The morning of October 27th, Alice was roaming the library, just as she did every morning, adding to the list of books that she wanted to read. But this one morning in particular, was going to be different. She was going to do something that she had been meaning to do ever since she got here. She was going to say hello to the librarian.

Back in Oulton Broad, the librarians loved her, as she was just a cheeky little kid who was as quiet as a mouse, and loved to read. But here, it could be different, as a lot of things here were different than home. First off, she heard that this librarian was a man. Alice wasn't sexist, but she was very used to old ladies who would take care of the library. And second, she had learned that this man was in charge of the Slytherin house, a house that had not been so kind to the small hufflepuff. But, Alice was not going to discriminate. Who knows if he's anything like the other members of his  house?

Alice walked up to his closed office door, before knocking three times, and putting on her biggest and brightest smile she could. The smile that many found annoying and obnoxious. But she was just very excited about talking to the librarian.

Landis' morning had not been atypical so far. He'd risen early, eaten breakfast, and currently in the midst of half a dozen owl reorder forms. He glanced up from the desk as an enthusiastic knocking assaulted his door. A student visitor - without a doubt.

Expecting a request to help find a book or some other mundane task, Landis laid his quill and his paper aside. He picked up his wand and directed it at the door which promptly swung open. Oh look, a small child. His favorite.

"Yes?" he asked patiently, waving Alice in.

Alice walked into the office, a small bounce in her step. A smile was spread over her face, as she skipped in, her hands folded behind her back. This was going well, as of now, and she was happy that she was finally going to talk to him.

She turned to look at him, a smile on her face. "Hi, I'm Alice." She extended her hand proudly. "I'm a first year Hufflepuff, and I adore your library!" She said excitedly.

Landis stood and moved out from behind the desk, manner brisk and professional as his sleek business suit. Gravely he bent to shake her small hand.

"Thank you," he said. It was not his library - this he'd learned well in his time here. It was as capricious as any part of Hogwarts archietecture, stones and shelves marinated by residual spellwork for thousands of years until it seemed, quite often, to have a mind of its own. The older and rarer books, magical items in their own right, contributed to the impression. But he took her comment in the spirit it was meant to be received; though overeager (the Hufflepuff curse) Landis could not fault her good manners in coming to make an introduction, even if she had neglected to include her family name. That was the way of a child, though, forever on a first-name basis; Hannah used to do the same. "My name is Landis Morgan, and I am Head of Slytherin as well as the librarian. I'm glad that you plan to make use of the library's tremendous resources."

Alice smiled. "I do plan on using it, sir. I believe that books are just so amazing. I believe that if I try really, really hard, I may even be able to read every book in this library!" She said, rising to her toes for a moment, before going back down.

"Though I tend to find the students in your house somewhat frightening, I do like that they have a nice sense of literature. Or well, it's soothing to know I'm not the only one who loves books!" She smiled once again. "I really just feel that libraries are so under appreciated these days, and if only more students came here for their research instead of just their textbooks, I think that they would be delightfully surprised!" She folded her hands in front of her, preparing to speak more.

"I mean, I always grew up for a love of reading and libraries, although I know some other student's didn't. I just wish that they could realize that we are all connected in one way or another, and usually through literature. I mean, I love the classics, and I'm in love with Hogwarts: A History, but I also am so tempted by all the upperclassmen's textbooks!"

Little did Alice realize that she was probably talking his ears off.

Landis' eyebrows rose at the same time Alice did, the girl rocking up on her tiptoes and smiling sunnily at him. "That would be quite the accomplishment," he allowed after a short pause. A very unlikely accomplishment, but there were worse ambitions. His own lips curved upwards as he said, "If you do manage that, I'll have to make you a plaque."

Goodness, she was eager. Landis wasn't used to quite this much enthusiasm, especially this early in the morning. Most students at this hour more accurately resembled Inferni, pallor, shambling, unresponsiveness and all. Strike that, Landis wasn't used to much enthusiasm at all. It was not an emotion many students displayed around either him or the library full of thick, dusty tomes. Alice was like a tiny, sleeker, less bossy Hermione Granger.

She was talking his ear off, but it wasn't such a chore for Landis as one might have thought. See again: younger sisters, and the behaviors thereof. Hannah did not chatter so much anymore now that she was a second year (and "grown up"), and in that light Alice's excited rambling was almost sweet.

Almost. Landis did have work to do, and he didn't dare let a little Hufflepuff attach herself to him. Not to mention, he hadn't the slightest idea what to say. Landis was not much one for discussing the wonders of the literary world. He had not been overly fond of books before getting the job here. He was a competent caretaker, and he certainly read more now, but he had not grown up adoring the written word and even now when he read it was useful things. Potions books, language manuals, political treatises. Not novels. But he knew that was a very uncommon stance for librarians, and thus usually did not disclose it - after all, Landis had a cover to maintain.

"Fortunately as the largest magical library in the UK, Hogwarts library receives very good funding," he said, responding rather factually to her bemoaning the under-appreciation of libraries. It seemed unlikely that the child wanted to hear about school funding but, well, Landis wasn't about to pursue the subject of favorite books and literary conventions. "Whether or not the students discover a love of reading, there will always be plenty of material here."

 "I mean, I love the classics, and I'm in love with Hogwarts: A History, but I also am so tempted by all the upperclassmen's textbooks!"

"There's nothing stopping you if you want to read ahead," he told her, somewhat curious as to why she was so tempted by the upperclassmen's books and yet apparently had not acted. Of course, it was early yet in the year, and she was only 11 - perhaps she thought she needed permission. "Though I suspect your classes will keep you busy enough."

Alice nearly jumped when he mentioned a plaque. Her mind began to race. The things she could do with that! The amazing places she'd put it! She'd carry it with her everywhere, but no. No. Alice was getting ahead of herself. For as much as she knew, he was probably joking. She'd probably not be able to read the whole library. She had to keep her head where her feet where. "That'd be wonderful, sir!" She said, the smile cheery and excited.

"I am very pleased to hear about the funding. It secures my hopes that as I grow, the library will too! I love the idea of having money, certain money to get to spend on books, and books alone! I don't how that understand couldn't excite anyone! I mean, I've read enough about the library itself! All the sections, the sections that are off limits, the organization of it, it all is just so amazing!"

She thought about reading ahead. It interested her. "I'd love to do that too sir, I mean, I'll read pretty much anything! And it just really bounces my mood knowing that the librarian is so kind! I mean, sir, I really enjoy talking to someone about books, who is just as interested as I am! I have my friends of course, but Lexi doesn't really like reading, and Annette sticks to muggle books mostly, but I just feel so fortunate knowing that I have someone like you in this school to go to talk about books with!" She said excitedly.

"Yes, my classes do keep me fairly busy, I just wish they were more of a challenge. I read the textbooks before school started, so all I'm doing these days is re-reading. Don't get me wrong, that's great, but I would love to learn new things that I haven't already read about. If that makes any sense at all." She said. Alice looked up at Landis curiously. "What's your favorite book? Or well, books, since it's so hard to choose one!"

Landis' eyebrows had now reached his hairline. Salazar's knickers, she really could talk about anything, couldn't she?

"Yes," he said finally, looking a little dismayed by all the enthusiasm exploding at him. He hesitated, not sure where or when exactly to place a word.

Oh god. It was too late. He'd collected a Hufflepuff. Despite his resistance to babbling, it was almost possible to see Landis' eyes glaze over about the time Alice began to tell him earnestly how glad she was to find him so kind and willing to discuss children's books, that he bounced her mood. Her plans were bright, visible bubbles above her prepubescent head. She would come talk to him at the library desk. She would smile and chatter at him in public, or wave to him from her House table. Possibly - if this wasn't put down now - she would even share her badly mistaken opinions with other gullible, smirking children.

There was only one option at this point, and that was to be nasty. Let no one say Landis Morgan did not know how to be nasty to little girls. If there was any one age group easier to upset, he'd not met it yet. He found their fragile emotional balance supremely easy to tip, he thrived on the look of crushing disappointment that suffused their features when their own indiscretions with things like noise levels and misfired spells cost their Houses valuable points. As far as the rest of the school knew, he probably used their tears for potions ingredients.

Except he'd already made the unfortunate connection between eager Alice and his own younger sister. And, she wasn't actually misbehaving. Just being nauseatingly, trustingly puerile. Well, it wouldn't do to drown her in scathing commentary on her ill-advised opinions immediately, after he'd been so deceptively mild - only if she didn't get the hint. To his dismay, she seemed like a rather thick-headed sort. Further deflections would probably prove necessary.

Damn! This was what he got for not greeting students automatically with a sneer.

"That is a rather large assumption to make," he said, his tone reproving but not yet caustic. "I am a very busy man, and my assistance extends to academic texts and technical inquiries only. I would thank you not to waste my time with book-club questions better suited for your peers."

Alice nodded to him as he told her how he was a very busy man, and didn't have time to talk to her about books and literature. "Right, such can be expected from a man who is the head of the Slytherin house, and is also the caretaker of such an admirable library!" She said.

Alice looked up at the man. He wasn't as nasty as one may think. His house was so nasty, so judgmental, but he was kind, and thought provoking. Maybe he didn't have time to speak with her, sure, because he was so busy. Maybe, she could help him out! if he was as busy as he made himself appear that she'd have to help him out.

Her eyes lit up for an idea. "Maybe, I could help you out! I have a lot of free time, and I think that if we work together, we can do so much more in a small about of time! It'll be great!" She said. "Back in my home town, I used to help out at the library. The ladies there told me I was the fastest shelver they had ever seen! Once I get into the groove, I can shelve for hours." Alice admitted proudly.

And again, she undercut him. Landis looked at Alice in wordless dismay. His features were not naturally demonstrative, too hard, too smooth, too used to policing the emotions that showed on his face, but there was something about the set of his mouth and the look in his eyes that suggested uncertainty.

It was true that with an assistant he'd get work done much more quickly. Even using magic, shelving books took so much time. For a man as obsessed with efficiency as Landis, the idea was unbearably tempting. Of course, he would have to teach her the shelving spell...

Wait. No. Bad. That was the opposite of what he wanted, even if less work in the library would mean more time for his criminal pursuits or even for his House. All the staff were expected to contribute to the Tournament effort, and Landis was still trying to reach his animagus transformation. According to the books he had several more months of spellwork and meditation, though it could be accelerated if he just - could - damn.

"I would need to consult the Headmaster on this," he said slowly. "But if your grades remain satisfactory, I see no reason you couldn't help."

Alice squealed, rising on to her toes, and clapping her hands. "Really? Are you serious? Do I really have a chance at becoming a library helper?" She squealed again. It was like all dreams had come true. She was going to get something to do! She was going to be able to actually help out Hogwarts! She would learn this library like the back of her hand! It was strange. Alice was so confused. He was a Slytherin. He was supposed to be cunning and ambitious! Who was to say that that wasn't true, but still, it wasn't like he was a slytherin slytherin. He wasn't mean. He wasn't supreme. If anything, he was nice!

"Sir, I can assure you my grades are supreme. They are the thing that I take great pride in." Alice smiled brightly. "Not that the Headmistress can't attest to that! I mean, I'm not trying to talk you out of talking to the Headmistress, of course." She continued to smile.

She squealed, bouncing on her toes in excitement, clapping together her little hands and, actually, looking a GREAT deal like Hannah when confronted with a new dress or kitten and not, say, a great big room full of dusty magical books. Landis watched her in mingled wariness and resignation. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the thought of a little help for the library's more tedious chores, it was just that he really couldn't comprehend why the devil she'd want it so much.

"Mmm," he said, noncommital to all of her eager questions. "I will discuss the options with the Headmistress and your Head and let you know what would be acceptable." He eyed her with a vaguely disapproving tone as he stipulated (the cautioning of an adult curbing the pre-event enthusiasm of a child): "Certainly no more than five hours a week." If that. Landis was not one to begrudge early experience, nor to discourage ambitious opportunities taken by the students, but Alice wasn't to work too hard. A student's top priorities were to their studies, surviving their own adolescent stupidity, and staying out of Landis' way. These three things he believed very strongly.

Alice smiled. "I'll take any hours I can! Anything to help out the library." She clapped her hands. Alice stood up, and smiled, before nodding her head. "I'd hate to take up anymore of your time sir, so if that is all, I may be heading to my class. If that is alright with you?" She asked.

Landis was strange. He was hard, tough, cold, and somewhat scary on the outside. But, when it seemed that Alice struck a chord with him, it was great. He was intelligent, and interesting. Sure, Alice couldn't yet understand why he wanted the help, as not many students used the library, but she didn't mind. It'd just give her something to do.