body slightly curled up. A feeling of tenderness welled up in his heart, so he tiptoed to the wardrobe, took out a thicker blanket, and gently covered Bella with it... and then sent her back to the world of the briefcase.
He went to the kitchen first, asked the house-elves for some pastries to fill his stomach, and then went to the library on the second floor of Hogwarts Castle.
The library usually closes at 8 p.m. and opens at 6 a.m.
During his student days, every time he got up, washed up quickly, ate breakfast, and went to the library, it was already time for the library to open in the morning.
When he reached the library entrance, he saw an unexpected figure there.
It was a small, thin witch, holding a stack of books, standing at the library entrance, clearly having been waiting there for quite some time.
Sean recognized her from her signature hair; yes, it was his Shaw Girl—Hermione Granger.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Hermione turned around and saw a handsome wizard walking towards her with a book. In an instant, her eyes brightened considerably.
Clearly, she recognized him as her future Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and idol.
"Professor Sean," Hermione greeted him, but... she seemed too excited, her voice was a little too high, which attracted the attention of the librarian, Mrs. Irma Pines.
"Who's making such a racket at the library entrance?" A gaunt, elderly witch poked her head out of the library angrily, but her expression immediately changed when she saw Phillips Sean standing there.
"Ah, Phillips, it's been a long time. No, I should call you Professor Sean now." Mrs. Pince's tone immediately softened, with a hint of joy and even a touch of apology. "The last time I saw you was five years ago. Time flies so fast. I almost thought I had used the time-tamper but had forgotten."
During his school years, Sean would come to the library at this time every day without fail, rain or shine, so he naturally needed to cultivate a good relationship with Mrs. Pings.
Under his heartfelt praise, Mrs. Pince became more and more satisfied with the already handsome and diligent Badger. Not only did he speak pleasantly, but he also cherished books. If all the young wizards at Hogwarts could learn from Shaun, she would have to worry about half as much.
Sean smiled and nodded to Mrs. Pince. "Mrs. Pince, it's been a long time. You are still as beautiful and charming as ever."
Mrs. Pince laughed at Sean's compliment, and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes smoothed out. "Professor Sean, you still know how to talk."
After witnessing this scene, Hermione, who had just lowered her head in embarrassment thinking she had caused trouble, quietly raised her head at some point, looked at Sean, and then at Mrs. Pince with a beaming smile. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the tense expression on her face gradually relaxed.
Mrs. Pince turned her gaze back to Hermione, who had just been making a ruckus. "This newly enrolled wizard must be the Gryffindor lion cub. He's certainly energetic."
As Mrs. Pince spoke, she affectionately patted Hermione's head, trying to tidy up her slightly messy, tangled hair. "It's nothing, just remember to be quiet next time."
"Thank you for your understanding." Sean thanked Mrs. Pince again, then led Hermione into the library.
Upon entering, the two were greeted by a sea of books.
Rows of towering bookshelves, like wise giants, silently guard countless precious books. Ancient magic lamps are embedded in the walls, emitting a warm and bright light. The air is filled with the faint scent of ink and ancient wood, making people feel peaceful and serene.
Each bookshelf is densely packed with all sorts of magic books, from ancient magical history to complex spellbooks, from mysterious potion recipes to bizarre magical creature illustrations—it has everything.
Hermione eagerly walked to a bookshelf, her fingers gently gliding along the spines of the books as if caressing the veins of history. She pulled out a thick book of magical history, her eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge and awe.
But at the same time, she didn't forget to keep track of Professor Sean's whereabouts.
Sean walked through row after row of bookshelves to the very back of the library—an area separated by a rope—and began selecting books.
Where is that? What kind of books are there?
Before she could figure it out, Sean had already returned with several books in his arms.
Hermione chose a seat facing Sean—so that she could ask the teacher questions whenever she didn't understand something.
Of course, this wasn't her most important matter.
She quietly pushed a book in front of Sean, looking at him with a pitiful expression.
Sean understood what she meant, took out his pen from his jacket pocket, and scribbled his name—Sean Phillips—on the title page of the book Hermione handed him.
He still prefers fountain pens to quill pens.
That book is his latest release, "The Days I Lived and Eat with the Wild Man of Shennongjia".
Hermione had a lot of questions she wanted to ask Professor Sean about the Shennongjia Wild Man, but when she saw the books next to him, she obediently shut her mouth.
These books, without a doubt, all have black covers, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura.
Two of the books were quite old, with the lettering on the covers becoming blurred and illegible. The peeling and faded gold lettering spelled out words that Hermione couldn't understand. One of the books even had a dark stain that looked like blood, which looked quite gruesome.