Sleep after utter exhaustion was like a short fuse set alight. Close your eyes, then open them again, and more than a dozen hours had gone by-
When Brian woke the next day, it was already noon. He sat on his bed, staring blankly at the clock.
When he had returned to his room last night, the Book had already burrowed back into its own little nest in the trunk, while he had taken his third shower before collapsing onto the bed, utterly relaxed-
It was no exaggeration to say that his pillow had practically knocked him unconscious. Drowsiness had enveloped him in an instant.
One thing worth mentioning was that the makeup the Book had applied seemed to be magical-it disappeared on its own after a while. When he had glanced at himself in the mirror during his shower yesterday, he had discovered that the makeup on his face had vanished at some point.
After washing up, Brian found the Book waiting eagerly on the desk, brush held aloft. The way it strained to get started while forcing itself to stay put reminded him of a puppy waiting for its owner's command.
It seemed the Book really had remembered their agreement to consult him before doing anything. Pleased, Brian sat down at the desk and said generously:
"Good Book. My face is all yours. But preferably something light that people won't easily notice."
The Book happily gave him some Natural Makeup-very natural indeed. After looking in the mirror, Brian couldn't see any difference at all, though he did seem a little more refreshed. Excellent. If even he couldn't tell, no one else would.
That way, there wouldn't be any rumors around school about "the new male librarian's habit of wearing makeup."
But Brian immediately discovered that he was wrong-very, very wrong. He had underestimated women's sensitivity to makeup.
The first thing Madam Pince said when she saw him was:
"Good afternoon, Brian. It looks as though you slept well last night-and today's makeup is lovely too. You look very refreshed."
Brian was astonished. "How could you tell?"
"What do you mean, how could I tell?" Madam Pince said with a smile. "Wouldn't you notice wax smeared over a sheet of white paper?"
When Brian went to eat in the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall and Professor Burbage, who taught Muggle Studies, confirmed it as well.
"Your skills have improved again, Chet," Professor McGonagall said approvingly. "I think the students will be willing to borrow a few extra books just to get another look at you."
"If it helps them learn more, I'm quite happy to become the library's mascot."
Brian could only accept reality. Instead, he smiled at Professor Burbage beside him.
"Hello, Professor Burbage. It's a shame I didn't get to meet you yesterday."
Professor Burbage had been staring at his face ever since he sat down. For a moment, Brian wondered whether he had food on his face-but he hadn't even started eating yet.
"Oh, goodness, Chet! You have no idea how much I've wanted to meet you. When I heard that Hogwarts had hired someone who grew up in the Muggle world and had never attended a magical school, I nearly went straight to your room and knocked on the door!"
Professor Burbage used Brian's given name with perfect ease as she said excitedly,
"I must say, well done, Dumbledore! This is a major breakthrough! Chet, you may not realize it yet, but you've delivered a resounding slap in the face to those pure-blood supremacists. I could simply adore you for it!"
"Charity, don't frighten Chet."
Professor McGonagall quietly reminded her from the side,
"And do try not to bring up pure-blood supremacy so often at school. You know... some students have been badly hurt by it."
"I know. I only mention it in front of you."
Professor Burbage lowered her voice and said calmly,
"But I won't lower my voice in an interview. I want the entire wizarding world to know that pure-blood supremacy is the very worst kind of rot."
Professor Burbage had long blond hair and sharply defined features. She was effortlessly friendly, and her words always carried a warmth whose vitality never felt overbearing. She was the sort of professor people wanted to get close to.
Though her warmth was not quite as immediately overwhelming as Professor Sprout's, it was still considerable-
Once you saw her, you wanted to exchange a few words, and after a brief conversation, you naturally felt closer to her.
Over the course of a single lunch, Brian went from calling her Burbage to calling her Charity.
"When I get to the lessons on coordinating outfits, would you have time to come and model?"
Professor Burbage invited him enthusiastically,
"I want the students to see just how startling their absurd, outrageous outfit combinations are when they actually appear before their eyes!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she rejected her own idea:
Brian drank the last of his pumpkin juice and said considerately, "Charity, if you really need me to, I could wear Clown Makeup that day."
"Then it's settled. No backing out at the last minute." Professor Burbage affectionately draped an arm over Brian's shoulders.
There were especially few people in the library that day, which made Madam Pince both happy and unhappy. She was happy that the risk of damage to the books had fallen considerably, but unhappy that the library's books were being neglected. Perhaps this was a worry unique to librarians.
"I have no idea where all these students have gone. Can you believe it? The Quidditch match is almost upon us, yet this book has actually been sitting on the shelf for half the day."
Holding a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, Madam Pince complained to Brian.
According to her, Quidditch Through the Ages was one of Hogwarts' most popular books. Almost every day, it was thumbed through by clumsy hands, dribbled on, and subjected to everyone's abuse-especially during the week before a Quidditch match.
"I suspect the students would rather spend their time beside the Black Lake at the moment."
Brian said with the benefit of experience,
"I hope they don't get the borrowed books wet. They're easy enough to dry, but the Black Lake's water has an unpleasant smell."
Taking advantage of Madam Pince's unusually quiet day, Brian went through the library's daily maintenance routine with her-
Apart from magically repairing damaged books and disciplining unruly restricted books, everything else was much the same as his old part-time job at a Muggle library.
If you didn't get up until noon, your day would pass especially quickly.
Only when rosy clouds hung high in the sky did Brian realize that the afternoon was already over.
The Great Hall at Hogwarts was much livelier than usual that evening. Students darted about everywhere, and many students from other houses were sitting at the Gryffindor table.
They chattered over one another without pause. Just as Brian had expected, they were discussing the Giant Squid's new toy.
"This is the first time I've seen a Muggle broomstick!" a girl from Hufflepuff House said excitedly.
"That's the car we learned about in our last Muggle Studies lesson, isn't it?"
"I don't think so. Think carefully, all of you. The lesson never mentioned cars being able to drive across a lake."
A sharp glint flashed across a third-year Ravenclaw boy's glasses. "That's not a car. It's a ship!"
"What rubbish! That is a car!" Fred retorted bluntly.
The Ravenclaw boy, displeased at being contradicted, said:
"You make it sound as though you've seen one before. Professor Burbage specifically said cars can't drive across lakes. If that were a car, it would sink straight into the water!"
"Hey, how do you know we've never seen a car? If you ask me, cars can drive on water and fly through the air!" George joined the fray.
Angelina couldn't help rolling her eyes. "I'm speechless. Can none of you see the Giant Squid's tentacles?"
Brian also happened to overhear Harry whispering with his two friends.
"Harry, Hermione, I'll let you in on a secret. My dad actually has a Muggle car hidden away," Ron said furtively.
"It's just a car... Ron, don't make such a fuss. Harry and I are both Muggle-born," Hermione said helplessly.
Harry agreed. "Exactly, Ron. Unless you're telling us that your family's car really can fly."
Ron glanced around, then leaned in close to their ears. "It really can!"
At that, Harry and Hermione grew visibly excited as well.
Back in his room, Brian received a letter delivered by an owl-Hagrid had invited him over for a drink.
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