Chapter 25
In the dimly lit corridor outside Hermione's office, Scorpius and Delphi await Albus's arrival. As he enters, visibly drained, Albus expresses his discomfort with the situation.
"This is all too weird," Albus remarks wearily.
"You were impressive. Good blocking action." Delphi says compliments Albus on his efforts, acknowledging his quick thinking during the encounter.
" I don’t know whether to high-five you or frown at you for kissing your aunt about five hundred times!" Scorpius quips.
"Ron’s an affectionate guy. I was trying to distract her, Scorpius. I did distract her.", Albus explains "And then there’s what your dad said . . .", Scorpius say to Albus.
"Boys . . . She will be back — we don’t have long," Delphi urges.
"You heard that?" Albus asks to Scorpius, feeling exposed.
"Where would Hermione hide a Time-Turner?" Delphi ponders aloud.
"Why didn't you tell me?", Scorpius asks to Albus gently.
"My dad says he wishes I weren’t his son. Hardly a conversation starter, is it?", Albus opens up about the strained relationship with his father, prompting Scorpius to offer support.
"It's awful. My dad's never said anything like that," Scorpius empathizes.
"You are lucky. I’m pretty sure my father spends most of his time thinking: How can I give him back?", Albus complainsabouth his father.
"Maybe if we could concentrate on the matter at hand.", Delphi says and start becomes a little angry.
As they delve deeper into the search, Scorpius is intrigued by the forbidden books lining the shelves.
"My point is, there’s a reason we’re friends, Albus — a reason we found each other, you know? And whatever this — adventure — is about . . . Then he spots a book on the shelf that makes him frown. Have you seen the books on these shelves? There are some serious books here. Banned books. Cursed books," Scorpius observes.
" How to distract Scorpius from difficult emotional issues. Take him to a library.",Albus lightens the mood with a joke, remarking on Scorpius's fascination with books as a distraction from emotional issues.
"All the books from the Restricted Section and then some. Magick Moste Evile. Fifteenth-Century Fiends. Sonnets of a Sorcerer — that’s not even allowed in Hogwarts!", Scorpius is suprising abouth finded books.
"Shadows and Spirits. The Nightshade Guide to Necromancy.", Albus read book names.
"They are quite something, aren’t they . . .", Delphi asks.
"The True History of the Opal Fire. The Imperius Curse and How to Abuse It.", Albus continues read book names.
"And lookee here. Whoa. My Eyes and How to See Past Them by Sybill Trelawney. A book on Divination. Hermione Granger hates Divination. This is fascinating. This is a find . . . ", Scorpius continues be suprising abouth books.
Scorpius pulls the book from the shelf. And it falls open. And speaks, "The first is the fourth, a disappointing mark. You’ll find it in parked but not in park."
Amidst the curious discoveries, Scorpius stumbles upon a peculiar book that speaks cryptic riddles.
"Okay," Scorpius exclaims, holding up the book. "A book that talks. Bit weird."
The trio listens intently as the book presents a series of enigmatic clues, "turn in the city, a glide through a lake.".
"What have you done?", Delphi is suprising abouth unusual book.
"I, uh, I opened a book. Something which has — in all my years on this planet — never been a particularly dangerous activity.", Scorpius defends himself.
The books reach out and grab Albus. He only just eludes their grasp.
"It's a riddle," Albus realizes.
Before they can fully comprehend the situation, the books come alive, attempting to ensnare Albus.
"What is that?" Albus cries out in alarm.
Delphi's urgent voice cut through the tense air. "She’s weaponized it. She’s weaponized her library. This is where the Time-Turner will be. Solve the riddle and we’ll find it," she instructed.
Albus furrowed his brow, trying to decipher the cryptic message. "The first is the fourth. You’ll find it in parked, not in park. Ed — de — The books start to try to swallow Delphi," he muttered, grappling with the enigma.
Meanwhile, Scorpius stepped forward, his voice steady despite the growing chaos. "The second is a disease of the egg, the less fair of those who walk on two legs," he announced, his eyes scanning the shelves for clues.
"Men! De-men . . . tors. We need to find a book on dementors," Delphi exclaimed, just as the bookcase began to ensnare her. "Albus!" she cried out, reaching for him desperately.
Albus rushed to her aid, his heart pounding with fear. "Delphi! What is going on?" he demanded, struggling to comprehend the unfolding madness.
"Concentrate, Albus. Do what she said. Find a book on dementors and be very careful," Scorpius urged, his voice tinged with urgency.
With trembling hands, Albus located the book they sought. "Here. Dominating Dementors: A True History of Azkaban," he announced, his fingers barely brushing the pages before the book lunged towards Scorpius, who narrowly avoided its grasp.
"I was born in a cage But smashed it with rage The Gaunt inside me Riddled me free Of that which would stop me to be.", book ask a riddle.
As chaos erupted around them, Albus's mind raced with fragments of knowledge. "Voldemort," he whispered, piecing together the clues as Delphi reemerged from the swirling mass of books.
"Work faster!" Delphi implored, her voice strained with desperation as she was once again pulled into the vortex.
Albus reached out in vain, his fingers brushing empty air as Delphi vanished from sight. "Delphi! Delphi!" he called out, his heart sinking with dread.
Scorpius observed the scene with a keen eye, noting the subtle shift in Delphi's demeanor. "She’d become herself again — did you notice?" he remarked, his voice filled with concern.
Albus shook his head, his thoughts consumed by the danger surrounding them. "No! Because I was more worried about her being eaten by a bookcase! Find. Something. Anything on him," he urged, his voice strained with urgency.
Scorpius quickly scanned the shelves, his gaze lingering on a particular title. "The Heir of Slytherin? Do you think?" he questioned, reaching for the book.
But before he could grasp it, the bookcase surged forward, swallowing Albus whole. "Albus? Albus!!" Scorpius cried out, his voice echoing through the chamber in despair.
As Scorpius frantically searched for a solution, his mind raced with one name. "Voldemort. Voldemort. Voldemort,", He scans the shelves.
In the dimly lit chamber of the library, Marvolo's voice echoed ominously, "The Truth, this must be..."
Scorpius, his heart pounding with anticipation, pulled open the hidden compartment. Once again, it swung away, revealing a dazzling light and a voice deeper than any they had heard before.
A voice emanated from the depths of the hidden chamber, speaking in riddles, "I am the creature you have not seen. I am you. I am me. The echo unforeseen. Sometimes in front, sometimes behind, A constant companion, for we are entwined."
As the words faded, Albus emerged from among the books, restored to himself. Scorpius reached out to him, but Albus cautioned, "No. Just—THIIIIIIINK."
Before their eyes, Albus was violently pulled back into the bookcase, leaving Scorpius feeling helpless.
Desperation filled Scorpius as he grappled with the concept of an invisible echo. "What is that? The only thing I'm good at is thinking, and when I need to think—I can't."
The books seized Scorpius, dragging him into their depths, leaving him terrified and powerless. But then, with a deafening bang, he broke free, defiantly smashing aside the books.
"No! You don't! Sybill Trelawney. No!!!!" Scorpius cried out, his determination unyielding.
Amidst the chaos, Scorpius had a revelation. "Shadows and Spirits. It must be..." With determination, he climbed the towering bookcase, each step a struggle against the reaching hands of the books.
Finally, he seized the book from the shelf, and the chaos ceased. But as he opened it, Albus and Delphi tumbled out, their escape from the clutches of the library complete.
Breathless but triumphant, Albus turned to Delphi, concern etched on his face. "Delphi, are you...?"
Delphi, ever composed, responded with a hint of exhilaration, "Wow. Quite a ride."
Albus's gaze fell upon the book clutched tightly in Scorpius's hands. "Is that... Scorpius? What's inside that book?"
With a sense of anticipation, Delphi suggested, "I think we should find out, don't you?"
As Scorpius opened the book, revealing the spinning Time-Turner at its center, excitement filled the air.
"We've found the Time-Turner—I never thought we'd get this far," Scorpius exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and pride.
Albus's determination burned brightly. "Mate, now that we've got this, the next stop is saving Cedric. Our journey has only just begun."
With resolve, Scorpius echoed his friend's sentiment, "Only just begun and it's almost half killed us. Good. This is going to be good."
As whispers rose to a roar, the scene faded to black, leaving the promise of adventure lingering in the air.