The Battle Of The Basilisk

-18-

Colin searched frantically for Austria, who had disappeared somewhere in the huge horde of students trying to tackle the monster.

"Aussie!! AUSSIE!!!"He yelled, running around and tripping over the fragments of what was once Ravenclaw Tower. He ran straight into fellow Gryffindor Lukas Raven, who was rubbing a black eye.

"Lukas, have you seen Aussie?"

"No, sorry mate." Lukas answered. "Did she go into the fight with that thing?"

"I think so. What happened to you?"

"Threw my wand at the thing's paw. Or hand. Or whatever. Big mistake- It got me good and hurts like hell. Don't worry, if Austria has any sense she'll come running back."

Colin frowned. "That's exactly the problem! I need to find her!"

"Well, maybe if we-"

Lukas stopped mid-sentence as the dirty beast sunk its fangs into the body of a little girl and tossed her aside. Both boys ran to her.

"Okay calm down, we're going to help you." Lukas said gently. The girl shook her head.

"It's a Basilisk." She mumbled. "I want my mum."

"We'll get you to your mum, we promise." Colin instantly regretted saying it. The girl's eyes rolled back into her head, and her bloody body went still. Lukas glared at Colin.

"You didn't have to say that- Now there's a promise unfulfilled." He stroked the girl's hair and looked nervously at the giant Basilisk. "Why is it not jumping around like before?"

Colin gulped in revulsion, yet seized the opportunity to draw his attention away from the girl. "The monster was after those people who jumped out of the Tower. They escaped through a rock."

"A rock?"

"I don't know. I just saw this rock turn blue, so me and Aussie made a run for it. But we were too late."

"Was it a Portkey?"

"Yes, obviously." Colin nodded dismissively. A girl with curly dark hair was running towards him, limping slightly.

"Aussie, your leg!" Colin moved forward to help, but quickly took a step back. If there was anything Austria hated, it was concern. Besides, she was sort of hopping as well, which, despite the destruction and havoc taking place around him, he found rather funny.

Austria didn't though. Her eyes immediately rested on the dead girl. "COLIN!! LUKAS!! TAKE HER UP!"

"Austria, we can't do anything. She's already dead. The Basilisk venom-"

"What do you know?!? You failed in Potions last year! Take her to Madam Pomfrey!" Austria shouted, her eyes filled with fire. Lukas twitched slightly- The Potions remark caught him completely off guard.

"Aussie, we saw her." Colin put in. "We tried to take her up, but we were too late. She-" He hesitated, but knew he had to continue. "She wanted her mum."

Austria's jaw softened ever so slightly, only enough for Colin, who'd known her for years, to notice. "Well, we need to help the others. She isn't the only one. We could try Cursing the Basilisk-"

"Absolutely not, if I may."

Colin turned. Approaching them slowly was a girl in a black cloak, the hood just covering her eyes.  There was something macabre about her gait- Her feet hardly seemed to touch the ground. They were nearly the same height, so he assumed that he was in her 5th Year as well.

Assuming she was who he thought she was, anyway.

"Are you the one who Summoned that thing?" Austria gestured angrily at the Basilisk. "Who are you? Reveal yourself!"