𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 (𝟐) || HARRY POTTER LOVE STORY

35

Julie immediately ran after the shouts and to her pleasure ran into Lilith.

"Thank Merlin, you're alright!" Julie said as she spotted the brunette Ravenclaw. "What happened?"

"An attack...?" she said confused.

"Obviously" Julie answered, while walking around a corner. "But who's been attacked?"

Lilith never got to answer and didn't need to.

Justin Finch-Fletchley was lying on the floor, rigid and cold, a look of shock frozen on his face, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. Nearly Headless Nick, no longer pearly-white and transparent, but black and smoky was floating immobile and horizontal, six inches off the floor. His head was half off and his face wore an expression of shock identical to Justin's.

The worst thing about all of this was Harry standing in between them. Lots of people were gathered around them.

For several long minutes, there was a scene of such confusion that Justin was in danger of being squashed and people kept standing in Nearly Headless Nick.

Harry was pinned against the wall as the teachers shouted for quiet. Professor McGonagall came running, followed by her own class, one of whom still had black and white striped hair. She used her wand to set off a loud bang, which restored silence, and ordered everyone back into their classes.

No sooner had the scene cleared somewhat than Ernie the Hufflepuff arrived, panting, on the
scene.

"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically at Harry.

"That will do, Macmillan!" said Professor McGonagall sharply.

Peeves was bobbing overhead, now grinning wickedly, surveying the scene; Peeves always loved chaos. As the teachers bent over Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, examining them, Peeves broke into song:

"Oh Potter, you rotter, oh what have you done?
You're killing off students, you think it's good fun-"

"That's enough Peeves!" barked Professor McGonagall, and Peeves zoomed away backwards, with his tongue out at Harry.

As Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra of the Astronomy department, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Nearly Headless Nick

"He didn't do it" Lilith whispered to Julie. "Look at his face, he looks scared."

"I know" she said. "I'm going to comfort him"

Julie went over to Harry who looked like he needed a hug.

"You alright?" she asked. Harry gulped in response, to stunned to speak as Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to Lilith with instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs.

Harry, Professor McGonagall and Julie were left alone together.

"Miss Clarke, please go back to your common room." said Professor McGonagall during one of her attempts to comfort Harry.

"Fine" Julie answered with one last look at Harry before marching off.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"...McGonnagall is now talking to Harry" Julie finished telling Hermione and Ron who were completely oblivious to the new attack.

"Oh, this is terrible" said Hermione, who had a very worried expression on her face.

"All we can do is wait for Harry" Julie said while leaning back. After around 30 minutes or so Harry arrived at the common room.

"What happened?" Julie asked quickly while Harry sat down next to her.

"Is Julie Clarke worried about me?" Harry teased, as he looked at her with his infamous smirk.

"Not the right time, Harry." Julie said, completely ignoring the reoccurrence of the weird tingling knot in her stomach and the faint flush forming on her checks.

"McGonnagall took me to Dumbledore's office. Hagrid came storming in, saying that I didn't do anything. Dumbledore then told me that he believed Hagrid and asked me if there's anything I wanted to tell him. I obviously thought of the weird voice, but decided to not say anything. And now I'm here telling you guys everything." Harry said, finishing with a smile.

"What if he knows about the Polyjuice Potion?" Hermione asked anxiously while shutting the book she's been reading.

"There's no way he somehow found out." Julie said. "But he's definitely acting weird."

"Not as weird as your brother, though." Ron laughed as he looked in Mason's direction.

Mason was standing next to a pretty girl, who Julie recognised as Levi's sister, blushing furiously while she gave him a rather weird look.

"Poor girl" Julie said, shaking her head.

"You're brother reminds me of you when you're next to me." Harry whispered in Julie's ear. "You know getting all flustered."

Julie scoffed, crossing her arms, feeling warmth spread across her cheeks. "You wish. Don't flatter yourself."

"You're blushing, though," Harry pointed out, his grin turning mischievous. "I mean, it does look like you might have a little crush."

Julie shot him a glare, though it came out weaker than she intended. "You're ridiculous."

He laughed, clearly enjoying himself. "I was just kidding, Jules. But hey, maybe I should start charging you for every time you get all flustered around me. I could make a fortune."

"Keep dreaming," Julie shot back. "You'd have no money in a day."

"Doesn't look like it." Harry said with a wink.

Julie rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."