Title: The Florence Nightingale Effect
Prompt: One of my entries for the 'Your Favorite Hogwarts House Boot Camp Challenge' - Common Room
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is a trademarked brand owned by J.K Rowling and Warner Brothers. Any material used belongs to the aforementioned parties with the exception of two characters of my own creation. This material is only used in recreational purposes and I receive no monetary or material rewards from using it. Please don't sue me.
"Justin? Hello? Earth to Justin, come in please." Hannah Abbott calls, snapping her fingers in front of her friend's unfocused eyes. "Are you there?"
"Wha- I'm here! The third cycle of Mercury!" Justin answers wildly, looking around the barren common room for Professor Sinistra.
"Justin," Hannah sighs exasperatedly as she closes her textbook, deciding to give up studying for the day. "You're supposed to be helping me with Astronomy! You know, if I wanted to be ignored, I'd just go find Zach."
The boy opposite her slumps forward guiltily, "I'm sorry Hannah," he starts, helping the blonde clean up her supplies. On the table in front of him lies a halfway edited roll of parchment he never finished. The title is partially obscured by a huge blot of red ink from where Justin's quill has dripped while sitting idle in his grasp. "I got distracted."
"It's okay," the blonde says. Her movements are excessively slow as she glances back at the Muggleborn curiously. "Sooooo… What's got you so deep in thought?"
"Nothing!" Justin answers hurriedly. "Just, um, thinking about Easter!"
"Right," she says, eying him with disbelief. "Easter."
Justin nods enthusiastically, trying hard not to get caught in a lie. "I mean, it's been so long since I've seen my parents, and it's our turn to throw the Springtime Charity Ball, so I'm really excited to…"
He trails off as Hannah crosses her arms, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"I've still got lots of packing to do?" he offers half-heartedly.
"You did that yesterday," Hannah reminds him, smirking as she calls his bluff. "It's about Susan, isn't it?"
Justin does his best attempt at a poker face, but it must have been pretty shoddy (And honestly, since when has he ever managed to successfully fool Hannah?) because Hannah lets out a girlish squeal, leaning forward excitedly.
"Spill!" she commands.
"Hannnaaaahhhhh!" Justin groans.
The blonde pouts, "Oh come on Justin! I don't have any close girlfriends: I've only got you and Ernie! Humor me, just this once, please?"
"It's not how you think," the dark haired boy grounds out finally, but it just makes Hannah more excited.
"Oh I told Ernie!" Hannah exclaims happily. "Macmillan sooo owes me a pack of sugar quills!"
"I don't fancy Susan," Justin states as firmly as he can.
The other girl waves him off, sure of her observations. "Of course you do."
"No, really I -"Justin insists, but Hannah cuts him off.
"It's because she nursed you back to health, right? It's so romantic! I've always suspected but I've never had anything concrete to go off before."
Hannah eyes him again, looking both happily surprised and vaguely impressed. "Ernie makes such a horrible girl; you're much better at this Justin!"
"Thanks," he replies grumpily.
She ignores his ire and leans forward, eyes wide. "Have you asked her out on a date yet?"
Justin decides to give up his poor attempt to deny his feelings. "What! Of course I haven't- Hannah, it's Susan Bones! I can't just go off and ask her to go with me on the next Hogsmead trip!"
"Why not?" Hannah questions.
"It's Susan Bones!"
"Yes Justin, I heard you the first time. I don't see the problem."
"It's just…" The tall boy sighs, taking his head in his hands. "It's not as if she likes me back."
For a moment, Hannah stares at her friend as if he'd just expressed a desire to drop out of school and join a biker gang. "No. No! You are not allowed to be this much of an idiot!"
"Hannah!" Justin exclaims.
"I know your best guy friend is Ernie, and he could be the poster child for 'emotionally stunted', but I expected better of you Justin!"
"What're you talking about?"
The blonde shakes her head sadly, patting Justin's hand as if he's a particularly naïve five-year-old.
"Of course Susan likes you! Did you think she plays Florence Nightingale for just any thickheaded prat who comes along?"
Well... he hadn't really given the matter much thought."Seriously? I thought she was just being a good friend!" Justin admits, bewildered.
"Are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know! Maybe if she -"
"Tell who, what?" asks a voice from the left.
The duo looks up to find the curious face of Susan Bones staring down at them.
It's a cliffhanger ending, but it felt good to end this here. This will probably be about three or four chapters.