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The Kind Hufflepuff - Second Year
Chapter Thirty: Knight in Shining Armor
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"It feels like it's been forever since it was just the two of us talking," John admitted to Cali as they walked through the hallways towards dinner. Greta had ditched them after their last class had let out, claiming that she wanted to try and catch the Gryffindor tryouts that were taking up half of lunch. Apparently, the captain had decided that it would be a test regarding dedication, but Greta just wanted to check out the Quidditch players since she had heard James and Sirius were planning to audition.
"It does," Cali nodded. "It's crazy that we've only known each other for a year. Happy friendship-iversary," She giggled as John nodded in response. They heard a loud thud ahead of them, and they immediately stopped talking so they could listen closer as they began walking faster, hoping to see what happened and make sure everyone was ok. They were shocked to see the familiar Daisy laying in a fetal position on the ground, Dahlia looming over her with a nasty look on her face as she spewed disgusting insults at the girl. Daisy wasn't responding to the girl, simply curling into herself from fear. Cali froze in shock for a moment, thinking back to her first year with Gregory Wilkes when John rushed forward, kneeling the small girl as he glared up at Dahlia.
"Leave her alone," John barked at the young Slytherin, "I won't hesitate to report you to a prefect the next time I see you tormenting this girl, or anyone else," the boy seethed at the Slytherin who rolled her eyes in response.
"Please, you wouldn't dare," Dahlia scoffed, ignoring Cali as she walked past them and around the corner.
"People always think Hufflepuffs are defenseless creatures," Cali growled to John and Daisy. "One of these days someone is going to make them realize that isn't true."
"Daisy, are you alright?" John asked the small first year who began to uncurl from the fetal position and stared up at the second year Hufflepuff, her green eyes wide as she stared up at the boy who had protected her against her tormenter as she nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm great," she nodded enthusiastically, grabbing the boy's hand when he offered to help her up, gripping it tightly so that he wouldn't let it go as Cali giggled, noticing the action.
"Do you want to come to dinner with us?" John asked the small girl who once again nodded excitedly, her eyes filled with stars and her smile wide as she gazed up at the taller boy.
"You're my knight," she told the boy quietly, not caring that Cali could hear.
"Knight in shining armor?" He joked.
"Wiggenweld bark would be far more suitable, especially against dark creatures," Cali told the pair.
"Wiggen-?" the young girl attempted to say as Cali giggled.
"Wiggenweld bark, physical contact helps create physical resistance against dark creatures," John explained.
When they walked into the Great Hall, the three of them sat towards the end of the Hufflepuff table, Cali carefully saving a seat for Greta beside her when Daisy practically jumped at the chance to sit beside John, thought it probably would have been less awkward if she had sat across from him since all she was doing was staring. Cali happily ate the vegan food that appeared on her plate, waiting for Greta to arrive as the two across from her were captivated in a conversation. It wasn't long before Greta arrived, her face flushed as she took a seat beside Cali. "How did Sirius do?" Cali asked the girl.
"He did better than most of the other beaters," Greta nodded.
"Why are you so red?" John asked the girl, confused.
"Sirius Black said hi," Greta admitted quietly.
"I thought you didn't like him?" John questioned.
"He's a bad influence on our sweet Cali," Greta confirmed. "But I could benefit from his influence," Greta giggled as Cali and John wrinkled her nose in response and Daisy giggled in response, though her gaze never left John. She asked the boy another question, pulling him back to their conversation as Greta raised an eyebrow at them "What's up with them?" Greta asked Cali.
"John protected her against Dahlia," Cali shrugged. "I think she's enamored."
"John protected her?" Greta snorted. "Interesting." She looks at Daisy for a moment, almost like she's inspecting the girl before she clears her throat and says, "Daisy" to catch her attention.
"Yes?" Daisy meekly questions.
"Are you ok?" Greta asks, narrowing her eyes to look for a lie.
"I'm ok," Daisy tries to reassure the girl.
"You're lying. Go to the hospital wing," Greta demands.
"No, no. I'm fine, I promise."
"Are you hurt? What did she do?" Greta interrogated the girl.
"I am not hurt, I promise I'm fine," Daisy reassured the girl.
"I will report to a professor, or a prefect. Head girl or boy even. This isn't ok," Greta told the girl.
John rolled his eyes at this point and stopped the first year from responding. "She's fine, Greta. She's told you that more than once. Please leave her be."
"I wasn't talking to you," Greta snapped at him.
"He's right, I'm fine," Daisy piped up, interrupting the two as both of them relaxed visibly.
YOU ARE READING
The Kind Hufflepuff
FanfictionThere were many things that you could hear being whispered throughout the corridors of Hogwarts from 1971 to 1979. Many of the whispers would be the discussion of the most recent prank that the Marauders had pulled, perhaps even a gushing of the lus...
