meant to be (2)

34

By next morning, however, the snow that had begun in the night had turned into a blizzard so thick that the last Herbology lesson of term was cancelled: Professor Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, a tricky operation she would entrust to no one else, now that it was so important for the Mandrakes to grow quickly and revive Mrs Norris and Colin.

Harry and I were sitting on the sofa in front of the firplace watching Hermione and Ron use our lesson off to play a game of wizard chess. Harry looked like he was thinking a lot about Justin.

"For heaven's sake" Harry, said Hermione, exasperated, as one of Ron's bishops wrestled her knight off his horse and dragged him off the board. "Go and find Justin if it's so important to you!"

So Harry got up but was held back by me.

"I'll go with you" I said, standing up.

"Want to spend some extra with me, huh?" Harry smirked.

"Nope, just coming in case I need to hex Justin" I said looking at Harry. I immediately noticed a weird feeling, tingling knot forming in my stomach as Harry's eyes locked with mine.

We left the Gryffindor Commonroom through the hole, wondering where Justin might be.

The castle was darker than it usually was in daytime, because of the thick, swirling grey snow at every window.

Shivering, Harry and I walked past classrooms where lessons were taking place, catching snatches of what was happening within.

Professor McGonagall was shouting at someone who, by the sound of it, had turned his friend into a badger.

"That reminds me of you." I laughed while looking at Harry.

"Not true, Jules, I'm fantastic at Transfiguration" he said mockingly.

"Yeah right" I answered sarcastically. "Let's go to the Library. I reckon Justin's there"

A group of the Hufflepuffs who should have been in Herbology were indeed sitting at the back of the library, but they didn't seem to be working.

Between the long lines of high bookshelves, Harry and I could see that their heads were close together and they were having what looked like an absorbing conversation.

I couldn't see whether Justin was among them. We were walking towards them when Harry suddenly pulled me back.

"What are you doing, you idiot!?" I whispered angrily at Harry. "I thought you wanted to talk to Justin!"

"Shhh, listen!" Harry answered. "Sorry for the tight grip"

"It's alright." I said while fixing my robes. I couldn't help but smile at Harry while listening to the group of Hufflepuffs. Why was I suddenly feeling so differently when I was with Harry?

"So anyway" a stout boy was saying "I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory. I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best if he keeps a low profile for a while. Of course, Justin's been waiting for something like this to happen ever since he let slip to Potter he was Muggleborn. Justin actually told him hed been down for Eton. That's not the kind of thing you bandy about with Slytherin's heir on the loose, is it?"

"You definitely think it is Potter, then, Ernie?" said a girl with blonde pigtails anxiously, who I recognised as Hannah Abbot.

"Hannah" said the stout boy solemnly "he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows thats the mark of a Dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue!"

There was some heavy murmuring at this, and Ernie went on: "Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies of the Heir Beware. Potter had some sort of run-in with Filch. Next thing we know, Filch's cat's attacked. That first-year, Creevey, was annoying Potter at the Quidditch match, taking pictures of him while he was lying in the mud. Next thing we know, Creevey's been attacked!"

"He always seems so nice, though" said Hannah uncertainly. "and, well, he's the one who made You-Know-Who disappear. He can't be all bad, can he?"

I looked up at Harry anxiously, but he didn't look back. His eyes were fixed on the group. Ernie lowered his voice mysteriously, the Hufflepuffs bent closer, and Harry and I edged nearer so that we could catch Ernies words.

"No one knows how he survived that attack by You-Know-Who. I mean to say, he was only a baby when it happened. He should have been blasted into smithereens. Only a really powerful Dark wizard could have survived a curse like that!" He dropped his voice until it was barely more than a whisper, and said "Thats probably why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him. I wonder what other powers Potter's been hiding?"

Harry seemed as if he couldn't take it anymore. Clearing his throat loudly, he stepped out from behind the bookshelves. I followed him quickly also revealing myself.

Everyone of the Hufflepuffs looked as though they had been Petrified by the sight of him, and the colour was draining out of Ernie's face.

"Hello" said Harry. "I'm looking for Justin Finch-Fletchley!"

It looked like the Hufflepuffs' worst fears had clearly been confirmed. They all looked fearfully at Ernie.

"What do you want with him?" said Ernie, in a quavering voice.

"I wanted to tell him what really happened with that snake at the Duelling Club" said Harry.

Ernie bit his white lips and then, taking a deep breath, said: "We were all there. We saw what happened!"

"Then you noticed that, after I spoke to it, the snake backed off?" said Harry.

"All I saw" said Ernie stubbornly, though he was trembling as he spoke "was you speaking Parseltongue and chasing the snake towards Justin!"

"I didn't chase it at him!" Harry said, his voice shaking with anger. "It didn't even touch him!"

"It was a very near miss." said Ernie. "And in case you're getting ideas" he added hastily "I might tell you that you cantrace my family back through nine generations of witches and warlocks and my bloods as pure as anyone's, so-"

The situation was clearly getting out of hand and I started becoming more and more anxious. I also was extremely worried about Harry as I noticed his growing rage.

"I don't care what sort of blood you've got" said Harry fiercely. "Why would I want to attack Muggleborns?"

"I've heard you hate those Muggles you live with" said Ernie swiftly.

"It's not possible to live with the Dursleys and not hate them." said Harry. "I'd like to see you try it."

He turned on his heel and stormed out of the library, earning himself a reproving glare from Madam Pince, who was polishing the gilded cover of a large spellbook. I felt awful seeing Harry like that.

"For Merlin's Sake!" I said furiously looking back at the group of Hufflepuffs. "Harry would never attack Muggleborns. If you hadn't noticed, Hermione, one of his best friends, is Muggleborn and Harry himself is a Halfblood."

"You're just defending him because you're in love with him." hissed Ernie back.

SMACK!

I hit Ernie right on the nose. He stumbled slightly, but was held by the other Hufflepuffs for support. They all looked at me in fear, while Ernie was holding his nose in pain.

"Don't you dare spread any lies about my friends or me." I said narrowing my eyes. I was about to leave the library when-

"ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE: RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAACK!"