Tales From My Travels In The Northern Parts Of Dalecarlia
Several summer ago I set out on my broom heading for the northern parts of Dalecarlia, Sweden. My initial plan was to visit the small town Älvdalen to do research for my upcoming book on the witch trials of 1668-1669. But in my travels my focus shifted from the witch trials to the wizarding community. I became fascinated by their way of life and their amazing stories. I decided to focus on the present and of a community slowly shrinking into nothing. It is time to listen to their stories and the people who still believe that there is hope for the countryside.
This is NOT a textbook.
THIS BOOK IS NOT COMPLETE! PLEASE PUT ON YOUR BOOKSHELF AND RETURN FROM TIME TO TIME. I WILL POST UPDATES ON MY PROFILE PAGE.
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
5
Reads
661
Josiah Hex
Chapter 5
While on the road (or in the air as I was, travelling with my broom) my friend Popotkin sent an owl where he suggested that I met up with Josiah Hex, “before he becomes completely mental.” I managed to track down Josiah but he looked at me with great suspicion, “I am not selling any of my books and amulettes, go away!” I told him that I was not interested in buying anything and he was relieved. Just a few days ago he had a visitor from the Durmstrang institute who wanted Josiah to deposit his books at their library, but Josiah had told him of, “I’m not dead yet!”
Popotkin told me that Josiah Hex was over 200 years old. The wizard later confirmed this, informing me that he had just turned 212. He has many children, “I can’t keep track of them. One is working for that wizard bank somewhere. The rest is… well, I don’t know. Look them up in some book if you are interested.”
Josiah Hex has had a long life, but never left his native Dalecarlia, except from when he went to school at Durmstrang. “I’ve never owned a broom and apparation seems dangerous. And what’s the point of leaving? I have everything I need here.” And everything Josiah needed was his books. He once counted them and told me that in 1952 were over a hundred thousand, but the collection has grown since then. Thanks to an expansion charm he is able to keep them in all in his small house, “it’s good insulation in the winter.” Despite of his aversion to the outside world, the wizarding world come to him from time to time. He is a world renowned expert in analysing old books of magic, especially spells. “In the old days superstitious muggles used to create spells and such and wizards who come across one of those books needs to have them verified. There are also wizards who collect muggle spellbooks who come to me for advice.”
I tried to ask questions about his life but he also changed the subject to his books. When I asked if I could see his yearbook from Durmstrang he told me, “Do you really think I would keep that trash in my collection?” I tried to pursue the topic further. “They had a decent library.” After that it was clear that he was done talking so I was on my way again, flying over the magnificent landscape.