ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ | ғʀᴇᴅ ᴡᴇᴀsʟᴇʏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ

3.

Riley arises early the next morning, hoping for a better academic day than the one before. She isn't sure if Zabini is going to be in but knowing his ways it was very likely he'd be present.

When Riley saw it was possible to go down for breakfast, she leaves the dorm, careful not to wake anyone. She leaves the common room and makes her way to the great hall. Bill is always down in the hall by the time she lugs herself down to see him but she is hoping, this time, she could get there before him.

She walks into the hall and to her surprise, it was relatively full. She didn't see many at the Hufflepuff table, then the Ravenclaws and Slytherins and Gryffindor had roughly the same amount. She sees Fred but acts like she hadn't. There is no sign of Bill anywhere. Deciding it is best to sit at the Hufflepuff table, Riley makes her way over. She sits down beside Roxanne, the two get on pretty well, and gets her food. She is halfway through a bread roll when she is interrupted.

"Hello, Ms Finnigan." Fred greets her.

"Hello, Fredrick. It's lovely to see you standing again." She jokes.

"Yes after many many many many attempts, I was finally able to stand but my heart is still sore." He retorts sitting down.

"Fred, what are you doing here?" Roxanne queries.

"I'm just visiting little sis, calm down." He replies.

She rolls her eyes and goes back to her previous conversation with the other Hufflepuffs.

"So........ how are you?" Fred questions.

"I'm fine thanks. You?" Riley responds.

"I'm good, I still have no detentions for today so I'm winning!" He cheers.

Before anyone else could say anything, an older Ravenclaw burst into the great hall.

"Where's Riley Finnigan?!?" They yell frantically.

They are directed to the Hufflepuff table where she is sitting, and they run over to her.

"Is everything all right?" Riley asks worryingly.

"It's William." They mumble.

Riley's eyes almost fly as fast as the snitch out of her head.

"What's wrong?!? Is he alright?" She interrogates.

"Come with me, now." They demand.

Riley stands up quickly and follows the older student out. They bring her to the hospital wing. Before they open the door they whisper, "try not to stare."

The door creaks open and there lay William. His face and eyes puffy, with red marks, spots and bumps. He doesn't seem to be awake and the only sign of life is his chest slowly rising and falling.

"Oh my-" Riley cries.

Professor Longbottom looks at her, he slightly smiles and waves her to come closer.

"What happened?" Riley cries.

"We aren't sure. They found him like this. Madam Pomfrey can't exactly determine what it is." Neville explains.

"Where did they find him? When did they find him? Who was he with?" She speels.

"He was found in the library, a first-year got an awful scare this morning. He didn't seem to be with anyone because the space where he was seemed clean. He could've been moved but Professor McGonagall doesn't think that's a likely answer." Neville informs Riley.

"He was doing Herbology work wasn't he?" She whispers.

The Professor just nods sadly and looks at his son.