Hurt

The common room was quiet as the small group of Hufflepuff's sat studying for an astronomy test. Everything was quiet except for the turning of pages in an old book. Occasionally a quill scribbling across a page would fill the room. For Justin Finch-Fletchley this was peace for him, as he would just relish in the quiet. On his right sat his friends Hannah and Audrey, a sixth year girl. He had skipped dinner as he promised Ernie, despite not being afraid of Harry.

"I'll be right back," said Justin. "I think I know the perfect book about the constellations!"

"Justin you can't leave, Harry could strike at you!" protested Hannah. Her light blond pigtails bobbed as she shook her head. Soft hands took his own signifying for him to sit back down. Instead, he had pulled away.

"Justin as prefect, I suggest that I should come with you," said Audrey pushing her dark glasses up her nose. Justin hesitated and nodded his head in agreement. Audrey got up to put on her muggle turquoise button up top. A burst of happiness ran through him as he was walking to the library with Justin. He hated to admit it, but he had a crush on the girl, despite being 4 years older.

He had opened the door for her and both of them walked out together. He found it easy to talk her mainly because they were both muggles. He would tell her about his family, upper crust life, and how much he loved it. She would tell them about her family and her old school, and likes and dislikes. He didn't know her favorite color was blue. They had just passed Peeves throwing scrapes of some dinner at passing students.

It wasn't until in the middle of Audrey's story about her mom -Lucy- did someone interrupt them. There stood Percy Weasley in all of his glory with his girlfriend, Penelope, standing next to him. Both of them were talking in hushed voices and her perfume lingered on him. Audrey looked livid at the fact that had taken the time to leave the great hall, to kiss.

"Justin the library is just down the hall, could you leave me alone with my fellow prefects here," she said through gritted teeth. Justin only stepped back with a small grin on his face. Audrey was going to hell and he wasn't at the end of what she was yelling at them. He could briefly make out "skimping out on your responsibilities." At least Audrey didn't have a boyfriend distracting her like Penelope did.

The hall seemed to be extremely long without her next to him. Not too far in front he could make out the pearly white of a ghost. He wasn't sure if it was the Fat Friar or another house ghost. Maybe it was the Bloody Baron but he couldn't quite tell. The ruffles on the shirt looked like it could be Nearly Headless Nick or the Bloody Baron.

Around the corner he could hear some kind of hissing sound. Did someone have a pet snake that got loose in the castle somewhere? Curiously, he saw Nearly Headless Nick looked curiously at him as well. Something was strange though which caused both Nick and himself took a look. The last thing he saw was a creature of some sort, a basilisk.

Then the world went black as he heard Audrey yell his name and the snake slither from the scene. At least it didn't hurt to be petrified.