Chapter 5

Who Needs to Go to the Bathroom?

The warm sunshine shone brightly through the window. Gajeel shifted higher on the black lounge chair until the glare no longer rested on his eyes. He crossed his arms behind his head and sighed, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the rare silence in the common room. Lily purred on his stomach, his small front paws kneading the fabric of his robes. Occasionally a door opened and murmurs drifted across the room, but no one disturbed him in his secluded spot.

It hadn't taken him long to find his perfect corner of the room. A bay window sat on the wall and a bookcase jutted out into the room just enough for him to drag the biggest lounge chair he could find and set it in the corner. It wasn't perfectly hidden, but unless someone was determined to find him, Gajeel knew he could have a few hours of peace.

The voices disappeared and once again the room lapsed into silence. A dangerous thing in the Hufflepuff room. Gajeel shifted on the lounge and stroked Lily's back, intent on catching a few minutes of sleep before someone inevitably found him.

The hidden entrance of the room burst open and footsteps thundered into the room.

"Gajeel!"

And there it is…

Lily jumped off his lap at the sudden sound. Gajeel sighed, but didn't move from his spot. The footsteps became louder until they stopped right at his feet. Heavy panting reached his ears and Gajeel reluctantly cracked an eye open.

"What?"

"We need you on the second floor," a fourth-year gasped out, hands on his knees.

Gajeel snorted, closing his eyes again. The blue-haired boy certainly wasn't living up to his usual happy-go-lucky nickname.

"There ain't no classes goin' right now, so why do I need ta go there?"

"Some Slytherin's got Wendy and Meredy! They're keeping them trapped in Moaning Mavis' bathroom!"

"Huh?" Gajeel sat up, drowsiness melting away.

A tall fourth-year girl nodded, her short hair waving wildly, "They're blocking the entrance and keep saying all sorts of things. Juvia threatened to tell the teachers, but they just laughed at Juvia."

Gajeel growled low in his throat and swung his legs over the side of the lounge. The two Puffs darted out of the way and followed him out of the room and into the halls. He stomped through the corridors, seeing students scurry out of his way. At the end of a long hallway a crowd of black and gold huddled together. Laughter rang across the stone walls and Gajeel quickened his steps.

The group of Puffs looked over their shoulders, practically collapsing against the walls when they saw him. They parted the way, giving Gajeel a clear view of Wendy and Meredy, blocked inside the bathroom by four Slytherin boys.

At the sight of him, the two girls nearly burst into tears. They shoved past the boys to run behind him and clasped his robes tightly. The rest of his house-mates sighed in relief. Gajeel crossed his arms, staring down the sneering Slytherins.

They snickered, nudging each other. "Oh so now yer brave enough to get out?"

Gajeel ignored them and turned to the girls. "Which one was picking on you?"

Wendy sniffed and pointed to the tallest boy. A single tear tracked down her cheek. Gajeel saw red. He took the girls' hands off his robes and walked forward.

The boys took out their wands. "Got a problem?"

"Let's settle this wizard to wizard," the tallest boy raised his chin. His long, blond hair fell onto his face, drawing attention to a jagged scar across his eye.

Gajeel's lip curled. "Sorry, but that ain't how I play."

He stepped right up to the blond boy, drew back his arm, and decked him across the face. His fist connected with the boy's nose with a satisfying crunch. The Slytherin stumbled backwards and fell hard on his rear. A green haired boy cried out and raised his wand. Gajeel blocked it with one arm and elbowed him in the stomach.

The Slytherin dropped his wand and doubled over, coughing and sputtering. Gasps echoed around him. Rolling his neck, Gajeel knelt in front of the first boy.

"No one messes with my house," he raised his clenched hand and jerked forward slightly.

The boy paled underneath his scar and scrambled backwards, holding his bloody nose. They scrambled to their feet and fled down the hallway. Gajeel stood and cracked his neck before checking his fellow classmates.

Wendy sobbed into her hands. Meredy and a few other girls huddled close to her and patted the girl's back. Gajeel turned and knelt, motioning for her to get on his back. Once Wendy was steady, Gajeel tucked his hands under her knees and stood to his full height. She trembled against his shoulders.

Gajeel barked at the other Puffs. "Go raid the kitchen."

Two Puffs nodded and darted down the hallway while Gajeel headed toward their dorms. Meredy jogged next to him, her small hand resting on Wendy's knee. Gajeel bit back a sigh and slowed his pace. His hand throbbed and the back of his robe became damp. Students stared at them as they passed by.

At Gajeel's glare, they hurried off, whispering to each other. Gajeel stared forward, heart pounding and a still crying girl on his back. He growled at anyone and everyone who made the mistake of making eye contact with him, daring them to say anything else about his house.