ABJIT -2
Susan ate her fill at the post-examination feast: a leg of lamb; 2 portions of steak and ale pie; and more helpings of trifle than she cared to remember. The Bones' were reputed for their hollow legs and large appetites. However, her full stomach and overall contentness was not enough to deter her from her meeting with Justin later on at the Great Lake.
She bid farewell to her friend Hannah Abbott and strolled, fairly extravagantly if I might conjecture, out of the hall and towards the castle entrance (and exit) hall. It was here that Susan noticed the second strange thing about the day. Hermione Granger was sat talking waspishly to Draco Malfoy. Susan did what can only be described as a comedy double-take when she saw this. Hermione Granger talking to Draco Malfoy! The hated enemy of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, Hermione's best friends! It is well known that the Bones' have a lacklustre memory and so Susan whipped out her trusty parchment and refillable quill (already filled, of course) and made a quick note about this. She flombered out of the castle feeling quite excited to see Justin.
As she was flombering down the lane which led to the Great Lake, Susan was pontificating the nature of Hufflepuff House. Loyalty, friendship, dedication, hard work. Susan was beginning to wonder whether she really lived up to these values. The teenage years were often taxing on the confidence levels of young wizards, and Susan was one such wizard. However, this moroseness which overcame Susan quickly left as she was serenaded by the sound of Justin's playing of the French Horn.
The sombre tones of the gentle giant seemed to penetrate Susan's soul. Justin was playing one of his favourite tunes, and Susan had heard it many times before. As she sat down next to him, he stopped abruptly.
"Oh, hi Suze" said Justin, red cheeked. Playing the French Horn was an arduous task which required a lot of concentration and effort.
"Hi Justin! You won't believe what I have to tell you!" Susan exclaimed, "but before I forget, guess what I just saw! Hermione Granger talking Draco Malfoy!"
"Crumbs!" Justin exclaimed, nearly dropping his behemoth of an instrument, "Why on earth do you think they were talking?"
"I don't know, I have oft noticed them sharing stolen glances though" Susan confided.
"Hmmm, I can't say I've ever noticed that. Anyway, us Hufflepuffs do not meddle. What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Justin said.
"Justin, you're so noble! Anyway, I'm afraid to tell you that it is related to them. Last night, whilst revising for my Charms exam, I was reading a fairly ponderous tome called 'A History of Medieval Charmwork', and within it, I came across a very interesting inscription. Look" Susan told Justin, and with this she pulled out the large book and showed Justin the inscription on page 412. It was showing a drawing of the Church of St. John the Warrior in construction. There was a caption reading "1730, the construction of the Church of St. John the Warrior by ordinary Russian civilians".
"Wow, how utterly riveting" Justin said, cynically. He had a tendency to be icy cold.
"No Just! Look here!" Susan exclaimed, and with her finger, she pointed to a small corner of the drawing. There, something almost too incredible to believe was inked onto the parchment. It was a perfect etching of Herimone Granger and Draco Malfoy, the two fourth years (and supposed enemies) Susan had just seen!
"Jiminy Crickets!" Justin proclaimed "Is that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy constructing a Russian Orthodox church in the 18th century?"
"Yes, yes it is…" Susan said "but how did they get there?"
"Curious… very curious" Justin said.