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A Helpful Ear

9/100


"Miss Granger?"

She stopped her pacing of the hallway and spun around, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"It's perfectly fine," he said, "I was just wondering what would cause the Head girl to pace like this so restlessly?"

"It's nothing," she said quietly.

"Really Miss Granger?"

"Absolutely," she said adamantly, "There is nothing wrong at all, I'm fine."

He raised one of his white eyebrows at her.

"It's another student," she admitted, "They've done something, that just perplexes me a little, a lot really."

"And what did they do?" He asked.

"It's not so much what they did, it's more of why did they do it," she said, "Given a chance they more than likely would do it ten times a day, but there was no reason for him to do it today."

"Please Miss Granger, why don't you tell me what he did."

"Oh, you don't know?" She asked, "I just assumed everyone knew."

"No, as much as people think, I do not know everything that happens between these walls."

"Okay," she nodded her head, "Well someone was down in the library earlier on today, and he got into a fight with another student. I'm not sure what the fight was about and that's what is bothering me."

"Can't stand not knowing?"

"Yes," she sighed, "Also they didn't use their wands, it was a fist fight, it was right scary to watch and add on the fact that when they were pulled apart. The professor asked what it was all about. They both looked at me, and said it was nothing. Just a simple disagreement."

"And you don't believe that to be the case?"

"Not in the slightest," she said, "Those two do not have 'simple disagreements'. They hate each other with every fibre of their being, so there was something to it, I just can't put my finger on what it was."

"Well, they are young men, what would they argue about?"

"Other than everything, you mean? I suppose Quidditch would be right up the top of the list, I know one of them is absolutely mad on it, maybe the other supports a different team or something like that," she mused.

"No I don't think so," he said, "What is most important to a young man such as them?"

"Uh, well there is sleeping," she said counting on her fingers, "that is vital according to Ron. Food. Can't get enough of the food. Quidditch is probably one of the most important. What other reason could there possibly be?"

"It's quite simply really once you think of it," he said, smiling at her, "They were more than likely fighting over a girl."

"A girl?" She said puzzled, "No, I don't think that's right, those two wouldn't fancy the same girl, it's near on impossible."

"Well," he said slowly, "Maybe they don't fancy the same girl, maybe one of them fancies a girl and the other doesn't want him to. Perhaps he's feeling a little protective of this girl, and doesn't want this boy anywhere near her."

"Perhaps…but who could the girl be?"

He bit his tongue to refrain from yelling at her, for such a bright girl, she was being surprisingly dense at the moment. "Now who did you say they looked at when they stopped fighting?"

"Why they looked at…me," she whispered, as she leant against the wall, "But Ron doesn't…he's with…so it must be him…"

"Will you be alright Miss Granger? I really must be going…"

"Oh sure," she smiled at him, "I'll see you later Nick."

"Goodbye Miss Granger."

And he turned and floated down the hallway, going around the next corner, if he wasn't a ghost he would have bumped into her, but as they were both dead, they sort of melded together.

"Why hello there," he said, "How are you tonight my fair maiden?"

"I'm marvellous," the Grey Lady answered, "I see you are up to your old tricks again this year."

"Whatever do you mean?" He chuckled, as they floated down the hall together.

"Setting up the Head boy and Girl, I thought you would have grown tired of it by now."

"Oh it's always amusing," he said, "They try to fight it each and everyone of them, even though it is right in front of them. I am merely helping them to see the light."

"Well aren't you so kind," she giggled, "A regular saint. Guiding young teens to their own true love."


Prompt: Saint Nicholas