Huflepuff x Slytherin & Griffindor x Ravenclaw

Time waster

Valerie was in Zayn's arms and every now and then she would feel pain in a certain part where Kitara had hit or kicked her. She looked at the back of Zayn and saw Lisette and Edwin panting as if they have ran a mile. Valerie caught Lisette's attention and saw Lisette force a soft smile.

"Valerie," Zayn said, and Valerie looked up at him. "Why didn't you let me walk you here?"

Valerie looked down at her bruising arms and shook her head. "I....I don't know..." She answered quietly.

"Valerie, look at me." Zayn ordered.

Valerie looked up at Zayn and her heart dropped.

Zayn had pain in his eyes and anger written on his face. She didn't know why, but Valerie felt pain when she saw him like this.

"I would've been able to stop this if you let me walk you here. I would've prevented Kitara from even laying a finger on you. You know I could've." He said softly as they all walked up the marble staircase.

"I know..." Valerie mumbled.

"Then why didn't you let me?" Zayn asked.

"Because..." Valerie paused shortly before sighing. "Because I don't want you to waste your time on me..."

Zayn looked at her for a moment before fixing his gaze in front of him. "You'll never waste my time. I won't be wasting my time on you even if it were being said by the world. As long as I can protect you, have fun with you, see you smile, I won't be wasting my time." He said. (A/N: these are my sister's words to me before, but I changed a few words hehehe.)

Valerie blinked at him. "Living in the Joyce household....made me think I've always wasted everyone's time..." She said sadly.

"Is this the Joyce household?" Zayn raised a brow.

"No..." Valerie muttered.

"No, it's not. This is Hogwarts, and we're your friends. You've never wasted our time, and you never will, so stop telling yourself you are." Zayn smiled softly at Valerie.

Valerie felt her eyes dwell with tears. No one has ever been this kind to her ever since she left the Joyce household. She never wanted to lose her friends and she never wanted to leave Hogwarts. If possible, she'd walk up to Professor Aliyah and borrow her Time Turner.

She withdrew her arm from Zayn's neck and placed it on his chest then she placed her head to follow. She sobbed into Zayn's robes as her friends helped escort her to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

"We're here, Valerie." Zayn said calmly as they stood in front of the Hufflepuff door.

"C-Can you guys stay? Please?" Valerie begged as Zayn set her down.

Zayn, Lisette and Edwin exchanged glances then turned to Valerie and smiled before nodding.

Valerie smiled. "Thanks, guys..." She said softly. Then she turned to the door. "Phoenix feathers." She muttered and the door clicked. She opened it and let her friends enter the Common Room.

"Welcome to the Hufflepuff Common Room." She said in a welcoming tone to the three. The Hufflepuffs that were gathered around the Room looked up and had horror on their face when they saw Zayn. One of Valerie's friends, Alyssa Claw, walked up to her, eyeing Zayn cautiously.

"Val, what are you doing?" She mouthed. "You know a Slytherin is not allowed in the Hufflepuff Common Room."

Valerie laughed lightly. "He's my friend, Aly. And you'll be able to accept him once you get to know him, I promise." She smiled.

Alyssa sighed. "I'm taking your words by heart, Val, but if he does anything that is suspicious, I will hex him." She said. She looked at Valerie's bruised arms and legs and her eyes widened with horror. "Val...what happened?"

"I was cornered by Maria and her friends." Valerie shrugged as she said it casually, as if it weren't a big deal.

"Val, you are seriously injured! We need to take you to Madam Kiesha ASAP!" (A/N: Madam Kiesha is their nurse BTW.) Alyssa said hurriedly.

"Aly, can it wait? I can't really walk all the way to the Hospital Wing. I'll be able to walk to the Hospital Wing tomorrow after I get some rest." Valerie said calmly.

"Val, stop acting so calm! Your body is covered in bruises! You need help right now!" Alyssa urged.

"Hi," Lisette interrupted. "I'm Lisette Mae, a friend of Valerie. I'm from Ravenclaw, so you can trust my judgement, I hope. Valerie was beaten up by a girl named Maria Joana Kitara and all she needs right now is to rest."

Alyssa's brows furrowed as she scanned Lisette from head to toe. "How can I be sure you're not lying?" She queried.

Lisette narrowed her eyes at Alyssa as her mood went from calm to agitated. "Because if I were to lie, it wouldn't be involving any of my friends, especially if they're injured. So unless you aren't Valerie's friend, you'd believe a Ravenclaw, especially if that Ravenclaw is Valerie's friend since her first day here at Hogwarts." She snapped venomously.

"Val, how did you meet this girl?" Alyssa demanded.

"I've had a long day, can you two settle this argument tomorrow?" Valerie begged as she looked from Lisette to Alyssa, who were eyeing each other with daggers.

"Lisette, that's enough." Zayn said firmly.

Lisette turned to him and sighed, then looked back at Alyssa. "You're Valerie's friend, so if you're not lying, escort her to the girls' dormitories. What she needs now is time, not negativity." She said.

Alyssa sighed as well. "Very well." She muttered and held Valerie's hands in her as she led her to the girls'dormitories. But before she left, she whispered, "Valerie is lucky to have you in her life." To the three of them.

-the following day-

Valerie awoke the following morning with a sharp pain coming from her right leg. She sat up and looked down at it, only to see a small cut.

'I must have cut it when Kitara pushed me down...' She thought. She looked down at the cut again and took a handkerchief from the pocket of her skirt (yes, she didn't get dressed) and placed it on top of the cut. The blood then transfered to the handkerchief and Valerie tied it around her leg.

She then checked her watch only to see that it was 7:30 in the morning. She sighed as she spread open her hangings and saw Alyssa sleeping peacefully in her bed.

Valerie knew she said she'd go to the Hospital Wing this day, but she didn't feel like she wanted to. She didn't want to bother Madam Kiesha. Madam Kiesha was busy enough with the injured Quidditch players, and Valerie didn't want to add up to the fuss.

Valerie was the kind of person that was always too sensitive. She never wanted people wasting time on her but she'd always waste her time on people who don't care about her.