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⋘ 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎... ⋙ chapter nine ✷ nicolas flamel
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THE GREAT HALL WAS PACKED. Since the weather was still chilly from the Christmas Holidays, most people sat inside with the hot air.
Apollo was reading when he felt someone tap at his legs. He looked to see Harry, making him lift them, allowing the boy to sit before comfortably placing his legs on Harry's lap, noticing that the boy didn't care.
"Don't talk to me for a moment," Ron said when noticing Harry's arrival, "I need to concen—" he stopped and Apollo looked up. He was staring at Harry. "What's the matter with you? You look terrible."
Apollo finally lowered his book to look at Harry properly and boy was Ron right. Harry looked a sickly pale, his green eyes looking droopy and looking as though he was about to throw up all over them.
"Snape's refereeing," Harry admitted.
"Don't play," Hermione said at once.
"Say you're ill," Ron said.
"Fred and George taught me a puking curse," Apollo said, pulling out his wand.
"Pretend to break your leg," Hermione suggested.
"Really break your leg," Ron said.
"Fred and George gave me a curse for that one too," Apollo said.
"I can't," Harry said. "There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all."
At that moment Neville toppled into the Great Hall. How he had managed to walk all the way through the castle was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognised at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way through the school.
Everyone fell over laughing except Apollo and Hermione. The brunette ran over to help him up while Hermione performed the countercurse. Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling. "What happened?" Apollo asked him, leading him over to sit with Harry and Ron while Hermione glared at everyone who were still giggling.
"Malfoy," Neville said shakily, Apollo rubbing his arm comfortingly. "I met him outside the library. He said he'd been looking for someone to practice that on."
"Go to Professor McGonagall!" Hermione urged Neville. "Report him!"
Neville shook his head. "I don't want more trouble."
"You've got to stand up to him, Neville!" Ron said. "He's used to walking all over people, but that's no reason to lie down in front of him and make it easier."
