You're a Fool, Nicholas
The floor of the corridor was slick with his own blood and Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington was feeling quite rueful even as he waited for the potion to take effect. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh hardly able to believe he'd lost a duel let alone one for the affection of such a lovely young lady.
"You're a fool, Nicholas."
Nick's eyes popped open and he was surprised to find the Bloody Baron of all ghosts hovering next to him one fine silvery brow arched in clear consternation, though perhaps he shouldn't have been, the Baron did like to haunt the Astronomy tower and the stairs were just over that way.
"One does what one must for the honor of pretty young ladies," Nick said airily, as always, more than a bit unnerved by his wide staring eyes and the deep silvery bloodstains down the front of his shirt and coat.
"Take it from someone who knows. If the gel doesn't want you, leave her be or you'll end up more than half-dead one day."
Some years later after a depressingly public botched beheading Nick would arrive at the gates of Hogwarts silvery, translucent and terrified and there would be the Baron waiting just beyond, one silvery brow arched in consternation.
"You're a fool Nicholas," he intoned before floating back towards the castle, "Come on. I'll inform the headmaster and you can get settled in."
AN: Done for Romi's Autumn Flashfic Challenge!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.